bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Uncertainty quantification of inflow boundary condition and proximal arterial stiffness–coupled effect on pulse wave propagation in a vascular network
Authors: Brault Antoine , Dumas Laurent , Lucor Didier 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThis work aims at quantifying the effect of inherent uncertainties from cardiac output on the sensitivity of a human compliant arterial network response based on stochastic simulations of a reduced‐order pulse wave propagation model. A simple pulsatile output form is used to reproduce the most relevant cardiac features with a minimum number of parameters associated with left ventricle dynamics. Another source of significant uncertainty is the spatial heterogeneity of the aortic compliance, which plays a key role in the propagation and damping of pulse waves generated at each cardiac cycle. A continuous representation of the aortic stiffness in the form of a generic random field of prescribed spatial correlation is then considered. Making use of a stochastic sparse pseudospectral method, we investigate the sensitivity of the pulse pressure and waves reflection magnitude over the arterial tree with respect to the different model uncertainties. Results indicate that uncertainties related to the shape and magnitude of the prescribed inlet flow in the proximal aorta can lead to potent variation of both the mean value and standard deviation of blood flow velocity and pressure dynamics due to the interaction of different wave propagation and reflection features. Lack of accurate knowledge in the stiffness properties of the aorta, resulting in uncertainty in the pulse wave velocity in that region, strongly modifies the statistical response, with a global increase in the variability of the quantities of interest and a spatial redistribution of the regions of higher sensitivity. These results will provide some guidance in clinical data acquisition and future coupling of arterial pulse wave propagation reduced‐order model with more complex beating heart models.
A comprehensive and scalable middleware for Ambient Assisted Living based on cloud computing and Internet of Things
Authors: Gomes Berto de Tácio Pereira , Muniz Luiz Carlos Melo , da Silva e Silva Francisco José , Ríos Luis Eduardo Talavera , Endler Markus 
Published: December 2016

SummaryAmbient Assisted Living (AAL) main goal is the development of health monitoring systems for patients with chronic diseases and elderly people through the use of body, home, and environmental sensors that increase their degree of independence and mobility. A comprehensive software infrastructure for AAL systems should be able to cover scenarios involving several patient mobility levels, locations, and physical and cognitive abilities. Cloud computing can provide to AAL systems the ability to extend the limited processing power of mobile devices, but its main role is to integrate all stakeholders through the storage and processing of health data and the orchestration of healthcare business logic. On the other hand, the Internet of Things (IoT) provides the ability to connect sensors and actuators, integrating and making them available through the Internet. This paper presents the Mobile‐Hub/Scalable Data Distribution Layer, a middleware for AAL based on cloud computing and IoT. We discuss how this middleware can handle the requirements of the main health monitoring scenarios and present results that demonstrate the ability to opportunistically discover and connect with sensors in a timely manner and the scalability necessary for handling the connection and data processing of many connected patients.
Engineering Favorable Morphology and Structure of Fe‐N‐C Oxygen‐Reduction Catalysts through Tuning of Nitrogen/Carbon Precursors
Authors: Gupta Shiva , Zhao Shuai , Ogoke Ogechi , Lin Ye , Xu Hui , Wu Gang 
Published: December 2016

AbstractStructures and morphologies of Fe‐N‐C catalysts are believed to be crucial because of the number of active sites and local bonding structures governing the overall catalyst performance for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, the knowledge how to rationally design catalysts is still lacking. By combining different nitrogen/carbon precursors, including polyaniline (PANI), dicyandiamide (DCDA), and melamine (MLMN), we aim to tune catalyst morphology and structure to facilitate the ORR. Instead of the commonly studied single precursors, multiple precursors were used during the synthesis; this provides a new opportunity to promote catalyst activity and stability through a likely synergistic effect. The best‐performing Fe‐N‐C catalyst derived from PANI+DCDA is superior to the individual PANI or DCDA‐derived ones. In particular, when compared to the extensively explored PANI‐derived catalysts, the binary precursors have an increased half‐wave potential of 0.83 V and an enhanced electrochemical stability in challenging acidic media, indicating a significantly increased number of active sites and strengthened local bonding structures. Multiple key factors associated with the observed promotion are elucidated, including the optimal pore size distribution, highest electrochemically active surface area, presence of dominant amorphous carbon, and thick graphitic carbon layers with more pyridinic nitrogen edge sites likely bonded with active atomic iron.
Mass Cytometry of Follicular Lymphoma Tumors Reveals Intrinsic Heterogeneity in Proteins Including HLA‐DR and a Deficit in Nonmalignant Plasmablast and Germinal Center B‐Cell Populations
Authors: Wogsland Cara Ellen , Greenplate Allison Rae , Kolstad Arne , Myklebust June Helen , Irish Jonathan Michael , Huse Kanutte 
Published: December 2016

BackgroundFollicular lymphoma (FL) is an indolent non‐Hodgkin lymphoma that has a risk of transformation to more aggressive lymphoma. Relatively little is known about the nonmalignant B‐cell and T‐cell subset composition within the tumor microenvironment and whether altered phenotypes are associated with patterns of lymphoma B‐cell heterogeneity.MethodsTwo mass cytometry (CyTOF) panels were designed to immunophenotype B and T cells in FL tumors. Populations of malignant B cells, nonmalignant B cells, and T cells from each FL tumor were identified and their phenotypes compared to B and T cells from healthy human tonsillar tissue.ResultsDiversity in cellular phenotype between tumors was greater for the malignant B cells than for nonmalignant B or T cells. The malignant B‐cell population bore little phenotypic similarity to any healthy B‐cell subset, and unexpectedly clustered closer to naïve B‐cell populations than GC B‐cell populations. Among the nonmalignant B cells within FL tumors, a significant lack of GC and plasmablast B cells was observed relative to tonsil controls. In contrast, nonmalignant T cells in FL tumors were present at levels similar to their cognate tonsillar T‐cell subsets.ConclusionMass cytometry revealed that diverse HLA‐DR expression on FL cells within individual tumors contributed greatly to tumor heterogeneity. Both malignant and nonmalignant B cells in the tumor bore little phenotypic resemblance to healthy GC B cells despite the presence of T follicular helper cells in the tumor. These findings suggest that ongoing signaling interactions between malignant B cells and intra‐tumor T cells shape the tumor microenvironment. © 2016 International Clinical Cytometry Society
Development of a pathway model to assess the exposure of European pine trees to pine wood nematode via the trade of wood
Authors: Douma J. C. , van der Werf W. , Hemerik L. , Magnusson C. , Robinet C. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractPine wood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is a threat for pine species (Pinus spp.) throughout the world. The nematode is native to North America, and invaded Japan, China, Korea, and Taiwan, and more recently Portugal and Spain. PWN enters new areas through trade in wood products. Once established, eradication is not practically feasible. Therefore, preventing entry of PWN into new areas is crucial. Entry risk analysis can assist in targeting management to reduce the probability of entry. Assessing the entry of PWN is challenging due to the complexity of the wood trade and the wood processing chain. In this paper, we develop a pathway model that describes the wood trade and wood processing chain to determine the structure of the entry process. We consider entry of PWN through imported coniferous wood from China, a possible origin of Portuguese populations, to Europe. We show that exposure increased over years due to an increase in imports of sawn wood. From 2000 to 2012, Europe received an estimated 84 PWN propagules from China, 88% of which arose from imported sawn wood and 12% from round wood. The region in Portugal where the PWN was first reported is among those with the highest PWN transfer per unit of imported wood due to a high host cover and vector activity. An estimated 62% of PWN is expected to enter in countries where PWN is not expected to cause the wilt of pine trees because of low summer temperatures (e.g., Belgium, Sweden, Norway). In these countries, PWN is not easily detected, and such countries can thus serve as potential reservoirs of PWN. The model identifies ports and regions with high exposure, which helps targeting monitoring and surveillance, even in areas where wilt disease is not expected to occur. In addition, we show that exposure is most efficiently reduced by additional treatments in the country of origin, and/or import wood from PWN‐free zones. Pathway modelling assists plant health managers in analyzing risks along the pathway and planning measures for enhancing biosecurity.
Bee communities along a prairie restoration chronosequence: similar abundance and diversity, distinct composition
Authors: Tonietto Rebecca K. , Ascher John S. , Larkin Daniel J. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractRecognition of the importance of bee conservation has grown in response to declines of managed honey bees and some wild bee species. Habitat loss has been implicated as a leading cause of declines, suggesting that ecological restoration is likely to play an increasing role in bee conservation efforts. In the midwestern United States, restoration of tallgrass prairie has traditionally targeted plant community objectives without explicit consideration for bees. However, restoration of prairie vegetation is likely to provide ancillary benefits to bees through increased foraging and nesting resources. We investigated community assembly of bees across a chronosequence of restored eastern tallgrass prairies and compared patterns to those in control and reference habitats (old fields and prairie remnants, respectively). We collected bees for 3 yr and measured diversity and abundance of in‐bloom flowering plants, vegetation structure, ground cover, and surrounding land use as predictors of bee abundance and bee taxonomic and functional diversity. We found that site‐level variables, but not site type or restoration age, were significant predictors of bee abundance (bloom diversity,P = 0.004; bare ground cover,P = 0.02) and bee diversity (bloom diversity,P = 0.01). There were significant correlations between overall composition of bee and blooming plant communities (Mantel test,P = 0.002), and both plant and bee assemblages in restorations were intermediate between those of old fields and remnant prairies. Restorations exhibited high bee beta diversity, i.e., restored sites’ bee assemblages were taxonomically and functionally differentiated from each other. This pattern was strong in younger restorations (<20 yr old), but absent from older restorations (>20 yr), suggesting restored prairie bee communities become more similar to one another and more similar to remnant prairie bee communities over time with the arrival of more species and functional groups of bees. Our results indicate that old fields, restorations, and remnants provide habitat for diverse and abundant bee communities, but continued restoration of old fields will help support and conserve bee communities more similar to reference bee communities characteristic of remnant prairies.
Ecohydrological transformation in the Dry Chaco and the risk of dryland salinity: Following Australia's footsteps?
Authors: Marchesini Victoria A. , Giménez Raúl , Nosetto Marcelo D. , Jobbágy Esteban G. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractDuring the last century, the massive conversion of Australian dry forests to crops and pastures triggered the massive soil and groundwater degradation process known as dryland salinity. Currently, South American Chaco's dry forests are undergoing a similar transformation, leading global deforestation rates. The goal of this study was to review existing ecohydrological information about natural and cultivated systems in the Chaco to assess the dryland salinity risks. We review deep soil water, salt stocks, and groundwater recharge from agriculture or native dry forests stands located in a precipitation range of 450–1100 mm. We complement this with water table level records and geoelectric profiles together with personal observations. We use data from 15 Australian studies for comparison. Strong salt leaching, especially after 20 years of forest clearance, indicates the onset of deep drainage following forest conversion to agriculture in the Dry Chaco. Water stocks were more than double in the cleared stands compared to their dry forest pairs, and recharge rates were up to two order magnitude higher in agricultural areas. Although lower atmospheric salt deposition, younger sediments, and relatively high water‐consuming agricultural systems in the Dry Chaco attenuate salinization risks compared to Australia, the very flat topography and related shallow water table levels of the South American region could make groundwater recharge and salt mobilization processes more widespread and difficult to manage. The lack of awareness among the general public, farmers, and decision makers about this issue amplifies the problem, making land management plans for the Argentine dry forest territories essential.
Projecting impacts of climate change on habitat availability in a macrophyte dominated Chalk River
Authors: House A. R. , Thompson J. R. , Roberts C. , de Smeth K. , Old G. , Acreman M. C. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractClimate change will impact fluvial ecosystems through changes in the flow regime. Physical habitat is an established measure of a river's ecological status when assessing changes to flow. Yet, it requires extensive datasets, is site specific, and does not account for dynamic processes; shortcomings that the use of hydrological and hydraulic models may alleviate. Here, simulated flows along a 600 m reach of the River Lambourn, Boxford, UK, were extracted from the 1D MIKE 11 hydraulic component of an integrated MIKE SHE model of the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology River Lambourn Observatory. In‐channel seasonal macrophyte growth and management through cutting alter water levels, represented in the hydraulic model by manipulating channel bed roughness (Manning's n). Assessment of climate change used outputs from the UK Climate Projections 2009 ensemble of global climate models for the 2080s. River discharge outputs were disaggregated to provide velocity and depth profiles across 41 cross sections along the reach. These were integrated with habitat suitability criteria for brown trout (Salmo trutta) to generate a measure of available physical habitat. The influence of macrophyte growth caused the habitat‐discharge relationship to be unusable in evaluating the sensitivity of brown trout to flow changes. Instead, projected time series were used to show an overall reduction in habitat availability, more for adult than juvenile trout. Results highlighted the impact of weed cutting, and its potential role in mitigating both flood risk and the ecological impacts of climate change. The use of a hydraulic model to assess physical habitat availability has worldwide applicability.
Plant‐herbivore synchrony and selection on plant flowering phenology
Authors: Fogelström Elsa , Olofsson Martin , Posledovich Diana , Wiklund Christer , Dahlgren Johan P. , Ehrlén Johan 
Published: December 2016

AbstractTemporal variation in natural selection has profound effects on the evolutionary trajectories of populations. One potential source of variation in selection is that differences in thermal reaction norms and temperature influence the relative phenology of interacting species. We manipulated the phenology of the butterfly herbivore Anthocharis cardamines relative to genetically identical populations of its host plant, Cardamine pratensis, and examined the effects on butterfly preferences and selection acting on the host plant. We found that butterflies preferred plants at an intermediate flowering stage, regardless of the timing of butterfly flight relative to flowering onset of the population. Consequently, the probability that plant genotypes differing in timing of flowering should experience a butterfly attack depended strongly on relative phenology. These results suggest that differences in spring temperature influence the direction of herbivore‐mediated selection on flowering phenology, and that climatic conditions can influence natural selection also when phenotypic preferences remain constant.
Invasive exotic shrub modifies a classic animal‐habitat relationship and alters patterns of vertebrate seed predation
Authors: Guiden Peter W. , Orrock John L. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractRecent evidence suggests that invasive exotic plants can provide novel habitats that alter animal behavior. However, it remains unclear whether classic animal‐habitat associations that influence the spatial distribution of plant‐animal interactions, such as small mammal use of downed woody debris, persist in invaded habitats. We removed an invasive exotic shrub (buckthorn, Rhamnus cathartica) from 7 of 15 plots in Wisconsin. In each plot, we deployed 200 tagged Quercus rubra seeds in November 2014. After five months, tags were recovered to track spatial patterns of small mammal seed predation. Most recovered tags were associated with consumed seeds (95%); live‐trapping, ancillary camera‐trapping, and previous behavioral studies suggest that white‐footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) were responsible for most seed predation. In habitats without R. cathartica, most seed predation occurred near woody debris. In habitats with R. cathartica, small mammals rarely consumed seeds near woody debris, and seed predation occurred farther from the plot center and was less spatially clustered. Our results illustrate that invasive exotic shrubs can disrupt an otherwise common animal‐habitat relationship. Failing to account for changes in habitat use may diminish our ability to predict animal distributions and outcomes of species interactions in novel habitats created by invasive exotic plants.
Conceptualizing delta forms and processes in Arctic coastal environments
Authors: Bendixen Mette , Kroon Aart 
Published: December 2016

AbstractClimate warming in the Arctic directly causes two opposite changes in Arctic coastal systems: increased melt‐water discharge through rivers induces extra influx of sediments and extended open water season increases wave impact which reworks and erodes the shores. A shoreline change analysis along the southern coast of Disko Island in western Greenland was conducted with aerial photographs and satellite images from 1964, 1985, and 2012. The decadal morphologic evolution of this 85 km section showed that large parts of the coast had undergone very limited changes. However, two deltas were highly dynamic and popped up as hotspots.The Tuapaat delta and Skansen delta showed large progradation rates (1.5 and 7 m/yr) and migration of the adjacent barriers and spits. The dynamic behavior at the delta mouths was mainly caused by classic delta channel lobe switching at one delta (Tuapaat), and by a breach of the fringing spit at the other delta (Skansen). The longshore and cross‐shore transports are responsible for reworking the sediment with a result of migrating delta mouths and adjacent subaqueous mouth bars. Seaward progradation of the deltas is limited due to the steep nature of the bathymetry in Disko Bay.Finally, a schematic conceptual overview of processes and associated morphological responses for deltas in Arctic environments is presented, including the climate drivers affecting delta evolution. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of oil and water accommodated fractions used to conduct aquatic toxicity testing in support of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill natural resource damage assessment
Authors: Forth Heather P. , Mitchelmore Carys L. , Morris Jeffrey M. , Lipton Joshua 
Published: December 2016

Abstract

The Deepwater Horizon blowout resulted in the release of millions of barrels of crude oil. As part of the Trustees’ Natural Resource Damage Assessment, a testing program was implemented to evaluate the toxicity of Deepwater Horizon oil and oil/dispersant mixtures to aquatic organisms from the Gulf of Mexico. Because of the variety of exposures that likely occurred, the program included 4 Deepwater Horizon oils, which encompassed a range of weathering states, and 3 different oil-in-water mixing methods, for a total of 12 unique water accommodated fractions (WAFs). The present study reports on the chemical characteristics of these 4 Deepwater Horizon oils and 12 WAFs. In addition, to better understand exposure chemistry, an examination was conducted of the effects of WAF preparation parameters—including mixing energy, starting oil composition, and oil-to-water mixing ratios—on the chemical profiles and final concentrations of these 12 WAFs. The results showed that the more weathered the starting oil, the lower the concentrations of the oil constituents in the WAF, with a shift in composition to the less soluble compounds. In addition, higher mixing energies increased the presence of insoluble oil constituents. Finally, at low to mid oil-to-water mixing ratios, the concentration and composition of the WAFs changed with changing mixing ratios; this change was not observed at higher mixing ratios (i.e., &gt;1 g oil/L). Ultimately, the present study provides a basic characterization of the oils and WAFs used in the testing program, which helps to support interpretation of the more than 500 Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment toxicity testing results and to enable a comparison of these results with different tests and with the field. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1450–1459. © 2016 SETAC
The role of the hippocampus in generalizing configural relationships
Authors: Berens Sam C. , Bird Chris M. 
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACTThe hippocampus has been implicated in integrating information across separate events in support of mnemonic generalizations. These generalizations may be underpinned by processes at both encoding (linking similar information across events) and retrieval (“on‐the‐fly” generalization). However, the relative contribution of the hippocampus to encoding‐ and retrieval‐based generalizations is poorly understood. Using fMRI in humans, we investigated the hippocampal role in gradually learning a set of spatial discriminations and subsequently generalizing them in an acquired equivalence task. We found a highly significant correlation between individuals’ performance on a generalization test and hippocampal activity during the test, providing evidence that hippocampal processes support on‐the‐fly generalizations at retrieval. Within the same hippocampal region there was also a correlation between activity during the final stage of learning (when all associations had been learnt but no generalization was required) and subsequent generalization performance. We suggest that the hippocampus spontaneously retrieves prior events that share overlapping features with the current event. This process may also support the creation of generalized representations during encoding. These findings are supportive of the view that the hippocampus contributes to both encoding‐ and retrieval‐based generalization via the same basic mechanism; retrieval of similar events sharing common features. © 2016 The Authors Hippocampus Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.