bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mito‐nuclear discordance at a mimicry color transition zone in bumble beeBombus melanopygus
Authors: Wham Briana E. , Rahman Sarthok Rasique , Martinez‐Correa Marena , Hines Heather M. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractAs hybrid zones exhibit selective patterns of gene flow between otherwise distinct lineages, they can be especially valuable for informing processes of microevolution and speciation. The bumble bee,Bombus melanopygus, displays two distinct color forms generated by Müllerian mimicry: a northern “Rocky Mountain'’ color form with ferruginous mid‐abdominal segments (B.m.melanopygus) and a southern “Pacific'’ form with black mid‐abdominal segments (B.m.edwardsii). These morphs meet in a mimetic transition zone in northern California and southern Oregon that is more narrow and transitions further west than comimetic bumble bee species. To understand the historical formation of this mimicry zone, we assessed color distribution data forB.melanopygusfrom the last 100 years. We then examined gene flow among the color forms in the transition zone by comparing sequences from mitochondrial COI barcode sequences, color‐controlling loci, and the rest of the nuclear genome. These data support two geographically distinct mitochondrial haplogroups aligned to the ancestrally ferruginous and black forms that meet within the color transition zone. This clustering is also supported by the nuclear genome, which, while showing strong admixture across individuals, distinguishes individuals most by their mitochondrial haplotype, followed by geography. These data suggest the two lineages most likely were historically isolated, acquired fixed color differences, and then came into secondary contact with ongoing gene flow. The transition zone, however, exhibits asymmetries: mitochondrial haplotypes transition further south than color pattern, and both transition over shorter distances in the south. This system thus demonstrates alternative patterns of gene flow that occur in contact zones, presenting another example of mito‐nuclear discordance. Discordant gene flow is inferred to most likely be driven by a combination of mimetic selection, dominance effects, and assortative mating.
Direct and indirect disturbance impacts on forest biodiversity
Authors: Bowd Elle , Blanchard Wade , McBurney Lachlan , Lindenmayer David 
Published: December 2021

AbstractUnderstanding the responses of biodiversity to forest disturbance is critical for maintaining ecosystem integrity and key ecological functions. Ecological research in forests after major disturbance typically focuses on the direct responses of individual species or communities, often with only limited consideration of the interactions between forest structure and biodiversity. Despite this, these interactions can mediate indirect disturbance impacts throughout forest ecosystems. Using data from a decade of extensive, empirical research, we employ structural equation modeling to quantify the direct and indirect impacts of multiple stand‐replacing disturbances on elements of forest structure (basal area (BA) of dominant plant lifeforms and number of hollow‐bearing trees) and on biodiversity (plant diversity, arboreal marsupials, and avifauna) in the southeastern Australian montane‐ash forests. The number of stand‐replacing disturbances resulted in a lower species richness and lower functional dispersion of avifauna and had a strong negative influence on the number of hollow‐bearing trees. In contrast, the number of stand‐replacing disturbances increased plant species richness in the understory, after controlling for the influence of stand age. In this ecosystem, we also found evidence of ecological interactions that mediated indirect impacts. For instance, disturbance‐induced declines in the number of hollow‐bearing trees had negative impacts on the richness of arboreal marsupials. Moreover, disturbance‐induced increases in the richness of understory plants had positive impacts on avian richness, partially mitigating direct disturbance impacts. Our novel integrative study provides new insights into the mechanisms that underpin disturbance impacts in forests at the ecosystem level. This has enabled the development of a new conceptual model on forest responses to the number of stand‐replacing disturbances. By exploring interactions between elements of biodiversity, forest structure, and disturbance, our model demonstrates how disturbance‐induced changes in one measure can have cascading effects on another. This understanding will provide for an integrative approach to management and planning.
Understanding drivers of aquatic ecosystem metabolism in freshwater subtropical ridge and slough wetlands
Authors: Kominoski John S. , Pachón Julio , Brock James T. , McVoy Christopher , Malone Sparkle L. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractHow climate and habitat drive variation in aquatic metabolism in wetlands remains uncertain. To quantify differences in seasonal aquatic metabolism among wetlands, we estimated aquatic ecosystem metabolism (gross primary productivity, GPP; ecosystem respiration, ER; net aquatic productivity, NAP) in subtropical ridge and slough wetlands of the Florida Everglades from more than 2 yr of continuously measured water column dissolved oxygen, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), water temperature, and water depth. Gross primary productivity and ER were modeled from light, temperature, and water depth using non‐linear minimization and maximum likelihood. Reaeration rates were estimated from wind speed. Dissolved oxygen was below saturation at all sites during both wet and dry seasons. Water depth interacted with vegetation to influence PAR, water temperature, and spatiotemporal patterns in aquatic metabolism. Gross primary productivity and ER were highest at the slough with lowest submerged aquatic vegetation (low‐SAV slough), intermediate in the sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense) ridge site, and lowest at the slough with highest submerged aquatic vegetation (high‐SAV slough). Ecosystem respiration was strongly positively correlated with GPP at the sawgrass ridge and low‐SAV slough sites. Gross primary productivity increased with water temperature and PAR across all habitat types, whereas ER decreased (more respiration) with water temperature and PAR. Net aquatic productivity was negatively correlated with water temperature and positively correlated with PAR, suggesting that ER was more sensitive than GPP to water temperature. Aquatic metabolism was largely net heterotrophic in all wetlands, and high‐SAV appeared to buffer seasonal variation in PAR and water temperatures that drive NAP in subtropical wetlands. Our results suggest that aquatic ecosystem metabolism in wetlands with seasonal hydrology is sensitive to changes in water depth and vegetation density that influence temperature and light. Expanding our understanding of how metabolic processes and carbon cycling in wetland ecosystems vary across gradients in hydrology, vegetation, and organic matter could enhance our understanding and protection of conditions that maximize carbon storage.
The predator activity landscape predicts the anti‐predator behavior and distribution of prey in a tundra community
Authors: Clermont Jeanne , Grenier‐Potvin Alexis , Duchesne Éliane , Couchoux Charline , Dulude‐de Broin Frédéric , Beardsell Andréanne , Bêty Joël , Berteaux Dominique 
Published: December 2021

AbstractPredation shapes communities through consumptive and non‐consumptive effects. In the latter case, prey respond to perceived predation risk through proactive or reactive risk management strategies occurring at different spatial and temporal scales. The predator–prey space race and landscape of fear concepts are useful to better understand how predation risk affects prey behavioral decisions and distribution. We assessed predation risk effects in a terrestrial Arctic community, where the arctic fox is the main predator of ground‐nesting birds. Using high‐frequency GPS data, we estimated a predator activity landscape corresponding to fox space use patterns and validated with an artificial prey experiment that this predator activity landscape correlated with the predation risk landscape. We then investigated the effects of the fox activity landscape on multiple prey species, by assessing the anti‐predator behavior of a main prey (snow goose) actively searched for by foxes, and the nest distribution of several incidental prey species. We first found that snow geese showed a stronger level of nest defense in areas highly used by foxes, possibly responding with a reactive strategy to variation in predation risk. Then, nests of incidental prey reproducing in habitats easily accessed by foxes had a lower probability of occurrence in areas highly used by foxes, suggesting these birds may use a proactive risk management strategy by shifting their distribution away from risky areas. For incidental prey species nesting in microhabitat refuges difficult to access by foxes, probability of nest occurrence was independent of predation risk in the surrounding area, as they avoid risk at a finer spatial scale. By tracking all individuals of the dominant predator species in our study area, we demonstrated the value of using predator space use patterns to infer spatial variation in predation risk. Overall, we highlight the diversity of risk management strategies in prey sharing a common predator, hence refining our understanding of the mechanisms driving species distribution and community structure.
The fate of carbon utilized by the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes
Authors: Myer Angela , Myer Mark H. , Trettin Carl C. , Forschler Brian T. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractSubterranean termites are ecosystem engineers that modulate the flow of carbon from dead wood to the atmosphere and soil, yet their contributions to the latter pool are largely unaccounted for in carbon cycling models. The fate of C from wood utilized by Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) was determined using a reductionist design in a closed system with δ13C labeled wood as a stable isotope tracer. The percentage of wood‐based carbon in termite respiratory gases, tissues, and organic deposits (frass and construction materials) was measured for five colonies to budget wood‐C mass distributed into metabolic and behavioral pathways during a 160‐h incubation period. We found that termites emitted 42% of the C from wood as gas (largely as carbon dioxide), returned 40% to the environment as organic deposits (frass and construction materials), and retained 18% in their tissues (whole alimentary tracts and de‐gutted bodies). Our findings affirm that termites are a source of greenhouse gases but are also ecosystem engineers that return approximately half the C from dead wood as organic deposits into their surrounding environment.
Real‐world evidence in a national health service: results of the UK CardioMEMS HF System Post‐Market Study
Authors: Cowie Martin R. , Flett Andrew , Cowburn Peter , Foley Paul , Chandrasekaran Badrinathan , Loke Ian , Critoph Chris , Gardner Roy S. , Guha Kaushik , Betts Tim R. , Carr‐White Gerry , Zaidi Amir , Lim Hoong Sern , Hayward Carl , Patwala Ashish , Rogers Dominic , Pettit Stephen , Gazzola Carlo , Henderson John , Adamson Philip B. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractAimsThe CardioMEMS HF System Post‐Market Study (COAST) was designed to evaluate the safety, effectiveness, and feasibility of haemodynamic‐guided heart failure (HF) management using a small sensor implanted in the pulmonary artery of New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III HF patients in the UK, Europe, and Australia.Methods and resultsCOAST is a prospective, international, multicentre, open‐label clinical study (NCT02954341). The primary clinical endpoint compares annualized HF hospitalization rates after 1 year of haemodynamic‐guided management vs. the year prior to sensor implantation in patients with NYHA Class III symptoms and a previous HF hospitalization. The primary safety endpoints assess freedom from device/system‐related complications and pressure sensor failure after 2 years. Results from the first 100 patients implanted at 14 out of the 15 participating centres in the UK are reported here. At baseline, all patients were in NYHA Class III, 70% were male, mean age was 69 ± 12 years, and 39% had an aetiology of ischaemic cardiomyopathy. The annualized HF hospitalization rate after 12 months was 82% lower [95% confidence interval 72–88%] than the previous 12 months (0.27 vs. 1.52 events/patient‐year, respectively, P < 0.0001). Freedom from device/system‐related complications and pressure sensor failure at 2 years was 100% and 99%, respectively.ConclusionsRemote haemodynamic‐guided HF management, using frequent assessment of pulmonary artery pressures, was successfully implemented at 14 specialist centres in the UK. Haemodynamic‐guided HF management was safe and significantly reduced hospitalization in a group of high‐risk patients. These results support implementation of this innovative remote management strategy to improve outcome for patients with symptomatic HF.Clinical registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02954341.
Face‐Directed Tetrahedral Organic Cage Anchored Palladium Nanoparticles for Selective Homocoupling Reactions
Authors: Bhandari Pallab , Mondal Bijnaneswar , Howlader Prodip , Mukherjee Partha Sarathi 
Published: December 2021

AbstractNumerous metalla‐supramolecular architectures have been designed using coordination‐driven self‐assembly, while the number of analogous organic architectures is still very limited. In this regard, mainly di‐, tri‐ and a few tetra‐aldehydes have been exploited as precursors in combination with appropriate di‐/tri‐amines to obtain the desired structures with limited complexities. We report here facile synthesis of two face‐directed tetrahedral organic cages (TC‐R and TC‐S) that were formed by [4+12] imine condensation of a new hexa‐aldehyde precursor with two enantiomers of 1,2‐diaminocyclohexane separately (CA‐R and CA‐S). The covalent imine cages are very large with an intrinsic porous cavity of ∼1250 Å3 and the faces of the cages consist of aromatic aldehyde units whereas each corner is occupied by three semi‐flexible diamine moieties. Palladium (PdNPs) nanoparticles (3.5±0.3 nm) were synthesized employing the cage TC‐R as a solid support via double‐solvent approach. Furthermore, the cage hosted PdNPs [Pd(0)@TC‐R‐A] exhibited efficient catalytic activity for selective homocoupling of aryl‐ and hetero‐aryl halides with high thermal stability and reusability.
Seismic performance of bending‐type frictional steel truss coupling beams
Authors: Cui Yao , Tang Qi , Wu Tianjiao , Wang Tao 
Published: December 2021

AbstractTraditional coupling beams, once seismically damaged, are very difficult to be repaired. Recent studies developed new coupling beams by introducing mid‐span dampers. The shear deformation is concentrated in the damper, thus protecting the primary concrete members. However, the concentrated shear deformation will result in slab damage. This paper proposes a novel bending‐type steel truss coupling beam (BFTCB) that adapts to slab bending deformation. The steel truss is securely connected to the slab at the top chord. It remains elastic during an earthquake, while inelastic deformation is confined to friction dampers equipped on both ends of the bottom chord. Friction dampers render the coupling beam damage‐reparability, which can be rapidly repaired by retightening or replacing the bolts after a major earthquake. The main body of wall piers sustain negligible damage and can remain in service; thus, they can be exposed to more earthquakes during the lifetime of the building. Unlike solid web sections, the truss configuration decouples bending and shear demands, as well as stiffness and strength, which improves the design flexibility. Quasi‐static tests were conducted to validate the design concepts and confirm the replaceability of the BFTCB. The BFTCB displayed full and stable hysteretic behavior. The theoretical formula for the strength and stiffness of the BFTCB afforded acceptable accuracy. The proposed BFTCB shows promising potential for resilience‐oriented high‐performance structures.
Early postoperative functional outcomes following transoral surgery for oropharyngeal cancer: A systematic review
Authors: Stephen Sarah E. , Murphy Jennifer M. , Beyer Fiona R. , Sellstrom Diane , Paleri Vinidh , Patterson Joanne M. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThere has been increased interest in the use of transoral surgery (TOS) for the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). This systematic review summarizes the available evidence for validated functional outcomes following TOS for OPC, within the early postoperative period. Key databases were searched. Primary TOS resections of human subjects were included. Validated functional outcomes extracted included instrumental assessment, clinician rated, and patient reported measures. Database searches yielded 7186 titles between 1990 and December 2020. Full‐text articles were obtained for 296 eligible studies, which were screened and a resulting 14 studies, comprising 665 participants were included in the review. Oropharyngeal dysfunction following TOS was observed across all three categories of outcome measures (OMs) reported and was dependent on pretreatment function, T‐classification, and tumor volume. Future investigations should include optimal OMs to be used in the postoperative setting to allow for conclusive comparisons.
Are natural floods accelerators for streambank vegetation development in floodplain restoration?
Authors: Stammel Barbara , Stäps Julia , Schwab André , Kiehl Kathrin 
Published: December 2021

AbstractRiverbanks are very dynamic habitats for riparian vegetation strongly influenced by fluvial and geomorphic processes. This habitat type was severely reduced in the past by river straightening and bank stabilisation. Restoration and establishment of new floodplain streams promote this habitat, but a directed succession to later stages was observed many times. Our study aimed to analyse whether the often observed directed succession of the streambank vegetation after restoration implementation could be reversed by a natural flood along a newly created floodplain stream. We investigated the effects of a natural flood in 2013 and different prerestoration conditions on species development in the riparian zone. Vegetation was studied along 12 transects in four different sections from 2011 to 2014. Species composition differed strongly between the sections. Species richness was lowest in a newly dug steep section with high morphological dynamics and highest on wider flat streambanks. Changes during the years reflecting different hydrological events varied between sections. The high natural flood in 2013 reduced the cover of the herb layer and increased bare ground, which led in most sections to a loss of nontarget species. Total target species richness did not change due to the natural flood, while target species showed a high turnover rate. In the following year, however, the flood‐induced development of species composition, in general, was reversed. Natural floods changed abiotic and biotic conditions along the streambank, but they did not accelerate ecological restoration towards predefined target ecosystems. However, they were necessary to preserve the needed dynamic vegetation changes and species turnover to hinder the succession to later stages dominated by a few species. Our study shows that riparian vegetation near the streambank can be monitored most effectively in cross‐profile transects, both in the long‐term and event‐related.
Comparison of Real‐Q 2019‐nCoV and DaAn Gene 2019‐nCoV polymerase chain reaction assays for the detection of SARS‐CoV‐2
Authors: Marembo Takudzwa , Chimbunde Prosper , Chipendo Tendai , Munemo Clayton , Manangazira Portia , Bangure Donewell 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundVarious nucleic acid amplification assays for the diagnosis of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection have been developed, and there is a need to assess their test performance relative to one another. The aim of this study was to compare the performance characteristics of the Biosewoom Real‐Q 2019‐nCoV assay targeting the E and RdRP genes to DaAn Gene 2019‐nCoV kit targeting the N gene and ORF1ab in the diagnosis of SARS‐CoV‐2.MethodsWe performed a diagnostic comparison study by testing nasopharyngeal samples for SARS‐CoV‐2 using the two reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) assays. Assay agreement was assessed by overall percent agreement, negative percent agreement, positive percent agreement, and Cohen's kappa coefficient.ResultsA total of 48 nasopharyngeal samples were tested using the two assays. One sample was invalid, and three showed inconclusive results with Real‐Q; hence, 44 were included for the comparative analysis. Overall, percent agreement between the assays was 93.2% (95% CI 81.3%–98.6%), Positive percent agreement (PPA) was 86.4% (95% CI 65.1%–97.1%) and negative percent agreement (NPA) was 100% (95% CI 84.6%–100%). The kappa coefficient was 0.86 (95% CI 0.72–1.01). Three samples (6.8%) were positive with DaAn gene kit and negative with Real‐Q. The fluorescence intensity for Real‐Q reporter dyes was low.ConclusionThe two kits showed high levels of concordance in their detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 despite having different gene targets. The Biosewoom kit can be improved through addressing the fluorescence intensity of the target dyes, and feedback was given to the manufacturer.
Lactobacillus plantarum alleviates irradiation‐induced intestinal injury by activation of FXR‐FGF15 signaling in intestinal epithelia
Authors: Jian Yong‐Ping , Yang Ge , Zhang Li‐Hong , Liang Ji‐Yong , Zhou Hong‐Lan , Wang Yi‐Shu , Xu Zhi‐Xiang 
Published: December 2021

AbstractAbdominal irradiation (IR) may destroy the intestinal mucosal barrier, leading to severe intestinal infection and multiple organ dysfunction syndromes. The role of intestinal microbiota in the development of IR‐induced intestinal injury remains largely unknown. Herein, we reported that abdominal IR altered the composition of the microbiota and reduced the abundance and diversity of the gut microbiome. Alterations of bacteria, in particular reduction of Lactobacillus, played a critical role in IR‐induced intestinal injury. Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) from normal mice or administration of Lactobacillus plantarum to intestinal microbiota‐eliminated mice substantially reduced IR‐induced intestinal damage and prevented mice from IR‐induced death. We further characterized that L. plantarum activated the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) – fibroblast growth factor 15 (FGF15) signaling in intestinal epithelial cells and hence promoted DNA‐damage repair. Application of GW4064, an activator of FXR, to microbiota eliminated mice markedly mitigated IR‐induced intestinal damage, reduced intestinal epithelial cell death and promoted the survival of IR mice. In contrast, suppression of FXR with Gly‐β‐MCA, a bile acid and an intestine‐selective and high‐affinity FXR inhibitor, abrogated L. Plantarum‐mediated protection on the ileum of IR mice. Taken together, our findings not only provide new insights into the role of intestinal flora in radiation‐induced intestinal injury but also shed new light on the application of probiotics for the protection of radiation‐damaged individuals.