bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diversity, Species Richness, and Community Composition of Wetland Birds in the Lowlands of Western Nepal
Authors: Pant Siddha Raj , Bhattarai Bishnu Prasad , Baral Hem Sagar , Thapa Tej Bahadur 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTWetlands serve as crucial habitats for diverse bird species, playing a vital role in maintaining the ecosystem. Geographical location, climate, hydrology, and vegetation composition of wetlands determine the diversity of birds. This study investigated species richness, seasonal diversity, and composition of wetland birds in three prominent water bodies of western Nepal, namely Ghodaghodi, Rani, and Jokhar lakes, from 2021 to 2022 in summer and winter using the point count method. We observed 59 wetland bird species across three wetlands, where both the richness and diversity were significantly higher in the winter. Paired t‐tests revealed significant seasonal differences (p < 0.001) in diversity, species richness, and abundance at both Ghodaghodi and Rani lakes. The highest species richness was observed at Ghodaghodi (n = 58), reflecting its significance as a vital bird habitat. In contrast, diversity was higher in Rani Lake during both seasons (Winter H = 2.98, Summer H = 2.79). NMDS followed by ANISOM test also showed that bird community structure varies across lakes and seasons. Indicator species analysis showed that out of 59 species, 26 species are associated with one or different sites, whereas 18 of them are associated with the summer or winter season. We observed the Anatidae family with the highest relative diversity (RDI = 28.81%) and reported 1 globally vulnerable species and 7 globally near‐threatened species. While in Jokhar Lake, the abundance does not vary between the seasons. This study revealed substantial differences in bird species across seasons and lakes showing that each wetland offers a distinct ecological niche for bird species. The findings reinstate the importance of these wetlands as crucial habitats for the diversity of birds and species composition. This research contributes to the conservation and management of these ecosystems, aiding the protection of wetland birds in Nepal.
Coupling Relationship Between Soil Properties and Plant Diversity Under Different Ecological Restoration Patterns in the Abandoned Coal Mine Area of Southern China
Authors: Li Hao , Chen Wenbo , Li Jintai , Zhang Cheng , Liang Haifen 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTUnderstanding the effects of ecological restoration in abandoned coal mines on soil and plant is important to improve the knowledge of ecosystems evolution and facilitate taking appropriate ecological restoration management practices. This study aims to evaluate the coupling relationship between plant diversity and soil properties after ecological restoration in abandoned coal mine area. The plant diversity such as Margalef index (M), Simpson index (H), Shannon–Wiener index (D), and Pielou index (J), and soil properties such as soil pH, soil water content (SWC), soil bulk density (SBD), soil organic matter (SOM), available nitrogen (AN), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) were investigated in four sites of different ecological restoration patterns, T and study the coupling relationship between them. The results indicated that: (1) the Pinus massoniana and Schima superba gardner and champ restoration (PSR) site had higher Shannon–Wiener index and Simpson index values than Pinus massoniana restoration (PR) site, and in herb layer, the plant diversity was significantly higher than in other layers; (2) in the PSR site, the soil properties were improved more notably than that of PR and nature restoration (NR) sites, and the plant diversity were also higher than PR site; (3) Clay, SOM, and MBC made a great contribution to the plant diversity. It was concluded that ecological restoration patterns had significant effects on soil nutrient content and plant diversity, and there exists evident coupling relationship between plant diversity and soil properties. This study has important effects of ecological restoration and management in abandoned coal mine area.
Contrasting Patterns of Plants, Bees, Hoverflies and Spiders in Different Habitats in a Central European Agricultural Landscape
Authors: Vajna Flóra , Pellaton Raoul , Molnár Csaba , Soltész Zoltán , Gallé‐Szpisjak Nikolett , Bihaly Áron Domonkos , Báldi András 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTSemi‐natural grasslands and their biodiversity decline rapidly, although they are key elements of agricultural landscapes. Therefore, there is a need for the re‐establishment of semi‐natural grasslands in intensively managed farmlands (e.g., via sowing wildflower seeds). Our knowledge, however, is limited on how different arthropod groups may respond to such newly established wildflower fields. This knowledge gap is especially relevant for the Pannonian biogeographical region, and more generally for Central Europe, where there is little to no evidence so far. We aimed to compare three different habitats (i.e., sown wildflower fields (WFF), semi‐natural road verges and adjacent crop fields) in terms of their species and individual numbers and assemblage compositions to reveal differences between primary producers (plants), pollinators (bees and hoverflies) and predators (spiders). We selected eight landscapes in Central Hungary within conventionally managed crop areas. We analysed species and individual numbers by generalised linear mixed models (GLMM) and the assemblage composition with non‐metric multidimensional scaling for each taxon in the three habitats. Crop, road verge and WFF habitats had distinct assemblages for each studied group, indicating clear separation among habitats. There are, however, contrasting patterns in the diversity measures of the studied groups. Crop fields are the poorest in both species and individual numbers, road verges harboured the highest abundance of spiders, while WFF had the most bees and plants. No clear pattern for hoverflies emerged. Our results suggest that the studied habitats do not harbour all groups in equal share. We propose that the design of future restorations in Central European farmlands should target a diversity of habitat types needed to support a wide range of functional groups.
Fire return intervals and recruitment affect population growth rate of canopy trees in tall open forest in humid savanna
Authors: Werner Patricia A. , Peacock Stephanie J. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractSavannas are the major biome in tropical regions of the globe, defined as sparsely wooded regions with a continuous herbaceous layer of mainly C4 grasses where rainfall is distinctly seasonal. Fire is a common feature of most savannas. The largest protected areas of savannas are found in sparsely populated monsoonal northcentral Australia with strong annual wet and dry seasons. The most common vegetation type is relatively intact, tall (<15 m), open forests where Eucalyptus canopy trees form the basic structure. Over the past half century, traditional indigenous fire regimes were largely replaced by contemporary fires where individual trees may experience fire as often as 3 out of 5 years. The potential for long‐term persistence of the canopy tree populations is an open question. A stage‐based population model of the canopy trees was previously developed to address this question, drawing on data from three decades of experimental field studies wherein the survival, growth, and reproduction of individual marked trees were recorded under different seasonal fires and understory types to produce transition matrices among eight life history stages, and used to calculate population growth rates (λ). Here, we apply that model to determine how λ varies across a range of fire return intervals from 1 to 12 years for both early and late dry season fires, in two different understory types. We also explore the sensitivity of λ to two key life history parameters: recruitment and seedling survival. Minimum fire return intervals of 2–5 years were generally required for λ ≥1 that would allow populations to persist; these were shorter with stochastic year‐to‐year timing of fires and with higher recruitment rates. Uniquely, under certain conditions, there was also a maximum fire return interval above which λ <1, creating a “window” of fire return intervals that allowed canopy tree populations to persist. Mechanisms underpinning results as well as implications for savanna structure, alternate states, cyclical dynamics, future research, and management by fire are discussed.
Magnetite: a Green, Sustainable and Recyclable Catalyst for Direct Synthesis of Thioesters by C−H Activation
Authors: Marchán‐García Joaquín , Álvarez Mariana , Radivoy Gabriel , Moglie Yanina 
Published: December 2024

AbstractA green and sustainable approach to the direct synthesis of thioesters has been developed using Fe3O4 as a low‐cost, easily prepared, reusable and environmentally safe catalyst. The cross dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) of various thiols and aldehydes in water, or even in the absence of solvent, using tert‐butylhydroperoxide as oxidant, under ligand and base‐free mild conditions, afforded the corresponding thioesters in good to excellent yields. This simple protocol features broad substrate scope, good compatibility with different functional groups, as well as high atom‐efficiency. The scalability, ease of (magnetic) recovery and reuse of the magnetite catalyst are additional eco‐friendly attributes of this methodology. Moreover, the broad synthetic applications of thioesters further highlight the potential utility of the present protocol.
Patterns of antidepressant use in people with low back pain: A retrospective study using workers' compensation data
Authors: Ferreira Giovanni E. , Di Donato Michael , Maher Christopher G. , Shaheed Christina Abdel , Mathieson Stephanie , Collie Alex 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundAntidepressants are commonly used to treat low back pain (LBP), but little is known about patterns of antidepressant use in this population. This study aimed to identify patterns of antidepressant dispensing and switching in Australian workers with an accepted workers' compensation claim for LBP, and to investigate factors associated with dispensing and switching.MethodsThis retrospective study included data from accepted workers' compensation time loss claims for LBP between 2010 and 2018 with a 2‐year follow‐up. We described the type of antidepressant dispensed, the time for the index antidepressant to be dispensed, and whether people in the study switched to a different antidepressant. Logistic regression models investigated factors associated with antidepressants being dispensed for the first time and for switching to a different antidepressant.ResultsAntidepressants were dispensed to 2476 people with LBP (14%) at least once after a median (IQR) of 28 (10.9–54.7) weeks. Amitriptyline was the most dispensed antidepressant at any one point (47.8%), and the most common index antidepressant (42.9%). Also, 32.7% of people switched to a different antidepressant at least once. Sex, age, having been dispensed opioids, gabapentinoids or diazepam prior to antidepressants being dispensed, having used psychological services, and socioeconomic disadvantage were associated with antidepressant dispensing.ConclusionOne in seven people with LBP were dispensed an antidepressant, most commonly amitriptyline. Antidepressants were commonly used in combination with other pain medicines such as opioids, gabapentinoids and diazepam.SignificanceAntidepressants were dispensed to one in seven people with low back pain, most commonly amitriptyline followed by duloxetine. Antidepressants were typically dispensed after 6 months and after other medicines such as opioids, gabapentinoids and diazepam had been dispensed. Due to the administrative nature of the data, the study cannot infer whether antidepressants were dispensed to treat pain or other health problems, such as a mental health condition.
Successful management of refractory epilepsy in creatine transporter deficiency with cannabidiol and clobazam: A case report
Authors: Borrell‐Pichot Maria , Fons Carmen , Boronat Susana , Sierra‐Marcos Alba 
Published: December 2024

AbstractCreatine transporter deficiency (CRTR‐D) is a rare X‐linked inherited disease belonging to the group of cerebral creatine deficiency disorders. Major clinical features include developmental delay and epilepsy. To date, fewer than 200 individuals with CRTR‐D have been reported. As a result, there is little evidence for effective treatment. Available therapies are creatine precursors, with a mild effect on disease progression. Concerning epilepsy, standard management is recommended and no specific anti‐seizure medication (ASM) has been shown to be effective in refractory cases. We report the case of a 28‐year‐old male patient with CRTR‐D and childhood‐onset refractory epilepsy. He had an average of 10–20 focal motor seizures with impaired consciousness per month. He had tried several ASMs without significant improvement. Treatment with cannabidiol (CBD) and clobazam (CLB) in combination was added. The patient became seizure‐free from the first week, and up to 1 year of follow‐up. Behavioral improvement was also noted by his caregivers. No adverse effects were reported. Very few cases of CRTR‐D with refractory epilepsy have been reported. This calls for more extensive research and suggests a possible role for CBD in cerebral creatine metabolism and transport and valuable option for future studies.Plain Language SummaryCreatine transporter deficiency (CRTR‐D) is a rare genetic disorder causing mental, behavioral, and movement problems. More than half of patients also have seizures, but because there are fewer than 200 known cases, it is difficult to know the best treatment options. We present a 28‐year‐old man with CRTR‐D who had severe developmental delays and frequent seizures since childhood, despite trying many medications. After starting cannabidiol and clobazam, he has been seizure‐free for a year. Sharing this success might help other people with CRTR‐D benefit from similar treatments.
Prediction of Heavy Oil Production Based on Geomechanical Analysis in Entire Lifecycle of SAGD
Authors: Li Dengke , Zhu Shaowen , Li Yanchao , Shen Shijie , Chen Zupeng , Ren Zhanli , Zhou Yuxuan , Gao Yanfang 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTSteam‐assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) technology is an essential means of efficient development of heavy oil, super heavy oil, oil sands, and other unconventional resources in the world. Accurate prediction and evaluation of heavy oil output during SAGD production is a key step of construction optimization design and economic evaluation. The traditional prediction model of heavy oil production does not fully consider many geomechanical factors, such as rock deformation and permeability dynamic evolution. In this paper, a new mathematical model of crude oil production‐geomechanical coupling was established for three stages of the SAGD life cycle (steam chamber breakthrough stage, rising stage, and lateral dilation stage). The influence of the dynamic evolution of rock porosity and permeability on production was fully considered through the sensitivity coefficient of rock strain and permeability stress. It is found that the gap between the new model and the traditional model is larger when the strain and stress sensitivity of the reservoir body is larger. The value calculated by the conventional model is small when the reservoir dilates and large when the reservoir compresses. For Karamay heavy oil in Xinjiang, China, the steam breakout time predicted by the new model is 0.72, 1.50, 1.37, and 1.44 times the conventional model when the volumetric strain is 6%. The heavy oil production of Karamay, Xinjiang, China, Athabasca, and Cold Lake SAGD production areas in Canada was predicted. In the lateral dilation stage of the steam chamber, the predicted values of the model considering geomechanical factors were 1.44, 1.28, and 1.15 times the traditional model, respectively. This model can help field engineers obtain more accurate production of heavy oil and evaluate the significance of reservoir geomechanics in SAGD production.
Design, Synthesis, and Performance of Novel Nano‐CoO/NiO‐loaded and Sulfonation‐Modified ZSM‐5 Composite Catalyst for In Situ Conversion of Oil Shale
Authors: Wu Aibin , Wu Junwen , Chen Liu , Su Jianzheng , Yu Weichu 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTA novel composite catalyst with readily preparation and good catalytic performance was designed and synthesized using sulfonation‐modified zeolite socony mobil‐5 (ZSM‐5) as the carrier and nano‐CoO/NiO as the active components. Compared with traditional in situ conversion, the composite catalyst could effectively reduce the activation energy of catalytic reactions, improve the efficiency of oil and gas conversion, and ameliorate the quality of oil products. When the loading amount of nano‐CoO/NiO was 20 wt% and the silicon/aluminum ratio of ZSM‐5 was 40–50, the required activation energy for oil shale cracking was as low as 43.64 kJ/mol, the yield of oil products was as high as 15.46 wt%, and the content of organic compounds in medium‐/low‐carbon hydrocarbon was as high as 71.50%. The prepared composite catalysts had low preparation cost, environmental friendliness, and significant catalytic effects, providing a feasible approach for the effective exploitation and utilization of oil shale.
Analysis of the Operational Characteristics and Performance Comparison of Steam Screw Pressure Matcher Based on Twin‐Screw Expander
Authors: Lin Jianhui , Lu Shuyin , Zhao Ziliang , Wang Zijie , Zhu Ping , Gu Yujiong 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTTo address the discrepancy between the steam parameters extracted by pure condensing units/combined heat and power units and those required by users, this paper introduces the design of a steam screw pressure matcher(SSPM) and determines its optimal steam supply scheme. The SSPM primarily comprises a twin‐screw expander (TSE), twin‐screw compressor(TSC), electric motor, and generator. Initially, models were developed for a 300‐MW subcritical intermediate reheat condensing steam turbine unit, an SSPM, and a desuperheater and pressure reducer(DPR). Subsequently, these models are incorporated into the Ebsilon Professional software to simulate the operational characteristics of the SSPM. The performance parameters of the two options are then compared and analyzed. Simulation results reveal that the operational characteristics of the SSPM closely correlate with the mass flow rate of the TSE. As the TSE mass flow rate varies from 47 to 91 t/h, the efficiency of the TSE declines from 66.3% to 65.3%, while the power performed by the SSPM increases from −2457.978 to 1558.469 kW. Under identical operating conditions, the SSPM scheme exhibits a 6.2%–12.4% improvement in efficiency compared to the DPR scheme. Building upon the aforementioned analysis, the SSPM demonstrates effective cascade utilization of heat steam energy and exhibits favorable regulation characteristics under variable operating conditions. Contrasted with traditional DPR, the SSPM notably mitigates constraints on steam extraction by boilers and enhances the maximum generation efficiency of a single unit.
Unlocking Wheat Drought Tolerance: The Synergy of Omics Data and Computational Intelligence
Authors: Le Roux Marlon‐Schylor , Kunert Karl J. , Cullis Christopher A. , Botha Anna‐Maria 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTCurrently, approximately 4.5 billion people in developing countries consider bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as a staple food crop, as it is a key source of daily calories. Wheat is, therefore, ranked the second most important grain crop in the developing world. Climate change associated with severe drought conditions and rising global mean temperatures has resulted in sporadic soil water shortage causing severe yield loss in wheat. While drought responses in wheat crosscut all omics levels, our understanding of water‐deficit response mechanisms, particularly in the context of wheat, remains incomplete. This understanding can be significantly advanced with the aid of computational intelligence, more often referred to as artificial intelligence (AI) models, especially those leveraging machine learning and deep learning tools. However, there is an imminent and continuous need for omics and AI integration. Yet, a foundational step to this integration is the clear contextualization of drought—a task that has long posed challenges for the scientific community, including plant breeders. Nonetheless, literature indicates significant progress in all omics fields, with large amounts of potentially informative omics data being produced daily. Despite this, it remains questionable whether the reported big datasets have met food security expectations, as translating omics data into pre‐breeding initiatives remains a challenge, which is likely due to data accessibility or reproducibility issues, as interpreting omics data poses big challenges to plant breeders. This review, therefore, focuses on these omics perspectives and explores how AI might act as an interface to make this data more insightful. We examine this in the context of drought stress, with a focus on wheat.
Social Dissonance and Living Currency: Mattin With Klossowski
Authors: ffrench Patrick 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTMattin's Social Dissonance addresses the split between the social reality of economic exchange determined by the commodity form, on the one hand, and the phantasm or myth of the self as an agent of its own experience and as an immediate given, on the other hand. It is thus concerned with what Mattin calls ‘alienation from above’ and ‘alienation from below’. One of its key formulations with regard to the latter form of alienation is the notion of ‘phantasmatic subjectivity’, through which a reified yet naturalised phantom of the self is projected, masking the reality of cognitive and sub‐cognitive processes. In this article, I propose a comparative discussion of Mattin's project with the French writer Pierre Klossowski's essay Living Currency (1970). Working with the influences of Nietzsche, Sade and Fourier, Klossowski also conceives of the self as a fixing or commodification of the impulses. Mattin and Klossowski are thus engaged with each other in their respective accounts of the phantasmatic construction of subjectivity. The article then follows through the divergences of the consequences derived from this analysis.
Screen Printing Catalyst Inks With Enhanced Process Stability for PEM Fuel Cell Production
Authors: Ney Linda , Seidl Nikolas , Singh Rajveer , Schneider Patrick , Stross Dominik , Göppentin Andreas , Tepner Sebastian , Klingele Matthias , Keding Roman 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTCurrent state‐of‐the‐art coating techniques for PEM fuel cell electrode manufacturing such as slot‐die coating use closed ink reservoirs, allowing low boiling point solvents as the dispersion matrix for solid components of the catalyst ink. Applying such low boiling point inks to printing methods that expose catalyst inks to air, like flatbed screen printing, results in an instable and nonscalable production process due to the successive evaporation of these solvents. Within this study, a total of 12 different solvents are examined for process stability and electrochemical performance when applied with flatbed screen printing. Ink characteristics, such as contact angle, rheology, and sedimentation experiments, are quantified to reveal the most suitable set of solvents, enabling the use of open‐reservoir printing methods like flatbed screen printing. Additionally, electrochemical in situ characterization of catalyst‐coated membranes showed that 1,2‐propanediol and 1‐heptanol are solvents that combine process stability with high fuel cell performance.