bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Population growth estimates of a threatened seabird indicate necessity for additional management following invasive predator eradications
Authors: Fischer J. H. , Taylor G. A. , Cole R. , Debski I. , Armstrong D. P. , Wittmer H. U. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe eradication of invasive predators from islands is a successful technique to safeguard seabird populations, but adequate post‐eradication monitoring of native species is often lacking. The Whenua Hou Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides whenuahouensis; WHDP) is a recently‐described and ‘Critically Endangered’ seabird, restricted to Codfish Island (Whenua Hou), New Zealand. Invasive predators, considered the major threat to WHDP, were eradicated on Codfish Island in 2000. However, estimates of WHDP population size and trends remain unknown, hindering assessments of the success of the eradications. We collated intermittent burrow counts (n = 20 seasons) conducted between 1978 and 2018. To estimate the population growth rate (λ) before and after predator eradications, we used log‐linear models in a Bayesian hierarchical framework while retrospectively accounting for differences in detection probabilities among burrow counts, due to differences in effort, marking and timing. The number of WHDP burrows was estimated at 40 (36–46) in 1978 and 100 (97–104) in 2018. The pre‐eradication λ was estimated at 1.023 (0.959–1.088), while the post‐eradications λ was estimated at 1.017 (1.006–1.029). The WHDP population appears to be increasing, yet the rate of increase is low compared to other Procellariiformes following predator eradications. The comparatively low post‐eradication λ, combined with an apparent lack of change between pre‐ and post‐eradication λ, indicates that additional threats might be limiting WHDP population growth and that further conservation management is required. The continuation of affordable and simple, albeit imperfect, monitoring methods with retrospective corrections facilitated the assessment of invasive predator eradications outcomes and should guide future management decisions. An abstract in Te Reo Māori (the Māori language) can be found in Appendix S1.
Nationwide improvement in outcomes of emergency admission for ulcerative colitis in England, 2005‐2013
Authors: Shawihdi Mustafa , Dodd Susanna , Kallis Constantinos , Dixon Pete , Grainger Ruth , Bloom Stuart , Cummings Fraser , Pearson Mike , Bodger Keith 
Published: May 2019

SummaryBackgroundThe UK IBD Audit Programme reported improved inpatient care processes for ulcerative colitis (UC) between 2005 and 2013. There are no independent data describing national or institutional trends in patient outcomes over this period.AimTo assess the association between the outcome of emergency admission for UC and year of treatment.MethodsRetrospective analysis of hospital administrative data, focused on all emergency admissions to English public hospitals with a discharge diagnosis of UC. We extracted case mix factors (age, sex, co‐morbidity, emergency bed days in last year, deprivation status), outcomes of index admission (death and first surgery), 30‐day emergency readmissions (all‐cause, and selected causes) and outcome of readmission.ResultsThere were 765 deaths and 3837 unplanned first operations in 44 882 emergency admissions, with 5311 emergency readmissions (with a further 171 deaths and 517 first operations). Case mix adjusted odds of death for any given year were 9% lower (OR 0.91, 95% CI: 0.89‐0.94), and that for emergency surgery 3% lower (OR 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95‐0.98) than the preceding year. Results were robust to sensitivity analysis (admissions lasting ≥4 days). There was no reduction in odds for all‐cause readmission, but rates for venous thromboembolism declined significantly. Analysis of institutional‐level metrics across 136 providers showed a stepwise reduction in outliers for mortality and unplanned surgery.ConclusionsRisk of death and unplanned surgery for UC patients admitted as emergencies declined consistently, as did unexplained variation between hospitals. Risk of readmission was unchanged (over 1 in 10). Multiple factors are likely to explain these nationwide trends.
Myosin: Formation and maintenance of thick filaments
Authors: Ojima Koichi 
Published: May 2019

AbstractSkeletal muscle consists of bundles of myofibers containing millions of myofibrils, each of which is formed of longitudinally aligned sarcomere structures. Sarcomeres are the minimum contractile unit, which mainly consists of four components: Z‐bands, thin filaments, thick filaments, and connectin/titin. The size and shape of the sarcomere component is strictly controlled. Surprisingly, skeletal muscle cells not only synthesize a series of myofibrillar proteins but also regulate the assembly of those proteins into the sarcomere structures. However, authentic sarcomere structures cannot be reconstituted by combining purified myofibrillar proteins in vitro, therefore there must be an elaborate mechanism ensuring the correct formation of myofibril structure in skeletal muscle cells. This review discusses the role of myosin, a main component of the thick filament, in thick filament formation and the dynamics of myosin in skeletal muscle cells. Changes in the number of myofibrils in myofibers can cause muscle hypertrophy or atrophy. Therefore, it is important to understand the fundamental mechanisms by which myofibers control myofibril formation at the molecular level to develop approaches that effectively enhance muscle growth in animals.
T memory stem cells after allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation: unique long‐term kinetics and influence of chronic graft‐versus‐host disease
Authors: Jimbo Koji , Konuma Takaaki , Watanabe Eri , Kohara Chisato , Mizukami Motoko , Nagai Etsuko , Oiwa‐Monna Maki , Mizusawa Mai , Isobe Masamichi , Kato Seiko , Takahashi Satoshi , Tojo Arinobu 
Published: May 2019

SummaryT memory stem cells (TSCMs) are a subset of primitive T cells capable of both self‐renewal and differentiation into all subsets of memory and effector T cells. Therefore, TSCMs may play a role in immune reconstitution and graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) in patients receiving allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). We conducted a cross‐sectional study to evaluate the proportions, absolute counts, phenotypes and functions of TSCMs in 152 adult patients without disease recurrence at least 12 months after undergoing HCT. CD4+ TSCMs were negatively correlated with number of months after transplantation in HCT patients that received cord blood transplantation, but not in patients that received bone marrow transplantation or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. The proportions and absolute counts of CD4+ TSCMs and expression levels of inducible co‐stimulator (ICOS) in CD8+ TSCMs were significantly higher in patients with mild and moderate/severe cGVHD compared to patients without cGVHD. These data suggested that, more than 12 months after allogeneic HCT, the kinetics of CD4+ TSCMs were dependent on the type of donor source, and further that CD4+ TSCMs and ICOS levels in CD8+ TSCMs were associated with cGVHD.
Social Trait Information in Deep Convolutional Neural Networks Trained for Face Identification
Authors: Parde Connor J. , Hu Ying , Castillo Carlos , Sankaranarayanan Swami , O'Toole Alice J. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractFaces provide information about a person's identity, as well as their sex, age, and ethnicity. People also infer social and personality traits from the face — judgments that can have important societal and personal consequences. In recent years, deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) have proven adept at representing the identity of a face from images that vary widely in viewpoint, illumination, expression, and appearance. These algorithms are modeled on the primate visual cortex and consist of multiple processing layers of simulated neurons. Here, we examined whether a DCNN trained for face identification also retains a representation of the information in faces that supports social‐trait inferences. Participants rated male and female faces on a diverse set of 18 personality traits. Linear classifiers were trained with cross validation to predict human‐assigned trait ratings from the 512 dimensional representations of faces that emerged at the top‐layer of a DCNN trained for face identification. The network was trained with 494,414 images of 10,575 identities and consisted of seven layers and 19.8 million parameters. The top‐level DCNN features produced by the network predicted the human‐assigned social trait profiles with good accuracy. Human‐assigned ratings for the individual traits were also predicted accurately. We conclude that the face representations that emerge from DCNNs retain facial information that goes beyond the strict limits of their training.
A fault‐tolerant dynamic scheduling method on hierarchical mobile edge cloud computing
Authors: Meng Shunmei , Li Qianmu , Wu Taoran , Huang Weijia , Zhang Jing , Li Weimin 
Published: May 2019

AbstractMobile edge cloud computing has been a promising computing paradigm, where mobile users could offload their application workloads to low‐latency local edge cloud resources. However, compared with remote public cloud resources, conventional local edge cloud resources are limited in computation capacity, especially when serve large number of mobile applications. To deal with this problem, we present a hierarchical edge cloud architecture to integrate the local edge clouds and public clouds so as to improve the performance and scalability of scheduling problem for mobile applications. Besides, to achieve a trade‐off between the cost and system delay, a fault‐tolerant dynamic resource scheduling method is proposed to address the scheduling problem in mobile edge cloud computing. The optimization problem could be formulated to minimize the application cost with the user‐defined deadline satisfied. Specifically, firstly, a game‐theoretic scheduling mechanism is adopted for resource provisioning and scheduling for multiprovider mobile applications. Then, a mobility‐aware dynamic scheduling strategy is presented to update the scheduling with the consideration of mobility of mobile users. Moreover, a failure recovery mechanism is proposed to deal with the uncertainties during the execution of mobile applications. Finally, experiments are designed and conducted to validate the effectiveness of our proposal. The experimental results show that our method could achieve a trade‐off between the cost and system delay.
The academic outcomes of working memory and metacognitive strategy training in children: A double‐blind randomized controlled trial
Authors: Jones Jonathan S. , Milton Fraser , Mostazir Mohammod , Adlam Anna R. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractWorking memory training has been shown to improve performance on untrained working memory tasks in typically developing children, at least when compared to non‐adaptive training; however, there is little evidence that it improves academic outcomes. The lack of transfer to academic outcomes may be because children are only learning skills and strategies in a very narrow context, which they are unable to apply to other tasks. Metacognitive strategy interventions, which promote metacognitive awareness and teach children general strategies that can be used on a variety of tasks, may be a crucial missing link in this regard. In this double‐blind randomized controlled trial, 95 typically developing children aged 9–14 years were allocated to three cognitive training programmes that were conducted daily after‐school. One group received Cogmed working memory training, another group received concurrent Cogmed and metacognitive strategy training, and the control group received adaptive visual search training, which better controls for expectancy and motivation than non‐adaptive training. Children were assessed on four working memory tasks, reading comprehension, and mathematical reasoning before, immediately after, and 3 months after training. Working memory training improved working memory and mathematical reasoning relative to the control group. The improvements in working memory were maintained 3 months later, and these were significantly greater for the group that received metacognitive strategy training, compared to working memory training alone. Working memory training is a potentially effective educational intervention when provided in addition to school; however, future research will need to investigate ways to maintain academic improvements long term and to optimize metacognitive strategy training to promote far‐transfer. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at https://youtu.be/-7MML48ZFgw
Phenology in a warming world: differences between native and non‐native plant species
Authors: Zettlemoyer Meredith A. , Schultheis Elizabeth H. , Lau Jennifer A. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractPhenology is a harbinger of climate change, with many species advancing flowering in response to rising temperatures. However, there is tremendous variation among species in phenological response to warming, and any phenological differences between native and non‐native species may influence invasion outcomes under global warming. We simulated global warming in the field and found that non‐native species flowered earlier and were more phenologically plastic to temperature than natives, which did not accelerate flowering in response to warming. Non‐native species' flowering also became more synchronous with other community members under warming. Earlier flowering was associated with greater geographic spread of non‐native species, implicating phenology as a potential trait associated with the successful establishment of non‐native species across large geographic regions. Such phenological differences in both timing and plasticity between native and non‐natives are hypothesised to promote invasion success and population persistence, potentially benefiting non‐native over native species under climate change.
Neuromelanin or DaT‐SPECT: which is the better marker for discriminating advanced Parkinson's disease?
Authors: Okuzumi A. , Hatano T. , Kamagata K. , Hori M. , Mori A. , Oji Y. , Taniguchi D. , Daida K. , Shimo Y. , Yanagisawa N. , Nojiri S. , Aoki S. , Hattori N. 
Published: May 2019

Background and purposeWhether the neuromelanin‐positive substantia nigra pars compacta area (NM‐SNc) on neuromelanin magnetic resonance imaging (NM‐MRI) and the specific binding ratio (SBR) on 123I‐N‐v‐fluoropropyl‐2b‐carbomethoxy3b‐(4‐iodophenyl)nortropane single photon emission computed tomography (DaT‐SPECT) can be correlated with motor fluctuations (MFs) in advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) was investigated.MethodsThirty‐five PD patients (60 ± 13 years) and 23 healthy individuals as controls (59 ± 19 years) were enrolled. The relationships between NM‐MRI and DaT‐SPECT were prospectively examined in two subgroups divided according to the presence or absence of MFs. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazard model to screen for association factors.ResultsThe NM‐SNc size was correlated with the SBR (Spearman's ρ = 0.43, P < 0.05). The NM‐SNc size was significantly reduced in PD with MFs compared with the subgroup without (P < 0.001), whereas the SBR did not significantly differ between the groups. NM‐SNc size was a significant association factor for MFs (hazard ratio 0.94, P = 0.04). In receiver operating characteristic analysis of the factors for MF occurrence, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the NM‐SNc size showed a significant difference of 0.89 (P < 0.05) but no significant difference was found in the SBR.ConclusionsNM‐SNc size was significantly correlated with the SBR in PD, but several factors in advanced PD were more closely associated with NM‐SNc size than the SBR. NM‐MRI might reflect the status of advanced PD more accurately than DaT‐SPECT. Therefore, NM‐MRI appears to provide a better marker for discriminating advanced PD than DaT‐SPECT.
Modelling feed intake and milk yield responses to different grass ley harvesting strategies
Authors: Pang Degong , Krizsan Sophie J. , Sairanen Auvo , Nousiainen Juha , Huhtanen Pekka 
Published: May 2019

AbstractA meta‐analysis of feeding trials using grass silages was conducted to predict production responses for dairy cows fed grass silage. They were divided into two subsets: 69 diets from 11 studies were used for comparison of silages made from primary growth and regrowth grass (harvesting subset), and another 157 diets from 24 studies were used for comparison of digestibility influenced by the maturity of grass ensiled (D‐value, digestible organic matter in dry matter) (maturity subset). The minimum prerequisite for an experiment to be included in the data set was that milk production, feed intake, silage characteristics and concentrate ingredients were reported. Both subsets were analysed using the mixed model procedures of SAS. The mean response in dry‐matter intake (DMI) and silage DMI to improved silage D‐value was 0.0175 and 0.0161 kg per unit D‐value (g/kg DM) respectively. The average increase in milk and energy‐corrected milk yield was 0.30 and 0.37 kg per 10‐unit increase in silage D‐value respectively. Milk protein concentration increased, and fat concentration tended to increase with enhanced silage D‐value. Each 10‐unit increase in D‐value reduced milk yield by 0.092 kg at a given dietary metabolizable energy intake (MEI), suggesting that the ME concentration of high D‐value silages was overestimated. Cows fed regrowth silage produced 0.55 kg/day more energy‐corrected milk than those fed primary growth silage at a given dietary MEI. The prediction models can be used to improve ration formulation systems or incorporated into economic models for optimizing milk production in various farming systems.
Comparison of Salix Genotypes for Co‐Phytofiltration of Iron and Manganese from Simulated Contaminated Groundwater in a Floating Culture System
Authors: Yang Weidong , Li Dong , Li Zhidong , Zheng Xiaoxiao , Hong Yi , Jiao Yangqiu , Huang Lizhen , Gao Xinran , Zhao Fengliang , Zhu Zhiqiang , Liu Yong 
Published: May 2019

AbstractGroundwater contamination with iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) is directly related to drink water safety. It remains challenging to simultaneously remove Fe and Mn from groundwater by conventional physical and chemical methods. Willows (Salix spp.) show promise for co‐phytofiltration of Mn and Fe from groundwater. Here, a floating culture system was developed using willows for co‐phytofiltration of Mn and Fe from simulated groundwater. Genotypic differences of willows were evaluated in terms of their tolerance to and accumulation of a mixture of Fe and Mn. The results showed that the growth responses of eight genotypes significantly differed to a mixture of Fe and Mn, ranging from growth inhibition to enhancement. Tolerance index analysis further indicated wide variation in the responses of willows. Tissue‐specific analysis also revealed genotypic variation in the capacity of willows for translocation and accumulation of Fe and Mn. Compared with other genotypes, SB7 (Salix babylonica) and J842 (S. babylonica × Salix alba) demonstrated higher co‐phytofiltration potentials for Fe and Mn based on tolerance, tissue metal concentrations, and shoot metal contents. Thus, both SB7 and J842 are candidates for co‐phytofiltration of Fe and Mn from groundwater.
Genetic variation of the most abundant forest‐dwelling rodents in Central Africa (Praomys jacksoni complex): Evidence for Pleistocene refugia in both montane and lowland forests
Authors: Mizerovská Daniela , Nicolas Violaine , Demos Terrence C. , Akaibe Dudu , Colyn Marc , Denys Christiane , Kaleme Prince K. , Katuala Pionus , Kennis Jan , Kerbis Peterhans Julian C. , Laudisoit Anne , Missoup Alain Didier , Šumbera Radim , Verheyen Erik , Bryja Josef 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAimWe investigate the Plio‐Pleistocene evolutionary history of one of the most abundant rodents in Afrotropical forests. Specifically, we ask how their diversification was influenced by climate change, topography and major rivers.LocationTropical Africa: Lower Guinea (including Cameroon volcanic line; CVL), Congolia, Albertine Rift (AR), Kenyan highlands (KH).TaxonMurine rodents of the Praomys jacksoni complex.MethodsWe used 849 genotyped individuals to describe the overall diversity and spatial genetic structure across a majority of their known distribution area. The combination of one mitochondrial and three nuclear markers was used to infer dated phylogenies using Bayesian and maximum likelihood approaches. Genetic structure was further assessed by multispecies coalescent species delimitation. Current and past distributions of particular taxa were predicted using environmental niche modelling.ResultsThe complex is composed of five major genetic clades (proposed species). Two of them are restricted to specific habitat types (either montane forests of AR or wetlands in lowland forests along the Congo River), three others have wide geographic distributions and lower levels of ecological specialization. The earliest divergence is dated to the Plio‐Pleistocene boundary and is in accordance with the separation of AR forests and Guineo‐Congolian forests. Further diversification of the complex is associated with Pleistocene climate changes. Relatively stable refugia of suitable climatic conditions were identified in lowland Congolia (for two species currently distributed only in lowland forests) as well as in montane forests of CVL, AR, KH (playing the role of reservoirs of diversity). Large rivers, especially the Congo River, are important barriers to gene flow for most taxa, but probably were not the primary cause of differentiation.Main conclusionsThe evolutionary history of the complex was primarily affected by Pleistocene climate changes and diversification in forest refugia. There is little support for ecological parapatric speciation or the riverine barrier hypothesis.
Limits to environmental masking of genetic quality in sexual signals
Authors: Howie James Malcolm , Dawson Harry Alexander Cordeaux , Pomiankowski Andrew , Fowler Kevin 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThere is considerable debate over the value of male sexual ornaments as signals of genetic quality. Studies alternately report that environmental variation enhances or diminishes the genetic signal, or leads to crossover where genotypes perform well in one environment but poorly in another. A unified understanding is lacking. We conduct a novel experimental test examining the dual effects of distinct categories of genetic (inbred vs. crossed parental lines) and environmental quality (low, through high to extreme larval food stress) on a condition‐dependent male ornament. We find that differences in genetic quality signalled by the ornament (male eyespan in Diasemopsis meigenii stalk‐eyed flies) become visible and are amplified under high stress but are overwhelmed in extreme‐stress environments. Variance among independent genetic lines increases with environmental stress in both genetic quality classes, but at a slower rate in high quality outcrossed flies. Individual genetic lines generally maintain their ranks across environments, except among high quality lines under low environmental stress, where low genetic variance among lines precludes differentiation between ranks. Our results provide a conceptual advance, demonstrating a unified pattern for how genetic and environmental quality interact. They show when environmental conditions lead to the amplification of differences in signals of genetic quality and thereby enhance the potential indirect genetic benefits gained by female mate choice.