bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alkali Metal Doping for Improved CH3NH3PbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Zhao Wangen , Yao Zhun , Yu Fengyang , Yang Dong , Liu Shengzhong (Frank) 
Published: December 2017

AbstractOrganic–inorganic hybrid halide perovskites are proven to be a promising semiconductor material as the absorber layer of solar cells. However, the perovskite films always suffer from nonuniform coverage or high trap state density due to the polycrystalline characteristics, which degrade the photoelectric properties of thin films. Herein, the alkali metal ions which are stable against oxidation and reduction are used in the perovskite precursor solution to induce the process of crystallization and nucleation, then affect the properties of the perovskite film. It is found that the addition of the alkali metal ions clearly improves the quality of perovskite film: enlarges the grain sizes, reduces the defect state density, passivates the grain boundaries, increases the built‐in potential (V
bi), resulting to the enhancement in the power conversion efficiency of perovskite thin film solar cell.
High circulating miR‐18a, miR‐20a, and miR‐92a expression correlates with poor prognosis in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Xu Xiaoxiao , Zhu Shan , Tao Zhaowu , Ye Shenglan 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to assess the predictive value of angiogenic miRNAs for disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In total, 196 patients with NSCLC (tumor lymph nodes metastasis (TNM) stage I–III) were enrolled and peripheral blood samples were collected. Total RNA was extracted from blood samples, and the relative expression levels of candidate miRNAs were evaluated by real time‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). The median follow‐up period was 56.7 months, and the final follow‐up date was in August 2016. The median DFS of all patients was 30.0 (14.0–49.0) months, whereas the median OS was 41.5 (23.0–58.0) months. Furthermore, the 5‐year DFS and OS rates were 11.3% and 32.3%, respectively. Kaplan–Meier (K–M) curves showed that high plasma miR‐18a (P < 0.001), miR‐20a (P < 0.001), miR‐92a (P < 0.001), miR‐126 (P < 0.001), miR‐210 (P = 0.003), and miR‐19a (P = 0.027) expressions levels correlated with a worse DFS. Moreover, patients with high plasma miR‐18a, miR‐20a, miR‐92a, miR‐210, and miR‐126 expression levels had a shorter OS than patients with low expression levels of these miRNAs (all P <= 0.001). Furthermore, multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that high plasma expression levels of miR‐18a, miR‐20a, and miR‐92a as well as lymphatic node metastasis (all P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for both DFS and OS in patients with NSCLC. Thus, the circulating miR‐18a, miR‐20a, and miR‐92a levels may serve as novel and promising prognostic biomarkers in patients with NSCLC.
Paradoxical effects of famous music in retail venues
Authors: Petruzzellis Luca , Chebat Jean‐Charles , Palumbo Ada 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe present study analyzes the effects of famous versus nonfamous ambient music in retail venues on actual shoppers' emotions and cognitions, which, in turn, affect buying intention and brand images. Our theoretical model was basically validated by the data collected in actual shopping venues in 2 studies. Study 1 explores the effects of music famousness on buying intention through the mediation of affect, self‐congruity, and product quality (N = 304). Study 2 explores the effects of music famousness on perceived brand quality through the mediation of self‐congruity and store attitude (N = 351). As expected, famous music has positive effects on shoppers' responses according to the mediating role of affective and cognitive responses and their sequential mediating effects. Paradoxically, famous music has also negative effects on these variables because it distracts consumers from their shopping, reducing cognitive activities. We draw theoretical and managerial conclusions from these findings.
Low testosterone at first prostate‐specific antigen failure and assessment of risk of death in men with unfavorable‐risk prostate cancer treated on prospective clinical trials
Authors: Atkins Katelyn M. , Chen Ming‐Hui , Wu Jing , Renshaw Andrew A. , Loffredo Marian , Kantoff Philip W. , Small Eric J. , D'Amico Anthony V. 
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUNDLow testosterone at the time of diagnosis of prostate cancer has been associated with a worse prognosis. Whether this is true and how to define the best treatment approach at the time of first prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) failure to the authors' knowledge has not been elucidated to date and was studied herein.METHODSBetween 1995 and 2001, a total of 58 men with unfavorable‐risk PC who were treated on clinical trials with radiotherapy and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) had available testosterone levels at the time of PSA failure. Cox and Fine and Gray regressions were performed to ascertain whether low versus normal testosterone was associated with the risk of PC‐specific mortality, other‐cause mortality, and all‐cause mortality adjusting for age, salvage ADT, and known PC prognostic factors.RESULTSAfter a median follow‐up of 6.68 years after PSA failure, 31 men (53.4%) had died; 10 of PC (32.3%), of which 8 of 11 (72.7%) versus 2 of 47 (4.3%) deaths occurred in men with low versus normal testosterone at the time of PSA failure, respectively. A significant increase in the risk of all‐cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 2.54; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.04‐6.21 [P= .04]) and PC‐specific mortality (AHR, 13.71; 95% CI, 2.4‐78.16 [P= .003]), with a reciprocal trend toward a decreased risk of other‐cause mortality (AHR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.02‐1.55 [P= .12]) was observed in men with low versus normal testosterone.CONCLUSIONSLow, but not necessarily castrate, testosterone levels at the time of PSA failure confer a very poor prognosis. These observations provide evidence to support testosterone testing at the time of PSA failure. Given prolonged survival when abiraterone or docetaxel is added to ADT in men with castrate‐sensitive metastatic PC and possibly localized high‐risk PC provides a rationale supporting their use with ADT in men with low testosterone in the setting of a phase 2 trial.Cancer2018;124:1383‐90.©2017 American Cancer Society.
Experimental stress during molt suggests the evolution of condition‐dependent and condition‐independent ornaments in the king penguin
Authors: Schull Quentin , Robin Jean‐Patrice , Dobson F. Stephen , Saadaoui Hédi , Viblanc Vincent A. , Bize Pierre 
Published: December 2017

AbstractSexual selection and social selection are two important theories proposed for explaining the evolution of colorful ornamental traits in animals. Understanding signal honesty requires studying how environmental and physiological factors during development influence the showy nature of sexual and social ornaments. We experimentally manipulated physiological stress and immunity status during the molt in adult king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus), and studied the consequences of our treatments on colourful ornaments (yellow‐orange and UV beak spots and yellow‐orange auricular feather patches) known to be used in sexual and social contexts in this species. Whereas some ornamental features showed strong condition‐dependence (yellow auricular feather chroma, yellow and UV chroma of the beak), others were condition‐independent and remained highly correlated before and after the molt (auricular patch size and beak UV hue). Our study provides a rare examination of the links between ornament determinism and selection processes in the wild. We highlight the coexistence of ornaments costly to produce that may be honest signals used in mate choice, and ornaments for which honesty may be enforced by social mediation or rely on genetic constraints.
Long‐distance dispersal or postglacial contraction? Insights into disjunction between Himalaya–Hengduan Mountains and Taiwan in a cold‐adapted herbaceous genus, Triplostegia
Authors: Niu Yan‐Ting , Ye Jian‐Fei , Zhang Jin‐Long , Wan Ji‐Zhong , Yang Tuo , Wei Xiao‐Xin , Lu Li‐Min , Li Jian‐Hua , Chen Zhi‐Duan 
Published: December 2017

AbstractCurrent disjunct patterns can result from long‐distance dispersal or postglacial contraction. We herein investigate the evolutionary history of Triplostegia to elucidate the disjunction between the Himalaya–Hengduan Mountain region (HHM) and Taiwan (TW). Genetic structure of Triplostegia was investigated for 48 populations using sequences from five chloroplast loci and the ribosomal nuclear internal transcribed spacer. Divergence time estimation, ancestral area reconstruction, and species distribution modeling (SDM) were employed to examine the biogeographic history of Triplostegia. Substantial genetic differentiation among populations from southwestern China (SW), Central China (CC), and TW was detected. Triplostegia was inferred to have originated in SW, and diversification began during the late Miocene; CC was colonized in the mid‐Pliocene, and TW was finally colonized in the early Pleistocene. SDM suggested an expansion of climatically suitable areas during the Last Glacial Maximum and range contraction during the Last interglacial in Triplostegia. Disjunction between HHM and TW in Triplostegia is most likely the consequence of topographic isolation and postglacial contraction. The potential climatic suitability areas for Triplostegia by 2070s (2061–2080) are predicted to slightly shrink and move northward. With continued global warming and human‐induced deforestation, extinction risk may increase for the cold‐adapted species, and appropriate strategies should be employed for ecosystem conservation.
Traits and climate are associated with first flowering day in herbaceous species along elevational gradients
Authors: Bucher Solveig Franziska , König Patrizia , Menzel Annette , Migliavacca Mirco , Ewald Jörg , Römermann Christine 
Published: December 2017

AbstractPhenological responses to changing temperatures are known as “fingerprints of climate change,” yet these reactions are highly species specific. To assess whether different plant characteristics are related to these species‐specific responses in flowering phenology, we observed the first flowering day (FFD) of ten herbaceous species along two elevational gradients, representing temperature gradients. On the same populations, we measured traits being associated with (1) plant performance (specific leaf area), (2) leaf biochemistry (leaf C, N, P, K, and Mg content), and (3) water‐use efficiency (stomatal pore area index and stable carbon isotopes concentration). We found that as elevation increased, FFD was delayed for all species with a highly species‐specific rate. Populations at higher elevations needed less temperature accumulation to start flowering than populations of the same species at lower elevations. Surprisingly, traits explained a higher proportion of variance in the phenological data than elevation. Earlier flowering was associated with higher water‐use efficiency, higher leaf C, and lower leaf P content. In addition to that, the intensity of shifts in FFD was related to leaf N and K. These results propose that traits have a high potential in explaining phenological variations, which even surpassed the effect of temperature changes in our study. Therefore, they have a high potential to be included in future analyses studying the effects of climate change and will help to improve predictions of vegetation changes.
Size advantage for male function and size‐dependent sex allocation inAmbrosia artemisiifolia, a wind‐pollinated plant
Authors: Nakahara Toru , Fukano Yuya , Hirota Shun K , Yahara Tetsukazu 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIn wind‐pollinated plants, male‐biased sex allocation is often positively associated with plant size and height. However, effects of size (biomass or reproductive investment) and height were not separated in most previous studies. Here, using experimental populations of monoecious plants,Ambrosia altemisiifolia,we examined (1) how male and female reproductive investments (MRIandFRI) change with biomass and height, (2) howMRIand height affect male reproductive success (MRS) and pollen dispersal, and (3) how height affects seed production. Pollen dispersal kernel and selection gradients onMRSwere estimated by 2,102 seeds using six microsatellite markers. First,MRIincreased with height, butFRIdid not, suggesting that sex allocation is more male‐biased with increasing plant height. On the other hand, bothMRIandFRIincreased with biomass but often more greatly forFRI, and consequently, sex allocation was often female‐biased with biomass. Second,MRSincreased with both height andMRI, the latter having the same or larger effect onMRS. Estimated pollen dispersal kernel was fat‐tailed, with the maximum distance between mates tending to increase withMRIbut not with height. Third, the number of seeds did not increase with height. Those findings showed that the male‐biased sex allocation in taller plants ofA. artemisiifoliais explained by a direct effect of height onMRS.
Impact of long‐term chromosomal shuffling on the multispecies coalescent analysis of two anthropoid primate lineages
Authors: Schrago Carlos G. , Mello Beatriz , Pereira Anieli G. , Furtado Carolina , Seuánez Hector N. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractMultispecies coalescent (MSC) theory assumes that gene trees inferred from individual loci are independent trials of the MSC process. As genes might be physically close in syntenic associations spanning along chromosome regions, these assumptions might be flawed in evolutionary lineages with substantial karyotypic shuffling. Neotropical primates (NP) represent an ideal case for assessing the performance of MSC methods in such scenarios because chromosome diploid number varies significantly in this lineage. To this end, we investigated the effect of sequence length on the theoretical expectations of MSC model, as well as the results of coalescent‐based tree inference methods. This was carried out by comparing NP with hominids, a lineage in which chromosome macrostructure has been stable for at least 15 million years. We found that departure from the MSC model in Neotropical primates decreased with smaller sequence fragments, where sites sharing the same evolutionary history were more frequently found than in longer fragments. This scenario probably resulted from extensive karyotypic rearrangement occurring during the radiation of NP, contrary to the comparatively stable chromosome evolution in hominids.
Ecological effects of sex differ with trophic positions in a simple food web
Authors: Kawatsu Kazutaka 
Published: December 2017

AbstractSexual differences in parental investment, predation pressure, and foraging efforts are common in nature and affect the trophic flow in food webs. Specifically, the sexual differences in predator and prey behavior change in trophic inflow and outflow, respectively, while those in parental investment alter the reproductive allocation of acquired resources in the population. Consequently, these factors may play an important role in determining the system structure and persistence. However, few studies have examined how sexual differences in trophic flow affect food web dynamics. In this study, I show the ecological role of sex by explicitly incorporating sexual differences in trophic flow into a three‐species food web model. The results demonstrated that the ecological waste of males, that is, the amount of trophic inflow into males with less parental investment, plays an important role in system persistence and structure. In particular, the synergy between sexual differences in parental investment and trophic inflows and outflows is important in determining web persistence: Significant impacts of male‐biased trophic flows require the condition of anisogamy. In addition, the dynamic effects of the ecological waste of males differ with trophic level: The coexistence of a food web occurs more frequently with biased inflows into predator males, but occurs less frequently with biased inflows into consumer males. The model analysis indicates that investigating the pattern of sexual differences among trophic positions can enrich our understanding of food web persistence and structure in the real world.
ATLANTIC BIRDS: a data set of bird species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest
Authors: Hasui Érica , Metzger Jean Paul , Pimentel Rafael G. , Silveira Luís Fábio , Bovo Alex A. d. A. , Martensen Alexandre C. , Uezu Alexandre , Regolin André L. , Bispo de Oliveira Arthur Â. , Gatto Cassiano A. F. R. , Duca Charles , Andretti Christian B. , Banks‐Leite Cristina , Luz Daniela , Mariz Daniele , Alexandrino Eduardo R. , de Barros Fabio M. , Martello Felipe , Pereira Iolanda M. d. S. , da Silva José N. , Ferraz Katia M. P. M. d. B. , Naka Luciano N. , dos Anjos Luiz , Efe Márcio A. , Pizo Marco Aurélio , Pichorim Mauro , Gonçalves Maycon Sanyvan S. , Cordeiro Paulo Henrique Chaves , Dias Rafael A. , Muylaert Renata d. L. , Rodrigues Rodolpho C. , da Costa Thiago V. V. , Cavarzere Vagner , Tonetti Vinicius R. , Silva Wesley R. , Jenkins Clinton N. , Galetti Mauro , Ribeiro Milton C. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractSouth America holds 30% of the world's avifauna, with the Atlantic Forest representing one of the richest regions of the Neotropics. Here we have compiled a data set on Brazilian Atlantic Forest bird occurrence (150,423) and abundance samples (N = 832 bird species; 33,119 bird individuals) using multiple methods, including qualitative surveys, mist nets, point counts, and line transects). We used four main sources of data: museum collections, on‐line databases, literature sources, and unpublished reports. The data set comprises 4,122 localities and data from 1815 to 2017. Most studies were conducted in the Florestas de Interior (1,510 localities) and Serra do Mar (1,280 localities) biogeographic sub‐regions. Considering the three main quantitative methods (mist net, point count, and line transect), we compiled abundance data for 745 species in 576 communities. In the data set, the most frequent species were Basileuterus culicivorus, Cyclaris gujanensis, and Conophaga lineata. There were 71 singletons, such as Lipaugus conditus and Calyptura cristata. We suggest that this small number of records reinforces the critical situation of these taxa in the Atlantic Forest. The information provided in this data set can be used for macroecological studies and to foster conservation strategies in this biodiversity hotspot. No copyright restrictions are associated with the data set. Please cite this Data Paper if data are used in publications and teaching events.
Stage of development affects dry weight mercury concentrations in bird eggs: Laboratory evidence and adjustment method
Authors: Dolgova Svetlana , Crump Doug , Porter Emily , Williams Kim , Hebert Craig E. 
Published: December 2017

Abstract

Bird eggs are often used to monitor levels and trends of mercury (Hg) in the environment. Logistical issues in such studies sometimes require the use of eggs at different stages of development. Therefore, it is important to understand how embryonic age may affect egg Hg concentrations. Studies using dry weight Hg concentrations in eggs assume that dry mass (e.g., lipids) does not change through embryonic development and thus expressing concentrations on a dry weight basis adjusts for any changes that may occur in egg mass throughout development. That assumption is tested in the present study by injecting chicken eggs with Hg and measuring Hg concentrations in embryonic contents at different stages of artificial incubation. The results indicate that dry weight Hg concentrations in eggs at later stages of development are statistically greater than in undeveloped eggs. To address this issue, we developed a method of standardizing egg Hg concentrations for embryonic age based on egg contents density (egg contents mass/egg contents volume). A combined dataset (n = 225) from precocial and semi-precocial birds was used to demonstrate that egg contents density declines with increasing embryonic development. Based on this finding, we applied a formula to adjust egg dry weight Hg concentrations for stage of development: adjusted egg [Hg] = unadjusted [Hg] × (egg contents density). The application of this approach to adjust data from the chicken egg Hg injection study resulted in there being no statistically significant difference in dry weight Hg levels in eggs at different stages of embryonic development. The adjustment approach described in the present study is a straightforward method to account for stage of development when assessing Hg levels in avian eggs and should be widely applicable to studies of this nature. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1168–1174. © 2017 SETAC
Mobile assisted directional paging for 5G communications
Authors: Agiwal Mamta , Saxena Navrati , Roy Abhishek 
Published: December 2017

AbstractDirectional fifth‐generation communication is expected to be a paradigm shift from previous wireless generations under the flagship of very high millimeter‐wave carrier frequencies. In a directional millimeter‐wave air interface, communication takes place through multiple transmitting/receiving beams, as one beam can only provide a limited coverage. However, Long‐Term Evolution/Long‐Term Evolution Advanced is primarily designed and optimized for omnidirectional air interface. In a directional interface, transmitting the same paging information through multiple transmitting beams would substantially increase the downlink resource overheads of the network. We propose a mobile assisted directional paging (MDP) as an effective solution to mitigate the problem of an overwhelming paging resource requirement in directional fifth‐generation communications. We also propose to improve power saving at user equipment in an MDP‐based idle‐state discontinuous reception. By capturing various paging rates, we perform a numerical analysis of paging capacity. The MDP achieves around 20% to 90% gain, respectively, for 16 to 256 number of beams compared with a directional paging without any assistance from the mobiles. The analytical results are validated through simulations on the real traffic trace.
Volatility forecasting of crude oil market: A new hybrid method
Authors: Zhang Yue‐Jun , Zhang Jin‐Liang 
Published: December 2017

AbstractGiven the complex characteristics of crude oil price volatility, a new hybrid forecasting method based on the hidden Markov, exponential generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity, and least squares support vector machine models is proposed, and the forecasting performance of the new method is compared with that of well‐recognized generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity class and other related forecasting methods. The results indicate that the new hybrid forecasting method can significantly improve forecasting accuracy of crude oil price volatility. Furthermore, the new method has been demonstrated to be more accurate for the forecast of crude oil price volatility particularly in a longer time horizon.