bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen alters effects of disturbance on annual grassland community diversity: Implications for restoration
Authors: Brandt Angela J. , Seabloom Eric W. , Cadotte Marc W. 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

In an era of anthropogenically altered disturbance regimes and increased nutrient loads, understanding how communities respond to these perturbations is essential for successful habitat restoration. Disturbance and resource supply can affect community diversity by altering community assembly processes, such as recruitment, mortality or competitive inequalities. The mechanisms behind community responses to these drivers will differentially affect multiple facets of diversity.

Here we examine how factorial manipulations of disturbance (raking to remove above‐ground vegetation) and nitrogen supply affect taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of predominantly annual California grassland communities spanning a 500‐km latitudinal and twofold rainfall gradient. The disturbance caused density‐independent biomass removal and increased access to resources such as space and light, thus mimicking demographic effects of disturbance as considered in ecological models and broadly applicable to empirical systems. We used paired metrics of richness, evenness and community composition to compare evidence from taxonomy and phylogeny.

Disturbance increased species and phylogenetic diversity (richness and evenness metrics). However, nitrogen addition interacted with disturbance to reduce species richness and phylogenetic diversity. Undisturbed communities were more strongly clustered phylogenetically, but disturbance eroded this clustering such that communities became more random (i.e. indistinguishable from a null model of assembly). Species composition differed between disturbed and undisturbed communities, and many species were observed in only one community type. Disturbance interacted with nitrogen supply to alter phylogenetic composition of communities, and recently disturbed communities were more spatially variable in phylogenetic composition than undisturbed communities. Phylogenetic composition of communities also differed among nitrogen treatments.

Synthesis. Our results suggest that disturbing these grassland communities by removing above‐ground vegetation increased community diversity by increasing recruitment. Seed addition following this type of disturbance is thus likely to be an effective restoration technique. However, we have shown that disturbance combined with nitrogen enrichment reduces community diversity. The mechanism for this enrichment effect does not appear to be linked to increased productivity leading to light limitation. This work suggests restoration efforts employing biomass removal must take nutrient availability into account to maximize local community diversity.
Trait hierarchies and intraspecific variability drive competitive interactions in Mediterranean annual plants
Authors: Carmona Carlos P. , de Bello Francesco , Azcárate Francisco M. , Mason Norman W. H. , Peco Begoña 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

Both intra‐ and interspecific differences in traits may modulate interactions between plants. Two mechanisms are hypothesized to regulate these effects: competitive hierarchies and trait dissimilarities, but it is unclear how the prevalence of each might depend on environmental conditions and on intra and interspecific differences.

We sowed six replicates of all possible pairwise combinations across eight annual species (including conspecific competition and individuals without competitors), in pots under two levels of fertilization. We measured above‐ and below‐ground traits and total biomass of the focal individuals. We expressed competition as the decrease in biomass of focal individuals relative to biomass without competition, and modelled competition using directional (hierarchy) or non‐directional (dissimilarity) trait differences, with or without intraspecific variability (ITV).

We found evidence of different trait hierarchies operating under different fertilization conditions but little support for trait dissimilarities. The negative effect of competition on focal plants increased with the height of the competitors in both of fertilization levels. Further, in unfertilized conditions, plants with lower specific leaf area (SLA) and larger root systems experienced less competition. Including ITV in trait hierarchies substantially improved our ability to predict the intensity of competition. This was partly due to ITV reducing competitive hierarchies.

Synthesis. Our results underscore the importance of traits in driving interactions among plants. Competitive relationships between species depend on complex interactions between trait intra and interspecific differences and resource availability. ITV appears to be a mechanism capable of reducing trait hierarchies, and hence the intensity of competition between coexisting plants.
Hedonic Price of Housing Space
Authors: Agarwal Sumit , Chen Yanying , Li Jing , Tan Yi Jin 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThis article estimates hedonic prices for different levels of housing space, by exploiting a unique space‐adding project in Singapore that added a uniform amount of space to each existing housing unit regardless of the original size. This space adding program was carried out if sufficient residents vote in favor of space adding. Using a difference‐in‐differences (DiD) strategy after restricting our sample to narrow margins around the voting cutoff, we find that the additional space increased the resale price of a housing unit by 7% on average, and the extent of price appreciation varied significantly across the original size of the units.
Mental Effects of Excess Parathyroid Hormone in Hemodialysis Patients: A Possible Role for Parathyroid 2 Hormone Receptor?
Authors: Diskin James , Diskin Charles J 
Published: August 2019

AbstractDepression as measured by the kidney disease quality of life (KDQOL) form is known to be an independent risk factor for mortality dialysis patients. Excess parathyroid hormone (PTH) has long been associated with neuropsychiatric disturbances. Those psychiatric complications are currently attributed to hypercalcemia with very little evidence; however, with the discovery of the parathyroid hormone 2 receptor (PTH2R) in the brain which can be activated by PTH, PTH2R might indicate a direct effect of PTH. As secondary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism is common in dialysis patients where the serum calcium is low or normal, we chose to investigate a possible relationship between PTH levels and depression in dialysis patients. This was a matched pair observational study with 10 patients with intact PTH values above 1000 pg/mL who were matched with 10 patients who had PTH values less than 400 pg/mL for the presence of diabetes, years on dialysis, duration of dialysis time, Kt/V, hemoglobin, and 25 OH vitamin D levels, as well as intravenous iron and erythropoietin administration. The Kidney Disease Quality of Life questionnaire (KDQOL‐36) scores and patient Health Questionnaire scores were analyzed during that time. All variables underwent tests for normality and matched pair t‐test. All subscales of the KDQOL‐36 were worse in the high PTH group with the effect on daily life reaching P = 0.01 and the burden of disease and symptoms both reaching P = 0.02. PTH and PTH2R may be appropriate targets for investigations to improve the quality of life in hemodialysis patients.
Trends in the incidence of Merkel cell carcinoma in Victoria, Australia, between 1986 and 2016
Authors: Garbutcheon‐Singh Kieran B. , Curchin David J. , McCormack Christopher J. , Smith Saxon D. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractBackground/ObjectivesMerkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly invasive cutaneous malignancy. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence and trends of MCC in Victoria, Australia, between 1986 and 2016.MethodsPopulation‐based, descriptive analysis of Victorian Cancer Registry (VCR) data. The de‐identified records of patients with MCC were obtained from Victoria residents diagnosed between 1986 and 2016. Trends in age‐standardised incidences were examined using joinpoint analysis.ResultsA total of 1095 cases were found. Incidence of MCC was 3.9 per 100 000 for men and 1.5 per 100 000 for women. The incidence of MCC in men 66–85 is increasing at an annual rate of 4.2% (2.8–5.8%, 95% CI). However, since 2002 the incidence in women in the same age group has been decreasing. Whilst there is an overall stabilisation in the incidence of MCC, incidence of MCC for males is increasing. For MCC in males 85 years old and over, the incidence of MCC was 26.8 per 100 000 between 2012 and 2016. Relative 5‐year survival for patients diagnosed between 2008 and 2012 is 50%.ConclusionMerkel cell carcinoma remains an aggressive cancer, especially among older men. Differences in trends seen in local data can help target preventative and early intervention management strategies in specific groups.
Upregulation of IL‐36 cytokines in folliculitis and eosinophilic pustular folliculitis
Authors: Sato Seisho , Chiba Takahito , Nakahara Takeshi , Furue Masutaka 
Published: August 2019

AbstractBackgroundMembers of the interleukin (IL)‐36 family, IL‐36α, IL‐36β and IL‐36γ, are potent chemoattractive cytokines for neutrophils and eosinophils. IL‐36 receptor antagonist (IL‐36Ra) inhibits IL‐36α, IL‐36β and IL‐36γ activity. However, the immunohistological expression of IL‐36α, IL‐36β, IL‐36γ and IL‐36Ra has never been addressed in normal follicles, folliculitis or eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF).MethodsWe performed immunohistochemical staining for IL‐36α, IL‐36β, IL‐36γ and IL‐36Ra using 10 cases of EPF, nine of non‐specific folliculitis, 10 normal skin samples and 10 samples of normal follicles adjacent to a sebaceous naevus as a control. Two dermatologists, who were blind to the patient records, evaluated all of the slides.ResultsThe immunoreactive IL‐36α was hardly detected in the follicular epithelium and epidermis in the normal skin, folliculitis or EPF. The expression of IL‐36β, IL‐36γ and IL‐36Ra was augmented in both folliculitis and EPF compared with that in normal follicles. Negative correlations were detected between IL‐36β and IL‐36Ra and between IL‐36γ and IL‐36Ra in normal follicles; however, these were absent in folliculitis. In contrast to normal follicles and folliculitis, a significant positive correlation between IL‐36β/γ and IL‐36Ra was shown in EPF.ConclusionsThe overexpression of IL‐36β, IL‐36γ and IL‐36Ra is an integral part of the inflammatory response of folliculitis and EPF. The coordinated expression of IL‐36γ and IL‐36Ra may be related to the pathomechanism of EPF.
Taming the Ontological Wolves: Learning from Iroquoian Effigy Objects
Authors: Cipolla Craig N. 
Published: August 2019

ABSTRACTCurrently on the rise in archaeology, ontological approaches promise new ways of engaging with alterity of various kinds—different people, different times, different forms, even different worlds. This work promises to aid in critical reflections on the arbitrary nature of the Western gaze and to recognize and incorporate non‐Western knowledge in new manners. There are, however, several challenges to address. First, as noted by several leading thinkers in this area, the present range of ontological approaches include contrasting theoretical underpinnings. Second, these approaches are rarely considered in relation to the practical challenges of specific archaeological cases, particularly contexts of settler colonialism in which practitioners are attuned to the potential colonial nature of their work. I divide ontologically engaged archaeologies into three related but distinct groups and use a small museum assemblage of seventeenth‐century Wendat materials from Ontario to help think through these three theories. In comparing approaches, I outline their respective strengths, weaknesses, and points in need of further clarification. I conclude that the ontological turns offer new and valuable angles of articulation with archaeological materials but that archaeologists must adopt them cautiously if they are to avoid repeating or continuing some of the darkest parts of our (colonial) disciplinary history. [ontology, archaeology, new materialism, archaeological theory, effigies, colonialism, Iroquoian archaeology, Ontario]
Delivery room skin‐to‐skin contact for preterm infants—A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Mehler Katrin , Hucklenbruch‐Rother Eva , Trautmann‐Villalba Patricia , Becker Ingrid , Roth Bernhard , Kribs Angela 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAimTo investigate the effects of 60 minutes delivery room skin‐to‐skin contact (DR‐SSC) compared with 5 minutes visual contact (VC) on mother‐child interaction (MCI), salivary cortisol, maternal depression, stress and bonding at 6 months corrected age.MethodsA single‐centre randomized controlled trial conducted in a German level III NICU. Eighty‐eight preterm infants (25‐32 weeks of gestational age) were randomized after initial stabilization to either 60 minutes DR‐SSC or 5 minutes VC. Forty‐five infants were allocated to DR‐SSC, 43 to VC.ResultsDelivery room skin‐to‐skin contact dyads showed a higher quantity of maternal motoric (18 vs 15, P = .030), infant's vocal (7 vs 5, P = .044) and motoric (20 vs 15, P = .032) responses. Moreover, the combined score of maternal and infant responsive behaviour was higher (86 vs 71, P = .041) in DR‐SSC dyads. DR‐SSC mothers had lower risk of both, early postpartum depression (15% vs 45%, P = .003) and impaired bonding (Score 3 vs 5, P = .031).ConclusionIn addition to regular intermittent kangaroo mother care, DR‐SSC promotes MCI and decreases risk of maternal depression and bonding problems. Thus, DR‐SSC may have positive effects on preterm development.
Effects of the ventilatory stimulant, doxapram on human TASK‐3 (KCNK9, K2P9.1) channels and TASK‐1 (KCNK3, K2P3.1) channels
Authors: Cunningham Kevin P. , MacIntyre D. Euan , Mathie Alistair , Veale Emma L. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAimsThe mode of action by which doxapram acts as a respiratory stimulant in humans is controversial. Studies in rodent models, have shown that doxapram is a more potent and selective inhibitor of TASK‐1 and TASK‐1/TASK‐3 heterodimer channels, than TASK‐3. Here we investigate the direct effect of doxapram and chirally separated, individual positive and negative enantiomers of the compound, on both human and mouse, homodimeric and heterodimeric variants of TASK‐1 and TASK‐3.MethodsWhole‐cell patch clamp electrophysiology on tsA201 cells was used to assess the potency of doxapram on cloned human or mouse TASK‐1, TASK‐3 and TASK‐2 channels. Mutations of amino acids in the pore‐lining region of TASK‐3 channels were introduced using site‐directed mutagenesis.ResultsDoxapram was an equipotent inhibitor of human TASK‐1 and TASK‐3 channels, compared with mouse channel variants, where it was more selective for TASK‐1 and heterodimers of TASK‐1 and TASK‐3. The effect of doxapram could be attenuated by either the removal of the C‐terminus of human TASK‐3 channels or mutations of particular hydrophobic residues in the pore‐lining region. These mutations, however, did not alter the effect of a known extracellular inhibitor of TASK‐3, zinc. The positive enantiomer of doxapram, GAL‐054, was a more potent antagonist of TASK channels, than doxapram, whereas the negative enantiomer, GAL‐053, had little inhibitory effect.ConclusionThese data show that in contrast to rodent channels, doxapram is a potent inhibitor of both TASK‐1 and TASK‐3 human channels, providing further understanding of the pharmacological profile of doxapram in humans and informing the development of new therapeutic agents.
Increased risk of thiopurine‐related adverse events in elderly patients with IBD
Authors: Calafat Margalida , Mañosa Míriam , Cañete Fiorella , Ricart Elena , Iglesias Eva , Calvo Marta , Rodríguez‐Moranta Francisco , Taxonera Carlos , Nos Pilar , Mesonero Francisco , Martín‐Arranz María-Dolores , Mínguez Miguel , Gisbert Javier P. , García‐López Santiago , de Francisco Ruth , Gomollón Fernando , Calvet Xavier , Garcia‐Planella Esther , Rivero Montserrat , Martínez‐Cadilla Jesús , Argüelles Federico , Arias Lara , Cimavilla Marta , Zabana Yamile , Domènech Eugeni ,   the ENEIDA registry of GETECCU
Published: August 2019

SummaryBackgroundThiopurines are the most widely used immunosuppressants in IBD although drug‐related adverse events (AE) occur in 20%‐30% of cases.AimTo evaluate the safety of thiopurines in elderly IBD patientsMethodsCohort study including all adult patients in the ENEIDA registry who received thiopurines. Patients were grouped in terms of age at the beginning of thiopurine treatment, specifically in those who started thiopurines over 60 years or between 18 and 50 years of age. Thiopurine‐related AEs registered in the ENEIDA database were compared.ResultsOut of 48 752 patients, 1888 started thiopurines when over 60 years of age and 15 477 under 50 years of age. Median treatment duration was significantly shorter for those who started thiopurines >60 years (13 [IQR 2‐55] vs 32 [IQR 5‐82] months; P < .001). Patients starting >60 years had higher rates of all types of myelotoxicity, digestive intolerance and hepatotoxicity. Thiopurines were discontinued due to AEs (excluding malignancies and infections) in more patients starting >60 years (67.2% vs 63.1%; P < .001). Elderly age and female sex were independent risk factors for most AEs.ConclusionIn elderly IBD patients, thiopurines are associated with an increased risk of non‐infectious, non‐neoplastic, AEs.
Beyond market, firm, and state: Mapping the ethics of global value chains
Authors: Singer Abraham A. , van der Ven Hamish 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe growth of global value chains (GVCs) and the emergence of novel forms of value chain governance pose two questions for normative business ethics. First, how should we conceptualize the relationships between members of a GVC? Second, what ethical implications follow from these relationships, both with respect to interactions between GVC members and with respect to achieving broader transnational governance goals? We address these questions by examining the emergence of transnational eco‐labeling as an increasingly prominent form of GVC governance that is redefining the relationship between nominally independent firms. On the first question, we argue that GVCs occupy a middle ground between intrafirm and interfirm transactions, thereby posing a challenge to theoretical frameworks that attempt to apply ethical standards based on transaction types. On the second question, we argue that this unique institutional status leads to a range of novel ethical considerations and dilemmas for GVC members. Lead firms, their suppliers, and third‐party standard‐setters all confront new ethical quandaries when third‐party eco‐labeling is introduced to a GVC. The nature of these quandaries means that, while GVCs may be well‐positioned to serve as instruments of transnational governance, they are frequently not well‐oriented to do so. Our analysis marks an initial attempt to map the ethical considerations that apply to members of a GVC, and in doing so, places the literature on normative business ethics and transnational governance in a closer conversation.
Structured gene‐environment interaction analysis
Authors: Wu Mengyun , Zhang Qingzhao , Ma Shuangge 
Published: August 2019

AbstractFor the etiology, progression, and treatment of complex diseases, gene‐environment (G‐E) interactions have important implications beyond the main G and E effects. G‐E interaction analysis can be more challenging with higher dimensionality and need for accommodating the “main effects, interactions” hierarchy. In recent literature, an array of novel methods, many of which are based on the penalization technique, have been developed. In most of these studies, however, the structures of G measurements, for example, the adjacency structure of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; attributable to their physical adjacency on the chromosomes) and the network structure of gene expressions (attributable to their coordinated biological functions and correlated measurements) have not been well accommodated. In this study, we develop structured G‐E interaction analysis, where such structures are accommodated using penalization for both the main G effects and interactions. Penalization is also applied for regularized estimation and selection. The proposed structured interaction analysis can be effectively realized. It is shown to have consistency properties under high‐dimensional settings. Simulations and analysis of GENEVA diabetes data with SNP measurements and TCGA melanoma data with gene expression measurements demonstrate its competitive practical performance.
JAK1/2 pathway inhibition suppresses M2 polarization and overcomes resistance of myeloma to lenalidomide by reducing TRIB1, MUC1, CD44, CXCL12, and CXCR4 expression
Authors: Chen Haiming , Li Mingjie , Sanchez Eric , Soof Camilia M. , Bujarski Sean , Ng Nicole , Cao Jasmin , Hekmati Tara , Zahab Brian , Nosrati Jason D. , Wen Mingxiang , Wang Cathy S. , Tang George , Xu Ning , Spektor Tanya M. , Berenson James R. 
Published: August 2019

SummaryMonocytes polarize into pro‐inflammatory macrophage‐1 (M1) or alternative macrophage‐2 (M2) states with distinct phenotypes and physiological functions. M2 cells promote tumour growth and metastasis whereas M1 macrophages show anti‐tumour effects. We found that M2 cells were increased whereas M1 cells were decreased in bone marrow (BM) from multiple myeloma (MM) patients with progressive disease (PD) compared to those in complete remission (CR). Gene expression of Tribbles homolog 1 (TRIB1) protein kinase, an inducer of M2 polarization, was increased in BM from MM patients with PD compared to those in CR. Ruxolitinib (RUX) is an inhibitor of the Janus kinase family of protein tyrosine kinases (JAKs) and is effective for treating patients with myeloproliferative disorders. RUX markedly reduces both M2 polarization and TRIB1 gene expression in MM both in vitro and in vivo in human MM xenografts in severe combined immunodeficient mice. RUX also downregulates the expression of CXCL12, CXCR4, MUC1, and CD44 in MM cells and monocytes co‐cultured with MM tumour cells; overexpression of these genes is associated with resistance of MM cells to the immunomodulatory agent lenalidomide. These results provide the rationale for evaluation of JAK inhibitors, including MM BM in combination with lenalidomide, for the treatment of MM patients.