bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effective sampling area is a major driver of power to detect long‐term trends in multispecies occupancy monitoring
Authors: Tucker Jody M. , Moriarty Katie M. , Ellis Martha M. , Golding Jessie D. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractOccupancy‐based monitoring has become an important tool in wildlife conservation and management. Nonetheless, meeting occupancy modeling assumptions and providing biologically accurate information are difficult tasks over long time periods, large areas, or when monitoring multiple species. In occupancy modeling frameworks, derived grids are commonly used to divide landscapes into discrete units. Grid sizes that match the home range size of the species of interest are considered optimal, but this practice is complicated as home range size may vary by sex, habitat quality, or among species. Additionally, studies often assume their survey methods sample an entire grid cell when the actual effective sampling area may be much smaller. The effect of reduced effective sampling area on occupancy estimation has received little attention to date, despite being flagged as a critical issue. In this study, we assessed (1) how the relationship between effective area, home range size, and grid size affects power to detect trends in occupancy; (2) how varying the sampling design factors of effective area, duration, detection probability, and resurvey interval influence monitoring efficiency; and (3) determine whether a single sampling design can simultaneously detect declines in two species with different home range sizes. We used a spatially explicit simulation framework to create biologically realistic declining populations over 10 yr and assessed statistical power to detect known declines using occupancy modeling. We found that effective area and detection probability had the greatest influence on statistical power. We could not reliably detect declines when detection probability was low or when effective sampling area was <1/4 cell. We conclude that failing to account for effective area less than the cell size will result in overestimation of statistical power. Our simulations suggest occupancy models can detect declines for two species with different home range sizes using the same grid cell size under certain conditions, for instance, surveying >25% of the landscape, ≥25% effective area, and fixed sampling locations. Further, increasing resampling interval greatly increased monitoring efficiency. Our results show monitoring planning requires explicit consideration of effective sampling area and methods with sufficient detectability to detect population declines.
Multi‐scale demographic analysis reveals range contraction via pseudo‐source and sink population structure
Authors: Robinson O. J. , Ruiz‐Gutierrez V. , Meese R. J. , Graves E. E. , Holyoak M. , Wilson C. R. , Wyckoff A. C. , Merriell B. D. , Snyder C. , Cooch E. G. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractNaturally occurring populations of most species are distributed non‐uniformly across their ranges. Observed changes in range‐wide population size are attributed to local‐scale processes such as fecundity and survival and to regional scale demographic processes such as immigration. It is often infeasible to study a species across its entire range, and we frequently make inferences on populations as a whole based on the demographic rates of a more restricted area. Extrapolating inferences about demographic processes from study areas to the entire species' range can lead to erroneous estimations, particularly when permanent emigrants contribute significantly to individual population processes. In this paper, we evaluated demographic processes and population trends at multiple scales for tricolored blackbirds (Agelaiustricolor) in California using site‐specific banding data and range‐wide citizen‐science data. First, we found that a previous estimate of statewide decline of 34% is largely driven by an estimated decline of 51.7% for the southern population. Second, we found evidence of a pseudo‐source and sink system, with the northern region acting as a sink for individuals moving from the declining southern region. The southern region is a “pseudo‐source” since it has lower rates of adult survival and an annual growth rate ofr = −0.099, while still acting as a source of immigrants for the northern region. In turn, the north fits the traditional definition of a sink by an annual growth rate near zero, in addition to declining at a rate of 2.5% even though it is estimated to receive immigrants from the south at rates ranging from 8.3% to 13.2% per year. Our results suggest that the loss of wetland habitats in Southern California, coupled with increasing severity of droughts driven by changing climatic conditions, has created this pseudo‐source and sink system. Long term, tricolored blackbirds are likely to experience range contraction in the south, and the northern region is likely to undergo declines due to a loss of immigrants from the south.
Modeling riparian species occurrence from historical surveys to guide restoration planning in northwestern USA
Authors: Beechie Timothy J. , Stefankiv Oleksandr , Bond Morgan , Pollock Michael 
Published: May 2021

AbstractSuccessful restoration of riparian habitats and functions depends in part on selection of plant species that are suited to local geomorphic and climatic conditions, which often relies on contemporary reference sites to characterize target riparian vegetation communities. In heavily modified landscapes, a lack of undisturbed sites hinders the description of reference conditions to help guide planning efforts. In lieu of contemporary reference sites, we used historical Public Land Survey data from the late 1800s and early 1900s to document historical streamside vegetation at 1685 sites distributed throughout the Columbia River basin. We used those data to construct a random forest classification model using climatic and geomorphic variables to predict the probability of occurrence of riparian vegetation groups (conifer, deciduous, shrub, and willow) and individual taxa (fir, pine, cedar, cottonwood, alder, sagebrush) for all stream reaches with bankfull width >6 m in the interior Columbia River basin. The most common predictor variables included in the best models for vegetation groups or individual taxa were mean annual precipitation, minimum temperature, elevation, and bankfull width. For some taxa, temperature range and floodplain width were also important predictors. The probability maps indicate that riparian zones were likely dominated by willow species in semi‐desert regions and by conifer species in the humid mountain regions. Deciduous species dominated riparian areas in transition zones between conifer forests and semi‐deserts. Species distributions suggest that streams in the semi‐deserts were likely characterized by little shade and low wood abundance, whereas streams in the humid mountains would have been more heavily shaded with high wood abundance. The transitional deciduous areas were likely shaded with moderate wood abundance. Historical trends in air temperature and precipitation suggest relatively small changes in climate since the time of the surveys, indicating that current species ranges are likely similar to historical species ranges. Hence, these maps can be used to help identify suitable taxonomic groups and expected riparian functions for riparian restoration in the Columbia River basin, with appropriate adjustments made to site‐specific restoration designs to account for model uncertainty, future climate change, or land use constraints.
The importance of determining species sensitivity to environmental change: a tree frog example
Authors: McCoy Earl D. , Delis Pablo R. , Mushinsky Henry R. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractConservation schemes typically place species into categories, ranging roughly from rare to common or from vulnerable to least concern. Although a species may not be categorized as rare or vulnerable, it still may be sensitive to environmental change and, therefore, at risk of decline. To illustrate the importance of determining species sensitivity, we documented the relative sensitivities of four species of tree frogs, none of which have been designated particularly rare or vulnerable, to environmental change. Our research was conducted in central Florida, where prior research had suggested that Dryophytes femoralis and Dryophytes gratiosus were more sensitive to environmental change than Dryophytes cinereus and Dryophytes squirellus. A comparison of species characteristics and a field study of local abundances supported the dichotomy. Particularly, important environmental factors affecting the two more‐sensitive species adversely appear to be habitat selectivity, at a smaller scale, and nearness to the species’ southern range limits, at a larger scale. We suspected that one of the more‐sensitive species, D. gratiosus, is particularly sensitive to environmental change and that the cause is related to reproduction and/or growth. A series of laboratory analyses suggested strongly that the realized production of adults was less for D. gratiosus than for D. femoralis. Despite their identical placement in categorization schemes, the four species exhibited substantial differences in sensitivity to environmental change. A strong case can be made that the degree of sensitivity of D. gratiosus warrants increased conservation attention for the species. Our results indicate the potential value of field work and the generation of species‐specific information in improving categorization schemes, of broadening the categorization criteria typically employed, to accommodate sensitivity to environmental change, and of considering geographical scale in categorization schemes more than is done at present.
Distinctive prognostic factor of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction stratified with admission blood pressure
Authors: Nakagawa Akito , Yasumura Yoshio , Yoshida Chikako , Okumura Takahiro , Tateishi Jun , Yoshida Junichi , Tamaki Shunsuke , Yano Masamichi , Hayashi Takaharu , Nakagawa Yusuke , Yamada Takahisa , Nakatani Daisaku , Hikoso Shungo , Sakata Yasushi ,   Osaka CardioVascular Conference (OCVC)‐Heart Failure investigators
Published: May 2021

AbstractAimsThe prognostic importance of admission systolic blood pressure (SBP) in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is elusive. We aimed to clarify the pathophysiological differences between patients categorized with admission SBP among HFpEF patients.Methods and resultsWe studied 1008 inpatients from PURSUIT‐HFpEF, a multicentre prospective observational registry. We classified patients as having elevated (>140 mmHg), preserved (90–140 mmHg), or low (<90 mmHg) admission SBP. Most cases had elevated (n = 584) or preserved (n = 420) SBP; the four cases with low SBP were excluded. Univariable Cox regression testing revealed that preserved SBP patients had a higher risk of a composite of cardiac death and heart failure re‐hospitalization [hazard ratio (HR) 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14–1.92, P = 0.0035] than elevated SBP patients. In multivariable Cox regression models, while prior heart failure hospitalization (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.01–2.84, P = 0.0453), atrial fibrillation (HR 1.82, 95% CI 1.10–2.99, P = 0.0209), and N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.10–3.43, P = 0.0229) at discharge were significantly associated with adverse outcomes in elevated SBP patients, N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (HR 2.06, 95% CI 1.04–4.07, P = 0.0373) and right ventricular‐pulmonary artery uncoupling reflected by the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/pulmonary artery systolic pressure ratio (HR 0.19, 95% CI 0.05–0.65, P = 0.0075) at discharge were significant prognostic factors in preserved SBP patients.ConclusionsPatients with preserved admission SBP had significant higher risks for adverse outcomes than those with elevated SBP in HFpEF. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion/pulmonary artery systolic pressure was the distinctive prognostic factor between the two groups.
Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio and outcomes in patients with new‐onset or worsening heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Curran Fraser M. , Bhalraam U , Mohan Mohapradeep , Singh Jagdeep S. , Anker Stefan D. , Dickstein Kenneth , Doney Alexander S. , Filippatos Gerasimos , George Jacob , Metra Marco , Ng Leong L. , Palmer Colin N. , Samani Nilesh J. , van Veldhuisen Dirk J. , Voors Adriaan A. , Lang Chim C. , Mordi Ify R. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAimsInflammation is thought to play a role in heart failure (HF) pathophysiology. Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a simple, routinely available measure of inflammation. Its relationship with other inflammatory biomarkers and its association with clinical outcomes in addition to other risk markers have not been comprehensively evaluated in HF patients.MethodsWe evaluated patients with worsening or new‐onset HF from the BIOlogy Study to Tailored Treatment in Chronic Heart Failure (BIOSTAT‐CHF) study who had available NLR at baseline. The primary outcome was time to all‐cause mortality or HF hospitalization. Outcomes were validated in a separate HF population.Results1622 patients were evaluated (including 523 ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] < 40% and 662 LVEF ≥ 40%). NLR was significantly correlated with biomarkers related to inflammation as well as NT‐proBNP. NLR was significantly associated with the primary outcome in patients irrespective of LVEF (hazard ratio [HR] 1.18 per standard deviation increase; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11–1.26, P < 0.001). Patients with NLR in the highest tertile had significantly worse outcome than those in the lowest independent of LVEF (<40%: HR 2.75; 95% CI 1.84–4.09, P < 0.001; LVEF ≥ 40%: HR 1.51; 95% CI 1.05–2.16, P = 0.026). When NLR was added to the BIOSTAT‐CHF risk score, there were improvements in integrated discrimination index (IDI) and net reclassification index (NRI) for occurrence of the primary outcome (IDI + 0.009; 95% CI 0.00–0.019, P = 0.030; continuous NRI + 0.112, 95% CI 0.012–0.176, P = 0.040). Elevated NLR was similarly associated with adverse outcome in the validation cohort. Decrease in NLR at 6 months was associated with reduced incidence of the primary outcome (HR 0.75; 95% CI 0.57–0.98, P = 0.036).ConclusionsElevated NLR is significantly associated with elevated markers of inflammation in HF patients and is associated with worse outcome. Elevated NLR might potentially be useful in identifying high‐risk HF patients and may represent a treatment target.
Characterization of Oleogels Based on Waxes and Their Hydrolyzates
Authors: Wettlaufer Till , Hetzer Birgit , Flöter Eckhard 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIn this paper, the structuring of liquid oils, also known as oleogelation, is systematically investigated for the first time using a quasi‐quaternary mixing system approach. Native waxes with different quantities of wax esters (WE), n‐alkanes (hydrocarbons (HC)), fatty acids (FA), and fatty alcohols (FaOH) are applied in mixtures with hydrolyzed waxes to systematically change the composition. Hydrolyzed waxes contain high levels of FA and FaOH. The model systems are investigated on microscopic level (brightfield light microscopy (BFM), cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (cryo‐SEM)) as well as on their macroscopic properties (rheology, gel hardness) and calorimetric behavior (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)). It is found that sunflower wax (SFW)‐based gels (12% structurant) become less hard on any admixture. Beeswax (BW)‐based gels show significant increases in hardness when 25% and 50% (w/w) hydrolyzate are admixed. This could be related to stepwise crystallization. Further analysis reveals that the dissolution/melting behavior of the wax ester mixtures can be surprisingly well described as ideal solubility of a single pseudocomponent. The approach to unravel the individual contributions of the different species present in waxes is successful and marks a first step to better understand the systematic of wax functionality as oleogelators.Practical Application: The substitution of hardstock fats in structured oil phases is of interest for two reasons. The improved nutritional profile oleogels offer are beneficial for public health while the elimination of palm oil based ingredients appears to be a general public desire. Among the technical solutions for non‐TAG oil structuring waxes are very promising. This is primarily due to their availability, prior consumption, potentially low cost for functionality. Currently waxes are technically and scientifically wrongly treated as single components. In order to better utilize the potential of waxes and design future sourcing strategies it is necessary to understand the wax functionality at a compositional/molecular level. This contribution marks the first step into this direction by considering classes of molecules with respect to their contribution to functionality. This understanding is considered as a key for future compositional design.
The Atrazine Saga and its Importance to the Future of Toxicology, Science, and Environmental and Human Health
Authors: Rohr Jason R. 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The herbicide atrazine is one of the most commonly used, well studied, and controversial pesticides on the planet. Much of the controversy involves the effects of atrazine on wildlife, particularly amphibians, and the ethically questionable decision making of members of industry, government, the legal system, and institutions of higher education, in most cases in an effort to “bend science,” defined as manipulating research to advance economic, political, or ideological ends. In this Critical Perspective I provide a timeline of the most salient events in the history of the atrazine saga, which includes a multimillion-dollar smear campaign, lawsuits, investigative reporting, accusation of impropriety against the US Environmental Protection Agency, and a multibillion-dollar transaction. I argue that the atrazine controversy must be more than just a true story of cover-ups, bias, and vengeance. It must be used as an example of how manufacturing uncertainty and bending science can be exploited to delay undesired regulatory decisions and how greed and conflicts of interest—situations where personal or organizational considerations have compromised or biased professional judgment and objectivity—can affect environmental and public health and erode trust in the discipline of toxicology, science in general, and the honorable functioning of societies. Most importantly, I offer several recommendations that should help to 1) prevent the history of atrazine from repeating itself, 2) enhance the credibility and integrity of science, and 3) enrich human and environmental health. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1544–1558. © 2021 SETAC
Making resilience explicit in FRAM: Shedding light on desired outcomes
Authors: Bueno Wagner Pietrobelli , Wachs Priscila , Saurin Tarcisio Abreu , Ransolin Natália , de Souza Kuchenbecker Ricardo 
Published: May 2021

AbstractResilience plays a key role in desired outcomes of socio‐technical systems. However, the Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM), which has been the main modeling tool in light of resilience engineering, does not make explicit the role of resilience. This paper addresses this gap by proposing new procedures for the development of FRAM models of desired outcomes. They are: (i) the active search for functions that display resilient performance; (ii) the assessment of the frequency at which the function output is expected to occur at the same way as it occurred in the desired outcome – frequent unwanted variabilities that occur despite desired outcomes tend to be hidden; (iii) understanding of the reasons for desired outcomes based on the analysis of the logical associations between each function, the abilities of resilient systems and guidelines for coping with complexity; and (iv) the proposal of recommendations for sustaining the observed successful performance. Two case studies of events with desired outcomes in an intensive care unit illustrate the applicability of the proposal. The proposal is expected to be useful for making systems more resilient to everyday work, in which vulnerabilities might be hidden by desired outcomes.
International financial reporting standards, domestic debt finance and institutional quality: Evidence from developing countries
Authors: Tawiah Vincent , Gyapong Ernest 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWe have examined the relationship between international financial reporting standards (IFRS and IFRS for SMEs) and domestic credit to the private sector by banks. Using data on 107 developing countries from 2000 to 2017, we found that the use of IFRS and IFRS for SMEs is positively associated with an increase in domestic credit to the private sector in developing countries. Our analysis on the individual global standards shows that the relationship is much stronger for the use of full IFRS than IFRS for SMEs. We found that the effect of both international standards on domestic credit is more profound in countries with weaker institutional quality, indicating the overwhelming support that these sets of international standards are quality standards that boost confidence in financial statements. Other robustness tests confirm our results.
Sugarcane response to different soil water replenishment‐based deficit irrigation treatments during different growth stages in an Indian semi‐arid region*
Authors: Dingre S.K. , Gorantiwar S.D. , Pawar D.D. , Dahiwalkar S.D. , Nimbalkar C.A. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a specified water deficit during a specified growth stage by replenishing root zone soil water. A field experiment was conducted with 27 treatments in randomized block design comprising groupings of different root zone soil water replenishment levels (100%, 70%, and 40%) during different growth stages (tillering, grand growth, and maturity) over three full‐year seasons of 2015–2017 in clay soils of semi‐arid western India. The full‐season 100% soil water replenishment produced higher yield (174 t ha−1), net monetary returns, and benefit‐cost (B:C) ratio that decreased linearly with linear decrease in water use. Full‐season 40% soil water replenishment caused a reduction in yield of about 40.7%, whereas a 70% replenishment caused a reduction in yield by 14%. The quality parameters of sugarcane improved non‐significantly in high‐water‐deficit conditions compared with full irrigation. The smaller range of water productivity in all seasons indicated a linear decrease when irrigation water increased and yields decreased under the different treatments. The net income and B:C ratio related to marketable cane yield was highest in 100% soil water replenishment (INR 274,000 ha−1and 1.58, respectively) and then declined with the decrease in water use depth. The water deficit imposed during the long‐duration grand growth stage had adverse effects on cane yield, followed by tillering and maturity stages. Deficit irrigation scheduling at 100%, 70%, and 40% soil water replenishment at tillering, grand growth, and maturity stages, respectively, was appropriate. The water requirement of seasonal sugarcane under full irrigation and water deficit conditions was 1,320 and 1,150 mm, respectively.