bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The influence of late Quaternary sedimentation on vegetation in an Amazonian lowland megafan
Authors: Rossetti Dilce F. , Gribel Rogério , Tuomisto Hanna , Cordeiro Carlos L.O. , Tatumi Sonia H. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe largest areas of white‐sand vegetation in northern Amazonia are confined to Late Pleistocene–Holocene megafan depositional systems, which suggest a relationship between the two. The aim of this work is to determine: (i) the relative role of sedimentary history and recent ecological processes to explaining the mosaic of white‐sand forest patches, grasslands and shrublands in a wetland area of northern Amazonia; and (ii) the long‐term successional trajectory that led to the establishment of the white‐sand forest patches. Facies analysis was used to reconstruct the megafan paleoenvironment; δ13C, total organic carbon and carbon/nitrogen from sedimentary organic matter to reconstruct the past vegetation; and floristic inventories to characterize the modern vegetation. The results revealed that the Viruá megafan consists of various sandy sub‐environments, including aeolian sand dunes and sheets developed mostly in the Holocene after the megafan turned inactive as a depositional site. Dune margins and tops are colonized by white‐sand trees mixed with a few generalist rain‐forest species, whereas adjacent lower‐lying areas, which are affected by seasonal flooding, are covered by graminoid plants and/or shrubs. The latter initiated their development over the megafan surface in different times of the Holocene due to hydrological gradients imposed by the topography of the various megafan depositional environments, while the white‐sand forest became dominant only on sand dunes over the last few centuries. We suggest that the late Quaternary sedimentary history was crucial in creating morphologies that now determine topographic gradients responsible for different vegetation physiognomies over the Amazonian lowlands. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Predictors of returns to the emergency department after head and neck surgery
Authors: Baskin R. Michael , Zhang Jingnan , Dirain Carolyn , Lipori Paul , Fonseca Gileno , Sawhney Raja , Boyce Brian J. , Silver Natalie L. , Dziegielewski Peter T. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractBackgroundThirty‐day hospital readmissions have become a measure of quality of care. Many readmissions enter through the emergency department. The purposes of this study were to determine the rate, risk factors, and costs of 30‐day returns to the emergency department (30dEDRs) after head and neck surgery.MethodsAll adult patients undergoing head and neck surgery at the University of Florida from 2012 to 2014 were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for 30dEDRs.ResultsWe found 1065 patients who underwent 1173 procedures. There were 88 cases (7.5%) that resulted in 30dEDRs and 55 patients (4.7%) who had 30‐day unplanned readmissions (30dURs). Significant predictors of 30dEDRs included: smoking; hypothyroidism; and intensive care unit (ICU) stays. Significant predictors of readmission from an emergency department visit were Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and cancer stage. Total costs of 30dEDRs and any subsequent readmissions topped $500 000.ConclusionThe rate of 30dEDRs after head and neck surgery is low; however, these visits increase the hospitals' financial burden as well as patient morbidity. Predictors of 30dEDRs may be utilized to formulate preventative measures.
Multidimensional Bone Density Phenotyping Reveals New Insights Into Genetic Regulation of the Pediatric Skeleton
Authors: Mitchell Jonathan A , Chesi Alessandra , Cousminer Diana L , McCormack Shana E , Kalkwarf Heidi J , Lappe Joan M , Gilsanz Vicente , Oberfield Sharon E , Shepherd John A , Kelly Andrea , Zemel Babette S , Grant Struan FA 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT

Osteoporosis is a complex disease with developmental origins. It is therefore important to understand the genetic contribution to pediatric areal bone mineral density (aBMD). Individual skeletal site phenotyping has been primarily used to identify pediatric aBMD loci. However, this approach is limited because there is a degree of aBMD discordance across skeletal sites. We therefore applied a novel multidimensional phenotyping approach to further understand the genetic regulation of pediatric aBMD. Our sample comprised a prospective, longitudinal cohort of 1293 children of European ancestry (52% female; up to seven annual measurements). Principal components analysis was applied to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry–derived aBMD Z-scores for total hip, femoral neck, spine, and distal radius to generate multidimensional aBMD phenotypes (ie, principal component scores). We tested the association between a genetic score (percentage of bone lowering alleles at 63 loci) and each principal component. We also performed a genomewide association study (GWAS) using the multiethnic baseline data (n = 1885) to identify novel loci associated with these principal components. The first component (PC1) reflected a concordant phenotypic model of the skeleton (eg, higher loading score = higher BMD across all sites). In contrast, PC2 was discordant for distal radius versus spine and hip aBMD, and PC3 was discordant for spine versus distal radius and hip aBMD. The genetic score was associated with PC1 (beta = –0.05, p = 3.9 × 10–10), but was not associated with discordant PC2 or PC3. Our GWAS discovered variation near CPED1 that associated with PC2 (rs67991850, p = 2.5 × 10–11) and near RAB11FIP5 (rs58649746, p = 4.8 × 10–9) that associated with PC3. In conclusion, an established bone fragility genetic summary score was associated with a concordant skeletal phenotype, but not discordant skeletal phenotypes. Novel associations were observed for the discordant multidimensional skeletal phenotypes that provide new biological insights into the developing skeleton. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Fndc5 knockdown induced suppression of mitochondrial integrity and significantly decreased cardiac differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells
Authors: Nazem Shima , Rabiee Farzaneh , Ghaedi Kamran , Babashah Sadegh , Sadeghizadeh Majid , Nasr‐Esfahani Mohammad Hossein 
Published: December 2017

AbstractFibronectin type III domain‐containing 5 protein (Fndc5) is a glycosylated protein with elevated expression in high energy demanded tissues as heart, brain, and muscle. It has been shown that upregulation of Fndc5 is regulated by peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ coactivator‐1 alpha (PGC‐1α), which is known as a master regulator of mitochondrial function and biogenesis. Also, our group indicated that Fndc5 expression increases gradually during cardiac differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). In this paper, to clarify the importance of Fndc5 in cardiac differentiation, we south to knock down Fndc5 expression by generation a stably transduced mESC line that derives the expression of a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) against Fndc5 gene following doxycycline (Dox) induction. Knock‐down of Fndc5 demonstrated a considerable decrease in expression of cardiac progenitor and cardiomyocyte markers. Considering the fact that mitochondria play a crucial role in cardiac differentiation of ESCs, we investigated the role of Fndc5, as a downstream target of PGC1‐α, on mitochondrial indices. Results showed that expression of nuclear encoded mitochondrial genes including PGC1‐α, Atp5b, Ndufb5, and SOD2 significantly decreased. Moreover, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and relative ATP content of cardiomyocytes decreased markedly with relative ROS level increase. Together, our results suggest that Fndc5 attenuates process of cardiac differentiation of mESCs which is associated with modulation of mitochondrial function and gene expression.
Retracted: Microrna‐139‐5p inhibits epithelial‐mesenchymal transition and fibrosis in post‐menopausal women with interstitial cystitis by targeting LPAR4 via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway
Authors: Jiang Chen , Tong Zhen , Fang Wei‐Lin , Fu Qi‐Bo , Gu Yin‐Jun , Lv Ting‐Ting , Liu Dong‐Ming , Xue Wei , Lv Jian‐Wei 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe study explores whether miR‐139‐5p targeting LPAR4 affects epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and fibrosis in post‐menopausal women with interstitial cystitis (IC) via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Bladder tissues of IC and normal bladder tissues were collected. The pathology of bladder tissues was observed by HE, Masson and Picrosirius red staining. LPAR4 positive expression rate were determined by IHC. ELISA was performed to detect the levels of IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, and TNF‐α. Rat IC models were randomized into seven different groups. miR‐139‐5p, LPAR1, LPAR2, LPAR3, LPAR4, LPAR5, P13K, Akt, E‐cadherin, N‐cadherin, Vimentin, TGF‐β1, and CTGF expression were determined by RT‐qPCR and Western blotting. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay verified that LPAR4 is a target gene of miR‐139‐5p. Fibrosis was a pathological manifestation of IC. The IC group showed higher LPAR4, PI3K, Akt, p‐PI3K, p‐Akt, N‐cadherin, Vimentin, TGF‐β1, and CTGF expression but lower miR‐139‐5p and E‐cadherin expression than the normal group. The levels of IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, and TNF‐α expression decreased while HB‐EGF increased in the IC group in comparison of the normal group. Compared with the blank and NC groups, E‐cadherin expression was increased in the miR‐139‐5p mimic and siRNA‐LPAR4 groups, while LPAR4, PI3K, Akt, p‐P13K, p‐Akt, N‐cadherin, Vimentin, TGF‐β1, and CTGF expression were decreased. An opposite trend was found in the miR‐139‐5p inhibitor group. The miR‐139‐5p decreased in the miR‐139‐5p inhibitor + siRNA‐LPAR4 and miR‐139‐5p inhibitor + wortmannin groups. Conclusively, miR‐139‐5p targeting LPAR4 inhibits EMT and fibrosis in post‐menopausal IC women through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
Sperm binding to porcine oviductal cells is mediated by SRCR domains contained in DMBT1
Authors: Roldán María Lorena , Teijeiro Juan Manuel , Ruiz Álvarez Jimena , Marini Patricia Estela 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe oviduct is an organ in which a subpopulation of sperm is stored in a reservoir, preserving its fertilizing potential. In porcine, two oviductal proteins have been identified in relation to sperm binding, Annexin A2 and Deleted in Malignant Brain Tumor 1 (DMBT1). DMBT1 is a multifunctional, multidomain glycoprotein, and the characteristics of all of its domains, as well as its carbohydrates, make them candidates for sperm binding. In this work, we challenge sperm for binding to pig oviductal cells on primary culture, after treatment with antibodies specific for the different domains present in DMBT1. Only anti‐SRCR antibodies produced inhibition of sperm binding to cells. Thus, SRCR is the main domain in DMBT1 promoted sperm binding to form the reservoir in the oviduct, and this function is probably elicited through the polypeptide itself.
Using the normality assumption to calculate probability‐based standardized drought indices: selection criteria with emphases on typical events
Authors: Blain Gabriel Constantino , de Avila Ana Maria H. , Pereira Vânia Rosa 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACTEnhancing the capability of both standardized precipitation index (SPI) and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) for quantifying wet and dry events under distinct climate conditions is of paramount importance. The different recommendations of recent studies regarding the best distribution to calculate the SPEI and the lack of studies addressing the effect of different parameters estimation methods on the SPI motivated us to apply and adapt distinct testing methodologies to select candidate models for calculating these standardized drought indices (SDI). The study is based on two data sets. The first represents a tropical–subtropical region of Brazil. The second comprises the same weather stations that were used for developing the original version of the SPEI. The study also emphasized the performance of the models within the range of typical SDI values [−2.0 : 2.0]. Along with goodness‐of‐fit tests, we calculated the mean absolute errors between the indices values estimated from the candidate distributions, and their corresponding theoretical values derived from the standard normal distribution. The two‐parameter gamma and the generalized extreme value distributions are, respectively, recommended for general use in SPI and SPEI algorithms (1–12‐month timescales). The unbiased probability weighted moments are recommended to estimate the distributions parameters. The study also described a trade‐off between choosing the best model for the central part and for the tails of the distributions. This trade‐off suggests that the methodologies used to select models for the SDI algorithms may have to decide which part of the distribution (central or tails) should be emphasized. The behaviour of the errors among different wet/dry categories showed that both indices were only capable of representing drought and floods in a similar probabilistic way within the range [−2.0 : 2.0]. This feature supports our decision to emphasize model performances within such range.
Implementation of standardised oral care treatment and referral guidelines for older sub‐acute patients: a multidisciplinary approach
Authors: Luong Eric , deClifford Jan , Coutsouvelis John , Lam Sin Hoon , Drysdale Penni , Danckert Rachael , Campbell Evette 
Published: December 2017

AbstractAimTo explore the contribution of hospital pharmacists in the collaborative development and implementation of standardised oral care treatment and referral guidelines, and its subsequent impact on the overall quality of oral health practice for older sub‐acute patients.MethodAssessments were conducted of oral health pre‐ and post‐introduction of a multifaceted intervention process, involving the development of guidelines and procedures for oral health assessment and referral by dental, medical, nursing, pharmacy and speech pathology staff. Participants’ oral health was assessed using the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) in the pre‐ and post‐intervention phases at baseline and 10–14 days thereafter.ResultsParticipants (n = 73, mean age 81 years, 66% female) in the pre‐intervention group reported no significant change in total OHAT scores and oral health at days 10–14 of admission. In the post‐intervention phase (n = 73, mean age 82 years, 66% female) the mean total OHAT score decreased significantly from a baseline of 2.81 at admission to 2.29 at days 10–14 reflecting, an 18.5% improvement (p < 0.005).ConclusionThis study highlighted the importance of a multidisciplinary team, including a pharmacist, in improving oral health practice for older people in a sub‐acute hospital setting.
Multitemporal assessment of coarse sediment connectivity along a braided‐wandering river
Authors: Lehotský Milan , Rusnák Miloš , Kidová Anna , Dudžák Jozef 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe article presents the postflood period coarse sediment connectivity (CSC) assessment approach on the basis of the holistic ideas of the interpretation of the long‐term CSC in river channels. Seven sets of remote sensing data (1949–2009) were used as the basic information sources to study the CSC along the braided‐wandering Belá River by using the patch‐graph approach for assessing the structural connectivity. The bar areas (patches), with 200 m direct links between them, and the attribute of a deflection angle of a link to the flow direction were parameters used to estimate the integral index of connectivity (IIC) and bar area and bar link importance indices. The higher values of the IIC fit with a well‐developed bar system. Conversely, the values of the IIC decrease because of the progressive degradation of the braided pattern. The potential functional CSC was inferred from the variability of the values obtained by the balance indices representing the balance of the channel–floodplain connectivity (B1) and the bar–bar connectivity (B2). Eight types of the potential functional CSC based on the balance indices and the deduction of processes that conditioned the channel–floodplain and in‐channel CSC linkages were identified. In order to assess the development of the braidplain pattern in terms of the structural connectivity during the study time span, the linear trendline analysis of IIC associated with flood periods was applied. On the basis of the coefficient of determination, all reaches exhibit a decreasing trend in IIC values but different response to flood periods.
Assessment of postfire soils degradation dynamics: Stability and molecular composition of humic acids with use of spectroscopy methods
Authors: Abakumov Evgeny , Maksimova Ekaterina , Tsibart Anna 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe effect of wildfires on the soils of the south taiga and forest‐steppe environments of Central Russia (Histic Spodosols and Eutric Fluvic Arenosols) was investigated in terms of the content and quality of humic acids (HAs) using instrumental spectroscopic methods (solid‐state carbon‐13 nuclear magnetic resonance and electron spin resonance). The bulk elemental composition of HAs was not essentially altered in postfire soils; however, the organic matter of fire‐affected superficial soil layers was characterized by changes in the structural composition and biochemical activity levels. Solid‐state carbon‐13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed that there is an intensive increase in aromatic compounds in HA molecules in soil from both the south taiga and forest‐steppe environments. There is a pronounced and statistically significant decline of aliphatic chain content in response to exposure to fire. The free radicals content and the degree of molecular stabilization assessed with electron spin resonance showed an essential alteration of the HAs, expressed in the increase in the radical's portion, in postfire soils compared with that found in soils not exposed to fire. It was also shown that the accumulation of aromatic compounds indicates only apparent stabilization of HAs due to the loss of periphery alkylic carbon species, which was confirmed by destabilization of the molecules as illustrated by the increase of free radicals.
Large‐Scale Preparation of Polymer Nanocarriers by High‐Pressure Microfluidization
Authors: Alkanawati Mohammad Shafee , Wurm Frederik R. , Thérien‐Aubin Héloïse , Landfester Katharina 
Published: December 2017

AbstractPolymer nanocarriers are used as transport modules in the design of the next generation of drug delivery technology. However, the applicability of nanocarrier‐based technology depends strongly on our ability to precisely control and reproduce their synthesis on a large scale because their properties and performances are strongly dependent on their size and shape. Fundamental studies and practical applications of polymer nanocarriers are hampered by the difficulty of using the current methods to produce monodispersed nanocarriers in large quantities and with high reproducibility. Here, a versatile and scalable approach is reported for the large‐scale synthesis of polymer nanocarriers from water‐in‐oil miniemulsions. This method uses microfluidization to perform a controlled emulsification and is proven to be effective to prepare nanocarriers of different biopolymers (polysaccharides, lignin, proteins) up to 43 g min−1 with reproducible size and distribution.
Broadband homonuclear decoupled HSQMBC methods
Authors: Timári István , Kövér Katalin E. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractLong‐range heteronuclear coupling constants convey invaluable information for stereochemical and conformational analysis of molecules from synthetic and natural origin. Here, we report a real‐time Zangger‐Sterk CPMG‐HSQMBC method for the precise and direct measurement of multiple‐bond heteronuclear couplings. It is demonstrated that the real‐time acquisition strategy combined with multiple slice selective excitation can provide substantial improvement in sensitivity (or reduction of experimental time) as compared to other variants of broadband homonuclear decoupled HSQMBC methods published previously. Scope and limitations of the different strategies applied for decoupling are reviewed. Moreover, practical guidelines for the choice of the most appropriate method are also presented. Applications are given on a metal complex incorporating P‐heterocycles and two diglycosyl‐selenides for the extraction of nJ(1H, 31P) and nJ(1H, 77Se), respectively.
Combined variance reduction techniques in fully sequential selection procedures
Authors: Tsai Shing Chih , Luo Jun , Sung Chi Ching 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIn the past several decades, many ranking‐and‐selection (R&S) procedures have been developed to select the best simulated system with the largest (or smallest) mean performance measure from a finite number of alternatives. A major issue to address in these R&S problems is to balance the trade‐off between the effectiveness (ie, making a correct selection with a high probability) and the efficiency (ie, using a small total number of observations). In this paper, we take a frequentist's point of view by setting a predetermined probability of correct selection while trying to reduce the total sample size, that is, to improve the efficiency but also maintain the effectiveness. In particular, in order to achieve this goal, we investigate combining various variance reduction techniques into the fully sequential framework, resulting in different R&S procedures with either finite‐time or asymptotic statistical validity. Extensive numerical experiments show great improvement in the efficiency of our proposed procedures as compared with several existing procedures.
Dissipative controller design for uncertain neutral systems with semi‐Markovian jumping parameters
Authors: Xia Weifeng , Xu Shengyuan , Ma Qian , Qi Zhidong , Zhang Zhengqiang 
Published: December 2017

SummaryThis paper is concerned with the problem of dissipative controller design for neutral systems with semi‐Markovian jumping parameters and norm‐bounded parameter uncertainties. First, a new stability criterion is obtained by applying a more accurate integral inequality and a delay‐partitioning approach, which is less conservative than those existing results. Second, based on the stability criterion, sufficient conditions for the existence of a state‐feedback controller, which ensures that the resulting closed‐loop system is stochastically stable and dissipative, are proposed. The controller gains can be obtained by using feasible solutions to a certain set of linear matrix inequalities. Finally, 2 numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the controller design method.