bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of urbanization on specialist insect communities of milkweed are mediated by spatial and temporal variation
Authors: Miles Lindsay S. , Murray‐Stoker David , Nhan Vanessa J. , Johnson Marc T. J.
Published: September 2022

Urbanization drastically alters landscapes in ways that can threaten local biodiversity. Although species loss has been well documented in urban habitats, why some species persist and not others, and how species interactions change remain poorly understood, especially for species with specialized niche requirements. Here, we test the hypothesis that urbanization disrupts specialized plant–herbivore interactions, and these effects vary according to the characteristics of both cities and the features of the organisms themselves. To test this hypothesis, we surveyed milkweed specialist herbivore communities in the early and late growing season of the common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) across six cities that varied in size by two orders of magnitude. Four results are most important to answering our research questions: (1) the abundance of herbivore species was higher in urban than in rural habitats, whereas leaf herbivory was higher in rural than in urban habitats, and these effects varied between seasons and among cities; (2) the higher species diversity and abundance are likely due to a few species being more associated with rural habitats and other species more common in urban habitats, and thus, urbanization alters insect community composition; (3) the species with the lowest dispersal abilities, Rhyssomatus lineaticollis and Liriomyza asclepiadis, were those that were most strongly affected by urbanization, with R. lineaticollis less abundant and L. asclepiadis more abundant in urban areas; and (4) urbanization influenced plant–herbivore interactions by reducing herbivory, but it did not alter species interactions among herbivorous insects. Biodiversity loss, particularly declines of habitat and host specialists, in urban areas remains a critical concern for conservation. Our results indicate that at least some specialist herbivores are more abundant in urban areas than in rural areas and that species interactions remain intact.
Localized carry‐over effects of pond drying on survival, growth, and pathogen defenses in amphibians
Authors: Le Sage Emily H. , Ohmer Michel E. B. , LaBumbard Brandon C. , Altman Karie A. , Reinert Laura K. , Bednark Jeffery G. , Bletz Molly C. , Inman Brady , Lindauer Alexa , McDonnell Nina B. , Parker Sadie K. , Skerlec Samantha M. , Wantman Trina , Rollins‐Smith Louise A. , Woodhams Douglas C. , Voyles Jamie , Richards‐Zawacki Corinne L.
Published: September 2022

Climate change is increasing variability in precipitation patterns in many parts of the globe. Unpredictable changes in water availability can be particularly challenging for organisms that rely on precipitation‐fed water sources for completing their life cycle, such as many amphibian species. Although developmental plasticity can mitigate the impacts of changing environments for some species, this strategy can come at a cost to other fitness‐linked traits, such as immune function. We investigated localized variation in the capacity to respond to pond drying and evaluated whether developmental responses induced carry‐over effects in disease susceptibility in three leopard frog species (Rana [Lithobates] pipiens and Rana sphenocephala; two populations each, and one population of Rana chiricahuensis). Using mesocosms located near the site of collection (<15 km away) in five regions spanning a latitudinal gradient, we raised tadpoles under simulated fast drying, slow drying, or constant water levels. After metamorphosis, we characterized several aspects of the skin microbiome, immune function, and response to exposure to the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Note that for R. chiricahuensis, the only carry‐over effect measured was response to Bd exposure, for which we observed no effects of pond drying. We found that developmental plasticity in response to drying was rare, except in the southernmost population of R. sphenocephala. In this location, tadpoles responded by accelerating development, and frogs with shorter larval periods developed more severe infections following Bd exposure post‐metamorphosis, suggesting a trade‐off between surviving pond drying and pathogen defense investment. In the three other locations, a lack of accelerated metamorphosis in drying treatments was accompanied by increased mortality, decreased anti‐Bd function of the microbiome, and/or greater Bd infection after exposure. Overall, results suggest that faster drying conditions will likely have negative impacts on amphibians with long larval periods, both directly and indirectly via carry‐over effects. Because effects of drying exposure were not uniform within a species, our findings suggest that local responses may not be generalizable to other regions of the range. These multifaceted effects of climate change on pathogen defenses are increasingly relevant as emerging infectious diseases threaten global biodiversity.
Ungulate herbivores as drivers of aspen recruitment and understory composition throughout arid montane landscapes
Authors: Reikowski Elizabeth S. , Refsland Tyler , Cushman J. Hall
Published: September 2022

Herbivory by wild and domestic ungulates can influence tree recruitment and understory forest communities throughout the world. Herbivore‐driven declines in tree recruitment have been observed for quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), a foundation species whose health and management is recognized as a critical priority throughout much of its range. Livestock fencing is commonly used to promote aspen regeneration, but its effectiveness is rarely assessed, especially across large spatial scales. Using a livestock‐reduction experiment, we evaluated the effects of ungulate herbivory on aspen in the Great Basin and southern Cascades, an expansive and environmentally heterogeneous region where aspen faces the interacting threats of climate change, conifer encroachment, and herbivory. We found that livestock fencing only reduced the intensity of herbivore browsing on aspen when wild ungulate abundance was low and did not increase stem densities of aspen recruits. Contrary to expectations, wild ungulate abundance was a strong driver of browsing intensity on juvenile aspen within fenced, but not unfenced, aspen stands, and when the abundance of these herbivores was high, browsing intensity in fenced stands exceeded that in unfenced stands. The density of aspen recruits decreased with browsing intensity on juvenile aspen and with the density of both adult aspen and conifers, suggesting that both herbivory and intra‐ and interspecific competition are important drivers of recruitment. Fire history was also an important driver of recruitment, with stands that burned 10–20 years ago having the greatest density of aspen recruits. Finally, in the stand understory, we found that livestock fencing decreased forb cover, increased shrub species richness, and increased the cover of exotic annual grasses, a group dominated by Bromus tectorum. This latter finding suggests that livestock fencing may not be appropriate in areas where controlling the spread of this invader is a priority. In sum, our findings indicate that aspen recruitment is limited by browsing by both wild and domestic ungulates, is mediated by competition with neighboring trees and fire history, and will require management actions beyond livestock fencing, as this approach does not control browsing by wild ungulates.
Trends in soil microclimate and modeled impacts on germination timing in the sagebrush steppe
Authors: Terry Tyson J. , Hardegree Stuart P. , Madsen Matthew D. , Roundy Bruce A. , St. Clair Samuel B.
Published: September 2022

Past and projected changes in climate affect soil microclimate, impacting seeds that use soil moisture and soil temperature as cues for germination. Seed germination and plant establishment are among the most important processes regulating plant community assembly in response to climate change. Changes in germination timing expose seedlings to new abiotic and biotic risk factors that can affect recruitment success. Species with seed dormancy strategies to avoid harsh winter conditions could experience more mortality if changes in germination timing cause early germination and subsequent exposure to freezing conditions. We analyzed soil microclimate trends in the sagebrush steppe from 1979 to 2017 using a soil physics model (SHAW) and calculated the germination timing of native species used in restoration efforts with wet‐thermal response curves from lab trials. We applied the germination curves to modeled soil microclimate at 10 sites in the sagebrush steppe. Our results indicate that warmer and wetter fall seasons have become more prevalent and will likely lead to accelerated germination of several native restoration species in the sagebrush steppe. Changes to spring soil conditions favor slightly more germination in early spring, but strong trends of earlier onset of spring soil conditions were not evident. Trends in climate have created drier and warmer summer seedbed conditions, likely to increase stress on seedlings. Historic cycles of alternating slow or fast germination appeared less frequently during the last 12 years of the study (2004–2016). Seedbed microclimate trends will likely impact seedling establishment by altering germination timing and exposing seeds to more harsh abiotic conditions, likely resulting in decreased recruitment of native species and increased abundance of invasive annual grasses.
Invertebrate herbivory accelerates shift towards forbs caused by warming in a sedge‐dominated alpine meadow
Authors: Cao Rui , Lu Guihua , Zhang Tong , Li Zhengpeng , Wu Xinwei , Sun Shucun
Published: September 2022

Invertebrate herbivory is suggested to modulate community shifts caused by climate warming in grasslands. However, experimental evidence is lacking, especially in high elevation areas. We examined the interactive effect of experimental warming and the grassland caterpillar Gynaephora alpherakjj, a typical invertebrate herbivorous insect with sedge preference, on the structure of plant community in a sedge‐dominated alpine meadow in the Tibetan Plateau. We manipulated both herbivore and temperature in a full factorial field experiment using passive warming chambers over one plant‐growing season. Results show that simulated warming significantly increased the aboveground plant biomass (APB) of forbs and total APB, while the presence of caterpillars significantly decreased sedge APB and total APB. The increase in consumption of sedges by caterpillars under warmed conditions can largely be ascribed to the increase in feeding time of caterpillars. Importantly, the presence of caterpillars significantly decreased the APB ratio of sedges to forbs in the warmed but not in the unwarmed chambers. These results suggest that with a warming climate, invertebrate herbivory could accelerate community shifts from sedge dominance to forb dominance in only one plant‐growing season in the Tibetan alpine meadow. This shift would reduce the biomass of high‐quality forage and further threaten animal husbandry in this area. Considering the harm of G. alpherakjj to grasslands, its population should be controlled more strictly under the global warming scenario.
Spatial drivers of wetland bird occupancy within an urbanized matrix in the Upper Midwestern United States
Authors: Rahlin Anastasia A. , Saunders Sarah P. , Beilke Stephanie
Published: September 2022

Wetland birds are undergoing severe population declines in North America, with habitat degradation and wetland loss considered two of the primary causes. Due to the cryptic nature of many wetland bird species, the ecological conditions (e.g., matrix composition) that influence bird occupancy, and the relevant spatial scales at which to measure bird responses, remain unclear but may affect inference about wetland use and suitability. We conducted wetland bird surveys at 477 points across northeastern Illinois and northwestern Indiana within the highly urbanized landscape surrounding Chicago. Using remotely sensed land cover data, we built occupancy models for 10 wetland bird species (American Coot Fulica americana, Black‐crowned Night‐Heron Nycticorax nycticorax, Blue‐winged Teal Anas discors, Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata, Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis, Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris, Pied‐billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps, Sora Porzana carolina, Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana, and Virginia Rail Rallus limicola) to quantify their responses to wetland cover types (emergent wetland, forested wetland, riverine wetland, and freshwater pond) and urbanization at four spatial scales (200‐, 400‐, 800‐, and 2000‐m radial distances). We also included the distance to Lake Michigan as a covariate in occupancy models to account for ecological differences between coastal and inland wetlands. We found that relationships between land cover types and occupancy differed by species, as did the spatial scale of support. Generally, the presence of emergent wetlands or ponds at immediate (200 m) and local (400 m) spatial scales within the surrounding matrix was positively associated with wetland bird occupancy. Contrary to expectations, we did not find support for a negative relationship between urbanization and occupancy for most focal species, indicating that birds are using available wetland habitats despite surrounding development. While future research should evaluate management strategies at the watershed scale, our findings suggest that wetland conservation planning at immediate and local scales is likely to promote bird habitat use within highly modified landscapes of the Upper Midwestern United States.
Loss of riparian forests from wildfire led to increased stream temperatures in summer, yet salmonid fish persisted
Authors: Warren Dana R. , Roon David A. , Swartz Allison G. , Bladon Kevin D.
Published: September 2022

Native salmonid fishes—cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) and steelhead/rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)—are ecologically, culturally, and economically important species distributed across western North America. These fish are generally considered “cold‐water” adapted species. As such, recent studies have speculated about the potential effects of climate change on these native salmonids if stream temperature thresholds exceed 16–20°C during the summer. However, the magnitude of stream thermal responses to the slow but steady increases in regional temperatures associated with climate change remains uncertain and hard to predict. Comparatively, abrupt disturbances, such as wildfire, may produce almost instantaneous and substantial increases in stream temperatures that may persist for multiple years until near‐stream vegetation becomes re‐established. In the first summer following a severe wildfire in western Oregon, we observed the initial persistence of populations of O. clarkii clarkii (coastal cutthroat trout) and O. mykiss (rainbow/steelhead trout). The fire burned the entire catchment, including the riparian area (~76% of the watershed area burned at moderate or high severity), resulting in stream temperature that regularly exceeded 20°C and represented increases of 6–7°C relative to prefire conditions. However, the mechanisms enabling the persistence of cold‐water fishes despite the dramatic increases in stream temperature remain unclear and require further investigation. Nevertheless, wildfires represent acute natural disturbances that can substantially alter stream thermal regimes and provide unique insights that allow us to better understand how native fishes in natural systems cope with projected increases in stream temperatures.
Edge effects on decomposition in Sphagnum bogs: Implications for carbon storage
Authors: Nordström Emil , Eckstein Rolf Lutz , Lind Lovisa
Published: September 2022

Peatlands provide multiple ecosystem services, including extensive carbon sequestration and storage, yet many peatlands have been degraded or destroyed. Peatlands' carbon storage capacity is connected to inherently low decomposition rates, causing the buildup of organic matter. This pattern could be explained by waterlogged conditions that reduce the amount of available oxygen for the decomposer community, a low pH that inhibits bacterial decomposition, or colder temperatures lowering metabolic rates. This study focused on edge effects on decomposition in the transition zone (lagg) between Sphagnum bogs and the surrounding forest, with the expectation that decomposition is lowest in the bog and highest in the forest but with a mix of factors causing intermediate decomposition rates near the bog edge. Transitional decomposition rates were measured across six bogs in central Sweden during the summer of 2021, following the Tea Bag Index. Three 20‐m transects, each containing seven pairs of tea bags, were buried across the margins of each bog, centered at the edge of the Sphagnum moss. Soil moisture content, pH, and plant composition were also recorded at each burial site, and temperature loggers placed evenly among four of the bogs. Our results confirmed our hypothesis regarding edge effects, with soil moisture levels showing a strong negative interaction with decomposition rate. The interaction between pH and decomposition rate was significant, but with an unexpected negative relation, most likely due to low pH in the surrounding forest. Temperature displayed no significance, and plants indicative of low decomposition rates included Vaccinium oxycoccos, Drosera rotundifolia, and Sphagnum species. In contrast to other studies, we did not find an increase in decomposition with increased species richness among the studied bog ecosystems. In conclusion, there is an edge effect on decomposition, and maintaining, or restoring, the hydrology of a peatland is the most important factor for continued carbon storage, with a rough estimation of an area decomposition rate possible to be estimated based on its vegetation.
Moving environmental DNA (eDNA) technologies from benchtop to the field using passive sampling and PDQeX extraction
Authors: Jeunen Gert‐Jan , von Ammon Ulla , Cross Hugh , Ferreira Sara , Lamare Miles , Day Robert , Treece Jackson , Pochon Xavier , Zaiko Anastasija , Gemmell Neil J. , Stanton Jo‐Ann L.
Published: September 2022

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has shown great promise as an effective, non‐invasive monitoring method for marine biomes. However, long filtration times and the need for state‐of‐the‐art laboratories are restricting sample replication and in situ species detections. Methodological innovations, such as passive filtration and self‐contained DNA extraction protocols, have the potential to alleviate these issues. We explored the implementation of passive sampling and a self‐contained DNA extraction protocol by comparing fish diversity obtained from active filtration (1 L; 0.45 μm cellulose nitrate [CN] filters) to five passive substrates, including 0.45 μm CN filters, 5 μm nylon filters, 0.45 μm positively charged nylon filters, artificial sponges, and fishing net. Fish diversity was then compared between the PDQeX Nucleic Acid Extractor and the conventional Qiagen DNeasy Blood & Tissue protocol. Experiments were conducted in both a controlled mesocosm and in situ at the Portobello Marine Laboratory, New Zealand. No significant differences in fish diversity were observed among active filtration and more porous passive materials (artificial sponges and fishing net) for both the mesocosm and harbor waters. For the in situ comparison, all passive filter membranes detected a significantly lower number of fish species, resulting from partial sample drop‐out. While no significant differences in fish eDNA signal diversity were observed between either DNA extraction methods in the mesocosm, the PDQeX system was less effective at detecting fish for the in situ comparison. Our results demonstrate that a passive sampling approach using porous substrates can be effectively implemented to capture eDNA from seawater, eliminating vacuum filtration processing. The large variation in efficiency observed among the five substrate types, however, warrants further optimization of the passive sampling approach for routine eDNA applications. The PDQeX system can extract high‐abundance DNA in a mesocosm with further optimization to detect low‐abundance eDNA from the marine environment.
Lithium‐Ion Battery Testing Capable of Simulating “Ultralow” Lunar Temperatures
Authors: Jamison Colin M. , Kim Soohwan , Ramasamy Hari Vignesh , Adams Thomas E. , Pol Vilas G.
Published: September 2022

The first‐ever lithium‐ion battery cycler capable of testing the coin and pouch cells under ultralow (≤40 °C) temperatures down to −175 °C to simulate extreme climates found in the lunar and space missions, high‐altitude air vehicles, polar regions of Earth, and military expeditionary missions is enthusiastically reported. The extremely cold temperatures are achieved through a tailored extreme low‐temperature system (ELTS) with liquid nitrogen flow and the ability to reach temperatures between −175 and 25 °C, using 1 kΩ and 1 MΩ resistors at varying currents of 1–4 mA and 1–4 μA, respectively, is validated. Employing the ELTS, Li4Ti5O12 (LTO)||Li cells with 1 m lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide in cyclopentyl methyl ether as an electrolyte developed in this research group are charged and discharged at room temperature (cycling rate C/5), −20 (C/10), −40 (C/40), and −60 °C (C/50), which exhibited discharge capacities of 159.04, 119.12, 101.79, and 33.06 mAh g−1, respectively. Moreover, the LTO||Li cell produced a reversible capacity of 7.12 mAh g−1 tested at −100 °C for the first time.
A High Rate and Long Cycling Performance NaTi2(PO4)3 Core–Shell Porous Nanosphere Anode for Aqueous Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Xu Tong , Zhao Mingshu , Li Zheng , Su Zhou , Ren Wei , Yang Sen , Pol Vilas G.
Published: September 2022

NASICON‐type material NaTi2(PO4)3 has a suitable working potential (−0.87 V vs saturated calomel electrode) in aqueous sodium‐ion cells. Nevertheless, the inherent electronic conductivity in the internal core and external shell limits its rate and cycling performance. Herein, a carbon‐coated porous nanosphere NaTi2(PO4)3 material is synthesized by the solvothermal method. This structure effectively improves the electrical conductivity, enlarges the contact area with the electrolyte, and facilitates the rapid intercalation/deintercalation of Na+. It delivers an excellent rate behavior of 123.59, 113.55, 102.81, 90.85, and 60.95 mAh g−1 at 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 A g−1, respectively. Improved long cyclability under a 5 A g−1 high current density is also demonstrated by a capacity retention of 70.2% over 500 cycles and an average Coulombic efficiency of 98%. As‐prepared core–shell porous nanosphere NaTi2(PO4)3 exhibits potentially practical applications in a new type of aqueous sodium‐ion battery system.
Deep neural network‐driven in‐situ detection and quantification of lithium plating on anodes in commercial lithium‐ion batteries
Authors: Tian Yu , Lin Cheng , Li Hailong , Du Jiuyu , Xiong Rui
Published: September 2022

Lithium plating seriously threatens the life of lithium‐ion batteries at low temperatures charging conditions, but the onboard detection and quantification of lithium plating are severely hampered by the limited available signals and volatile operating conditions in real scenarios. Herein, we propose a detection method to predict the occurrence and quantification of lithium plating under uncertain conditions by only using constant‐current curves during charging based on deep learning. A deep neural network (DNN) is developed to extract data‐driven features induced by lithium plating from the charge curves, avoiding the challenge of manual feature selection. Only using the most common voltage and current signals as inputs, the network exhibits superior adaptability and accuracy. The detection accuracy of the proposed method is 98.64%, while the quantity of the lithium plating can be accurately predicted with a root‐mean‐square error <4.1712 mg. Moreover, the generalization ability of the proposed method is verified by its reliable detection accuracy under conditions that are not used in the training dataset. The detection accuracy is 92.39% for brand new charging conditions and 95.53% for brand new aging states. This method shortens the detection time that currently takes more than several hours (the widely used differential curve analysis) to milliseconds and eliminates the need for a rigorous testing environment, showing great potential for onboard application in future battery management systems.

image
Citizen Science Surveys Provide Novel Nearshore Data
Authors: Campbell Jillian , Yakimishyn Jennifer , Haggarty Dana , Juanes Francis , Dudas Sarah
Published: September 2022

Long-term data are key to understanding how species, communities, and habitats change over time. Citizen science programs can support data collection at greater spatial and temporal scales than other types of scientifically collected data, which tend to be project specific and are often tied to short funding periods. This is particularly true for environments that are difficult to sample, such as subtidal ecosystems. The Reef Environmental Education Foundation's (REEF) citizen science SCUBA surveyors have been collecting fish, invertebrate, and algae data in British Columbia since 1998. This study demonstrates how citizen science data from REEF can be used to answer scientific questions via two case studies: the first on Lingcod Ophiodon elongatus population responses to management decisions and the second on detecting rockfish Sebastes spp. young-of-year abundance pulses. The results of these case studies suggest that data from REEF, despite their limitations, can be used to improve our understanding of nearshore marine ecosystems.
A numerical investigation of the effect of sinusoidal temperature on mixed convection flow in a cavity filled with a nanofluid with moving vertical walls
Authors: Saleh Momen S. M. , Mekroussi Said , Kherris Sahraoui , Zebbar Djallel , Belghar Nourredine
Published: September 2022

The aim of this study is to investigate numerically the effect of sinusoidal temperature on mixed convection flow in a cavity filled with nanofluid and moving vertical walls by using a new temperature function, where thermal heating takes the form of the sinusoidal temperature; and could be found in various natural processes and industries such as solar energy, and cooling of electronic components. The heating is concentrated in the center and then distributed to both ends at different values of Rayleigh numbers, Reynolds numbers, and volumetric fractions of nanoparticles ranging from 1.47 × 103 to 1.47 × 106, 1 to 100, and 0 to 0.1, respectively. The impact of nanoparticle size on thermal characteristics and hydrodynamics was considered and evaluated. From the results, the volume fraction concentration of nanoparticles affects the flow shape and thermal performance in the case of a constant Reynolds number. Moreover, the effect of nanoparticles decreases with the increase of the Reynolds number. Besides this, with increasing the volume percentage of nanoparticles, the rate of heat transmission increases. It is worth noting that the presence of nanoparticles results in height convective heat transfer coefficient. On the other hand, the thickness of thermal boundary layers decreases with increasing Rayleigh number. The current investigation found that the (sinusoidal) temperature change significantly affects heat transfer.
Features of the exponential form of internal heat generation, Cattaneo–Christov heat theory on water‐based graphene–CNT–titanium ternary hybrid nanofluid flow
Authors: Nagapavani Mulupuri , Kanuri Venkat Rao , Fareeduddin Mohammed , Thanesh Kumar K. , Kolli Uma C. , Sunitha M. , Gali Chetana , Naveen Kumar Rangaswamy
Published: September 2022

To increase energy efficiency, the flow of fluids containing nanoparticles is crucial in industrial applications notably in nuclear reactors and nuclear system cooling. In light of this, this study examines the flow of a water‐based ternary hybrid nanofluid (graphene, single‐walled carbon nanotubes, and titanium dioxide) across a curved stretching sheet with suction. The non‐Fourier heat flux model is also considered in the modeling. The existing partial differential equations are converted into ordinary differential equations through the use of similarity variables. These ordinary differential equations are then numerically solved using the Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg fourth‐ and fifth‐order method along with a shooting approach. The collection of graphical findings for the key variables on the temperature and velocity profiles is investigated. Results reveal that the heat transport in ternary hybrid nanoliquid rises as the heat source/sink parameter rises. The Biot number influences the thermal profile positively, whereas the increasing curvature parameter values reduce heat transport. The curvature parameter has a positive impact on skin friction but the suction parameter has a negative impact on skin friction.
Direct numerical simulation of “fountain filling box” flow with a confined weak laminar plane fountain
Authors: Dong Liqiang , Lin Wenxian , Armfield Steven W. , Kirkpatrick Michael P. , Williamson Nicholas , Khatamifar Mehdi
Published: September 2022

A “fountain filling box” flow produced by discharging a weak laminar plane fountain in a confined open channel is studied numerically. Two‐dimensional direct numerical simulations were performed for weak plane fountains. The development of the fountain flow experiences five stages; the initial upflow and the subsequent downflow after the fountain penetrates to the maximum height, followed by the outward movement of the intrusion of the fallen fountain fluid on the channel bottom, and then the wall fountain formed by the impingement of the intrusion on the vertical sidewall, which results in the reversed flow, and finally the gradual stratification of the fluid. The behavior of the intrusion can be approximately described with the plane gravity current theory. The period for the intrusion to reach the bounded side wall increases with increasing Re or decreasing Fr. Three regimes are found for the wall fountain behavior; “no‐falling,” “slumping down,” and “rolling down” behavior. Convection, mixing, conduction, and filling all contribute to the formation and development of stratification, but their effects vary at different stages. For the initial stages, convection and mixing play a key role, resulting in an increasing bulk entrainment rate, while conduction and filling are dominant after quasi‐steady stratification is created, presenting a decreasing bulk entrainment rate.
Systemic immune‐inflammation landscape in brain metastasis needing neurosurgical resection: Analysis of 230 consecutive cases in a single center
Authors: Wang Jia‐Wei , Hu Ke , Qian Hai‐Peng , Yuan Qing , Liu Qi , Ma Chao , Shao Liujiazi , Wan Jing‐Hai
Published: September 2022

Background

Systemic immune‐inflammation states across the heterogeneous population of brain metastases are very important in the context of brain‐immune bidirectional communication, especially among the patients needing neurosurgical resection. Four blood cell ratios based on complete blood count (CBC) test serving as prognostic biomarkers have been highlighted by previous studies, including systemic immune‐inflammation index (SII), neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio (LMR). However, the presurgical systemic immune‐inflammation landscape in brain metastasis needing neurosurgical resection is limited.

Methods

Patients with brain metastases admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery at the National Cancer Center, Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between January 2016 and December 2019 were included. Based on peripheral blood cell counts in CBC test before neurosurgical resection, four systemic immune‐inflammation biomarkers (SII, NLR, PLR, and LMR) were calculated. We characterized the changes of SII, NLR, PLR, and LMR in patients with brain metastasis before neurosurgical resection and the associations of these types of immune‐inflammation states with patient demographics. In parallel, the corresponding data from the relative healthy populations without systemic diseases were enrolled as the control in the present study.

Results

Brain metastases induced systemic immune‐inflammation perturbation, which was characterized by a significant increase in SII (p < .01) and NLR levels (p < .01) and a significant decrease in the LMR level (p < .01) in comparison with the healthy control group. Moreover, patients with male gender, less Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scores (<70), specific pathological subtypes, extracranial transfer, and history of both systemic and radiation therapy may have significant differences in one or more of these biomarkers, which indicated poorer systemic immune‐inflammation states.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that brain metastasis is associated with perturbations in presurgical systemic immune‐inflammation states. We should pay attention to the systemic immune‐inflammation perturbations following brain metastasis in clinic, especially in the subpopulations with high risks.
Acquisition and evaluation procedure to improve the accuracy ofSAED
Authors: Czigány Zsolt , Kis Viktória Kovács
Published: September 2022

The achievement of this work is that fine tuning of experimental and evaluation parameters can improve the absolute accuracy and reproducibility of selected area electron diffraction (SAED) to 0.1% without using internal standard. Due to the proposed procedure it was possible to reach a reproducibility better than 0.03% for camera length between sessions by careful control of specimen height and illumination conditions by monitoring lens currents. We applied a calibration specimen composed of nanocrystalline grains free of texture and providing narrow diffraction rings. Refinements of the centre of the diffraction pattern and corrections for elliptic ring distortions allowed for determining the ring diameters with an accuracy of 0.1%. We analyze the effect of different error sources and reason the achieved absolute accuracy of the measurement. Application of the proposed evaluation procedure is inevitable in case of multicomponent nanocomposites or textured materials and/or having close diffraction rings where application of automated procedures is limited. The achieved accuracy of 0.1% without internal standard is approaching that of routine laboratory XRD, and reduction of instrumental broadening due to the elaborated evaluation procedure allows for separation of close reflections, provides more reliable ring width and thus improved input parameters for further nanostructure analysis as demonstrated on dental enamel bioapatite.
Black‐tailed deer seasonal habitat selection: accounting for missing global positioning system fixes
Authors: Vales David J. , Nielson Ryan M. , Middleton Michael P.
Published: September 2022

Quantitative models of black‐tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) habitat selection do not exist for Pacific Northwest landscapes but are needed to make predictions of how deer respond to timber harvest. We developed models to estimate habitat selection by black‐tailed deer within seasonal home ranges in the west‐central Cascade Mountains, Washington, USA, from 2008–2019. Even with moderately high global positioning system (GPS) fix success within summer and winter (both averages ≥0.87), we were concerned about landscape or vegetation characteristics causing fix success failure that would bias estimates of habitat selection. Year of GPS‐collar production, deer activity, and diel period (night, day, crepuscular) were associated with fix success. The odds of acquiring a fix were 2.53 times greater when the deer were inactive compared to active, and this difference was greater for those deer with higher average percent canopy cover within their home range. These relationships only explained a portion of the variation in the data and did not negate concerns about the effects of missing locations when estimating habitat selection, so we estimated deer habitat selection within summer and winter using an integrated step selection function (iSSF) and a probability of detection integrated step selection function (PDiSSF). The iSSF ignored missing fixes; the PDiSSF accounted for GPS fix failure due to the landscape and vegetation conditions. Covariates in the final summer PDiSSF included step length, an index of forage biomass, distance to cover‐forage edge, and distance to road. The winter model was similar but did not include forage biomass. We modeled the probability of detection in the PDiSSF as a function of canopy cover in both seasonal models. The standard iSSF resulted in estimates of stronger selection for areas with higher biomass, presumably because fix success was higher in these more open areas. Predictions of habitat selection from the final PDiSSF summer model evaluated well with independent data from a nearby study area. Evaluation of the final winter model was less promising. Ignoring missing GPS locations, even with an average fix success as high as 87%, would have led to different predictions of habitat selection by black‐tailed deer. We recommend that researchers consider the effect of habitat‐induced bias in fix success on the accuracy of estimates of habitat selection and consider using the PDiSSF to remove bias related to missing fixes.
Spectrophotometric determination of glucose in human serum samples using para‐phenylenediamine and alpha‐naphthol as a chromogenic reagent
Authors: Besagarhally Shivappa Supriya , Krishnegowda Avinash
Published: September 2022

The global surge in chronic hyperglycemia, the autoimmune disease resulting from diabetes mellitus, has attracted worldwide scientists to develop novel methods for assaying blood glucose levels in the human body. In this work, we reported a new sensitive chromogenic reagent‐based single beam spectrophotometric assay of glucose. This method is based on the catalytic oxidation of D‐glucose to D‐gluconolactone and H2O2 by glucose oxidase (GOD), later by the oxidative coupling of quinone with imine radical to give purple‐colored quinone‐imine chromogenic species with λmax = 540 nm. The linearity of glucose lies in the range of 57.81–1850.2 and 14.45–925.1 µmol L–1 by rate and fixed time method. The Michaelis–Menten constant attained by the Lineweaver–Burk plot at the optimal concentration of the reagents was 526.31 µM with Vmax of 0.2659 EU min–1 and catalytic constant of 1.3295 min–1. Intra‐ and inter‐day precision ranged between 0.73%–1.4% and 1.76%–2.4%, respectively. The standard addition method for the recovery of glucose fluctuated between 97.78% and 104.35%, registering minimal common interference species present in the blood samples. The results showed a good accuracy level (90%–102%), and the calculated limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were as low as 2.17 and 8.56 µM. The proposed work has a good correlation with the standard enzyme kit method. Hence, the proposed system can be convenient for the determination of glucose in biological samples.
Mucormycosis in pre‐COVID‐19 and COVID‐19 era: A study of prevalence, risk factors and clinical features
Authors: Arjmand Parisa , Bahrami Milad , Mohammadie Zahra Eslami , Taherynejad Mohammadhossein , Khorasani Negar Yeganeh , Mehrad‐Majd Hassan , Roshanzamir Imaneh , Bakhshaee Mehdi
Published: September 2022

Objective

Mucormycosis is a rare yet devastating fungal disease with a frequently fatal outcome. The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of mucormycosis, evaluate its risk factors, and assess the patients' outcomes in pre‐COVID‐19 and COVID‐19 era.

Methods

In this retrospective observational study, clinical data of 158 patients with confirmed histopathological diagnosis of mucormycosis were collected from the medical records departments of Imam Reza and Ghaem hospitals, Mashhad, Iran during 2018–2021. The collected data were risk factors associated with mucormycosis including age, gender, underlying diseases, details of corticosteroid administration, and complications such as blindness and mortality.

Results

Of 158 studied patients, 48 patients were diagnosed in the pre‐pandemic period whereas 110 cases were admitted during the pandemic era. COVID‐19 associated mucormycosis (CAM) was observed in 58.1% of the pandemic cases. In the pre‐pandemic period, cancer (89.5% vs. 39%, p < .001) was significantly more prevalent while during the pandemic era, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (16.7% vs. 51%, p < .001) was remarkably higher. Moreover, the mortality rate of mucormycosis was considerably reduced after the pandemic (64.6%–45.4%), especially in CAM patients (35.9%).

Conclusion

The COVID‐19 pandemic has led to an increased prevalence of mucormycosis, due to the convergence of interlinked risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, corticosteroid therapy, and COVID‐19. Therefore, clinicians must be aware of the probable occurrence of mucormycosis in the first or second week of COVID‐19 infection in vulnerable patients and use the steroids cautiously.

Level of evidence

4 Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology, 2022.
Long‐term improvement in the appearance of hypertrophic scars following a single treatment with acoustic subcision—A single center proof‐of‐concept study
Authors: LaTowsky Brenda , Robertson David W. , Capelli Christopher C.
Published: September 2022

Introduction and Objectives

Fibrosis, including hypertrophic scar formation, is a pathological condition characterized by excessive production and accumulation of collagen, and loss of tissue architecture, in response to wound healing. Alterations in the extracellular matrix (ECM) biomechanical properties may be important in modulating myofibroblasts and fibrosis formation. The acoustic subcision device uses rapid acoustic pulse technology to noninvasively improve the appearance of hypertrophic scars through both microdisruption of scar tissue matrix and downregulation of fibrotic fibroblasts leading to scar remodeling. The objective of this single‐site proof‐of‐concept IRB‐approved human clinical study was to evaluate the efficacy of acoustic subcision device for the improvement in the appearance of hypertrophic scars.

Method

Eleven hypertrophic scars in 10 participants were treated with a single 6‐minute acoustic subcision application without anesthesia. Posttreatment adverse events (AEs) and tolerability were recorded. At 12 and 89 weeks posttreatment, scar heights and volumes were measured, and participant satisfaction questionnaires were completed. Finally, at the last visit the scar appearance was assessed by the Principal Investigator (PI) using the Mecott Modified Scar Scale (MMSS).

Results

Immediately following the acoustic subcision treatment, only mild, moderate erythema or pinpoint bleeding were noted. The treatment sessions were considered tolerable by all participants with an average pain score of 2.2 (on a 0–10 pain score with 10 being the worse possible pain). The 12‐ and 89‐week assessments demonstrated mean height reductions of 46.3% and 56.8%, respectively from baseline. The differences in scar height were statistically significant (p < 0.01). The 12‐ and 89‐week assessments demonstrated a mean volume reduction of 63.2% and 58.1% respectively from baseline. The differences in the scar volume were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The PI graded an average improvement of 33.7% in scar appearance using the MMSS, a statistically significant change (p < 0.001). Finally, >90% of participants reported satisfaction with the improvement in their scar.

Conclusion

This proof‐of‐concept study showed that a single noninvasive acoustic subcision treatment session can safely provide statistically significant improvement in the appearance of hypertrophic scars with minimal treatment pain and meaningful participant satisfaction. More work is needed on a larger number of scars to verify this finding. Further improvement in appearance is expected with multiple acoustic subcision treatments and/or treatments in combination with currently available options. Additional trials to verify this are planned.
Buffer bots: The role of virtual service agents in mitigating negative effects when service fails
Authors: Sands Sean , Campbell Colin , Plangger Kirk , Pitt Leyland
Published: September 2022

In recent years, marketers have placed increased reliance upon artificial intelligence (AI) and, subsequently, the use of virtual agents in customer service contexts is on the rise. Despite such service digitalization, service can still fail. While there is an increasing literature on the effect of virtual agents in service settings, questions remain as to how customers react to service failure that results from interactions with virtual service agents. To this end, we deconstruct the effect of virtual agent service failure across two studies: one involving a process service failure and another involving an outcome service failure. We specifically manipulate the type of service agent that causes the service failure (human vs. virtual agent) and the magnitude of the failure (small vs. large). Results show that firms can leverage virtual service agents to mitigate or buffer the negative effects of service failure. From a managerial perspective, our findings suggest that firms could engage virtual service agents in situations where there may be a risk of outcome service failure—particularly in settings where relatively large magnitude failures may be experienced. In such a setting, we find that virtual service agents can mitigate the negative effects of service failure, more so than when the failure results from an interaction with a human service agent.
Digital presence in service recovery: The interactive effect of customer salutations and employee photographs in email signatures
Authors: Walsh Gianfranco , Shiu Edward , Schaarschmidt Mario , Hassan Louise M.
Published: September 2022

Service firms can manage failure apology emails depending on how much digital presence or lack thereof they wish to maintain toward aggrieved customers. While nascent research indicates positive effects of higher levels of digital presence, the efficacy of this strategy in service recovery settings remains unclear. Drawing on the concept of digital presence and the unified theory of social relations, the authors investigate the potential detrimental effects of combining certain salutation forms with digital presence in the form of employee photographs in these emails. The data were gathered using one survey among service employees (Prestudy, N = 202), and two scenario‐based experiments (Study 1,N = 418; Study 2,N = 449). Study 1 assesses customer reactions to different apology emails and shows that personalized salutations (i.e., addressing customers by first name) and digital presence in the form of employee photographs can negatively interact to affect recovery satisfaction and repatronage intentions, with customers' perceived rapport mediating these relationships. Moreover, the results of a second experiment (Study 2) show that compensation after a service failure can mitigate the negative interactive effects. This study thus suggests using digital presence (in the form of employee photographs) in conversations with aggrieved customers only when customer salutation personalization is absent.