bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Priority questions for biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean biome: Heterogeneous perspectives across continents and stakeholders
Authors: Moreira Francisco , Allsopp Nicky , Esler Karen J. , Wardell‐Johnson Grant , Ancillotto Leonardo , Arianoutsou Margarita , Clary Jeffrey , Brotons Lluis , Clavero Miguel , Dimitrakopoulos Panayiotis G. , Fagoaga Raquel , Fiedler Peggy , Filipe Ana F. , Frankenberg Eliezer , Holmgren Milena , Marquet Pablo A. , Martinez‐Harms Maria J. , Martinoli Adriano , Miller Ben P. , Olsvig‐Whittaker Linda , Pliscoff Patricio , Rundel Phil , Russo Danilo , Slingsby Jasper A. , Thompson John , Wardell‐Johnson Angela , Beja Pedro 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe identification of research questions with high relevance for biodiversity conservation is an important step towards designing more effective policies and management actions, and to better allocate funding among alternative conservation options. However, the identification of priority questions may be influenced by regional differences in biodiversity threats and social contexts, and to variations in the perceptions and interests of different stakeholders. Here we describe the results of a prioritization exercise involving six types of stakeholders from the Mediterranean biome, which includes several biodiversity hotspots spread across five regions of the planet (Europe, Africa, North and South America, and Australia). We found great heterogeneity across regions and stakeholder types in the priority topics identified and disagreement among the priorities of research scientists and other stakeholders. However, governance, climate change, and public participation issues were key topics in most regions. We conclude that the identification of research priorities should be targeted in a way that integrates the spectrum of stakeholder interests, potential funding sources and regional needs, and that further development of interdisciplinary studies is required. The key questions identified here provide a basis to identify priorities for research funding aligned with biodiversity conservation needs in this biome.
Short‐term fully closed‐loop insulin delivery using faster insulin aspart compared with standard insulin aspart in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Bally Lia , Herzig David , Ruan Yue , Wilinska Malgorzata E. , Semmo Mariam , Vogt Andreas , Wertli Maria M. , Vogt Bruno , Stettler Christoph , Hovorka Roman 
Published: August 2019

AbstractWe evaluated the efficacy and safety of short‐term fully closed‐loop insulin delivery using faster versus standard insulin aspart in type 2 diabetes. Fifteen adults with insulin‐treated type 2 diabetes underwent 22 hours of closed‐loop insulin delivery with either faster or standard insulin aspart in a double‐blind randomized crossover design. Basal‐bolus regimen was replaced by model predictive control algorithm‐directed insulin delivery based on sensor glucose levels. The primary outcome was time with plasma glucose in target range (5.6–10.0 mmol/L) and did not differ between treatments (mean difference [95% CI] 3.3% [−8.2; 1.7], P = 0.17). Mean glucose and glucose variability were comparable, as was time spent below and above target range. Hypoglycaemia (<3.5 mmol/L) occurred once with faster insulin aspart and twice with standard insulin aspart. Mean total insulin dose was higher with faster insulin aspart (mean difference [95% CI] 3.7 U [0.7; 6.8], P = 0.021). No episodes of severe hypoglycaemia or other serious adverse events occurred. In conclusion, short‐term fully closed‐loop in type 2 diabetes may require higher dose of faster insulin aspart compared with standard insulin aspart to achieve comparable glucose control.
The relationship between individual differences in gray matter volume and religiosity and mystical experiences: A preregistered voxel‐based morphometry study
Authors: van Elk Michiel , Snoek Lukas 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe neural substrates of religious belief and experience are an intriguing though contentious topic. Here, we had the unique opportunity to establish the relation between validated measures of religiosity and gray matter volume in a large sample of participants (N = 211). In this registered report, we conducted a confirmatory voxel‐based morphometry analysis to test three central hypotheses regarding the relationship between religiosity and mystical experiences and gray matter volume. The preregisterered hypotheses, analysis plan, preprocessing and analysis code and statistical brain maps are all available from online repositories. By using a region‐of‐interest analysis, we found no evidence that religiosity is associated with a reduced volume of the orbito‐frontal cortex and changes in the structure of the bilateral inferior parietal lobes. Neither did we find support for the notion that mystical experiences are associated with a reduced volume of the hippocampus, the right middle temporal gyrus or with the inferior parietal lobes. A whole‐brain analysis furthermore indicated that no structural brain differences were found in association with religiosity and mystical experiences. We believe that the search for the neural correlates of religious beliefs and experiences should therefore shift focus from studying structural brain differences to a functional and multivariate approach.
The olfactory mucosa, first actor of olfactory detection, is sensitive to glucocorticoid hormone
Authors: Meunier Nicolas , Raynaud Aurélien , Le Bourhis Mikaël , Grébert Denise , Dewaele Aurélie , Acquistapace Adrien , Bombail Vincent 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe olfactory mucosa (OM) is the primary site of odorant detection, and its axonal projections relay information to brain structures for signal processing. We have previously observed that olfactory function can be affected during a prolonged stress challenge in Wistar rats. The stress response is a neuroendocrine retro‐controlled loop allowing pleiotropic adaptive tissue alterations, which are partly mediated through the release of glucocorticoid hormones. We hypothesised that, as part of their wide‐ranging pleiotropic effects, glucocorticoids might affect the first step of olfactory detection. To study this, we used a number of approaches ranging from the molecular detection and functional characterisation of glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) in OM cells, to the study of GR acute activation in vivo at the molecular, electrophysiological and behavioural levels. In contrast to previous reports, where GR was reported to be exclusive in olfactory sensory neurones, we located functional GR expression mostly in olfactory ensheathing cells. Dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally to activate GR in vivo, and this led to functional odorant electrophysiological response (electro‐olfactogram) and OM gene expression changes. In a habituation/cross‐habituation test of olfactory sensitivity, we observed that DEX‐treated rats exhibited higher responsiveness to a complex odorant mixture. These findings support the idea that olfactory perception is altered in stressed animals, as glucocorticoids might enhance odour detection, starting at the first step of detection.
Resolving the genetic paradox of invasions: Preadapted genomes and postintroduction hybridization of bigheaded carps in the Mississippi River Basin
Authors: Wang Jun , Gaughan Sarah , Lamer James T. , Deng Cao , Hu Wanting , Wachholtz Michael , Qin Shishang , Nie Hu , Liao Xiaolin , Ling Qufei , Li Weitao , Zhu Lifeng , Bernatchez Louis , Wang Chenghui , Lu Guoqing 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe genetic paradox of biological invasions is complex and multifaceted. In particular, the relative role of disparate propagule sources and genetic adaptation through postintroduction hybridization has remained largely unexplored. To add resolution to this paradox, we investigate the genetic architecture responsible for the invasion of two invasive Asian carp species, bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (H. molitrix) (bigheaded carps) that experience extensive hybridization in the Mississippi River Basin (MRB). We sequenced the genomes of bighead and silver carps (~1.08G bp and ~1.15G bp, respectively) and their hybrids collected from the MRB. We found moderate‐to‐high heterozygosity in bighead (0.0021) and silver (0.0036) carps, detected significantly higher dN/dS ratios of single‐copy orthologous genes in bigheaded carps versus 10 other species of fish, and identified genes in both species potentially associated with environmental adaptation and other invasion‐related traits. Additionally, we observed a high genomic similarity (96.3% in all syntenic blocks) between bighead and silver carps and over 90% embryonic viability in their experimentally induced hybrids. Our results suggest intrinsic genomic features of bigheaded carps, likely associated with life history traits that presumably evolved within their native ranges, might have facilitated their initial establishment of invasion, whereas ex-situ interspecific hybridization between the carps might have promoted their range expansion. This study reveals an alternative mechanism that could resolve one of the genetic paradoxes in biological invasions and provides invaluable genomic resources for applied research involving bigheaded carps.
A refined diffuse cohesive approach for the failure analysis in quasibrittle materials—part II: Application to plain and reinforced concrete structures
Authors: De Maio Umberto , Greco Fabrizio , Leonetti Lorenzo , Luciano Raimondo , Nevone Blasi Paolo , Vantadori Sabrina 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThis work presents the numerical application of the diffuse cohesive interface model introduced in the Part I paper to the failure analysis of plain and reinforced concrete structures, subjected to complex loading conditions, inducing mixed‐mode fracture initiation and propagation. With the aim of capturing the interaction between concrete and steel reinforcements, the adopted fracture model is incorporated in a novel, more general numerical framework for the nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete structures. Such a framework includes a newly proposed embedded truss model for the reinforcing bars, allowing them to be crossed by the neighboring propagating cracks. Comparisons with available experimental results are provided, assessing the reliability and the numerical accuracy of the proposed concrete model, with reference to plain specimens subjected to single‐crack propagation as well as to reinforced elements subjected to multiple cracking.
Prediction of multiaxial fatigue life for complex three‐dimensional stress state considering effect of additional hardening
Authors: Zhao Bingfeng , Xie Liyang , Song Jiaxin , Zhao Zhiqiang , Fan Fuyou , Xu Guoliang 
Published: August 2019

AbstractIn engineering practice, it is generally accepted that most of components are subjected to multiaxial stress‐strain state. To analyse this complicated loading state, different types of specimens of 2A12 (2124 in the United States) aluminium alloy were tested under multiaxial loading conditions and a new multiaxial fatigue analysis method for the state of three‐dimensional stress and strain is proposed. Elastic‐plastic finite element method (FEM) and a proposed vector computing method are used to describe the loading state at the critical point of specimen, by which the parameter ΓT is calculated at the new defined subcritical plane to consider the effect of additional cyclic hardening. Meanwhile, the principal equivalent strain is still calculated at the traditional critical plane. The new damage parameter is composed of different process parameters, by which the dynamic path of strain state, including loading environments and material properties, are fully considered in one loading cycle. According to experimental verifications with 2A12 aluminium alloy, the results show that the proposed method shows satisfactory, accurate, and reliable results for multiaxial fatigue life prediction in the state of three‐dimensional stress and strain.
Cumulative nonlinearity as a parameter to quantify mechanical fatigue
Authors: Hirschberg Valerian , Wilhelm Manfred , Rodrigue Denis 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe cumulative nonlinearity (Qf) is proposed as a new parameter to quantify mechanical fatigue. The parameter Qf represents the (cycle number) integral of the ratio of the third harmonic to the fundamental one (I3/1), obtained via Fourier transform of the stress (torque), normalized by the square of the strain amplitude (γ0). The validation is performed on different polymers: polystyrene (PS) with different molecular weights, styrene‐acrylonitrile (SAN), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and polytertbuthylmethacrylate (PtBMA) under strain controlled fatigue tests in a torsion rectangular set‐up. A power‐law correlation between the number of cycles to failure (Nf) and the cumulative nonlinearity was found for Nf > 1000 cycles, and the results were compared with well‐established failure criteria such as the cumulative stress and the dissipated energy density. It was found that the cumulative nonlinearity has superior prediction ability since it can quantify material changes during a test.
Delamination resistance of GFRP‐epoxy rods with nanoparticle‐ and microparticle‐modified matrix and its correlation with the fracture properties of epoxy nanocomposites
Authors: Burda Iurii , Barbezat Michel , Brunner Andreas J. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractPultruded glass fiber–reinforced plastic (GFRP) rods are industrially produced for various applications. The mechanical properties of GFRP rods can be tailored, eg, with modified epoxy matrix by adding microsized and nanosized fillers. In this work, we investigated the transferability of the fracture properties of epoxy nanocomposites to GFRP epoxy rods. For this purpose, nanosilica particles, micron‐sized rubber, and micron‐sized calcium carbonate were used as fillers. Firstly, epoxy plates with different combinations of nanosized and micron‐sized fillers were produced and their fracture toughness evaluated. Secondly, using binary and ternary epoxy filler systems as matrices, GFRP rods were produced, and their fracture toughness was determined using a modified testing procedure derived from standard composite double cantilever beam specimens. Lastly, the correlation between fracture properties of epoxy nanocomposites and GFRP rods was analysed. Besides that, the fractographic investigations of both epoxy nanocomposites and GFRP rods were carried out and discussed.
Water velocity regulates macro‐consumer herbivory on the benthic macrophyte Podostemum ceratophyllum Michx.
Authors: Wood James L. , Skaggs Jon W. , Conn Caitlin , Freeman Mary C. 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

Macrophytes influence aquatic ecosystems by increasing habitat complexity and providing trophic resources for aquatic fauna. While herbivory on freshwater macrophytes is widely documented in lakes and low‐velocity riverine habitats, the influence of herbivory on macrophytes in higher‐velocity habitats has rarely been examined.

We investigated the hypothesis that water velocity can influence consumption rates of the submerged macrophyte, Podostemum ceratophyllum, an angiosperm that grows attached to stable substrates in high water velocity riverine habitats throughout eastern North America. Known macro‐consumers of Podostemum include crayfishes, turtles, and waterfowl.

We estimated grazing pressure by conducting short‐term (up to 77‐day) transplant and consumer‐exclosure experiments, and quantified changes in Podostemum stem length when the plant was exposed to low (<0.5 m/s) and higher velocities in two Piedmont rivers in Georgia (USA). Podostemum transplanted into low‐velocity habitats rapidly lost stem length unless macro‐consumers were excluded from accessing the plant. In contrast, Podostemum transplanted into high‐velocity habitats showed little change or gained stem length.

We estimated that 85% (67–98%; 95% credible interval) of the daily stem growth (0.026 cm cm−1 day−1) in Podostemum was consumed during a 77‐day paired consumer‐access versus exclosure experiment conducted in mean water velocities of 0.35–0.5 m/s. We also found a positive relation (R2 = 0.58) between Podostemum biomass and water velocity (ranging between c. 0.1 and 1.3 m/s) in benthic samples collected over a 2‐month period.

We conclude that high water velocity reduces herbivory on Podostemum, and that water velocity can thus control the accrual of benthic plant biomass and the movement of plant‐derived materials through benthic food webs. Our research has implications for estimating resource storage and flux in lotic food webs and illuminates a mechanism by which flow regulation and management may affect basal resources in rivers.
Leveraging plant hydraulics to yield predictive and dynamic plant leaf allocation in vegetation models with climate change
Authors: Trugman Anna T. , Anderegg Leander D. L. , Sperry John S. , Wang Yujie , Venturas Martin , Anderegg William R. L. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractPlant functional traits provide a link in process‐based vegetation models between plant‐level physiology and ecosystem‐level responses. Recent advances in physiological understanding and computational efficiency have allowed for the incorporation of plant hydraulic processes in large‐scale vegetation models. However, a more mechanistic representation of water limitation that determines ecosystem responses to plant water stress necessitates a re‐evaluation of trait‐based constraints for plant carbon allocation, particularly allocation to leaf area. In this review, we examine model representations of plant allocation to leaves, which is often empirically set by plant functional type‐specific allometric relationships. We analyze the evolution of the representation of leaf allocation in models of different scales and complexities. We show the impacts of leaf allocation strategy on plant carbon uptake in the context of recent advancements in modeling hydraulic processes. Finally, we posit that deriving allometry from first principles using mechanistic hydraulic processes is possible and should become standard practice, rather than using prescribed allometries. The representation of allocation as an emergent property of scarce resource constraints is likely to be critical to representing how global change processes impact future ecosystem dynamics and carbon fluxes and may reduce the number of poorly constrained parameters in vegetation models.
Correlates of seasonal change in the body condition of an Arctic top predator
Authors: Galicia Melissa P. , Thiemann Gregory W. , Dyck Markus G. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractClimate‐driven sea ice loss has led to changes in the timing of key biological events in the Arctic, however, the consequences and rate of these changes remain largely unknown. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) undergo seasonal changes in energy stores in relation to foraging opportunities and habitat conditions. Declining sea ice has been linked to reduced body condition in some subpopulations, however, the specific timing and duration of the feeding period when bears acquire most of their energy stores and its relationship to the timing of ice break‐up is poorly understood. We used community‐based sampling to investigate seasonality in body condition (energy stores) of polar bears in Nunavut, Canada, and examined the influence of sea ice variables. We used adipose tissue lipid content as an index of body condition for 1,206 polar bears harvested from 2010–2017 across five subpopulations with varying seasonal ice conditions: Baffin Bay (October–August), Davis Strait and Foxe Basin (year‐round), Gulf of Boothia and Lancaster Sound (August–May). Similar seasonal patterns were found in body condition across subpopulations with bears at their nadir of condition in the spring, followed by fat accumulation past break‐up date and subsequent peak body condition in autumn, indicating that bears are actively foraging in late spring and early summer. Late season feeding implies that even minor advances in the timing of break‐up may have detrimental effects on foraging opportunities, body condition, and subsequent reproduction and survival. The magnitude of seasonal changes in body condition varied across the study area, presumably driven by local environmental conditions. Our results demonstrate how community‐based monitoring of polar bears can reveal population‐level responses to climate warming in advance of detectable demographic change. Our data on the seasonal timing of polar bear foraging and energy storage should inform predictive models of the effects of climate‐mediated sea ice loss.
Variation in the gut microbial community is associated with the progression of liver regeneration
Authors: Bao Qiongling , Yu Liang , Chen Deying , Li Lanjuan 
Published: August 2019

AimTo highlight a potential dynamic interaction between intestinal bacteria (IB) and metabolites that might contribute to liver regeneration (LR).MethodsMale Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to surgical removal of two‐thirds of the liver and samples were collected over a 14‐day period. Intestinal community and metabolic profiles were characterized to establish their potential interactions during liver regeneration.ResultsPartial hepatectomy caused fluctuating changes in the gut microbiome, which paralleled the biological processes of LR. Briefly, the enhanced cell proliferation occurring within 30–48 h was associated with a decreased ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes reflected by a reduction in Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae, and an increase in Bacteroidaceae, Rikenellaceae, and Porphyromonadaceae, which was indicative of a lean phenotype. The microbiota derived from rats at 12–24 h and 3–14 days were characterized by elevated F/B ratios, suggesting the differing energy extract behaviors of microbiota during the course of LR. Functional changes of the shifted microbiota revealed by PICRUSt software confirmed the pyrosequencing results. The microbiome derived from hour 12 rats showed overpresentation of metabolism‐related modules. In contrast, the microbiome derived from day 2 rats was functionally unique in “replication and repair”, “amino acid metabolism,” and “nucleoid metabolism.” Upon examining the dynamic pattern of metabolic response, the specific pathways, including glycerophospholipid metabolism, taurine, and hypotaurine metabolism, were identified to be attributable to the systemic alterations in LR‐related metabolism. Moreover, our data indicated that several key functional bacteria were strongly related to perturbations of the above pathways.ConclusionGut flora could play a central role in manipulating metabolic responses in LR.