bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Different visitation frequencies of native and non‐native bees to vines: how much vegetation is necessary to improve fruit production?
Authors: Baronio G. J. , Souza C. S. , Silva N. N. A. , Moura N. P. , Leite A. V. , Santos A. M. M. , Maciel M. I. S. , Castro C. C. 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Pollination is provided by biodiversity and maintains global food production. We investigated the effects of vegetation cover on the abundance of floral visitor and vine (Vitis labrusca Raf.) production. We expected an increase in both floral visitor frequencies and vineyard yields with an increase in native vegetation cover in the landscape. We also investigated different scenarios of visitor abundance with and without honeybees (Apis mellifera L.).

We surveyed floral visitors from ten vineyard plots with different native cover surrounding them and related both visitors and native vegetation to fruit set. Considering some of these vineyards, we compared physical and chemical traits of berries to understand how they vary according to native vegetation.

Floral visitor abundance was positively related to native vegetation cover. However, considering only native bee abundance, we found a dual (hyperbolic) response. Apis mellifera (L.) Africanized was the most abundant species and had the highest number of interactions; however, when removed from the network analysis, the relationship between vineyards and native bees became more specialized. The fruit size and mass of berries differed among vineyards, as did some chemical traits related to commercial quality of fruits, such as soluble solids, pH and flavonoids.

Vineyards surrounded by intermediate areas of native vegetation present a balance between resource availability from vineyards and native vegetation. Apis and non‐Apis (such as flies and small bees) floral visitors, known to have different effects on vine pollination, could hypothetically provide variation in vine production and quality. Considering a near 20% native vegetation increment, there was an enhancement, on average, of ten‐fold more berries per bunch, the changing physical and chemical fruit traits by vegetation increment could also increase the aggregate value of vines and the value of pollination services in the economy.
Solar UV‐B effects on composition and UV screening efficiency of foliar phenolics in Arabidopsis thaliana are augmented by temperature
Authors: Nichelmann Lars , Pescheck Frauke 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe accumulation of foliar phenolics constitutes one strategy of plants against the potentially harmful effects of ultraviolet‐B and A (UV‐B, UV‐A) radiation. These compounds protect photosensitive tissues by shielding and antioxidative function. It is unknown, however, whether seasonal acclimation to natural conditions may modify the UV‐B effect on phenylpropanoid composition and localisation, and thus their screening efficiency. To address this debate, a field experiment with the wildtype of Arabidopsis thaliana accession Landsberg erecta (Ler) was implemented over a whole year with plants exposed to different UV‐filter treatments. While seasonal increases of UV‐B radiation had a slight negative effect on the amount of hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs), low temperatures increased foliar HCAs. HCAs, however, did not contribute substantially to seasonal changes of in vivo UV absorbance. Kaempferol and quercetin derivatives increased significantly under ambient UV‐B radiation, and low temperature interacted with this effect. A shift of epidermal UV‐A shielding from kaempferol to quercetin derivatives was elucidated in UV‐B presence. Despite this, a substantial 20‐fold increase of quercetin derivatives, during periods with high irradiance and low temperature, did not affect UV absorbance leading to the conclusion that quercetin accumulation was not exclusively in epidermal vacuoles. Using confocal microscopy, the potential occurrence of quercetin in mesophyll cells was demonstrated in plants grown with experimental UV‐B radiation at low temperature for the first time in A. thaliana. The presented study discusses the idea that cross‐talk of UV‐B radiation and temperature might adjust the physiological function of quercetin from an (epidermal) screening to an antioxidant substance.
Mobility of Japanese quail spermatozoa and its relationship to egg fertility
Authors: Farooq Umar , Malecki Irek A. , Martin Graeme. B. , Mahmood Misbah 
Published: September 2021

AbstractSperm mobility (SM) appears to be primary determinant of fertility in chicken and turkey. The aims of this study were to extend the concept to the Japanese quail by developing an assay to quantify SM, explaining the basis of SM using motility properties measured by CASA, and exploring the relationship between SM and egg fertility. The study was carried out in three stages: i) males (n = 20) and females (n = 20) were mated individually; ii) ejaculates were collected from 20 males, and SM was measured; iii) males (n = 20) and females (n = 20) were mated individually. In Stages I and III, data were collected for egg fertility, SpermOPVL and HolesIPVL. In Stage II, SM assay was developed and assay conditions were defined: effect of sperm numbers on absorbance in Accudenz solution; effect of Accudenz concentration on sperm motility and mobility; effect of quail proctodeal gland foam extract and incubation temperature on SM at 37 and 41°C. The recorded absorbance of sperm movement was dependent on sperm numbers in the sperm suspension overlaying the Accudenz (p < .001). At 41°C, SM, progressively motile sperm, VCL, VSL and VAP were negatively affected by Accudenz concentration (p < .05). The effect of foam on SM and motility depended on an interaction between the concentration of foam extract and incubating temperature. Males were categorized into low, average and high SM phenotypes. These categories differed significantly (p < .001), but sperm motility and SM were not related to egg fertility. In conclusion, SM assay can be used to identify mobility phenotypes, but the poor relationship between SM and egg fertility indicates a need for further studies on interaction between the concentration of foam extract, incubating temperature, and in vivo sperm movement and egg fertilization success.
Corridors in heavily fragmented landscapes: reconnecting populations of critically endangered brown spider monkeys (Ateles hybridus) and sympatric terrestrial vertebrates in the lowland rainforests of Central Colombia
Authors: Torres Selene , Valenzuela Leonor , Patarroyo Christian , Montes‐Rojas Andrés , Link Andrés 
Published: September 2021

In tropical ecosystems, habitat degradation and fragmentation are some of the most important drivers of biodiversity loss. In Colombia, the Magdalena River basin is home to a megadiverse wildlife community, which has been historically exposed to pervasive habitat loss and fragmentation. Within a long‐term project on the conservation of critically endangered brown spider monkeys (Ateles hybridus), we signed conservation agreements with local landowners to protect the remaining forests and reconnect them through restoration corridors. We established 10 corridors within a matrix of pastures used for cattle‐ranching which reconnect approximately 1,000 ha of forests. We planted trees in 2016/2017 and 2020, established 24 vegetation plots (10 × 10 m) to measure their structure and composition, and compared them with six vegetation plots (50 × 2 m) in forest fragments. We installed camera traps to evaluate the effectiveness of corridors as potential pathways for terrestrial vertebrates in a fragmented landscape. Overall, forest structure differed between young corridors (1 year) and both older corridors (5 years) and forests; older corridors had no structural differences with forest fragments. Throughout this preliminary survey, 21 out of 32 species of vertebrates that have been recorded in forests used the corridors, including apex predators and other large birds and mammals. This study provides initial data supporting the use of corridors as a strategy to reconnect wildlife in isolated forest fragments in heavily fragmented landscapes, as well as the establishment of effective corridors that reconnect forest‐dwelling species in relatively short periods of time (<5 years).
Bayesian Sparse Mediation Analysis with Targeted Penalization of Natural Indirect Effects
Authors: Song Yanyi , Zhou Xiang , Kang Jian , Aung Max T. , Zhang Min , Zhao Wei , Needham Belinda L. , Kardia Sharon L. R. , Liu Yongmei , Meeker John D. , Smith Jennifer A. , Mukherjee Bhramar 
Published: September 2021

AbstractCausal mediation analysis aims to characterize an exposure's effect on an outcome and quantify the indirect effect that acts through a given mediator or a group of mediators of interest. With the increasing availability of measurements on a large number of potential mediators, like the epigenome or the microbiome, new statistical methods are needed to simultaneously accommodate high-dimensional mediators while directly target penalization of the natural indirect effect (NIE) for active mediator identification. Here, we develop two novel prior models for identification of active mediators in high-dimensional mediation analysis through penalizing NIEs in a Bayesian paradigm. Both methods specify a joint prior distribution on the exposure-mediator effect and mediator-outcome effect with either (a) a four-component Gaussian mixture prior or (b) a product threshold Gaussian prior. By jointly modelling the two parameters that contribute to the NIE, the proposed methods enable penalization on their product in a targeted way. Resultant inference can take into account the four-component composite structure underlying the NIE. We show through simulations that the proposed methods improve both selection and estimation accuracy compared to other competing methods. We applied our methods for an in-depth analysis of two ongoing epidemiologic studies: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) and the LIFECODES birth cohort. The identified active mediators in both studies reveal important biological pathways for understanding disease mechanisms.
Intravenous immunoglobulin as an important adjunct in the prevention and therapy of coronavirus 2019 disease
Authors: Danieli Maria Giovanna , Piga Mario Andrea , Paladini Alberto , Longhi Eleonora , Mezzanotte Cristina , Moroncini Gianluca , Shoenfeld Yehuda 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) challenged globally with its morbidity and mortality. A small percentage of affected patients (20%) progress into the second stage of the disease clinically presenting with severe or fatal involvement of lung, heart and vascular system, all contributing to multiple‐organ failure. The so‐called ‘cytokines storm’ is considered the pathogenic basis of severe disease and it is a target for treatment with corticosteroids, immunotherapies and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). We provide an overview of the role of IVIg in the therapy of adult patients with COVID‐19 disease. After discussing the possible underlying mechanisms of IVIg immunomodulation in COVID‐19 disease, we review the studies in which IVIg was employed. Considering the latest evidence that show a link between new coronavirus and autoimmunity, we also discuss the use of IVIg in COVID‐19 and anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination related autoimmune diseases and the post‐COVID‐19 syndrome. The benefit of high‐dose IVIg is evident in almost all studies with a rapid response, a reduction in mortality and improved pulmonary function in critically ill COVID‐19 patients. It seems that an early administration of IVIg is crucial for a successful outcome. Studies’ limitations are represented by the small number of patients, the lack of control groups in some and the heterogeneity of included patients. IVIg treatment can reduce the stay in ICU and the demand for mechanical ventilation, thus contributing to attenuate the burden of the disease.
Prenominal French and Uninflected Dutch Adjectives*
Authors: Evans Elliott 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThis paper proposes a uniform analysis of canonical and noncanonical French and Dutch attributive adjectives. Canonically, French adjectives are postnominal and Dutch adjectives are inflected. The noncanonical counterparts are prenominal, for French, and lacking inflection, for Dutch. A review of the literature indicates several proposed locations in the noun phrase for adjectives, and this analysis utilizes three: Spec‐Subj in the D‐layer, Spec‐Agr, and NP‐internal. Adjectives in Spec‐Agr produce a canonical reading, functioning like predicates of the noun phrase. The subjective nature of the D‐layer and the proximity of NP‐internal adjectives to N accounts for the noncanonical interpretations. The formal distinction in canonicity arises because Dutch adjective inflection is the exponent of the Agr‐head, so that only Spec‐Agr adjectives are inflected, and because French NP movement crosses the adjective in Spec‐Agr, so that only Spec‐Agr adjectives are postnominal.
Response of terrace deposit thickness to climate change and tectonic deformation: An example of the Liyuan River in the Northeast Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Wen Zhenling , Chen Dianbao , Guo Lianyong , Pan Baotian , Hu Xiaofei , Li Qiong , Ji Xianghe , Yang Jiaming 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe relationships between tectonics, climate and sedimentation are important for understanding landscape evolution. In order to elucidate these relationships, we conducted a detailed survey of the thickness of terrace deposits and the altitude of terrace surfaces along the Liyuan River valley, in the Northeast (NE) Tibetan Plateau. We have dated the formation ages of terraces T3 and T4 to 42 ± 3.2 and 93.7 ± 7.5 ka, respectively, using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) method. By compiling the deposit thickness of terraces, palaeoclimate records and local tectonism, we found that variations in precipitation account for the temporal differences in thickness/rates of sediment deposition in terraces T4 and T3. However, the spatial distribution of terrace deposit thickness was determined by tectonism, including faulting and folding, which changed the local base level. In order to maintain a foreland‐ward‐dipping gradient, the Liyuan River adjusts its sedimentary processes via spatially differentiated aggradation.
Analyzing accessibility to fire stations: A floating catchment area model for stochastic transportation networks with travel time correlation
Authors: Sahebgharani Alireza , Haghshenas Hossein 
Published: September 2021

AbstractImproving the spatial accessibility of fire stations is a key factor in minimizing property loss and reducing injuries and deaths. Most existing studies neglect the effect of travel time correlation and uncertainty on the level of accessibility in non‐normally distributed networks. In this article, a two‐step floating catchment area (2SFCA) model is introduced to measure accessibility in correlated non‐normal uncertain transportation networks. The model extends the conventional 2SFCA measures by considering the catchment area of supply and demand locations in stochastic contexts. The proposed measure is applied to a study area to investigate the impacts of travel time correlation, travel time uncertainty, and non‐normal distributions on the accessibility value. It is further used to analyze access inequality between different areas of the case study and to identify segregated places in terms of accessibility to the fire stations. In addition, the conventional 2SFCA measure is executed to provide an evaluation of the outputs of the proposed model. Results highlight significant difference between the introduced model and the other existing measure. They also show inequality of accessibility in the study area and the way that the model parameters affect the accessibility level. Furthermore, results offer several methodological implications for accessibility analysis in time‐dependent networks.
X‐ and gamma‐irradiation have similar effects on the in vitro quality of stored red cell components
Authors: Marks Denese C. , Webb Rachel G. , Linnane Claire , Aung Htet Htet , Dennington Peta M. , Tan Joanne C. G. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundBlood components are irradiated to inactivate lymphocytes to prevent transfusion‐associated graft versus host disease. As there are little data regarding the effects of X‐irradiation on red blood cell components (RBCs), the in vitro quality of stored red cells (standard, pediatric, washed, and intra‐uterine transfusion [IUT]) following X‐ or gamma‐irradiation was compared.Study design and methodsRBCs were pooled, split, and processed to produce standard (<14 days and < 5 days post‐collection), pediatric (<5 days post‐collection), washed (<14 days post‐collection), or IUT RBCs (<5 days post‐collection). Standard RBCs were either X‐ or gamma‐irradiated (n = 10 pairs). A further 10 replicates were prepared by pooling and splitting three matched RBCs (X‐, gamma‐, and non‐irradiated). All other RBCs were either X‐ or gamma‐irradiated (n = 20 pairs). Red cell indices, hemolysis, potassium release, metabolism, microparticles, ATP, and 2,3‐DPG were measured pre‐irradiation and 6 h, 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, and 14 days post‐irradiation, depending on the component type. Data were analyzed using two‐way repeated measures ANOVA.ResultsThere were no significant differences in any in vitro quality measurements, with the exception of marginally higher potassium release in washed, IUT, and RBCs <5 days old (p < .0001) following X‐irradiation. Both irradiation types increased generation of microvesicles, particularly in components that were older at the time of irradiation or stored for longer post‐irradiation.ConclusionX‐ and gamma‐irradiation have similar effects on the in vitro quality of RBCs, indicating that either technology is suitable for blood component irradiation.
Abdominal ultrasound image quality is comparable among veterinary sonographers with varying levels of expertise for healthy canine and feline patients
Authors: Lindquist Eric , Lobetti Remo , McFadden Diane , Ondreka‐Eley Nele , Roth Amy 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAbdominal ultrasonography is increasingly used as a standard diagnostic test in veterinary practices, however, there is little published information regarding the effects of operator experience on image quality. In this prospective observer agreement study, image quality was assessed for abdominal ultrasound examinations performed by nine sonographers (three general practitioners, three credentialed veterinary technicians, and three board‐certified specialists). Each sonographer independently performed abdominal ultrasound examinations on the same group of 4 sedated clinically healthy animals (3 dogs, 1 cat) using the same model machine and standardized presets. Twenty‐five organs and anatomical landmarks per exam (26 for male dog) were evaluated. Still images and cine loops were recorded for each one of the organs. The final scoring of image quality for each examination was performed by two board‐certified veterinary radiologists in a randomized and blinded fashion. Semiquantitative scoring system was used for each reading: 0 ‐ not seen, 1‐ seen but poor quality/partial seen, 2 ‐ average/good quality, and 3 ‐ excellent quality. The average score for each animal and sonographer was tallied and sonographer groups and individual sonographers were compared. Scores were assessed for normality and data were ranked transformed prior to statistical analysis. No significant differences were found regarding the completeness and quality scores of sonographers of different experience levels and disciplines when measuring specific standard components of a full abdominal scan. There were no statistical differences between individual sonographers or groups of sonographers. Although not statistically significant, the general practitioner's group showed the greatest variability of their individual scores.
MRI assessment of epaxial myosteatosis in dogs with intervertebral disc extrusions and associations with patient factors and outcome
Authors: Beale Chelsea C , Secrest Scott A 
Published: September 2021

AbstractFat infiltration of skeletal muscle (myosteatosis) is a characteristic of reduced muscle quality. Objectives of this retrospective, observer agreement, methods comparison, cross‐sectional study were to compare epaxial myosteatosis of dogs with surgically confirmed intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE) using a visual semi‐quantitative method and quantitative 2‐point Dixon fat‐water chemical‐shift separation MRI method. Thoracolumbar MRI studies of 86 dogs were reviewed. Assessed locations were the site of extrusion and the adjacent intervertebral disc space immediately cranial. A visual fat score (VFS) was assigned to fat infiltration of the epaxial muscles. Quantitative assessment of fat infiltration was determined by calculating a muscle‐fat fraction (MFF). There was moderate agreement between the two reviewers for VFS assessment (weighted Kappa 0.60, 95%CI 0.53‐0.66) with moderate to strong correlation between scoring methods (P ≤ .001). Both VFS (P = .023, P = .02) and MFF (P = .041, P = .043) were significantly correlated with neurologic grade at presentation for the erector spinae muscle group at both sites. Higher VFS in the multifidus muscle increased the odds of a successful outcome when assessed at the extrusion site (odds ratio and 95%CI 4.3 (1.02‐78.7), P = .0461). In summary, the visual and Dixon method of epaxial muscle‐fat assessment are feasible in dogs with IVDE with moderate to strong correlation. Increased VFS of myosteatosis in the multifidus muscle at the extrusion site significantly increased the odds of a successful outcome. Further studies are indicated to assess the utility of myosteatosis as an MRI imaging biomarker in the preoperative imaging assessment of dogs with IVDE.