bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A realized facilitation cascade mediated by biological soil crusts in a sagebrush steppe community
Authors: Ridenour Wendy M. , Lortie C. J. , Callaway Ragan M. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBiological soil crusts can have strong effects on vascular plant communities which have been inferred from short-term germination and early establishment responses. However, biocrusts are often assumed to function as an “organizing principle” in communities because their effects can “cascade” to interactions among crust-associated plant species. We conducted surveys and experiments to explore these cascades and found that biocrusts were positively associated with large patches (> 10 m diameter) of a dominant shrubArtemisia tridentata.At the smaller scale of individual shrubs and the open matrices between shrubs, biocrusts were negatively associated withArtemisia. Juveniles ofArtemisiawere found only in biocrusts in intershrub spaces and never under shrubs or in soil without biocrusts. In two-year field experiments, biocrusts increased the growth ofFestucaand the photosynthetic rates ofArtemisia.Festucaplanted underArtemisiawere also at least twice as large as those planted in open sites without crusts or whereArtemisiawere removed. Thus, biocrusts can facilitate vascular plants over long time periods and can contribute to a “realized” cascade with nested negative and positive interactions for a range of species, but unusual among documented cascades in that it includes only autotrophs.
Appropriate time to radical surgery for colorectal cancer patients complicated with newly onset cerebral infarction: a propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Dou Weidong , Liu Tao , Zheng Hang , Feng Shuo , Wu Yingchao , Wang Xin 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe purpose of our study was to compare the short-term outcomes of early (within 3 months after stroke) and nonearly (more than 3 months after stroke) radical colorectal cancer surgery to find an appropriate time to surgery for these colorectal cancer patients complicated with new-onset cerebral infarction. A retrospective analysis of patients with stroke who underwent curative colorectal cancer surgery between January 2010 and December 2020 was conducted. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to overcome patient selection bias between the two groups. A total of 395 patients were reviewed. After PSM, 40 patients in the early group and 40 patients in the nonearly group were compared. The median time to surgery was 4 weeks in the early group. The overall incidence of postoperative complications between the groups was not significantly different (p = 0.745). The early group was associated with less intraoperative blood loss (50 vs. 100,p = 0.029 ml), with no difference in 30-day morbidity and mortality. Additionally, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that previous abdominal surgery (p = 0.049) was an independent risk factor for postoperative complications after matching. Before matching, multivariate logistic analysis showed that ESRS (p = 0.028) and MRS (p = 0.039) were independent risk factors. Radical surgery after 4 weeks of cerebral infarction may be feasible for colorectal cancer patients with new onset stroke, as it appear not to increase the perioperative complications of Clavien–Dindo grade II or higher, while strengthening the preoperative evaluation and perioperative monitoring.
Emergence of Madden-Julian oscillation precipitation and wind amplitude changes in a warming climate
Authors: Bui Hien X. , Li Yi-Xian , Maloney Eric D. , Kim Ji-Eun , Lee Sun-Seon , Yu Jia-Yuh 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) has profound impacts on weather and climate phenomena, and thus changes in its activity have important implications under human-induced global climate change. Here, the time at which the MJO change signal emerges from natural variability under anthropogenic warming is investigated. Using simulations of the Community Earth System Model version 2 large ensemble forced by the shared socioeconomic pathways SSP370 scenario, an increase in ensemble mean MJO precipitation amplitude and a smaller increase in MJO circulation amplitude occur by the end of the 21st century, consistent with previous studies. Notably, the MJO precipitation amplitude change signal generally emerges more than a decade earlier than that of MJO wind amplitude. MJO amplitude changes also emerge earlier over the eastern Pacific than other parts of the tropics. Our findings provide valuable information on the potential changes of MJO variability with the aim of improving predictions of the MJO and its associated extreme events.
Deep multi-task learning for early warnings of dust events implemented for the Middle East
Authors: Sarafian Ron , Nissenbaum Dori , Raveh-Rubin Shira , Agrawal Vikhyat , Rudich Yinon 
Published: March 2023

AbstractEvents of high dust loading are extreme meteorological phenomena with important climate and health implications. Therefore, early forecasting is critical for mitigating their adverse effects. Dust modeling is a long-standing challenge due to the multiscale nature of the governing meteorological dynamics and the complex coupling between atmospheric particles and the underlying atmospheric flow patterns. While physics-based numerical modeling is commonly being used, we propose a meteorological-based deep multi-task learning approach for forecasting dust events. Our approach consists of forecasting the local PM10 (primary task) measured in situ, and simultaneously to predict the satellite-based regional PM10 (auxiliary task); thus, leveraging valuable information from a correlated task. We use 18 years of regional meteorological data to train a neural forecast model for dust events in Israel. Twenty-four hours before the dust event, the model can detect 76% of the events with even higher predictability of winter and spring events. Further analysis shows that local dynamics drive most misclassified events, meaning that the coherent driving meteorology in the region holds a predictive skill. Further, we use machine-learning interpretability methods to reveal the meteorological patterns the model has learned, thus highlighting the important features that govern dust events in the Middle East, being primarily lower-tropospheric winds, and Aerosol Optical Depth.
Hailstorms and rainstorms versus supercells—a regional analysis of convective storm types in the Alpine region
Authors: Feldmann Monika , Hering Alessandro , Gabella Marco , Berne Alexis 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe behaviour of severe thunderstorms, particularly supercells, in complex terrain is still poorly understood. Utilising 6 years of radar-, lightning- and radiosounding-based thunderstorm data in the domain of the Swiss radar network, we study different thunderstorm types in separate topographical regions. We classify the storms as ordinary thunderstorms, intense and severe rainstorms, hail and severe hailstorms and supercellular storms. After identifying the overlaps between the storm categories of rainstorms, hailstorms and supercells, the life cycles of several intensity metrics are investigated. This analysis allows the identification of predictors for intensification within severe storm life cycles. One of the most important predictors is the detection of a mesocyclone in a supercell before the onset or intensification of hail. We then divide the radar domain into sub-regions ranging from the Northwestern Po Valley, the Southern Prealps, main Alpine ridge, Northern Prealps, Swiss Plateau and Jura. This regional split separates storms in different terrain complexities. An investigation of the intensity distribution of storms in each region shows a clear intensity decrease over the main Alpine ridge, intermediate values over the moderately complex Prealpine regions and peaks for the flat Po Valley and Swiss Plateau. In contrast, the highest frequency of storms is found in the Prealpine regions on each side, with a lower frequency in the flat areas and a minimum in convective activity over the main Alpine ridge.
More water-soluble brown carbon after the residential “coal-to-gas” conversion measure in urban Beijing
Authors: Yuan Wei , Huang Ru-Jin , Shen Jincan , Wang Kai , Yang Lu , Wang Ting , Gong Yuquan , Cao Wenjuan , Guo Jie , Ni Haiyan , Duan Jing , Hoffmann Thorsten 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe implementation of air pollution reduction measures has significantly reduced the concentration of atmospheric fine particles (PM2.5) in Beijing, among which the “coal-to-gas” conversion measures may play a crucial role. However, the effect of this conversion measure on brown carbon (BrC) is not well known. Here, the chemical composition of BrC in humic-like fraction (HULIS-BrC) and water-insoluble fraction (WI-BrC) were characterized for ambient PM2.5samples collected in Beijing before and after the “coal-to-gas” conversion measure. After the conversion measure, the number of HULIS-BrC compounds increased by ~14%, while the number of WI-BrC compounds decreased by ~8%. The intensity of over 90% of HULIS-BrC compounds also increased after the conversion measure, and correspondingly the O/C ratios of CHO and CHON compounds in HULIS-BrC fraction generally increased with the increase of intensity ratios after/before the conversion measure, indicating that there were more water-soluble highly oxygenated BrC compounds after “coal-to-gas” conversion measure. On the contrary, the intensity of more than 80% of WI-BrC compounds decreased after the conversion measure, and the O/C ratios of CHO and CHON compounds in WI-BrC fraction generally decreased with the decrease of intensity ratios after/before the conversion measure, indicating that after the “coal-to-gas” conversion measure the water-insoluble low oxygenated BrC compounds decreased. This work sheds light on the differences in the chemical composition of BrC between before and after the “coal-to-gas” conversion measure and suggests that future studies on the residential coal combustion BrC and secondary BrC deserve further exploration.
Complex modeling with detailed temporal predictors does not improve health records-based suicide risk prediction
Authors: Shortreed Susan M. , Walker Rod L. , Johnson Eric , Wellman Robert , Cruz Maricela , Ziebell Rebecca , Coley R. Yates , Yaseen Zimri S. , Dharmarajan Sai , Penfold Robert B. , Ahmedani Brian K. , Rossom Rebecca C. , Beck Arne , Boggs Jennifer M. , Simon Greg E. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractSuicide risk prediction models can identify individuals for targeted intervention. Discussions of transparency, explainability, and transportability in machine learning presume complex prediction models with many variables outperform simpler models. We compared random forest, artificial neural network, and ensemble models with 1500 temporally defined predictors to logistic regression models. Data from 25,800,888 mental health visits made by 3,081,420 individuals in 7 health systems were used to train and evaluate suicidal behavior prediction models. Model performance was compared across several measures. All models performed well (area under the receiver operating curve [AUC]: 0.794–0.858). Ensemble models performed best, but improvements over a regression model with 100 predictors were minimal (AUC improvements: 0.006–0.020). Results are consistent across performance metrics and subgroups defined by race, ethnicity, and sex. Our results suggest simpler parametric models, which are easier to implement as part of routine clinical practice, perform comparably to more complex machine learning methods.
Quantity discrimination in newly hatched zebrafish suggests hardwired numerical abilities
Authors: Lucon-Xiccato Tyrone , Gatto Elia , Fontana Camilla Maria , Bisazza Angelo 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAn intriguing hypothesis to explain the ubiquity of numerical abilities is that all vertebrates are born with hardwired neuronal networks for processing numbers. To date, only studies on human foetuses have clearly supported this hypothesis. Zebrafish hatch 48–72 h after fertilisation with an embryonic nervous system, providing a unique opportunity for investigating this hypothesis. Here, we demonstrated that zebrafish larvae exposed to vertical bars at birth acquired an attraction for bar stimuli and we developed a numerical discrimination task based on this preference. When tested with a series of discriminations of increasing difficulty (1vs.4, 1vs.3, 1vs.2, and 2vs.4 bars), zebrafish larvae reliably selected the greater numerosity. The preference was significant when stimuli were matched for surface area, luminance, density, and convex hull, thereby suggesting a true capacity to process numerical information. Converging results from two phylogenetically distant species suggests that numerical abilities might be a hallmark feature of vertebrates’ brains.
Complex hemolymph circulation patterns in grasshopper wings
Authors: Salcedo Mary K. , Jun Brian H. , Socha John J. , Pierce Naomi E. , Vlachos Pavlos P. , Combes Stacey A. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAn insect’s living systems—circulation, respiration, and a branching nervous system—extend from the body into the wing. Wing hemolymph circulation is critical for hydrating tissues and supplying nutrients to living systems such as sensory organs across the wing. Despite the critical role of hemolymph circulation in maintaining healthy wing function, wings are often considered “lifeless” cuticle, and flows remain largely unquantified. High-speed fluorescent microscopy and particle tracking of hemolymph in the wings and body of the grasshopper Schistocerca americana revealed dynamic flow in every vein of the fore- and hindwings. The global system forms a circuit, but local flow behavior is complex, exhibiting three distinct types: pulsatile, aperiodic, and “leaky” flow. Thoracic wing hearts pull hemolymph from the wing at slower frequencies than the dorsal vessel; however, the velocity of returning hemolymph (in the hindwing) is faster than in that of the dorsal vessel. To characterize the wing’s internal flow mechanics, we mapped dimensionless flow parameters across the wings, revealing viscous flow regimes. Wings sustain ecologically important insect behaviors such as pollination and migration. Analysis of the wing circulatory system provides a template for future studies investigating the critical hemodynamics necessary to sustaining wing health and insect flight.
Protection against Omicron BA.1/BA.2 severe disease 0–7 months after BNT162b2 booster
Authors: Amir Ofra , Goldberg Yair , Mandel Micha , Bar-On Yinon M. , Bodenheimer Omri , Freedman Laurence , Alroy-Preis Sharon , Ash Nachman , Huppert Amit , Milo Ron 
Published: March 2023

AbstractFollowing evidence of waning immunity against both infection and severe disease after 2 doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine, Israel began administering a 3rd BNT162b2 dose (booster) in July 2021. Recent studies showed that the 3rd dose provides a much lower protection against infection with the Omicron variant compared to the Delta variant and that this protection wanes quickly. However, there is little evidence regarding the protection of the 3rd dose against Omicron (BA.1/BA.2) severe disease. In this study, we estimate the preservation of immunity from severe disease up to 7 months after receiving the booster dose. We calculate rates of severe SARS-CoV-2 disease between groups of individuals aged 60 and above, comparing those who received two doses at least 4 months previously to those who received the 3rd dose (stratified by the time from vaccination), and to those who received a 4th dose. The analysis shows that protection conferred by the 3rd dose against Omicron severe disease did not wane over a 7-month period. Moreover, a 4th dose further improved protection, with a severe disease rate approximately 3-fold lower than in the 3-dose cohorts.
An Arg/Ala-rich helix in the N-terminal region of M. tuberculosis FtsQ is a potential membrane anchor of the Z-ring
Authors: Smrt Sean T. , Escobar Cristian A. , Dey Souvik , Cross Timothy A. , Zhou Huan-Xiang 
Published: March 2023

AbstractMtb infects a quarter of the worldwide population. Most drugs for treating tuberculosis target cell growth and division. With rising drug resistance, it becomes ever more urgent to better understand Mtb cell division. This process begins with the formation of the Z-ring via polymerization of FtsZ and anchoring of the Z-ring to the inner membrane. Here we show that the transmembrane protein FtsQ is a potential membrane anchor of the Mtb Z-ring. In the otherwise disordered cytoplasmic region of FtsQ, a 29-residue, Arg/Ala-rich α-helix is formed that interacts with upstream acidic residues in solution and with acidic lipids at the membrane surface. This helix also binds to the GTPase domain of FtsZ, with implications for drug binding and Z-ring formation.
DNA origami presenting the receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 elicit robust protective immune response
Authors: Oktay Esra , Alem Farhang , Hernandez Keziah , Girgis Michael , Green Christopher , Mathur Divita , Medintz Igor L. , Narayanan Aarthi , Veneziano Remi 
Published: March 2023

AbstractEffective and safe vaccines are invaluable tools in the arsenal to fight infectious diseases. The rapid spreading of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has highlighted the need to develop methods for rapid and efficient vaccine development. DNA origami nanoparticles (DNA-NPs) presenting multiple antigens in prescribed nanoscale patterns have recently emerged as a safe, efficient, and easily scalable alternative for rational design of vaccines. Here, we are leveraging the unique properties of these DNA-NPs and demonstrate that precisely patterning ten copies of a reconstituted trimer of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 along with CpG adjuvants on the DNA-NPs is able to elicit a robust protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in a mouse model. Our results demonstrate the potential of our DNA-NP-based approach for developing safe and effective nanovaccines against infectious diseases with prolonged antibody response and effective protection in the context of a viral challenge.
Recordings in an integrating central neuron reveal the mode of action of isoeugenol
Authors: Machnik Peter , Biazar Nastaran , Schuster Stefan 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAlthough isoeugenol is one of the most widely used anesthetics in fish, its actual mode of action and thus its applicability for particular interventions is poorly understood. Here we determined effects of isoeugenol on various aspects of sensory and neural function, taking advantage of intracellular in vivo recordings in a uniquely suited identified neuron, the Mauthner neuron in the brain of goldfish. We show that isoeugenol strongly affects hearing and vision, but sensitivity and time course of action differed largely in these two senses. The action potential, chemical and electric synaptic transmission at the central neuron were not affected at low but efficient anesthesia. Effects seen at high concentration thereby do not support current views of how isoeugenol might act on central neurons. We show that isoeugenol is highly useful to anesthetize fish for handling, but that in more severe treatment its application needs to be carefully adapted to task.
Integrated-gut-liver-on-a-chip platform as an in vitro human model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Yang Jiandong , Hirai Yoshikazu , Iida Kei , Ito Shinji , Trumm Marika , Terada Shiho , Sakai Risako , Tsuchiya Toshiyuki , Tabata Osamu , Kamei Ken-ichiro 
Published: March 2023

AbstractNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) afflicts a significant percentage of the population; however, no effective treatments have yet been established because of the unsuitability of in vitro assays and animal experimental models. Here, we present an integrated-gut-liver-on-a-chip (iGLC) platform as an in vitro human model of the gut-liver axis (GLA) by co-culturing human gut and liver cell lines interconnected via microfluidics in a closed circulation loop, for the initiation and progression of NAFLD by treatment with free fatty acids (FFAs) for 1 and 7 days, respectively. Co-cultured Caco-2 gut-mimicking cells and HepG2 hepatocyte-like cells demonstrate the protective effects from apoptosis against FFAs treatment, whereas mono-cultured cells exhibit induced apoptosis. Phenotype and gene expression analyses reveal that the FFAs-treated gut and liver cells accumulated intracellular lipid droplets and show an increase in gene expression associated with a cellular response to copper ions and endoplasmic reticulum stress. As an in vitro human GLA model, the iGLC platform may serve as an alternative to animal experiments for investigating the mechanisms of NAFLD.
Heavy metal concentrations in rice that meet safety standards can still pose a risk to human health
Authors: Wei Renhao , Chen Chang , Kou Meng , Liu Zhaoyang , Wang Zhen , Cai Junxiong , Tan Wenfeng 
Published: March 2023

AbstractLong-term consumption of rice containing heavy metal(loid)s poses significant risks to public health, which can be scientifically evaluated through food safety assessment. However, spatial variability and uncertainty in exposure parameters are generally neglected in existing food safety assessment standards. This study focused on rice consumption in 32 provinces of China, and extracted 3376 data points of five heavy metal(loid)s (cadmium, arsenic, mercury, lead, and chromium) and two nutrient elements (copper and zinc) from 408 articles. Probability and fuzzy methods were integrated to cope with the spatial variability or uncertainty and more accurately evaluate the risk. The results demonstrated that long-term consumption of rice that meets the national food safety standards still can cause non-negligible health risks, particularly for children and toddlers with chronical exposure. Arsenic and Cd were found to be the most critical elements, which contribute to 64.57% and 22.38% of the overall human health risk, respectively. Fuzzy assessment indicated that the score in northern China is approximately eight folds of that in southern China, indicating that northern rice has lower risks and better nutrition. Our results demonstrate that the food safety standards need to be tailored according to local conditions with more specific receptor parameters and risk acceptance.