bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long‐term nitrous oxide fluxes in annual and perennial agricultural and unmanaged ecosystems in the upper Midwest USA
Authors: Gelfand Ilya , Shcherbak Iurii , Millar Neville , Kravchenko Alexandra N. , Robertson G. Philip 
Published: August 2016

AbstractDifferences in soil nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes among ecosystems are often difficult to evaluate and predict due to high spatial and temporal variabilities and few direct experimental comparisons. For 20 years, we measured N2O fluxes in 11 ecosystems in southwest Michigan USA: four annual grain crops (corn–soybean–wheat rotations) managed with conventional, no‐till, reduced input, or biologically based/organic inputs; three perennial crops (alfalfa, poplar, and conifers); and four unmanaged ecosystems of different successional age including mature forest. Average N2O emissions were higher from annual grain and N‐fixing cropping systems than from nonleguminous perennial cropping systems and were low across unmanaged ecosystems. Among annual cropping systems full‐rotation fluxes were indistinguishable from one another but rotation phase mattered. For example, those systems with cover crops and reduced fertilizer N emitted more N2O during the corn and soybean phases, but during the wheat phase fluxes were ~40% lower. Likewise, no‐till did not differ from conventional tillage over the entire rotation but reduced emissions ~20% in the wheat phase and increased emissions 30–80% in the corn and soybean phases. Greenhouse gas intensity for the annual crops (flux per unit yield) was lowest for soybeans produced under conventional management, while for the 11 other crop × management combinations intensities were similar to one another. Among the fertilized systems, emissions ranged from 0.30 to 1.33 kg N2O‐N ha−1 yr−1 and were best predicted by IPCC Tier 1 and ΔEF emission factor approaches. Annual cumulative fluxes from perennial systems were best explained by soil pools (r2 = 0.72) but not so for annual crops, where management differences overrode simple correlations. Daily soil N2O emissions were poorly predicted by any measured variables. Overall, long‐term measurements reveal lower fluxes in nonlegume perennial vegetation and, for conservatively fertilized annual crops, the overriding influence of rotation phase on annual fluxes.
A global analysis of the determinants of alien geographical range size in birds
Authors: Dyer Ellie E. , Franks Victoria , Cassey Phillip , Collen Ben , Cope Robert C. , Jones Kate E. , Şekercioğlu Çagan H. , Blackburn Tim M. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAimDetermining the causes of range size variation in the distributions of alien species is important for understanding the spread of invasive species. Factors influencing alien range size have been explored for some species at a regional level, but to date there has been no global analysis of an entire class. Here, we present such an analysis for birds, testing for the effects of introduction event, location and species‐level variables on alien range sizes.LocationGlobal.MethodsWe used a novel dataset on the global distributions of alien bird species to test for relationships between alien range size and colonization pressure, residence time, extent of the global climatic niche, native range size, body mass and specialization, using a statistical approach based on phylogenetic generalized least squares models. We performed this analysis globally, and for separate biogeographical realms.ResultsApproximately half of the variation in alien bird range size is explained by colonization pressure in univariate analysis. We identified consistent effects of higher colonization pressure at global and realm levels, as well as support for effects of native range size and residence time. We found less support for effects of body mass, specialization or extent of the global climatic niche on alien range size.Main conclusionsAlien bird range sizes are generally small relative to their native range sizes, and many are continuing to expand. Nevertheless, current variation is predictable, most strongly by the event‐level factor of colonization pressure. Whether a species is widespread is a better predictor of alien range size than whether a species could be widespread (estimated by global climatic niche extent), while we also find effects of residence time on alien range size. These relationships may help to identify those alien species that are more likely to spread and hence have greater environmental and economic impacts where they have been introduced.
When is better really better? Individuals' experiences of treatment for OAB with anticholinergic medication
Authors: Kinsey Debbie , Alexander Tim , Glover Lesley , Pretorius Sara , Kraus Sigurd , Duggan Paul 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACTOveractive bladder (OAB) has been found to have a number of psychological consequences, including anxiety, depression and shame. However, there is little research on how drug treatment, which has been found to be effective at reducing physical symptoms, impacts on these psychological effects. This study aimed to examine patients' experiences of anticholinergic treatment for OAB, and the impact of both OAB and its treatment on psychological well‐being. A cross‐sectional, qualitative interview design with a secondary care outpatient sample was used. The approach was idiographic and sought to understand the detailed complexities and nuances of patient experiences. This small‐scale qualitative study found that, even where there had been symptom reduction, patients did not feel ‘better’, and found it difficult to let go of worries and fears around OAB. These findings suggest that a person with OAB may need support even after a ‘successful’ treatment, as OAB continues to be at the centre of patients' lives.
Event‐based allocation of airline check‐in counters: a simple dynamic optimization method supported by empirical data
Authors: Parlar Mahmut , Rodrigues Brian , Sharafali Moosa 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThis paper studies the real‐life problem of dynamically optimizing the number of airport check‐in counters to allocate for a single flight. The main feature of our work is the use of empirical data collected at the Singapore Changi Airport, which drives the dynamic optimization model of a parallel queues system. We propose an event‐based dynamic programming model that simplifies considerably the optimization analysis even for large‐scale problems with 700+ booked passengers. We investigate the following research questions: (a) For a particular flight, what is the optimal number of counters the system should open with and what is the corresponding optimal total cost? (b) Given the state of the system at any event epoch, should we open another counter or not and what is the optimal cost‐to‐go from this state? The empirical data we collected at the airport are used to test the assumptions, estimate the key parameters, and run the computational experiments. We apply our model to 14 flights at the Singapore Changi Airport and identify cases in which, depending on the cost parameters, the model advocates the use of either a dynamic or a static policy. Although the model concerns only an exclusive‐use system, it is flexible enough to apply to other configurations such as a common‐use system or a single‐queue, multicounter system.
Donor liver steatosis: A risk factor for early new‐onset diabetes after liver transplantation
Authors: Xue Mengjuan , Lv Chaoyang , Chen Xianying , Liang Jing , Zhao Chenhe , Zhang Yao , Huang Xiaowu , Sun Qiman , Wang Ting , Gao Jian , Zhou Jian , Yu Mingxiang , Fan Jia , Gao Xin 
Published: August 2016

AbstractAims/IntroductionTo investigate whether donor liver steatosis increases the incidence of new‐onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) in liver transplant recipients.Materials and MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed liver transplant recipients at Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai, China, from April 2001 to December 2014. The final analysis involved 763 patients. The cumulative incidence of NODAT at 1, 3, 5 and 10 years after liver transplantation was investigated. Furthermore, according to the findings of donor liver biopsy before transplantation, patients were divided into steatotic and non‐steatotic donor liver groups, and NODAT incidence was compared between these groups. Multivariate Cox regression was used to explore the risk factors for NODAT in the patients.ResultsOf the 763 donors, 309 (40.5%) had liver steatosis. At the end of follow up, 130 (42.1%) patients in the steatotic donor liver group developed NODAT, an incidence that exceeded that in the non‐steatotic donor liver group (P = 0.001). The cumulative incidence of NODAT among all patients at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years after transplantation was 33, 43, 50 and 56%, respectively. The cumulative incidences of NODAT at 1, 3, 5 and 10 years in the steatotic donor liver group were significantly higher than those in the non‐steatotic donor liver group (P = 0.003). Multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that donor liver steatosis was an independent risk factor for NODAT among liver transplant recipients, after other potential risk factors were adjusted for (hazard ratio 1.774, 95% confidence interval: 1.025–3.073; P = 0.041).ConclusionsDonor liver steatosis increases NODAT incidence among liver transplant recipients.
Cannabinoid receptor interacting protein suppresses agonist‐driven CB1 receptor internalization and regulates receptor replenishment in an agonist‐biased manner
Authors: Blume Lawrence C. , Leone‐Kabler Sandra , Luessen Deborah J. , Marrs Glen S. , Lyons Erica , Bass Caroline E. , Chen Rong , Selley Dana E. , Howlett Allyn C. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractCannabinoid receptor interacting protein 1a (CRIP1a) is a CB1 receptor (CB1R) distal C‐terminus‐associated protein that modulates CB1R signaling via G proteins, and CB1R down‐regulation but not desensitization (Blume et al. [2015] Cell Signal., 27, 716–726; Smith et al. [2015] Mol. Pharmacol., 87, 747–765). In this study, we determined the involvement of CRIP1a in CB1R plasma membrane trafficking. To follow the effects of agonists and antagonists on cell surface CB1Rs, we utilized the genetically homogeneous cloned neuronal cell line N18TG2, which endogenously expresses both CB1R and CRIP1a, and exhibits a well‐characterized endocannabinoid signaling system. We developed stable CRIP1a‐over‐expressing and CRIP1a‐siRNA‐silenced knockdown clones to investigate gene dose effects of CRIP1a on CB1R plasma membrane expression. Results indicate that CP55940 or WIN55212‐2 (10 nM, 5 min) reduced cell surface CB1R by a dynamin‐ and clathrin‐dependent process, and this was attenuated by CRIP1a over‐expression. CP55940‐mediated cell surface CB1R loss was followed by a cycloheximide‐sensitive recovery of surface receptors (30–120 min), suggesting the requirement for new protein synthesis. In contrast, WIN55212‐2‐mediated cell surface CB1Rs recovered only in CRIP1a knockdown cells. Changes in CRIP1a expression levels did not affect a transient rimonabant (10 nM)‐mediated increase in cell surface CB1Rs, which is postulated to be as a result of rimonabant effects on ‘non‐agonist‐driven’ internalization. These studies demonstrate a novel role for CRIP1a in agonist‐driven CB1R cell surface regulation postulated to occur by two mechanisms: 1) attenuating internalization that is agonist‐mediated, but not that in the absence of exogenous agonists, and 2) biased agonist‐dependent trafficking of de novo synthesized receptor to the cell surface.
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Chronic lithium treatment rectifies maladaptive dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens
Authors: Can Adem , Frost Douglas O. , Cachope Roger , Cheer Joseph F. , Gould Todd D. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractChronic lithium treatment effectively reduces behavioral phenotypes of mania in humans and rodents. The mechanisms by which lithium exerts these actions are poorly understood. Pre‐clinical and clinical evidence have implicated increased mesolimbic dopamine (DA) neurotransmission with mania. We used fast‐scan cyclic voltammetry to characterize changes in extracellular DA concentrations in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) core evoked by 20 and 60 Hz electrical stimulation of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in C57BL6/J mice treated either acutely or chronically with lithium. The effects of chronic lithium treatment on the availability of DA for release were assessed by depleting readily releasable DA using short inter‐train intervals, or administering d‐amphetamine acutely to mobilize readily releasable DA. Chronic, but not acute, lithium treatment decreased the amplitude of DA responses in the NAc following 60 Hz pulse train stimulation. Neither lithium treatment altered the kinetics of DA release or reuptake. Chronic treatment did not impact the progressive reduction in the amplitude of DA responses when, using 20 or 60 Hz pulse trains, the VTA was stimulated every 6 s to deplete DA. Specifically, the amplitude of DA responses to 60 Hz pulse trains was initially reduced compared to control mice, but by the fifth pulse train, there was no longer a treatment effect. However, chronic lithium treatment attenuated d‐amphetamine‐induced increases in DA responses to 20 Hz pulse trains stimulation. Our data suggest that long‐term administration of lithium may ameliorate mania phenotypes by normalizing the readily releasable DA pool in VTA axon terminals in the NAc.
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On the Cost of Opportunistic Behavior in the Public Sector: A General‐Equilibrium Approach
Authors: VASILEV ALEKSANDAR 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThis paper studies the wasteful effect of bureaucracy on the economy by addressing the link between opportunistic behavior of government bureaucrats and the public sector wage bill. In particular, public officials are modeled as individuals competing for a larger share of those public funds. A simple extraction technology in the government administration is introduced in a standard real‐business‐cycle setup augmented with detailed public sector. The model is calibrated to German data for the period 1970–2007. The main findings are: (i) the model performs well vis‐à‐vis the data; (ii) due to the existence of a significant public sector wage premium and the high public sector employment, a substantial amount of working time is spent in opportunistic activities, which, in turn, leads to significant losses in terms of output; and (iii) the model‐based loss measures obtained for the EU‐12 countries are highly correlated to indices of bureaucratic inefficiency.
Sex‐based differential regulation of bacterial‐induced bone resorption
Authors: Valerio M. S. , Basilakos D. S. , Kirkpatrick J. E. , Chavez M. , Hathaway‐Schrader J. , Herbert B. A. , Kirkwood K. L. 
Published: August 2016

Background and ObjectivePeriodontal disease pathogenesis is comprised of the complex inflammatory immune response to oral bacterial dysbiosis. Like other inflammatory diseases, there is sexual dimorphism evident in periodontal diseases. During periodontitis, inflammatory chemokines direct neutrophils to migrate to the site of infection to neutralize the pathogen. Interestingly, these same chemokines are also involved in regulating pathogen‐induced osteoclast formation. Previous reports show differences in bone turnover and lymphocyte recruitment between sexes. We hypothesize that chemokine expression is differentially regulated by sex and thus results in differential osteoclast formation.Material and MethodsMale and female mice were utilized to isolate neutrophils based on expression of Ly6G‐specific, as well as defined osteoclast progenitors. Cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 100 ng/mL) then analyzed for neutrophil infiltration and gene expression. Defined osteoclast progenitors were primed: macrophage‐colony stimulating factor (25 ng/mL), receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand (50 ng/mL), then stimulated with LPS. Osteoclasts were enumerated via TRAP stain and mRNA isolated for gene expression analysis via quantitative polymerase chain reaction.ResultsIn response to LPS, male neutrophils in vitro respond with increased chemokine expression and significantly more osteoclast formed in response to LPS compared to females.ConclusionsFindings support observations in humans regarding a sexual dimorphism in oral bacterial infections of alveolar bone loss. Males have a strong inflammatory response to bacterial infection, resulting in increased inflammatory microenvironment, reduced pathogenic bacteria clearance and increased osteoclast‐driven bone loss in response to differential expression of key chemokines.
Microvascular hemodynamics in the chick chorioallantoic membrane
Authors: Smith Amy F. , Nitzsche Bianca , Maibier Martin , Pries Axel R. , Secomb Timothy W. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractObjectiveThe microvasculature of the CAM in the developing chick embryo is characterized by interdigitating arteriolar and venular trees, connected at multiple points along their lengths to a mesh‐like capillary plexus. Theoretical modeling techniques were employed to investigate the resulting hemodynamic characteristics of the CAM.MethodsBased on previously obtained anatomical data, a model was developed in which the capillary plexus was treated as a porous medium. Supply of blood from arterioles and drainage into venules were represented by distributions of flow sources and sinks. Predicted flow velocities were compared with measurements in arterioles and venules obtained via video microscopy.ResultsIf it was assumed that blood flowed into and out of the capillary plexus only at the ends of terminal arterioles and venules, the predicted velocities increased with decreasing diameter in vessels below 50 μm in diameter, contrary to the observations. Distributing sources/sinks along arterioles/venules led to velocities consistent with the data.ConclusionsThese results imply that connections to the capillary plexus distributed along the arterioles and venules strongly affect the hemodynamic characteristics of the CAM. The theoretical model provides a basis for quantitative simulations of structural adaptation in CAM networks in response to hemodynamic stimuli.
Association of cardiovascular emerging risk factors with acute coronary syndrome and stroke: A case‐control study
Authors: Martínez Linares José Manuel , Guisado Barrilao Rafael , Ocaña Peinado Francisco Manuel , Salgado Parreño Francisco Javier 
Published: August 2016

AbstractIn this study, we estimated the risk of acute coronary syndrome and stroke associated with several emerging cardiovascular risk factors. This was a case‐control study, where an age ‐ and sex‐matched acute coronary syndrome group and stroke group were compared with controls. Demographic and clinical data were collected through patient interviews, and blood samples were taken for analysis. In the bivariate analysis, all cardiovascular risk factors analyzed showed as predictors of acute coronary syndrome and stroke, except total cholesterol and smoking. In the multivariate logistic regression model for acute coronary syndrome, hypertension and body mass index, N‐terminal section brain natriuretic peptide and pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A were independent predictors. For stroke, the predictors were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, and N‐terminal section brain natriuretic peptide. Controlling for age, sex, and classical cardiovascular risk factors, N‐terminal section brain natriuretic peptide and pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A were independent emerging cardiovascular risk factors for acute coronary syndrome, but pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A was not for stroke. High levels of cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with no episodes of cardiovascular disease requires the implementation of prevention programs, given that at least half of them are modifiable.
Temporal and spectral properties of esophageal mucosal blood perfusion: a comparison between normal subjects and nutcracker esophagus patients
Authors: Zifan A. , Jiang Y. , Mittal R. K. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractBackgroundThe mechanism of esophageal pain in patients with nutcracker esophagus (NE) and other esophageal motor disorders is not known. Our recent study shows that baseline esophageal mucosal perfusion, measured by laser Doppler perfusion monitoring, is lower in NE patients compared to controls. The goal of our current study was to perform a more detailed analysis of esophageal mucosal blood perfusion (EMBP) waveform of NE patients and controls to determine the optimal EMBP biomarkers that combined with suitable statistical learning models produce robust discrimination between the two groups.MethodsLaser Doppler recordings of 10 normal subjects (mean age 43 ± 15 years, 8 males) and 10 patients (mean age 47 ± 5.5 years., 8 males) with NE were analyzed. Time and frequency domain features were extracted from the first twenty‐minute recordings of the EMBP waveforms, statistically ranked according to four independent evaluation criterions, and analyzed using two statistical learning models, namely, logistic regression (LR) and support vector machines (SVM).Key ResultsThe top three ranked predictors between the two groups were the 0.5 and 0.75 perfusion quantile values followed by the surface of the EMBP power spectrum in the frequency domain. ROC curve ranking produced a cross‐validated AUC (area under the curve) of 0.93 for SVM and 0.90 for LR.Conclusions & InferencesWe show that as a group NE patients have lower perfusion values compared to controls, however, there is an overlap between the two groups, suggesting that not all NE patients suffer from low mucosal perfusion levels.
Seasonal variations drive short‐term dynamics and partitioning of recently assimilated carbon in the foliage of adult beech and pine
Authors: Desalme Dorine , Priault Pierrick , Gérant Dominique , Dannoura Masako , Maillard Pascale , Plain Caroline , Epron Daniel 
Published: August 2016

Summary

13CO2 pulse‐labelling experiments were performed in situ on adult beeches (Fagus sylvatica) and pines (Pinus pinaster) at different phenological stages to study seasonal and interspecific short‐term dynamics and partitioning of recently assimilated carbon (C) in leaves.

Polar fraction (PF, including soluble sugars, amino acids and organic acids) and starch were purified from foliage sampled during a 10‐d chase period. C contents, isotopic compositions and 13C dynamics parameters were determined in bulk foliage, PF and starch.

Decrease in 13C amount in bulk foliage followed a two‐pool exponential model highlighting 13C partitioning between ‘mobile’ and ‘stable’ pools, the relative proportion of the latter being maximal in beech leaves in May. Early in the growing season, new foliage acted as a strong C sink in both species, but although young leaves and needles were already photosynthesizing, the latter were still supplied with previous‐year needle photosynthates 2 months after budburst. Mean 13C residence times (MRT) were minimal in summer, indicating fast photosynthate export to supply perennial organ growth in both species. In late summer, MRT differed between senescing beech leaves and overwintering pine needles.

Seasonal variations of 13C partitioning and dynamics in field‐grown tree foliage are closely linked to phenological differences between deciduous and evergreen trees.