bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cloning, expression, and characteristic analysis of the novel β‐galactosidase from silkworm, Bombyx mori
Authors: Yi Yongzhu , Li Jialei , Zong Zhipeng , Liu Xingjian , Song Haozhi , Wang Haining , Zhang Zhifang , Zhang Huan , Li Yinü 
Published: August 2021

Summaryβ‐Galactosidase is a critical exoglycosidase involved in the hydrolysis of lactose, the modification and degradation of glycoprotein in vivo. In this study, the β‐galactosidase gene of silkworm (BmGal), whose cDNA comprises 11 exons and contains an intact ORF of 1,821 bp, was cloned. The protein sequence of BmGal showed high similarity with other known insect β‐galactosidases. No activity of the BmGal expressed in Escherichia coli or Pichia pastoris was detected while it was successfully expressed with high enzyme activity in baculovirus expression system in silkworm, and the electrophoresis result revealed that the BmGal showed activity in oligomer mode. Enzyme activity assay showed that its optimum pH was 8.4 and its optimum temperature was 40 °C. What is more, we found that iron ions can stimulate the activity of the enzyme while cobalt, nickel, or lead ions can inhibit its activity significantly. Besides, the temporal–spatial transcription pattern of the BmGal mRNA level was analyzed, which showed that BmGal was transcribed at the highest level in the fifth larval instar but relatively low level in the pupal and adult stage, and the highest transcriptional level of BmGal was found in testis among all the tissues concerned.
Opportunities to reduce pollination deficits and address production shortfalls in an important insect‐pollinated crop
Authors: Garratt Michael P. D. , de Groot G. Arjen , Albrecht Matthias , Bosch Jordi , Breeze Tom D. , Fountain Michelle T. , Klein Alexandra M. , McKerchar Megan , Park Mia , Paxton Robert J. , Potts Simon G. , Pufal Gesine , Rader Romina , Senapathi Deepa , Andersson Georg K. S. , Bernauer Olivia M. , Blitzer Eleanor J. , Boreux Virginie , Campbell Alistair J. , Carvell Claire , Földesi Rita , García Daniel , Garibaldi Lucas A. , Hambäck Peter A. , Kirkitadze Giorgi , Kovács‐Hostyánszki Anikó , Martins Kyle T. , Miñarro Marcos , O’Connor Rory , Radzeviciute Rita , Roquer‐Beni Laura , Samnegård Ulrika , Scott Lorraine , Vereecken Nicolas J. , Wäckers Felix , Webber Sean M. , Japoshvili George , Zhusupbaeva Aigul 
Published: August 2021

AbstractPollinators face multiple pressures and there is evidence of populations in decline. As demand for insect‐pollinated crops increases, crop production is threatened by shortfalls in pollination services. Understanding the extent of current yield deficits due to pollination and identifying opportunities to protect or improve crop yield and quality through pollination management is therefore of international importance. To explore the extent of “pollination deficits,” where maximum yield is not being achieved due to insufficient pollination, we used an extensive dataset on a globally important crop, apples. We quantified how these deficits vary between orchards and countries and we compared “pollinator dependence” across different apple varieties. We found evidence of pollination deficits and, in some cases, risks of overpollination were even apparent for which fruit quality could be reduced by too much pollination. In almost all regions studied we found some orchards performing significantly better than others in terms of avoiding a pollination deficit and crop yield shortfalls due to suboptimal pollination. This represents an opportunity to improve production through better pollinator and crop management. Our findings also demonstrated that pollinator dependence varies considerably between apple varieties in terms of fruit number and fruit quality. We propose that assessments of pollination service and deficits in crops can be used to quantify supply and demand for pollinators and help to target local management to address deficits although crop variety has a strong influence on the role of pollinators.
Evaluating online and tangible interfaces for engaging stakeholders in forecasting and control of biological invasions
Authors: Gaydos Devon A. , Jones Chris M. , Jones Shannon K. , Millar Garrett C. , Petras Vaclav , Petrasova Anna , Mitasova Helena , Meentemeyer Ross K. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractEcological forecasts will be best suited to inform intervention strategies if they are accessible to a diversity of decision‐makers. Researchers are developing intuitive forecasting interfaces to guide stakeholders through the development of intervention strategies and visualization of results. Yet, few studies to date have evaluated how user interface design facilitates the coordinated, cross‐boundary management required for controlling biological invasions. We used a participatory approach to develop complementary tangible and online interfaces for collaboratively forecasting biological invasions and devising control strategies. A diverse group of stakeholders evaluated both systems in the real‐world context of controlling sudden oak death, an emerging forest disease killing millions of trees in California and Oregon. Our findings suggest that while both interfaces encouraged adaptive experimentation, tangible interfaces are particularly well suited to support collaborative decision‐making. Reflecting on the strengths of both systems, we suggest workbench‐style interfaces that support simultaneous interactions and dynamic geospatial visualizations.
How index selection, compression, and recording schedule impact the description of ecological soundscapes
Authors: Heath Becky E. , Sethi Sarab S. , Orme C. David L. , Ewers Robert M. , Picinali Lorenzo 
Published: August 2021

Abstract

Acoustic indices derived from environmental soundscape recordings are being used to monitor ecosystem health and vocal animal biodiversity. Soundscape data can quickly become very expensive and difficult to manage, so data compression or temporal down‐sampling are sometimes employed to reduce data storage and transmission costs. These parameters vary widely between experiments, with the consequences of this variation remaining mostly unknown.

We analyse field recordings from North‐Eastern Borneo across a gradient of historical land use. We quantify the impact of experimental parameters (MP3 compression, recording length and temporal subsetting) on soundscape descriptors (Analytical Indices and a convolutional neural net derived AudioSet Fingerprint). Both descriptor types were tested for their robustness to parameter alteration and their usability in a soundscape classification task.

We find that compression and recording length both drive considerable variation in calculated index values. However, we find that the effects of this variation and temporal subsetting on the performance of classification models is minor: performance is much more strongly determined by acoustic index choice, with Audioset fingerprinting offering substantially greater (12%–16%) levels of classifier accuracy, precision and recall.

We advise using the AudioSet Fingerprint in soundscape analysis, finding superior and consistent performance even on small pools of data. If data storage is a bottleneck to a study, we recommend Variable Bit Rate encoded compression (quality = 0) to reduce file size to 23% file size without affecting most Analytical Index values. The AudioSet Fingerprint can be compressed further to a Constant Bit Rate encoding of 64 kb/s (8% file size) without any detectable effect. These recommendations allow the efficient use of restricted data storage whilst permitting comparability of results between different studies.
Woody encroachment of grasslands: Near‐surface thermal implications assessed through the lens of an astronomical event
Authors: Tanner Evan P. , Fuhlendorf Samuel D. , Polo John A. , Peterson Jacob M. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractTemperature has long been understood as a fundamental condition that influences ecological patterns and processes. Heterogeneity in landscapes that is structured by ultimate (climate) and proximate (vegetation, topography, disturbance events, and land use) forces serve to shape thermal patterns across multiple spatio‐temporal scales. Thermal landscapes of grasslands are likely shifting as woody encroachment fragments these ecosystems and studies quantifying thermal fragmentation in grassland systems resulting from woody encroachment are lacking. We utilized the August 21st, 2017, solar eclipse to mimic a rapid sunrise/sunset event across a landscape characterized as a grassland to experimentally manipulate levels of solar radiation in the system. We then quantified changes in near‐surface temperatures resulting from changes in solar radiation levels during the eclipse. Temperatures were monitored across three grassland pastures in central Oklahoma that were characterized by different densities (low, medium, and high) of Juniperus virginiana to understand the impact of woody encroachment on diurnal temperature patterns and thermal heterogeneity in a grassland's thermal landscape. The largest temperature range across sites that occurred during the eclipse was in the mixed grass vegetation. Similarly, the largest change in thermal heterogeneity occurred in the grassland with the lowest amount of woody encroachment. Thermal heterogeneity was lowest in the highly encroached grassland, which also experienced the lowest overall change in thermal heterogeneity during the eclipse. Time series models suggested that solar radiation was the most influential factor in predicting changes in thermal heterogeneity as opposed to ambient temperature alone. These results suggest that highly encroached grasslands may experience lower diurnal variability of temperatures at the cost of a decrease in the overall thermal heterogeneity of that landscape. It appears that fine‐scale spatio‐temporal thermal variation is largely driven by solar radiation, which can be influenced by vegetation heterogeneity inherent within a landscape.
Functional traits driving species role in the structure of terrestrial vertebrate scavenger networks
Authors: Sebastián‐González Esther , Morales‐Reyes Zebensui , Botella Francisco , Naves‐Alegre Lara , Pérez‐García Juan M. , Mateo‐Tomás Patricia , Olea Pedro P. , Moleón Marcos , Barbosa Jomar Magalhães , Hiraldo Fernando , Arrondo Eneko , Donázar José A. , Cortés‐Avizanda Ainara , Selva Nuria , Lambertucci Sergio A. , Bhattacharjee Aishwarya , Brewer Alexis L. , Abernethy Erin F. , Turner Kelsey L. , Beasley James C. , DeVault Travis L. , Gerke Hannah C. , Rhodes Olin E. , Ordiz Andrés , Wikenros Camilla , Zimmermann Barbara , Wabakken Petter , Wilmers Christopher C. , Smith Justine A. , Kendall Corinne J. , Ogada Darcy , Frehner Ethan , Allen Maximilian L. , Wittmer Heiko U. , Butler James R. A. , du Toit Johan T. , Margalida Antoni , Oliva‐Vidal Pilar , Wilson David , Jerina Klemen , Krofel Miha , Kostecke Rich , Inger Richard , Per Esra , Ayhan Yunus , Sancı Mehmet , Yılmazer Ünsal , Inagaki Akino , Koike Shinsuke , Samson Arockianathan , Perrig Paula L. , Spencer Emma E. , Newsome Thomas M. , Heurich Marco , Anadón José D. , Buechley Evan R. , Gutiérrez‐Cánovas Cayetano , Elbroch L. Mark , Sánchez‐Zapata José A. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSpecies assemblages often have a non‐random nested organization, which in vertebrate scavenger (carrion‐consuming) assemblages is thought to be driven by facilitation in competitive environments. However, not all scavenger species play the same role in maintaining assemblage structure, as some species are obligate scavengers (i.e., vultures) and others are facultative, scavenging opportunistically. We used a database with 177 vertebrate scavenger species from 53 assemblages in 22 countries across five continents to identify which functional traits of scavenger species are key to maintaining the scavenging network structure. We used network analyses to relate ten traits hypothesized to affect assemblage structure with the “role” of each species in the scavenging assemblage in which it appeared. We characterized the role of a species in terms of both the proportion of monitored carcasses on which that species scavenged, or scavenging breadth (i.e., the species “normalized degree”), and the role of that species in the nested structure of the assemblage (i.e., the species “paired nested degree”), therefore identifying possible facilitative interactions among species. We found that species with high olfactory acuity, social foragers, and obligate scavengers had the widest scavenging breadth. We also found that social foragers had a large paired nested degree in scavenger assemblages, probably because their presence is easier to detect by other species to signal carcass occurrence. Our study highlights differences in the functional roles of scavenger species and can be used to identify key species for targeted conservation to maintain the ecological function of scavenger assemblages.
PASCAL‐based mitral valve repair in an all‐comer population: acute and mid‐term clinical results
Authors: Schlegel Philipp , Crespo López Patricia , Kreusser Michael M. , Katus Hugo A. , Frey Norbert , Geis Nicolas A. , Raake Philip W.J. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAimsWe investigated short and mid‐term safety and efficacy of the PASCAL system for percutaneous mitral valve repair (PMVr) in severe mitral regurgitation (MR) in an all‐comer population.Methods and resultsIn the first consecutive 41 patients undergoing PMVr using the PASCAL system in our centre, procedural success and safety were assessed. Efficacy in improving MR and functional class were evaluated. Median patient age was 74 years, 58.5% were male patients, and median European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation Score II was 5.1%. All patients suffered from severe MR with 59% functional MR, 29% degenerative MR, and 12% of mixed aetiology MR. The technical success rate was 90%, limited by four cases where PASCAL implantation was aborted due to a prohibitive mitral gradient. On average, 1.16 PASCAL devices per patient were implanted. All patients successfully implanted with a PASCAL device were discharged with MR grade ≤ 2 and 79% with MR grade ≤ 1. Mean follow‐up was 8.7 ± 4.9 months. Ninety‐seven per cent of patients remained at MR ≤ 2 at follow‐up, which translated into a significantly improved New York Heart Association functional class as well as a significant reduction of systolic pulmonary artery pressure and brain natriuretic peptide levels. The procedure‐related rate for major adverse events was 3%. Neither early nor late single‐leaflet detachment was found. In one patient, air embolism occurred, resulting in modification of the PASCAL instructions for use.ConclusionsPercutaneous mitral valve repair using PASCAL in a real‐world, all‐comer population was feasible and safe, resulting in a significant mid‐term reduction of MR with persistent clinical improvement.
[Tc(NO)Cl(Cp)(PPh3)] – A Technetium(I) Compound with an Unexpected Synthetic Potential
Authors: Abdulkader Abdullah , Hagenbach Adelheid , Abram Ulrich 
Published: August 2021

AbstractReactions of the chiral organometallic technetium(I) compound [Tc(NO)Cl(Cp)(PPh3)] (1 a) with phosphines and alkynes give unexpected products such as the dimeric cation [{Tc(NO)(Cp)(PPh3)}2Cl]+ (4) or the Fischer‐type carbene [Tc(NO)(Cp)(PPh3){C(OR)C2H4PPh3}]2+ (5). Both products could be isolated as PF6− salts and studied by spectroscopic methods and X‐ray diffraction. While [Tc(NO)(Cp)(PMe3)(PPh3)](PF6) (2PF6) can be obtained from 1 a, PMe3 and Ag(PF6) under ambient conditions, the synthesis of the corresponding bis‐triphenylphosphine complex [Tc(NO)(Cp)(PPh3)2](PF6) (3PF6) requires high temperatures and long reaction times. The products are stable in air.
Intraoperative pain during caesarean delivery: Incidence, risk factors and physician perception
Authors: Keltz Amir , Heesen Philip , Katz Daniel , Neuman Ido , Morgenshtein Anna , Azem Karam , Binyamin Yair , Hadar Eran , Eidelman Leonid A. , Orbach‐Zinger Sharon 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundIntraoperative pain is a possible complication of neuraxial anaesthesia for caesarean delivery. There is little information available about its incidence, risk factors and physician perception.MethodsParturients undergoing spinal anaesthesia for elective caesarean delivery were enrolled. Before surgery, parturients were asked about preoperative anxiety on a verbal numerical scale (VNS), anticipated analgesic requirement, postoperative pain levels, Spielberger STATE‐TRAIT inventory index, Pain Catastrophizing Scale. After surgery, parturients were asked to answer questions (intraoperative VNS pain). The anaesthesiologist and obstetrician were asked to fill out a questionnaire asking about perceived intraoperative pain. Influence of preoperative anxiety on intraoperative pain (yes/no) was assessed using logistic regression. Mc Fadden's R2 was calculated. The agreement in physician perception of intraoperative pain with reported pain by the parturient was examined by calculating Cohen's kappa and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI).ResultsWe included 193 parturients in our analysis. Incidence of intraoperative pain was 11.9%. Median intraoperative VNS pain of parturients with pain was 4.0 (1st quartile 4.0; 3rd quartile 9.0). Preoperative anxiety was not a good predictor of intraoperative pain (p‐value of β‐coefficient = 0.43, Mc Fadden's R2 = 0.01). Including further preoperative variables did not result in a good prediction model. Cohen's kappa between reported pain by parturient and by the obstetrician was 0.21 (95% CI: 0.01, 0.41) and by the anaesthesiologist was 0.3 (95% CI: 0.12, 0.48).ConclusionsWe found a substantial incidence (11.9%) of intraoperative pain during caesarean delivery. Preoperative anxiety did not predict intraoperative pain. Physicians did not accurately identify parturients’ intraoperative pain.SignificanceIntraoperative pain occurred in 11.9% and severe intraoperative pain occurred in 1.11% of parturients undergoing elective caesarean delivery under spinal anaesthesia. We did not find any preoperative variables that could reliably predict intraoperative pain. Obstetricians and anaesthesiologists underestimated the incidence of intraoperative pain in our cohort and thus, more attention must be put to parturients’ pain.
Working mechanism and method for theoretical calculation of arch–chord coupled anti‐sliding structure
Authors: Hu Guoping , Xia Yingzhi , Ruan Xiaoxue , Zheng Mingxin 
Published: August 2021

AbstractWith the increase in the mileage of high‐speed railways around the world, subgrade problems related to the same have been emerging in large numbers. In view of the shortcomings of slow construction speed and large disturbance caused by conventional anti‐slide piles during emergency reinforcement of subgrades, an “arch–chord coupled anti‐slide structure” is proposed in this study, based on the three‐dimensional characteristics of the subgrade creep, and its anti‐slide mechanism is analyzed; furthermore, a theoretical calculation method for the same is proposed. The results show that the arch–chord coupled anti‐sliding structure can form a coupled body containing multiple surrounded piles when subjected to thrust, thus offering a pile–soil composite structure similar to a retaining wall. This results in a large anti‐sliding force. By setting a virtual pile to regularize the layout of the structural pile, the pile internal force can be accurately computed. The findings of this study provide a theoretical basis for the analysis and design of coupled anti‐sliding structures in future.
Prefertilization Exposure of Rainbow Trout Eggs to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances to Simulate Accumulation During Oogenesis
Authors: Raine J. C. , Su S. , Lin E. , Yang Z. L. , Giesy J. P. , Jones P. D. 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Aqueous film–forming foams (AFFFs) are used in firefighting and are sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the environment through surface runoff and groundwater contamination at defense and transportation sites. Little is known regarding the toxicity and bioaccumulation of newer AFFF formulations containing novel PFAS. To mimic maternal transfer of PFAS, prefertilization rainbow trout eggs were exposed to three PFAS using novel methodologies. Batches of unfertilized oocytes were exposed for 3 h to 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, or 10 µg/ml separately to perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorohexanoic acid, or perfluorooctanesulfonic acid in either coelomic fluid or Cortland's solution. After exposure, the gametes were fertilized and rinsed with dechlorinated water. Egg yolk was aspirated from a subset of fertilized eggs for PFAS quantification. Each PFAS was detected in yolks of eggs exposed to the respective PFAS, and yolk concentrations were directly proportional to concentrations in aqueous media to which they were exposed. Exposure in coelomic fluid or Cortland's solution resulted in similar concentrations of PFAS in egg yolks. Ratios of PFAS concentrations in oocytes to concentrations in exposure media (oocyte fluid ratios) were &lt;0.99 when exposed from 0.01 to 10 µg/ml and &lt;0.45 when exposed from 0.1 to 10 µg/ml for both media and all three PFAS, demonstrating that the water solubility of the chemicals was relatively great. Prefertilization exposure of eggs effectively introduced PFAS into unfertilized egg yolk. This method provided a means of mimicking maternal transfer to evaluate toxicity to developing embryos from an early stage. This method is more rapid and efficient than injection of individual fertilized eggs and avoids trauma from inserting needles into eggs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:3159–3165. © 2021 SETAC
Design and implementation of a novel real‐time unmanned aerial vehicle localization scheme based on received signal strength
Authors: Liu Tong , Zhao Hui , Yang Haojun , Zheng Kan , Chatzimisios Periklis 
Published: August 2021

AbstractTo accurately localize unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is one of the key issues to deal with the security threats caused by UAVs. Thus, this article proposes a UAV localization scheme that utilizes the area grid quantization and transmit power statistical calibration techniques, in which the location and transmit power of the UAV are unknown. Firstly, the adaptive discrete particle swarm optimization (ADPSO) algorithm is used to find the global optimal solution to the localization problem. A grid quantization method is proposed to discretize the value space of the traditional PSO algorithm to reduce the estimated localization time. An adaptive factor is also introduced to adjust the value of power for each iteration in the discrete particle swarm optimization (DPSO) algorithm in order to find the global optimal solution efficiently. Secondly, the fixed transmit power range is adopted to calibrate the estimated value of transmit power and the corresponding location. The prototype system comprises four anchor nodes based on a universal software radio peripheral radio frequency (USRP RF). Finally, field experiments are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed localization scheme.