bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Non‐invasive assessment of liver fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis
Authors: Orasan Olga H. , Iancu Mihaela , Sava Madalina , Saplontai‐Pop Aniela , Cozma Angela , Sarlea Simina Tarmure , Lungoci Corneliu , Ungureanu Marius‐Ionut , Negrean Vasile , Sampelean Dorel , Dumitrascu Dan Lucian 
Published: October 2015

AbstractBackgroundHyaluronic acid (HA), ASAT to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI), ASAT/ALAT ratio, Fibrosis 4 score (FIB4) and FibroScan were studied as non‐invasive markers of liver fibrosis (F) in chronic viral hepatitis B (CHB) and C (CHC), in an attempt to avoid the complications of liver puncture biopsy, considered the gold standard in the evaluation of F. The aim of our research was to study whether HA, APRI, ASAT/ALAT ratio, FIB4 and FibroScan are useful non‐invasive markers in predicting severe F in Romanian patients.Patients and MethodsThis was a prospective multicenter transversal and observational study, which included 76 patients with CHB/CHC. The independent effect of studied markers was tested using multiple binary logistic regression.ResultsIn patients with CHB and CHC, the APRI cut‐off value for F4 was 0·70 ng/mL (Se = 77%, Sp = 78%), the FIB4 cut‐off value was 2·01 (Se = 77%, Sp = 69%), and the FibroScan cut‐off value was 13·15 (Se = 92%, Sp = 88%). For patients with CHB/CHC, there was a significant linear positive correlation between F and HA (r = 0·42, P = 0·001), FibroScan (r = 0·67, P < 0·001), APRI (r = 0·46, P < 0·001) and FIB4 (r = 0·51, P < 0·001). Considering age, sex and body mass index as possible confounding factors or covariates in multivariable logistic modelling, FibroScan was the unique test that able to significantly highlight the presence of F4 score in CHB/CHC patients (P = 0·009) while FIB4 test seems to have a tendency to statistical significance.ConclusionFibroScan, APRI and FIB4 are useful non‐invasive tests for the evaluation of F4 in patients with CHB and CHC.
Multi‐element stable isotopic dilution and multi‐surface modelling to assess the speciation and reactivity of cadmium and copper in soil
Authors: Ren Z. L. , Sivry Y. , Dai J. , Tharaud M. , Cordier L. , Benedetti M. F. 
Published: October 2015

SummaryChemical extraction, multi‐element stable isotopic dilution (ID) and multi‐surface modelling were used to investigate the lability of cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) in nine types of soil with different properties and contaminated or not with Cd and Cu. The chemical extraction and ID analyses both showed that Cd was more labile than Cu in all the soil types studied. From the ID results, 32.8–93.3% of total Cd and 14.7–71.8% of total Cu were isotopically exchangeable after 3 days of equilibration. A single extraction in 0.43 m HNO3 gave similar results to the 3‐day ID assay for Cu in most of the soils and for Cd in the non‐calcareous soils. However, an eight‐step selective sequential extraction (SSE) procedure gave different results from the ID assay for both metals. Predictions of the multi‐surface model for the amounts of Cd and Cu adsorbed, based on measured metal ion activities in the soil solution and the concentrations of reactive surfaces in the soil, agreed with the ID results. The model predicted that soil organic matter was the predominant sorbent for Cd and Cu in the soils and that manganese oxide was the least important sorbent. The contributions of iron oxides to sorption were predicted to be small except in soil with a high pH and little organic matter. The predicted sorption on different soil components did not match SSE measurements.
Water availability predicts forest canopy height at the global scale
Authors: Klein Tamir , Randin Christophe , Körner Christian 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe tendency of trees to grow taller with increasing water availability is common knowledge. Yet a robust, universal relationship between the spatial distribution of water availability and forest canopy height (H) is lacking. Here, we created a global water availability map by calculating an annual budget as the difference between precipitation (P) and potential evapotranspiration (PET) at a 1‐km spatial resolution, and in turn correlated it with a global H map of the same resolution. Across forested areas over the globe, Hmeanincreased with P‐PET, roughly: Hmean(m) = 19.3 + 0.077*(P‐PET). Maximum forest canopy height also increased gradually from ~ 5 to ~ 50 m, saturating at ~ 45 m for P‐PET> 500 mm. Forests were far from their maximum height potential in cold, boreal regions and in disturbed areas. The strong association between forest height and P‐PETprovides a useful tool when studying future forest dynamics under climate change, and in quantifying anthropogenic forest disturbance.
Cooperation among Norway Rats: The Importance of Visual Cues for Reciprocal Cooperation, and the Role of Coercion
Authors: Dolivo Vassilissa , Taborsky Michael 
Published: October 2015

AbstractSome animals reciprocate help, but the underlying proximate mechanisms are largely unclear. Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) have been shown to cooperate in a variant of the iterated prisoner's dilemma paradigm, yet it is unknown which sensory modalities they use. Visual information is often implicitly assumed to play a major role in social interactions, but primarily nocturnal species such as Norway rats may rely on different cues when deciding to reciprocate received help. We used an instrumental cooperative task to compare the test rats' propensity to reciprocate received help between two experimental conditions, with and without visual information exchange between social partners. Our results show that visual information is not required for reciprocal cooperation among social partners because even when it was lacking, test rats provided food significantly earlier to partners that had helped them to obtain food before than to those that had not done so. The mean decision speed did not differ between the two experimental conditions, with or without visual information. Social partners sometimes showed aggressive behaviour towards focal test individuals. When including this in the analyses to assess the possible role of aggression as a trigger of cooperation, aggression received from cooperators apparently reduced the cooperation propensity, whereas aggression received from defectors increased it. Hence, in addition to reciprocity, coercion seems to provide additional means to generate altruistic help in Norway rats.
Nesting Success in Crimson Finches: Chance or Choice?
Authors: Young Catherine M. , Cain Kristal E. , Svedin Nina , Backwell Patricia R. Y. , Pryke Sarah R. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractIn avian systems, nest predation is one of the most significant influences on reproductive success. Selection for mechanisms and behaviours to minimise predation rates should be favoured. To avoid predation, breeding birds can often deter predators through active nest defence or by modifying behaviours around the nest (e.g. reducing feeding rates and vocalisations). Birds might also benefit from concealing nests or placing them in inaccessible locations. The relative importance of these strategies (behaviour vs. site selection) can be difficult to disentangle and may differ according to life history. Tropical birds are thought to experience higher rates of predation than temperate birds and invest less energy in nest defence. We monitored a population of crimson finches (Neochmia phaeton), in the Australian tropics, over two breeding seasons. We found no relationship between adult nest defence behaviour (towards a model reptile predator) and the likelihood of nest success. However, nest success was strongly related to the visibility of the nest and the structure of the vegetation. We found no evidence that adult nest building decisions were influenced by predation risk; individuals that re‐nested after a predation event did not build their nest in a more concealed location. Therefore, predator avoidance, and hence nest success, appears to be largely due to chance rather than due to the behaviour of the birds or their choice of nesting sites. To escape high predation pressures, multiple nesting attempts both within and between seasons may be necessary to increase reproductive success. Alternatively, birds may be limited in their nest‐site options; that is, high‐quality individuals dominate quality nest sites.
Short‐term carbon cycling responses of a mature eucalypt woodland to gradual stepwise enrichment of atmospheric CO2 concentration
Authors: Drake John E. , Macdonald Catriona A. , Tjoelker Mark G. , Crous Kristine Y. , Gimeno Teresa E. , Singh Brajesh K. , Reich Peter B. , Anderson Ian C. , Ellsworth David S. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractProjections of future climate are highly sensitive to uncertainties regarding carbon (C) uptake and storage by terrestrial ecosystems. The Eucalyptus Free‐Air CO2 Enrichment (EucFACE) experiment was established to study the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations (eCO2) on a native mature eucalypt woodland with low fertility soils in southeast Australia. In contrast to other FACE experiments, the concentration of CO2 at EucFACE was increased gradually in steps above ambient (+0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 ppm CO2 above ambient of ~400 ppm), with each step lasting approximately 5 weeks. This provided a unique opportunity to study the short‐term (weeks to months) response of C cycle flux components to eCO2 across a range of CO2 concentrations in an intact ecosystem. Soil CO2 efflux (i.e., soil respiration or Rsoil) increased in response to initial enrichment (e.g., +30 and +60 ppm CO2) but did not continue to increase as the CO2 enrichment was stepped up to higher concentrations. Light‐saturated photosynthesis of canopy leaves (Asat) also showed similar stimulation by elevated CO2 at +60 ppm as at +150 ppm CO2. The lack of significant effects of eCO2 on soil moisture, microbial biomass, or activity suggests that the increase in Rsoil likely reflected increased root and rhizosphere respiration rather than increased microbial decomposition of soil organic matter. This rapid increase in Rsoil suggests that under eCO2, additional photosynthate was produced, transported belowground, and respired. The consequences of this increased belowground activity and whether it is sustained through time in mature ecosystems under eCO2 are a priority for future research.
Plant responses to climatic extremes: within‐species variation equals among‐species variation
Authors: Malyshev Andrey V. , Arfin Khan Mohammed A. S. , Beierkuhnlein Carl , Steinbauer Manuel J. , Henry Hugh A. L. , Jentsch Anke , Dengler Jürgen , Willner Evelin , Kreyling Juergen 
Published: October 2015

AbstractWithin‐species and among‐species differences in growth responses to a changing climate have been well documented, yet the relative magnitude of within‐species vs. among‐species variation has remained largely unexplored. This missing comparison impedes our ability to make general predictions of biodiversity change and to project future species distributions using models. We present a direct comparison of among‐ versus within‐species variation in response to three of the main stresses anticipated with climate change: drought, warming, and frost. Two earlier experiments had experimentally induced (i) summer drought and (ii) spring frost for four common European grass species and their ecotypes from across Europe. To supplement existing data, a third experiment was carried out, to compare variation among species from different functional groups to within‐species variation. Here, we simulated (iii) winter warming plus frost for four grasses, two nonleguminous, and two leguminous forbs, in addition to eleven European ecotypes of the widespread grass Arrhenatherum elatius. For each experiment, we measured: (i) C/N ratio and biomass, (ii) chlorophyll content and biomass, and (iii) plant greenness, root 15N uptake, and live and dead tissue mass. Using coefficients of variation (CVs) for each experiment and response parameter, a total of 156 within‐ vs. among‐species comparisons were conducted, comparing within‐species variation in each of four species with among‐species variation for each seed origin (five countries). Of the six significant differences, within‐species CVs were higher than among‐species CVs in four cases. Partitioning of variance within each treatment in two of the three experiments showed that within‐species variability (ecotypes) could explain an additional 9% of response variation after accounting for the among‐species variation. Our observation that within‐species variation was generally as high as among‐species variation emphasizes the importance of including both within‐ and among‐species variability in ecological theory (e.g., the insurance hypothesis) and for practical applications (e.g., biodiversity conservation).
Low‐temperature dunite hydration: evaluating CH4 and H2 production from H2O and CO2
Authors: Neubeck A. , Nguyen D. T. , Etiope G. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractAbiotic methane (CH4) and hydrogen (H2) produced after hydration of mafic/ultramafic rocks represent energy sources for microbes that may thrive in the deep subsurface regions of Earth and possibly on other planets. While H2 is a direct product of serpentinization, CH4 can form via Fischer–Tropsch Type (FTT) reactions (carbon reduction) that, due to potential H2 migration, can be spatially and temporally detached from serpentinization. We tested an alternative process hypothesized by some scholars, in which CO2 can be reduced through dunite hydration without initially added H2, implying that CH4 can form in the same serpentinized fluid–rock system. The experiment used natural dunite sand (Forsterite 92), CO2 with δ13C ~ −25‰ (VPDB), and a 1 mm dissolved SiO2 solution mixed in 30 glass bottles (118 mL) stored for up to 8 months at low temperature (50°C) to simulate land‐based serpentinization systems. In addition, 30 control bottles without olivine were used as blanks. Trivial amounts of CH4 (orders of 0.2–0.9 ppmv) were detected in both samples and blanks, likely representing analytical noise; essentially, no significant amount of CH4 formed under the experimental conditions used in this work. Low amounts of H2 (~2.55 ± 1.39 ppmv) were generated, with production yields that were one order of magnitude lower than in previously published experiments. Moderate concentrations of SiO2 appeared to hinder low‐temperature H2 production. Our experiment confirms that the low‐temperature reduction of CO2 into CH4 through direct olivine hydration, without initial H2, is sluggish and not straightforward, which is consistent with previous studies. The presence of substantial amounts of H2, as well as suitable metal catalysts, appears to be essential in the low‐temperature production of abiotic CH4, as observed in published FTT experiments.
Interferon‐γ constrains cytokine production of group 2 innate lymphoid cells
Authors: Kudo Fujimi , Ikutani Masashi , Seki Yoichi , Otsubo Takeshi , Kawamura Yuki I. , Dohi Taeko , Oshima Kenshiro , Hattori Masahira , Nakae Susumu , Takatsu Kiyoshi , Takaki Satoshi 
Published: October 2015

SummaryGroup 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) produce a significant amount of interleukin‐5 (IL‐5), which supports eosinophil responses in various tissues; they also produce IL‐13, which induces mucus production and contributes to tissue repair or fibrosis. The ILC2s are activated by alarmins, such as IL‐33 released from epithelia, macrophages and natural killer T (NKT) cells in response to infection and allergen exposure, leading to epithelial injury. We examined gene expression in lung ILC2s and found that ILC2s expressed Ifngr1, the receptor for interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ). Interferon‐γ severely inhibited IL‐5 and IL‐13 production by lung and kidney ILC2s. To evaluate the effects in vivo, we used α‐galactosylceramide (α‐GalCer) to induce NKT cells to produce IL‐33 and IFN‐γ. Intraperitoneal injection of α‐GalCer in mice induced NKT cell activation resulting in IL‐5 and IL‐13 production by ILC2s. Administration of anti‐IFN‐γ together with α‐GalCer significantly enhanced the production of IL‐5 and IL‐13 by ILC2s in lung and kidney. Conversely, cytokine production from ILC2s was markedly suppressed after injection of exogenous IL‐33 in Il33−/− mice pre‐treated with α‐GalCer. Hence, IFN‐γ induced or already present in tissues can impact downstream pleiotropic functions mediated by ILC2s, such as inflammation and tissue repair.
Improving wound healing and preventing surgical site complications of closed surgical incisions: a possible role of Incisional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy. A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Scalise Alessandro , Calamita Roberto , Tartaglione Caterina , Pierangeli Marina , Bolletta Elisa , Gioacchini Matteo , Gesuita Rosaria , Di Benedetto Giovanni 
Published: October 2015

AbstractAdvances in preoperative care, surgical techniques and technologies have enabled surgeons to achieve primary closure in a high percentage of surgical procedures. However, often, underlying patient comorbidities in addition to surgical‐related factors make the management of surgical wounds primary closure challenging because of the higher risk of developing complications. To date, extensive evidence exists, which demonstrate the benefits of negative pressure dressing in the treatment of open wounds; recently, Incisional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (INPWT) technology as delivered by Prevena™ (KCI USA, Inc., San Antonio, TX) and Pico (Smith & Nephew Inc, Andover, MA) systems has been the focus of a new investigation on possible prophylactic measures to prevent complications via application immediately after surgery in high‐risk, clean, closed surgical incisions. A systematic review was performed to evaluate INPWT's effect on surgical sites healing by primary intention. The primary outcomes of interest are an understanding of INPWT functioning and mechanisms of action, extrapolated from animal and biomedical engineering studies and incidence of complications (infection, dehiscence, seroma, hematoma, skin and fat necrosis, skin and fascial dehiscence or blistering) and other variables influenced by applying INPWT (re‐operation and re‐hospitalization rates, time to dry wound, cost saving) extrapolated from human studies. A search was conducted for published articles in various databases including PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus Database from 2006 to March 2014. Supplemental searches were performed using reference lists and conference proceedings. Studies selection was based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria and data extraction regarding study quality, model investigated, epidemiological and clinical characteristics and type of surgery, and the outcomes were applied to all the articles included. 1 biomedical engineering study, 2 animal studies, 15 human studies for a total of 6 randomized controlled trials, 5 prospective cohort studies, 7 retrospective analyses, were included. Human studies investigated the outcomes of 1042 incisions on 1003 patients. The literature shows a decrease in the incidence of infection, sero‐haematoma formation and on the re‐operation rates when using INPWT. Lower level of evidence was found on dehiscence, decreased in some studies, and was inconsistent to make a conclusion. Because of limited studies, it is difficult to make any assertions on the other variables, suggesting a requirement for further studies for proper recommendations on INPWT.
New Thorium Isotope Ratio Measurements in Silicate Reference Materials: A‐THO, AGV‐2, BCR‐2, BE‐N, BHVO‐2 and BIR‐1
Authors: Carpentier Marion , Gannoun Abdelmouhcine , Pin Christian , Sigmarsson Olgeir 
Published: October 2015

A two‐step Th isolation protocol, involving micro‐columns of TRU‐Spec extraction chromatography material and AG1 resin, was evaluated. The MC‐ICP‐MS procedure included 232Th tailing characterisation and correction, and calibrator bracketing using an in‐house standard solution (ThS1) to correct for instrumental mass bias and Faraday cup to secondary electron multiplier relative gain. Repeated analyses of reference solutions (UCSC Th ‘A’, WUN, OU Th ‘U’, IRMM‐36) were consistent with published data. Six reference materials (A‐THO, BCR‐2, AGV‐2, BHVO‐2, BE‐N and BIR‐1) were processed. The average 230Th/232Th values obtained for these samples are in excellent agreement with published data. In addition, we report the first 230Th/232Th values for BE‐N and BIR‐1. The intermediate precisions for rock samples ranged from ± 0.24 to ± 0.49% (2 RSD) and were similar to those achieved for synthetic solutions, thereby supporting the overall validity of the chemical separation, data acquisition and reduction procedures. Counting statistics on the 230Th isotope was the most significant source of uncertainty. The intermediate precision of the mean 230Th/232Th for the Th‐depleted BIR‐1 (5.64 × 10−6 ± 0.27%, 2 RSD) is in the range of the analyses of other reference materials analysed in this study.
Geographical variation in the importance of water and energy for oak diversity
Authors: Xu Xiaoting , Wang Zhiheng , Rahbek Carsten , Sanders Nathan J. , Fang Jingyun 
Published: October 2015

AbstractAimThe water–energy dynamics hypothesis posits that species diversity is correlated with water availability and temperatures; diversity is lowest when water availability is reduced at low temperatures because few species can persist under such conditions. However, the relationship between water and energy availability and diversity likely varies geographically along environmental gradients. Here, we examined the drivers of such variability, using a global‐scale data set on oaks.LocationGlobal.MethodTo quantify spatial variation in both species diversity–water relationships and species diversity–energy relationships, we performed geographically weighted regressions (GWR) of (1) species diversity against energy availability, measured as potential evapotranspiration and temperature, and (2) species diversity against water availability, measured by precipitation and an aridity index. We then regressed the local slopes of these GWR models against water and energy separately, and water × energy combined to assess whether the regional‐scale relationships among oak diversity, water and energy depended on climatic conditions at larger spatial extents.ResultsWe found that the effects of low water availability and cold temperatures on oak diversity varied geographically. In particular, the effects of water and energy availability on oak diversity increased as water and energy availability decreased. Furthermore, the interaction between water and energy availability influenced regional‐scale oak diversity–energy relationships but not oak diversity–water relationships.Main conclusionOur results suggest that the relationship between climate (and potentially climatic change) and oak diversity varies geographically, and that the effects of limiting water and temperature are likely to be most severe in arid environments.