bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does salt stress constrain spatial distribution of dune building grasses Ammophila arenaria and Elytrichia juncea on the beach?
Authors: van Puijenbroek Marinka E. B. , Teichmann Corry , Meijdam Noortje , Oliveras Imma , Berendse Frank , Limpens Juul 
Published: August 2017

AbstractRising sea levels threaten coastal safety by increasing the risk of flooding. Coastal dunes provide a natural form of coastal protection. Understanding drivers that constrain early development of dunes is necessary to assess whether dune development may keep pace with sea‐level rise. In this study, we explored to what extent salt stress experienced by dune building plant species constrains their spatial distribution at the Dutch sandy coast. We conducted a field transplantation experiment and a glasshouse experiment with two dune building grasses Ammophila arenaria and Elytrigia juncea. In the field, we measured salinity and monitored growth of transplanted grasses in four vegetation zones: (I) nonvegetated beach, (II) E. juncea occurring, (III) both species co‐occurring, and (IV) A. arenaria dominant. In the glasshouse, we subjected the two species to six soil salinity treatments, with and without salt spray. We monitored biomass, photosynthesis, leaf sodium, and nutrient concentrations over a growing season. The vegetation zones were weakly associated with summer soil salinity; zone I and II were significantly more saline than zones III and IV. Ammophila arenaria performed equally (zone II) or better (zones III, IV) than E. juncea, suggesting soil salinity did not limit species performance. Both species showed severe winter mortality. In the glasshouse, A. arenaria biomass decreased linearly with soil salinity, presumably as a result of osmotic stress. Elytrigia juncea showed a nonlinear response to soil salinity with an optimum at 0.75% soil salinity. Our findings suggest that soil salinity stress either takes place in winter, or that development of vegetated dunes is less sensitive to soil salinity than hitherto expected.
Analyzing time‐ordered event data with missed observations
Authors: Dokter Adriaan M. , van Loon E. Emiel , Fokkema Wimke , Lameris Thomas K. , Nolet Bart A. , van der Jeugd Henk P. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractA common problem with observational datasets is that not all events of interest may be detected. For example, observing animals in the wild can difficult when animals move, hide, or cannot be closely approached. We consider time series of events recorded in conditions where events are occasionally missed by observers or observational devices. These time series are not restricted to behavioral protocols, but can be any cyclic or recurring process where discrete outcomes are observed. Undetected events cause biased inferences on the process of interest, and statistical analyses are needed that can identify and correct the compromised detection processes. Missed observations in time series lead to observed time intervals between events at multiples of the true inter‐event time, which conveys information on their detection probability. We derive the theoretical probability density function for observed intervals between events that includes a probability of missed detection. Methodology and software tools are provided for analysis of event data with potential observation bias and its removal. The methodology was applied to simulation data and a case study of defecation rate estimation in geese, which is commonly used to estimate their digestive throughput and energetic uptake, or to calculate goose usage of a feeding site from dropping density. Simulations indicate that at a moderate chance to miss arrival events (p = 0.3), uncorrected arrival intervals were biased upward by up to a factor 3, while parameter values corrected for missed observations were within 1% of their true simulated value. A field case study shows that not accounting for missed observations leads to substantial underestimates of the true defecation rate in geese, and spurious rate differences between sites, which are introduced by differences in observational conditions. These results show that the derived methodology can be used to effectively remove observational biases in time‐ordered event data.
Mutation rates in 21 autosomal short tandem repeat loci in a population from Goiás, Brazil
Authors: Vieira Thaís Cidália , Duarte Gigonzac Marc Alexandre , Goulart Rodovalho Ricardo , Morais Cavalcanti Luana , Bernardes Minasi Lysa , Melo Rodrigues Flávia , da Cruz Aparecido Divino 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe appearance of new mutations in polymorphic markers plays a central role in a range of genetic applications, including dating phylogenetic events, informing disease studies, and evaluating forensic evidence. The present study estimated the mutation rates of 21 autosomal STR loci in a population from Central Brazil. We studied 15 046 paternity cases from Goiás, Brazil from August 2012 to February 2015. We identified 262 mutations in the 21 loci. The loci that presented more mutations were FGA and D18S51, with a total of 46 and 28 mutations, respectively. The results showed mutational rates ranging from 1.7 × 10−5 to 7.6 × 10−4 mutations per site/region and the overall mutational rate was 2.1 × 10−4; these values were within the expected values for the STR markers. The most common type of mutation was one‐step mutation, which totaled 96.2%. We found a higher rate of mutations of paternal origin (67.6%) than of mutations of maternal origin. The occurrence of mutations in STRs has important consequences for human identification, including the definition of criteria for exclusion in paternity testing and interpretation of genetic profiles in criminal cases.
Mercury contamination in bats from the central United States
Authors: Korstian Jennifer M. , Chumchal Matthew M. , Bennett Victoria J. , Hale Amanda M. 
Published: August 2017

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic metal that has detrimental effects on wildlife. We surveyed Hg concentrations in 10 species of bats collected at wind farms in the central United States and found contamination in all species. Mercury concentration in fur was highly variable both within and between species (range: 1.08–10.52 µg/g). Despite the distance between sites (up to 1200 km), only 2 of the 5 species sampled at multiple locations had fur Hg concentrations that differed between sites. Mercury concentrations observed in the present study all fell within the previously reported ranges for bats collected from the northeastern United States and Canada, although many of the bats we sampled had lower maximum Hg concentrations. Juvenile bats had lower concentrations of Hg in fur compared with adult bats, and we found no significant effect of sex on Hg concentrations in fur. For a subset of 2 species, we also measured Hg concentration in muscle tissue; concentrations were much higher in fur than in muscle, and Hg concentrations in the 2 tissue types were weakly correlated. Abundant wind farms and ongoing postconstruction fatality surveys offer an underutilized opportunity to obtain tissue samples that can be used to assess Hg contamination in bats. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:160–165. © 2018 SETAC
Understanding sources of methylmercury in songbirds with stable mercury isotopes: Challenges and future directions
Authors: Tsui Martin Tsz-Ki , Adams Evan M. , Jackson Allyson K. , Evers David C. , Blum Joel D. , Balogh Steven J. 
Published: August 2017

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) stable isotope analysis is an emerging technique that has contributed to a better understanding of many aspects of the biogeochemical cycling of Hg in the environment. However, no study has yet evaluated its usefulness in elucidating the sources of methylmercury (MeHg) in songbird species, a common organism for biomonitoring of Hg in forested ecosystems. In the present pilot study, we examined stable mercury isotope ratios in blood of 4 species of songbirds and the invertebrates they are likely foraging on in multiple habitats in a small watershed of mixed forest and wetlands in Acadia National Park in Maine (USA). We found distinct isotopic signatures of MeHg in invertebrates (both mass-dependent fractionation [as δ202Hg] and mass-independent fractionation [as Δ199Hg]) among 3 interconnected aquatic habitats. It appears that the Hg isotopic compositions in bird blood cannot be fully accounted for by the isotopic compositions of MeHg in lower trophic levels in each of the habitats examined. Furthermore, the bird blood isotope results cannot be simply explained by an isotopic offset as a result of metabolic fractionation of δ202Hg (e.g., internal demethylation). Our results suggest that many of the birds sampled obtain MeHg from sources outside the habitat they were captured in. Our findings also indicate that mass-independent fractionation is a more reliable and conservative tracer than mass-dependent fractionation for identifying sources of MeHg in bird blood. The results demonstrate the feasibility of Hg isotope studies of songbirds but suggest that larger numbers of samples and an expanded geographic area of study may be required for conclusive interpretation. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:166–174. © 2017 SETAC
A novel APC promoter 1B deletion shows a founder effect in Italian patients with classical familial adenomatous polyposis phenotype
Authors: Marabelli Monica , Gismondi Viviana , Ricci Maria Teresa , Vetro Annalisa , Abou Khouzam Raefa , Rea Valentina , Vitellaro Marco , Zuffardi Orsetta , Varesco Liliana , Ranzani Guglielmina Nadia 
Published: August 2017

AbstractFamilial adenomatous polyposis is a Mendelian syndrome in which germline loss‐of‐function mutations of APC are associated with multiple adenomatous polyps of the large bowel, a multiplicity of extracolonic features, and a high lifetime risk of colorectal cancer. Different APC germline mutations have been identified, including sequence changes, genomic rearrangements, and expression defects. Recently, very rare families have been associated with constitutive large deletions encompassing the APC‐5′ regulatory region, while leaving the remaining gene sequence intact; the regulatory region contains a proximal and a distal promoter, called 1A and 1B, respectively. We identified a novel deletion encompassing promoter 1B in a large Italian family that manifested polyposis in three of the six branches descending from a founding couple married in 1797. By combining different molecular approaches on both DNA and RNA, we precisely mapped this deletion (6858 bp in length) that proved to be associated with APC allele silencing. The finding of the same deletion in two additional polyposis families pointed to a founder mutation in Italy. Deletion carriers from the three families all showed a “classical” polyposis phenotype. To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying promoter deletions, we performed an in silico analysis of the breakpoints of 1A and 1B rearrangements so far reported in the literature; moreover, to decipher genotype–phenotype correlations, we critically reviewed current knowledge on deletions versus point mutations in the APC‐5′ regulatory region.
An island‐arc tectonic setting for the Neoarchean Sonakhan Greenstone Belt, Bastar Craton, Central India: Insights from the chromite mineral chemistry and geochemistry of the siliceous high‐Mg basalts (SHMB)
Authors: Manu Prasanth M.P. , Hari K.R. , Chalapathi Rao N.V. , Hou Guiting , Pandit Dinesh 
Published: August 2017

The Neoarchean Sonakhan Greenstone Belt, located in the northeastern fringes of Bastar Craton, Central India, is dominated by basalts, andesites, dacites, and rhyolites and also contains some basic rocks with very high MgO (up to 33.4 wt%). Chromite mineralization is present in these rocks along with the cumulates of olivine and clinopyoxenes. The rocks are classified as siliceous high‐magnesium basalts (SHMB) exhibiting enriched large ion lithophile elements (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE) relative to the high field strength elements. Elevated Th/Yb ratios and negative Nb‐Ta‐Ti anomalies in the primitive mantle normalized multielement diagram indicates a significant role of subduction‐related melts/fluids in their genesis. The chromites in SHMB have high Cr# (0.67–0.75) and moderate Mg# (0.11–0.5) values. Parental melt calculations in the chromites indicate that they are crystallized from an SHMB magma in an island‐arc setting. A plausible model for the genesis of the rocks of Sonakhan Greenstone Belt includes initial subduction of an intraoceanic lithosphere followed by eruption of lava in an oceanic environment. Continued subduction of the slab followed by slab rollback followed by the generation of SHMB parental magma, which was introduced into the basal portions of the lithosphere in which cumulates of olivine and clinopyroxene have been developed and the chromite mineralization occurred in the inter cumulus space. Final emplacement of the magma took place in a forearc suprasubduction‐zone environment with SHMB signature carrying the cumulates, which were located in the lower part of the lithosphere.
A new method for extraction of alteration information using the Landsat 8 imagery in a heavily vegetated and sediments‐covered region: A case study from Zhejiang Province, E. China
Authors: Han Ling , Zhao Bo , Wu Jian‐jian , Wu Ting‐ting , Feng Min 
Published: August 2017

Ore prediction based on the Operational Land Imager (ETM+) image within the heavily vegetated and sediments‐covered areas is always a difficulty for geological remote sensing. Here, we report a new scheme for extraction of near‐ore alteration information in such localities: Terrain Analysis → principal component analysis →Fractal → Spatial Overlay and the Fe3+–OH− integrated anomalies that are punctate and probably ore‐caused were reasonably exposed. Findings showed a satisfactory result that the spatial, if not genetic, dependency relationship between the remotely sensed anomalies and geochemical anomalies, as well as the ore‐controlling geological bodies, is significant. However, no substantial spectral anomalies of vegetation immediately responsible for local mineralization and alteration were detected. This study may have contributed a useful case study for in‐depth remote sensing exploration.
Origin of ooids in ooidal‐muddy laminites: A case study of the lower Cambrian Qingxudong Formation in the Sichuan Basin, South China
Authors: Tan Qian , Shi Ze‐Jin , Tian Ya‐Ming , Wang Yong , Wang Chang‐Cheng 
Published: August 2017

Ooids have been considered the most intriguing component of carbonate rocks, but the formation mechanism of carbonate ooids remains a matter of intense discussion. The lower Cambrian Qingxudong Formation in the southeastern Sichuan Basin contains abundant ooidal‐muddy laminites. Petrographic and sedimentological analyses revealed that these laminites formed in a shallow‐marine environment (preferably along the windward side of the reef‐shoal). Changing energy conditions caused variable supplies of grainy and muddy accumulation. A wide variety of ooids developed in grainy intervals. The normal ooids (<2 mm in diameter) in the lower portion of the laminites developed under high‐energy shallow‐water conditions, whereas the giant ooids (>2 mm in diameter) in the upper portion of the laminites developed in a deepening and moderate‐energy subtidal environment but were influenced by episodic hydrodynamic events. Petrographic and geochemical analyses suggest that microbes played an important role in ooid formation. High carbonate‐supersaturated and alkaline conditions that were mediated by microbial activity (e.g., bacterial sulfate reduction and photosynthesis) and agitated seawater conditions were the most important factors that mediated the formation of the Qingxudong ooids. This study provides new insights into paleooceanographic conditions during the Early Cambrian and offers a perspective on the formation of ancient normal and giant ooids.
Stage–discharge estimation in straight compound channels using isovel contours
Authors: Maghrebi Mahmoud F. , Kavousizadeh Amirreza , Maghrebi Reza Faghfour , Ahmadi Arash 
Published: August 2017

AbstractFor various hydrological applications such as flood control projects, a knowledge of stage–discharge relationship is of particular interest to river engineers. Stage–discharge curves in compound channels cannot be easily predicted in comparison with single channels due to their 3D characteristics of flow. In this paper, the concept of cross‐sectional isovel contours is used for estimation of stage–discharge curves in compound channels. The multivariate Newton's method is applied to the difference between the observed and estimated data to optimize the exponent values of the governing parameters. The accuracy of the proposed model is tested successfully against available experimental results, which are taken from the Flood Channel Facility (FCF) laboratory. Then the results are compared with the Single and Divided Channel Methods (SCM and DCM, respectively), the Weighted Divided Channel Method (WDCM), the exchange discharge method (EDM), and the Coherence Method (COHM). The average values of mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) in discharge estimation based on each referenced section at any level for 6 sections of the experimental cases are within 3.1% and 0.023, respectively. The biggest advantage of the proposed method is its inherent simplicity, which does not need any calibration.
Bone Marrow Fat Changes After Gastric Bypass Surgery Are Associated With Loss of Bone Mass
Authors: Kim Tiffany Y , Schwartz Ann V , Li Xiaojuan , Xu Kaipin , Black Dennis M , Petrenko Dimitry M , Stewart Lygia , Rogers Stanley J , Posselt Andrew M , Carter Jonathan T , Shoback Dolores M , Schafer Anne L 
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACT

Bone marrow fat is a unique fat depot that may regulate bone metabolism. Marrow fat is increased in states of low bone mass, severe underweight, and diabetes. However, longitudinal effects of weight loss and improved glucose homeostasis on marrow fat are unclear, as is the relationship between marrow fat and bone mineral density (BMD) changes. We hypothesized that after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery, marrow fat changes are associated with BMD loss. We enrolled 30 obese women, stratified by diabetes status. Before and 6 months after RYGB, we measured BMD by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and vertebral marrow fat content by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. At baseline, those with higher marrow fat had lower BMD. Postoperatively, total body fat declined dramatically in all participants. Effects of RYGB on marrow fat differed by diabetes status (p = 0.03). Nondiabetic women showed no significant mean change in marrow fat (+1.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] –1.8% to +5.4%, p = 0.29), although those who lost more total body fat were more likely to have marrow fat increases (r = –0.70, p = 0.01). In contrast, diabetic women demonstrated a mean marrow fat change of –6.5% (95% CI –13.1% to 0%, p = 0.05). Overall, those with greater improvements in hemoglobin A1c had decreases in marrow fat (r = 0.50, p = 0.01). Increases in IGF-1, a potential mediator of the marrow fat-bone relationship, were associated with marrow fat declines (r = –0.40, p = 0.05). Spinal volumetric BMD decreased by 6.4% ± 5.9% (p &lt; 0.01), and femoral neck areal BMD decreased by 4.3% ± 4.1% (p &lt; 0.01). Marrow fat and BMD changes were negatively associated, such that those with marrow fat increases had more BMD loss at both spine (r = –0.58, p &lt; 0.01) and femoral neck (r = –0.49, p = 0.01), independent of age and menopause. Our findings suggest that glucose metabolism and weight loss may influence marrow fat behavior, and marrow fat may be a determinant of bone metabolism. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Plasma exchange for the management of refractory pruritus of cholestasis: A report of three cases and review of literature
Authors: Chkheidze Rati , Joseph Ranjit , Burner James , Matevosyan Karen 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBackgroundIntractable pruritus of cholestasis leads to significant morbidity. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) has been shown to be an effective alternative in the setting of refractory pruritus associated with cholestatic liver disease based on several individual reports. Due to rarity of this approach to intractable pruritus, the literature is sparse and therefore TPE, as a treatment for refractory pruritus is currently not in the apheresis guidelines. We present three additional patients with severe intractable pruritus of cholestasis successfully treated with plasma exchange to add to the mounting literature showing this as an effective and safe adjunctive therapy.MethodsThree patients underwent serial plasma exchange procedures to control pruritus. Frequency of plasma exchange was three times a week, with slow taper upon improvement of pruritus. Total bile acid levels were assessed before procedures.ResultsAll three patients had an intractable pruritus with different underlying etiologies of cholestasis. All three patients showed significant improvement in pruritus, with none or minimal pruritus in one patient with primary biliary cirrhosis. Pre procedure bile acids levels were decreased initially, but showed rebound increase upon tapering of plasma exchange, without increased pruritus. No serious side effects or complications were observed.ConclusionOur results in conjunction with the published literature show that severe and intractable pruritus associated with cholestasis could be successfully treated with TPE, irrespective of the underlying disease, and can be done safely.
Comparing accuracy and reproducibility of sequential and Hadamard‐encoded multidelay pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling for measuring cerebral blood flow and arterial transit time in healthy subjects: A simulation and in vivo study
Authors: Guo Jia , Holdsworth Samantha J. , Fan Audrey P. , Lebel Marc R. , Zun Zungho , Shankaranarayanan Ajit , Zaharchuk Greg 
Published: August 2017

PurposeTo compare performance of sequential and Hadamard‐encoded pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL).Materials and MethodsMonte Carlo simulations and in vivo experiments were performed in 10 healthy subjects. Field strength and sequence: 5‐delay sequential (5‐del. Seq.), 7‐delay Hadamard‐encoded (7‐del. Had.), and a single‐delay (1‐del.) PCASL, without and with vascular crushing at 3.0T. The errors and variations of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and arterial transit time (ATT) from simulations and the CBF and ATT estimates and variations in gray matter (GM) with different ATT ranges were compared. Pairwise t‐tests with Bonferroni correction were used.ResultsThe simulations and in vivo experiments showed that 1‐del. PCASL underestimated GM CBF due to insufficient postlabeling delay (PLD) (37.2 ± 8.1 vs. 47.3 ± 8.5 and 47.3 ± 9.0 ml/100g/min, P ≤ 6.5 × 10−6), while 5‐del. Seq. and 7‐del. Had. yielded comparable GM CBF (P ≥ 0.49). 5‐del. Seq. was more reproducible for CBF (P = 4.7 × 10−4), while 7‐del. Had. was more reproducible for ATT (P = 0.033). 5‐del. Seq. was more prone to intravascular artifacts and yielded lower GM ATTs compared to 7‐del. Had. without crushing (1.13 ± 0.18 vs. 1.23 ± 0.13 seconds, P = 2.3 × 10−3), but they gave comparable ATTs with crushing (P = 0.12). ATTs measured with crushing were longer than those without crushing (P ≤ 6.7 × 10−4), but CBF was not affected (P ≥ 0.16).ConclusionThe theoretical signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) gain through Hadamard encoding was confirmed experimentally. For 1‐del., a PLD of 1.8 seconds is recommended for healthy subjects. With current parameters, 5‐del. Seq. was more reproducible for CBF, and 7‐del. Had. for ATT. Vascular crushing may help reduce variations in multidelay experiments without compromising tissue CBF or ATT measurements.Level of Evidence: 1Technical Efficacy: Stage 2J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:1119–1132.