bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multiple global changes drive grassland productivity and stability: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Su Jishuai , Zhao Yujin , Xu Fengwei , Bai Yongfei 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Temporal stability of primary productivity is the key to stable provisioning of ecosystem services to human beings. Yet, the effects of various global changes on grassland stability remain ambiguous.

Here, we conducted a comprehensive meta‐analysis based on 1070 multi‐year paired observations from 173 studies, to examine the impacts of various global changes on productivity, community stability and plant diversity of grasslands on a global scale. The global change drivers include nitrogen (N) addition, phosphorus (P) addition, N and P addition, precipitation increase, precipitation decrease, elevated CO2 and warming.

Global change drivers generally had stronger impacts on grassland productivity than on temporal stability, except for precipitation changes. Community temporal stability was reduced by N addition, N and P addition and precipitation decrease, but was increased by precipitation increase and remained unchanged under P addition, elevated CO2 and warming. In addition, species richness decreased under N addition, N and P addition and precipitation decrease. At the plant functional group level, N and P addition reduced grasses' stability and precipitation increase enhanced forbs' stability.

Nutrient additions decreased community stability via increasing the inter‐annual variation more than the mean of primary productivity, while precipitation changes mainly affected community temporal stability via changing mean productivity. The negative impacts of global change drivers (i.e. N and P addition, warming) on community temporal stability increased with the degree of species loss but decreased with increasing stability of grasses. Moreover, the negative impacts of nutrient addition and precipitation decrease on community stability was lessened while the positive effect of precipitation increase on community stability was enhanced in grasslands with higher historical precipitation variability, greater soil fertility and longer experimental duration.

Synthesis. Our findings demonstrate that N‐based nutrient additions and drought destabilise grassland productivity, while precipitation increase enhances community stability. Impacts of global changes on community productivity and stability are mediated by species richness, plant functional group, site‐specific environmental conditions (i.e. climate, soil) and experimental duration, which deserve more attention in grassland management practices under future global change scenarios.
Niche differentiation along multiple functional‐trait dimensions contributes to high local diversity of Euphorbiaceae in a tropical tree assemblage
Authors: Wang Xue‐Zhao , Sun Shan‐Wen , Sedio Brian E. , Glomglieng Suphanee , Cao Min , Cao Kun‐Fang , Yang Jian‐Hong , Zhang Jiao‐Lin , Yang Jie 
Published: August 2022

AbstractUnderstanding the mechanisms that drive community assembly in species‐rich tropical forest remains a fundamental challenge in ecology. Here, we integrated multivariate functional trait dimensions, phylogeny and metabolomics to test fundamental predictions concerning the role of differentiation with respect to abiotic and biotic niche axes in the maintenance of high local diversity of woody plants in the Euphorbiaceae.We measured 40 functional traits related to resource acquisition, photosynthetic capacity, hydraulic efficiency and secondary‐metabolite profiles generated using untargeted metabolomics in all 26 Euphorbiaceae species in a 20‐ha forest dynamics plot in tropical southwestern China. We examined the correlation structure of 40 traits using a trait networking approach. We coupled these traits with variation in soil nutrients, light environment, soil water content and herbivore pressure within the plot to assess niche differentiation in space. We compared phylogenetic signal among multivariate trait dimensions and secondary metabolites to assess niche differentiation in evolutionary time.Network analysis revealed that a small number of traits with high network centrality reflected variation in ecological strategy among the Euphorbiaceae. Using these high‐centrality traits, we observed significant functional turnover along environmental gradients defined by light, soil moisture, soil nutrients and leaf herbivory, respectively. Most resource utilization traits showed significant phylogenetic signal, whereas almost all defensive traits lacked phylogenetic signal, including species similarity with respect to plant secondary metabolites.Synthesis. Our results suggest that resource‐utilization traits and the habitat associations play a significant role in the niche segregation of co‐occurring woody plants in the Euphorbiaceae. Secondary metabolites, however, may enhance diversity at a finer spatial scale by allowing closely related species with similar functional traits to partition biotic niche space within shared habitats in tropical rainforest.
The two‐component response regulatorOrrAconfers dehydration tolerance by regulatingavaKaexpression in the cyanobacteriumAnabaenasp. strainPCC7120
Authors: Kimura Satoshi , Sato Miho , Fan Xingyan , Ohmori Masayuki , Ehira Shigeki 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe cyanobacteriumAnabaenasp. strain PCC 7120 exhibits dehydration tolerance. The regulation of gene expression in response to dehydration is crucial for the acquisition of dehydration tolerance, but the molecular mechanisms underlying dehydration responses remain unknown. In this study, the functions of the response regulator OrrA in the regulation of salt and dehydration responses were investigated. Disruption oforrAabolished or diminished the induction of hundreds of genes in response to salt stress and dehydration. Thus, OrrA is a principal regulator of both stress responses. In particular, OrrA plays a crucial role in dehydration tolerance because anorrAdisruptant completely lost the ability to regrow after dehydration. Moreover, in the OrrA regulon,avaKaencoding a protein of unknown function was revealed to be indispensable for dehydration tolerance. OrrA and AvaK are conserved among the terrestrial cyanobacteria, suggesting their conserved functions in dehydration tolerance in cyanobacteria.
Measuring health disparities using a continuous social risk factor
Authors: Herrin Jeph , Barthel Andrea , Goutos Demetri , Du Chengan , Zhou Sheng , Peltz Alon , Poyer James , Lin Zhenqiu , Bernheim Susannah 
Published: August 2022

AbstractObjectiveTo propose and evaluate a novel approach for measuring hospital‐level disparities according to the effect of a continuous, polysocial risk factor on those outcomes.Study SettingOur cohort consisted of Medicare Fee‐for‐Service (FFS) patients 65 years and older admitted to acute care hospitals for one of six common conditions or procedures. Medicare administrative claims data for six hospital readmission measures including hospitalizations from July 2015 to June 2018 were used.Study DesignWe adapted existing methodologies that were developed to report hospital‐level disparities using dichotomous social risk factors (SRFs). The existing methods report disparities within and across hospitals; we developed and tested modified approaches for both methods using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Socioeconomic Status Index. We applied the adapted methodologies to six 30‐day hospital readmission measures included in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program measures. We compared the within‐ and across‐hospital results for each to those obtained from using the original methods and dichotomizing the AHRQ SES Index into “low” and “high” scores.Data CollectionWe used Medicare FFS administrative claims data linked to U.S. Census data.Principal FindingsFor all six readmission measures we find that, when compared with the existing methods, the methods for continuous SRFs provide disparity results for more facilities though across a narrower range of values. Measures of disparity based on this approach are moderately to highly correlated with those based on a dichotomous version of the same risk factor, while reflecting a fuller spectrum of risk. This approach represents an opportunity for detection of provider‐level results that more closely align with underlying social risk.ConclusionWe have demonstrated the feasibility and utility of estimating hospital disparities of care using a continuous, polysocial risk factor. This approach expands the potential for reporting hospital‐level disparities while better accounting for the multifactorial nature of social risk on hospital outcomes.
Assessing the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) as a tool in the detection of human DNA in water
Authors: Antony Dass Marie , Sherman Craig D. H. , Nai Yi Heng , Ellis Morgan R. , van Oorschot Roland A. H. , Durdle Annalisa 
Published: August 2022

AbstractEnvironmental DNA (eDNA) is a highly sensitive and cost‐effective tool that is increasingly being applied to studies of biodiversity and species detection. This non‐invasive method relies on the collection of environmental samples that contain genetic material being shed into surrounding environment by the target organism/s. While forensic science has a long history of using molecular tools for collecting DNA from the environment, the detection of human DNA from environmental water samples has been limited. This study investigated the detection and degradation rates of human eDNA in water samples under controlled laboratory conditions. Using a human‐specific qPCR assay targeting the ND1 region of human mitochondrial DNA, eDNA degradation over time in water spiked with human blood was assessed. Recovery of nuclear DNA was investigated by determining if routine DNA short tandem repeat (STR) profiles of the blood source could be generated. Results demonstrated that human eDNA remains detectable for up to 11 days under laboratory conditions in environmental water and up to 35 days in distilled water. Partial STR profiles could be recovered from environmental water only up to 24 h, while, in distilled water, partial profiles continued to be recovered up to 840 h. These findings demonstrate that sampling human eDNA from aquatic samples can provide reliable human DNA detection within relatively short time windows, assisting law enforcement agencies by providing information about the potential time an individual may have been present in an area or assisting in the detection and location of a body or remains in aquatic environments.
Using Experiments to Design and Evaluate the CAP: Insights from an Expert Panel
Authors: Curzi Daniele , Chabé‐Ferret Sylvain , Di Falco Salvatore , Kuhfuss Laure , Lefebvre Marianne , Matthews Alan 
Published: August 2022

SummaryOver the last twenty years the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has considerably evolved, by introducing new objectives and instruments to address the increasing number of challenges ahead. These changes call for the use of innovative tools to analyse agricultural policy design and evaluation. During the last European Association of Agricultural Economics conference, a panel of experts presented their points of view on how experiments can enhance the CAP evaluation toolkit. In this article we summarise the main insights emerging during this session. We present a review of the different existing experimental approaches followed by some examples of their application in the study of the CAP and a discussion of the potential hurdles to the use of experimental results to design actual policies. From the different contributions it emerges that experimental approaches may represent effective tools to improve the design and evaluation of the CAP. However, a potential hurdle to their wider use is that experimental results often fail to be confirmed when applied to large‐scale policy interventions. In this article we discuss some potential solutions to the main problems affecting the scalability of experimental results, and we provide some insights on how experiments can help to improve the CAP further.
Targeted therapy combined with immunotherapy in patients with breast infiltrating ductal carcinoma with axillary lymph node metastasis of metaplastic SCC
Authors: Bai Rilan , Jia Lin , Gao Yangyang , Sun Xu , Chen Naifei , Lv Zheng , Cui Jiuwei 
Published: August 2022

AbstractAt present, the clinicopathological features, optimal treatment patterns, and prognosis of breast metaplastic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are not fully understood and are still controversial. Here, we report a 56‐year‐old female patient with breast infiltrating ductal carcinoma with axillary lymph node metastasis of metaplastic SCC admitted to our hospital. Their homology was clarified by comparing the gene mutation results of the two lesions, that is, the axillary lymph node lesion was a metastasis of breast metaplastic SCC. We treated the patient with Poly ADP‐ribose Polymerase (PARP) inhibitors in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and found that she could achieve clinical benefit from the combination regimen. We reported a successful diagnosis and treatment of this rare refractory disease and reviewed the literature on the characteristics, pathogenesis, and advances in the diagnosis and treatment of breast metaplastic SCC.
Immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma: A case of pleural metastases
Authors: Ogata Ryosuke , Soda Hiroshi , Senju Hiroaki , Fujioka Masaki , Shimada Midori , Yamashita Koki , Irifune Satoshi , Tagawa Ryuta , Dotsu Yosuke , Iwasaki Keisuke , Taniguchi Hirokazu , Takemoto Shinnosuke , Fukuda Yuichi , Mukae Hiroshi 
Published: August 2022

AbstractExtraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (EMCS) is an undifferentiated mesenchymal malignancy; however, its immune microenvironment remains to be elucidated. The case of a 34‐year‐old woman who developed EMCS metastasizing to the pleura is presented here. The pleural EMCS showed hypervascularity, absent PD‐L1 expression, and a lack of tumor mutational burden and pathogenic variants. Immunohistological examination of the pleural lesions showed predominant M2 macrophages and sparse CD8+ T cells. EMCS and the tumor stroma were positive for transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In contrast, a small number of the stromal vessels were positive for hypoxia inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α). TGF‐β1 and VEGF in the tumor stroma and low antigenicity of the tumor cells may help explain how EMCS induced the immunosuppressive microenvironment. These findings may encourage investigators to explore novel combined immunotherapy for EMCS, such as TGF‐β1 and VEGF inhibitors, and specific therapy for enhancing tumor antigens.
The evolution of strength, elasticity and rupture behaviour of birch tar made with ‘double‐pot’ techniques during tar cooking
Authors: Schmidt Patrick , Koch Tabea J. , Berthold Christoph , Lauxmann Frieder , Nickel Klaus G. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBirch tar was the first adhesive produced by humans. Its study has consequences for our understanding of human evolution and the development of specialised craftsmanship. One of the better‐documented birch tar making methods is the ‘double‐pot’ technique, where two containers are used, one containing bark, the other collecting the tar. Birch tar made with double‐pots has low viscosity and bad adhesive properties. To obtain a usable adhesive, it must be reduced in volume by cooking. We investigate the evolution of tar’s mechanical properties during cooking. We use lap‐shear tests to investigate strength, stiffness and failure behaviour. We found that tar must be cooked for 90 min to acquire adhesive properties. When cooked for longer, strength and stiffness increase over a 30 min lasting time span. Cooking for even longer, beyond this 30 min window, produced a substance that could no longer be used as an adhesive. The implications are that tar cooking requires a high level of skill because specific signs indicating the desired properties must be recognised during the process. Tar cooking constitutes a supplementary investment in time and resources and appears to be associated with a certain degree of risk.
Chronological improvement in precision oncology implementation in Japan
Authors: Sunami Kuniko , Naito Yoichi , Komine Keigo , Amano Toraji , Ennishi Daisuke , Imai Mitsuho , Kage Hidenori , Kanai Masashi , Kenmotsu Hirotsugu , Koyama Takafumi , Maeda Takahiro , Morita Sachi , Sakai Daisuke , Kohsaka Shinji , Tsuchihara Katsuya , Saigusa Yusuke , Yoshino Takayuki 
Published: August 2022

AbstractIn Japan, comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) tests for refractory cancer patients have been approved since June 2019, under the requirement that all cases undergoing CGP tests are annotated by the molecular tumor board (MTB) at each government‐designated hospital. To investigate improvement in precision oncology, we evaluated and compared the proportion of cases receiving matched treatments according to CGP results and those recommended to receive genetic counseling at all core hospitals between the first period (11 hospitals, June 2019 to January 2020) and second period (12 hospitals, February 2020 to January 2021). A total of 754 and 2294 cases underwent CGP tests at core hospitals in the first and second periods, respectively; 28 (3.7%) and 176 (7.7%) patients received matched treatments (p < 0.001). Additionally, 25 (3.3%) and 237 (10.3%) cases were recommended to receive genetic counseling in the first and second periods, respectively (p < 0.001). The proportion was associated with the type of CGP test: tumor‐only (N = 2391) vs. tumor‐normal paired (N = 657) analysis (10.0% vs. 3.5%). These results suggest that recommendations regarding available clinical trials in networked MTBs might contribute to increasing the numbers of matched treatments, and that tumor‐normal paired rather than tumor‐only tests can increase the efficiency of patient referrals for genetic counseling.
Japanese nationwide observational multicenter study of tumor BRCA1/2 variant testing in advanced ovarian cancer
Authors: Oda Katsutoshi , Aoki Daisuke , Tsuda Hitoshi , Nishihara Hiroshi , Aoyama Hisanori , Inomata Hyoe , Shimada Muneaki , Enomoto Takayuki 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe association between germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic variants (mutations: gBRCAm) and ovarian cancer risk is well established. Germline testing alone cannot detect somatic BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants (sBRCAm), which is calculated based on the proportion of tumor BRCAm (tBRCAm) from tumor samples and gBRCAm. Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) results mainly from genetic/epigenetic alterations in homologous recombination repair‐related genes and can be evaluated by genomic instability status. In Japan, the prevalence of tBRCAm, sBRCAm, and HRD remains unclear. This multicenter, cross‐sectional, observational study, CHaRacterIzing the croSs‐secTional approach to invEstigate the prevaLence of tissue BRCA1/2 mutations in newLy diagnosEd advanced ovarian cancer patients (CHRISTELLE), evaluated the prevalence of tBRCAm, sBRCAm, and HRD in tumor specimens from newly diagnosed patients with ovarian cancer who underwent gBRCA testing. Of the 205 patients analyzed, 26.8% had a tBRCAm, including tBRCA1m (17.6%) and tBRCA2m (9.3%). The overall prevalence of tBRCAm, gBRCAm, sBRCAm, and HRD‐positive status was 26.8%, 21.5%, 6.3%, and 60.0%, respectively. The calculated sBRCAm/tBRCAm ratio was 23.6% (13/55), and the prevalence of gBRCA variant of uncertain significance was 3.9%. These results suggest gBRCA testing alone cannot clearly identify the best course of treatment, highlighting the importance of sBRCA testing in Japan. The present results also suggest that testing for tBRCA and HRD should be encouraged in advanced ovarian cancer patients to drive precision medicine.
Efficacy of MitoHeal® supplementation on adult skin quality and patient satisfaction: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot study
Authors: Hooper Stephanie , Hausenblas Heather A. , Winters Carena 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Aim
Polyphenols, the most abundant natural biochemicals found in fruits, vegetables seeds, red wine, cocoa, coffee and spices, may have cosmetic and health effects.

Methods
This was a 1-month randomized, placebo-controlled study, approved by the institutional review board. In total, 40 adults (mean age 44.65 years) were randomized to one of three groups: MitoHeal® 500 mg/day, MitoHeal® 1000 mg/day or placebo drink. Measurements were expert rating of professional photos of skin quality and patient self-reported skin satisfaction at Days 0 and 30.

Results
The photographs and self-report assessments revealed that, compared with placebo, MitoHeal supplementation resulted in improvements in skin quality and patient satisfaction from Day 0 to Day 30, with a dose–response relationship often evidenced (P &lt; 0.05). No adverse events were reported.

Conclusion
Pilot data revealed that MitoHeal supplementation might be effective for improving skin quality and patient satisfaction. Larger sample sizes and trial durations are needed to determine the effects of MitoHeal supplementation on beauty and overall health.
Evolving utility of apremilast in dermatological disorders for off-label indications
Authors: Mehta Hitaishi , Sharma Apoorva , Dogra Sunil 
Published: August 2022

AbstractApremilast, a small molecule that acts by inhibition of the phosphodiesterase-4 enzyme, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the management of psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis and Behçet disease. The drug has drawn much interest from practising dermatologists in view of its exceptional safety profile and prescription convenience, as evident by the recent surge of literature describing its off-label indications. This review was carried out with the aim of summarizing the literature on off-label use of apremilast in dermatology, in order to guide clinicians regarding currently available evidence. The PubMed database was searched using ‘apremilast’ as a keyword in the title. Abstracts were individually screened to determine whether there was a description of an off-label use of apremilast in dermatology within the article. Randomized controlled trial data were available for vitiligo, alopecia areata, hidradenitis suppurativa and atopic dermatitis. Case series and case reports describing apremilast were also reviewed. Owing to its broad spectrum of immunomodulatory activity, apremilast may be useful in several chronic inflammatory skin diseases recalcitrant to conventional therapies, either alone or in combination with other drugs. Further studies are needed to establish its role in various dermatological indications.