bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in naturally assembled communities
Authors: van der Plas Fons 
Published: February 2019

ABSTRACTApproximately 25 years ago, ecologists became increasingly interested in the question of whether ongoing biodiversity loss matters for the functioning of ecosystems. As such, a new ecological subfield on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning (BEF) was born. This subfield was initially dominated by theoretical studies and by experiments in which biodiversity was manipulated, and responses of ecosystem functions such as biomass production, decomposition rates, carbon sequestration, trophic interactions and pollination were assessed. More recently, an increasing number of studies have investigated BEF relationships in non‐manipulated ecosystems, but reviews synthesizing our knowledge on the importance of real‐world biodiversity are still largely missing.I performed a systematic review in order to assess how biodiversity drives ecosystem functioning in both terrestrial and aquatic, naturally assembled communities, and on how important biodiversity is compared to other factors, including other aspects of community composition and abiotic conditions. The outcomes of 258 published studies, which reported 726 BEF relationships, revealed that in many cases, biodiversity promotes average biomass production and its temporal stability, and pollination success. For decomposition rates and ecosystem multifunctionality, positive effects of biodiversity outnumbered negative effects, but neutral relationships were even more common. Similarly, negative effects of prey biodiversity on pathogen and herbivore damage outnumbered positive effects, but were less common than neutral relationships. Finally, there was no evidence that biodiversity is related to soil carbon storage.Most BEF studies focused on the effects of taxonomic diversity, however, metrics of functional diversity were generally stronger predictors of ecosystem functioning. Furthermore, in most studies, abiotic factors and functional composition (e.g. the presence of a certain functional group) were stronger drivers of ecosystem functioning than biodiversityper se. While experiments suggest that positive biodiversity effects become stronger at larger spatial scales, in naturally assembled communities this idea is too poorly studied to draw general conclusions.In summary, a high biodiversity in naturally assembled communities positively drives various ecosystem functions. At the same time, the strength and direction of these effects vary highly among studies, and factors other than biodiversity can be even more important in driving ecosystem functioning. Thus, to promote those ecosystem functions that underpin human well‐being, conservation should not only promote biodiversityper se, but also the abiotic conditions favouring species with suitable trait combinations.
Schistosoma mansoni PCR+-infected individuals in the Sudan present elevated systemic levels of chemokines when compared to uninfected and egg+ cohorts
Authors: Arndts K , Elfaki T E M , Jelden N , Ritter M , Wiszniewsky A , Katawa G , Goreish I A , Atti El Mekki M E Y A , Doenhoff M J , Hoerauf A , Layland L E 
Published: February 2019

Summary
Infections with Schistosoma mansoni remain a major health problem in the Sudan where endemic communities, such as those in Kassala and Khartoum states, continue to face severe social–economic difficulties. Our previous immunoepidemiological findings revealed different immune [cytokine and S. mansoni egg (SEA) antibody] profiles in individuals with active infections (eggs in stool n = 110), individuals positive for S. mansoni via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using sera (SmPCR+ n = 63) and those uninfected (Sm uninf). As antibody responses to eggs and worms are known to change during infection, we have expanded the profiling further by determining levels of adult worm (SWA) antibodies and nine chemokines in the serum of each individual in the three different cohorts. With the exception of C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL)2, all measured chemokines were significantly higher in SmPCR+ individuals when compared to the egg+ group and in addition they also presented elevated levels of SWA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)G2. Multivariable regression analysis further revealed that infection per se was strongly linked to SWA-specific IgG3 levels and CCL5 was strongly associated with a SmPCR+ diagnostic state. In the absence of PCR diagnostics that recognize juvenile worms or schistosomulae motives, identifying schistosome-specific traits should provide better insights into current prevalence rates in endemic communities and, in doing so, take into consideration PCR+ non-egg+ individuals in current treatment programmes.
British Society for Immunology/United Kingdom Primary Immunodeficiency Network consensus statement on managing non-infectious complications of common variable immunodeficiency disorders
Authors: Bethune C , Egner W , Garcez T , Huissoon A , Jolles S , Karim Y , Jain R , Savic S , Kelley K , Grosse-Kreul D , Grigoriadou S 
Published: February 2019

Summary
Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) represents a heterogeneous group of rare disorders. There is considerable morbidity and mortality as a result of non-infectious complications, and this presents clinicians with management challenges. Clinical guidelines to support the management of CVID are urgently required. The UK Primary Immunodeficiency Network and the British Society for Immunology funded a joint project to address this. A modified Delphi Survey was conducted for the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of the non-infectious blood, respiratory, gut and liver complications of CVID. A steering group of 10 consultant immunologists and one nurse specialist developed and reviewed the survey statements and agreed the final recommendations. In total, 22 recommendations and three areas for research were developed.
Serum polyamine metabolic profile in autoimmune thyroid disease patients
Authors: Song Jing , Shan Zhongyan , Mao Jinyuan , Teng Weiping 
Published: February 2019

SummaryObjectivePolyamines are indispensable polycations and play important physiological roles in living cells. Some polyamine metabolites have been associated with autoimmune disorders. The aims of this study were to profile polyamine metabolites in autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) and predict whether polyamine metabolites are associated with thyroid hormone, thyroid autoantibodies or disease progression.Design, patients and measurementsA total of 136 participants were recruited, including Graves’ disease (GD) (n = 36), Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) (n = 33) and thyroid autoantibody‐positive (pTAb) (n = 29) patients and 38 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls (HCs). Fourteen polyamine metabolites, including polyamine precursors, polyamines and polyamine catabolite, were measured by UFLC‐MS/MSResultsBoth GD and HT patients had higher L‐arginine, L‐ornithine, lysine and agmatine levels and lower putrescine, 1,3‐diaminopropane, spermine, N‐acetylputrescine levels than HCs. Some polyamine metabolite levels were different only in GD or HT patients compared to HCs: GD patients had significantly higher spermidine, N‐acetylspermidine and γ‐aminobutyric acid and lower cadaverine, whereas HT patients had significantly decreased N‐acetylspermine. Only spermine and N‐acetylspermine were significantly lower in pTAb than HCs. The spermine:spermidine ratio was significantly reduced in all AITD patients. In addition, spermine was negatively correlated with thyroid‐specific antibodies grade. N‐acetylspermidine might be a risk factor for pTAb progression to overt hypothyroidism.ConclusionsCompared with the HCs, most metabolites of GD and HT showed similar patterns, suggesting the possibility of a common pathophysiological basis or metabolic pathway. Moreover, pTAb progression to overt hypothyroidism may be related to high N‐acetylspermidine. Thyroid autoimmunity was associated with low spermine.
Real microgravity condition promoted regeneration capacity of induced pluripotent stem cells during the TZ‐1 space mission
Authors: Zhou Jin , Dong Xiao‐Hui , Zhang Feng‐Zhi , Zhu Hui‐Min , Hao Tong , Jiang Xiao‐Xia , Zheng Wei‐Bo , Zhang Tao , Wang Pei‐Zhe , Li Hong , Na Jie , Wang Chang‐Yong 
Published: February 2019

AbstractInduced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are reprogrammed somatic cells that gained self‐renewal and differentiation capacity similar to embryonic stem cells. Taking the precious opportunity of the TianZhou‐1 spacecraft mission, we studied the effect of space microgravity (µg) on the self‐renewal capacity of iPSCs. Murine iPSCs carrying pluripotency reporter Oct4‐GFP were used. The Oct4‐EGFP‐iPSCs clones were loaded into the bioreactor and exposed to μg in outer space for 14 days. The control experiment was performed in identical device but on the ground in earth gravity (1 g). iPSCs clones were compact and highly expressed Oct4 before launch. In μg condition, cells in iPSC clones spread out more rapidly than those in ground 1 g condition during the first 3 days after launch. However, in 1 g condition, as the cell density increases, the Oct4‐GFP signal dropped significantly during the following 3 days. Interestingly, in μg condition, iPSCs originated from the spread‐out clones during the first 3 days appeared to cluster together and reform colonies that activated strong Oct4 expression. On the other hand, iPSC clones in 1 g condition were not able to recover Oct4 expression after overgrown. Our study for the first time performed real‐time imaging on the proliferation process of iPSCs in space and found that in μg condition, cell behaviour appeared to be more dynamic than on the ground.
Mucosal incision‐assisted biopsy versus endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration with a rapid on‐site evaluation for gastric subepithelial lesions: A randomized cross‐over study
Authors: Osoegawa Takashi , Minoda Yosuke , Ihara Eikichi , Komori Keishi , Aso Akira , Goto Ayako , Itaba Soichi , Ogino Haruei , Nakamura Kazuhiko , Harada Naohiko , Makihara Kosuke , Tsuruta Shinichi , Yamamoto Hidetaka , Ogawa Yoshihiro 
Published: February 2019

ObjectivesThis study aimed to compare the diagnostic yield of mucosal incision‐assisted biopsy (MIAB) and endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA) with a rapid on‐site evaluation (ROSE) for gastric subepithelial lesions (SEL) suspected of being gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) with an intraluminal growth pattern.MethodsThis was a prospective randomized, cross‐over multicenter study. The primary outcome was the diagnostic yield of EUS‐FNA and MIAB. The secondary outcomes were the technical success rate, complication rate, procedure time and biopsy frequency.ResultsA total of 47 patients were randomized to the MIAB group (n = 23) and EUS‐FNA group (n = 24). There was no significant difference in the diagnostic yield of MIAB and EUS‐FNA (91.3% vs 70.8%, P = 0.0746). The complication rates of MIAB and EUS‐FNA did not differ to a statistically significant extent. The mean procedure time in the MIAB group was significantly longer than that in the EUS‐FNA group (34 vs 26 min, P = 0.0011).ConclusionsThe diagnostic yield of MIAB was satisfactorily as high as EUS‐FNA with ROSE for gastric SEL with an intraluminal growth pattern.
Women's views on lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes: a systematic review, qualitative synthesis and recommendations for practice
Authors: Dennison R. A. , Ward R. J. , Griffin S. J. , Usher‐Smith J. A. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractAimsAfter gestational diabetes, many women exhibit behaviours that increase their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. We aimed to systematically synthesize the literature that focuses on the views of women with a history of gestational diabetes on reducing their risk of developing diabetes postpartum through lifestyle and behaviour changes.MethodsWe identified qualitative studies that examined the views of women with a history of gestational diabetes towards healthy eating and physical activity, Type 2 diabetes risk management or their experience of a diabetes prevention programme, and conducted a thematic synthesis to develop descriptive and then analytical themes. We also evaluated the quality of each study and the confidence that we had in our findings.ResultsWe included 21 articles after screening 23 160 citations and 129 full texts. We identified six themes of interacting influences on postpartum behaviour: role as mother and priorities; social support; demands of life; personal preferences and experiences; risk perception and information; and finances and resources (plus preferred format of interventions). These factors inhibited many women from addressing their own health, while they motivated others to persevere. We also developed 20 recommendations, most with high or moderate confidence, for effective promotion of healthy lifestyles in this population.ConclusionsMany factors hinder healthy lifestyles after gestational diabetes, yet how women interpret them can motivate or prevent changes that reduce diabetes risk. As our recommendations emphasize, women's experiences and needs should be considered when designing strategies to promote healthier lifestyles in this population.
Left atrial strain and distensibility in relation to left ventricular dysfunction and prognosis in aortic stenosis
Authors: Meimoun Patrick , Djebali Manel , Botoro Thierry , Djou MD Urbain , Bidounga Honorine , Elmkies Frederic , Martis Sonia , Clerc Jérome 
Published: February 2019

ObjectiveTo test the relationship between left atrial (LA) distensibility (LAD), LA strain (LAS), and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and prognosis in aortic stenosis (AS).MethodsTransthoracic Doppler echocardiography was performed prospectively in 102 consecutive patients with AS (77 with severe, 25 with moderate, mean age 77 years). LA volume was calculated by the area‐length method in apical four‐ and two‐chamber views, immediately before mitral valve opening (Volmax) and at mitral valve closure (Volmin). LAD was defined as (Volmax – Volmin) × 100%/Volmin. LAS (mean of maximal strain from the 4–2 chamber views) was conducted using a dedicated software package. The endpoint was hospitalization for heart failure and death from any cause.ResultsLeft atrial strain, LAD, and LA vol/m² were significantly correlated with LV diastolic parameters, and PASP (all, P < 0.05). However, LAD and LAS but not LA vol/m² were significantly correlated with Charlson score, LV global longitudinal strain, and to transaortic mean gradient (all, P < 0.05). At a median follow‐up of 25 months, 53 patients had an event. LAS, LAD, LA vol/m², and Charlson index were associated with events (all, P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, LAD, LAS, and Charlson index (all, P < 0.01) remained independently associated with events. Using a ROC curve analysis, LAD ≤ 69% and LAS ≤ 17% were the best cutoffs associated with an event.ConclusionIn patients with moderate to severe AS, LAD and LAS are associated with LV dysfunction, AS severity, and are independently linked to events.
Impact of T‐inversion on the outcome of Takotsubo syndrome as compared to acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Gietzen Thorsten , El‐Battrawy Ibrahim , Lang Siegfried , Zhou Xiao‐Bo , Ansari Uzair , Behnes Michael , Borggrefe Martin , Akin Ibrahim 
Published: February 2019

AbstractBackgroundPrevious studies revealed that patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) have a higher mortality rate than the general population and a comparable mortality to acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Repolarisation abnormalities, namely T‐wave amplitude, may provide incremental prognostic information, in addition to traditional risk factors in ACS. This study was performed to determine the short‐ and long‐term prognostic impact of inverted T‐waves in TTS patients, as compared to ACS patients.Methods and resultsOur institutional database constituted a collective of 138 patients diagnosed with TTS from 2003 to 2017, as well as 532 patients suffering from ACS. Patients with TTS or with ACS (n = 138 per group) were matched for age and sex and assessed retrospectively and prospectively and divided into two groups, TTS with inverted T‐waves (n = 123) and ACS with inverted T‐waves (n = 80). In‐hospital complications such as respiratory failure with the need of respiratory support (60.2% vs 6.3%; P < 0.01), thromboembolic events (13.8% vs 2.5%; P < 0.01) and cardiogenic shock (18.9% vs 8.8%; P = 0.05) were significantly more presented in TTS as compared to ACS patients. Among cardiovascular risk factors diabetes mellitus (23.6% vs 45.0%; P < 0.01) and arterial hypertension (57.7% vs 78.8%; P < 0.01) were more presented in ACS patients as compared to TTS patients. Short‐term mortality was similar, however the long‐term mortality of 5 years was significantly higher in the TTS group (25.2% vs 7.5%; P < 0.01). In univariate analysis were male gender, EF < 35%, GFR < 60 mL/min, cardiogenic shock, inotropic drugs and history of cancer predictors of 5‐year mortality. The multivariate analysis showed only male gender (HR 2.7, 95% CI 1.1‐6.5; P = 0.02), GFR < 60 mL/min (HR 2.8, 95% CI 1.2‐6.0; P = 0.01) and history of cancer (HR 3.6, 95% CI 1.4‐9.3; P < 0.01) as independent predictors of 5‐year mortality.ConclusionRates of long‐term mortality were significantly higher in TTS patients showing inverted T‐waves compared with patients diagnosed with ACS with inverted T‐waves. However, T‐inversion was not an independent predictor of 5‐year mortality in the multivariate analysis.
The limits to population density in birds and mammals
Authors: Stephens Philip A. , Vieira Marcus V. , Willis Stephen G. , Carbone Chris 
Published: February 2019

AbstractWe address two fundamental ecological questions: what are the limits to animal population density and what determines those limits? We develop simple alternative models to predict population limits in relation to body mass. A model assuming that within‐species area use increases with the square of daily travel distance broadly predicts the scaling of empirical extremes of minimum density across birds and mammals. Consistent with model predictions, the estimated density range for a given mass, ‘population scope’, is greater for birds than for mammals. However, unlike mammals and carnivorous birds, expected broad relationships between body mass and density extremes are not supported by data on herbivorous and omnivorous birds. Our results suggest that simple constraints on mobility and energy use/supply are major determinants of the scaling of density limits, but further understanding of interactions between dietary constraints and density limits are needed to predict future wildlife population responses to anthropogenic threats.
Second and higher moments of fundamentals: A literature review
Authors: Jia Yuecheng , Popova Ivilina , Simkins Betty , Emma Wang Qin 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThis literature review outlines the recent progress in fundamental second and higher moments of research. We survey the moments’ existence, formation, and financial market and macroeconomic implications. Research shows that time‐varying volatility and non‐Gaussian shocks exist throughout all measures of fundamentals at both the micro‐ and macro levels. In addition, the granular network among firms helps explain the origin of fundamental second and higher moments. Empirical evidence shows that the moments have strong predictive power on asset prices and macroeconomic variables. We also highlight several areas where more research is needed to better understand the moments.
Responses of microbial activity in hyporheic pore water to biogeochemical changes in a drying headwater stream
Authors: Harjung Astrid , Perujo Núria , Butturini Andrea , Romaní Anna M. , Sabater Francesc 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Microbial heterotrophic activity is a major driver of nutrient and organic matter processing in the hyporheic zone of headwater streams. Additionally, the hyporheic zone might provide refuge for microbes when surface flow ceases during drought events.

We investigated chemical (organic and inorganic nutrients) and microbiological parameters (bacterial cell concentration, live–dead ratios, and extracellular enzyme activities) of surface and interstitial pore water in a period of progressive surface‐hyporheic disconnection due to summer drying. The special situation of the chosen study reach, where groundwater mixing is impeded by the bedrock forming a natural channel filled with sediment, allowed as to study the transformation of these parameters along hyporheic flow paths.

The chemical composition of the hyporheic pore water reflected the connectivity with the surface water, as expressed in the availability of nitrate and oxygen. Conversely, microbiological parameters in all hyporheic locations were different from the surface waters, suggesting that the microbial activity in the water changes rapidly once the water enters the hyporheic zone. This feature was principally manifested in higher live–dead ratios and lower leucine aminopeptidase (an activity related to nitrogen acquisition) in the hyporheic pore waters.

Overall, bacterial cell concentration and extracellular enzyme activities increased along hyporheic flow paths, with a congruent decrease in inorganic nutrients and dissolved organic matter quantity and apparent molecular size.

Our findings show two important functions of the hyporheic zone during drought: (1) deeper (−50 cm) water‐saturated layers can act as a refuge for microbial activity; and (2) the hyporheic zone shows high rates of carbon and nitrogen turnover when water residence times are longer during drought. These rates might be even enhanced by an increase in living microbes in the remaining moist locations of the hyporheic zone.
Decrease of variation in the grading of dysplasia in colorectal adenomas with a national e‐learning module
Authors: Madani Ariana , Kuijpers Chantal C H J , Sluijter Caro E , Von der Thüsen Jan H , Grünberg Katrien , Lemmens Valery E P P , Overbeek Lucy I H , Nagtegaal Iris D 
Published: February 2019

AimsVariation in health‐care is undesirable, as this is potentially harmful for patients. In the Netherlands, an e‐learning module was developed to standardise pathological evaluation of colorectal adenomas. We studied the effect of e‐learning on interlaboratory variability in grading of dysplasia in screened conventional colorectal adenomas.Methods and resultsA cross‐sectional retrospective study was performed, including all colorectal adenomas from the Dutch population‐based colorectal cancer screening programme, retrieved from the Dutch Pathology Registry (PALGA) from January 2014 to July 2015. The e‐learning tool, commissioned by the National Institute for Public Health, was implemented among screening pathologists from October 2014. Proportions of high‐grade dysplasia (HGD) were compared before (January–July 2014) and after implementation (October 2014–July 2015) of the e‐learning module. Interlaboratory variation was assessed by multilevel mixed‐effects analysis. In total, 20 713 colonoscopies (20 546 patients) were performed after a positive faecal immunochemical screening test, resulting in the inclusion of 56 355 conventional adenomas from 37 pathology laboratories. Before implementation, 12 614 adenomas were diagnosed, including 4.3% with HGD. After implementation, 43 741 adenomas were diagnosed, and the HGD proportion decreased to 3.9%. Univariable analysis showed less deviant proportions of HGD after implementation in 62% of the laboratories (P = 0.019). Multilevel analysis confirmed decreased variation in the risk of diagnosing HGD (P = 0.021).ConclusionsInterlaboratory variability in grading HGD in colorectal adenomas after a positive screening test decreased after implementation of an e‐learning module for pathologists. We therefore conclude that e‐learning has a favourable influence on decreasing diagnostic variability, making this a relevant strategy for health‐care standardisation.