bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Disentangling the effects of species interactions and environmental factors on the spatial pattern and coexistence of two congenericPinusspecies in a transitional climatic zone
Authors: Yang Zhichun , Luo Ying , Ye Nan , Yang Lishunan , Yin Qiulong , Jia Shihong , He Chunmei , Yuan Zuoqiang , Hao Zhanqing , Ali Arshad 
Published: September 2022

AbstractCongeneric species are critical for understanding the underlying ecological mechanisms of biodiversity maintenance. Ecological mechanisms such as conspecific negative density dependence, species differences in life‐history stages related to habitat preference, and limiting similarity are known to influence plant fitness, thereby influencing species coexistence and biodiversity. However, our understanding of these phenomena as they apply to coexistence among coniferous species is limited. We studied two congenericPinusspecies,Pinus armandii(PA) andPinus tabulaeformis(PT), both of which are common pioneer species typically succeeded by oaks (Quercus), in a 25‐ha warm temperate deciduous broad‐leaved forest. Here, we addressed the following questions: (1) How do population structures and distributions patterns of these twoPinusspecies vary with respect to different life‐history stages? (2) Does intra‐ and interspecific competition vary with respect to three life‐history stages? And (3) What are the relative contributions of topographic and soil variables to the spatial distributions of the species across the three life‐history stages? In addressing these questions, we utilized the pair‐correlation function g(r), redundancy analysis (RDA), variance partitioning (VP), and hierarchical partitioning (HP) to identify habitat preferences and conspecific negative density dependence at different life‐history stages from small to large trees. The results revealed that in bothPinusspecies, individuals in different life‐history stages were subject to significant habitat heterogeneity, with a tendency for small trees to be distributed at higher latitudes that may be represents climate‐change‐driven migration in both species. In addition, the effects of conspecific negative density dependence on PT were stronger than those on PA due to limited dispersal in PT. Furthermore, we found that interspecific competition was weak due to the species differences in resource utilization and preference for key habitats. Our study shows that congenericPinusspecies avoids competition by exploiting distinct habitats and provides insight into forest community structure.
Exploring the thermal limits of malaria transmission in the western Himalaya
Authors: Mozaffer Farhina , Menon Gautam I. , Ishtiaq Farah 
Published: September 2022

AbstractEnvironmental temperature is a key driver of malaria transmission dynamics. Using detailed temperature records from four sites: low elevation (1800), mid elevation (2200 m), and high elevation (2600–3200 m) in the western Himalaya, we model how temperature regulates parasite development rate (the inverse of the extrinsic incubation period, EIP) in the wild. Using a Briére parametrization of the EIP, combined with Bayesian parameter inference, we study the thermal limits of transmission for avian (Plasmodium relictum) and human Plasmodium parasites (P. vivax and P. falciparum) as well as for two malaria‐like avian parasites, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon. We demonstrate that temperature conditions can substantially alter the incubation period of parasites at high elevation sites (2600–3200 m) leading to restricted parasite development or long transmission windows. The thermal limits (optimal temperature) for Plasmodium parasites were 15.62–34.92°C (30.04°C) for P. falciparum, 13.51–34.08°C (29.02°C) for P. vivax, 12.56–34.46°C (29.16°C) for P. relictum and for two malaria‐like parasites, 12.01–29.48°C (25.16°C) for Haemoproteus spp. and 11.92–29.95°C (25.51°C) for Leucocytozoon spp. We then compare estimates of EIP based on measures of mean temperature versus hourly temperatures to show that EIP days vary in cold versus warm environments. We found that human Plasmodium parasites experience a limited transmission window at 2600 m. In contrast, for avian Plasmodium transmission was not possible between September and March at 2600 m. In addition, temperature conditions suitable for both Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon transmission were obtained from June to August and in April, at 2600 m. Finally, we use temperature projections from a suite of climate models to predict that by 2040, high elevation sites (~2600 m) will have a temperature range conducive for malaria transmission, albeit with a limited transmission window. Our study highlights the importance of accounting for fine‐scale thermal effects in the expansion of the range of the malaria parasite with global climate change.
Locational strategy: Understanding location in economic geography and corporate strategy
Authors: Florida Richard , Adler Patrick 
Published: September 2022

Research SummaryDrawing on key concepts from management theory, corporate strategy, and economic geography, we argue that the time has come for “Locational Strategy.” Locational strategy is a framework for understanding how the locational decisions of organizations fit into broader corporate strategy. Locational strategy is particularly relevant given rise of knowledge and talent as key factors of productions and the fact that these inputs are so clustered in space. We lay out several principles to guide further work in this area, and briefly anticipate the role for locational strategy in the post‐pandemic economy. Such an approach is well suited to the study of the sprawling modern firm, the footloose geography of talent, and the hyper‐competitive field of regional economic policy.Managerial SummaryManagement needs to consider locational strategy as a key element of broader corporate strategy. This is because location and firm location decisions are ever more central to firm strategy. We review key ideas from the academic literature that bear on how managers can get the best access to talent, knowledge, and customers. Access to talent and embeddedness in complex knowledge systems is a defining feature of Locational strategy over and above simple input cost concerns. Furthermore, firms need to consider the actions and reactions of jurisdictions as they decide how to locate and deploy resources across in places across the world. Management training typically does not feature the geographic considerations of location strategy. The authors have refined their approach while teaching students in their course on The City and Business in the MBA program at the University of Toronto's Rotman School.
Team characteristics associated with weight loss in a First Nations community intervention: An observational study
Authors: Bohn‐Goldbaum Erika , Cashmore Aaron , Bauman Adrian , Sullivan Anna , Fonua Lose (Rose) , Milat Andrew , Reid Kate , Grunseit Anne 
Published: September 2022

AbstractIssue addressedGroup‐based weight‐loss programs can be effective in addressing high rates of overweight and obesity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The purpose was to determine associations between demographic and baseline weight‐related variables and team weight loss in a community‐based intervention as no previous studies have analysed this at a team level.MethodsBinomial models tested associations between team‐level age, proportion female and baseline weight and classification as higher weight‐loss team (HWT) (>50% persons losing 2.5% of initial weight) vs lower weight‐loss team (LWT). Linear regressions compared HWT and LWT on diet and physical activity (PA) outcomes adjusted for age and gender.ResultsFor each 1 kg increment in mean baseline weight, a team's likelihood of higher weight loss was increased by 4% (APR: 1.04, 95%CI: 1.00, 1.08). HWTs increased vigorous PA by 0.32 sessions more than LWTs (P = .02). Fruit and vegetable intakes were not associated with team weight loss classification.ConclusionsOnly baseline weight and vigorous PA distinguished HWT and LWT. Promoting PA components in team‐based weight‐loss approaches may be beneficial as these lend themselves to group participation.So what?Demographic and baseline weight‐related variables are largely not predictive of weight loss success in group programs. Identifying other characteristics shared by HWT may help teams achieve weight loss.
Morning chronotype and digestive tract cancers: Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Yuan Shuai , Mason Amy M. , Titova Olga E. , Vithayathil Mathew , Kar Siddhartha , Chen Jie , Li Xue , Burgess Stephen , Larsson Susanna C. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractMorning chronotype has been associated with a reduced risk of prostate and breast cancer. However, few studies have examined whether chronotype is associated with digestive tract cancer risk. We conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) study to assess the associations of chronotype with major digestive tract cancers. A total of 317 independent genetic variants associated with chronotype at the genome‐wide significance level (P < 5 × 10−8) were used as instrumental variables from a genome‐wide meta‐analysis of 449 734 individuals. Summary‐level data on overall and six digestive tract cancers, including esophageal, stomach, liver, biliary tract, pancreatic and colorectal cancers, were obtained from the UK Biobank (11 952 cases) and FinnGen (7638 cases) study. Genetic liability to morning chronotype was associated with reduced risk of overall digestive tract cancer and cancers of stomach, biliary tract and colorectum in UK Biobank. The associations for the overall digestive tract, stomach and colorectal cancers were directionally replicated in FinnGen. In the meta‐analysis of the two sources, genetic liability to morning chronotype was associated with a decreased risk of overall digestive tract cancer (odds ratio [OR] 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.90‐0.98), stomach cancer (OR 0.84, 95% CI: 0.73‐0.97) and colorectal cancer (OR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.87‐0.98), but not with the other studied cancers. The associations were consistent in multivariable MR analysis with adjustment for genetically predicted sleep duration, short sleep, insomnia and body mass index. The study provided MR evidence of inverse associations of morning chronotype with digestive tract cancer, particularly stomach and colorectal cancers.
Assessing the risk of cervical neoplasia in the post‐HPV vaccination era
Authors: Lehtinen Matti , Pimenoff Ville N. , Nedjai Belinda , Louvanto Karolina , Verhoef Lisanne , Heideman Daniëlle A. M. , El‐Zein Mariam , Widschwendter Martin , Dillner Joakim 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThis review is based on the recent EUROGIN scientific session: “Assessing risk of cervical cancer in the post‐vaccination era,” which addressed the demands of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)/squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) triage now that the prevalence of vaccine‐targeted oncogenic high‐risk (hr) human papillomaviruses (HPVs) is decreasing. Change in the prevalence distribution of oncogenic HPV types that follows national HPV vaccination programs is setting the stage for loss of positive predictive value of conventional but possibly also new triage modalities. Understanding the contribution of the latter, most notably hypermethylation of cellular and viral genes in a new setting where most oncogenic HPV types are no longer present, requires studies on their performance in vaccinated women with CIN/SIL that are associated with nonvaccine HPV types. Lessons learned from this research may highlight the potential of cervical cells for risk prediction of all women's cancers.
Urine biomarkers enable pancreatic cancer detection up to 2 years before diagnosis
Authors: Debernardi Silvana , Blyuss Oleg , Rycyk Daria , Srivastava Kirtiman , Jeon Christie Y. , Cai Hui , Cai Qiuyin , Shu Xiao‐Ou , Crnogorac‐Jurcevic Tatjana 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe poor prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is mainly attributed to late diagnosis. We assessed the predictive performance of our previously reported urine biomarker panel for earlier detection of PDAC (LYVE1, REG1B and TFF1) in prediagnostic samples, alone and in combination with plasma CA19‐9. This nested case‐control study included 99 PDAC cases with urine samples prospectively collected up to 5 years prior to PDAC diagnosis and 198 matched controls. The samples were obtained from the Shanghai Women's Health Study (SWHS), the Shanghai Men's Health Studies (SMHS) and the Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS). The urine biomarkers were measured by ELISA. Plasma CA19‐9 was quantified by Luminex. Multiple logistic regression and Wilcoxon rank‐sum and Mann‐Whitney test were used for analysis. The internal validation approach was applied and the validated AUC estimators are reported on. The algorithm of urinary protein panel, urine creatinine and age named PancRISK, displayed similar AUC as CA19‐9 up to 1 year before PDAC diagnosis (AUC = 0.79); however, the combination enhanced the AUCs to 0.89, and showed good discriminative ability (AUC = 0.77) up to 2 years. The combination showed sensitivity (SN) of 72% at 90% specificity (SP), and SP of 59% at 90% SN up to 1 year and 60% SN with 80% SP and 53% SP with 80% SN up to 2 years before PDAC diagnosis. Adding the clinical information on BMI value resulted in the overall improvement in performance of the PancRISK score. When combined with CA19‐9, the urinary panel reached a workable model for detecting PDAC cases up to 2 years prior to diagnosis.
Estimating the efficiency gap of maize yield across different irrigation methods in Pakistan
Authors: Nasrullah Muhammad , Liang Lizhi , Rizwanullah Muhammad 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThis study was carried out to identify and compare the efficiency levels of maize growers using surface water irrigation (SWI) and groundwater irrigation (GWI) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The variance inflation factor and Koenker Bassett test were used to check multicollinearity and heteroscedasticity that mostly occur in the primary data. The empirical findings obtained from the stochastic frontier analysis show that irrigation plays a significant role in the maize yield in both the SWI and GWI groups. The results revealed that irrigation was the most effective input used by the growers and could significantly increase the production of maize for SWI and GWI by 26 and 11%, respectively. The projected mean efficiency of the study implies that the SWI and GWI groups can still increase their efficiency by 11.1 and 19.3% with a given amount of inputs. The various inefficiency factors used in the study significantly contribute to the efficiency level of maize growers. It is also observed that farmers with large landholdings are more willing to pay for surface water irrigation, followed by farmers who are in touch with extension agents. Based on these findings, the study also recommends some policies for increasing maize production.
Safety and efficacy comparisons of rituximab biosimilars to the reference product in patients with cancer: a systematic meta‐analysis review
Authors: Song Nina K. , Musa Hala , Soriano Michael , Batger Mellissa , Hawkins Bryson , Ramzan Iqbal , Hibbs David E. , Ong Jennifer A. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractAimTo compare the efficacy and safety of rituximab biosimilars to reference rituximab in patients with cancer.Data SourcesA systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central databases were searched from inception to 12 January 2022 to obtain all randomised control trial (RCTs) reporting on the safety and efficacy outcomes of patients with cancer treated with rituximab biosimilars.Study SelectionAll RCTs comparing the reference rituximab with a biosimilar, conducted in inpatient and outpatient settings, were included in the systematic review.ResultsTwenty‐nine RCTs were identified to report on patients treated with rituximab. The odds of achieving overall response rate in patients treated with a rituximab biosimilar compared to the reference over at least 24 weeks of treatment was 1.06 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.88–1.26). The proportion of patients experiencing any treatment emergent adverse events were comparable between the two study arms (OR 1.20 [95% CI 0.98–1.49]).ConclusionBiosimilars for rituximab have comparable efficacy and safety profiles in treatment naïve patients; however, evidence for efficacy and safety of switching patients from reference biologic to biosimilar is lacking, and further research is required.
Record and paleoecological insights of a sub‐adult specimen of Smilodon populator Lund, 1842 found in a cave in Bahia, Brazil
Authors: de Lima Ana Paula Andrade , Barbosa Fernando Henrique de Souza , de Araújo‐Júnior Hermínio Ismael , Silva Laís Alves , Araújo André Vieira , Dantas Mário André Trindade 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe present paper describes new fossil materials (skull and some postcranial elements) collected in November 2020 in Engrunado cave in Nova Redenção municipality, Bahia, Brazil. This material was attributed to a sub‐adult specimen of Smilodon populator Lund, 1842, estimated to be 17–18 months old and with a body mass of 185 kg when it died. Based on its body mass, this individual could have hunted animals with a typical and maximum potential prey body mass of 302 and 1004 kg, respectively. Furthermore, it may have had a high dietary niche overlap with adult specimens of S. populator and other large carnivorans, such as Panthera onca (Linnaeus, 1758), probably hunting different species to avoid competition with them.
Engineering nanostructured pure cancer cell membrane‐derived vesicles as a novel therapeutic cancer vaccine
Authors: He Hongliang , Guo Chunqing , Liu Wenjie , Chen Shixian , Wang Xiang‐Yang , Yang Hu 
Published: September 2022

AbstractExtracted cancer cell membrane carries the antigens of the parent tumor cell. This autologous antigen repertoire presents cancer cell membrane‐derived nanoparticles highly immunogenic to the body's immune system. Cancer cell membrane‐derived nanoparticles antigenically recapitulate the parental cancer cells and can be exploited to induce immune response reactive with tumor‐associated antigens (TAAs). The use of the cancer cell membrane‐derived nanoparticles to deliver immunostimulatory adjuvants facilitates the cross‐presentation of tumor antigens by antigen‐presenting cells and their costimulation, triggering potent antigen‐specific T responses to eliminate established tumors. These nanoparticles can be engineered to carry immunostimulatory signals to facilitate the cross‐presentation of TAAs and the induction of potent antitumor immunity. In this study, cancer cell membrane‐based vesicles (CCMVs) are prepared from B16 melanoma cells and engineered to deliver the immunological agent polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly‐IC). We show that CCMV is preferentially uptaken by bone marrow‐derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) as compared to other cell types (macrophages, fibroblasts). The efficient delivery of poly‐IC to BMDCs results in enhanced antigen cross‐presenting capability of BMDCs and T‐cell activation. Additionally, immunization of mice with poly‐IC‐carrying CCMV elicits a potent antitumor immune response. In conclusion, poly‐IC‐decorated tumor‐derived CCMV may be used as a therapeutic vaccine to potentiate antitumor immunity.
Real‐time shimming with FID navigators
Authors: Wallace Tess E. , Kober Tobias , Stockmann Jason P. , Polimeni Jonathan R. , Warfield Simon K. , Afacan Onur 
Published: September 2022

PurposeTo implement a method for real‐time field control using rapid FID navigator (FIDnav) measurements and evaluate the efficacy of the proposed approach for mitigating dynamic field perturbations and improving ‐weighted image quality.MethodsFIDnavs were embedded in a gradient echo sequence and a subject‐specific linear calibration model was generated on the scanner to facilitate rapid shim updates in response to measured FIDnav signals. To confirm the accuracy of FID‐navigated field updates, phantom and volunteer scans were performed with online updates of the scanner B0 shim settings. To evaluate improvement in ‐weighted image quality with real‐time shimming, 10 volunteers were scanned at 3T while performing deep‐breathing and nose‐touching tasks designed to modulate the B0 field. Quantitative image quality metrics were compared with and without FID‐navigated field control. An additional volunteer was scanned at 7T to evaluate performance at ultra‐high field.ResultsApplying measured FIDnav shim updates successfully compensated for applied global and linear field offsets in phantoms and across all volunteers. FID‐navigated real‐time shimming led to a substantial reduction in field fluctuations and a consequent improvement in ‐weighted image quality in volunteers performing deep‐breathing and nose‐touching tasks, with 7.57% ± 6.01% and 8.21% ± 10.90% improvement in peak SNR and structural similarity, respectively.ConclusionFIDnavs facilitate rapid measurement and application of field coefficients for slice‐wise B0 shimming. The proposed approach can successfully counteract spatiotemporal field perturbations and substantially improves ‐weighted image quality, which is important for a variety of clinical and research applications, particularly at ultra‐high field.
Microscopic theory of spin–spin and spin–lattice relaxation of bound protons in cellular and myelin membranes—A lateral diffusion model (LDM)
Authors: Sukstanskii Alexander L. , Yablonskiy Dmitriy A. 
Published: September 2022

PurposeDeciphering salient features of biological tissue cellular microstructure in health and diseases is an ultimate goal of MRI. While most MRI approaches are based on studying MR properties of tissue “free” water indirectly affected by tissue microstructure, other approaches, such as magnetization transfer (MT), directly target signals from tissue‐forming macromolecules. However, despite three‐decades of successful applications, relationships between MT measurements and tissue microstructure remain elusive, hampering interpretation of experimental results. The goal of this paper is to develop microscopic theory connecting the structure of cellular and myelin membranes to their MR properties.Theory and MethodsHerein we introduce a lateral diffusion model (LDM) that explains the T2 (spin–spin) and T1 (spin–lattice) MRI relaxation properties of the macromolecular‐bound protons by their dipole–dipole interaction modulated by the lateral diffusion of long lipid molecules forming cellular and myelin membranes.ResultsLDM predicts anisotropic T1 and T2 relaxation of membrane‐bound protons. Moreover, their T2 relaxation cannot be described in terms of a standard R2 = 1/T2 relaxation rate parameter, but rather by a relaxation rate function R2(t) that depends on time t after RF excitation, having, in the main approximation, a logarithmic behavior: R2(t) ∼ lnt. This anisotropic non‐linear relaxation leads to an absorption lineshape that is different from Super‐Lorentzian traditionally used in interpreting MT experiments.ConclusionLDM‐derived analytical equations connect the membrane‐bound protons T1 and T2 relaxation with dynamic distances between protons in neighboring membrane‐forming lipid molecules and their lateral diffusion. This sheds new light on relationships between MT parameters and microstructure of cellular and myelin membranes.