bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Resistance and resilience of pelagic and littoral fishes to drought in the San Francisco Estuary
Authors: Mahardja Brian , Tobias Vanessa , Khanna Shruti , Mitchell Lara , Lehman Peggy , Sommer Ted , Brown Larry , Culberson Steve , Conrad J. Louise 
Published: October 2020

AbstractMany estuarine ecosystems and the fish communities that inhabit them have undergone substantial changes in the past several decades, largely due to multiple interacting stressors that are often of anthropogenic origin. Few are more impactful than droughts, which are predicted to increase in both frequency and severity with climate change. In this study, we examined over five decades of fish monitoring data from the San Francisco Estuary, California, USA, to evaluate the resistance and resilience of fish communities to disturbance from prolonged drought events. High resistance was defined by the lack of decline in species occurrence from a wet to a subsequent drought period, while high resilience was defined by the increase in species occurrence from a drought to a subsequent wet period. We found some unifying themes connecting the multiple drought events over the 50‐yr period. Pelagic fishes consistently declined during droughts (low resistance), but exhibit a considerable amount of resiliency and often rebound in the subsequent wet years. However, full recovery does not occur in all wet years following droughts, leading to permanently lower baseline numbers for some pelagic fishes over time. In contrast, littoral fishes seem to be more resistant to drought and may even increase in occurrence during dry years. Based on the consistent detrimental effects of drought on pelagic fishes within the San Francisco Estuary and the inability of these fish populations to recover in some years, we conclude that freshwater flow remains a crucial but not sufficient management tool for the conservation of estuarine biodiversity.
Frenemy at the gate: Invasion by Pheidole megacephala facilitates a competitively subordinate plant ant in Kenya
Authors: Palmer Todd M. , Riginos Corinna , Milligan Patrick D. , Hays Brandon R. , Pietrek Alejandro G. , Maiyo Nelly J. , Mutisya Samuel , Gituku Benard , Musila Simon , Carpenter Scott , Goheen Jacob R. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBiological invasions can lead to the reassembly of communities and understanding and predicting the impacts of exotic species on community structure and functioning are a key challenge in ecology. We investigated the impact of a predatory species of invasive ant, Pheidole megacephala, on the structure and function of a foundational mutualism between Acacia drepanolobium and its associated acacia‐ant community in an East African savanna. Invasion by P. megacephala was associated with the extirpation of three extrafloral nectar‐dependent Crematogaster acacia ant species and strong increases in the abundance of a competitively subordinate and locally rare acacia ant species, Tetraponera penzigi, which does not depend on host plant nectar. Using a combination of long‐term monitoring of invasion dynamics, observations and experiments, we demonstrate that P. megacephala directly and indirectly facilitates T. penzigi by reducing the abundance of T. penzigi’s competitors (Crematogaster spp.), imposing recruitment limitation on these competitors, and generating a landscape of low‐reward host plants that favor colonization and establishment by the strongly dispersing T. penzigi. Seasonal variation in use of host plants by P. megacephala may further increase the persistence of T. penzigi colonies in invaded habitat. The persistence of the T. penzigi–A. drepanolobium symbiosis in invaded areas afforded host plants some protection against herbivory by elephants (Loxodonta africana), a key browser that reduces tree cover. However, elephant damage on T. penzigi‐occupied trees was higher in invaded than in uninvaded areas, likely owing to reduced T. penzigi colony size in invaded habitats. Our results reveal the mechanisms underlying the disruption of this mutualism and suggest that P. megacephala invasion may drive long‐term declines in tree cover, despite the partial persistence of the ant–acacia symbiosis in invaded areas.
A multiscale framework for disentangling the roles of evenness, density, and aggregation on diversity gradients
Authors: McGlinn Daniel J. , Engel Thore , Blowes Shane A. , Gotelli Nicholas J. , Knight Tiffany M. , McGill Brian J. , Sanders Nathan J. , Chase Jonathan M. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractDisentangling the drivers of diversity gradients can be challenging. The Measurement of Biodiversity (MoB) framework decomposes scale‐dependent changes in species diversity into three components of community structure: species abundance distribution (SAD), total community abundance, and within‐species spatial aggregation. Here we extend MoB from categorical treatment comparisons to quantify variation along continuous geographic or environmental gradients. Our approach requires sites along a gradient, each consisting of georeferenced plots of abundance‐based species composition data. We demonstrate our method using a case study of ants sampled along an elevational gradient of 28 sites in a mixed deciduous forest of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA. MoB analysis revealed that decreases in ant species richness along the elevational gradient were associated with decreasing evenness and total number of species, which counteracted the modest increase in richness associated with decreasing spatial aggregation along the gradient. Total community abundance had a negligible effect on richness at all but the finest spatial grains, SAD effects increased in importance with sampling effort, and the aggregation effect had the strongest effect at coarser spatial grains. These results do not support the more‐individuals hypothesis, but they are consistent with a hypothesis of stronger environmental filtering at coarser spatial grains. Our extension of MoB has the potential to elucidate how components of community structure contribute to changes in diversity along environmental gradients and should be useful for a variety of assemblage‐level data collected along gradients.
Microbiome and environment explain the absence of correlations between consumers and their diet in Bornean microsnails
Authors: Hendriks Kasper P. , Bisschop Karen , Kortenbosch Hylke H. , Kavanagh James C. , Larue Anaïs E. A. , Chee‐Chean Phung , Bonte Dries , Duijm Elza J. , Salles Joana Falcão , Pigot Alex L. , Richter Mendoza Francisco J. , Schilthuizen Menno , Anderson Marti J. , Speksnijder Arjen G. C. L. , Etienne Rampal S. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractClassical ecological theory posits that species partition resources such that each species occupies a unique resource niche. In general, the availability of more resources allows more species to co‐occur. Thus, a strong relationship between communities of consumers and their resources is expected. However, correlations may be influenced by other layers in the food web, or by the environment. Here we show, by studying the relationship between communities of consumers (land snails) and individual diets (from seed plants), that there is in fact no direct, or at most a weak but negative, relationship. However, we found that the diversity of the individual microbiome positively correlates with both consumer community diversity and individual diet diversity in three target species. Moreover, these correlations were affected by various environmental variables, such as anthropogenic activity, habitat island size, and a possibly important nutrient source, guano runoff from nearby caves. Our results suggest that the microbiome and the environment explain the absence of correlations between diet and consumer community diversity. Hence, we advocate that microbiome inventories are routinely added to any community dietary analysis, which our study shows can be done with relatively little extra effort. Our approach presents the tools to quickly obtain an overview of the relationships between consumers and their resources. We anticipate our approach to be useful for ecologists and environmentalists studying different communities in a local food web.
An urban Blitz with a twist: rapid biodiversity assessment using aquatic environmental DNA
Authors: Hupało Kamil , Majaneva Markus , Czachur Molly Victoria , Sire Lucas , Marquina Daniel , Lijtmaer Darío A. , Ivanov Vladislav , Leidenberger Sonja , Čiampor Fedor , Čiamporová‐Zaťovičová Zuzana , Mendes Izabela S. , Desiderato Andrea , Topstad Lasse , Meganck Kenny , Hariz Z. A. Danial , Kjærstad Gaute , Lin Xiao‐Long , Price Benjamin , Stevens Mark , Ekrem Torbjørn , Deiner Kristy 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAs global biodiversity declines, there is an increasing need to create an educated and engaged society. Having people of all ages participate in measuring biodiversity where they live helps to create awareness. Recently, the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) for biodiversity surveys has gained momentum. Here, we explore whether sampling eDNA and sequencing it can be used as a means of rapidly surveying urban biodiversity for educational purposes. We sampled 2 × 1 L of water from each of 15 locations in the city of Trondheim, Norway, including a variety of freshwater, marine, and brackish habitats. DNA was extracted, amplified in triplicate targeting the barcoding fragment of COI gene, and sequenced. The obtained data were analyzed on the novel mBRAVE platform, an online open‐access software and computing resource. The water samples were collected in 2 days by two people, and the laboratory analysis was completed in 5 days by one person. Overall, we detected the presence of 506 BINs identified as belonging to 435 taxa, representing at least 265 putative species. On average, only 5.4% of the taxa were shared among six replicates per site. Based on the observed diversity, three distinct clusters were detected and related to the geographic distribution of sites. There were some taxa shared between the habitats, with a substantial presence of terrestrial biota. Here we propose a new form of BioBlitz, where with noninvasive sampling effort combined with swift processing and straightforward online analyses, hundreds of species can be detected. Thus, using eDNA analysis of water is useful for rapid biodiversity surveys and valuable for educational purposes. We show that rapid eDNA surveys, combined with openly available services and software, can be used as an educational tool to raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity.
Plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase 1 (PMCA1) but not PMCA4 is critical for B‐cell development and Ca2+ homeostasis in mice
Authors: Korthals Mark , Tech Laura , Langnaese Kristina , Gottfried Anna , Hradsky Johannes , Thomas Ulrich , Zenclussen Ana Claudia , Brunner‐Weinzierl Monika C. , Tedford Kerry , Fischer Klaus‐Dieter 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe amplitude and duration of Ca2+ signaling is crucial for B‐cell development and self‐tolerance; however, the mechanisms for terminating Ca2+ signals in B cells have not been determined. In lymphocytes, plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase (PMCA) isoforms 1 and 4 (PMCA1 and PMCA4, aka ATP2B1 and ATP2B4) are the main candidates for expelling Ca2+ from the cell through the plasma membrane. We report here that Pmca4 (Atp2b4) KO mice had normal B‐cell development, while mice with a conditional KO of Pmca1 (Atp2b1) had greatly reduced numbers of B cells, particularly splenic follicular B cells, marginal zone B cells, and peritoneal B‐1a cells. Mouse and naïve human B cells showed only PMCA1 expression and no PMCA4 by western blot, in contrast to T cells, which did express PMCA4. Calcium handling was normal in Pmca4−/− B cells, but Pmca1 KO B cells had elevated basal levels of Ca2+, elevated levels in ER stores, and reduced Ca2+ clearance. These findings show that the PMCA1 isoform alone is required to ensure normal B‐cell Ca2+ signaling and development, which may have implications for therapeutic targeting of PMCAs and Ca2+ in B cells.
Influence of Microwave Irradiation and Combustion Fuels on the Rate Capability and Cycle Performance of Li1.2Mn0.52Ni0.13Co0.13Al0.02O2 Layered Material
Authors: Nkosi Funeka , Palaniyandy Nithyadharseni , Raju Kumar , Ozoemena Kenneth I. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractCommercialization of lithium‐manganese rich oxides (LMR‐NMC) cathodes for lithium‐ion batteries is hindered by shortcomings such as severe capacity fade and poor rate capability. This work reveals the synergetic effect of the structure and morphology in reducing capacity fade and improving rate capability in Li1.2Mn0.52Ni0.13Co0.13Al0.02O2 (LMNCA) cathode. The results show that the hybrid microwave irradiation‐combustion synthesis results in smaller particles, increased lattice parameters, reduced transition metal oxidation states, and high Li‐ion diffusion coefficients. These resulted in powders with reduced capacity fade and enhanced rate performance. LMNCA urea‐mic exhibited the best electrochemical performance with a discharge capacity of 360 mAh/g and capacity retention of 88 % after 50 cycles at 0.1 C.
Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steel in Sulfuric Acid by a Newly Synthesized Schiff Base: An Electrochemical, DFT, and Monte Carlo Simulation Study
Authors: Sliem Mostafa H. , El Basiony N. M. , Zaki E. G. , Sharaf Mohammed A. , Abdullah Aboubakr M. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractEffects of using a synthesized aminothiazole (BZ) Schiff base at different concentrations with and without the addition of 1 mM of KI on the corrosion mitigation of mild steel (MS) in 0.5 M sulphuric acid (H2SO4) solutions are studied electrochemically using direct and alternating currents (DC and AC) techniques. Besides, the adsorption and thermodynamic parameters are calculated in a temperature range of 293–323 K. Furthermore, Mott‐Schottky analysis is used to study the type of oxide layer on the MS surface. Quantum chemical calculations and Monte Carlo simulation techniques are used, and both confirmed the experimental results.
Mechanically flexible viscosity sensor for real‐time monitoring of tubular architectures for industrial applications
Authors: Nour Maha A. , Khan Sherjeel M. , Qaiser Nadeem , Bunaiyan Saleh A. , Hussain Muhammad M. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractReal‐time monitoring of fluid viscosities in tubular systems is essential for industries transporting fluid media. The available real‐time viscometers for tubular systems have major drawbacks, such as using invasive methods with large pressure drops due to flow disturbances, destructive installation processes with permanent tube damage, and limited operability with laminar flows. Therefore, developing a viscometer to address the above‐mentioned concerns is required for industrial applications. In this study, a new application of a velocity‐dependent viscometer using a novel design for real‐time measurements with insignificant flow disruption is proposed. It involves a Poly (methyl‐methacrylate) microchannel bridge with a microfluidic flowmeter attached to a mechanically flexible Polydimethylsiloxane platform connected to the inner surface of the pipe, which can adapt to different pipe diameters and curvatures. Moreover, the proposed viscometer uses the pipe flow driving force to flow fluids into the microchannel for measurement without requiring a pumping system or any sample withdrawals. The results of the simulation analysis match the experimental results of the sensor performance. The sensor can measure different viscosities in the range of 4‐334 mPa s with a resolution higher than 2.7 mPa s. Finally, a stand‐alone system is integrated with the sensor for wireless data transmission.
Reducing VOC loss via structure compatible and high lowest unoccupied molecular orbital nonfullerene acceptors for over 17%‐efficiency ternary organic photovoltaics
Authors: Yan Cenqi , Ma Ruijie , Cai Guilong , Liu Tao , Zhu Jingshuai , Wang Jiayu , Li Yuhao , Huang Jiaming , Luo Zhenghui , Xiao Yiqun , Lu Xinhui , Yang Tao , Zhan Xiaowei , Yan He , Li Gang 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe ternary strategy is effectual to attain high‐performance organic photovoltaics (OPVs). Herein, device processing and performance of PM6:Y6:IT‐4F OPVs is improved, and ITIC‐Th with high‐lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital is incorporated into PM6: Y6 blend. The PM6:Y6: ITIC‐Th device afforded an excellent PCE of 17.2%, surpassing PM6: Y6 device, and becoming one of the highest PCE. The resulting ITIC‐Th‐based ternary OSCs demonstrated low energy loss (Eloss) of 0.53 to 0.54 eV, as compared to their binary counterparts with either high open‐circuit voltage (VOC) but large Eloss, or less Eloss but low VOC. The incorporation of ITIC‐Th and IT‐4F balanced the charge mobilities, and thereby retained and improved fill factors. Increased crystalline coherence length and smaller d‐spacing of π‐π peaks are also observed in ternary blends, indicating enhanced crystallinity and thus improved active‐layer morphology. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of exploring the exciting pool of nonfullerene acceptors to pursue new breakthroughs of OPVs.image
Parameterized nonintrusive reduced‐order model for general unsteady flow problems using artificial neural networks
Authors: Şugar‐Gabor Oliviu 
Published: October 2020

AbstractA nonintrusive reduced‐order model for nonlinear parametric flow problems is developed. It is based on extracting a reduced‐order basis from high‐order snapshots via proper orthogonal decomposition and using multilayered feedforward artificial neural networks to approximate the reduced‐order coefficients. The model is a generic and efficient approach for the reduction of time‐dependent parametric systems, including those described by partial differential equations. Since it is nonintrusive, it is independent of the high‐order computational method and can be used together with black‐box solvers. Numerical studies are presented for steady‐state isentropic nozzle flow with geometric parameterization and unsteady parameterized viscous Burgers equation. An adaptive sampling strategy is proposed to increase the quality of the neural network approximation while minimizing the required number of parameter samples and, as a direct consequence, the number of high‐order snapshots and the size of the network training set. Results confirm the accuracy of the nonintrusive approach as well as the speed‐up achieved compared with intrusive hyper‐reduced‐order approaches.
Multimodal imaging of brain reorganization in hearing late learners of sign language
Authors: Banaszkiewicz Anna , Matuszewski Jacek , Bola Łukasz , Szczepanik Michał , Kossowski Bartosz , Rutkowski Paweł , Szwed Marcin , Emmorey Karen , Jednoróg Katarzyna , Marchewka Artur 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe neural plasticity underlying language learning is a process rather than a single event. However, the dynamics of training‐induced brain reorganization have rarely been examined, especially using a multimodal magnetic resonance imaging approach, which allows us to study the relationship between functional and structural changes. We focus on sign language acquisition in hearing adults who underwent an 8‐month long course and five neuroimaging sessions. We assessed what neural changes occurred as participants learned a new language in a different modality—as reflected by task‐based activity, connectivity changes, and co‐occurring structural alterations. Major changes in the activity pattern appeared after just 3 months of learning, as indicated by increases in activation within the modality‐independent perisylvian language network, together with increased activation in modality‐dependent parieto‐occipital, visuospatial and motion‐sensitive regions. Despite further learning, no alterations in activation were detected during the following months. However, enhanced coupling between left‐lateralized occipital and inferior frontal regions was observed as the proficiency increased. Furthermore, an increase in gray matter volume was detected in the left inferior frontal gyrus which peaked at the end of learning. Overall, these results showed complexity and temporal distinctiveness of various aspects of brain reorganization associated with learning of new language in different sensory modality.
A Field of Striving or Equity? Regional Public Universities and College Access
Authors: Warshaw Jarrett B. , DeMonbrun Matt , McNaughtan Jon 
Published: October 2020

AbstractMany regional public universities (RPUs) provide college access to diverse groups of undergraduate students and face pressures to pursue prestige in the academic hierarchy. Prior research posits that RPUs will strive for prestige because of status‐ and resource‐based rewards that flow from increasing their admissions selectivity, research‐intensity, and wealth. As this dominant perspective suggests, RPUs may erode historic missions of democratizing educational opportunity to emulate their more elite peers to improve their external ratings and rankings. This chapter draws on multiple indicators of equity to examine whether institutional enrollment data align with, or diverge from, the prestige‐seeking assumptions about these institutions. Descriptive profiles indicate that most RPUs in this analysis have increased over time their enrollment of low‐income and racially diverse groups of students. We discuss implications for adopting a more flexible perspective on RPUs to account for equity‐based orientations in the sector and to inform responsive practices.
Islanded facial artery musculo‐mucosal flap for partial pharyngeal defect reconstruction after total laryngectomy: Case report
Authors: Akali Nisha Rajrattansingh , Jaya Arya Chandrababu , Balasubramanian Deepak , Iyer Subramania , Thankappan Krishnakumar 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundPartial pharyngeal defect reconstruction after total laryngectomy with regional and free fasciocutaneous flaps has been described. However, mucosal flaps for such defects have not been reported.MethodsAn islanded facial artery musculo‐mucosal (FAMM) flap was used to reconstruct a partial pharyngeal defect after total laryngectomy. Surgical, swallowing, and speech outcomes were analyzed at 6 months postoperatively.ResultsAt 6 months, videofluoroscopy showed no post swallow residue, fistula, trachea‐esophageal puncture leak, or stricture. Perceptual analysis of recorded cold speech, native language passage sample, and the intelligibility analysis was good. The patient had normal mouth opening and marginal mandibular nerve function.ConclusionIslanded FAMM flap is ideal for partial pharyngeal defects, which cannot be closed primarily. Speech and swallowing outcomes were good. It provided a robust and predictable blood supply and adequate reach. There was no significant donor site morbidity. The musculo‐mucosal flap replaced “like‐with‐like” tissue.