bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Season determines the efficiency of a rapid sampling protocol for non‐acarine arachnids (Chelicerata: Arachnida) in Afrotemperate grassland biotopes
Authors: Booysen Ruan , Haddad Charles R 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThe Grassland Biome covers large parts of the inland plateau of South Africa, but many areas have historically been poorly sampled for arachnids. This study aimed to survey non‐acarine arachnids in western KwaZulu‐Natal and compare their biodiversity during winter (June and July 2015) and summer (December 2015 and January 2016). A standardised rapid sampling protocol was used to collect specimens from four biotopes (riparian bush, montane grasslands, lowland grasslands and Eucalyptus plantations). In total, 4623 non‐acarine arachnids were collected, representing five orders, of which 185 spp. were represented by adult specimens (n = 774). Although overall abundance (including immatures) was higher in winter, more adult individuals and species were collected in summer (n = 425, 139 spp.) than in winter (n = 349, 89 spp.). Day hand collecting yielded the highest abundance and species richness during both seasons, and largest number of unique species overall, while Berlese–Tullgren funnels were generally the least efficient method. Seasonal changes in assemblage composition are the result of considerable differences in phenology between the dominant families, resulting in only a small degree of overlap (23.2%) in the adult arachnid fauna between seasons. Several methods collected low adult species richness, but when combined, sample completion values were above 50% for both seasons and overall. This study has highlighted the importance of implementing rapid sampling protocols in multiple seasons to broaden knowledge of local species richness, to effectively address conservation and management objectives.
Parchment characterization by multiphoton electron extraction spectrometry
Authors: Tang Shisong , Bulatov Valery , Schechter Israel , Dolgin Bella 
Published: October 2021

AbstractSome historical parchments belong to the cultural heritage of humankind and possess invaluable historical significance. Therefore, development of simple and reliable methods for parchment characterization and animal species identification is of importance. Multiphoton electron extraction spectroscopy (MEES) is a new analytical method for characterization of surfaces, and this is its first application to biomaterials in general and to parchments in particular. When comparing MEES of various parchments, it was found that the spectral intensity of historical parchments was significantly higher, and the main peak was broader than for the modern and artificially aged specimens. Gaussian fitting of the spectra indicated the presence of six peaks for modern and historical samples at nearly the same positions. Significant spectral differences between historical and modern samples were clearly observed. Animal species identification (calf, sheep and goat) was also possible, based on MEES analysis of modern parchments (grain side). Correlations to the electrical conductivity of the samples were also studied.
Using experimental reintroductions to resolve the roles of habitat quality and metapopulation dynamics on patch occupancy in fragmented landscapes
Authors: Armstrong Doug P. , Boulton Rebecca L. , McArthur Nikki , Govella Susanne , Gorman Nic , Pike Rhonda , Richard Yvan 
Published: October 2021

AbstractDeclines of species in fragmented landscapes can potentially be reversed either by restoring connectivity or restoring local habitat quality. Models fitted to snapshot occupancy data can be used to predict the effectiveness of these actions. However, such inferences can be misleading if the reliability of the habitat and landscape metrics used is unknown. The only way to unambiguously resolve the roles of habitat quality and metapopulation dynamics is to conduct experimental reintroductions to unoccupied patches so that habitat quality can be measured directly from data on vital rates. We, therefore, conducted a 15‐year study that involved reintroducing a threatened New Zealand bird to unoccupied forest fragments to obtain reliable data on their habitat quality and reassess initial inferences made by modeling occupancy against habitat and landscape metrics. Although reproductive rates were similar among fragments, subtle differences in adult survival rates resulted in λ (finite rate of increase) estimations of <0.9 for 9 of the 12 fragments that were previously unoccupied. This was the case for only 1 of 14 naturally occupied fragments. This variation in λ largely explained the original occupancy pattern, reversing our original conclusion from occupancy modeling that this occupancy pattern was isolation driven and suggesting that it would be detrimental to increase connectivity without improving local habitat quality. These results illustrate that inferences from snapshot occupancy should be treated with caution and subjected to testing through experimental reintroductions in selected model systems.
Stress relaxation properties of bananas during drying
Authors: Abedi Fidele M. , Takhar Pawan S. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBananas' mechanical properties are affected by the ripening and the drying processes since they induce profound microstructural changes. In this study, first, the interacting effect of the ripening and the drying processes on the mode of viscoelastic behavior of bananas was investigated. Second, the stress relaxation properties of fully ripe bananas were measured as a function of the hot air drying conditions. Finally, the two‐element generalized Maxwell model was fitted to the experimental data. Thus, this study clarified the dependence of the mode of rheological behavior on both the ripening stage and the moisture content. It showed that bananas start softening at the onset of the drying when the fruit moisture content is high. The softening is reversed at a critical value, at which the bananas start regaining stiffness with further moisture reduction. The critical moisture content value decreases with ripening from 1.4 g/g solids for green bananas (5–11% Brix percentage) to 1.23 g/g solids for half‐ripe bananas (15–20% Brix percentage) and eventually vanishes when the bananas are fully ripe (25–31% Brix percentage). The stress relaxation properties measured with fully ripe bananas substantiated the initial findings on the influence of the ripening stage on the mode of rheological behavior. The relaxation moduli displayed a decreasing trend with decrease in the moisture content for 40, 60, and 80°C drying temperatures and decayed with time as expected for viscoelastic bodies. Lastly, the two‐element generalized Maxwell model fitted well to the experimental data with the root mean square error varying between 0.06 × 10−5 and 90.6 × 10−5MPa.
A social‐psychological reconstruction of Amartya Sen’s measures of inequality and social welfare
Authors: Stark Oded , Budzinski Wiktor 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThe Gini coefficient features prominently in Amartya Sen’s 1973 and 1997 seminal work on income inequality and social welfare. We construct the Gini coefficient from social‐psychological building blocks, reformulating it as a ratio between a measure of social stress and aggregate income. We determine when as a consequence of an income gain by an individual, an increase in the social stress measure dominates a concurrent increase in the aggregate income, such that the magnitude of the Gini coefficient increases. By integrating our approach to the construction of the Gini coefficient with Sen’s social welfare function, we are able to endow the function with a social‐psychological underpinning, showing that this function, too, is a composite of a measure of social stress and aggregate income. We reveal a dual role played by aggregate income as a booster of social welfare in Sen’s social welfare function. Quite surprisingly, we find that a marginal increase of income for any individual, regardless of the position of the individual in the hierarchy of incomes, improves welfare as measured by Sen’s social welfare function.
Image‐based deep learning reveals the responses of human motor neurons to stress and VCP‐related ALS
Authors: Verzat Colombine , Harley Jasmine , Patani Rickie , Luisier Raphaëlle 
Published: October 2021

AbstractAimsAlthough morphological attributes of cells and their substructures are recognised readouts of physiological or pathophysiological states, these have been relatively understudied in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research.MethodsIn this study, we integrate multichannel fluorescence high‐content microscopy data with deep learning imaging methods to reveal—directly from unsegmented images—novel neurite‐associated morphological perturbations associated with (ALS‐causing) VCP‐mutant human motor neurons (MNs).ResultsSurprisingly, we reveal that previously unrecognised disease‐relevant information is withheld in broadly used and often considered ‘generic’ biological markers of nuclei (DAPI) and neurons (
III‐tubulin). Additionally, we identify changes within the information content of ALS‐related RNA binding protein (RBP) immunofluorescence imaging that is captured in VCP‐mutant MN cultures. Furthermore, by analysing MN cultures exposed to different extrinsic stressors, we show that heat stress recapitulates key aspects of ALS.ConclusionsOur study therefore reveals disease‐relevant information contained in a range of both generic and more specific fluorescent markers and establishes the use of image‐based deep learning methods for rapid, automated and unbiased identification of biological hypotheses.
Comparison of Outcomes between Robot‐Assisted Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion and Oblique Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Single‐Level Lumbar Spondylolisthesis
Authors: Han Xiao‐guang , Tang Guo‐qing , Han Xiao , Xing Yong‐gang , Zhang Qi , He Da , Tian Wei 
Published: October 2021

ObjectiveTo compare the safety and effectiveness of robot‐assisted minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Mis‐TLIF) and oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) for the treatment of single‐level lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (LDS).MethodsThis is a retrospective study. Between April 2018 and April 2020, a total of 61 patients with single‐level lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis and treated with robot‐assisted OLIF (28 cases, 16 females, 12 males, mean age 50.4 years) or robot‐assisted Mis‐TLIF (33 cases, 18 females, 15 males, mean age 53.6 years) were enrolled and evaluated. All the pedicle screws were implanted percutaneously assisted by the TiRobot system. Surgical data included the operation time, blood loss, and length of postoperative hospital stay. The clinical and functional outcomes included Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Visual Analog scores (VAS) for back and leg pain, complication, and patient's satisfaction. Radiographic outcomes include pedicle screw accuracy, fusion status, and disc height. These data were collected before surgery, at 1 week, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively.ResultsThere were no significantly different results in preoperative measurement between the two groups. There was significantly less blood loss (142.4 ± 89.4 vs 291.5 ± 72.3 mL, P < 0.01), shorter hospital stays (3.2 ± 1.8 vs 4.2 ± 2.5 days, P < 0.01), and longer operative time (164.9 ± 56.0 vs 121.5 ± 48.2 min, P < 0.01) in OLIF group compared with Mis‐TLIF group. The postoperative VAS scores and ODI scores in both groups were significantly improved compared with preoperative data (P < 0.05). VAS scores for back pain were significantly lower in OLIF group than Mis‐TLIF group at 1 week (2.8 ± 1.2 vs 3.5 ± 1.6, P < 0.05) and 3 months postoperatively (1.6 ± 1.0 vs 2.1 ± 1.1, P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference at further follow‐ups. ODI score was also significantly lower in OLIF group than Mis‐TLIF group at 3 months postoperatively (22.3 ± 10.0 vs 26.1 ± 12.8, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the proportion of clinically acceptable screws between the two groups (97.3% vs 96.2%, P = 0.90). At 1 year, the OLIF group had a higher interbody fusion rate compared with Mis‐TLIF group (96.0% vs 87%, P < 0.01). Disc height was significantly higher in the OLIF group than Mis‐TLIF group (12.4 ± 3.2 vs 11.2 ± 1.3 mm, P < 0.01). Satisfaction rates at 1 year exceeded 90% in both groups and there was no significant difference (92.6% for OLIF vs 91.2% for Mis‐TLIF, P = 0.263).ConclusionRobot‐assisted OLIF and Mis‐TLIF both have similar good clinical outcomes, but OLIF has the additional benefits of less blood loss, less postoperative hospital stays, higher disc height, and higher fusion rates. Robots are an effective tool for minimally invasive spine surgery.
Development of individuals with thanatophoric dysplasia surviving beyond infancy
Authors: Ushioda Mariko , Sawai Hideaki , Numabe Hironao , Nishimura Gen , Shibahara Hiroaki 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundThis study aimed to analyze the physical and psychosocial development of long‐term survivors (age >1 year) of thanatophoric dysplasia (TD).MethodsThe participants were 20 long‐term survivors recruited from a cohort obtained through a nationwide survey for TD conducted across 147 pediatric departments in Japan between 2012 and 2016. Their guardians consented to participate in this study. Medical and psychosocial information was collected through questionnaires and interviews with primary physicians and guardians.ResultsThe participants were 1.2–27.8 years old, and all showed marked growth deficiency. The mean length at birth was 36 cm (−3.4 SD to −7.9 SD). The adult height (age >16 years) was <−15.2 SD. All individuals showed severely delayed psychomotor development. The highest level of psychosocial development was equivalent to that at 2 years of age. Skin disorders (acanthosis nigricans and seborrheic keratoses) were common. Eleven subjects had been hospitalized or institutionalized consistently after birth, and nine had been moved to home care, and four were exclusively orally fed. All individuals required assisted ventilation.ConclusionsLong‐term survival of TD individuals is common. Some individuals enjoy home‐based lives; however, they are severely psychosocially and physically disabled and require meticulous respiratory and nutritional support.
Thymus satureioides and Origanum majorana essential oils improve the quality of Beni Arouss buck semen during storage at 4°C
Authors: Kchikich A. , Kirschvink N. , El Kadili S. , Raes M. , El Otmani S. , Bister J. L. , El Amiri B. , Barrijal S. , Chentouf M. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThis study aims to investigate the effects of essential oils (EOs), extracted from Thymus satureioides (TS) and Origanum majorana (OM), on Beni Arouss buck semen quality stored in skimmed milk at 4°C. EOs were extracted by hydro‐distillation, and the chemical compounds were determined. Ejaculates were collected from six Beni Arouss bucks, once a week for 10 weeks, and they were pooled, divided into five equal aliquots and diluted to 400 × 106 sperm/ml with skimmed milk supplemented with 0.01% of OM EO, 0.01% of TS EO, 0.05% of OM EO and 0.05% of TS EO. Non‐supplemented skimmed milk was considered as a control. Semen motility, kinematic parameters, viability, abnormality, membrane integrity and lipid peroxidation were evaluated at 0, 4, 8, 24, 28, 32 and 48 hr of liquid storage at 4°C. The main EO components were carvacrol (31.7%), thymol (28.0%) and borneol (14.4%) for TS, and terpinene‐4‐ol (31.2%), γ‐terpinene (17.4%) and α‐terpinene (12.7%) for OM. The results highlighted a dose‐dependent effect of TS and OM EOs on all semen quality parameters. 0.01% of both EOs had a beneficial effect on the sperm preservation stored at 4°C compared with control (p < .05) excepted for the straight‐line velocity. The 0.05% EO addition had harmful effects during storage particularly for TS EO. In conclusion, 0.01% of TS and OM EOs are recommended to improve the Beni Arouss buck semen preservation at 4°C.
Cerebral, cardiac and skeletal muscle stress associated with a series of static and dynamic apnoeas
Authors: Elia Antonis , Woods David R. , Barlow Matthew J. , Lees Matthew J. , O'Hara John P. 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThis study sought to explore, for the first time, the effects of repeated maximal static and dynamic apnoeic attempts on the physiological milieu by assessing cerebral, cardiac and striatal muscle stress‐related biomarkers in a group of elite breath‐hold divers (EBHD).MethodsSixteen healthy males were recruited (EBHD = 8; controls = 8). On two separate occasions, EBHD performed two sets of five repeated maximal static apnoeas (STA) or five repeated maximal dynamic apnoeas (DYN). Controls performed a static eupnoeic protocol to negate any effects of water immersion and diurnal variation on haematology (CTL). Venous blood samples were drawn at 30, 90, and 180 min after each protocol to determine S100β, neuron‐specific enolase (NSE), myoglobin, and high sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hscTNT) concentrations.ResultsS100β and myoglobin concentrations were elevated following both apnoeic interventions (p < 0.001; p ≤ 0.028, respectively) but not after CTL (p ≥ 0.348). S100β increased from baseline (0.024 ± 0.005 µg/L) at 30 (STA, +149%, p < 0.001; DYN, +166%, p < 0.001) and 90 min (STA, +129%, p < 0.001; DYN, +132%, p = 0.008) following the last apnoeic repetition. Myoglobin was higher than baseline (22.3 ± 2.7 ng/ml) at 30 (+42%, p = 0.04), 90 (+64%, p < 0.001) and 180 min (+49%, p = 0.013) post‐STA and at 90 min (+63%, p = 0.016) post‐DYN. Post‐apnoeic S100β and myoglobin concentrations were higher than CTL (STA, p < 0.001; DYN, p ≤ 0.004). NSE and hscTNT did not change from basal concentrations after the apnoeic (p ≥ 0.146) nor following the eupnoeic (p ≥ 0.553) intervention.ConclusionsThis study suggests that a series of repeated maximal static and dynamic apnoeas transiently disrupt the blood‐brain barrier and instigate muscle injury but do not induce neuronal‐parenchymal damage or myocardial damage.
The heart of whiteness: On the study of whiteness and White Americans
Authors: Torkelson Jason , Hartmann Douglas 
Published: October 2021

AbstractFrom the nation's first non‐white President, to prevalent narratives of demographic change, a surging reactionary Right and emerging social awareness of white identity, the social context in which white Americans relate to whiteness and white privilege has changed since the early 1990s foundations of whiteness studies. In this article we review work on white Americans and whiteness generally to grapple with their (dis)positions within, and provide a roadmap for sense‐making through, recent cultural and racial‐political developments. We begin with an overview of now canonical critical‐theoretical scholarship, set in the context of other (more limited) empirical work about specific white American subgroups. We highlight how these related, frequently overlapping, though certainly non‐synonymous tracks of inquiry into whiteness and white Americans have since evolved, emphasizing that iterative exchange between them may best situate potentially different, cross‐cutting orientations toward whiteness and privilege held by various contemporary American whites. We then focus our discussion on several socio‐historical developments that will have significant, if somewhat uncertain implications for the reproduction, possible transformation, and study of white America in coming years. Specifically, we detail literatures surrounding recent questions upon the shapes of the white color line, contemporary white nationalisms, and prospects for white antiracism.
Aspects ofbale(‘yes’) in Persian Discourse: Its Functions, Positions, and Evolution*
Authors: Ghaderi Soleiman , Amouzadeh Mohammad 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThis paper examines the different functions ofbale(‘yes’) in Persian by identifying its positions in the syntagmatic chain. As such, it reveals a significant correlation exists between the function types, various positions, and the frequency ofbale, which appears on the left periphery (LP), on the right periphery (RP), and in the medial, detached or free‐standing mode at a rate of 20.5%, 9.5, 2.1%, and 67.9%, respectively. On LP, it can function for all the three types (e.g. propositional, textual, and interpersonal) involved in it. Besides, on LP it is generally associated with textual and subjective usages, but its position on RP can be explained in terms of intersubjectivity. The function ofbaleas a detached thetical is argued to be predominant in an intersubjective phenomenon motivated by paying attention to/from the addressee. Furthermore, a diachronic survey of thebaledevelopment suggests that it has started as a connective, a confirmative, or an emphatic response markers on LP; then, it has moved to RP to fulfill more intersubjective usages.
Demonstration of a U.S. nationwide reduction in transfusion in general surgery and a review of published transfusion reduction methodologies
Authors: Hamilton Courtney M. , Davenport Daniel L. , Bernard Andrew C. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundRed blood cell transfusions in surgical procedures can be lifesaving. However, recent studies show transfusions are associated with a dose‐dependent increase in postoperative morbidity and mortality; hospitals and physicians have attempted to reduce them. We sought to determine the success of these efforts and review and summarize published reduction methods employed.Study Design/MethodsAn analysis of transfusion data from ACS‐NSQIP public use files of general surgical procedures for 2012 and 2018; a retrospective review of the literature surrounding general surgical transfusion reduction from 2008 to 2018.ResultsThe rate of general surgical transfusion in the NSQIP dataset decreased from 5.5% in 2012 to 4.0% in 2018, a 27% relative reduction in transfusion. After extensive multivariable adjustment for patient risk and operative complexity, this effect remained (Odds ratio 0.65, 95% CI 0.63–0.67, p < .001). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between specific procedure decreases in transfusion and decreases in 30‐day morbidity (rho =0.41, p = .003) and mortality (rho = 0.37, p = .007).There were 866 published studies matching our search term “red blood cell transfusion reduction.” Forty‐four were relevant to general surgery. Seven dominant strategies for transfusion reduction by descending frequency of report included restrictive transfusion thresholds, management of preoperative anemia, perioperative interventions, educational programs, electronic clinical decision support, waste reduction, and audits of transfusion practices.ConclusionOur study demonstrates a 27% decrease in general surgery transfusion between 2012 and 2018 with associated reductions in morbidity and mortality, suggesting published employed strategies have been successful and safely implemented.