bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mutualism between ribbed mussels and cordgrass enhances salt marsh nitrogen removal
Authors: Bilkovic Donna Marie , Mitchell Molly M. , Isdell Robert E. , Schliep Matthew , Smyth Ashley R. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractSalt marsh ecosystems have declined globally and are increasingly threatened by erosion, sea level rise, and urban development. These highly productive, physically demanding ecosystems are populated by core species groups that often have strong trophic interactions with implications for ecosystem function and service provision. Positive interactions occur between ribbed mussels (Geukensia demissa) and cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). Mussels transfer particulate nitrogen from the water column to the marsh sediments, which stimulates cordgrass growth, and cordgrass provides predator and/or heat stress refuge for mussels. Here, we test mussel facilitation of two functions in salt marshes that relate to N removal: microbial denitrification and water filtration. Microcosm experiments revealed that the highest rates of N2 production and nitrification occurred when mussels were present with marsh vegetation, suggesting that mussels enhanced coupling of the nitrification–denitrification. Surveys spanning the York River Estuary, Chesapeake Bay, showed that the highest densities of mussels occurred in the first meter for all marsh types with mainstem fringing (1207 ± 265 mussels/m2) being the most densely populated. The mussel population was estimated to be ~197 million animals with a water filtration potential of 90–135 million L/hr. Erosion simulation models demonstrated that suitable marsh habitat for ribbed mussels along the York River Estuary would be reduced by 11.8% after 50 years. This reduction in mussel habitat resulted in a projected 15% reduction in ribbed mussel abundance and filtration capacity. Denitrification potential was reduced in conjunction with projected marsh loss (35,536 m2) by 205 g N/hr, a 16% reduction. Because of the predominant occurrence of ribbed mussels at the marsh seaward edge and because the highest proportional loss will occur for fringing marshes (20%), shoreline management practices that restore or create fringing marsh may help offset these projected losses.
Topographically driven differences in energy and water constrain climatic control on forest carbon sequestration
Authors: Swetnam Tyson L. , Brooks Paul D. , Barnard Holly R. , Harpold Adrian A. , Gallo Erika L. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractMountains are vital to ecosystems and human society given their influence on global carbon and water cycles. Yet the extent to which topography regulates montane forest carbon uptake and storage remains poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we compared forest aboveground carbon loading to topographic metrics describing energy balance and water availability across three headwater catchments of the Boulder Creek Watershed, Colorado, USA. The catchments range from 1800 to 3500 m above mean sea level with 46–102 cm/yr mean annual precipitation and −1.2° to 12.3°C mean annual temperature. In all three catchments, we found mean forest carbon loading consistently increased from ridges (27 ± 19 Mg C ha) to valley bottoms (60 ± 28 Mg C ha). Low topographic positions held up to 185 ± 76 Mg C ha, more than twice the peak value of upper positions. Toe slopes fostered disproportionately high net carbon uptake relative to other topographic positions. Carbon storage was on average 20–40 Mg C ha greater on north to northeast aspects than on south to southwest aspects, a pattern most pronounced in the highest elevation, coldest and wettest catchment. Both the peak and mean aboveground carbon storage of the three catchments, crossing an 11°C range in temperature and doubling of local precipitation, defied the expectation of an optimal elevation‐gradient climatic zone for net primary production. These results have important implications for models of forest sensitivity to climate change, as well as to predicted estimates of continental carbon reservoirs.
Heart failure is associated with depletion of core intestinal microbiota
Authors: Luedde Mark , Winkler Thorben , Heinsen Femke‐Anouska , Rühlemann Malte C. , Spehlmann Martina E. , Bajrovic Amer , Lieb Wolfgang , Franke Andre , Ott Stephan J. , Frey Norbert 
Published: April 2017

AbstractAimsIn spite of current medical treatment approaches, mortality of chronic heart failure (HF) remains high and novel treatment modalities are thus urgently needed. A recent theory proposes a possible impact of the intestinal microbiome on the incidence and clinical course of heart failure. This study sought to systematically investigate, if there are specific changes of the intestinal microbiome in heart failure patients.Methods and resultsThe intestinal microbiome of 20 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction due to ischemic or dilated cardiomyopathy was investigated by applying high‐throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Microbial profiles were compared to those of matched controls in which heart failure was ruled out by clinical assessment and NT‐proBNP serum levels (n = 20). According to the Shannon diversity index (which measures the intra‐individual alpha‐diversity) based on the distribution of operational taxonomic units (OTUs), HF cases showed a nominally significantly lower diversity index compared to controls (Pnom. = 0.01), and testing for genera abundance showed a tendency towards a decreased alpha diversity of HF patients. Beta‐diversity measures (inter‐individual diversity) revealed a highly significant separation of HF cases and controls, (e.g. Pweighted UniFracv = 0.004). Assessing the individual abundance of core measurable microbiota (CMM), a significant decrease of Coriobacteriaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae and Ruminococcaceae was observed on the family level. In line with that, Blautia, Collinsella, uncl. Erysipelotrichaceae and uncl. Ruminococcaceae showed a significant decrease in HF cases compared to controls on the genus level.ConclusionsHeart failure patients showed a significantly decreased diversity of the intestinal microbiome as well as a downregulation of key intestinal bacterial groups. Our data point to an altered intestinal microbiome as a potential player in the pathogenesis and progression of heart failure.
High‐Spin Nitrosyl–Iron(II) Compounds
Authors: Wolf Markus , Aas Bianca M. , Klüfers Peter 
Published: April 2017

AbstractInvited for the cover of this issue is the group of Peter Klüfers from Ludwig‐Maximilians‐Universität München, Germany. The cover image shows a laboratory‐scale bubble column, which was used for the nitrosation of a dissolved ferrous edta complex to obtain the nitrosyl complex shown at the top left.
Effects of dielectrophoresis on thrombogenesis in human whole blood
Authors: Kinio Steven , Mills James K. 
Published: April 2017

Thrombogenesis (blood clot formation) is a major barrier to the development of biomedical devices that interface with blood. Although state‐of‐the‐art chemically and pharmacologically mediated clot mitigation strategies are effective, some limitations of such approaches include depletion of active agents, or adverse reactions in patients. Increased clotting protein adsorption and platelet adhesion, which occur when artificial surfaces are exposed to blood result in enhanced clot formation on artificial surfaces. It is hypothesized that repelling proteins and platelets using dielectrophoresis (DEP), a contact‐free particle manipulation technique, will reduce clot formation in biomedical devices. In this paper, the effect of DEP on thrombogenesis in human blood is investigated. Undiluted whole blood from human donors is pumped through microchannels at a physiological shear rate (400 s−1). Experiments are performed by applying 0 V, 0.5 Vrms, 2 Vrms, and 3 Vrms to electrodes in the channel. Clot formation is observed to decrease in experiments in which DEP electrodes are active (average of 6% coverage @ 0V reduced to 0.08% coverage @ 3 Vrms). Repulsion is more effective at higher voltages. DEP causes a quantifiable reduction in microscopic and macroscopic clot formation in PDMS microchannels.
Investigation of bacterial viability from incubated saliva by application of flow cytometry and hyphenated separation techniques
Authors: Buszewski Bogusław , Milanowski Maciej , Ligor Tomasz , Pomastowski Paweł 
Published: April 2017

The aim of the study was determination of bacterial viability in saliva samples and finding a correlation between microbiological and volatile profiles of saliva depending on incubation time. Bacteria colonizing healthy oral cavities were also identified. Twelve healthy adults donated unstimulated saliva samples. Flow cytometry, optical density measurements and colony‐forming unit (CFU) counting method were employed for analyses of native and inoculated saliva after 0, 1, 2, 24, and 48 h of incubation. Volatile profiles were acquired using headspace‐solid phase microextraction‐gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS‐SPME‐GC/MS). Oral bacteria were the most viable within 2 h after collection of saliva. Extension of incubation time to 48 h caused considerable decrease in live bacteria counts and sharp increase in dead bacteria counts. The most prevalent strain was Sphingomonas paucimobilis (26.67%). The number of volatiles raised from 5 to 27 with incubation time and most of them were putrefaction products, such as methanethiol, indole and pyrrole. HS‐SPME‐GC/MS method is insufficient for volatile profiling of “fresh” saliva and should be directed rather to investigation of bacterial metabolites.
Reliability‐based control algorithms for nonlinear hysteretic systems based on enhanced stochastic averaging of energy envelope
Authors: El‐Khoury Omar , Shafieezadeh Abdollah 
Published: April 2017

SummaryCurrent reliability‐based control techniques have been successfully applied to linear systems; however, incorporation of stochastic nonlinear behavior of systems in such control designs remains a challenge. This paper presents two reliability‐based control algorithms that minimize failure probabilities of nonlinear hysteretic systems subjected to stochastic excitations. The proposed methods include constrained reliability‐based control (CRC) and unconstrained reliability‐based control (URC) algorithms. Accurate probabilistic estimates of nonlinear system responses to stochastic excitations are derived analytically using enhanced stochastic averaging of energy envelope proposed previously by the authors. Convolving these demand estimates with capacity models yields the reliability of nonlinear systems in the control design process. The CRC design employs the first‐level and second‐level optimizations sequentially where the first‐level optimization solves the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation and the second‐level optimization searches for optimal objective function parameters to minimize the probability of failure. In the URC design, a single optimization minimizes the probability of failure by directly searching for the optimal control gain. Application of the proposed control algorithms to a building on nonlinear foundation has shown noticeable improvements in system performance under various stochastic excitations. The URC design appears to be the most optimal method as it reduced the probability of slight damage to 8.7%, compared with 11.6% and 19.2% for the case of CRC and a stochastic linear quadratic regulator, respectively. Under the Kobe ground motion, the normalized peak drift displacement with respect to stochastic linear quadratic regulator is reduced to 0.78 and 0.81 for the URC and CRC cases, respectively, at comparable control force levels. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interpreting sediment yield scaling
Authors: Church Michael 
Published: April 2017

AbstractTerrestrial sediment yield – often measured as suspended sediment load in stream channels – commonly scales with drainage area within homogeneous land surface regions. But the effect of drainage area has not usually been recognized in comparative sediment yield analyses, rendering most comparisons of sediment yield from disparate source areas invalid. The procedure to discount scale differences for comparative purposes is presented. Mathematical scaling varies according to landscape condition and provides a physical interpretation of that condition. The results open the way for rational construction of a ‘sediment delivery ratio’. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using Vision and Speech Features for Automated Prediction of Performance Metrics in Multimodal Dialogs
Authors: Ramanarayanan Vikram , Lange Patrick , Evanini Keelan , Molloy Hillary , Tsuprun Eugene , Qian Yao , Suendermann‐Oeft David 
Published: April 2017

AbstractPredicting and analyzing multimodal dialog user experience (UX) metrics, such as overall call experience, caller engagement, and latency, among other metrics, in an ongoing manner is important for evaluating such systems. We investigate automated prediction of multiple such metrics collected from crowdsourced interactions with an open‐source, cloud‐based multimodal dialog system in the educational domain. We extract features from both the audio and video signals and examine the efficacy of multiple machine learning algorithms in predicting these performance metrics. The best performing audio features consist of multiple low‐level audio descriptors—intensity, loudness, cepstra, pitch, and so on—and their functionals, extracted using theOpenSMILEtoolkit, while the video features are bags of visual words that use3DScale‐Invariant Feature Transform descriptors. We find that our proposed methods outperform the majority vote classification baseline in predicting variousUXmetrics rated by both the user and experts. Our results suggest that such automated prediction of performance metrics can not only inform the qualitative and quantitative analysis of dialogs but also be potentially incorporated into dialog management routines for positively impactingUXand other metrics during the course of the interaction.
Daily crying prevalence and associated factors in older adult persons living in nursing homes: findings from a regional study
Authors: Palese Alvisa , Simeoni Arianna , Zuttion Antonio Ranieri , Ferrario Barbara , Ponta Sandra , Ambrosi Elisa 
Published: April 2017

ObjectivesThe study aims to evaluate the prevalence of nursing home (NH) resident crying and associated factors at the individual and NH levels.DesignA regional retrospective study design has been used.Participants and settingA total of 8875 residents, living in 105 NHs, were included.MeasurementsThe occurrence of an episode of crying on at least a daily basis in the last month was the dependent variable; independent variables were set at individual and at the NH levels as reported in the Val.Graf regional database.ResultsA total of 1,443 (16.3%) residents reported daily episodes of crying over the last month. Several individual variables were significantly associated with crying; female gender (odds ratio [OR] 2.535, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.069–3.107); sad, pained or worried facial expressions (OR 1.885, 95% CI 1.785–2.021); negative thoughts (OR 1.650, 95% CI 1.508–1.804); unrealistic fears (OR 1.410, 95% CI 1.295–1.534); anger with self or others (OR 1.141, 95% CI 1.043–1.248); repetitive anxious complaints/concerns (OR 1.136, 95% CI 1.045–1.235); clinical instability (OR 1.186, 95% CI 1.018–1.381); pain (OR 1.183, 95% CI 1.058–1.323); night restlessness (OR 1.180, 95% CI 1.100–1.267); communication problems (OR 1.169, 95% CI 1.051–1.300); and cognitive impairment (OR 1.086, 95% CI 1.019–1.156); all increased the likelihood of crying. Conversely, sociability (OR 0.866, 95% CI 0.805–0.932) and being involved in social based activities (OR 0.882, 95% CI 0.811–0.960) were protective against crying. However, the previously mentioned variables have explained only 35.9% of variance in daily crying.ConclusionsAround one out of six residents living in NH cries on a daily basis, and the reasons are also at the individual level. Residents seem to cry for attachment and clinical needs and to express stress and unhappiness; more research is needed, aiming at discovering other factors associated with resident's daily crying. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
White matter microstructure variations contribute to neurological soft signs in healthy adults
Authors: Hirjak Dusan , Thomann Philipp A. , Wolf Robert C. , Kubera Katharina M. , Goch Caspar , Hering Jan , Maier‐Hein Klaus H. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractObjectiveNeurological soft signs (NSS) are core features of psychiatric disorders with significant neurodevelopmental origin. However, it is unclear whether NSS correlates are associated with neuropathological processes underlying the disease or if they are confounded by medication. Given that NSS are also present in healthy persons (HP), investigating HP could reveal NSS correlates, which are not biased by disease‐specific processes or drug treatment. Therefore, we used a combination of diffusion MRI analysis tools to provide a framework of specific white matter (WM) microstructure variations underlying NSS in HP.MethodNSS of 59 HP were examined on the Heidelberg Scale and related to diffusion associated metrics. Using tract‐based spatial statistics (TBSS), we studied WM variations in fractional anisotropy (FA) as well as radial (RD), axial (AD), and mean diffusivity (MD). Using graph analytics (clustering coefficient—CC, local betweenness centrality —BC), we then explored DTI‐derived structural network variations in regions identified by previous MRI studies on NSS.ResultsNSS scores were negatively associated with RD, AD and MD in corpus callosum, brainstem and cerebellum (P < 0.05, corr.). NSS scores were negatively associated with CC and BC of the pallidum, the superior parietal gyrus, the precentral sulcus, the insula, and the cingulate gyrus (P < 0.05, uncorr.).ConclusionThe present study supports the notion that WM microstructure variations in subcortical and cortical sensorimotor regions contribute to NSS expression in young HP. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3552–3565, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The structural connectome of children with traumatic brain injury
Authors: Königs Marsh , van Heurn L. W. Ernest , Bakx Roel , Vermeulen R. Jeroen , Goslings J. Carel , Poll‐The Bwee Tien , van der Wees Marleen , Catsman‐Berrevoets Coriene E. , Oosterlaan Jaap , Pouwels Petra J. W. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the impact of mild to severe pediatric TBI on the structural connectome. Children aged 8–14 years with trauma control (TC) injury (n = 27) were compared to children with mild TBI and risk factors for complicated TBI (mildRF+, n = 20) or moderate/severe TBI (n = 16) at 2.8 years post‐injury. Probabilistic tractography on diffusion tensor imaging data was used in combination with graph theory to study structural connectivity. Functional outcome was measured using neurocognitive tests and parent and teacher questionnaires for behavioral functioning. The results revealed no evidence for an impact of mildRF+ TBI on the structural connectome. In contrast, the moderate/severe TBI group showed longer characteristic path length (P = 0.022, d = 0.82) than the TC group. Furthermore, longer characteristic path length was related to poorer intelligence and poorer working memory in children with TBI. In conclusion, children have abnormal organization of the structural connectome after moderate/severe TBI, which may be implicated in neurocognitive dysfunction associated with pediatric TBI. These findings should be interpreted in the context of our exploratory analyses, which indicate that the definition and weighting of connectivity (e.g., streamline density, fractional anisotropy) influence the properties of the reconstructed connectome and its sensitivity to the impact and outcome of pediatric TBI. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3603–3614, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Age‐related health care disparities in multiple myeloma
Authors: Puyade Mathieu , Defossez Gautier , Guilhot François , Leleu Xavier , Ingrand Pierre 
Published: April 2017

AbstractAge is a well‐known factor in solid tumours linked to lower adherence to guidelines. Scarce data exist for haematologic malignancies such as multiple myeloma (MM). The aim of the study was to investigate the relationships among age, adherence to guidelines in MM, and overall survival (OS).The Poitou‐Charentes cancer registry has exhaustively registered incident cases of MM from 2008 to 2010. Diagnosis, staging, prognosis, and first‐line treatment were compared to the international guidelines. Three hundred and sixty‐seven patients aged 36 to 93 years were included. Compliance to diagnostic procedure was 98%, staging 62%, prognosis 30%, and first‐line treatment 89%. Cytogenetic analysis was compliant in 37%. Younger age was the strongest factor associated with compliant provision of care (odds ratio 14.4 [6.1‐33.8] for <66 years and 2.3 [0.9‐6.1] for 66‐74 years; P < .0001). The second independent factor was active versus smouldering myeloma (odds ratio 3.5 [1.6‐7.3]; P = .0009). Adherence to guidelines is related with OS in multivariate analysis hazard ratio: 1.6 [1.0‐2.5]; P = .03. Age is linked with inadequate provision of care in myeloma, particularly prognosis and first‐line treatment. Compliance to guidelines seems to be related to OS taking into account the main prognostic factors. Future guidelines should stress the point that age and frailty need to be taken into account in myeloma care.
Economies of diversification in the US credit union sector
Authors: Malikov Emir , Zhao Shunan , Kumbhakar Subal C. 
Published: April 2017

SummarySignificant scale economies have been recently cited to rationalize a dramatic growth in the US retail credit union sector over the past few decades. In this paper, we explore another plausible supply‐side explanation for the growth of the industry, namely economies of diversification. We focus on the fact that credit unions differ among themselves in the range of financial services they offer to their members. Since larger credit unions tend to offer a more diversified financial service menu than credit unions of a smaller size, the incentive to grow in size may be fueled not only by present scale economies but also by economies of diversification. This paper provides the first robust estimates of such economies of diversification for the credit union sector. We estimate a flexible semiparametric smooth coefficient quantile panel data model with correlated effects that is capable of accommodating a four‐way heterogeneity among credit unions. Our results indicate the presence of non‐negligible economies of diversification in the industry. We find that as many as 27–91% (depending on the type and the cost quantile) of diversified credit unions enjoy substantial economies of diversification; the cost of most remaining credit unions is invariant to the scope of services. We also find overwhelming evidence of increasing returns to scale in the industry.