bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Coupled effects of wind‐storms and drought on tree mortality across 115 forest stands from the Western Alps and the Jura mountains
Authors: Csilléry Katalin , Kunstler Georges , Courbaud Benoît , Allard Denis , Lassègues Pierre , Haslinger Klaus , Gardiner Barry 
Published: June 2017

AbstractDamage due to wind‐storms and droughts is increasing in many temperate forests, yet little is known about the long‐term roles of these key climatic factors in forest dynamics and in the carbon budget. The objective of this study was to estimate individual and coupled effects of droughts and wind‐storms on adult tree mortality across a 31‐year period in 115 managed, mixed coniferous forest stands from the Western Alps and the Jura mountains. For each stand, yearly mortality was inferred from management records, yearly drought from interpolated fields of monthly temperature, precipitation and soil water holding capacity, and wind‐storms from interpolated fields of daily maximum wind speed. We performed a thorough model selection based on a leave‐one‐out cross‐validation of the time series. We compared different critical wind speeds (CWSs) for damage, wind‐storm, and stand variables and statistical models. We found that a model including stand characteristics, drought, and storm strength using a CWS of 25 ms−1 performed the best across most stands. Using this best model, we found that drought increased damage risk only in the most southerly forests, and its effect is generally maintained for up to 2 years. Storm strength increased damage risk in all forests in a relatively uniform way. In some stands, we found positive interaction between drought and storm strength most likely because drought weakens trees, and they became more prone to stem breakage under wind‐loading. In other stands, we found negative interaction between drought and storm strength, where excessive rain likely leads to soil water saturation making trees more susceptible to overturning in a wind‐storm. Our results stress that temporal data are essential to make valid inferences about ecological impacts of disturbance events, and that making inferences about disturbance agents separately can be of limited validity. Under projected future climatic conditions, the direction and strength of these ecological interactions could also change.
Mini‐Nutritional Assessment Short‐Form as a useful method of predicting poor 1‐year outcome in elderly patients undergoing orthopedic surgery
Authors: Chu Che‐Sheng , Liang Chih‐Kuang , Chou Ming‐Yueh , Lu Ti , Lin Yu‐Te , Chu Chin‐Liang 
Published: June 2017

AimThe present study aimed to determine whether the Mini‐Nutritional Assessment Short‐Form (MNA‐SF) can predict the 1‐year outcome of orthopedic fracture surgery in elderly patients.MethodsThis 1‐year prospective study assessed nutrition using the MNA‐SF at baseline, and postoperatively at 6 and 12 months. Repeated measures analysis of covariance was used to examine functional change over time for two MNA‐SF categories. Multivariable logistic regression analysis with forward stepwise modeling was carried out to identify risk factors of functional decline, emergency department visit, hospital readmission and mortality at follow up.ResultsThere were 312 participants, 11 of whom died (3.53%) during 1‐year follow up. The mean age was 74.04 ± 7.65 years. A total of 88.1% and 11.9% of the participants were well nourished (MNA‐SF 12–14 points) or at risk of undernutrition (0–11 points), respectively. For MNA‐SF as a continuous variable, lower MNA‐SF scores were associated with a significantly higher risk of emergency department visit at 6‐month follow up, and mortality at 12‐month follow up (emergency room visit, adjusted odds ratio 0.78, 95% CI 0.63–0.96, P < 0.05; mortality, adjusted odds ratio 0.73, 95% CI 0.57–0.94, P < 0.05). No association was found between functional decline and hospital readmission, and MNA‐SF scores. For MNA‐SF categories, functional decline was more profound in patients at risk of undernutrition than in well‐nourished patients, especially 6–12 months postoperatively.ConclusionsThe MNA‐SF could be an effective and non‐invasive preoperative screening tool to predict functional decline, emergency department visit and mortality during the year after surgery. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 2361–2368.
Feather colours of live birds and museum specimens look similar when viewed by seabirds
Authors: Brunton Martin Amy L. , Gaskett Anne C. , Friesen Megan R. 
Published: June 2017

Bird plumage and skin colour can be assessed from museum specimens. To determine whether these accurately represent the colours of live birds when viewed by birds themselves, we analysed the spectral reflectances of live and up to 100‐year‐old museum specimens of five seabird species (White‐faced PetrelPelagodroma marina,Common Diving PetrelPelecanoides urinatrix,Grey‐faced PetrelPterodroma gouldi,Little ShearwaterPuffinus assimilisand Fluttering ShearwaterPuffinus gavia). Live birds had brighter colours than museum specimens, but there were no significant differences in the wavelengths reflected. Modelling indicated that seabirds would be able to detect colour changes in the skin, but not the feathers, of museum specimens, but only for species with blue or pink feet (Pelecanoides urinatrixandPuffinus assimilis). For seabirds, museum specimens are adequate proxies for feather colour but not for skin colour.
Identification of DJ‐1 as a contributor to multidrug resistance in human small‐cell lung cancer using proteomic analysis
Authors: Gao Hongyi , Niu Yuchun , Li Man , Fang Shun , Guo Linlang 
Published: June 2017

SummaryProteomic approaches have been proven to provide an important tool in identifying drug resistance‐associated proteins. The aim of this study was to investigate the protein profiling of drug resistance‐related proteins in small‐cell lung cancer (SCLC) by proteomic analysis. The proteomic profiling was performed by two‐dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (2D‐DIGE) coupled with MALDI‐TOF‐TOF of SCLC in the multidrug‐resistant cell line H69AR and its parental cell line H69. A total of 11 proteins were identified to be >2‐fold up‐or downregulated between the two cell lines. DJ‐1, one of the differently expressed proteins identified by proteomics, was further examined by immunohistochemistry staining in 116 cases of SCLC tissues. Immunohistochemical results demonstrated that DJ‐1 was expressed in 51.7% (60/116) of SCLC. DJ‐1 expression was correlated significantly with survival time of SCLC patients (P < 0.05), but not with other clinical parameters such as gender, age and clinical stage (P > 0.05). Downregulation of DJ‐1 using DJ‐1‐siRNA in H69AR cells sensitized cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs through increasing drug‐induced cell apoptosis accompanied with G0‐G1 phase arrest. These findings suggest DJ‐1 may serve as a potential biomarker for chemoresistance and prognostic factor for patients with SCLC.
Grape juice concentrate alleviates epididymis and sperm damage in cadmium‐intoxicated rats
Authors: Lamas Celina de A. , Cuquetto‐Leite Livia , do Nascimento da Silva Emanueli , Thomazini Bruna F. , Cordeiro Gabriel da S. , Predes Fabrícia de S. , Gollücke Andrea P.B. , Dolder Heidi 
Published: June 2017

SummaryThe possibility of long‐term grape juice concentrate (GJC) consumption conferring a protective effect against cadmium (Cd)‐induced damage to the epididymis, completely preserving sperm profile, was evaluated here for the first time in the scientific literature. MaleWistarrats (n = 6/per group) received an intraperitoneal Cd injection (1.2 mg/Kg) at age 80 days andGJC(2 g/Kg) by gavage from 50 days until 136 days old. Groups receiving either Cd orGJCwere added. An intraperitoneal injection of saline (0.9%) and water by gavage was administered in the absence of treatment with Cd orGJC. Animals were anaesthetized and exsanguinated at 136 days; the vas deferens, left testis and epididymis were removed; and perfusion continued with fixative. The right epididymis was collected for morphological analysis. Cd had a devastating effect demonstrated by reduced sperm count in testes and epididymis, sperm production and normal sperm count, besides increased epididymis sperm transit time and completely disorganized morphology. These alterations were attributed to higher Cd levels in the testes and a lipid peroxidation (LP) process. Consumption ofGJCplus Cd intoxication was effective, reducing metal accumulation andLP. Consequently, we could identify a preserved sperm profile, with improvement in testis and epididymis sperm count, normal sperm structure and sperm transit time. Moreover,GJCextends its protective effect to the epididymis, allowing complete re‐establishment of its morphology, ensuring successful sperm maturation process. In conclusion, our study indicates long‐termGJCas a promising therapy against reproductive chemical intoxication injury damage, preserving sperm prior to ejaculation.
Eliminating the negative effect of monoclinic Nb2O5 on electrical properties of (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3 ceramics by two‐step sintering
Authors: Jiao Yanlin , Chen Kepi , An Linan 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis study investigates the electrical properties of (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3 (KNN) lead‐free piezoelectric ceramics prepared by using monoclinic Nb2O5 as the starting material. The results reveal that the samples prepared by two‐step sintering procedure are much better than those prepared by conventional sintering procedure. The piezoelectric constant (d33) reaches the value measured from the samples prepared from orthorhombic Nb2O5, suggesting the two‐step sintering procedure could be an effective method to remove the negative effect of monoclinic Nb2O5. The underlying mechanism for the improving effect is discussed.
Synthesis and growth of anorthite crystal during in situ preparation of porous anorthite ceramics by foam‐gelcasting
Authors: Li Cuiwei , Han Yao , Wu Linghao , Wang Chang‐An 
Published: June 2017

AbstractPure anorthite porous ceramics have been fabricated using γ‐Al2O3, CaCO3, and SiO2 as raw materials through foam‐gelcasting method. XRD, thermal analysis, SEM, and TEM were used to study the synthesis and grain growth of anorthite during the in situ process. The results indicated that the initiator (ammonium presulfate) took part in the chemical reaction to form CaSO4, which played an effective role during synthesis of anorthite. Besides, CaO and CaSiO2 were the other intermediate phase during synthesis. Anorthite first occurred at 1050°C, and it was the only phase after it sintered over 1260°C. With sintering temperature increasing from 1300°C to 1450°C, the large sphere pore wall got denser and the anorthite grains obviously showed platelike. It was deduced that the preferential growth of anorthite crystals was parallel to the (004) plane.
Facile preparation of hollow‐structured mesoporous silica spheres with large and ordered mesochannels
Authors: Ma Ning , Zhang Yue , Yang Jinlong , Huang Yong 
Published: June 2017

AbstractIn this study, a facile one‐step method was proposed to prepare pore‐expanded hollow‐structured mesoporous silica spheres. The method hollowed silica spheres, at the same time, expanded mesopores sizes. So this method not only achieved preparation of hollow mesoporous silica spheres by self‐templating strategy but also expanded mesochannels. The influences of different pore‐expanding agents and the reaction time on the degree of hollowing and pore‐expanding were also investigated. The obtained samples possess hollow structure, well‐defined spherical morphology, uniform particle size, large mesoporous volume, ordered, and large mesochannels. In addition, the hollow cavity size and the mesoporous size could be controlled via choosing the appropriate pore‐expanding agent and reaction time.
Consumers’ perceptions of food waste: A pilot study of U.S. students
Authors: Zepeda Lydia , Balaine Lorraine 
Published: June 2017

AbstractParticipants in this pilot study are asked to rank their perceptions of food waste by choosing between pairs of four types of foods of equal weight: chicken, cheese, bread and peas. We examine whether these perceptions are consistent for proportionally different weights and whether they are linked to the perceived cost of the items. The subjects (n = 106) who are students are randomly assigned to one of three information treatments: a control, a food waste video or the text of the food waste video. We find that the subjects have very accurate perceptions of the environmental impacts of food waste and the relative wastefulness of different food groups. These perceptions are not related to cooking skills or frequency. We find that the perceptions are consistent for proportionally different weights of food: 25 and 50 g. We also find that the perceptions are linked to participants’ assessments of the relative prices of the foods. However, while the participants have somewhat accurate estimates of the relative prices, they vastly overestimate the actual prices of foods. This implies that more accurate information about the true prices could actually decrease their perceptions of the wastefulness of throwing out food. Given that the participants had highly accurate perceptions of the environmental impacts of food waste and the relative wastefulness of animal vs. plant products, we found no significant increase in overall accuracy of perceptions due to information treatment, except for bread, for those who saw the food waste video.
Regulation of CD4 T cells and their effects on immunopathological inflammation following viral infection
Authors: Bhattacharyya Mitra , Madden Patrick , Henning Nathan , Gregory Shana , Aid Malika , Martinot Amanda J. , Barouch Dan H. , Penaloza‐MacMaster Pablo 
Published: June 2017

SummaryCD4 T cells help immune responses, but knowledge of how memory CD4 T cells are regulated and how they regulate adaptive immune responses and induce immunopathology is limited. Using adoptive transfer of virus‐specific CD4 T cells, we show that naive CD4 T cells undergo substantial expansion following infection, but can induce lethal T helper type 1‐driven inflammation. In contrast, memory CD4 T cells exhibit a biased proliferation of T follicular helper cell subsets and were able to improve adaptive immune responses in the context of minimal tissue damage. Our analyses revealed that type I interferon regulates the expansion of primary CD4 T cells, but does not seem to play a critical role in regulating the expansion of secondary CD4 T cells. Strikingly, blockade of type I interferon abrogated lethal inflammation by primary CD4 T cells following viral infection, despite that this treatment increased the numbers of primary CD4 T‐cell responses. Altogether, these data demonstrate important aspects of how primary and secondary CD4 T cells are regulated in vivo, and how they contribute to immune protection and immunopathology. These findings are important for rational vaccine design and for improving adoptive T‐cell therapies against persistent antigens.
A quality control circle process to improve implementation effect of prevention measures for high‐risk patients
Authors: Feng Haixia , Li Guohong , Xu Cuirong , Ju Changping , Suo Peiheng 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe aim of the study was to analyse the influence of prevention measures on pressure injuries for high‐risk patients and to establish the most appropriate methods of implementation.Nurses assessed patients using a checklist and factors influencing the prevention of a pressure injury determined by brain storming. A specific series of measures was drawn up and an estimate of risk of pressure injury determined using the Braden Scale, analysis of nursing documents, implementation of prevention measures for pressure sores and awareness of the system both before and after carrying out a quality control circle (QCC) process.The overall scores of implementation of prevention measures ranged from 74.86 ± 14.24 to 87.06 ± 17.04, a result that was statistically significant (P < 0.0025). The Braden Scale scores ranged from 8.53 ± 3.21 to 13.48 ± 3.57. The nursing document scores ranged from 7.67 ± 3.98 to 10.12 ± 1.63; prevention measure scores ranged from 11.48 ± 4.18 to 13.96 ± 3.92. Differences in all of the above results are statistically significant (P < 0.05).Implementation of a QCC can standardise and improve the prevention measures for patients who are vulnerable to pressure sores and is of practical importance to their prevention and control.
Influence of composition on the unipolar electric fatigue of Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3‐(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 lead‐free piezoceramics
Authors: Rojas Virginia , Koruza Jurij , Patterson Eric A. , Acosta Matias , Jiang Xijie , Liu Na , Dietz Christian , Rödel Jürgen 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe lead‐free (1−x)Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3‐x(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 system is considered as promising candidate for the replacement of lead‐based piezoceramics in actuation applications, during which electric fatigue is a major concern. This issue was addressed in this work, where the unipolar fatigue resistance of three (1−x)Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3‐x(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 compositions with different crystallographic structures (rhombohedral, orthorhombic, and tetragonal) was evaluated. Strain asymmetry and development of an internal bias field were observed in all compositions. The decrease in the remanent polarization and the large signal piezoelectric coefficient after 107 unipolar cycles was found to lie between 6%‐12% and 2%‐13%, respectively. The most pronounced fatigue was observed for the orthorhombic composition, which has the largest extrinsic contribution to strain. On the other hand, the best fatigue resistance was observed for the tetragonal composition, which has a predominantly intrinsic strain response. The correlation of fatigue resistance with strain mechanism was corroborated with determination of the Rayleigh parameters and changes in the domain morphology after cycling as confirmed by piezoresponse force microscopy.
Nonaqueous sol‐gel synthesis of InTaO4 nanoparticles and their assembly into macroscopic aerogels
Authors: Rechberger Felix , Tervoort Elena , Niederberger Markus 
Published: June 2017

AbstractDue to their band gap energy, metal tantalates absorb both ultraviolet and visible parts of the solar spectrum, which is beneficial to applications in photocatalysis. However, tantalates are very challenging to synthesize. In comparison to traditional solid‐state reactions, which often lead to impurities, wet‐chemical approaches starting from molecular precursors offer better homogeneity. In this study, amorphous InTaO4 nanoparticles were synthesised in a nonaqueous sol‐gel method. Subsequent annealing at 800°C yielded crystalline and phase‐pure nanoparticles. In addition, the amorphous nanoparticles could be used as building blocks for the assembly into macroscopic gels by careful centrifugation. After supercritical drying, the three‐dimensionally interconnected microstructure was preserved, resulting in highly porous aerogel monoliths with a large surface area of 357 m2 g−1. Upon calcination, crystallization and 46% shrinkage of the aerogel occurred and a decrease in surface area to 49 m2 g−1 was observed. Uniaxial compression tests revealed the mechanical stability of these nanoparticle‐based aerogels. Although the large surface area and the ability to absorb visible light, combined with the unique mechanical properties, are ideal prerequisites to make these aerogels promising for photocatalytic reactions, the degradation of methylene blue only showed limited success.
Development of crystallographic texture in chemical solution deposited lead zirconate titanate seed layers
Authors: Borman Trent M. , Ko Song Won , Mardilovich Peter , Trolier‐McKinstry Susan E. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractDirect seeding of {001} textured lead zirconate titanate (PZT) on platinized silicon substrates was achieved by chemical solution deposition. The processing space for {001} PZT texturing was explored, under fixed PZT pyrolysis and crystallization conditions, by varying the lead content in solution, dopant species, and PZT layer thicknesses for deposition on platinized Si substrates with different platinum grain sizes. Strong {001} texture was achieved on fine‐grained (25 nm) platinum deposited at room temperature and dense, large‐grained platinum (80 nm) deposited at elevated temperature. Increases in lead content of solutions (from lead excesses of 10 at.% to 16 at.%) reduced surface pyrochlore coverage, with no substantial influence on orientation or grain size. Seed layer texturing was found to be insensitive to doping (Mn and Nb) on room temperature platinum, although niobium doping increased pyrochlore coverage. Conversely, on platinum deposited at high temperature, manganese doping reduced the perovskite nucleation, producing a rosette microstructure. Undoped seed layers from 30 to 70 nm thick were found to be strongly {001} textured while thicker layers were {111} textured and thinner layers were poorly crystallized.
Spatial relationships and mechanisms of coexistence between dominant and subordinate top predators
Authors: Rebollo S. , Martínez‐Hesterkamp S. , García‐Salgado G. , Pérez‐Camacho L. , Fernández‐Pereira J. M. , Jenness J. 
Published: June 2017

Most forest ecosystems contain a diverse community of top‐level predators. How these predator species interact, and how their interactions influence their spatial distribution is still poorly understood.Here we studied interactions among top predators in a guild of diurnal forest raptors in order to test the hypothesis that predation among competing predators (intraguild predation) significantly affects the spatial distribution of predator species, causing subordinate species to nest farther away from the dominant ones.The study analyzed a guild in southwestern Europe comprising three raptor species. For 8 years we studied the spatial distribution of used nests, breeding phenology, intraguild predation, territory occupancy, and nest‐builder species and subsequent nest‐user species.The subordinate species (sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus) nested farther away from the dominant species (goshawk A. gentilis), which preyed on sparrowhawks but not on buzzards Buteo buteo, and closer to buzzards, with which sparrowhawks do not share many common prey. This presumably reflects an effort to seek protection from goshawks. This potential positive effect of buzzards on sparrowhawks may be reciprocal, because buzzards benefit from old sparrowhawk nests, which buzzards used as a base for their nests, and from used sparrowhawk nests, from which buzzards stole prey. Buzzards occasionally occupied old goshawk nests.These results support our initial hypothesis that interspecific interactions within the raptor guild influence the spatial distribution of predator species in forest ecosystems, with intraguild predation as a key driver. We discuss several mechanisms that may promote the coexistence of subordinate and dominant predators and the spatial assembly of this raptor guild: spatial refuges, different breeding phenology, spatial avoidance, low territory occupancy between neighboring nesting territories, nest concealment and protection, and diet segregation.