bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multi‐year nest box occupancy and short‐term resilience to wildfire disturbance by barn owls in a vineyard agroecosystem
Authors: Huysman Allison E. , Johnson Matthew D. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractLandscape composition can strongly affect the delivery of ecosystem services in agroecosystems. Conserving uncultivated habitats can support ecosystem services, but in Mediterranean biomes, these lands can also increase the area susceptible to wildfires. In the world‐renowned wine‐producing region of Napa Valley, California, wine grape growers install nest boxes to attract American barn owls (Tyto furcata), which may reduce rodent crop damage. Annual monitoring of 273 nest boxes began in 2015, and devastating wildfires burned approximately 60,000 ha in the region in 2017, including homes and businesses, as well as some vineyards and uncultivated land. The goal of this study was to determine whether changes in nest box occupancy were attributed to wildfires, nest box design, land cover type, or some combination of these variables. Occupancy surveys before and after these wildfires revealed changes in habitat selection at the nest scale. Occupancy increased during the study, reaching its highest point after the fires. Owls were found breeding in recently burned areas that were previously unoccupied and modeling results showed that nest box occupancy had a positive relationship with burned areas, particularly with edges of the fire perimeter. Barn owls also consistently showed a strong preference for taller nest boxes that were surrounded by more grassland than other land cover types and a moderate selection for wooden over plastic boxes. These results illustrate an incentive for the conservation of uncultivated habitat, particularly grassland, in vineyard ecosystems, and they provide an example of a mobile pest predator’s response to wildfire disturbance. In this case, results suggest an agroecosystem service made resilient to wildfire by the owls’ selection of burned and uncultivated habitats.
Retaining eucalyptus harvest residues promotes different pathways for particulate and mineral‐associated organic matter
Authors: Ferreira Gabriel W. D. , Oliveira Fernanda C. C. , Soares Emanuelle M. B. , Schnecker Jörg , Silva Ivo R. , Grandy A. Stuart 
Published: March 2021

AbstractEucalyptus plantations have replaced other (agro)ecosystems over 5.6 Mha in Brazil. While these plantations rapidly accumulate carbon (C) in their biomass, the C storage in living forest biomass is transient, and thus, longer‐term sustainability relies on sustaining soil organic matter (SOM) stocks. A significant amount of harvest residues (HR) is generated every rotation and can yield SOM if retained in the field. Yet, there is little information on how managing eucalyptus HR changes SOM dynamics. We used isotopic and molecular approaches in a 3‐yr field decomposition experiment where a native grassland has been replaced by eucalyptus plantations to assess how HR management practices influence content and chemistry of two distinct SOM fractions [particulate (POM) and mineral‐associated organic matter (MAOM)] at two soil depths (0–1 and 1–5 cm). The management practices investigated were HR removal (−R), only bark removal (−B), and retention of all HR (including bark, +B), combined with two levels of nitrogen (N) fertilization [0 (−N) and 200 (+N) kg/ha]. N fertilization inhibited HR decomposition (P = 0.0409), while bark retention had little effect (P = 0.1164). Retaining HR, especially with bark, increased POM‐C and MAOM‐C content (2.1‐ and 1.2‐fold, respectively), decreased POM‐δ13C (1.2‐fold), and increased inorganic N retention (1.7‐fold) compared with plots where HR had been removed. Inorganic N applications, however, diminished the positive impacts of bark retention. Although the influence of HR management was most pronounced in POM, retaining HR reduced potential soil C mineralization by up to 20%. POM and MAOM chemistry shifted over time and revealed distinct influence of HR on the formation of these fractions. We demonstrate that HR management alters SOM dynamics and that retaining HR, particularly including bark, enhances SOM retention. With continuing conversion of native grassland ecosystems to eucalyptus, long‐term sustainability will require careful HR and fertilizer management to balance total biomass harvest with sustaining belowground SOM concentrations.
Consumer roles of small mammals within fragmented native tallgrass prairie
Authors: Hope Andrew G. , Gragg Sabrina F. , Nippert Jesse B. , Combe Fraser J. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractGrassland ecosystems globally are being negatively impacted by changes in climate, disturbance regimes, nutrient flux, and consumer guilds. Changes in the trophic ecology of consumers can substantially influence local resources, contributing to shifting diversity, community turnover, and other processes of ecosystem change. Small mammals are diverse and abundant within grasslands and yet the impact of changing ecosystems on small mammals and the role of these mammals as consumers are still both under‐studied. We assessed small mammal resource use within grassland and woodland vegetation types that have resulted from landscape‐scale experimental disturbance through fire treatments within the tallgrass prairie ecoregion of the North American Great Plains. We predicted that resource use would vary significantly among grassland vs. woodland communities, in turn reducing the role of small mammals in contributing to future maintenance of native prairies. We sampled five dominant species of rodents across three years and multiple habitats. Using stable isotope analysis, we investigated isotopic niche area and overlap to infer variation in diet, both within and among species. Resource use shifted in bivariate isotopic space seasonally but not across years when combining all species and habitats. Inferred spring diet (based on fur samples) was highly diverse and overlapping. Summer isotopic values (based on liver tissue) in woody habitat treatments were narrower and overlapped less than within grassland habitats. Consumers generally shifted from C4herbivory to C3herbivory, or greater omnivory, when analyzing grassland, shrubland, and woodland habitats respectively. Within the tallgrass prairie ecosystem, small mammal populations in herbaceous‐dominated habitats use a broader variety of resources than small mammals in proximate woody‐dominated habitats. As native grasslands experience woody encroachment, small mammal assemblages experience turnover of dominant species and associated changes in diet. Ecosystem changes such as cessation of frequent fire resulting in more woody habitats may include reduced roles by native small mammals as consumers/dispersers/propagators of native grassland plants.
Efficacy of shear wave elastography for assessment of liver function in patients with heart failure
Authors: Nakayama Rie , Takaya Yoichi , Nakamura Kazufumi , Toh Norihisa , Ito Hiroshi 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAimsLiver dysfunction is important for prognosis in heart failure (HF). Shear wave elastography (SWE), which is a novel ultrasound technique for charactering tissues, has been used in liver diseases. However, clinical implication of SWE, including dispersion slope, remains unknown in heart diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of SWE assessing liver function in the severity of HF.Methods and resultsWe enrolled 316 consecutive patients with or suspected heart diseases, who were classified according to the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association stage of HF, including 37 with Stage A, 139 with Stage B, 114 with Stage C, and 26 with Stage D, and 45 normal subjects. Elasticity and dispersion slope of shear wave were assessed according to the HF stage. Elasticity and dispersion slope were not elevated in normal subjects and patients with Stage A. Elasticity was slightly increased from Stage A to Stage C and was remarkably elevated in Stage D (normal: 5.2 ± 1.1 kPa, Stage A: 5.4 ± 1.2 kPa, Stage B: 6.4 ± 1.8 kPa, Stage C: 7.8 ± 3.5 kPa, and Stage D: 17.7 ± 12.7 kPa), whereas dispersion slope was gradually increased from Stage A to Stage D (normal: 9.7 ± 1.7m/s/kHz, Stage A: 10.4 ± 1.6m/s/kHz, Stage B: 11.7 ± 2.4m/s/kHz, Stage C: 13.2 ± 3.4m/s/kHz, and Stage D: 17.6 ± 5.6 m/s/kHz). In the early HF stage, dispersion slope was elevated. In the advanced HF stage, both elasticity and dispersion slope were elevated. Liver function test abnormalities were observed only from Stage C or Stage D.ConclusionsDispersion slope could detect early liver damage, and the combination of elasticity and dispersion slope could clarify the progression of liver dysfunction in HF. SWE may be valuable to manage therapeutic strategies in patients with HF.
Non‐adherence to heart failure medications predicts clinical outcomes: assessment in a single spot urine sample by liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (results of a prospective multicentre study)
Authors: Gupta Pankaj , Voors Adriaan A. , Patel Prashanth , Lane Dan , Anker Stefan D. , Cleland John G.F. , Dickstein Kenneth , Filippatos Gerasimos , Lang Chim C. , van Veldhuisen Dirk J. , Metra Marco , Zannad Faiez , Samani Nilesh J. , Jones Don J.L. , Squire Iain B. , Ng Leong L. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAimsLiquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) is an objective new technique to assess non‐adherence to medications. We used this method to study the prevalence, predictors and outcomes of non‐adherence in patients with heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF).Methods and resultsThis study included 1296 patients with HFrEF from BIOSTAT‐CHF, a study that aimed to optimise guideline‐recommended therapies. Angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, β‐blockers and loop diuretics were measured in a single spot urine sample at 9 months using LC‐MS/MS. The relationship between medication non‐adherence and the composite endpoint of all‐cause death or heart failure hospitalisation, over a median follow‐up of 21 months, was evaluated. Non‐adherence to at least one prescribed medication was observed in 45.9% of patients. The strongest predictor of non‐adherence was non‐adherence to any of the other medication classes (P < 0.0005). Regional differences within Europe were observed. On multivariable analyses, non‐adherence to ACEi/ARBs and β‐blockers was associated with an increased risk of the composite endpoint [hazard ratio (HR) 1.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09–1.95, P = 0.008 and HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.12–1.96, P = 0.006, respectively). Non‐adherence to β‐blockers was also associated with an increased risk of death (HR 2.48, 95% CI 1.67–3.68, P < 0.0005). Patients who were non‐adherent to loop diuretics were healthier and had a decreased risk of the composite endpoint (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.51–0.93, P = 0.014). Non‐adherence to mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists was not related to any clinical outcome.ConclusionNon‐adherence to medications, assessed by a single urine test, is common and predicts clinical outcomes in patients with HFrEF.
Centre procedural volume and adverse in‐hospital outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous transvenous edge‐to‐edge mitral valve repair using MitraClip® in Germany
Authors: Keller Karsten , Hobohm Lukas , Schmidtmann Irene , Münzel Thomas , Baldus Stephan , von Bardeleben Ralph Stephan 
Published: March 2021

AimsThe number of transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr) procedures has increased substantially during the last years. A better understanding of the relationship between hospital volume of transcatheter transvenous mitral valve repairs using MitraClip® and patient outcomes may provide information for future policy decisions to improve patient management.Methods and resultsWe analysed patient characteristics and in‐hospital outcomes for all TMVr procedures using MitraClip® performed in Germany from 2011 to 2017. Hospitals were stratified according to centre volumes and patients were compared for baseline characteristics and adverse in‐hospital events. Overall, 24 709 inpatients were treated during the observational period. Patients treated in centres with a volume of ≤10 procedures annually developed more often pulmonary embolism (odds ratio 2.22, 95% confidence interval 1.19–4.13; P = 0.012) compared to those treated in centres with a volume of >10 procedures annually, whereas no association of centre volume (≤10 or >10) was found with in‐hospital mortality (P = 0.728). Although patients treated in centres with an annual volume >25 TMVr procedures had higher numbers of comorbidities compared to those treated in centres with an annual volume of ≤25 TMVr procedures, in‐hospital mortality did not differ (3.6% vs. 3.5%, P = 0.485). Similarly, when centre volumes were stratified for ≤50 vs. >50 procedural volumes, no association with in‐hospital mortality was recorded (P = 0.792). A lower rate of mitral valve surgery after MitraClip® was observed over time, particularly in high‐volume centres.ConclusionAnnual numbers of MitraClip® implantations increased from 2011 to 2017 in Germany, whereas in‐hospital mortality remained stable. Although patients treated in high‐volume centres had a more unfavourable risk profile, in‐hospital mortality was comparable to that of low‐volume centres.
Understanding Optical Absorption Spectra and Magnetic Behavior of a Wide Range of Samarium(III) Oxo‐Compounds: Analysis of the Ligand‐Field Effects
Authors: Kannengießer Nils , Jähnig Maximilian , Kremer Reinhard K. , Glaum Robert 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn this study powder reflectance spectra as well as temperature dependent magnetic susceptibilities of eight different samarium(III) oxo‐compounds (SmP5O14, SmPO4, SmVO4, SmNbO4, SmTaO4, Sm2Ti2O7, SmAsO4, B‐type Sm2O3 and C‐type Sm2O3) have been measured. In addition, high‐resolution electronic absorption spectra in the near infrared of single crystals of seven of these compounds are reported. Comparing our experimental data to the results of ligand field analyses (angular overlap model AOM allowing for decomposition of the global ligand field into the contributions of the individual ligands; computer program BonnMag) shows reasonable agreement of electronic transition energies in optical spectra and a good fit of the temperature dependent Bohr magneton numbers μeff/μB. Analysis of the ‘best fit’ AOM parameters reveals a significant variation in the nephelauxetic effect with F2=379 cm−1 for SmP5O14 and F2=356 cm−1 for KSmO2. A trend in the variation of the AOM parameter eσ with the optical basicity Λ is discussed. The values for eσ(Sm−O), normalized to d(Sm−O)=2.38 Å, range from 337 cm−1 for SmP5O14 to 573 cm−1 for KSmO2. For the ratio eπ/eσ only a negligible influence on the match between calculated and experimental data is observed. For the relation of eσ(Sm−O) to the interatomic distance d(Sm−O) the correlation eσ(Sm−O) ∼1/d7(Sm−O) was found to reproduce in AOM the observed ligand field splitting well. For SmPO4 a high resolution, low temperature (110 K) spectrum allows the assignment of hot bands.
Synthesis, Cytotoxicity, and Leishmanicidal Evaluation of Ent‐beyerene and Ent‐kaurene Derivatives
Authors: Murillo Jilmar. A. , Echeverri Fernando , Quinones Winston , Torres Fernando , Isaza Laura , Robledo Sara M. , Pineda Tatiana , Olivo Horacio F. , Escobar Gustavo A. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractCutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an infectious disease endemic of tropical and subtropical countries, for which current pharmacologic treatments have serious drawbacks. Therefore, new and improved medical treatments are required. On the other side, natural products have been a valuable source of bioactive molecules, but unlike other products of natural origin, diterpenoids are molecules with only a few studies as antiparasitic drugs. Continuing our work on syntheses of beyerenes, and focusing on obtaining more compounds with antiparasitic activity, we describe in this work the syntheses and activity of several ent‐beyerene and ent‐kaurene type of compounds against CL, and also their toxicity. Utilizing classical reactions such as Grignard, Mitsunobu, and Williamson, among others, it was possible to modify rings A and D of ent‐beyerenes, specifically C‐19 on ring A, and C‐15 and C‐16 on ring D. A total of 40 new compounds were obtained, 21 of them being active against Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis with median effective concentration (EC50) values less than 25.0 μg/mL and of these with EC50 values ranging from 1.8 to 7.1 μg/mL and Selectivity Index (SI) varying from 1.1 to 5.1. All compounds showed to be highly cytotoxic at concentrations less than 100 μg/mL, except compound 37 that was cytotoxic at 279.7 μg/mL and moderately active against L. braziliensis (EC50=33.5 μg/mL and an SI of 8.4. All active compounds were ent‐beyerene type.
Nitroenynes as Electrophiles in Organocatalysis and their Application in the Synthesis of Chiral Heterocycles
Authors: Vila Carlos , Cernicharo‐Toledo Francisco , Blay Gonzalo , Pedro José R. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractNitroenynes are a particular class of nitroalkenes, that have been recently used in organocatalysis. This review covers the recent examples in asymmetric catalysis using nitroenynes as electrophiles. The majority of the examples are enantioselective Michael additions, that have been categorized depending on the nucleophile, with representative examples providing insightful mechanistic details. Moreover, their applications to the synthesis of chiral heterocylces has also been discussed.
Development of a Temperature‐pulse Enhanced Electrochemical Glucose Biosensor and Characterization of its Stability via Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy
Authors: Wert Stefan , Iken Heiko , Schöning Michael J. , Matysik Frank‐Michael 
Published: March 2021

AbstractGlucose oxidase (GOx) is an enzyme frequently used in glucose biosensors. As increased temperatures can enhance the performance of electrochemical sensors, we investigated the impact of temperature pulses on GOx that was drop‐coated on flattened Pt microwires. The wires were heated by an alternating current. The sensitivity towards glucose and the temperature stability of GOx was investigated by amperometry. An up to 22‐fold increase of sensitivity was observed. Spatially resolved enzyme activity changes were investigated via scanning electrochemical microscopy. The application of short (<100 ms) heat pulses was associated with less thermal inactivation of the immobilized GOx than long‐term heating.
A Simple and Rapid Ultra–High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for the Quantitation of Pharmaceuticals and Related Compounds in Mussels and Oysters
Authors: Maskrey Benjamin H. , Dean Karl , Morrell Nadine , Turner Andrew D. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
A simple, rapid ultra–high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) method has been developed and optimized for the quantitation of a range of pharmaceuticals, metabolites, and related bioactive compounds in the bivalve mollusc species mussels (Mytilus edulis) and Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas). Shellfish tissues were extracted using a simple solvent-based extraction method prior to concentration and purification by pass-through solid-phase extraction and quantified using stable isotope dilution MS/MS. The analytes covered a range of therapeutic classes including antidepressants, anticonvulsants, beta-blockers, and antiplatelets. Of the 34 compounds included in the present study initially, 28 compounds were found to demonstrate acceptable performance. Performance was assessed by examining extraction efficiencies, matrix effects, sensitivity, and within- and between-batch precision. The results show that as indicated by acceptable HorRat and accuracy values, the method is fit for purpose. Application of this method to environmental mussel and oyster samples revealed the presence of 12 compounds at quantifiable concentrations, with the antidepressant sertraline being present at the highest level, reaching a concentration of 6.12 ng/g in mussel tissue. © 2021 Crown copyright. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2021;40:3263–3274. © 2021 SETAC. This article is published with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen's Printer for Scotland.
From scales to armor: Scale losses and trunk bony plate gains in ray-finned fishes
Authors: Lemopoulos Alexandre , Montoya-Burgos Juan I. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractActinopterygians (ray-finned fishes) are the most diversified group of vertebrates and are characterized by a variety of protective structures covering their integument, the evolution of which has intrigued biologists for decades. Paleontological records showed that the first mineralized vertebrate skeleton was composed of dermal bony plates covering the body, including odontogenic and skeletogenic components. Later in evolution, the exoskeleton of actinopterygian's trunk was composed of scale structures. Although scales are nowadays a widespread integument cover, some contemporary lineages do not have scales but bony plates covering their trunk, whereas other lineages are devoid of any such structures. To understand the evolution of the integument coverage and particularly the transition between different structures, we investigated the pattern of scale loss events along with actinopterygian evolution and addressed the functional relationship between the scaleless phenotype and the ecology of fishes. Furthermore, we examined whether the emergence of trunk bony plates was dependent over the presence or absence of scales. To this aim, we used two recently published actinopterygian phylogenies, one including &gt;11,600 species, and by using stochastic mapping and Bayesian methods, we inferred scale loss events and trunk bony plate acquisitions. Our results reveal that a scaled integument is the most frequent state in actinopterygians, but multiple independent scale loss events occurred along their phylogeny with essentially no scale re-acquisition. Based on linear mixed models, we found evidence supporting that after a scale loss event, fishes tend to change their ecology and adopt a benthic lifestyle. Furthermore, we show that trunk bony plates appeared independently multiple times along the phylogeny. By using fitted likelihood models for character evolution, we show that trunk bony plate acquisitions were dependent on a previous scale loss event. Overall, our findings support the hypothesis that integument cover is a key evolutionary trait underlying actinopterygian radiation.