bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Responses of tree growth and biomass production to nutrient addition in a semi‐deciduous tropical forest in Africa
Authors: Manu Raphael , Corre Marife D. , Aleeje Alfred , Mwanjalolo Majaliwa J. G. , Babweteera Fred , Veldkamp Edzo , van Straaten Oliver 
Published: February 2022

AbstractExperimental evidence of nutrient limitations on primary productivity in Afrotropical forests is rare and globally underrepresented yet are crucial for understanding constraints to terrestrial carbon uptake. In an ecosystem‐scale nutrient manipulation experiment, we assessed the early responses of tree growth rates among different tree sizes, taxonomic species, and at a community level in a humid tropical forest in Uganda. Following a full factorial design, we established 32 (eight treatments × four replicates) experimental plots of 40 × 40 m each. We added nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), their combinations (NP, NK, PK, and NPK), and control at the rates of 125 kg N ha−1 year−1, 50 kg P ha−1 year−1 and 50 kg K ha−1 year−1, split into four equal applications, and measured stem growth of more than 15,000 trees with diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥1 cm. After 2 years, the response of tree stem growth to nutrient additions was dependent on tree sizes, species and leaf habit but not community wide. First, tree stem growth increased under N additions, primarily among medium‐sized trees (10–30 cm dbh), and in trees of Lasiodiscus mildbraedii in the second year of the experiment. Second, K limitation was evident in semi‐deciduous trees, which increased stem growth by 46% in +K than –K treatments, following a strong, prolonged dry season during the first year of the experiment. This highlights the key role of K in stomatal regulation and maintenance of water balance in trees, particularly under water‐stressed conditions. Third, the role of P in promoting tree growth and carbon accumulation rates in this forest on highly weathered soils was rather not pronounced; nonetheless, mortality among saplings (1–5 cm dbh) was reduced by 30% in +P than in –P treatments. Although stem growth responses to nutrient interaction effects were positive or negative (likely depending on nutrient combinations and climate variability), our results underscore the fact that, in a highly diverse forest ecosystem, multiple nutrients and not one single nutrient regulate tree growth and aboveground carbon uptake due to varying nutrient requirements and acquisition strategies of different tree sizes, species, and leaf habits.
Attenuation of widespread hypersensitivity to noxious mechanical stimuli by inhibition of GABAergic neurons of the right amygdala in a rat model of chronic back pain
Authors: Tokunaga Ryota , Takahashi Yukari , Touj Sara , Hotta Harumi , Leblond Hugues , Kato Fusao , Piché Mathieu 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundChronic primary low back pain may be associated with hyperalgesia in uninjured tissues and with decreased pain inhibition. Previous studies have shown that the amygdala is involved in pain regulation and chronic pain, that neuronal activity in the amygdala is altered in models of persistent pain, and that the central nucleus of the right amygdala plays an active role in widespread hypersensitivity to noxious stimuli.MethodsBehavioral, electrophysiological, biochemical, and chemogenetic methods were used to examine the role of the central nucleus of the right amygdala in hypersensitivity to noxious stimuli in a rat model of chronic back pain induced by a local injection of Complete Freund Adjuvant (CFA) in paraspinal muscles.ResultsCFA produced chronic inflammation limited to the injected area. CFA‐treated rats showed increased pain‐like (liking) behaviors during the formalin test compared with controls. They also showed widespread mechanical hypersensitivity compared with controls, which persisted for 2 months. This widespread hypersensitivity was accompanied by altered activity of different types of right amygdala neurons, as shown by extracellular recordings. Plasmatic levels of IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α were not elevated after 1 or 2 months, indicating that persistent widespread hypersensitivity is not caused by persistent systemic inflammation. However, chemogenetic inhibition of GABAergic neurons in the right amygdala attenuated widespread mechanical hypersensitivity.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that chronic widespread mechanical hypersensitivity in a model of chronic back pain can be attenuated by inhibiting GABAergic neurons of the right amygdala, and that widespread hypersensitivity is not maintained by chronic systemic inflammation.SignificanceThe amygdala is a key structure involved in pain perception and modulation. The present results indicate that the GABAergic neurons of its central nucleus are involved in widespread hypersensitivity to noxious stimuli in a rat model of chronic back pain. The inhibition of amygdala GABAergic neurons may be a potential target for future interventions in patients with chronic back pain.
Deciding upon the Banking Union: How a joint belief shift instigated deep institutional change in Eurozone governance
Authors: Swinkels Marij , van Esch Femke 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThis paper explores how a joint belief shift among policy actors in the Eurozone crisis led to a deep institutional change in Eurozone governance: the banking union. Based on Rinscheid's framework of institutional change, we apply discourse network analysis (DNA) of actor statements in European newsmedia to show how banking union ideas emerged and gained ground between 2000 and 2012. We complement the DNA with analysis of secondary sources to provide explanations of how the rise and dissemination of banking union ideas came about. Our findings show that potential junctures in a crisis provide opportunities for policy actors to exploit and instigate a joint belief shift, but only if certain critical antecedents allow for this. Our study complements EU policy analysis studies by offering a fine‐grained theory and methodology to assess and understand the role of (coalitions of) key policy actors and their ideas in processes of EU institutional change.
Informal Europeanization processes and domestic governance networks
Authors: Rèfle Jan‐Erik , Fischer Manuel , Maggetti Martino 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe influence of the European Union on national power structures, actors' institutional opportunities, and governance networks is well established in cases of Europeanization processes unfolding in member states or associated countries for which a formal agreement is in place. This article focuses instead on Europeanization processes that are more informal and do not include formal agreements but bottom‐up dynamics. Empirically, we analyze the collaboration network in Swiss energy policy with Exponential Random Graph Models and find that actors with EU contacts and those that consider the international process as important are particularly active in the domestic governance network, whereas actors considering the domestic process as strongly Europeanized and those with pro‐EU beliefs are particularly inactive. This points towards a complex influence of informal Europeanization on domestic governance networks.
Multimodal data integration via mediation analysis with high‐dimensional exposures and mediators
Authors: Zhao Yi , Li Lexin ,   Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: February 2022

AbstractMotivated by an imaging proteomics study for Alzheimer's disease (AD), in this article, we propose a mediation analysis approach with high‐dimensional exposures and high‐dimensional mediators to integrate data collected from multiple platforms. The proposed method combines principal component analysis with penalized least squares estimation for a set of linear structural equation models. The former reduces the dimensionality and produces uncorrelated linear combinations of the exposure variables, whereas the latter achieves simultaneous path selection and effect estimation while allowing the mediators to be correlated. Applying the method to the AD data identifies numerous interesting protein peptides, brain regions, and protein–structure–memory paths, which are in accordance with and also supplement existing findings of AD research. Additional simulations further demonstrate the effective empirical performance of the method.
Impacts of parameter uncertainty on baseflow separation by a two‐parameter recursive digital filter
Authors: He Shengjia , Yu Ke , Tang Zhangxuan , Yan Yan , Zhang Fangfang 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAccurate baseflow quantification is an important step in the survey and evaluation of water resources, non‐point source pollution quantification, and optimization of water resource allocation. We selected a typical agricultural watershed with high precipitation rates in eastern China as the study area and investigated the impact of the combination of a recession constant (on an annual, monthly, or daily scale) and the maximum baseflow index (BFImax; empirical value vs. optimal value) on the accuracy and reliability of baseflow separated using a two‐parameter recursive digital filter (TPRDF). It was observed that the accuracy and reliability of the TPRDF‐separated baseflow varied with the time scale of the recession constant. Specifically, they decreased in the following order: baseflow estimated using daily recession constants (EBSD) (NSE = 0.797, R2 = 0.819) > baseflow estimated using monthly recession constants (EBSM; NSE = 0.779, R2 = 0.801) > baseflow estimated using annual recession constants (EBSY; NSE = 0.666, R2 = 0.675), where ‘NSE’ is the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient. The empirical value setting of BFImax was another important reason for the uncertainties in the TPRDF‐separated baseflow. The NSE values of EBSY, EBSM, and EBSD increased from 0.666, 0.779, and 0.797–0.785, 0.859, and 0.876, respectively, after replacing the empirical values with numerically optimized values. The combination of BFImax with recession constants on various time scales significantly affected the annual total TPRDF‐separated baseflow. It also affected the overall variation characteristics of the baseflow time series, composition of different magnitude (frequency) components, and sensitivity of baseflow time series to rainfall events.
Correlation between cumulative mammographic density and age‐specific incidence of breast cancer: A biethnic study in Israel
Authors: Flugelman Anath A. , Burton Anya , Keinan‐Boker Lital , Stein Nili , Kutner Dafna , Shemesh Lior , Boyd Norman 
Published: February 2022

AbstractWomen with the most extensive breast density, have a 4‐ to 6‐fold higher cancer risk than women with the lowest density. This cross‐sectional study evaluated associations of cumulative mammographic density in two distinct ethnic groups with the respective age‐specific breast cancer incidences in the population. The study compared four cohorts of 200 women each aged 35 to 49 and 50 to 74, representing Jewish and Arab ethnicity. Breast density measures were calculated from screening mammograms, using a thresholding software (Cumulus). Breast cancer specific incidence values were obtained from the National Cancer Registry. The percent mammographic density was lower for women aged 50 to 74 than 35 to 49 years, both for Jews: 11.7 vs 23.1 and for Arabs: 11.6 vs 18.3. In contrast, the cumulative density increased with age, from 37.30 to 181.24 in Jews, compared to 21.26 to 108.03 in Arabs. Similar trends in breast cancer incidence rates per 100 000 in the Israeli population were apparent, with an increase from 92.95 to 381.91 in Jews, compared to 48.6 to 244.44 in Arabs. Comparing cumulative density of the cohort with respective age‐specific breast cancer incidence in the population yielded a highly significant correlation: Jews; r = .97, P < .0001 and Arabs: r = .86, P = .007. A strong association was found between the log of cumulative density and the log of cancer incidence, as well. Our study identified correlations between cumulative mammographic density and breast cancer incidence in two distinct populations. The findings should prompt research to enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of breast cancer, and lead to novel insights into measures of prevention.
The impact of COVID‐19 vaccine on sperm quality
Authors: Barda Shimi , Laskov Ido , Grisaru Dan , Lehavi Ofer , Kleiman Sandra , Wenkert Atalia , Azem Foad , Hauser Ron , Michaan Nadav 
Published: February 2022

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the effect of the BNT162b, mRNA, SARS‐CoV‐2 virus vaccine on sperm quality.MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study conducted on sperm donors at the sperm bank of a tertiary, university affiliated medical center. All sperm donors donated sperm repeatedly and the average sperm parameters of all available samples were compared before and after receiving the SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine. Each donor served as his own control. For all participants, at‐least one sperm sample was received 72 days after completing the second vaccine. Main outcome measures included total sperm count, total motile count and percent of motile sperm.ResultsA total of 898 sperm samples from 33 sperm donors that were vaccinated with the Pfizer BNT162b, mRNA, SARS‐CoV‐2 virus vaccine were analyzed, 425 samples were received before the vaccine, while 473 samples were received after vaccination. Total sperm count and total motile count increased after the second vaccine compared to samples before vaccination. Percent of motile sperm did not change after vaccine.ConclusionThe Pfizer BNT162b, SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine has no deleterious effect on sperm quality. Patients and physicians should be counseled accordingly.
Formation and infrared spectroscopic characterization of carbon suboxide complexes TM‐η1‐C3O2 and the inserted ketenylidene complexes OCTMCCO (TM=Cu, Ag, Au) in solid neon
Authors: Li Hongmin , Zhou Yangyu , Wang Guanjun , Zeng Xiaoqing , Zhou Mingfei 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe reactions of coinage metal atoms Cu, Ag and Au with carbon suboxide (C3O2) are studied by matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy. The weakly bound complexes TM‐η1‐C3O2 (TM=Cu, Ag, Au), in which the carbon suboxide ligand binds to the metal center in the monohapto fashion are formed as initial reaction products. The complexes subsequently isomerize to the inserted products OCTMCCO upon visible light (λ = 400–500 nm) excitation. The analysis of the electronic structure using modern quantum chemistry methods suggests that the linear OCTMCCO complexes are best described by the bonding interactions between the TM+ cation in the electronic singlet ground state and the [OC…CCO]− ligands in the doublet state forming two TM+ ← ligands σ donation and two TM+ → ligands π backdonation bonding components. In addition, the CuCCO, AgCCO and AuCCO complexes are also formed, which are predicted to be bent.
Simultaneous Assessment of Left Atrial Fibrosis and Epicardial Adipose Tissue Using 3D Late Gadolinium Enhanced Dixon MRI
Authors: Skoda Iulia , Henningsson Markus , Stenberg Sofia , Sundin Jonathan , Carlhäll Carl‐Johan 
Published: February 2022

BackgroundEpicardial adipose tissue (EAT) may induce left atrium (LA) wall inflammation and promote LA fibrosis. Therefore, simultaneous assessment of these two important atrial fibrillation (AF) risk factors would be desirable.PurposeTo perform a comprehensive evaluation of 3D Dixon water–fat separated late gadolinium enhancement (LGE‐Dixon) MRI by analysis of repeatability and systematic comparison with reference methods for assessment of fibrosis and fat.Study TypeProspective.PopulationTwenty‐eight, 10, and 7 patients, respectively, with clinical indications for cardiac MRI.Field Strength/SequenceA 1.5‐T scanner, inversion recovery multiecho spoiled gradient echo.AssessmentTwenty‐eight patients (age 58 ± 19 years, 15 males) were scanned using LGE‐Dixon. A 5‐point Likert‐type scale was used to grade the image quality. Another 10 patients (age 46 ± 19 years, 9 males) were scanned using LGE‐Dixon and 3D proton density Dixon (PD‐Dixon). Finally, seven patients (age 62 ± 14 years, 4 males) were scanned using LGE‐Dixon and conventional LGE. The scan time, intraobserver and interobserver variability, and levels of agreement were assessed.Statistical TestsStudent's t‐test, one‐way ANOVA, and Mann–Whitney U‐test were used; P < 0.05 was considered significant, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).ResultsThe scan time (minutes:seconds) for LGE‐Dixon (n = 28) was 5:01 ± 1:40. ICC values for intraobserver and interobserver measurements of LA wall fibrosis percentage were 0.98 (95% CI, 0.97–0.99) and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.94–0.99) while of EAT were 0.92 (95% CI, 0.82–0.97) and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.80–0.95). The agreement for LA fibrosis percentage between the LGE‐Dixon and the conventional LGE was 0.92 (95% CI, 0.66–0.99) and for EAT volume between the LGE‐Dixon and the PD‐Dixon was 0.93 (95% CI, 0.72–0.98).ConclusionLA fibrosis and EAT can be assessed simultaneously using LGE‐Dixon. This method allows a high level of intraobserver and interobserver repeatability as well as agreement with reference methods and can be performed in a clinically feasible scan time.Evidence Level2Technical Efficacy Stage3
How COVID‐19 can promote workplace cheating behavior via employee anxiety and self‐interest – And how prosocial messages may overcome this effect
Authors: Hillebrandt Annika , Barclay Laurie J. 
Published: February 2022

SummaryWhile scholars have debated whether environmental factors (e.g., air pollution) can prompt unethical behavior (e.g., crime), we argue that the COVID‐19 pandemic provides a unique opportunity to inform this theoretical debate by elaborating onwhythese effects may occur, identifyinghowthey can be overcome, and addressing methodological issues. Drawing on appraisal theories of emotion, we argue that appraising COVID‐19 (i.e., an environmental factor) as a threat can elicit anxiety. This can focus employees on their own self‐interest and prompt cheating behavior (i.e., unethical workplace behavior). However, we propose that these detrimental effects can be attenuated by prosocial messages (i.e., highlighting the meaningful and positive impact that employees' work can have on others). Our predictions were supported using a two‐wave survey (N = 396) and an experiment (N = 163) with samples of full‐time employees during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Theoretically, our studies inform this ongoing debate by highlighting the importance of state anxiety and self‐interest as key mechanisms and that drawing peoples' attention towards others can serve as a boundary condition. Practically, we provide insight into the ethical costs of COVID‐19 in the workplace and identify a simple yet effective strategy that organizations can use to curtail workplace cheating behavior.
Pharmacokinetics and local tissue response to local instillation of vocacapsaicin, a novel capsaicin prodrug, in rat and rabbit osteotomy models
Authors: Knotts Tarra , Mease Kirsten , Sangameswaran Lakshmi , Felx Melanie , Kramer Susan , Donovan John 
Published: February 2022

AbstractVocacapsaicin is a novel prodrug of trans‐capsaicin (trans‐8‐methyl‐N‐vanillyl‐6‐nonenamide) being developed as a nonopioid, long‐lasting, site‐specific treatment for postsurgical pain management. The objective of these studies was to examine the safety and tolerability of vocacapsaicin in an osteotomy model in two animal species and to evaluate bone healing parameters. Rats undergoing unilateral femoral osteotomy received a single perioperative administration (by instillation) of vocacapsaicin (vehicle, 0.15, 0.3, and 0.6 mg/kg). Rabbits undergoing unilateral ulnar osteotomy received a single perioperative administration (by infiltration and instillation) of vocacapsaicin (vehicle, 0.256 and 0.52 mg) alone or in combination with 0.5% ropivacaine. Clinical signs, body weights, food consumption, radiography, histopathologic examinations, ex vivo bone mineral density measurements (rats only), and biomechanical testing were evaluated at 4 and 8 weeks in rats and at 2 and 10 weeks in rabbits. Plasma samples were also collected in rabbits. There were no vocacapsaicin‐related effects on mortality, clinical observations, body weight, or food consumption in either species. Systemic exposure to vocacapsaicin and its metabolites, including capsaicin, was transient. In rats, vocacapsaicin was devoid of deleterious effects on bone healing parameters, and there was a trend for enhanced bone healing in rats treated with the mid‐dose. In rabbits, vocacapsaicin administered alone or in combination with ropivacaine did not adversely affect bone healing parameters. In conclusion, a single perioperative administration of vocacapsaicin in unilateral osteotomy models was well tolerated, locally and systemically, supporting its continued development as a novel, nonopioid treatment for postsurgical pain management.
Study on Sentinel Lymph Node and Its Lymphatic Drainage Pattern of Breast Cancer by Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasound
Authors: Luo Yunhao , Chen Jie , Feng Liting , Cao Wenbin , Wu Hao , Ma Miao , He Fangting , Luo Jing , Wu Chihua , Liu Jinping , Chen Qin , Luo Jun 
Published: February 2022

ObjectivesSentinel lymph node (SLN) and its lymphatic drainage pattern (LDP) of breast cancer were studied by contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).MethodsFrom July 2017 to December 2019, patients with SLN localization of breast cancer in Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences·Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital were selected. The sentinel lymph system of breast cancer was observed by CEUS before both operation and blue staining in the surgery. The location, number, and route of sentinel lymphatic channel (SLC) were recorded, along with the number, size, and the depth from skin of SLN. LDPs were summarized according to these basic characteristics of SLC and SLN.ResultsA total of 368 cases were included; 465 SLCs and 423 SLNs were detected. Most of the SLCs were originated from the outer upper quadrant of areola. Eleven LDPs were found, including 31 subtypes of LDPs. There were 6 cases of type A (1.63%), 15 cases of type B (4.08%), 223 cases of type C (57.88%), 38 cases of type D (10.33%), 2 cases of type E (0.54%), 3 cases of type F (0.82%), 50 cases of type G (13.59%), 30 cases of type H (8.15%), 2 cases of type I (0.54%), 6 cases of type J (1.63%), and 3 cases of type K (0.82%).ConclusionsThe most common LDP of breast cancer was one SLC originated from the upper quadrant of areola with one SLN. CEUS can identify the LDP before surgery to reduce the false negative rate of SLN biopsy.
Highly Birefringent Anti‐Resonant Hollow‐Core Fiber with a Bi‐Thickness Fourfold Semi‐Tube Structure
Authors: Hong Yi‐feng , Gao Shou‐fei , Ding Wei , Zhang Xin , Jia An‐qing , Sheng Yu‐lin , Wang Pu , Wang Ying‐ying 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe optical performance characteristics of anti‐resonant hollow‐core fibers (known as AR‐HCFs or ARFs) are improving rapidly, but the polarization maintaining issue with these fibers remains unresolved. Although a regular nonbirefringent ARF can maintain high polarization purity under static conditions, it cannot resist mechanical disturbances. In this work, by designing a bi‐thickness semi‐tube ARF structure with fourfold rotational symmetry, the first ARF with a level of birefringence close to 10−4is fabricated. The proposed ARF features a combination of phase birefringence of 9.1 × 10−5, a minimum loss of 185 dB km−1, a bandwidth of 133 nm, and single‐mode operation. Furthermore, the ARF shows high resistance to fiber bending and wide‐range temperature variations, thus confirming that this carefully designed ARF can serve as a practical workhorse in polarization‐related optical fiber applications.