bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hydraulic and photosynthetic responses of big sagebrush to the 2017 total solar eclipse
Authors: Beverly Daniel P. , Guadagno Carmela R. , Bretfeld Mario , Speckman Heather N. , Albeke Shannon E. , Ewers Brent E. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 created a path of totality ~115 km in width across the United States. While eclipse observations have shown distinct responses in animal behavior often emulating nocturnal behavior, the influence of eclipses on plant physiology are less understood. We investigated physiological perturbations due to rapid changes of sunlight and air temperature in big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana), a desert shrub common within the path of eclipse totality. Leaf gas exchange, water potential, and chlorophyll a fluorescence were monitored during the eclipse and compared to responses obtained the day before in absence of the eclipse. On the day of the eclipse, air temperature decreased by 6.4 °C, coupled with a 1.0 kPa drop in vapor pressure deficit having a 9-minute lag following totality. Using chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements, we found photosynthetic efficiency of photosystem II (Fv’/Fm’) recovered to near dark acclimated state (i.e., 87%), but the short duration of darkness did not allow for complete recovery. Gas exchange data and a simple light response model were used to estimate a 14% reduction in carbon assimilation for one day over sagebrush dominated areas within the path of totality for the Western United States.
Phase stability and electronic structure of iridium metal at the megabar range
Authors: Monteseguro V. , Sans J. A. , Cuartero V. , Cova F. , Abrikosov Igor A. , Olovsson W. , Popescu C. , Pascarelli S. , Garbarino G. , Jönsson H. Johan M. , Irifune T. , Errandonea D. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe 5d transition metals have attracted specific interest for high-pressure studies due to their extraordinary stability and intriguing electronic properties. In particular, iridium metal has been proposed to exhibit a recently discovered pressure-induced electronic transition, the so-called core-level crossing transition at the lowest pressure among all the 5d transition metals. Here, we report an experimental structural characterization of iridium by x-ray probes sensitive to both long- and short-range order in matter. Synchrotron-based powder x-ray diffraction results highlight a large stability range (up to 1.4 Mbar) of the low-pressure phase. The compressibility behaviour was characterized by an accurate determination of the pressure-volume equation of state, with a bulk modulus of 339(3) GPa and its derivative of 5.3(1). X-ray absorption spectroscopy, which probes the local structure and the empty density of electronic states above the Fermi level, was also utilized. The remarkable agreement observed between experimental and calculated spectra validates the reliability of theoretical predictions of the pressure dependence of the electronic structure of iridium in the studied interval of compressions.
Cholesterol-Lowering Treatment in Chronic Kidney Disease: Multistage Pairwise and Network Meta-Analyses
Authors: Herrera-Gómez Francisco , Chimeno M. Montserrat , Martín-García Débora , Lizaraso-Soto Frank , Maurtua-Briseño-Meiggs Álvaro , Grande-Villoria Jesús , Bustamante-Munguira Juan , Alamartine Eric , Vilardell Miquel , Ochoa-Sangrador Carlos , Álvarez F. Javier 
Published: June 2019

AbstractPairwise and network meta-analyses on the relationship between the efficacy of the use of statins with or without ezetimibe and reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are presented. In the pairwise meta-analysis, statins with or without ezetimibe were shown to be efficacious in reducing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with CKD and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m2, in the context of both primary prevention [odds ratio (OR)/95% confidence interval (95% CI)/I2/number of studies (n): 0.50/0.40–0.64/0%/6] and primary/secondary prevention (0.66/0.57–0.76/57%/18). However, in the Bayesian network meta-analysis, compared to the placebo, only atorvastatin 80 mg daily and atorvastatin and rosuvastatin at doses equivalent to simvastatin 20 mg daily reduced the odds of MACEs in this patient population. The network meta-analysis for LDLc and CRP treatment objectives also showed that, regardless of eGFR and excluding dialysis patients, the number of MACEs decreased in patients with CKD, with reductions in both LDLc and CRP of less than 50% (surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA)/heterogeneity (vague)/n: 0.77/0.14/3). The evaluation of the benefits of drugs may lead to individualized therapy for CKD patients: Cholesterol-lowering treatment for CKD patients with high levels of both LDLc and CRP is suggested.
Antibiotic treatment and flares of rheumatoid arthritis: a self-controlled case series study analysis using CPRD GOLD
Authors: Nagra Navraj S. , Robinson Danielle E. , Douglas Ian , Delmestri Antonella , Dakin Stephanie G. , Snelling Sarah J. B. , Carr Andrew J. , Prieto-Alhambra Daniel 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThere is emerging evidence of the impact of infections on rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis and flares. We aimed to study the association between antibiotic use (and timing of use), and the occurrence of flares in patients with RA. We nested a self-controlled case series (SCCS) of patients who have RA flares within a newly diagnosed RA cohort (n = 31,992) from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) GOLD dataset. We determined associations between exposure to antibiotics (beta-lactam, imidazole, macrolide, nitrofurantoin, quinolone, sulphonamide and trimethoprim, and tetracycline) and the occurrence of RA flares. Conditional fixed-effects Poisson regression models were used to determine incidence rate ratios (IRR), offset by the natural logarithm of risk periods. A total of 1,192 (3.7%) of RA subjects had one or more flare/s during the study period, and were therefore included. Use of sulphonamide and trimethoprim was associated with an increased risk of RA flare at 29–90 days (IRR 1.71, CI 1.12–2.59, p = 0.012); 91–183 days (IRR 1.57, CI 1.06–2.33, p = 0.025); and 184–365 days (IRR 1.44, CI 1.03–2.02, p = 0.033) after commencement of antibiotic treatment. No other antibiotic group/s appear associated with RA flare/s risk. Usage of sulphonamide and trimethoprim antibiotics, is associated with a 70% increased risk of RA flare at 1–3 months, which decreases but remains significant up to 12 months after treatment. We hypothesise that the delayed onset of RA flares after specific antibiotics is mediated through the gut or urinary microbiomes. Further epidemiological and mechanistic research is needed to determine the role of infections in RA.
Exact solution of an exciton energy for a monolayer medium
Authors: Guvendi Abdullah , Sahin Ramazan , Sucu Yusuf 
Published: June 2019

AbstractWe present exact solutions of an energy spectrum of 2-interacting particles in which they seem to be relativistic fermions in 2 + 1 space-time dimensions. The 2 × 2 spinor equations of 2-interacting fermions through general central potential were separated covariantly into the relative and center of mass coordinates. First of all, the coupled first order differential equations depending on radial coordinate were derived from 2 × 2 spinor equations. Then, a second order radial differential equation was obtained and solved for Coulomb interaction potential. We apply our solutions to exciton phenomena for a free-standing monolayer medium. Since we regard exciton as isolated 2-interacting fermions in our model, any other external effect such as substrate was eliminated. Our results show that the obtained binding energies in our model are in agreement with the literature. Moreover, the decay time of an exciton was found out spontaneously in our calculations.
Motor modules account for active perception of force
Authors: Toma Simone , Santello Marco 
Published: June 2019

AbstractDespite longstanding evidence suggesting a relation between action and perception, the mechanisms underlying their integration are still unclear. It has been proposed that to simplify the sensorimotor integration processes underlying active perception, the central nervous system (CNS) selects patterns of movements aimed at maximizing sampling of task-related sensory input. While previous studies investigated the action-perception loop focusing on the role of higher-level features of motor behavior (e.g., kinematic invariants, effort), the present study explored and quantified the contribution of lower-level organization of motor control. We tested the hypothesis that the coordinated recruitment of group of muscles (i.e., motor modules) engaged to counteract an external force contributes to participants’ perception of the same force. We found that: 1) a model describing the modulation of a subset of motor modules involved in the motor task accounted for about 70% of participants’ perceptual variance; 2) an alternative model, incompatible with the motor modules hypothesis, accounted for significantly lower variance of participants’ detection performance. Our results provide empirical evidence of the potential role played by muscle activation patterns in active perception of force. They also suggest that a modular organization of motor control may mediate not only coordination of multiple muscles, but also perceptual inference.
Eurasian lynx fitness shows little variation across Scandinavian human-dominated landscapes
Authors: López-Bao José Vicente , Aronsson Malin , Linnell John D. C. , Odden John , Persson Jens , Andrén Henrik 
Published: June 2019

AbstractDespite extensive research on the ecology and behavioural adaptations of large carnivores in human-dominated landscapes, information about the fitness consequences of sharing landscapes is still limited. We assessed the variation in three consecutive components of female fitness: the probability of reproduction, litter size and juvenile survival in relation to environmental and human factors in a solitary carnivore, the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), occurring in human-dominated landscapes in Scandinavia. We used demographic data from 57 radio-collared adult females between 1995–2011 (126 radio-years). Overall, the yearly probability of female reproduction was 0.80, mean litter size was 2.34 (range 1–4) and the probability to find a female that reproduced in the spring being accompanied by at least one offspring during the subsequent winter was 0.70. We did not find evidence that food availability was a key factor influencing female fitness. Female lynx may adapt to food availability when establishing their home ranges by adopting an obstinate strategy, ensuring a minimum amount of prey necessary for survival and reproduction even during periods of prey scarcity. In human-dominated landscapes, where sufficient prey are available for lynx, mortality risk may have a larger influence on lynx population dynamics compared to food availability. Our results suggest that lynx population dynamics in human-dominated landscapes may be mainly driven by human impacts on survival.
Paternal exposure to benzo(a)pyrene induces genome-wide mutations in mouse offspring
Authors: Beal Marc A. , Meier Matthew J. , Williams Andrew , Rowan-Carroll Andrea , Gagné Rémi , Lindsay Sarah J. , Fitzgerald Tomas , Hurles Matthew E. , Marchetti Francesco , Yauk Carole L. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractUnderstanding the effects of environmental exposures on germline mutation rates has been a decades-long pursuit in genetics. We used next-generation sequencing and comparative genomic hybridization arrays to investigate genome-wide mutations in the offspring of male mice exposed to benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a common environmental pollutant. We demonstrate that offspring developing from sperm exposed during the mitotic or post-mitotic phases of spermatogenesis have significantly more de novo single nucleotide variants (1.8-fold;P < 0.01) than controls. Both phases of spermatogenesis are susceptible to the induction of heritable mutations, although mutations arising from post-fertilization events are more common after post-mitotic exposure. In addition, the mutation spectra in sperm and offspring of BaP-exposed males are consistent. Finally, we report a significant increase in transmitted copy number duplications (P = 0.001) in BaP-exposed sires. Our study demonstrates that germ cell mutagen exposures induce genome-wide mutations in the offspring that may be associated with adverse health outcomes.
Expansion of vomeronasal receptor genes (OlfC) in the evolution of fright reaction in Ostariophysan fishes
Authors: Yang Liandong , Jiang Haifeng , Wang Ying , Lei Yi , Chen Juan , Sun Ning , Lv Wenqi , Wang Cheng , Near Thomas J. , He Shunping 
Published: June 2019

AbstractOstariophysans are the most diverse group of freshwater fishes and feature a pheromone-elicited fright reaction. However, the genetic basis of fright reaction is unclear. Here, we compared vomeronasal type 2 receptor-like (OlfC) genes from fishes having and lacking fright reaction, to provide insight into evolution of pheromonal olfaction in fishes. We foundOlfCgenes expanded remarkably in ostariophysans having fright reaction compared with fishes lacking fright reaction. Phylogenetic analysis indicatesOlfCsubfamily 9 expanded specifically in ostariophysans having fright reaction. Principle component and phylogenetic logistic regression analysis partitioned fishes by ecotype (having or lacking fright reaction) and identifiedOlfCsubfamily 9 as being an important factor for fright reaction. Expression levels of expandedOlfCsubfamily genes after fright reaction in zebrafish changed more than did genes that had not expanded. Furthermore, evidence of positive selection was found in the expanded OlfC proteins in ostariophysan fishes having fright reaction. These results provide new insight into the genetic basis of fright reaction in ostariophysan fish and will enable future research into the mechanism of action of OlfC proteins.
Metabolome signature of autism in the human prefrontal cortex
Authors: Kurochkin Ilia , Khrameeva Ekaterina , Tkachev Anna , Stepanova Vita , Vanyushkina Anna , Stekolshchikova Elena , Li Qian , Zubkov Dmitry , Shichkova Polina , Halene Tobias , Willmitzer Lothar , Giavalisco Patrick , Akbarian Schahram , Khaitovich Philipp 
Published: June 2019

AbstractAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with yet incompletely uncovered molecular determinants. Alterations in the abundance of low molecular weight compounds (metabolites) in ASD could add to our understanding of the disease. Indeed, such alterations take place in the urine, plasma and cerebellum of ASD individuals. In this work, we investigated mass-spectrometric signal intensities of 1,366 metabolites in the prefrontal cortex grey matter of 32 ASD and 40 control individuals. 15% of these metabolites showed significantly different intensities in ASD and clustered in 16 metabolic pathways. Of them, ten pathways were altered in urine and blood of ASD individuals (Fisher test, p < 0.05), opening an opportunity for the design of new diagnostic instruments. Furthermore, metabolic measurements conducted in 40 chimpanzees and 40 macaques showed an excess of metabolite intensity differences unique to humans, supporting the hypothesized disruption of evolutionary novel cortical mechanisms in ASD.
Low-temperature selective oxidation of methane over distant binuclear cationic centers in zeolites
Authors: Tabor Edyta , Lemishka Mariia , Sobalik Zdenek , Mlekodaj Kinga , Andrikopoulos Prokopis C. , Dedecek Jiri , Sklenak Stepan 
Published: June 2019

AbstractHighly active oxygen capable to selectively oxidize methane to methanol at low temperature can be prepared in transition-metal cation exchanged zeolites. Here we show that the α-oxygen stabilized by the negative charges of two framework aluminum atoms can be prepared by the dissociation of nitrous oxide over distant binuclear cation structures (M(II)…M(II), M = cobalt, nickel, and iron) accommodated in two adjacent 6-rings forming cationic sites in the ferrierite zeolite. This α-oxygen species is analogous to that known only for iron exchanged zeolites. In contrast to divalent iron cations, only binuclear divalent cobalt cationic structures and not isolated divalent cobalt cations are active. Created methoxy moieties are easily protonated to yield methanol, formaldehyde, and formic acid which are desorbed to the gas phase without the aid of water vapor while previous studies showed that highly stable methoxy groups were formed on isolated iron cations in iron exchanged ZSM-5 zeolites.
Atmospheric tides and their consequences on the rotational dynamics of terrestrial planets
Authors: Auclair-Desrotour P. , Laskar J. , Mathis S. 
Published: June 2019

Atmospheric tides can have a strong impact on the rotational dynamics of planets. They are of most importance for terrestrial planets located in the habitable zone of their host star, where their competition with solid tides is likely to drive the body towards non-synchronized rotation states of equilibrium, as observed in the case of Venus. Contrary to other planetary layers, the atmosphere is sensitive to both gravitational and thermal forcings, through a complex dynamical coupling involving the effects of Coriolis acceleration and characteristics of the atmospheric structure. These key physics are usually not taken into account in modelings used to compute the evolution of planetary systems, where tides are described with parametrised prescriptions. In this work, we present a new ab initio modeling of atmospheric tides adapting the theory of the Earth’s atmospheric tides (Chapman & Lindzen 1970) to other terrestrial planets. We derive analytic expressions of the tidal torque, as a function of the tidal frequency and parameters characterizing the internal structure (e.g. the Brunt-Väisälä frequency, the radiative frequency, the pressure heigh scale). We show that stratification plays a key role, the tidal torque being strong in the case of convective atmospheres (i.e. with a neutral stratification) and weak in case of atmosphere convectively stable. In a second step, the model is used to determine the non-synchronized rotation states of equilibrium of Venus-like planets as functions of the physical parameters of the system. These results are detailed in Auclair-Desrotour et al. (2016a) and Auclair-Desrotour et al. (2016b).
Traitement des micropolluants en station de potabilisation
Authors: Mechouk C. , Hauret A. , Khajehnouri F. , Burnet P. 
Published: June 2019

Dans le cadre de la réhabilitation de l’usine de potabilisation de Saint-Sulpice (Lausanne, Suisse), le service de l’eau de la ville de Lausanne a conduit des essais pilotes afin de choisir la filière de traitement la plus adaptée. L’usine actuelle de 1971 est une filière de traitement simple consistant en une filtration sur sable suivie d’une chloration. Malgré la production d’une eau potable de qualité satisfaisante, la filière actuelle n’est pas capable de faire face aux nouveaux défis du domaine du traitement de l’eau (micropolluants). Les essais pilotes, réalisés entre 2014 et 2017, ont porté sur des technologies améliorant l’abattement des micro-organismes, des matières en suspension (MES) et des micropolluants. Il existe trois méthodes pour abattre les micropolluants : l’adsorption sur charbon actif (CA), la filtration membranaire fine (nanofiltration ou osmose inverse) ou l’oxydation. Trois mises en œuvre de charbon ont été testées : filtration sur CA en grain (CAG), suspension de CA micrograins (CAµG) ou mise en contact de CA poudre (CAP) (sur l’usine de Lutry). Un pilote de nanofiltration a également été testé, ainsi qu’un procédé d’oxydation avancée (AOP), avec de l’ozone et du peroxyde d’hydrogène, suivi d’un filtre CAG. Chaque procédé présente des spécificités qui lui permettent de mieux abattre certaines molécules par rapport à d’autres. L’étude s’est particulièrement focalisée sur l’abattement des trois principaux micropolluants retrouvés en permanence en concentrations les plus élevées dans l’eau du lac Léman : metformine (450 ng/L), 1H-benzotriazole (80 ng/L) et gabapentine (30 ng/L). Hormis une élimination faible du 1H-benzotriazole (35 % environ), la filtration membranaire par nanofiltration ou par osmose inverse basse pression permet des abattements supérieurs à 80 % pour la majorité des micropolluants. L’AOP, couplée avec une filtration sur CAG, permet d’atteindre de bons rendements d’élimination des micropolluants (70 %). L’ozonation des micropolluants engendre des sous-produits, aujourd’hui difficilement identifiables et quantifiables. Globalement, le charbon actif permet un abattement moyen des micropolluants de 20 à 40 % selon sa mise en œuvre. La future filière sera composée autour d’une unité d’ultrafiltration (MES et micro-organismes). Le traitement des micropolluants sera, lui, assuré soit par une étape d’adsorption sur charbon actif, soit par une étape de nanofiltration ou une combinaison des deux. Le traitement par charbon actif pourrait éventuellement être amélioré par le couplage avec un procédé AOP.
A Retrospective Study Using the String of Pearls Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy Locking Plate for the Treatment of Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease
Authors: McGregor Ross E. , Buffa Eugene A. , Tan Christopher J. , Schembri Mark A. , Badcock Caro-Anne , Lai Alen 
Published: June 2019

Objective The aim of this study was to describe the use of String of Pearls (SOP) tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) locking plates for the treatment of cranial cruciate ligament disease and retrospectively assess osteotomy healing, tibial plateau angle (TPA) change (c) and overall complication rates.
Methods Medical records and radiographic studies of 170 SOP TPLO surgical procedures were analysed. Radiographic measurement of TPAc and osteotomy union was determined 6 to 8 weeks postoperatively. Intra- and postoperative major and minor complications were identified. Factors influencing TPAc, osteotomy union and complications were assessed.
Results Mean (standard deviation) TPAc was 1.3° (1.61) and median osteotomy union was graded as 2 (26–50%) union. Improved osteotomy union was associated with retention of the antirotational pin (odds ratio [OR]: 2.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3–4; p = 0.005) and reduced TPAc (OR: 0.8; 95%CI: 0.66–0.97; p = 0.02). Complications occurred in 42 (24.7%) procedures with 11 (6.5%) considered major and 31 (18.2%) minor.
Clinical significance The use of the SOP TPLO plating system resulted in a median grade 2 (26–50%) radiographic osteotomy union score at 6 to 8 weeks' follow-up, less than previous TPLO locking plate studies. Osteotomy union was associated with retention of the antirotational pin and reduced TPAc. Major and minor complication rates were marginally greater than recent locking plate studies with fibular fracture and screw loosening common complications. The use of SOP TPLO plates is cautioned and further study is warranted.