bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen acquisition of Central European herbaceous plants that differ in their global naturalization success
Authors: Liu Yanjie , van Kleunen Mark 
Published: January 2019

AbstractIt is frequently assumed that species capable of fast nitrogen (N) acquisition under different N‐availability conditions should have a higher establishment success after their introduction into new regions. However, few experimental studies have explicitly tested this. Our multispecies experiment tested whether global naturalization success of plant species native to Central Europe is related to a high N‐acquisition ability.We selected 41 common herbaceous species native to Germany that have all become naturalized, and thus been introduced, elsewhere. Twenty‐two of these species are widely naturalized and 19 are less widely naturalized. We grew the 41 grassland species, sampled in Germany, under low and high N‐conditions in a greenhouse experiment, and assessed their N‐acquisition abilities.Although the widely naturalized species grew faster on average, they had a significantly lower N‐uptake rate than the less widely naturalized ones. The widely naturalized species, however, had a marginally significantly higher root‐mass fraction. Despite these differences, the total plant N‐content did on average not differ between the two groups of species. However, N‐addition tended to increase the total plant N‐content more for the widely naturalized species than for the less widely naturalized species. Nitroge addition also increased biomass production and N‐uptake rate, and decreased the root‐mass fraction of plants, but these responses did not differ between widely and less widely naturalized species.We conclude that although fast‐growing species tend to have a higher global naturalization success than slow‐growing species, the naturalization success of plants is not necessarily related to a high N‐acquisition ability.Aplain language summaryis available for this article.
Experimental N and P additions alter stream macroinvertebrate community composition via taxon‐level responses to shifts in detrital resource stoichiometry
Authors: Demi Lee M. , Benstead Jonathan P. , Rosemond Amy D. , Maerz John C. 
Published: January 2019

Abstract

Increases in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability are changing animal communities, partly by altering stoichiometric imbalances between consumers and their food. Testing relationships between resource stoichiometry and consumer assemblage structure requires ecosystem‐level manipulations that have been lacking to date.

We analysed patterns of macroinvertebrate community composition in five detritus‐based headwater streams subject to experimental whole‐stream N and P additions that spanned a steep gradient in dissolved N:P ratio (2:1, 8:1, 16:1, 32:1, 128:1) over 2 years, following a 1‐year pre‐treatment period.

We predicted that shifts in leaf litter stoichiometry would drive overall patterns of community composition via greater responses of shredders to enrichment than other taxa, as shredders dominate primary consumer biomass and experience larger consumer–resource elemental imbalances than other functional groups in stream ecosystems. Specifically, we expected litter C:P to be a significant predictor of shredder biomass given the greater relative imbalances between shredder and litter C:P than C:N. Finally, we tested whether shredder responses to enrichment were related to other taxon‐level traits, including body size and stoichiometry, larval life span and growth rate.

Whole‐community composition shifted similarly across the five streams after enrichment, largely driven by increased shredder and predator biomass. These shifts were limited to the autumn/winter seasons and related to decreased leaf litter C:P, highlighting important links between the quality of seasonal litter subsidies and community phenology.

Among 10 taxa that drove structural shifts, two declined while other taxa from the same functional/taxonomic groups responded positively, suggesting that specific life‐history traits may determine sensitivity to enrichment.

Increases in total shredder biomass, and in biomass of several common shredders, were associated with lower litter C:P. Body C:P did not predict shredder response to enrichment. However, weak negative relationships between shredder response and body size, and larval life span, suggest that small‐bodied and short‐lived taxa may be more responsive to shifting resource stoichiometry.

Moderate anthropogenic increases in N and P availability affect resource stoichiometry and can alter animal communities, influencing additional food web and ecosystem properties. We provide support for ecological stoichiometry as a framework for predicting such outcomes based on changes in the elemental composition of resource pools.

A plain language summary is available for this article.
Association of a plant‐based dietary pattern in relation to gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Zamani Behzad , Milajerdi Alireza , Tehrani Hatav , Bellissimo Nick , Brett Neil R. , Azadbakht Leila 
Published: January 2019

AimThe prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which has adverse effects on mothers and their offspring, is increasing worldwide. The role of a plant‐based dietary pattern as a determinant of GDM is not well understood. Therefore, we examined the association between plant‐based dietary patterns and the risk of GDM.MethodsWe enrolled 460 pregnant women in this case–control study, of them 200 were cases and 260 were controls. Dietary intake of participants was evaluated using three 24‐hour dietary records. Adherence to the plant‐based dietary patterns was scored using three indices of the overall plant‐based dietary index (PDI), healthy plant‐based diet (hPDI) and unhealthy plant‐based diet index (uPDI). The risk of GDM was compared across tertiles of PDI, hPDI and uPDI.ResultsAfter multivariable adjustment, we demonstrated that the high PDI score was inversely associated with risk of GDM (OR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.28–0.78, P = 0.004), but there was no significant association between hPDI (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 0.64–1.65, P = 0.884) or uPDI (OR = 1.65; 95% CI: 0.98–2.78, P = 0.06) and GDM risk.ConclusionsWe found that following an overall plant‐based diet was associated with lower risk of GDM. Future studies are warranted with longitudinal designs to confirm these findings.
CoordinateCleaner: Standardized cleaning of occurrence records from biological collection databases
Authors: Zizka Alexander , Silvestro Daniele , Andermann Tobias , Azevedo Josué , Duarte Ritter Camila , Edler Daniel , Farooq Harith , Herdean Andrei , Ariza María , Scharn Ruud , Svantesson Sten , Wengström Niklas , Zizka Vera , Antonelli Alexandre 
Published: January 2019

Abstract

Species occurrence records from online databases are an indispensable resource in ecological, biogeographical and palaeontological research. However, issues with data quality, especially incorrect geo‐referencing or dating, can diminish their usefulness. Manual cleaning is time‐consuming, error prone, difficult to reproduce and limited to known geographical areas and taxonomic groups, making it impractical for datasets with thousands or millions of records.

Here, we present CoordinateCleaner, an r‐package to scan datasets of species occurrence records for geo‐referencing and dating imprecisions and data entry errors in a standardized and reproducible way. CoordinateCleaner is tailored to problems common in biological and palaeontological databases and can handle datasets with millions of records. The software includes (a) functions to flag potentially problematic coordinate records based on geographical gazetteers, (b) a global database of 9,691 geo‐referenced biodiversity institutions to identify records that are likely from horticulture or captivity, (c) novel algorithms to identify datasets with rasterized data, conversion errors and strong decimal rounding and (d) spatio‐temporal tests for fossils.

We describe the individual functions available in CoordinateCleaner and demonstrate them on more than 90 million occurrences of flowering plants from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and 19,000 fossil occurrences from the Palaeobiology Database (PBDB). We find that in GBIF more than 3.4 million records (3.7%) are potentially problematic and that 179 of the tested contributing datasets (18.5%) might be biased by rasterized coordinates. In PBDB, 1205 records (6.3%) are potentially problematic.

All cleaning functions and the biodiversity institution database are open‐source and available within the CoordinateCleaner r‐package.
Identifying Predictors of Undertriage in Injured Older Adults After Implementation of Statewide Geriatric Trauma Triage Criteria
Authors: Amoako Jeffrey , Evans Sara , Brown Nicole V. , Khaliqdina Salman , Caterino Jeffrey M. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractObjectivesThe objective was to identify factors associated with transport of injured older adults meeting statewide geriatric trauma triage criteria to a trauma center.MethodsAn observational retrospective cohort study using the 2009 to 2011 Ohio Trauma Registry. Subjects were adults ≥ 70 years old who met Ohio's geriatric triage criteria for trauma center transport by emergency medical services. We created multivariable logistic regression models to identify predictors of initial and ultimate (e.g., interfacility transfer) transport to a Level I or II trauma center and to a Level I, II, or III center.ResultsOf 10,411 subjects, 47% were initially and 59% were ultimately transported to a Level I or II trauma center with rates of 66 and 74%, respectively, for transport to a Level I, II, or III center. For initial transport to a Level I or II center, age 80 to 89 (odds ratio [OR] = 0.89), age ≥ 90 (OR = 0.76), and either only a Level 3 (OR = 0.3) or no trauma center (OR = 0.11) in county of residence had decreased odds of transport, while male sex (OR = 1.38), black race (OR = 2.07), Injury Severity Score (ISS) 10–15 (OR = 1.99), ISS > 15 (OR = 2.85), and Glasgow Coma Scale score < 9 (OR = 2.11) had increased odds. Results were similar for ultimate transport to a Level I or II center. Analyzing transport to a Level I, II, or III center demonstrated similar results except a Level III trauma center in county of residence was associated with increased odds (OR = 2.00 for initial and 2.21 for ultimate) of transport to a Level I, II, or III center.ConclusionsWe identified factors independently associated with failure to transport injured older adults to trauma centers in statewide data collected after adoption of geriatric triage criteria. Lack of a trauma center in the county of residence remained a factor even in analyses that included ultimate transport.
Mediterranean diet and the risk of poor semen quality: cross‐sectional analysis of men referring to an Italian Fertility Clinic
Authors: Ricci E. , Bravi F. , Noli S. , Ferrari S. , De Cosmi V. , La Vecchia I. , Cavadini M. , La Vecchia C. , Parazzini F. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractBackgroundSeveral diet patterns have been suggested as involved in processes of spermatogenesis and thus in male subfertility. To study the relation between Mediterranean diet and abnormal sperm parameters in men of subfertile couples, we performed a cross‐sectional analysis of baseline data from a prospective cohort study.MethodsPatients were enrolled in an Italian Fertility Clinic. Couples undergoing assisted reproduction techniques (ART) were interviewed to obtain information on personal and health history, lifestyle habits, and diet, on the day of oocyte retrieval. On the same day, a semen sample was also collected and analyzed to proceed with ART. Adherence to Mediterranean diet was evaluated using a Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS). Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for semen volume <1.5 mL, sperm concentration <15 mil/mL, and total count <39 mil.ResultsThree hundred nine men, age range 27–60, were enrolled: 19.3% had semen volume < 1.5 mL, 30.5% sperm concentration <15 mil/mL, and 32.1% total count <39 mil. MDS was low (0–3) in 86 men (27.8%), intermediate (4–5) in 131 (42.4%), and high (6–9) in 92 (29.8%). Semen volume was not associated with MDS. Compared to the highest MDS category (6–9), the ORs for low sperm concentration were 1.34 (95% CI 0.69–2.50) for MDS 4–5 and 2.42 (95% CI 1.21–4.83) for MDS 0–3, with significant trend (p = 0.011). The corresponding estimates for total count were 1.26 (95% CI 0.66–2.42) and 2.08 (95% CI 1.05–4.12), with significant trend (p = 0.034). These findings were consistent in strata of history of reproductive organ diseases.ConclusionsMediterranean Diet Score was positively associated with normal sperm concentration and total count, but not with semen volume.
Effects of forage source and particle size on chewing activity, ruminal pH, and saliva secretion in lactating Holstein cows
Authors: Jiang Fu‐Gui , Lin Xue‐Yan , Yan Zhen‐Gui , Hu Zhi‐Yong , Wang Yun , Wang Zhong‐Hua 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe present study investigated the effects of dietary forage source (quality) and particle size on chewing activity, saliva secretion, and ruminal pH. Twelve multiparous lactating Holstein cows, four of which were ruminally cannulated, were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square experimental design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Cows fed wild‐rye hay diets had longer daily eating times than cows fed oaten hay diets. Treatments had no effect on ruminating time; therefore, resting time varied inversely to eating time. Neither the rate nor the amount of saliva secretion while eating, ruminating, or resting was affected by diet, resulting in similar total daily saliva secretions across treatments (231 L/day). Total volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in the ruminal fluid from animals fed oaten hay diets were higher than those from animals fed wild‐rye hay diets; further, VFAs increased with decreasing forage particle size (FPS). Consistent with elevated VFA concentrations, reducing FPS and including oaten hay in the diet decreased mean ruminal pH and increased the daily time of ruminal pH under 5.8. Results of this study suggest that forage source and particle size affect ruminal pH might be via variations in VFA production rather than increased salivary recycling of buffering substrates.
Population pharmacokinetics of brodalumab in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis
Authors: Timmermann Stine , Hall Anders 
Published: January 2019

AbstractBrodalumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting the IL‐17 receptor A leading to an inhibition of the biological effect of IL‐17A, IL‐17F, IL‐17A/F heterodimer, IL‐17C and IL‐17E isoforms. It has shown to be efficacious in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (210 mg administered subcutaneously at weeks 0, 1 and 2 followed by 210 mg every 2 weeks [Q2W+1]). A population pharmacokinetic model based on psoriasis patients only from six clinical trials was developed to describe the pharmacokinetics and identify sources of variability. In patients with psoriasis, Brodalumab exhibits non‐linear pharmacokinetics due to target‐mediated drug disposition resulting in concentration‐dependent clearance. The pharmacokinetics was best described by a two‐compartment model with linear absorption and combined linear and Michaelis‐Menten elimination. The subcutaneous bioavailability of Brodalumab was 55%, absorption rate was 0.30 day−1, and body‐weight was found to affect the volume of distribution and clearance. For a reference patient with plaque psoriasis (body‐weight of 90 kg), the estimates were 0.16 L/d for linear serum clearance, 6.1 mg/d for the maximum non‐linear clearance rate, and 4.7 and 2.4 L for central and peripheral volume of distribution, respectively. For the approved dosing regimen, time to maximum concentration was 4 days and 90% of steady‐state was achieved after 10 weeks for a reference patient. Following last dose at steady‐state, 90% of the population of reference patients will reach serum concentrations below lower limit of quantification after 45 days.
Interest Arbitration and the Narcotic Effect: Evidence from Three Decades of Collective Bargaining in Ontario
Authors: Campolieti Michele , Riddell Chris 
Published: January 2019

AbstractWe study whether there is increased reliance on interest arbitration, that is, a narcotic or addictive effect or, alternatively, positive state dependence, in public sector contract settlements. We use contract data from three sectors (police, firefighters and hospitals) in the Canadian province of Ontario, which covers 1981 to 2012. The length of our study period yields much longer bargaining histories than previously used, which should provide more compelling evidence on whether there is increased reliance on interest arbitration to settle bargaining impasses over time. We obtain our estimates using a dynamic probit model with random effects that models the initial conditions. Our estimates indicate — across all the sectors we consider and some robustness checks — that there is a narcotic effect in interest arbitration usage despite very different average propensities to use arbitration across sectors.
Iron accumulation in microglia triggers a cascade of events that leads to altered metabolism and compromised function in APP/PS1 mice
Authors: McIntosh Allison , Mela Virginia , Harty Conor , Minogue Aedin M. , Costello Derek A. , Kerskens Christian , Lynch Marina A. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractAmong the changes that typify Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are neuroinflammation and microglial activation, amyloid deposition perhaps resulting from compromised microglial function and iron accumulation. Data from Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) identified a number of gene variants that endow a significant risk of developing AD and several of these encode proteins expressed in microglia and proteins that are implicated in the immune response. This suggests that neuroinflammation and the accompanying microglial activation are likely to contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. The trigger(s) leading to these changes remain to be identified. In this study, we set out to examine the link between the inflammatory, metabolic and iron‐retentive signature of microglia in vitro and in transgenic mice that overexpress the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilin 1 (PS1; APP/PS1 mice), a commonly used animal model of AD. Stimulation of cultured microglia with interferon (IFN)γ and amyloid‐β (Aβ) induced an inflammatory phenotype and switched the metabolic profile and iron handling of microglia so that the cells became glycolytic and iron retentive, and the phagocytic and chemotactic function of the cells was reduced. Analysis of APP/PS1 mice by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed genotype‐related hypointense areas in the hippocampus consistent with iron deposition, and immunohistochemical analysis indicated that the iron accumulated in microglia, particularly in microglia that decorated Aβ deposits. Isolated microglia prepared from APP/PS1 mice were characterized by a switch to a glycolytic and iron‐retentive phenotype and phagocytosis of Aβ was reduced in these cells. This evidence suggests that the switch to glycolysis in microglia may kick‐start a cascade of events that ultimately leads to microglial dysfunction and Aβ accumulation.
One‐off export events
Authors: Geishecker Ingo , Schröder Philipp J. H. , S⊘rensen Allan 
Published: January 2019

AbstractIsolated single‐month, one‐off export transactions (observed once in a 49‐month window) turn out to be the dominant spell length in granular firm–product–destination trade data. Moreover, on average, for an export‐active firm, such one‐off events generate a significant part of foreign sales. These patterns cannot be explained by the lumpiness of trade (e.g., seasonal shipments), nor do they sit well with available trade models. To reconcile theory with the data, we introduce passive (i.e., unsolicited buyer‐side driven) exporting in addition to proactive exporting. Our empirical investigation establishes novel stylized facts on firm and destination characteristics associated with one‐off exporting.
A total evidence analysis of the phylogeny of hatchet‐faced treefrogs (Anura: Hylidae: Sphaenorhynchus)
Authors: Araujo‐Vieira Katyuscia , Blotto Boris L. , Caramaschi Ulisses , Haddad Celio F. B. , Faivovich Julián , Grant Taran 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe Neotropical hylid genus Sphaenorhynchus includes 15 species of small, greenish treefrogs widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, and in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Although some studies have addressed the phylogenetic relationships of the genus with other hylids using a few exemplar species, its internal relationships remain poorly understood. In order to test its monophyly and the relationships among its species, we performed a total evidence phylogenetic analysis of sequences of three mitochondrial and three nuclear genes, and 193 phenotypic characters from all species of Sphaenorhynchus. Our results support the monophyly of Sphaenorhynchus with molecular and phenotypic evidence, with S. pauloalvini as the earliest diverging taxon, followed by S. carneus, as the sister taxon of all remaining species of the genus. We recognize three species groups in Sphaenorhynchus (the S. lacteus, S. planicola and S. platycephalus groups), to facilitate its taxonomic study; only three species (S. carneus, S. pauloalvini and S. prasinus) remain unassigned to any group. Sequence data were not available for only two species (S. bromelicola and S. palustris) for which we scored phenotypic data; wildcard behaviour was detected only in S. bromelicola nested inside the S. platycephalus group. On the basis of the resulting phylogenetic hypothesis, we discuss the evolution of oviposition site and a number of phenotypic characters that could be associated with heterochronic events in the evolutionary history of this group.
Mosaic nature in the skeleton of East Asian crocodylians fills the morphological gap between “Tomistominae” and Gavialinae
Authors: Iijima Masaya , Kobayashi Yoshitsugu 
Published: January 2019

AbstractCrocodylian systematics has long been confounded by conflicting hypotheses of higher level relationships—although molecular data sets strongly supported the sister‐taxon relationship ofTomistomaandGavialis, morphological data sets placedGavialisas sister to all other living taxa. One of the perceived difficulties in interpreting morphological character evolution on the molecular tree is the extensive character reversal occurring in Gavialinae, the mechanism of which has yet to be explained. Here, we provide evidence of gavialine‐specific atavistic characters from East Asian “tomistomines”Penghusuchus paniandToyotamaphimeia machikanensis. These taxa exhibit a mosaic assembly of “tomistomine” and gavialine features, which fill the gap between the two longirostrine groups. Although the parsimony analysis of morphological data (69 taxa, 254 characters) still supports the previous morphological hypothesis, the alternative tree that was forced to fit the molecular hypothesis was insignificantly (5/954 steps; 0.52%) longer than the unconstrained tree, suggesting that morphological evolution can also be interpreted on the molecular tree. Although the problem of stratigraphic gaps remains, future studies may be directed to resolving the interrelationships within Gavialoidea, a large longirostrine group of crocodylians, in the molecular tree context.