bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Landscape genomics reveals genetic signals of environmental adaptation of African wild eggplants
Authors: Omondi Emmanuel O. , Lin Chen‐Yu , Huang Shu‐Mei , Liao Cheng‐An , Lin Ya‐Ping , Oliva Ricardo , van Zonneveld Maarten
Published: July 2024

Crop wild relatives (CWR) provide a valuable resource for improving crops. They possess desirable traits that confer resilience to various environmental stresses. To fully utilize crop wild relatives in breeding and conservation programs, it is important to understand the genetic basis of their adaptation. Landscape genomics associates environments with genomic variation and allows for examining the genetic basis of adaptation. Our study examined the differences in allele frequency of 15,416 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated through genotyping by sequencing approach among 153 accessions of 15 wild eggplant relatives and two cultivated species from Africa, the principal hotspot of these wild relatives. We also explored the correlation between these variations and the bioclimatic and soil conditions at their collection sites, providing a comprehensive understanding of the genetic signals of environmental adaptation in African wild eggplant. Redundancy analysis (RDA) results showed that the environmental variation explained 6% while the geographical distances among the collection sites explained 15% of the genomic variation in the eggplant wild relative populations when controlling for population structure. Our findings indicate that even though environmental factors are not the main driver of selection in eggplant wild relatives, it is influential in shaping the genomic variation over time. The selected environmental variables and candidate SNPs effectively revealed grouping patterns according to the environmental characteristics of sampling sites. Using four genotype–environment association methods, we detected 396 candidate SNPs (2.5% of the initial SNPs) associated with eight environmental factors. Some of these SNPs signal genes involved in pathways that help adapt to environmental stresses such as drought, heat, cold, salinity, pests, and diseases. These candidate SNPs will be useful for marker‐assisted improvement and characterizing the germplasm of this crop for developing climate‐resilient eggplant varieties. The study provides a model for applying landscape genomics to other crops' wild relatives.
The impact of host development and density stress on the diversity of microbial communities in the gut and its surrounding environment of the Chinese alligator
Authors: Wang Chong , Li Changcheng , Liu Peng , Zhang Song , Zhou Yongkang , Zhang Xuesong , Wang Yingchao , Liu Ruoya , Wu Xiaobing , Nie Haitao
Published: July 2024

The Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) is currently an endangered species due to a combination of factors, including climate change, anthropogenic activities, and habitat fragmentation. Captivity plays a crucial role in mitigating the decline of the Chinese alligator population. Currently, there is a lack of clarity regarding the influence of host development and captive conditions on the gut microbiota of Chinese alligators. The aim of the study was to investigate the gut bacterial communities of Chinese alligators and their surrounding environmental bacterial communities using 16S rRNA sequencing. The primary gut flora of Chinese alligators consists of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes. Proteobacteria is the most abundant and efficient settler in the gut, water, and sediment. PCoA and Adonis test revealed significant differences in bacterial communities across these habitats. Venn analysis revealed overlap in OTUs among the gut, water, and sediment, varying with growth stage and density stress. Different growth stages of Chinese alligator guts harbor distinct pathogenic bacteria, requiring attention. Density stress leads to an increase in pathogenic bacteria, a decrease in gut absorption efficiency. PICRUst2 predicts more abundant metabolic pathways related to gut function during high‐density stress, possibly linked to Roseburia. SourceTracker Analysis indicated that water bacteria have a greater impact on Chinese alligator gut bacteria than sediment, and density stress significantly affects the contribution of environmental microorganisms to the gut microbes of Chinese alligator. BugBase analysis identified water body microbes as the main source of “potentially pathogenic” phenotypes in the gut microbiota. RDA analysis found dissolved oxygen (DO) in water to be the most significant factor influencing water microorganisms, positively correlated with certain pathogenic strains. These findings enhance our understanding of the significance of microbial communities in the gut and surrounding aquatic environment of the Chinese alligator. Furthermore, they provide theoretical support for environmental regulation, disease control, and healthy breeding.
Human‐wildlife conflict at high altitude: A case from Gaurishankar conservation area, Nepal
Authors: Pathak Abhinaya , Lamichhane Saneer , Dhakal Maheshwar , Karki Ajay , Dhakal Bed Kumar , Chetri Madhu , Mintz Jeffrey , Pun Prakash , Neupane Pramila , Dahal Tulasi Prasad , Rayamajhi Trishna , Paudel Prashamsa , Thapa Ashim , Regmi Pramod Raj , Thami Shankar , Thapa Ganesh , Khanal Suraj , Lama Supriya , Karki Jenisha , Khanal Sujan , Ferdin Arockia E J
Published: July 2024

Human–wildlife conflict studies of high‐altitude areas are rare due to budget constraints and the challenging nature of research in these remote environments. This study investigates the prevalence and increasing trend of human–wildlife conflict (HWC) in the mountainous Gaurishankar Conservation Area (GCA) of Nepal, with a specific focus on leopard (Panthera pardus) and Himalayan black bear (Ursus thibetanus laniger). The study analyzes a decade of HWC reports and identifies goats as the livestock most targeted by leopards. The Dolakha district of GCA received the highest number of reports, highlighting the need for mitigation measures in the area. In GCA, livestock attacks accounted for 85% of compensation, with the remaining 15% for human injuries. We estimate that the number of reported wildlife attacks grew on average by 33% per year, with an additional increase of 57 reports per year following the implementation of a new compensation policy during BS 2076 (2019 AD). While bear attacks showed no significant change post‐rule alteration, leopard attack reports surged from 1 to 60 annually, indicating improved compensation may have resulted in increased leopard‐attack reporting rates. The findings emphasize the economic impact of HWC on local communities and suggest strategies such as increasing prey populations, promoting community education and awareness, enhancing alternative livelihood options, developing community‐based insurance programs, and implementing secure enclosures (corrals) to minimize conflicts and foster harmonious coexistence. This research addresses a knowledge gap in HWC in high‐altitude conservation areas like the GCA, providing valuable insights for conservation stakeholders and contributing to biodiversity conservation and the well‐being of humans and wildlife.
Within‐plant coexistence of viruses across nitrogen and phosphorus supply rates
Authors: Kendig Amy E. , Seabloom Eric W. , Pell Bruce , Kuang Yang , Borer Elizabeth T.
Published: July 2024

Most species can be coinfected by multiple pathogens that may interact through shared resources (i.e., resource competition) or the host immune system (i.e., apparent competition). Community theory developed for free‐living organisms suggests that coinfecting pathogens can persist if they satisfy the mutual invasion criterion of coexistence, establishing infections in hosts that are already infected. Furthermore, the likelihood of coexistence may depend on host nutrition which can affect shared resources and host immunity. Here, we apply the novel approach of combining a dynamical model and experimental mutual invasibility trials to explore the effects of host nutrient supply on the coexistence of two viral plant pathogens. We focus on among‐pathogen interactions mediated by shared resources. First, we used a model to generate hypotheses about how nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) supply rates affect the ability of two plant viruses to invade established infections of the other virus. Then, we experimentally manipulated the N and P supplied to oats (Avena sativa) in a growth chamber experiment and tested mutual invasion of two RNA viral pathogens, BYDV‐PAV and CYDV‐RPV. Nutrient supplies ranged from rates that barely kept hosts alive up to high, but sub‐toxic, rates. Model simulations suggested that the viruses were more likely to invade established infections either when they could replicate at lower N and P concentrations or when plant N and P concentrations increased due to a combination of nutrient supply rates and resident virus nutrient use. In the experiment, each virus successfully invaded hosts infected by the other and had consistent growth rates across N and P supply rates. Our results suggest that BYDV‐PAV and CYDV‐RPV can coexist across a wide range environmental nutrient supply, which is consistent with the high levels of co‐occurrence of these two viruses in field populations.
Incidence of clinical outcomes in heart failure patients with and without advanced chronic kidney disease
Authors: Zahir Anjum Deewa , Bonde Anders N. , Fosbol Emil , Hartwell Garred Caroline , Gislason Gunnar , Elmegaard Mariam , Knigge Pauline , Torp‐Pedersen Christian , Andersson Charlotte , Pfeffer Marc A. , Jhund Pardeep S. , McMurray John J.V. , Petrie Mark C. , Kober Lars , Schou Morten
Published: July 2024

Aims

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a well‐established risk factor for heart failure (HF); however, patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 have been systematically excluded from clinical trials. This study investigated the incidence of HF and kidney outcomes in HF patients with and without advanced CKD, that is, eGFR < 30.

Methods

From nationwide registries, HF patients were identified from 2014 to 2018 and categorized into three groups according to baseline eGFR (eGFR ≥ 60, 60 > eGFR ≥ 30 and eGFR < 30). The incidence of primary outcomes (all‐cause mortality, HF hospitalization, end‐stage kidney disease and sustained 50% eGFR decline) was estimated using cumulative incidence functions.

Results

Of the 21 959 HF patients included, the median age was 73.9 years, and 30% of patients had an eGFR between 30 and 60 and 7% had an eGFR < 30. The 4 year incidence of all‐cause mortality was highest for patients with eGFR < 30 (28.3% for patients with eGFR ≥ 60, 51.6% for patients with 60 > eGFR ≥ 30 and 72.2% for patients with eGFR < 30). The 4 year incidence of HF hospitalization was comparable between the groups (25.8%, 29.8% and 26.1% for patients with eGFR ≥ 60, 60 > eGFR ≥ 30 and eGFR < 30, respectively). For patients with eGFR < 30, kidney outcomes were four times more often the first event than patients with eGFR > 30 (4 year incidence of kidney outcome as the first event was 5.0% for eGFR ≥ 60, 4.8% for 60 > eGFR ≥ 30 and 20.1% for eGFR < 30).

Conclusions

Patients with advanced CKD had a higher incidence of mortality and poorer kidney outcomes than those without advanced CKD, but a similar incidence of HF hospitalizations.
Regulation of IFN‐γ production by ZFP36L2 in T cells is time‐dependent
Authors: Zandhuis Nordin D. , Guislain Aurélie , Popalzij Abeera , Engels Sander , Popović Branka , Turner Martin , Wolkers Monika C.
Published: July 2024

CD8+ T cells kill target cells by releasing cytotoxic molecules and proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF and IFN‐γ. The magnitude and duration of cytokine production are defined by posttranscriptional regulation, and critical regulator herein are RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs). Although the functional importance of RBPs in regulating cytokine production is established, the kinetics and mode of action through which RBPs control cytokine production are not well understood. Previously, we showed that the RBP ZFP36L2 blocks the translation of preformed cytokine encoding mRNA in quiescent memory T cells. Here, we uncover that ZFP36L2 regulates cytokine production in a time‐dependent manner. T cell‐specific deletion of ZFP36L2 (CD4‐cre) had no effect on T‐cell development or cytokine production during early time points (2–6 h) of T‐cell activation. In contrast, ZFP36L2 specifically dampened the production of IFN‐γ during prolonged T‐cell activation (20–48 h). ZFP36L2 deficiency also resulted in increased production of IFN‐γ production in tumor‐infiltrating T cells that are chronically exposed to antigens. Mechanistically, ZFP36L2 regulates IFN‐γ production at late time points of activation by destabilizing Ifng mRNA in an AU‐rich element‐dependent manner. Together, our results reveal that ZFP36L2 employs different regulatory nodules in effector and memory T cells to regulate cytokine production.
Organotellurium(II) and ‐(IV) Compounds with Picolinoylbis(thioureas): From Simple 1 : 1 Adducts to Multimetallic Aggregates
Authors: dos Santos Sailer S. , Schwade Vania D. , Lang Ernesto Schulz , Pham Chien Thang , Roca Jungfer Maximilian , Abram Ulrich , Nguyen Hung Huy
Published: July 2024

Reactions of 2,6‐dipicolinoylbis(N,N‐diethylthiourea) (H2LEt) with common tellurium(IV) starting materials such as PhTeBr3 or TeBr4 yield various tellurium(IV) and tellurium(II) compounds depending on the conditions applied. Equimolar amounts of H2LEt and PhTeBr3 give the 1 : 1 complex [PhTeIVBr3(H2LEt)], while with an excess of H2LEt, the tellurium compound is partially reduced and a {PhTeII}+ building block coordinates to both sulfur atoms of H2LEt under the formation of the ion pair [PhTeII(H2LEt)][PhTeIVBr4]. Similar reactions between H2LEt and TeBr4 give the neutral monomer [TeIIBr2(H2LEt)] or the coordination polymer [TeIIBr2(H2LEt)]∞. The latter compound is also formed with the assistance of Pb2+ ions. While the lead ions do not appear in the isolated product, similar reactions with transition metal ions such as Ni2+, Mn2+, or Co2+ result in the formation of heterobimetallic complexes, in which Te(II) building blocks are directed to the sulfur atoms of the deprotonated ligand {H2LEt2‐S,S}2−, while the transition metal ions occupy central coordination positions between two of the organic ligands using the pyridine nitrogen atom, carbonyl oxygen atom(s) and/or the nitrogen atoms of the thiourea units.
Trapping Highly Reactive Metal(H)2(η2‐H2) Species to Form Trihydride Complexes and Clusters
Authors: Tickner Ben. J. , Whitwood Adrian C. , Condon Claire , Platas‐Iglesias Carlos , Duckett Simon B.
Published: July 2024

Metal dihydride dihydrogen‐derived intermediates can be short‐lived and difficult to detect despite their ubiquitous role in chemical transformations such as hydrogenation. Here, highly reactive [Ir(H)3(η2‐η2‐COD)(IMes)] forms by trapping [Ir(H)2(η2‐H2)(η2‐η2‐COD)(IMes)]X [X=Cl or MeO], resulting from reaction of the Ir(I) precatalyst [IrCl(η2‐η2‐COD)(IMes)] with a base and H2. This trihydride allows access to the unusual [Ir2(H)4(OMe)(IMes)2(pyridine)3]X, [Ir2(H)2(μ2‐H)2(η2‐η2‐COD)(IMes)2], [Ir3(H)9(IMes)3], [Ir4(H)12(IMes)4] and [Ir2(H)4(μ2‐H)2(IMes)2(pyridine)2]. A combination of 2D NMR, parahydrogen hyperpolarized NMR, MS, and XRD are used to characterise these reaction products and rationalise their formation via the moiety {Ir(H)3(IMes)}. Consequently, the results of these studies have implications for iridium‐catalyzed polarization transfer from parahydrogen via the well‐known precursor [IrCl(η2‐η2‐COD)(IMes)].
Quantifying the impacts of climate change and human activities on runoff and suspended sediment load in the Lhasa River Basin, Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Zhang Wenduo , Zhao Dongmei , Zhang Baojun , Xiong Donghong , Liu Lin , Qin Xiaomin , Rai Dil Kumar , Laraib Sheikh , Wang Xiaodan , Deng Wei
Published: July 2024

Quantifying the attribution of climate change and human activities on runoff and suspended sediment load is crucial for formulating future watershed management measures, especially in the ecologically fragile alpine region, which is more susceptible to climate change and human activities. In this study, the temporal changes in runoff‐suspended sediment load and the potential impact factors (i.e., precipitation, potential evapotranspiration (PET), land use/land cover change (LULC) and reservoir operation) were investigated in the Lhasa River Basin (LRB) from 1956 to 2020. In addition, the contributions of those factors to the changes in runoff and suspended sediment load were quantitatively evaluated based on physically‐based Soil and Water Assessment Tools (SWAT). The results indicated that annual runoff and suspended sediment load showed an increasing but insignificant trend during 1956–2020, while annual precipitation and PET showed a significant increasing trend at a rate of 0.94 and 1.07 mm/yr, respectively. LULC mainly presented an increase in forestland area followed by a decrease in grassland and bare land area due to the implementation of ecological projects. Runoff and suspended sediment load changed abruptly at approximately 1995 and 2005 based on three abrupt change identification methods, thus, the study period was further divided into three substages: baseline period (P0, 1956–1994), dramatically increased period (P1, 1995–2004) and slightly decreased period (P2, 2005–2020). The attribution analysis showed that climate change was the dominant contributor to runoff and suspended sediment load increments during P1. LULC caused the decline in runoff and suspended sediment load in both P1 and P2, with their contribution increasing significantly from 0.40% and 4.73% in P1 to 50.24% and 51.79% in P2, respectively. Reservoir operation was the second key factor in runoff and suspended sediment load reduction in P2, contributing 42.07% and 43.72%, respectively. These findings provide the scientific foundation for reasonably allocating water resources and statistical support for the benefit evaluation of implementing ecological projects in the basin.
Reproductive Capacity, but not Food Consumption, is Reduced by Continuous Exposure to Typical Genotoxic Stressor γ-Rays in the sentinel species Gammarus fossarum
Authors: Frelon Sandrine , Recoura-Massaquant Rémi , Dubourg Nicolas , Garnero Laura , Bonzom Jean-Marc , Degli-Esposti Davide
Published: July 2024

The long-term impacts of radiocontaminants (and the associated risks) for ecosystems are still subject to vast societal and scientific debate while wildlife is chronically exposed to various sources and levels of either environmental or anthropogenic ionizing radiation from the use of nuclear energy. The present study aimed to assess induced phenotypical responses in both male and female gammarids after short-term continuous γ-irradiation, acting as a typical well-characterized genotoxic stressor that can interact directly with living matter. In particular, we started characterizing the effects using standardized measurements for biological effects on few biological functions for this species, especially feeding inhibition tests, molting, and reproductive ability, which have already been proven for chemical substances and are likely to be disturbed by ionizing radiation. The results show no significant differences in terms of the survival of organisms (males and females), of their short-term food consumption which is linked to the general health status (males and females), and of the molting cycle (females). In contrast, exposure significantly affected fecundity (number of embryos produced) at the highest dose rates for irradiated females (51 mGy h–1) and males (5 and 51 mGy h–1). These results showed that, in gammarids, reproduction, which is a critical endpoint for population dynamics, is the most radiosensitive phenotypic endpoint, with significant effects recorded on male reproductive capacity, which is more sensitive than in females. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:2071–2079. © 2024 SETAC
Real‐time mildew detection and gradation in simulated containerized soybeans: Insights from GC‐IMS analysis of mVOCs and VOCs
Authors: Song Xuejian , Qian Lili , Fu Lixue , Cao Rongan , Wang Xinhui , Chen Mingming
Published: July 2024

In the context of bulk grain container transportation, the complex logistics can lead to grain mildew and subsequent economic losses. Therefore, there is a pressing need to explore swift and real‐time mildew detection technology. Our investigation, simulating actual transportation conditions, revealed that Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Rhizopus were the primary molds responsible for soybean mildew during container transportation. Utilizing gas chromatography‐ion migration spectroscopy (GC‐IMS), we analyzed the correlation between the mVOCs (microbial volatile organic compounds) produced by dominant mold and the VOCs emitted during soybean mildew. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and clustering results demonstrated the distinctive identification of VOCs in soybeans with varying degrees of mildew. The mildew degree significantly influenced the content variation of VOCs. As the mildew degree increased, the concentrations of nonanal, octanal, etc. progressively decreased, contrasting with the rising levels of phenylacetaldehyde, 3‐methyl‐2‐butenal, etc. Therefore, the combination of GC‐IMS with chemometrics proves to be a viable method for identifying the mildew degree of soybeans. Therefore, this study underscores the importance of implementing effective mildew detection techniques in the challenging context of bulk grain container transportation.
Garlic peel extract as an antioxidant inhibits triple‐negative breast tumor growth and angiogenesis by inhibiting cyclooxygenase‐2 expression
Authors: Dong Yushi , Zhang Jiyue , Xie Aijun , Yue Xiqing , Li Mohan , Zhou Qian
Published: July 2024

Garlic peels are frequently disposed of as agro‐waste; their bioactivity and physiological activity for health benefits and disease protection are neglected. This study aims to examine the potential inhibitory effects of garlic peel extract as an antioxidant on 4 T1 triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) tumors in mice. The bioactive constituents of garlic peel were identified through HPLC‐MS/MS analysis, while the antioxidant properties of garlic peel extract were assessed using peroxyl radical scavenging capacity (PSC) and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assays. Subsequently, the inhibitory effects of garlic peel extract on 4T1 tumor growth were evaluated using a 4T1 model. The results showed that 433 polyphenol compounds were found in garlic peel extract; among them, flavonoids and phenolic acid are the primary polyphenols with natural antioxidant activity, and both high and low concentrations of the extract exhibited tumor‐suppressive effects. Immunohistochemistry was employed to assess the expression levels of COX‐2, CD31, VEGFA, MMP2, and MMP9 in tumor tissues in order to investigate the antioxidant properties of garlic peel extract, specifically its ability to suppress COX‐2 expression. The findings of this study offer a foundation for the advancement of garlic peel‐based functional products and contribute to the identification of potential anti‐cancer agents and therapeutic targets.
Potential of miRNA as Imaging Targets for PET
Authors: Zientek Simon H. , Thompson Stephen , Aigbirhio Franklin I. , Sephton Selena Milicevic
Published: July 2024

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is an important part of the medical imaging field which is continually exploring novel biological targets as exemplified by PET imaging of neuroinflammation. Due to limitations stemming from either sub‐optimal biological targets or a lack of available selective radiotracers, alternative biomarkers and PET imaging agent candidates are considered. One such possible target is microRNA (miRNA) and herein, we discuss the potential of miRNA for PET imaging. With the aim of addressing key strategies for imaging miRNA with PET, we identify three distinct approaches as follows: small molecules directly targeting miRNA, small molecules indirectly targeting Argonaute 2 (AGO2)‐protein complexes, and direct chemical modification of antisense oligonucleotides. The radiosynthetic approaches are based on the methods of direct radiolabelling of respective antisense oligonucleotides and several examples are described herein, showcasing the potential of miRNA in PET imaging. Whilst these approaches offer different radiolabelling strategies, application of these radiolabelled molecules towards PET imaging of miRNA are scarce with only one, limited example applied to bone remodeling reported in the literature.
Changes in snow water storage and hydrologic partitioning in an alpine catchment in the Colorado Front Range
Authors: Hale Katherine E. , Musselman Keith N. , Bjarke Nels R. , Livneh Ben , Hinckley Eve‐Lyn S. , Molotch Noah P.
Published: July 2024

As the climate warms, snow‐dominated regions are increasingly susceptible to precipitation phase changes and earlier snowmelt. In alpine catchments, snowmelt is the majority of runoff, governed by heterogeneous interactions among snowfall, wind, topography and vegetation. The role of the alpine snowpack in delaying the downstream release of accumulated snowfall remains understudied, despite its fundamental role in sustaining lower‐elevation ecosystems and populations. We evaluated fine‐scale changes in the magnitude and duration of alpine snow water storage and release by comparing effective precipitation seasonality to that of surface water inputs using a Snow Storage Index (SSI). We forced the Distributed Hydrology Soil Vegetation Model with historical climate conditions and an end‐of‐century warming signal down‐scaled from a 4‐km regional climate model, to simulate future changes in snow water storage and partitioning of precipitation to runoff and evapotranspiration. The hydrological modelling was conducted on a 2‐m spatial grid to resolve fine scale processes over a 0.6‐km2 headwater catchment within the Niwot Ridge Long‐Term Ecological Research site located in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, USA. Proportionally more rainfall, reduced snowpack size and extent, and earlier snowmelt occurred in the future scenario with decreased catchment average SSI and thus snow water storing capabilities, with inordinately large decreases occurring in areas of the catchment with reconstructed snowdrifts (−57% average and −100% maximum). Using the Budyko framework to evaluate annual hydrologic partitioning, precipitation inputs to streamflow increased by a maximum 10% in large SSI regions with snowdrifts under warming conditions, signifying a potential buffer for total catchment and annual streamflow loss in a future climate. The fine‐scale analysis of hydrologic sensitivities to warming presented herein are important because climate conditions are expected to further reduce alpine snow water storage, alter hydrologic partitioning, and runoff generation for ecosystems and people living downstream.
Quantification of enrichment processes in throughfall and stemflow in a mixed temperate forest
Authors: Grundmann Maria H. , Molnar Peter , Floriancic Marius G.
Published: July 2024

Forest ecosystems depend on throughfall and stemflow fluxes for both water and nutrient input. Spatial and temporal variability of throughfall and stemflow fluxes are large and differ between tree species. The nutrient fluxes that accompany throughfall and stemflow are affected by climate, precipitation intensity, the seasonality of dry deposition, and canopy exchange processes. The interdependence of these factors makes it challenging to quantify changes in throughfall and stemflow amounts as well as their nutrient content. Here, we provide observation‐based evidence from 3.5 years of data collection with 222 rainfall events, of the seasonal variability of throughfall and stemflow magnitude and ion concentrations under a beech (Fagus silvatica) and spruce (Picea abies) tree. Interception and canopy cover were seasonally variable, average annual interception was 53% below beech, 61% below spruce and 68% below young spruce canopies. Further, we assess seasonality of ionic nutrients such as NH4 and NO3 as well as Mg, Ca and K and their dependence on both dry deposition and canopy exchange. Throughfall and stemflow were enriched compared to precipitation, with large differences between ions and different months. Antecedent precipitation was a main control on throughfall and stemflow enrichment. We developed a conceptual model of the potential drivers of throughfall and stemflow enrichment based on our observations. While NH4 and NO3 enrichment are likely dominated by dry deposition and dew and fog accumulation, Mg, Ca and K were additionally affected by canopy exchange. Observation based studies such as this one are needed to understand precipitation and nutrient partitioning across forests, which enables the prediction of how changes in climate and forest composition will affect local hydrology and nutrient inputs into forest ecosystems.
Formative drought rate to quantify propagation from meteorological to hydrological drought
Authors: Yildirim Isilsu , Aksoy Hafzullah , Hrachowitz Markus
Published: July 2024

In this study, we propose a probabilistic metric, the formative drought rate (FDR), to quantify drought propagation. It is the probability that a meteorological drought in precipitation forms a hydrological drought in streamflow. Drought events were identified based on the standardized precipitation index and streamflow drought index, respectively, at 1‐, 3‐, 6‐ and 12‐month timescales. The method was tested in three river basins in Turkey (Kucuk Menderes, Gediz and Ergene). In each river basin, meteorological stations were coupled with streamflow gauging stations to form pairs of stations depending on their distance from each other and the length of their common record periods. The FDR was calculated across all timescales for each pair of stations. It was found capable to describe the river basin‐specific spatial and temporal variability of drought propagation. As the FDR is defined in the form of probability, it is expected to be a useful metric for quantifying propagation from meteorological to hydrological drought. Thus, it carries a potential for scientific research and practice in water resources management.
River–aquifer interactions enhancing evapotranspiration in a semiarid riparian zone: A modelling study
Authors: Zhu Bowen , Huang Maoyi , Chen Xingyuan , Bisht Gautam , Shuai Pin , Xie Xianhong
Published: July 2024

The hydrologic flows across the river–aquifer interface play an important role in groundwater dynamics and biogeochemical reactions within the subsurface; however, little is known about the effects of river–aquifer interactions on land surface processes. In this study, we developed a fully coupled three‐dimensional (3D) land surface and subsurface model at a high resolution (~1 km) that accounts for high‐frequency hydrologic exchange flow conditions to investigate how river–aquifer interactions modulate surface water budgets in the Upper Columbia‐Priest Rapids watershed, a typical semiarid watershed located in the northwestern United States where river stage fluctuates in response to reservoir releases changing. Our results show that the spatiotemporal dynamics of river–aquifer interactions are highly heterogeneous, driven mainly by river‐stage fluctuations. Adding 6.64 × 106 m3 year−1 of water over the watershed from the river to groundwater owing to the lateral flow, river–aquifer interactions led to an increase in soil evaporation and transpiration supplied by higher soil moisture content, particularly in deeper subsurface. In a hypothetic future scenarios where a 5‐m rise in river stage was assumed, the hydrologic flow exchange rates were intensified, resulting in higher surface water over the entire watershed. Overall, lateral flow induced by river–aquifer exchanges leads to an increase in evapotranspiration of ~75% in the historical period and of ~83% in the hypothetical future scenario. Our study demonstrates the potential of coupled model as an effective tool for understanding river–aquifer–land surface interactions, and indicates that river–aquifer interactions fundamentally alter the water balance of the riparian zone for the semiarid watershed and will likely become more frequent and intense in the future under the effects of climate change.
A historical overview of experimental hydrology in China
Authors: Nan Yi , Chen Changchun , Zhao Ying , Tian Fuqiang , McDonnell Jeffrey
Published: July 2024

The history of experimental hydrology in China is important but poorly documented. Here we review 94 papers (86 of these in Chinese) from the CNKI and Web of Science websites to chronicle the history of experimental studies in China before 2000. Professor Wei‐Zu Gu—the focus of this Special Issue—factors heavily into this history. Perhaps more than any country, the experimental hydrology history of China is influenced by socioeconomic development and political change. Our analysis shows 4 main periods of development associated with (1) an early development stage before 1949, the founding year of People's Republic of China (PRC), (2) an initial period of rapid transition in experimental studies in China (1949–1965), (3) a struggling and recovering stage for during and shortly after the Cultural Revolution, from 1965 to 1978, and (4) significant progress associated with new policies for reform and opening up in China from 1978 to 2000, that included contributions of Wei‐Zu Gu and other scientists. In terms of experimental hydrological findings, two notable contributions are a mathematical description of saturation overland flow derived from streamflow and precipitation data and calculated water storage deficit in the unsaturated zone by Zhao and Zhuang (1963), several years before its process‐based ‘discovery’ in the USA (and elsewhere) and the ‘interface runoff generation law’ of Yu (1985) which was ahead of its time in understanding linking the notion of the commonality of all runoff forms. In terms of model development stemming from experimental studies, the development of the Xinanjiang Model of Zhao (1980) was a significant achievement, later partly adopted into the VIC model in the USA and the ARNO model in Europe. Finally, the Hydrohill catchment developed by Wei‐Zu Gu led the way for the rapid rise in process studies and internationalization of experimental hydrology in China. Overall, the experimental hydrological studies from 1949 to 2000 had a strong engineering focus, with many links to water conservation construction and management.
Fill‐spill‐merge terrain analysis reveals topographical controls on Canadian river runoff
Authors: Wagle Nimisha , Smith Laurence C.
Published: July 2024

Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) are a crucial tool for watershed analysis, offering valuable insights into landscape‐scale hydrology. Traditional watershed delineations are derived by filling a DEM to force flow paths through topographic depressions, thus creating a continuous drainage network throughout the domain. However, this approach is challenged in landscapes with abundant real‐world depression storage, intermittently flowing stream channels, and internally drained lake basin (endorheic basin) such as the Canadian Shield (CS). The CS landscape is characterized by “fill‐and‐spill” surface water hydrology, with runoff flow paths controlled by bedrock sills and rocky cascades that overtop when water levels are high but cease flowing when water levels are low. To better represent these intermittent drainage networks, we apply a non‐traditional, less‐aggressive DEM filling model (Fill‐Spill‐Merge or FSM) to a continental‐scale DEM (MERIT) all of Canada. To ensure adequate filling of DEM noise while also preserving real‐world topographic depressions, we propose a climatic method to initialize a key FSM parameter (“runoff depth”) that calibrates observed discharges from 1690 Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) river gauges with climate model P‐ET (precipitation minus evapotranspiration) data. Our application of FSM to all 1690 gauged watersheds identifies 916 significant topographical control points controlling >20% and/or 1000 km2 of their respective areas. The Geikie, Snare, Kazan, Tazin, and Seal rivers may be particularly affected, with impacted watershed areas ranging from 12% to 64%. Extending this approach to ungauged parts of the CS reveals an additional 635 significant topographical control points. Ensemble climate model projections suggest that around 10% of these control points are currently dry but will become active by 2100. This research explicitly determines how CS watersheds are affected by fill‐and‐spill hydrology, and demonstrates the importance of accurate terrain modelling for delineating surface water flow paths in depressional landscapes.
Microplastics from petroleum-based plastics and their effects: A systematic literature review and science mapping of global bioplastics production
Authors: Mutmainna Inayatul , Gareso Paulus Lobo , Suryani Sri , Tahir Dahlang
Published: July 2024

The use of bioplastics is a new strategy for reducing microplastic (MP) waste caused by petroleum-based plastics. This problem has received increased attention worldwide, leading to the development of large-scale bioplastic plants. The large amount of MPs in aquatic and terrestrial environments and the atmosphere has raised global concern. This article delves into the profound environmental impact of the increasing use of petroleum-based plastics, which contribute significantly to plastic waste and, as a consequence, to the increase in MPs. We conducted a comprehensive analysis to identify countries that are at the forefront of efforts to produce bioplastics to reduce MP pollution. In this article, we explain the development, degradation processes, and research trends of bioplastics derived from biological materials such as starch, chitin, chitosan, and polylactic acid (PLA). The findings pinpoint the top 10 countries demonstrating a strong commitment to reducing MP pollution through bioplastics. These nations included the United States, China, Spain, Canada, Italy, India, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Belgium, and the Netherlands. This study underscores the technical and economic obstacles to large-scale bioplastic production. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1892–1911. © 2024 SETAC

Key Points

Microplastics (MP) have caused concern due to their environmental effects, potential to release plastic monomers, affinity for chemical interactions, and potential to enter aquaculture and fishery production. The findings pinpoint the top 10 countries demonstrating a strong commitment to reducing MP pollution by replacing petroleum-based plastics with bioplastics. Using bibliometric techniques, we mapped and identified the countries that were most actively engaged in shifting to bioplastic production during the period 2001–2021. This article focuses on starch-based bioplastics used primarily in food packaging, increasing their mechanical properties by adding fibers, and extending the shelf life of food with antibacterial nanoparticles.
Uterus transplantation: A scoping review focused on obstetric outcomes
Authors: Barragan‐Wolff Megan , Espinosa‐Cervantes Martha S. , Acevedo‐Gallegos Sandra , Rodriguez‐Sibaja Maria J. , Lumbreras‐Marquez Mario I. , Ito‐Esparza Maria J.
Published: July 2024

Background

Congenital uterine anomalies include a wide diversity of uterine malformations that can compromise reproductive potential. Uterus transplantation (UTx) proposes an innovative treatment for absolute uterine factor infertility; however, there is a lack of standardized protocols to guide clinical management among this population.

Objectives

To describe recipient and donor characteristics and obstetric outcomes in patients undergoing UTx.

Search Strategy

We performed a literature search using the PubMed database to retrieve available scientific articles. We analyzed the references of included articles to assess additional articles that could be eligible to be included in the review. Likewise, we identified further studies using other methods, including Google Scholar.

Selection Criteria

Titles and abstracts were screened in duplicate to select original reports with information available for the outcomes of interest.

Data Collection and Analysis

This review assessed the advantages and disadvantages of the techniques used, patient characteristics, obstetric and non‐obstetric complications, functional duration of the organ, and neonatal outcomes.

Main Results

Among the 36 reports included in this review we found 55 pregnancies and 38 live births following UTx and a higher success rate for in vivo uterine donations. The most common obstetric complications reported included miscarriage, pre‐eclampsia, and gestational hypertension. The most common non‐obstetric complications reported include episodes of rejection, acute kidney injury, anemia, and cholestasis. Living donors required a comprehensive preoperative workup, decreasing organ rejection, infection, and vascular complications.

Conclusions

More studies are needed to standardize the UTx procedure and improve obstetric, fetal, and neonatal outcomes. Further understanding of which recipient and donor characteristics minimize complications will significantly decrease the risk of adverse outcomes.
Emotion regulation strategies and depression in mother–adolescent dyads: An actor–partner interdependence model approach
Authors: Su Zhonghuang , Qiu Wenyu , Yang Yingying , Chen Xiao , Ding Ruyi , Pan Junhao
Published: July 2024

Parent–adolescent emotion dynamics have attracted increasing attention in recent years because adolescence is a challenging period for both adolescents and parents. However, how emotions are coconstructed between parents and adolescents is less clear. This study examined whether mothers' and adolescents' emotion regulation strategy was linked with their own and each other's depression using the actor–partner interdependence model (APIM). The participants were 173 mother–adolescent pairs (Mother: Mage = 43.05 years old, SD = 3.78; Adolescent: Mage = 13.00 years old, SD = 0.90). The results showed that the more mothers used cognitive reappraisal, the lower their depression levels were; and the more mothers and adolescents used expressive suppression, the higher their levels of depression were. Additionally, maternal expressive suppression was associated with adolescent depressive symptoms. Moreover, the results revealed that for mothers with higher levels of expressive suppression, their adolescents' usage of expressive suppression was significantly positively related to adolescents' depression, while for those mothers with lower levels of expressive suppression, there was no significant correlation between adolescents' usage of expressive suppression and depression. The findings underscore the significance of recognising the interdependence and interconnected nature of emotions within parent–adolescent relationships for a comprehensive understanding of their emotional well‐being.
Urinary tract fungal ball in a single kidney after total nephroureterocystectomy
Authors: Nakano Yoshinori , Sekino Yohei , Takemoto Kenshiro , Ueno Takeshi , Fujii Shogo , Kitano Hiroyuki , Hieda Keisuke , Ohara Shinya , Hinata Nobuyuki
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Fungal balls in the urinary tract are rare but dangerous complications of candiduria. Here, we report a case of a urinary tract fungal ball in a single kidney after total nephroureterocystectomy.

Case presentation

The patient was an 80‐year‐old male. He had a history of pyelonephritis, and his ureteral stent was regularly replaced. He was admitted to the hospital with a chief complaint of urinary tract obstruction, and a 50‐mm‐sized mass was found within the renal pelvis. Because the ureteral stent frequently became obstructed, the mass was removed percutaneously. Candida albicans was detected on the tissue culture results, and the mass was diagnosed as a fungal ball.

Conclusion

Appropriate urinary drainage methods for fungal balls vary among patients, and it is important to select an appropriate method based on the accumulated number of cases.
A Multi‐Fusion Residual Attention U‐Net Using Temporal Information for Segmentation of Left Ventricular Structures in 2D Echocardiographic Videos
Authors: Wang Kai , Hachiya Hirotaka , Wu Haiyuan
Published: July 2024

The interpretation of cardiac function using echocardiography requires a high level of diagnostic proficiency and years of experience. This study proposes a multi‐fusion residual attention U‐Net, MURAU‐Net, to construct automatic segmentation for evaluating cardiac function from echocardiographic video. MURAU‐Net has two benefits: (1) Multi‐fusion network to strengthen the links between spatial features. (2) Inter‐frame links can be established to augment the temporal coherence of sequential image data, thereby enhancing its continuity. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method, we performed nine‐fold cross‐validation using CAMUS dataset. Among state‐of‐the‐art methods, MURAU‐Net achieves highly competitive score, for example, Dice similarity of 0.952 (ED phase) and 0.931 (ES phase) in , 0.966 (ED phase) and 0.957 (ES phase) in , and 0.901 (ED phase) and 0.917 (ES phase) in , respectively. It also achieved the Dice similarity of 0.9313 in the EchoNet‐Dynamic dataset for the overall left ventricle segmentation. In addition, we show MURAU‐Net can accurately segment multiclass cardiac ultrasound videos and output the animation of segmentation results using the original two‐chamber cardiac ultrasound dataset MUCO.
Nonclinical safety and immunogenicity assessment of a combined DTacP vaccine in animal models
Authors: Li Shihui , Fu Hui , Yu Shouzhi , Zhao Yuxiu , Liu Ting , Wang Ling , Zhang Na , Wang Wei , Yang Baifeng , He Peng , Guo Yancen , Qiu Shaoting , Zhang Yuntao
Published: July 2024

The (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis [acellular, component] [DTacP]) vaccine is a combined vaccine designed to prevent three potentially fatal diseases including pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria in both children and adults. We utilized advanced technology to develop a novel DTacP vaccine that was previously unavailable in China. The nonclinical studies were performed to evaluate the immunogenicity, potential toxicity, and local tolerance of the vaccine in animal models. In the immunogenicity study, three batches of the vaccine were intraperitoneally administered to National Institutes of Health (NIH) mice, resulting in 100% seropositivity for all three batches. Additionally, antibody levels notably increased as the immunization dosage increased. In acute toxicity study, no mortality was observed among the animals during the 14‐day observation period, and no abnormalities in clinical signs were reported. Active systemic anaphylaxis assessment in guinea pigs showed no evidence of serious allergic reactions in the vaccine groups. In the repeat‐dose toxicity study, where five intramuscular doses were administered every 2 weeks, gross autopsy and histopathological examination revealed no vaccine‐related systemic pathological changes in rats, with dose site irritant reactions mostly recovered at the end of recovery period. In conclusion, the vaccine demonstrated good local and systemic tolerance, supporting its clinical development.
Analyst forecast revision consistency and reversal: Evidence of stock market efficiency
Authors: Chen Lin , Nie Dongfang , Shi Yuan , Zhang Yinghong
Published: July 2024

This study reexamines the information content and market price discovery associated with individual analysts' earnings forecast revisions. We refine the definition of high‐innovation revisions as high‐innovation consistent forecast revisions and high‐innovation reversal forecast revisions. Cross‐sectional analysis shows that high‐innovation reversal good (bad) news revisions, although having larger forecast changes, cause fewer upward (downward) post‐revision price shifts than high‐innovation consistent good (bad) news revisions. We also find that the market can distinguish which group of analysts provides more useful information about firms’ true value, but it takes some time for the market to digest this useful information.