bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Noninvasive genetic sampling for flying foxes: a valuable method for monitoring demographic parameters
Authors: Ibouroi Mohamed Thani , Arnal Véronique , Cheha Ali , Dhurham Said Ali Ousseni , Montgelard Claudine , Besnard Aurélien 
Published: July 2021

AbstractEstablishing effective wildlife conservation measures requires accurate demographic information such as population size and survival probability: parameters that can be extremely difficult to obtain. This is especially the case for threatened species, which are often rare and sometimes occupy inaccessible areas. While noninvasive genetic sampling (NIGS) techniques are promising tools for providing demographic data, these methods may be unreliable in certain situations. For instance, fecal samples of frugivorous species in tropical areas degrade rapidly, affecting the usability of the genetic material. In this study, we compared (1) NIGS capture–mark–recapture (NIGS‐CMR) with conventional CMR to determine their potential in estimating demographic parameters of fruit bats, and (2) the precision of these demographic parameters and the associated costs given varying sampling designs through simulations. Using Livingstone’s fruit bats (Pteropus livingstonii) fecal samples, microsatellite markers were tested and genotyping success and error rates were assessed. The average genotyping success rate was 77%, and the total genotyping error rate for all loci was low (allelic dropout rate = 0.089, false alleles rate = 0.018). Our results suggested that five loci were required to identify individuals. Simulations showed that monitoring the species over a 9‐yr period with a recapture rate of 0.20 or over a 6‐yr period with a recapture rate of 0.30 seems appropriate to obtain valuable demographic parameters. Overall, in comparison to conventional CMR, NIGS‐CMR offers a better method for estimating demographic parameters and subsequently for conducting long‐term population monitoring in flying foxes due to the fact that (1) sample collection is easy and the level of genotyping errors in the laboratory is low and (2) it is cheaper, less time‐consuming, and less disturbing to individual animals. We strongly advocate an approach that couples a pilot study with simulations as done in this study in order to choose the most efficient monitoring method for a given species or context.
Low‐intensity environmental education can enhance perceptions of culturally taboo wildlife
Authors: Williams Samual T. , Williams Kathryn S. , Constant Natasha , Swanepoel Lourens , Taylor Peter J. , Belmain Steven R. , Evans Steven W. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractTraditional cultural beliefs influence perceptions of animals and can result in persecution of wildlife. In Africa, stigmas against species associated with witchcraft can act as a barrier to the uptake of sustainable practices such as reducing crop damage through reliance on indigenous predators rather than pesticides to control rodent agricultural pests. One way of enhancing perceptions of wildlife to increase participation in ecologically based rodent management schemes is through environmental education. Low‐intensity programs can produce positive attitudinal shifts, but their impact has not been assessed for species strongly associated with witchcraft. We tested whether a presentation on the natural history of owls in the Limpopo Province of South Africa could improve perceptions of these species and increase willingness to participate in the installation of owl boxes to increase owl populations and reduce rodent populations and crop damage. We used a pre‐ and post‐survey to assess the perceptions of owls of 340 learners aged between 12 and 18 in four schools before and after listening to the presentation. Respondents that watched the presentation had more positive perceptions of owls than those that had not watched the presentation and were more willing to put up owl boxes near their home. Despite this shift, negative perceptions of owls still dominated responses due to cultural associations with the occult. These findings indicate that even low‐intensity programs can be effective at enhancing perceptions of taboo wildlife. We suggest that environmental education programs featuring culturally taboo species should adopt a culturally sensitive approach to focus on the benefits these species provide.
Spatiotemporal variability of gas transfer velocity in a tropical high‐elevation stream using two independent methods
Authors: Whitmore Keridwen M. , Stewart Nehemiah , Encalada Andrea C. , Suárez Esteban , Riveros‐Iregui Diego A. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractStreams in high‐elevation tropical ecosystems known as páramos may be significant sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere by transforming terrestrial carbon to gaseous CO2. Studies of these environments are scarce, and estimates of CO2 fluxes are poorly constrained. In this study, we use two independent methods for measuring gas transfer velocity (k), a critical variable in the estimation of CO2 evasion and other biogeochemical processes. The first method, kinematic k600 (k600‐K), is derived from an empirical relationship between temperature‐adjusted k (k600) and the physical characteristics of the stream. The second method, measured k600 (k600‐M), estimates gas transfer velocity in the stream by in situ measurements of dissolved CO2 (pCO2) and CO2 evasion to the atmosphere, adjusting for temperature. Measurements were collected throughout a 5‐week period during the wet season of a peatland‐stream transition within a páramo ecosystem located above 4000 m in elevation in northeastern Ecuador. We characterized the spatial heterogeneity of the 250‐m reach on five occasions, and both methods showed a wide range of variability in k600 at small spatial scales. Values of k600‐K ranged from 7.42 to 330 m/d (mean = 116 ± 95.1 m/d), whereas values of k600‐M ranged from 23.5 to 444 m/d (mean = 121 ± 127 m/d). Temporal variability in k600 was driven by increases in stream discharge caused by rain events, whereas spatial variability was driven by channel morphology, including stream width and slope. The two methods were in good agreement (less than 16% difference) at high and medium stream discharge (above 7.0 L/s). However, the two methods considerably differed from one another (up to 73% difference) at low stream discharge (below 7.0 L/s, which represents 60% of the observations collected). Our study provides the first estimates of k600 values in a high‐elevation tropical catchment across steep environmental gradients and highlights the combined effects of hydrology and stream morphology in co‐regulating gas transfer velocities in páramo streams.
Community eDNA metabarcoding as a detection tool for documenting freshwater mussel (Unionidae) species assemblages
Authors: Coghlan Stephanie A. , Currier Charise A. , Freeland Joanna , Morris Todd J. , Wilson Chris C. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractDocumenting species occurrences and habitat occupancy of unionid mussels can often be challenging. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has been shown to be a reliable tool for detecting unionids with comparable or greater sensitivity than conventional sampling and has the added advantages of not disturbing individuals or occupied habitats. However, single‐species eDNA assays are limited to targeting individual species of interest and are functionally blind to the presence of other species. Community eDNA assays have the potential to characterize local species assemblages simultaneously but are currently less extensively developed and implemented than single‐species eDNA testing. We tested the effectiveness of community eDNA markers to identify unionid species assemblages, using two overlapping conserved primers that target the maternal mitochondrial 16S rDNA region. Both primer sets were optimized using three mock communities and successfully amplified 62.5%–81.6% of species with largely consistent results between the primer sets. Following optimization, eDNA from water samples from 24 reference sites with known mussel communities was amplified and sequenced to quantify species richness and diversity within and among sites. Metabarcoding results from the monitoring sites largely mirrored those from the mock communities, with >80% of species detections identified by both assays. The results were broadly consistent with species data from quadrat‐based manual field surveys, although both community eDNA and conventional sampling detected some species that the other method did not. These results demonstrate that community eDNA assays using conserved primers and next‐generation sequencing have the potential to simultaneously target eDNA from multiple unionid species and provide a powerful tool for complementing or augmenting conventional field surveys to characterize and monitor unionid species assemblages.
Optical properties of segmented Ag–Au wire at single particle level studied with a home‐built micro‐spectrometer
Authors: Neupane Bhanu B. , Chase Thomas E. , Zhao Luyang , Wang Gufeng , He Lin 
Published: July 2021

AbstractNanomaterials having hetero‐metallic junctions are being explored for sensing, catalytic, and biomedical applications. Insight into the bimetallic junction at nanoscale is important from both fundamental and application perspectives. In this study, we synthesized segmented Au–Ag wire by sequentially electroplating Au and Ag in cylindrical pores in anodic alumina membrane filters. We probed the one photon, two photon, and second harmonic signal in Au–Ag wire at single particle level by focusing laser beam to a diffraction limited spot using a home‐built sample scanning type micro‐spectrometer. When exciting the Au–Ag junctions into the mid‐UV range using two‐photon excitation, we observed two luminescence peaks at 455 and 520 nm, respectively, possibly because of the surface plasmon resonances supported by the sharp boundary and granular nanostructures on the Au–Ag interface. Interestingly, we also observed intense second harmonic generation (SHG) signal from the junction with a yield more than two orders of magnitude higher than that from the Au tips. The SHG intensity as a function of excitation wavelength showed a similar trend to the two‐photon excited luminescence emission spectrum, indicating that the SHG signal was enhanced in the presence of optical resonances. The observation of enhanced radiative properties of the bimetallic junction in the suggested that the Au–Ag wire may serve as an excellent imaging probe or single particle sensors.
Coupling fully resolved light particles with the lattice Boltzmann method on adaptively refined grids
Authors: Werner Lukas , Rettinger Christoph , Rüde Ulrich 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe simulation of geometrically resolved rigid particles in a fluid relies on coupling algorithms to transfer momentum both ways between the particles and the fluid. In this article, the fluid flow is modeled with a parallel lattice Boltzmann method using adaptive grid refinement to improve numerical efficiency. The coupling with the particles is realized with the momentum exchange method. When implemented in plain form, instabilities may arise in the coupling when the particles are lighter than the fluid. The algorithm can be stabilized with a virtual mass correction specifically developed for the lattice Boltzmann method. The method is analyzed for a wide set of physically relevant regimes, varying independently the body‐to‐fluid density ratio and the relative magnitude of inertial and viscous effects. These studies of a single rising particle exhibit periodic regimes of particle motion as well as chaotic behavior, as previously reported in the literature. The new coupled lattice Boltzmann method is compared with available experimental and numerical results. This serves to validate the presented method and additionally it leads to new physical insight for some of the parameter settings.
Association of bone mineral density and depression in different bone sites and ages: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Yuan Shiyi , Chen Jianjun , Zeng Li , Zhou Chanjuan , Yu Shenrun , Fang Liang 
Published: July 2021

AbstractMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is considered as a risk factor for osteoporosis. Bone mineral density (BMD), as the main tool for diagnosing osteoporosis, has been reported to have correlation with MDD in different cohorts. However, the information in causative link and etiology determinants of osteoporosis in MDD is still under investigation. The results are unclear. Thus, we perform a meta‐analysis to evaluate the association between altered BMD and MDD. We searched the electronic databases to find studies examining BMD in patients with MDD. Finally, 26 published studies were included in our meta‐analysis up from January 1990 to January 2019. All the data were pooled analysis using RevMan software. The association between altered BMD and MDD was assessed by std. mean difference (STD) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each study. Twenty‐six studies were included in this meta‐analysis. Pooled results showed a significant lower BMD in spine (STD=0.51, 95% CI=0.30–0.71, p < .00001), total hip (STD=0.41, 95% CI=0.16 to 0.66, p = .001), and femoral neck (STD=0.93, 95% CI=0.32 to 1.55, p = .003) in MDD compared with controls. After stratification by mean age, gender, recruitment, diagnostic criteria, and measuring methods, no significant difference of BMD was found in bone mineral density of male total hip between MDD and controls(p > .05). Moreover, adults appear to have lower BMD than old cohorts. This is an updated meta‐analysis to reveal the association of bone mineral density and depression, suggesting that BMD appears to be more susceptible to occur in spine, total hip, femoral neck in MDD, especially for adults and women. Our meta‐analysis may provide clinicians and public health administrators with an important screening tool for assessing depression and avoiding osteoporosis in adult subjects and female.
Development and storage stability of chickpea, mung bean, and peanut‐based ready‐to‐use therapeutic food to tackle protein‐energy malnutrition
Authors: Javed Faiqa , Jabeen Sidra , Sharif Mian Kamran , Pasha Imran , Riaz Ayesha , Manzoor Muhammad Faisal , Sahar Amna , Karrar Emad , Aadil Rana Muhammad 
Published: July 2021

AbstractProtein‐energy malnutrition (PEM) is most prevalent and affecting a large number of children in Pakistan. Ready‐to‐use therapeutic food (RUTF) is a tackling strategy to overcome the PEM in Pakistan. The present research was designed to formulate RUTF from different indigenous sources. After conducting some preliminary trials, 14 RUTF formulations were developed by mixing peanut, mung bean, and chickpea alone as well as in various combinations with the addition of sugar, powdered milk, oil, and vitamin‐mineral premix. Freshly prepared RUTF was stored at room temperature (20 ± 5°C) and packed in aluminum foil for 90 days to investigate the microbiological analysis (total plate count and mold count), water activity (Aw), peroxide value, and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value. All the parameters showed significant (p < .05) differences among peanut, chickpea, and mung bean‐based RUTF except water activity. The storage days and interaction between treatments and storage days also showed a significant (p < .05) effect on water activity, total plate count, mold count, peroxide value, and TBA of RUTF formulations. The present study revealed that the peanut, chickpea, and mung bean can be used in the formulation of RUTF due to their shelf stability and help to mitigate the PEM in Pakistan.
Hydrogen‐rich water and caffeine for alertness and brain metabolism in sleep‐deprived habitual coffee drinkers
Authors: Todorovic Nikola , Zanini Dragana , Stajer Valdemar , Korovljev Darinka , Ostojic Jelena , Ostojic Sergej M. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe main aim of this randomized‐controlled cross‐over interventional trial was to assess the acute effects of taking a single dose of hydrogen‐rich water (HRW), and compare it with caffeine, HRW plus caffeine, and control water, for alertness, brain metabolism, brain and oxygen saturation, and self‐reported adverse events in healthy men and women who were habitual coffee drinkers and were sleep‐deprived for 24 hr. Sixteen apparently healthy young adults (8 men and 8 women; age 24.0 ± 3.5 years) were allocated in a cross‐over design to receive a single‐dose drink of HRW (8 ppm), caffeine (50 mg), HRW plus caffeine, or control drink (tap water) in the morning after 24‐hr sleep deprivation and 12‐hr fasting. The primary and secondary outcomes were assessed at baseline (pre‐intervention) and 15‐min follow‐up. Significantly less time was needed to complete trail‐making test after both HRW and HRW plus caffeine compared with the control drink (p < .05). The number of errors in the symbol digit modalities test was significantly lower after drinking HRW or caffeine than control drink (p < .05). Both HRW and caffeine significantly increased the choline‐to‐creatine ratio in several brain regions (frontal white and gray matter), while HRW and the combination intervention also affected brain metabolism in the paracentral brain. No participants reported any side effects from any intervention. The attention enhancement driven by HRW appears along with changes in brain metabolism. Being generally recognized as a safe intervention, hydrogen could be thus recommended as a novel intervention that upholds attention in stressed conditions, with its metabolic footprint likely different from caffeine.
Long‐term exposure to air pollution and liver cancer incidence in six European cohorts
Authors: So Rina , Chen Jie , Mehta Amar J. , Liu Shuo , Strak Maciej , Wolf Kathrin , Hvidtfeldt Ulla A. , Rodopoulou Sophia , Stafoggia Massimo , Klompmaker Jochem O. , Samoli Evangelia , Raaschou‐Nielsen Ole , Atkinson Richard , Bauwelinck Mariska , Bellander Tom , Boutron‐Ruault Marie‐Christine , Brandt Jørgen , Brunekreef Bert , Cesaroni Giulia , Concin Hans , Forastiere Francesco , van Gils Carla H. , Gulliver John , Hertel Ole , Hoffmann Barbara , de Hoogh Kees , Janssen Nicole , Lim Youn‐hee , Westendorp Rudi , Jørgensen Jeanette T. , Katsouyanni Klea , Ketzel Matthias , Lager Anton , Lang Alois , Ljungman Petter L. , Magnusson Patrik K.E. , Nagel Gabriele , Simonsen Mette K. , Pershagen Göran , Peter Raphael S. , Peters Annette , Renzi Matteo , Rizzuto Debora , Sigsgaard Torben , Vienneau Danielle , Weinmayr Gudrun , Severi Gianluca , Fecht Daniela , Tjønneland Anne , Leander Karin , Hoek Gerard , Andersen Zorana J. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractParticulate matter air pollution and diesel engine exhaust have been classified as carcinogenic for lung cancer, yet few studies have explored associations with liver cancer. We used six European adult cohorts which were recruited between 1985 and 2005, pooled within the “Effects of low‐level air pollution: A study in Europe” (ELAPSE) project, and followed for the incidence of liver cancer until 2011 to 2015. The annual average exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter with diameter <2.5 μm (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), warm‐season ozone (O3), and eight elemental components of PM2.5 (copper, iron, zinc, sulfur, nickel, vanadium, silicon, and potassium) were estimated by European‐wide hybrid land‐use regression models at participants' residential addresses. We analyzed the association between air pollution and liver cancer incidence by Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for potential confounders. Of 330 064 cancer‐free adults at baseline, 512 developed liver cancer during a mean follow‐up of 18.1 years. We observed positive linear associations between NO2 (hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval: 1.17, 1.02‐1.35 per 10 μg/m3), PM2.5 (1.12, 0.92‐1.36 per 5 μg/m3), and BC (1.15, 1.00‐1.33 per 0.5 10−5/m) and liver cancer incidence. Associations with NO2 and BC persisted in two‐pollutant models with PM2.5. Most components of PM2.5 were associated with the risk of liver cancer, with the strongest associations for sulfur and vanadium, which were robust to adjustment for PM2.5 or NO2. Our study suggests that ambient air pollution may increase the risk of liver cancer, even at concentrations below current EU standards.
Laser surface treatment on Yttria‐stabilized zirconia dental implants: Influence on cell behavior
Authors: da Cruz Mariana Brito , Marques Joana Faria , Fernandes Beatriz Ferreira , Pinto Paulo , Madeira Sara , Carvalho Óscar , Silva Filipe Samuel , Caramês João Manuel Mendez , da Mata António Duarte Sola Pereira 
Published: July 2021

AbstractYttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is being proposed as an alternative material to Titanium for dental implants due to its aesthetic and biocompatibility properties. However, is it yet to define the optimal surface treatment to improve YSZ bioactivy. Texturization is a promising approach, but the biological role of patterned YSZ surfaces in cell cultures is yet to be determined. Thus, cellular behavior of osteoblasts and fibroblasts in contact with groove‐texturized YSZ surfaces was investigated. YSZ discs were groove‐textured by conventional milling and Nd:YAG laser. All samples including control were sandblasted and acid‐etched. Human osteoblasts and fibroblasts were cultured on discs for 14 days. Morphology and cellular adhesion were observed. Cell viability, interleukin‐1β, osteopontin, collagen type I prodution, alkaline phosphatase activity, and interleukin‐8 were measured. YSZ texturization by conventional milling improved osteoblasts viability and differentiation when compared to laser texturization. Fibroblasts behavior did not seem to be influenced by the texturing technique. Compared to sandblasting and acid etching currently used as gold standard for zirconia dental implants no superiority of macrotexturization was found.
Osteal macrophages support osteoclast-mediated resorption and contribute to bone pathology in a postmenopausal osteoporosis mouse model
Authors: Batoon Lena , Millard Susan M. , Raggatt Liza J. , Wu Andy C. , Kaur Simranpreet , Sun Lucas W.H. , Williams Kyle , Sandrock Cheyenne , Ng Pei Ying , Irvine Katharine M. , Bartnikowski Michal , Glatt Vaida , Pavlos Nathan J. , Pettit Allison R. 
Published: July 2021

ABSTRACT
Osteal macrophages (osteomacs) support osteoblast function and promote bone anabolism, but their contribution to osteoporosis has not been explored. Although mouse ovariectomy (OVX) models have been repeatedly used, variation in strain, experimental design and assessment modalities have contributed to no single model being confirmed as comprehensively replicating the full gamut of osteoporosis pathological manifestations. We validated an OVX model in adult C3H/HeJ mice and demonstrated that it presents with human postmenopausal osteoporosis features with reduced bone volume in axial and appendicular bone and bone loss in both trabecular and cortical bone including increased cortical porosity. Bone loss was associated with increased osteoclasts on trabecular and endocortical bone and decreased osteoblasts on trabecular bone. Importantly, this OVX model was characterized by delayed fracture healing. Using this validated model, we demonstrated that osteomacs are increased post-OVX on both trabecular and endocortical bone. Dual F4/80 (pan-macrophage marker) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining revealed osteomacs frequently located near TRAP+ osteoclasts and contained TRAP+ intracellular vesicles. Using an in vivo inducible macrophage depletion model that does not simultaneously deplete osteoclasts, we observed that osteomac loss was associated with elevated extracellular TRAP in bone marrow interstitium and increased serum TRAP. Using in vitro high-resolution confocal imaging of mixed osteoclast-macrophage cultures on bone substrate, we observed macrophages juxtaposed to osteoclast basolateral functional secretory domains scavenging degraded bone byproducts. These data demonstrate a role for osteomacs in supporting osteoclastic bone resorption through phagocytosis and sequestration of resorption byproducts. Overall, our data expose a novel role for osteomacs in supporting osteoclast function and provide the first evidence of their involvement in osteoporosis pathogenesis. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).