bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessing the hydroregime of an archetypal riverine wet meadow in the central Great Plains using time‐lapse imagery
Authors: Brinley Buckley Emma M. , Caven Andrew J. , Wiese Joshua D. , Harner Mary J. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractWet meadows are a declining and increasingly degraded ecosystem type. They contribute numerous ecosystem services, including nutrient cycling, water storage, and filtration, and provision of wildlife habitat, particularly for wetland‐dependent species such as the Whooping Crane (Grus americana). Conservation and restoration of wet meadows rely on understanding their hydrology but characterization of wet meadow hydroregimes is difficult given their hydrologic complexity, high variability, and distinct regional differences. To address this challenge, we used ground‐based time‐lapse imagery to assess inundation dynamics of an archetypal wet meadow over a six‐year period in the Central Platte River Valley, Nebraska, USA. We analyzed over 6500 images from March 2011 to May 2017 in the open‐source java‐based image processing software ImageJ. We also obtained data on groundwater, streamflow, precipitation, and evapotranspiration. We assessed the relationship between wet meadow inundation and hydrologic variables using wavelet coherence to look at fluctuations across a time–frequency spectrum and used random forest to identify seasonally specific variables of importance. We found hydroperiod, the duration surface water ponded within the wet meadow, had a mean of 141 d, on average lasting from 10 December to 1 May, but varied annually. Inundation generally peaked in the early spring, on average 10 March, but demonstrated a bimodal distribution, peaking again in late spring during wetter years. While inundation responded rapidly to precipitation events, it was highly related to streamflow, while an elevated groundwater table was necessary for sustained inundation. Overall, our study provided a comprehensive hydrological characterization of a reference wet meadow and demonstrated the utility of time‐lapse cameras for high‐resolution monitoring and assessment of highly variable wetland systems. Considering the uncertainties surrounding land‐ and water‐use changes, climate change, and the increasing demand for freshwater resources by growing human communities, understanding functional wet meadow hydroregimes and interrelated drivers is essential to inform wet meadow restoration, conservation, and management efforts.
Enhanced plant leaf P and unchanged soil P stocks after a quarter century of warming in the arctic tundra
Authors: McLaren Jennie R. , Buckeridge Kate M. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractPhosphorus (P) limits or co‐limits plant and microbial life in multiple ecosystems, including the arctic tundra. Although current global carbon (C) models focus on the coupling between soil nitrogen (N) and C, ecosystem P response to climate warming may also influence the global C cycle. Permafrost soils may see enhanced or reduced P availability under climate warming through multiple mechanisms including changing litter inputs through plant community change, changing plant–microbial dynamics, altered rates of mineralization of soil organic P through increased microbial activity, and newly exposed mineral‐bound P via deeper thaw. We investigated the effect of long‐term warming on plant leaf, multiple soil and microbial C, N, and P pools, and microbial extracellular enzyme activities, in Alaskan tundra plots underlain by permafrost. Here, we show that 25 yr of experimental summer warming increases community‐level plant leaf P through changing community composition to favour relatively P‐rich plant species. However, despite associated increases in P‐rich litter inputs, we found only a few responses in the belowground pools of P available for plant and microbial uptake, including a weak positive response for citric acid–extractable PO4 in the surface soil, a decrease in microbial biomass P, and no change in soil P (or C or N) stocks. This weak, neutral, or negative belowground P response to warming despite enhanced litter P inputs is consistent with a growing number of studies in the arctic tundra that find no long‐term response of soil C and N stocks to warming.
Facilitation alters climate change risk on rocky shores
Authors: Jurgens Laura J. , Ashlock Lauren W. , Gaylord Brian 
Published: November 2021

AbstractA huge fraction of global biodiversity resides within biogenic habitats that ameliorate physical stresses. In most cases, details of how physical conditions within facilitative habitats respond to external climate forcing remain unknown, hampering climate change predictions for many of the world’s species. Using intertidal mussel beds as a model system, we characterize relationships among external climate conditions and within‐microhabitat heat and desiccation conditions. We use these data, along with physiological tolerances of two common inhabitant taxa (the isopod Cirolana harfordi and the porcelain crab Petrolisthes cinctipes), to examine the magnitude of climate risk inside and outside biogenic habitat, applying an empirically derived model of evaporation to simulate mortality risk under a high‐emissions climate‐warming scenario. We found that biogenic microhabitat conditions responded so weakly to external climate parameters that mortality risk was largely unaffected by climate warming. In contrast, outside the biogenic habitat, desiccation drove substantial mortality in both species, even at temperatures 4.4–8.6°C below their hydrated thermal tolerances. These findings emphasize the importance of warming‐exacerbated desiccation to climate‐change risk and the role of biogenic habitats in buffering this less‐appreciated stressor. Our results suggest that, when biogenic habitats remain intact, climate warming may have weak direct effects on organisms within them. Instead, risk to such taxa is likely to be indirect and tightly coupled with the fate of habitat‐forming populations. Conserving and restoring biogenic habitats that offer climate refugia could therefore be crucial to supporting biodiversity in the face of climate warming.
Spatial pattern analysis of line‐segment data in ecology
Authors: Yates Luke A. , Brook Barry W. , Buettel Jessie C. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe spatial analysis of linear features (lines and curves) is a challenging and rarely attempted problem in ecology. Existing methods are typically expressed in abstract mathematical formalism, making it difficult to assess their relevance and transferability into an ecological setting. We introduce a set of concrete and accessible methods to analyze the spatial patterning of line‐segment data. The methods include Monte Carlo techniques based on a new generalization of Ripley's ‐function and a class of line‐segment processes that can be used to specify parametric models: parameters are estimated using maximum likelihood and models compared using information‐theoretic principles. We apply the new methods to fallen tree (dead log) data collected from two 1‐ha Australian tall eucalypt forest plots. Our results show that the spatial pattern of the fallen logs is best explained by plot‐level spatial heterogeneity in combination with a slope‐dependent nonuniform distribution of fallen‐log orientations. These methods are of a general nature and are applicable to any line‐segment data. In the context of forest ecology, the integration of fallen logs as linear structural features in a landscape with the point locations of living trees, and a quantification of their interactions, can yield new insights into the functional and structural role of tree fall in forest communities and their enduring post‐mortem ecological legacy as spatially distributed decomposing logs.
Dynamics in the VIX complex
Authors: Posselt Anders Merrild 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThis paper provides a characterization of the dynamic interactions in the Volatility Index (VIX) complex, composed of the VIX itself, the term structure of VIX futures, and VIX exchange‐traded products (ETPs). I investigate a model that summarizes the VIX futures term structure using latent factors (level, slope, and curvature) and expand it with the VIX and VIX futures demand stemming from VIX ETPs. I find evidence of VIX ETPs impacting the VIX futures term structure, but no evidence of any impacts on the VIX.
Evaluation of SEPT2 and SEPT4 transcript contents in spermatozoa from men with asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia
Authors: Mazaheri Moghaddam Madiheh , Mazaheri Moghaddam Marziyeh , Amini Mohammad , Bahramzadeh Behzad , Baghbanzadeh Amir , Biglari Alireza , Sakhinia Ebrahim 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackground and aimsMotility and morphological defects of spermatozoa can cause male infertility. Sperm RNAs are related to sperm quality. They are considered to have clinical values as a biomarker for assessing sperm quality and fertility potential. The annulus, located in the mammalian sperm tail, is required for motility and terminal differentiation of the spermatozoa. SEPT2, 4, 6, 7, and 12 proteins are the main components of the annulus in the sperm tail. The study aimed to evaluate SEPT2 and SEPT4 mRNA contents in the spermatozoa of patients with asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia.MethodsWe evaluated transcript levels of SEPT2 and SEPT4 in the sperm samples of 20 asthenozoospermic, 20 teratozoospermic, and 20 normozoospermic samples using quantitative PCR.ResultsThe SEPT2 transcript level was significantly decreased in the asthenozoospermia samples compared with the normal group (P = .013). However, SEPT4 was not significantly different between these two groups. The transcript levels of SEPT2 and SEPT4 were not statistically different between teratozoospermic and normozoospermic groups.ConclusionIn conclusion, downregulation of SEPT2 in patients with asthenozoospermia appears to be associated with poor sperm motility.
Predictive molecular markers for the treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors in colorectal cancer
Authors: Du Fenqi , Liu Yanlong 
Published: November 2021

AbstractColorectal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors and, hence, has become one of the most important public health issues in the world. Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) successfully improves the survival rate of patients with melanoma, non‐small‐cell lung cancer, and other malignancies, and its application in metastatic colorectal cancer is being actively explored. However, a few patients develop drug resistance. Predictive molecular markers are important tools to precisely screen patient groups that can benefit from treatment with ICIs. The current article focused on certain important predictive molecular markers for ICI treatment in colorectal cancer, including not only some of the mature molecular markers, such as deficient mismatch repair (d‐MMR), microsatellite instability‐high (MSI‐H), tumor mutational burden (TMB), programmed death‐ligand‐1 (PD‐L1), tumor immune microenvironment (TiME), and tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), but also some of the novel molecular markers, such as DNA polymerase epsilon (POLE), polymerase delta 1 (POLD1), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), and consensus molecular subtypes (CMS). We have reviewed these markers in‐depth and presented the results from certain important studies, which suggest their applicability in CRC and indicate their advantages and disadvantages. We hope this article is helpful for clinicians and researchers to systematically understand these markers and can guide the treatment of colorectal cancer.
Rumination as a widespread emotion‐based cognitive vulnerability in borderline personality disorder: A meta‐analytic review
Authors: Cavicchioli Marco , Maffei Cesare 
Published: November 2021

AbstractObjectiveThe current quantitative review aims at comprehensively clarifying the role of rumination in borderline personality disorder (BPD) considering its relevance for several clinical models of the disorder.MethodThis meta‐analysis included 29 independent studies assessing different forms of rumination—general tendency to engage in ruminative thinking patterns and four types of emotion‐based rumination among both nonclinical subjects reporting BPD features and patients with BPD. Furthermore, the study tested whether rumination could be considered a widespread emotion‐based cognitive vulnerability in BPD.ResultsMeta‐analytic procedures were based on 46 r coefficients that showed large pooled effect sizes for all forms of rumination. With the exception of interpersonal rumination, the remaining forms of rumination were equally involved in BPD features.ConclusionsRumination should be considered a widespread emotion‐based cognitive vulnerability in BPD. Future studies should provide longitudinal and contextual‐based evaluations of rumination among treatment‐seeking individuals with BPD.
Psychometric testing of the Brief Sense of Community Scale with older adults in Puerto Rico
Authors: Buckley Thomas D. , Kim Kyeongmo , Burnette Denise 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe Brief Sense of Community Scale (BSCS) is a well‐validated measure of psychological sense of community (PSOC), but it has yet to be tested with Spanish‐speaking older adults. The current study uses data from face‐to‐face interviews with a non‐probability sample of 154 community‐dwelling older adults in Puerto Rico. We used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test three competing factor structures. We also tested internal consistency reliability and convergent validity. CFA results show the second‐order four‐factor model was the best fit (χ2(16) = 20.78, p = 0.187; CFI = 0.997, TLI = 0.995, SRMR = 0.026, RMSEA = 0.044, 90% CI [<0.001, 0.092]). The BSCS showed good reliability (α = 0.85) and was correlated in the expected direction with social network size (r = 0.34, p < 0.001) and loneliness (r = −0.27, p < 0.001). These findings indicate that the BSCS comprises the four domains (membership, needs fulfillment, emotional connection, and influence) from the original PSOC theory. These results inform theory development and can aid program planning, policy, and practice with older adults in Puerto Rico.
The honeycomb of engineering framework: Philosophy of engineering guiding precollege engineering education
Authors: Purzer Şenay , Quintana‐Cifuentes Jenny , Menekse Muhsin 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackgroundUnderstanding the nature of engineering is important for shaping engineering education, especially precollege education. While much research has established the pedagogical benefits of teaching engineering in kindergarten through 12th grade (K–12), the philosophical foundations of engineering remain under‐examined.PurposeThis conceptual paper introduces the honeycomb of engineering framework, which offers an epistemologically justified theoretical position and a pedagogical lens that can be used to examine ways engineering concepts and practices are taught in precollege education.Scope/MethodThe honeycomb of engineering was developed as a descriptive framework by examining existing literature over a wide range of related disciplines such as the philosophy of engineering and technology, as well as design thinking and practice. The pedagogical translation of the framework was then developed to examine published precollege engineering curricula.ResultsThe framework categorizes the multiple goals of engineering using an ontological classification of engineering inquiries anchored in the central practice of negotiating risks and benefits (i.e., trade‐offs). This framework also illustrates the adaptability of design methodology in guiding six inquiries: (1) user‐centered design, (2) design‐build‐test, (3) engineering science, (4) optimization, (5) engineering analysis, and (6) reverse engineering. The published curricula represented these inquiries with varying degrees, with design‐build‐test lessons seeing the most representation followed by user‐centered design.ConclusionsThe honeycomb of engineering framework delineates variations in engineering education based on an epistemological explanation. The pedagogical translations offer guidance to educators, researchers, and curriculum designers for differentiating curricular aims and learning outcomes resulting from participation in different engineering inquiries.
Physiological and biochemical responses of Brassica napus L. to drought‐induced stress by the application of biochar and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria
Authors: Lalay Gul , Ullah Sami , Ahmed Iftikhar 
Published: November 2021

AbstractClimate change induces biotic and abiotic stress conditions, which badly affect the yield of crops with leading to the biochemical and physiological damages to plants. Biochar and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) alleviate the effect of drought condition therefore a field study was conducted to examine the single and combine application of drought tolerant Pseudomonas sp. and Staphylococcus sp. with biochar of Morus alba L. wood to mitigate the adverse effects of drought stress in two genotypes of Brassica napus L. including Punjab sarson and westar. Physioco‐chemical analysis of biochar showed 5.4 cmol/kg cation exchange capacity, 6.9 ds/m electrical conductivity, pH of 9.6, 0.50 g/cm3 bulk density, and organic carbon 3.64%. Synergistic application of PGPR and biochar developed the plant antioxidant enzyme including catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and also enhanced the content of photosynthetic pigments like chlorophyll pigments, carotenoids content, and anthocyanin content. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) study revealed that biochar and PGPR improved epidermal vigor and stomatal physiology. Malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), APX, and osmolyte content including proline increased in drought stress, which were then decreased by these growth promoters. These results are very important as they illustrate the potential of PGPR and biochar to alleviate the adverse consequences of drought stress and offer a way of increasing the tolerance of B. napus L. plant grown under induced drought stress.
Post‐autotomy regeneration of respiratory tree in sea cucumber Holothuria parva
Authors: Eisapour Mina , Salamat Negin , Salari Mohammad Ali , Bahabadi Mahmoud Nafisi , Salati Amir Parviz 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe respiratory trees present only in the class Holothuroidea and the rest of the echinoderms lack it. Only some holothurian species have the ability to regenerate their respiratory trees after autotomy. Therefore, respiratory trees could be considered as a suitable model to assess the regeneration mechanisms in animals. In the present study, the respiratory tree regeneration after posterior evisceration were examined in Holothuria parva during 75 days. Since autotomy reduces antioxidant defense in the organisms, in the present study alterations of antioxidant enzymes were also evaluated during the experiment. H. parva is the dominant intertidal species distributed in the north of the Persian Gulf. In the present study, H. parva ejected the left respiratory tree, the digestive tract and supportive mesenteries from the anus, about 1–2 min after potassium chloride injection. The closure of the opening at the posterior ends of the body was the first reaction to the injury. Seven days after evisceration, the small bud formed on the dorsal side of the cloaca which was covered with the coelomic epithelium of cloaca. The coelomic epithelium started to proliferate to undifferentiated cells on the apex of the buds. The primary respiratory tree consisted of the luminal cuboidal epithelium and thin connective tissue surrounded by the slender coelomic epithelium. This preliminary organ was observed at the apex of the buds, 13 days after evisceration. Gradually, myoepithelial cells arranged around a longitudinal axis and formed a circular muscle. The primitive branches of primary respiratory tree started to form 18 days after evisceration. Forty days after evisceration, the luminal epithelium of the respiratory tree had the same appearance as the intact luminal epithelium. The regenerated respiratory tree was histomorphologically very similar to an intact respiratory tree 56 days postevisceration, but unlike that, it was not yet wrapped around the intestine and was completely separate from it. Despite the development of the regenerating respiratory tree, no wrapping around the intestine was observed until the end of the experiment. According to the results, the activity of the catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the muscle homogenate was significantly higher than the control 5 days after evisceration. The CAT and SOD levels gradually decreased in eviscerated animals. The lipid peroxidation level followed a decreasing trend in the eviscerated animals during the experiment. However, its value reduced to the control level at the end of the experiment.
Decadal shift of the interannual relationship between western North Pacific tropical cyclone genesis frequency and South China Sea monsoon trough around 1980s
Authors: Qi Li 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe present study investigates the decadal shift of the interannual relationship between the South China Sea (SCS) monsoon trough (MT) and the genesis frequency of tropical cyclone (TC) over the western North Pacific during June–October 1949–2015. Significant change was found around the 1980s. The weak TC (categories 1–3) number has a decreasing relationship with the SCS MT. Their correlation coefficients are statistically remarkable during 1949–1978 but reduce to around 0.1. In contrast, the connection between strong TC (categories 4–5) number and SCS MT is strengthened after 1980s with correlation reaching up to 0.7. Such a shift can be explained by the changes in large‐scale environmental factors associated with MT movement. After 1980s, when the SCS MT extends southeastward, there exits enhanced cyclonic relative vorticity in lower level, increased moisture in middle level, reduced vertical wind shear and intensified divergence in upper level. These conditions are favourable for weak TC intensifying and developing into strong TC. In addition, more strong TC occurred in the southwest quadrant of WNP after 1980s; thus, the SCS MT would affect the TC for a longer time. Therefore, the genesis frequency of weak TCs has diminished, while more strong TCs are formed along with the SCS MT extending southeastward, leading to their strengthened interannual relationship.