bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Humic fractions as indicators of soil organic matter responses to clear‐cutting in mountain and lowland conditions of southwestern Poland
Authors: Jamroz Elzbieta , Jerzykiewicz Maria 
Published: November 2021

AbstractClear‐cutting means forest removal (stems only) and is the most common type of forest harvesting but undoubtedly has a negative impact on the C budget in soils. This work aimed to describe responses of soil organic matter (SOM) in the mixed coniferous forest following the removal of trees under temperate climate conditions in lowland and mountain regions in southwestern Poland. Investigated soils are described as Brunic Arenosols derived from sand with an average content of total organic carbon (TOC) in the Oa‐horizons of 244 g·kg−1 in the lowland and Dystric Cambisols derived from gneiss; the average content of TOC in the Oa‐horizons in the mountain regions was 309 g.kg‐1. Analyzed soils were very acidic in the both regions (pH 2.7–3.5 in the topsoil). In the experiment, two replicated soil profiles were located on each site, both taken after clear‐cutting and without any harvesting. Humic fraction was isolated from Oa‐ and A‐horizons; differences between investigated objects were checked with a significance p < 0.05, (n = 16). Using the instrumental analysis, like electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), and Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy applied to isolated humic fractions, it has been found that clear‐cutting alters C cycling and accelerates decomposition in the forest floor, leading to loss of humic fractions in the investigated soils. In the mountain forests, the more labile, low‐molecular‐weight fulvic fraction decreased as the effect of harvesting practice by 30% in Oa‐horizon and by 54% in A‐horizon. The analysis of stable radicals by EPR showed a decrease in radical concentration observed for humic acids (HA) from mountain clear‐cut areas compared to the undisturbed forest. Results presented in this article have proved there is less aliphatic character of HA molecules from the lowlands, compared to the mountain forest as the effect of clear‐cutting. Changes in plant cover observed as a consequence of deforestation lead to the decrease in concentration of humic fractions with different solubility properties.
Role of particle dynamics in processing of terrestrial nitrogen and phosphorus in the estuarine mixing zone
Authors: Asmala Eero , Virtasalo Joonas J , Scheinin Matias , Newton Sara , Jilbert Tom 
Published: November 2021

AbstractMultiple biogeochemical processes in estuaries modulate the flux of nutrients from land to sea, thus contributing to the coastal filter. The role of particle dynamics in regulating the fate of terrestrial nutrients in estuaries is poorly constrained. To address this issue, we resolved the particle size distribution of suspended material, and quantified size‐fractionated particulate nitrogen (PN) and phosphorus (PP), in a stratified mesotrophic estuary (Pojoviken, Finland). We also carried out a mixing experiment where the effects of salt‐induced flocculation on particle size distribution and concentrations of PN and PP were examined. The experimental results showed that salt‐induced flocculation at already very low salinities increases the total particle concentration and mean particle size, indicating transfer of dissolved material into particulates. Correspondingly, a significant increase in PP and particulate iron (Fe) was observed in the experiment results, suggesting coupled flocculation of P‐containing organic matter (OM) and ferrihydrite. Particle dynamics in the field data were dominated by processes occurring downstream of the flocculation zone. Primary production created a downward flux of autochthonous OM particles, promoting passive aggregation by random collisions with terrestrial material in the water column. Maximum particle concentrations were observed at and below the halocline. The highest PN and PP concentrations were observed in the subhalocline layer, 3.5 and 0.14 μmol L−1, respectively. Molar ratios of N:P in this material were >40, consistent with typical marine snow in the early stages of microbial processing. Our study provides a mechanistic overview of the biogeochemical drivers of particulate nutrient dynamics in stratified estuarine environments.
Depth profiles of suspended carbon and nitrogen along a North Pacific transect: Concentrations, isotopes, and ratios
Authors: Dong Sijia , Wang Xingchen Tony , Subhas Adam V. , Pavia Frank J. , Adkins Jess F. , Berelson William M. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractWe present concentrations of total particulate carbon (PC), carbonate (PIC), total particulate nitrogen (PN), 13C and 15N of suspended particles along a North Pacific transect. In the upper 400 m, suspended PIC to particulate organic carbon (POC) ratios generally follow published sinking PIC/POC ratios. Below 600 m, suspended PIC/POC become significantly lower than sinking PIC/POC, likely indicating PIC dissolution within the suspended load. In three out of the five stations, suspended PN δ15N increase with depth from the euphotic zone to the thermocline, consistent with previous observations in many ocean regions (e.g.,BATS and HOT). However, in the other two stations where phytoplankton blooms were encountered, high suspended PN δ15N (up to 12‰) were observed in the euphotic zone, which was likely caused by the export of low‐δ15N PN during the phytoplankton blooms. Average Corg : N ratio of suspended particles along the transect is 5.1 0.2, with the value in the subtropical gyre (5.8 0.3) slightly higher than the subarctic gyre (4.6 0.2).
Examining the influence of regional‐scale variability in temperature and light availability on the depth distribution of subtidal kelp forests
Authors: Smith Kathryn E. , Moore Pippa J. , King Nathan G. , Smale Dan A. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractFoundation species play a disproportionate role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Improved understanding of how environmental factors influence the distribution and population structure of foundation species therefore contributes to management and conservation of entire ecosystems. We surveyed subtidal kelp forests within four regions of the U.K., distributed over 9° of latitude and a mean sea temperature gradient of ~ 2.5°C. Our aims were: (1) to examine relationships between light availability and the structure and depth distribution of Laminaria hyperborea populations and (2) to determine whether depth‐related patterns were consistent across regions with different temperature regimes. We recorded marked depth‐related shifts in structure with decreasing light levels strongly correlated with declines in kelp density, cover, plant biomass, standing biomass, plant length, and age. We also recorded an effect of latitude; populations at our two colder, northernmost regions exhibited greater wet weight and length and higher standing biomass than populations in the warmer southern regions when under similar or even reduced light conditions, indicating an interactive effect of latitude, most likely related to temperature variability. We show that shifts in kelp population structure along depth gradients are strongly driven by light availability, although regional variability in the strength and nature of these relationships may be promoted by other factors such as temperature. Maximum depth penetration, standing biomass, plant density, and plant weight are useful indicators of light availability and, over time, could be monitored to detect changes in the quality of the overlying water column.
Effect of dissolved oxygen on nitrogen and phosphorus fluxes from lake sediments and their thresholds based on incubation using a simple and stable dissolved oxygen control method
Authors: Osaka Ken'ichi , Yokoyama Rei , Ishibashi Takaaki , Goto Naoshige 
Published: November 2021

AbstractLaboratory incubation of intact sediments is a popular and useful method for obtaining nutrient fluxes from lake sediments to the overlying water. However, one of the main problems facing this method is that the lake sediment core itself consumes oxygen from the overlying water due to the decomposition of organic matter. In this study, addition of headspace with controlled oxygen concentration and circulation of overlying water to the traditional intact sediment incubation method allows for incubation with a stable dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration in the overlying water. In 24 columns incubated for 179–269 h, the mean DO concentration in the overlying water ranged from 0.35 to 9.95 mgO2 L−1. In most cases, stability was high, with the standard deviation of the fluctuation in DO concentration less than 0.1 mgO2 L−1. The DO concentration of the overlying water could be adjusted by changing the partial pressure of oxygen in the headspace. This method supported a detailed description of the relationship between DO concentration and nutrient fluxes from sediments. The soluble reactive phosphorus fluxes and first‐order reaction constants of NO2− + NO3− fluxes increased rapidly when the DO concentration decreased below the thresholds of 1.5 and 3.0 mgO2 L−1, respectively, in Lake Biwa. The thresholds and precise relationships between DO concentration and nutrient fluxes provide useful information for predicting the effect of DO concentration decreases in the lake bottom on nutrient release from sediments. Our results indicate that this incubation method is a powerful tool for clarifying those relationships.
Quasi‐supervised Strategies for Compound‐protein Interaction Prediction
Authors: Çakı Onur , Karaçalı Bilge 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn‐silico compound‐protein interaction prediction addresses prioritization of drug candidates for experimental biochemical validation because the wet‐lab experiments are time‐consuming, laborious and costly. Most machine learning methods proposed to that end approach this problem with supervised learning strategies in which known interactions are labeled as positive and the rest are labeled as negative. However, treating all unknown interactions as negative instances may lead to inaccuracies in real practice since some of the unknown interactions are bound to be positive interactions waiting to be identified as such. In this study, we propose to address this problem using the Quasi‐Supervised Learning (QSL) algorithm. In this framework, potential interactions are predicted by estimating the overlap between a true positive dataset of compound‐protein pairs with known interactions and an unknown dataset of all the remaining compound‐protein pairs. The potential interactions are then identified as those in the unknown dataset that overlap with the interacting pairs in the true positive dataset in terms of the associated similarity structure. We also address the class‐imbalance problem by modifying the conventional cost function of the QSL algorithm. Experimental results on GPCR and Nuclear Receptor datasets show that the proposed method can identify actual interactions from all possible combinations.
Dynamical behavior of a Lotka–Volterra competition system in open advective environments
Authors: Yan Xiao , Nie Hua , Li Yanling , Wu Jianhua 
Published: November 2021

In this paper, we are concerned with a general reaction–diffusion–advection model which characterizes the interactions between two competing species in river environments. By regarding advection rates of two species as variable parameters, we provide an efficient way to completely understand the local dynamics. It turns out that there always exist two critical curves which may separate competition outcomes into competitive exclusion, bistability, and coexistence. As a further development, under the assumption that the ratio of advection and diffusion rates of one species is greater than or equal to that of the other species, we give a specific classification on the global dynamics, which shows that bistability does not happen, but coexistence and competitive exclusion may occur. These interesting results indicate that advective movements play a key role in determining the dynamical behaviors.
Whole‐brain steady‐state CEST at 3 T using MR Multitasking
Authors: Han Pei , Cheema Karandeep , Lee Hsu‐Lei , Zhou Zhengwei , Cao Tianle , Ma Sen , Wang Nan , Han Hui , Christodoulou Anthony G. , Li Debiao 
Published: November 2021

AbstractPurposeTo perform fast 3D steady‐state CEST (ss‐CEST) imaging using MR Multitasking.MethodsA continuous acquisition sequence with repetitive ss‐CEST modules was developed. Each ss‐CEST module contains a single‐lobe Gaussian saturation pulse, followed by a spoiler gradient and eight FLASH readouts (one “training line” + seven “imaging lines”). Three‐dimensional Cartesian encoding was used for k‐space acquisition. Reconstructed CEST images were quantified with four‐pool Lorentzian fitting.ResultsSteady‐state CEST with whole‐brain coverage was performed in 5.6 s per saturation frequency offset at the spatial resolution of 1.7 × 1.7 × 3.0 mm3. The total scan time was 5.5 min for 55 different frequency offsets. Quantitative CEST maps from multipool fitting showed consistent image quality across the volume.ConclusionThree‐dimensional ss‐CEST with whole‐brain coverage can be done at 3 T within 5.5 min using MR Multitasking.
Aphanomyces invadans: The Causative Agent of the Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome in Albino Northern Snakeheads
Authors: He Yang , Fan Wei , Su Jian , Wang Jun , Liu Yonghong , Qin Chuanjie , Zou Yuanchao , Shi Xiaotao , Wang Jin 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
A suspected epizootic ulcerative syndrome with a 50–70% morbidity rate broke out in farmed albino-type (AT) Northern Snakeheads Channa argus at Jinming farm, Chao-Yang Town, southwest China. To investigate the pathogen, diseased fish were sampled and laboratory examinations were conducted. Three specific staining methods (Grocott’s hexamine silver, glycogen–periodic acid–Schiff, and modified Gram’s stain) were also applied for a clear observation of fungi in tissues. Histopathological changes were studied to reveal the pathogenic mechanism. Results showed that Aphanomyces invadans was the causative agent of the disease in AT fish, judging from the fungus-like hyphae, fungal granulomas, and 99% similarity of PCR products to A. invadans (MN814020.1). Among the three fungal staining methods, Grocott’s hexamine silver was the best; this method dyed the fungal hyphae black, while the surrounding muscle was dyed brown. Histopathologically, the affected skin and muscle exhibited remarkable dermatitis, myositis, and fungal granulomas, whereas the other tissues (e.g., gills, liver, spleen, kidneys, and intestines) showed histopathological changes related to osmotic imbalance. In conclusion, the causative agent of disease in AT Northern Snakeheads was A. invadans, which invaded the skin and muscle, causing ulcers in the skin.
Accuracy and Precision of Otolith-Derived Age Interpretations for Known-Age Lake Trout
Authors: Osborne Christopher A. , Robinson Jason M. , Lantry Brian F. , Weidel Brian C. , Harding Ian , Connerton Michael J. 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Catch-at-age data are used to inform important management decisions for recovering populations of Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush. Age data for Lake Trout are commonly derived from interpretation of annual growth marks (annuli) on the fish’s otoliths. Due to the tendency for annuli to vary in appearance and the subjectivity that is inherent to any age interpretation method, it is important that the common sources of interpretation error be well understood for any aging method used to inform management plans. In this study, coded wire tags were used to establish true ages for 153 Lake Trout to measure the precision and accuracy of age interpretations made from transverse-sectioned otoliths and to identify sources of potential age interpretation error that researchers and managers may encounter when using this method. Precision of age interpretations, as measured by average coefficient of variation, ranged from 7.9% to 9.2%. Accuracy of age interpretations varied among readers, with exact matches ranging from 41.8% to 53.6% and accuracy within ±1 year ranging from 81.0% to 83.0%. Age interpretation errors were more likely to be overestimates of true age for Lake Trout under age 7 and underestimates for Lake Trout over age 13. However, only reader 1 exhibited significant systematic bias in their age interpretations. Poor clarity of the first annuli, growth checks resembling annuli, and faintness of narrow annuli near otolith margins in older fish were identified as likely sources of interpretation error in this study. A digital reference collection of known-age Lake Trout otoliths is provided as supplemental material in the online version of this article. This collection can be used for training new readers, measuring the accuracy of age interpretations, and monitoring for aging bias by anyone using otoliths to obtain age data for Lake Trout.
Real world use of oral treatments in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome in the UK: Outcome of a cross sectional study
Authors: Garba Kamaluddeen , Avery Miriam , Yusuh Muhammadbukhoree , Abdelwahab Omar , Harris Scott , Birch Brian R. , Lwaleed Bashir A. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackgroundTo describe the oral treatments people living with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) are using to treat their urologic condition in the UK.MethodA questionnaire hyperlink encompassing current and previous medications taken for IC/BPS with other sociodemographic and diagnostic indices was available to the Bladder Health UK website. Interested and fully consented individuals accessed and completed the survey.ResultsA total of 601 accessed the questionnaire of whom 173 participants responded (response rate: 28.7%) with a mean ± SD O'Leary/Sant scores of 20.12 ± 9.38. A sample size of 171 was estimated to be used in the survey. A fifth of the participants were not on any treatment at all. Amitriptyline was the most prevalent medication in use both alone and in combination. A shift in the use of unapproved (for IC/BPS) antidepressant, smooth muscle relaxant, opioids, gabapentenoids, and antibiotics was observed in the sample. There were no significant differences between the mean (SD) O'Leary/Sant scores of cohorts currently taking oral medications and those not taking it. More than two‐thirds of the participants had been diagnosed with the disease more than 5 years. Just under a half (47.4%) of participants reported a history of allergy.ConclusionOur study provides contemporary evidence that the treatments used for managing IC/BPS encompass a broad range of medications both recommended and not recommended by current guidelines. The latter suggests patients are willing to try novel treatments when more conventional ones are ineffective.
Opaque selling of multiple substitutable products with finite inventories
Authors: Liu Qian , Xiao Yongbo , Zhang Dan 
Published: November 2021

AbstractOpaque selling, in which a seller offers opaque goods (OGs), in addition to physical goods, has been shown to be an effective strategy to segment a market and improve the seller's profit. This article studies opaque selling with stochastic demand and fixed initial inventories of multiple products, where the seller dynamically controls the product offers and determines the product assignment to fulfill the demand for OGs over time. The problem is formulated as a stochastic dynamic program. Due to the curse of dimensionality, we study the fluid control problem that gives a time‐based fluid policy and a stationary probabilistic fulfillment strategy. We show that the fluid policy is asymptotically optimal when the arrival rates and initial inventory level are scaled up linearly. Furthermore, we propose a decomposition heuristic based on the corresponding fluid solution. The decomposition heuristic is shown to provide a tighter upper bound than the fluid control problem. Numerical study on a set of test instances illustrates the performance and efficacy of opaque selling.
Eulerian finite volume formulation using Lagrangian marker particles for incompressible fluid–structure interaction problems
Authors: Shimada Tokimasa , Nishiguchi Koji , Bale Rahul , Okazawa Shigenobu , Tsubokura Makoto 
Published: November 2021

AbstractWe propose a monolithic fluid–structure interaction (FSI) method that uses the cell‐centered finite volume formulation in the Eulerian description, Lagrangian marker particles allocated in the solid region, and the incompressible mixture formulation. In the proposed method, we compute all the basic equations and spatial derivatives, except the solid constitutive equations, on an Eulerian mesh to avoid neighboring particle search. Although full Eulerian methods that use a Cartesian mesh are attractive for FSI problems that require large‐scale computing and include complex geometries and the large deformation of the solid, they cannot avoid the numerical dissipation of the interfaces or internal variables of the solid caused by their advection. This computational problem has been a barrier to the industrial application of full Eulerian mesh methods. In the numerical examples, we confirmed that the proposed method retains sharp interfaces, such as the corners of a square solid, and yields more accurate numerical results for the deformation, energy, and incompressibility of a solid in fluid than our conventional Eulerian FSI method.
Alignment layers based on poly(oxadiazole‐naphthylimide)s: New aspects on tuning anisotropy of the surface morphology and adhesion via rubbing
Authors: Stoica Iuliana , Barzic Andreea Irina , Albu Raluca Marinica , Rusu Radu‐Dan , Damaceanu Mariana‐Dana 
Published: November 2021

AbstractTwo poly(oxadiazole‐naphthylimide) films are prepared and characterized to elucidate their suitability as alignment layers for nematics in display devices. First, rheological behavior is analyzed to establish in correlation with molecular modeling the optimal conditions of solution shearing to obtain uniform films by spin coating. Second, the polymer foils are subjected to rubbing with cellulose diacetate cloth to induce surface anisotropy required for nematic orientation. Novel insights are extracted here by studying the effect induced by the positioning of the textile fiber parallel/orthogonal to the rubbing direction on the induced polymer morphology through atomic force microscopy. The balance between the isotropic and anisotropic characters of the surface morphology of the unrubbed and rubbed polyimide (PI) samples is evaluated by Fourier spectrum integrated into polar coordinates and autocorrelation function analysis. The involvement of the created surface features on the anisotropy of the interfacial PI/nematic adhesion is further investigated. The qualitative orientation ability of the surface textured samples is evaluated revealing that both PI chain flexibility and fiber positioning are paramount for attaining uniform orientation of the nematic. These aspects are key factors in advancing modern displays via proper surface/bulk processing of the alignment layer.