bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Response characteristics of grassland ecosystem biomass to grazing intensity in China
Authors: Wang Yunying , Pei Weiwei , Cao Guangmin , Guo Xiaowei , Du Yangong 
Published: September 2021

AbstractGrassland ecosystem functions are affected to a large extent by grazing activities. However, owing to the associated spatial heterogeneity, the influence of grazing intensity on grassland ecosystem biomass and the underlying mechanisms remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed data from 335 field data to clarify the response of grassland ecosystem biomass to grazing activities in China. We established that the size of the priming effect of grazing activities on total biomass, aboveground biomass and belowground biomass is −0.25 ± 0.09 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.42 to −0.07), −0.47 ± 0.05 (−0.57 to −0.37) and −0.18 ± 0.04 (−0.29 to −0.10), respectively. Grazing was found to significantly reduce both the biomass of grassland ecosystems (p < 0.01) and the average effect value of temperate, meadow and desert steppes with respect to vegetation type (p < 0.05). The descending order of the effects of grazing intensity on biomass was heavy, light and moderate, with light and heavy grazing significantly reducing grassland biomass (p < 0.01), whereas moderate grazing made a comparatively smaller contribution. Furthermore, explained heterogeneity analysis revealed that soil water content was positively associated with the effect size, and path analysis indicated that soil bulk density, precipitation and average annual temperature have a significant direct influence on the effect value (p < 0.05). Given the minimal impact of moderate grazing on biomass, we suggest that stocking at moderate densities could represent an effective approach for restoring degraded grasslands. Moreover, increasing soil water content could contribute to effectively reducing grazing‐related damage to the biomass of grassland ecosystems.
Aquifer Characterization and Uncertainty in Multi‐Frequency Oscillatory Flow Tests: Approach and Insights
Authors: Patterson Jeremy R. , Cardiff Michael 
Published: September 2021

AbstractCharacterizing aquifer properties and their associated uncertainty remains a fundamental challenge in hydrogeology. Recent studies demonstrate the use of oscillatory flow interference testing to characterize effective aquifer flow properties. These characterization efforts relate the relative amplitude and phase of an observation signal with a single frequency component to aquifer diffusivity and transmissivity. Here, we present a generalized workflow that relates extracted Fourier coefficients for observation signals with single and multiple frequency components to aquifer flow properties and their associated uncertainty. Through synthetic analytical modeling we show that multi‐frequency oscillatory flow interference testing adds information that improves inversion performance and decreases parameter uncertainty. We show increased observation signal length, sampling frequency, and pressure sensor accuracy all produce decreased parameter uncertainty. This work represents the first attempt we are aware of to quantify effective aquifer parameters and their associated uncertainty using multi‐frequency oscillatory flow interference testing.
Children's perspectives and experiences of the COVID‐19 pandemic and UK public health measures
Authors: Thompson Jill , Spencer Grace , Curtis Penny 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe COVID‐19 pandemic has had profound impacts on how we live our lives; yet, the implications for children and the effects on children's everyday lives have been relatively underacknowledged. Understanding children's views on COVID‐19 and related restrictions on their lives provides an important opportunity to understand how children have responded to the pandemic, including the impacts on their social and emotional well‐being.ObjectiveThis study explored the experiences and perspectives of children in relation to the COVID‐19 pandemic and related restrictions on everyday life.MethodA qualitative study using semistructured online interviews with participatory drawings was undertaken between May and July 2020. Eighteen children from England and Wales, aged 7–11 years, participated in interviews.FindingsThemes included children's reflections on (1) COVID‐19 as a deadly contagion; (2) fears and sadness and (3) social responsibility and opportunities to respond positively.ConclusionsYoung children offer insightful reflections on their experiences during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Children and young people's perspectives must be considered in future public health discourse.Patient or Public ContributionThis work was informed by conversations with my own three primary school‐aged children and the children of friends. A formal Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) group was not established due to the speed with which the project was undertaken. Any future research in this area would benefit from formal PPI in the design, methods and questions.
A laboratory study to assess the physical, mechanical, and 3‐D structural properties of nano‐apatite grafted glass fibre‐based endodontic posts
Authors: Khan Abdul S. , AlMaimouni Yara K. , Benrashed Mashael A. , Alyousef Nujood I. , Siddiqui Usama , Ahmad Niyaz , Ateeq Ijlal S. , Hakeem Abbas S. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAimTo fabricate and characterize nano‐hydroxyapatite (nHA) grafted and non‐grafted glass fibre‐based endodontic posts.MethodologyExperimental glass fibre posts were fabricated using silanized nHA grafted (ex‐HA) and non‐grafted glass fibre (ex‐P) reinforced resins. The structural analysis and morphological patterns were analysed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. EverStick® glass fibre posts (eS) were used as a control group. The degree of conversion, flexural strength, and flexural modulus was investigated and the fractured structure was evaluated with a scanning electron microscope. Root canals were prepared in human extracted teeth restored with experimental and control posts. The push‐out bond strength was evaluated with radicular dentine at days 7, 30, and 90, and the presence of voids at the interface were measured at day 1, 7, 30, and 90 with micro‐computed tomography. The Shapiro–Wilk test and one‐way ANOVA post‐hoc Tukey's test were performed. The level of significance was set at 0.05.ResultsThe SEM and FTIR confirmed the presence of a silane‐coupling agent on the glass fibres. The ex‐HA post had a significantly lower degree of conversion compared to the ex‐P post (p = .0008), but a significantly higher conversion than the eS post (p = .0014). The maximum flexural strength value was obtained with the ex‐HA post with an insignificant difference (p = .366) compared to ex‐P post and a significant difference (p = .029) compared to the eS post. The flexural modulus of ex‐HA, ex‐P, and eS posts were significantly different (p = .037). Similarly, the ex‐HA post had a significantly higher push‐out bond strength at days 7 and 30 (p = .037) compared to the ex‐P and eS posts. The volume of voids had a nonlinear behaviour amongst the groups with no significant difference between the posts.ConclusionThe fabrication of the experimental posts was successful and the ex‐HA post had greater flexural strength and push‐out bond strength compared to the ex‐P post. The degree of conversion of the ex‐HA post was lower than the ex‐P and eS posts. The volume of voids of ex‐HA and ex‐P posts was lower than that of eS posts.
A systematic review of periungual eccrine neoplasms
Authors: Rao Elizabeth M. , Knackstedt Thomas J. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractEccrine tumors are a rare cutaneous adnexal neoplasm originating from the sweat glands. The periungual region represents an uncommon localization for these neoplasms. We analyzed all published demographic, clinical, and treatment data on periungual eccrine tumors. A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was performed of articles published prior to March 2021. Articles were included in the review if a full‐text English version was available. Of the surveyed literature, 27 full‐text case reports were included in the final analysis. Benign eccrine poroma and porocarcinoma were the most common tumor subtypes (nine and eight cases, respectively). Males were only affected by poroma and porocarcinoma, while females were affected by all tumor subtypes. The first toe was the most common lower extremity affected. Misdiagnosis led to delayed treatment in 25% of cases. As such, while periungual eccrine neoplasms are rare diagnoses, the nonspecific presentations of these growths raise concerns about misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. Further research is needed related to sex‐differences in the epidemiology of these growths and into the prevalence of the first toe as a location. These tumors should be considered in the differential diagnosis for nail unit afflictions.
Injustice impairs self‐regulation and affects food choice
Authors: Macedo Vera Margarida Cachapa , Correia Isabel , Prada Marília 
Published: September 2021

AbstractOverweight and obesity are risk factors for a range of chronic diseases, many of them caused by excessive consumption of unhealthy foods and insufficient consumption of healthy foods. The present study aims to experimentally test the effect of being exposed to injustice on the intention to consume healthy and unhealthy foods, through self‐regulation. We predicted that injustice decreases self‐regulation which in turn increases the intention to consume unhealthy foods and decreases the intention to consume healthy foods. Undergraduate students (N = 175; 89% women; Mage = 24.28, SD = 7.36) were randomly exposed to a scenario describing an unjust or a just academic situation. In a subsequent allegedly unrelated task, participants were asked to indicate their intention to consume each of 26 food items (half depicting unhealthy foods and half healthy foods, random order) during the subsequent week. As expected, injustice decreased self‐regulation which in turn increased the intention to consume unhealthy foods and decreased the intention to consume healthy foods. These results highlight the central importance of justice perceptions in the study of consumption and contribute to frame it in the study of the consequences of economic inequalities for nutrition.
Morphological differentiation in a migratory bird across geographic gradients in mountains of southern Europe
Authors: García Javier , Arizaga Juan , Rodríguez José Ignacio , Alonso Daniel , Suárez‐Seoane Susana 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAimIn temperate mountain ranges, sharp spatial variations in habitat heterogeneity and climate provide a perfect study setup to assess genetic and phenotypic differentiation in bird populations. In this paper, we analysed morphological divergence patterns across geographical and environmental gradients, in correlation with genetic differentiation and geographical isolation, in the breeding grounds of a long‐distance migratory passerine.LocationNorthwestern Iberian mountains.TaxonThe Iberian bluethroat,Luscina svecica azuricollis.MethodsWe collected a sample of 625 Iberian bluethroats across their whole breeding range to measure body weight and tarsus length, as well as wing length and pointedness. Morphological differentiation across geographical (latitude and elevation) and environmental (climate and vegetation) gradients was assessed using generalized linear mixed models. Additionally, the role of genetic distance and geographical isolation as drivers of morphological differentiation was evaluated with Mantel tests.ResultsBird morphology varied significantly with latitude and elevation, but not with climate or vegetation. In the case of latitude, morphological differences in body size were contrary to Bergmann's rule statements. All biometric and morphometric variables diverged among localities. A similar trend was found for genetic clusters, except for wing shape. Body weight and wing length were both correlated with geographic distance, while only the former varied with genetic differentiation. The greatest genetic and phenotypic differentiation was detected in the southernmost mountain range, that holds the most geographically isolated genetic group.Main conclusionEvidence suggests that the strong morphological differentiation observed in the Iberian breeding bluethroat across geographical gradients results from the combination of unambiguous deterministic forces, such as ecological selection mechanisms, and other factors, such as geographical isolation, that can be either deterministic, stochastic or both, all acting at different scales.
Niche divergence among closely related taxa provides insight on evolutionary patterns of ticks
Authors: Cuervo Pablo Fernando , Flores Fernando Sebastián , Venzal José Manuel , Nava Santiago 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAimUnderstanding the degree to which closely related taxa diverge in their niche traits could provide insight on their evolutionary patterns, as well as shed some light on the mechanisms underpinning broad‐scale biogeographic patterns. The evolution of ticks was thought to be driven by hosts. However, recent evidence suggests that tick evolution is more likely to be driven by habitat conditions. The Amblyomma maculatum group of ticks provides a good example to test the former, as its incipient speciation raises the possibility of a very rapid adaptation to slightly different environments.LocationThe Americas.TaxaTicks from the Amblyomma maculatum Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae) group (A. tigrinum, A. triste s.s., A. maculatum s.s. and two intermediate morphs).MethodsWe addressed the question of whether the differentiation of taxa within this group results from ecological factors, either maintaining a similar ecological niche (conservatism) or by occupying distinct niches (divergence). We analysed the distribution of each tick morphotype with ecological niche models. Next, we explored the question of whether these closely related taxa inhabit environments that are more different or more similar than expected by comparing niche overlap in environmental space.ResultsWe found evidence for niche differentiation, showing that the members of the Amblyomma maculatum group exist in and respond to aspects of different environments, leading to geographical variation.Main conclusionsThe analysis of the ecological niches of the Amblyomma maculatum group of ticks indicates niche conservatism for the pairs A. tigrinum—A. maculatum s.s. and A. triste s.s.—A. maculatum s.s, traditionally associated to allopatric speciation; while incipient niche divergence is suggested for the remaining comparisons. These findings add additional evidence to the study of the evolution of ticks, giving support to the hypothesis of habitat conditions driving the evolution of taxa with no strict host specificity.
Species–area relationship and small‐island effect of vascular plant diversity in a young volcanic archipelago
Authors: Chiarucci Alessandro , Guarino Riccardo , Pasta Salvatore , Rosa Alfonso La , Cascio Pietro Lo , Médail Frédéric , Pavon Daniel , Fernández‐Palacios José María , Zannini Piero 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAimsAeolian islands form an active volcanic archipelago. By using updated vascular plant checklists for islands and islets, we tested four hypotheses: (i) Island species–area relationship (ISAR) of alien species has lower c‐ and higher z‐values than native species, (ii) islands with active volcanoes have lower species richness than expected for native and alien species, (iii) ISAR of native species shows lower c‐ and higher z‐values than ISARs of Mediterranean land bridge archipelagos and (iv) species richness of smaller islets is independent of area.LocationAeolian Archipelago, Mediterranean Basin.TaxonVascular plants, identified and named according to the Flora of Italy (Pignatti et al., 2017–2019).MethodsChecklists of native and alien plant species were obtained for eight islands and 24 islets. ISARs were fitted by the Arrhenius power function () and used to test the first two hypotheses. The third hypothesis was tested by comparing ISAR of Aeolian Archipelago to those from other central and eastern Mediterranean archipelagos. The fourth hypothesis was tested by fitting models defining the presence and limit of the small‐island effect.ResultsThe checklists included 894 species—749 native and 145 alien. ISARs fitted well for native and alien species and resulted in typical values of c and z parameters. The first and second hypotheses were supported by model fitting. The third hypothesis was not confirmed by the comparison of the ISAR of the Aeolian Archipelago with other archipelagos. The small‐island effect predicted by the fourth hypothesis was supported using S versus LogA for both native and alien species, while for native species it was supported also using the log transformation of the Arrhenius model.Main conclusionsWe reported a first comprehensive analysis of plant species richness in the unique Aeolian Archipelago, verifying typical ISARs, no peculiarity with respect to land bridge archipelagos and a somewhat unclear signal for the small‐island effect.
Association of pulsatile stress in childhood with subclinical renal damage in adults: A 30‐year prospective cohort study
Authors: Liao Yueyuan , Chu Chao , Wang Yang , Zheng Wenling , Ma Qiong , Hu Jiawen , Yan Yu , Yang Jun , Yang Ruihai , Wang Keke , Yuan Yue , Chen Chen , Sun Yue , Wu Yuliang , Mu Jianjun 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe pulsatile stress in the microcirculation may contribute to development or progression of chronic kidney disease. However, there is no prospective data confirming whether pulsatile stress in early life affect renal function in middle age. The authors performed a longitudinal analysis of 1738 participants aged 6–15 years at baseline, an ongoing Adolescent Prospective Cohort with a follow‐up of 30 years. The authors evaluated the association between pulsatile stress in childhood and adult subclinical renal damage (SRD), adjusting for related covariates. Pulsatile stress was calculated as resting heart rate × pulse pressure. Renal function was assessed with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio (uACR). The results showed that pulsatile stress in childhood was associated with adult SRD (Relative Risk, 1.43; p = .032), and the predictive value of combined pulse pressure and heart rate for SRD was higher than either of them alone. The high pulsatile stress in childhood increased the risk of adult SRD in males (RR, 1.92; p = .003), but this association was not found in females (RR, 0.91; p = .729). Further, the participants were categorized into four groups on the basis of pulsatile stress status in childhood and adulthood. Male patients with high pulsatile stress during childhood but normal pulsatile stress as adults still had an increased risk of SRD (RR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.18–3.54), while female patients did not (RR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.46–1.99). The study demonstrated that high pulsatile stress in childhood significantly increased the risk of adult SRD, especially in males. Adequate control of pulse pressure and heart rate from childhood, in the long‐term, is very important for preventing kidney damage.
Effects of different salinity on the transcriptome and antibiotic resistance of two Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains isolated from Penaeus vannamei cultured in seawater and freshwater ponds
Authors: Ma Rongrong , Wang Yuan , Huang Liang , Zhao Shu , Li Letian , Yin Menghe , Fang Wenhong 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe transcriptome and antibiotic resistance of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from Penaeus vannamei cultured in seawater (strain HN1)and freshwater (strain SH1) ponds were studied at different salinity (2‰ and 20‰). At different salinity, 623 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) significantly upregulated and 1,559 DEGs significantly downregulated in SH1. In HN1, 466 DEGs significantly upregulated and 1,930 DEGs significantly downregulated, indicating high salinity can lead to the downregulation of most genes. In KEGG analysis, the expression of DEGs annotated to starch and sucrose metabolism pathway was higher at 2‰ salinity than at 20‰ salinity in HN1 and SH1, implying salinity affected bacterial growth mainly through this pathway. In the enrichment analysis of upregulated DEGs, two pathways (Valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation, and Butanoate metabolism) were significantly enriched at different salinity. Antibiotic‐susceptibility test discovered that SH1 isolated from P. vannamei cultured in freshwater was resistant to multiple drugs, including kanamycin, gentamicin, medemycin, and azithromycin, at a salinity of 2‰, whereas at 20‰ salinity, SH1 was not resistant to the drugs. The HN1 strain isolated from P. vannamei cultured in mariculture was resistant to polymyxin B and clindamycin at 20‰ salinity. Whereas, HN1 was intermediately susceptible to these two antibiotics at 2‰ salinity. These results indicate that the drug resistance of bacteria was affected by salinity. Furthermore, beta‐lactam resistance was significantly enriched in SH1 at different salinity, and the inhibition zone of penicillin G was consistent with the results of a beta‐lactam resistance pathway.
Combination of ultrasonic waves and dielectric barrier discharge plasma for the viable reduction in human norovirus while retaining the quality of raw sea squirt
Authors: Kim Ji Yoon , Jeon Eun Bi , Song Min Gyu , Ha Kwang Soo , Jeong Sang Hyeon , Jung Yeoun Joong , Park Shin Young 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThis study investigated the combined effects of ultrasonic waves treatment (UW; 44 kHz, 200 W for 30 and 60 min) and dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treatment (DP; 1.1 kV, 43 kHz, 1.5 L/min N2 for 10, 30, and 60 min) on the viable reduction of human norovirus (HNV) GII. 4 in fresh sea squirt. The HNV was detected by RT‐PCR with propidium monoazide/sarkosyl to distinguish infectious viruses from their noninfectious counterparts. Compared with UW alone (0.41–0.60 log), DP alone (0.48–1.24 log) reduced the HNV to a greater extent; additionally, the HNV was significantly reduced by increasing the combined treatment time. The UW 60 min + DP 60 min achieved a 1.97 log reduction. The pH and Hunter colors were not found to differ significantly between the separate and combined treatment.Practical ApplicationsOur findings indicate that combined ultrasonic waves and DBD plasma treatment could serve as a potential nonthermal method for application to seafood for the reduction of human norovirus (HNV). The UW 60 min + DP 60 min may offer effective nonthermal combined treatment to reduce viable HNV GII. 4 without affecting the food quality.