bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Children's anxiety symptoms and salivary immunoglobulin A: A mutual regulatory system?
Authors: Ma Denise , Serbin Lisa A. , Stack Dale M. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractAnxiety can impact the immune system resulting in negative health outcomes. Salivary immunoglobulin A (sIgA) is a first line of defense against foreign antigens, with lowered levels indicative of weakened mucosal immunity. Little is known about how anxiety symptoms affect the diurnal rhythm of sIgA secretion, or the longitudinal transactional sequence between the two in children and adolescents. The goals of the two studies were to: (i) explore the concurrent associations between self‐reported anxiety symptoms and diurnal variations of sIgA across the day using repeated daily samples of sIgA; and (ii) examine transactional relations between children's anxiety and aggregated total amount of sIgA levels across successive periods from middle childhood (Wave 1; ages 9–12) to early adolescence (Wave 2; ages 12–15), and from early to mid‐ adolescence (Wave 3; ages 15–18). Concurrent results showed a steeper (positive) rise in diurnal slope of sIgA from awakening to 5 hr post‐awakening in children with higher anxiety. Longitudinally, higher levels of total anxiety, and specifically, worries at Wave 1 significantly predicted lower cumulative daily levels of sIgA 3 years later at Wave 2. Lowered sIgA levels at Wave 2 in turn predicted higher anxiety at Wave 3, illustrating a “vicious cycle” feedback loop. These findings broaden our understanding of the developmental links between anxiety symptoms, the immune system, and health.
Early ecological outcomes of natural regeneration and tree plantations for restoring agricultural landscapes
Authors: César Ricardo G. , Moreno Vanessa S. , Coletta Gabriel D. , Chazdon Robin L. , Ferraz Silvio F. B. , de Almeida Danilo R. A. , Brancalion Pedro H. S. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractMixed tree plantings and natural regeneration are the main restoration approaches for recovering tropical forests worldwide. Despite substantial differences in implementation costs between these methods, little is known regarding how they differ in terms of ecological outcomes, which is key information for guiding decision making and cost‐effective restoration planning. Here, we compared the early ecological outcomes of natural regeneration and tree plantations for restoring the Brazilian Atlantic Forest in agricultural landscapes. We assessed and compared vegetation structure and composition in young (7–20 yr old) mixed tree plantings (PL), second‐growth tropical forests established on former pastures (SGp), on former Eucalyptus spp. plantations (SGe), and in old‐growth reference forests (Ref). We sampled trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) 1–5 cm (saplings) and trees at DBH > 5 cm (trees) in a total of 32 20 × 45 m plots established in these landscapes. Overall, the ecological outcomes of natural regeneration and restoration plantations were markedly different. SGe forests showed higher abundance of large (DBH > 20 cm) nonnative species, of which 98% were resprouting Eucalyptus trees, than SGp and PL, and higher total aboveground biomass; however, aboveground biomass of native species was higher in PL than in SGe. PL forests had lower abundance of native saplings and lianas than both naturally established second‐growth forests, and lower proportion of animal dispersed saplings than SGe, probably due to higher isolation from native forest remnants. Rarefied species richness of trees was lower in SGp, intermediate in SGe and Ref and higher in PL, whereas rarefied species richness of saplings was higher in SG than in Ref. Species composition differed considerably among regeneration types. Although these forests are inevitably bound to specific landscape contexts and may present varying outcomes as they develop through longer time frames, the ecological particularities of forests established through different restoration approaches indicate that naturally established forests may not show similar outcomes to mixed tree plantings. The results of this study underscore the importance that restoration decisions need to be based on more robust expectations of outcomes that allow for a better analysis of the cost‐effectiveness of different restoration approaches before scaling‐up forest restoration in the tropics.
Habitat‐related seed germination traits in alpine habitats
Authors: Tudela‐Isanta Maria , Fernández‐Pascual Eduardo , Wijayasinghe Malaka , Orsenigo Simone , Rossi Graziano , Pritchard Hugh W. , Mondoni Andrea 
Published: November 2017

AbstractUnderstanding the key aspects of plant regeneration from seeds is crucial in assessing species assembly to their habitats. However, the regenerative traits of seed dormancy and germination are underrepresented in this context. In the alpine zone, the large species and microhabitat diversity provide an ideal context to assess habitat‐related regenerative strategies. To this end, seeds of 53 species growing in alpine siliceous and calcareous habitats (6230 and 6170 of EU Directive 92/43, respectively) were exposed to different temperature treatments under controlled laboratory conditions. Germination strategies in each habitat were identified by clustering with k‐means. Then, phylogenetic least squares correlations (PGLS) were fitted to assess germination and dormancy differences between species’ main habitat (calcareous and siliceous), microhabitat (grasslands, heaths, rocky, and species with no specific microhabitats), and chorology (arctic–alpine and continental). Calcareous and siliceous grasslands significantly differ in their germination behaviour with a slow, mostly overwinter germination and high germination under all conditions, respectively. Species with high overwinter germination occurs mostly in heaths and have an arctic–alpine distribution. Meanwhile, species with low or high germinability in general inhabit in grasslands or have no specific microhabitat (they belong to generalist), respectively. Alpine species use different germination strategies depending on habitat provenance, species’ main microhabitat, and chorotype. Such differences may reflect adaptations to local environmental conditions and highlight the functional role of germination and dormancy in community ecology.
Divergent habitat use of two urban lizard species
Authors: Winchell Kristin M. , Carlen Elizabeth J. , Puente‐Rolón Alberto R. , Revell Liam J. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractFaunal responses to anthropogenic habitat modification represent an important aspect of global change. In Puerto Rico, two species of arboreal lizard, Anolis cristatellus and A. stratulus, are commonly encountered in urban areas, yet seem to use the urban habitat in different ways. In this study, we quantified differences in habitat use between these two species in an urban setting. For each species, we measured habitat use and preference, and the niche space of each taxon, with respect to manmade features of the urban environment. To measure niche space of these species in an urban environment, we collected data from a total of six urban sites across four different municipalities on the island of Puerto Rico. We quantified relative abundance of both species, their habitat use, and the available habitat in the environment to measure both microhabitat preference in an urban setting, as well as niche partitioning between the two different lizards. Overall, we found that the two species utilize different portions of the urban habitat. Anolis stratulus tends to use more “natural” portions of the urban environment (i.e., trees and other cultivated vegetation), whereas A. cristatellus more frequently uses anthropogenic structures. We also found that aspects of habitat discrimination in urban areas mirror a pattern measured in prior studies for forested sites in which A. stratulus was found to perch higher than A. cristatellus and preferred lower temperatures and greater canopy cover. In our study, we found that the multivariate niche space occupied by A. stratulus did not differ from the available niche space in natural portions of the urban environment and in turn represented a subset of the niche space occupied by A. cristatellus. The unique niche space occupied by A. cristatellus corresponds to manmade aspects of the urban environment generally not utilized by A. stratulus. Our results demonstrate that some species are merely tolerant of urbanization while others utilize urban habitats in novel ways. This finding has implications for long‐term persistence in urban habitats and suggests that loss of natural habitat elements may lead to nonrandom species extirpations as urbanization intensifies.
Phylogenetic relationships and phylogeography of relevant lineages within the complex Campanulaceae family in Macaronesia
Authors: Menezes Tiago , Romeiras Maria M. , de Sequeira Miguel M. , Moura Mónica 
Published: November 2017

AbstractMacaronesia has long been recognized as a natural model for studying evolutionary processes in plant diversification. Several studies have attempted to focus on single lineages, and few have covered the diversification of a family across all the archipelagos. We used a comprehensive sample to clarify the phylogenetic relationships and the biogeographic history of the Macaronesian Campanulaceae. Hypotheses related to the colonization of these archipelagos will be used to examine the diversification patterns of different lineages. We sequenced the ITS region and six cpDNA markers (atpB, matK, petD, rbcL, trnL‐F, and psbA‐trnH) from 10 Campanulaceae species, including seven endemic species in Macaronesia. The phylogeny of these taxa was reconstructed using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference. To study the relationships within each lineage, haplotype networks were calculated using NeighborNet and TCS algorithms. Moreover, data were combined with fossil information to construct time‐calibrated trees for the Macaronesian Campanulaceae species. The phylogenetic analyses are largely congruent with current taxon circumscriptions, and all the endemic genera formed monophyletic clades, namely Azorina in Azores; Musschia in Madeira; and Campanula in Cape Verde. The Azorina clade and the Cape Verde endemic Campanula may share a common ancestor in North Africa, and the divergence was dated ca. 12.3 million years ago (Mya). The divergence of the Musschia clade began in the Pliocene ca. 3.4 Mya. Moreover, several examples of intraspecific variation were revealed among the native species with a clear geographic structured patterns, suggesting that cryptic diversity might exist within the native Macaronesian Campanulaceae when compared to the close mainland taxa (e.g., Campanula erinus, Trachelium caeruleum), but additional studies are needed to support the molecular data. This study highlights the power of combining data (e.g., phylogeny and divergence times, with species distribution data) for testing diversification hypotheses within the unique Macaronesian flora, providing useful information for future conservation efforts.
Temporal effects of disturbance on community composition in simulated stage‐structured plant communities
Authors: Wang Youshi , Wen Shujun , Farnon Ellwood M. D. , Miller Adam D. , Chu Chengjin 
Published: November 2017

AbstractIn an era of global environmental change, understanding how disturbance affects the dynamics of ecological communities is crucial. However, few studies have theoretically explored the potential influence of disturbance including both intensity and frequency on compositional change over time in communities with stage structure. A spatially explicit, individual‐based model was constructed incorporating the various demographic responses to disturbance of plants at two different growth stages: seedlings and adults. In the model, we assumed that individuals within each stage were demographically equivalent (neutral) but differed between stages. We simulated a common phenomenon that seedlings suffered more from disturbance such as grazing and fire than adults. We showed how stage‐structured communities of seedlings and adults responded to disturbance with various levels of disturbance frequency and intensity. In “undisturbed” simulations, the relationship between average species abundance (defined here as the total number of individuals divided by species richness) and community composition turnover (measured by the Bray–Curtis similarity index) was asymptotic. However, in strongly “disturbed” simulations with the between‐disturbance intervals greater than one, this relationship became unimodal. Stage‐dependent response to disturbance underlay the above discrepancy between undisturbed and disturbed communities.
Preparation of CuO/CeO2 Catalyst with Enhanced Catalytic Performance for Water–Gas Shift Reaction in Hydrogen Production
Authors: Chen Chongqi , Zhan Yingying , Li Dalin , Zhang Yanjie , Lin Xingyi , Jiang Lilong , Zheng Qi 
Published: November 2017

AbstractCuO/CeO2 is a promising catalyst for water–gas shift (WGS) reaction in H2 production. Much effort has been devoted to improving its catalytic activity and stability by CeO2 support modification or introduction of secondary active species. Here a method to enhance the catalytic performance by controlling the deposition rate of copper is reported. The nature of CuO and CuO‐CeO2 synergetic interaction are modulated by using different copper sources (Cu(NO3)2 and Cu[(NH3)
) and controlling reaction temperatures. The as‐prepared CuO‐CeO2 catalysts show distinguish catalytic performances for the WGS reaction. The one prepared by using Cu[(NH3)
at the reaction temperature of 30 °C (CuCe‐30N) shows superior catalytic activity and stability. The CuCe‐30N catalyst possesses the largest Cu0 surface area (39.2 m2
) and strongest CuO‐CeO2 synergetic interaction. The largest Cu0 surface area provides the most active sites for CO adsorption thus leading to its highest activity. The strong synergetic interaction prevents Cu crystallites from sintering during the WGS reaction, thus improving its thermal stability.
In vitro digestibility of hydrothermally modified Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean L.) starch and flour
Authors: Afolabi T. Adeniyi , Opara Amarachi O. , Kareem Sharafadeen O. , Oladoyinbo Fatai O. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractIn‐vitro digestibility and functional properties of Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean) (BG) flour, and its native and hydrothermally modified starches were investigated. The isolated native starch (BNS) was modified by annealing at 50°C for 48 hr (BAS), and heat‐moisture treated at 100°C for 16 hr at 25% moisture level (BHS). The crude protein of BG flour was 16.88%. The amylose content of the flour and native starch was 6.10% and 27.70%, respectively. Hydrothermal modification increased the gelatinization profile of the starch but reduces its pasting properties. Swelling and solubility of the flour and starches increased with increase in temperature. X‐ray diffraction revealed BNS and BAS exhibited “Type C” crystallinity pattern while BHS was “Type A.” The BNS granule was oval, its diameter between 22 and 30 μm, with no significant change in the morphology of BAS and BHS. The BG flour had 33% resistant starch and 11.63% digestible starch. Heat‐moisture treatment enhanced the resistant starch content of the native starch significantly.
Optimization and validation of automated hippocampal subfield segmentation across the lifespan
Authors: Bender Andrew R. , Keresztes Attila , Bodammer Nils C. , Shing Yee Lee , Werkle‐Bergner Markus , Daugherty Ana M. , Yu Qijing , Kühn Simone , Lindenberger Ulman , Raz Naftali 
Published: November 2017

AbstractAutomated segmentation of hippocampal (HC) subfields from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is gaining popularity, but automated procedures that afford high speed and reproducibility have yet to be extensively validated against the standard, manual morphometry. We evaluated the concurrent validity of an automated method for hippocampal subfields segmentation (automated segmentation of hippocampal subfields, ASHS; Yushkevich et al., ) using a customized atlas of the HC body, with manual morphometry as a standard. We built a series of customized atlases comprising the entorhinal cortex (ERC) and subfields of the HC body from manually segmented images, and evaluated the correspondence of automated segmentations with manual morphometry. In samples with age ranges of 6–24 and 62–79 years, 20 participants each, we obtained validity coefficients (intraclass correlations, ICC) and spatial overlap measures (dice similarity coefficient) that varied substantially across subfields. Anterior and posterior HC body evidenced the greatest discrepancies between automated and manual segmentations. Adding anterior and posterior slices for atlas creation and truncating automated output to the ranges manually defined by multiple neuroanatomical landmarks substantially improved the validity of automated segmentation, yielding ICC above 0.90 for all subfields and alleviating systematic bias. We cross‐validated the developed atlas on an independent sample of 30 healthy adults (age 31–84) and obtained good to excellent agreement: ICC (2) = 0.70–0.92. Thus, with described customization steps implemented by experts trained in MRI neuroanatomy, ASHS shows excellent concurrent validity, and can become a promising method for studying age‐related changes in HC subfield volumes.
Macrophyte‐driven transient storage and phosphorus uptake in a western Wisconsin stream
Authors: Bohrman Katherine J. , Strauss Eric A. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractInvestigations of phosphorus cycling and transport in streams lend insight into potential mechanisms of nutrient sequestration and can help mitigate human impacts. In this study, we examined the relationship between transient storage and phosphorus uptake in a cold‐water stream in western Wisconsin. Hydrological characteristics, nutrient spiralling metrics, macrophyte biomass, and geomorphological properties were quantified in 7 reaches of Spring Coulee Creek using injections of a conservative tracer alone or with added PO43−. Fraction of median travel time due to transient storage (Fmed200) was correlated with macrophyte biomass (r = .794, p = .033), and PO43− uptake velocity was correlated with Fmed200 (r = .756, p = .049). Stepwise linear regression was used to build models for transient storage and uptake velocity. Macrophyte biomass, stream bed slope, and riffle to pool ratio accounted for 99.6% of the variation in transient storage (p < .001). Transient storage, canopy cover, and slope accounted for 98.0% of the variation in uptake velocity (p = .002). This study shows that transient storage, primarily resulting from macrophyte beds, can be a significant factor regulating phosphorus uptake in stream ecosystems.
Joining the dots between omics and environmental management
Authors: Leung Kenneth MY 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

With the rapid advancement of DNA sequencing technologies and the substantial reduction of their running costs, environmental genomics and transcriptomics become more affordable and popular in environmental toxicology. In parallel, there are also speedy improvements of mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, enabling high-throughput analyses of proteins and metabolites in biological samples and promoting research studies in proteomics and metabolomics. By applying these high-throughput omics technologies, researchers can quickly generate an unprecedentedly vast amount of biological data that may be useful to environmental management. However, the current pace of applying omics information in environmental management is still very slow, and lags well behind the rapid development of omics-based research. This timely commentary, therefore, calls for joint efforts to increase this pace and join the dots between omics and environmental management, turning omics into practical tools. Herein, I explore how omics can contribute to risk assessment and management of chemicals, and recommend what we can do to facilitate and promote the use of omics information in environmental management. This article is especially dedicated to my role model, mentor, and friend, Peter M Chapman (1951–2017), who sadly passed away on 26 September 2017. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2018;14:169–173. © 2017 SETAC

Key Points
Environmental genomics and transcriptomics have become more affordable and popular in environmental toxicology. Improvements of mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry enable high-throughput analyses of proteins and metabolites in biological samples and promote research in proteomics and metabolomics. Applying these high-throughput omics technologies, researchers can quickly generate an unprecedentedly vast amount of biological data that may be useful to environmental management. The current pace of applying omics information in environmental management is still slow; joint efforts to increase this pace and join the dots between omics and environmental management, turning omics into practical tools, is needed.
Bank profitability and risk‐taking under low interest rates
Authors: Bikker Jacob A. , Vervliet Tobias M. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of the unusually low interest rate environment on the soundness of the United States banking sector in terms of profitability and risk‐taking. Using both dynamic and static modelling approaches and various estimation techniques, we find that the low interest rate environment indeed impairs bank performance and compresses net interest margins. Nonetheless, banks have been able to maintain their overall level of profits, due to lower provisioning, which in turn may endanger financial stability. Banks did not compensate for their lower interest income by expanding operations to include trading activities with a higher risk exposure.
Long‐term outcomes in unilateral vocal fold paralysis patients
Authors: McLaughlin Conor W. , Swendseid Brian , Courey Mark S. , Schneider Sarah , Gartner‐Schmidt Jackie L. , Yung Katherine C. 
Published: November 2017

Objectives/HypothesisAt presentation, unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) patients have different treatment options, including conservative management (CM), injection laryngoplasty (IL) with a temporary agent, or permanent medialization (PM). This study evaluates long‐term outcomes for UVFP patients relative to intervention.Study DesignRetrospective chart review.MethodsA retrospective chart review was performed of UVFP patients who presented to the University of California San Francisco Voice and Swallowing Center. Videolaryngostroboscopy examinations were reviewed. Maximum glottic closure was quantified with the normalized glottic gap area (NGGA). Perceptual voice analysis was performed using the Consensus Auditory‐Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE‐V) at corresponding time points.ResultsFifty‐three patients met inclusion criteria. Six underwent CM only, 20 went on to require PM, 19 underwent IL only, and eight underwent IL and subsequent PM. NGGA at presentation was similar among groups; however, the CM group was noted to have more favorable CAPE‐V scores for Breathiness (P = .007) and Loudness (P = .018). All groups had similar NGGA and CAPE‐V scores at last follow‐up. When compared to pooled data for patients who underwent PM, the IL group was noted to have similar NGGA and CAPE‐V scores at presentation. Although improvements in both groups were noted following intervention, both groups appeared similar at last follow‐up with the exception of Roughness, for which the IL group retained a slightly improved outcome (13.3 vs. 18.3, P = .03).ConclusionsAt presentation, UVFP patients have similar NGGA. This finding suggests that treatment recommendations cannot be made on the size of the glottic gap alone. Furthermore, in many patients, IL results in long‐term benefit with glottic closure and CAPE‐V scores equivalent to that obtained with PM.Level of Evidence4. Laryngoscope, 128:430–436, 2018