bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Entomopathogenic Fungi as Mortality Agents in Insect Populations: A Review
Authors: Gielen Robin , Ude Kadri , Kaasik Ants , Põldmaa Kadri , Teder Tiit , Tammaru Toomas 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTNatural enemies play a key role in population dynamics of insects and exert significant selective pressures on various traits of these animals. Although there is a wealth of empirical and theoretical research on predators and parasitoids, the ecological role of pathogens (other than viruses) remains less understood. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), encompassing over 1000 known species from 11 phyla, have primarily been studied in the context of biocontrol in agroecosystems, while their role in natural ecosystems is poorly known. In this paper, we synthesize case studies reporting the prevalence of EPF infections in field populations of insects. We examine differences in this variable among major host taxa and those of the pathogens. From 79 case studies that met our selection criteria, we retrieved data on 122 species of fungi infecting 104 insect species. The meta‐analytic median prevalence of fungal infections was 8.2%; even if likely inflated by publication bias, this suggests that EPF‐induced mortality levels are lower than those attributable to predators and parasitoids. We found no substantial differences in fungal prevalence among major insect taxa and only a moderate difference among fungal orders, with Neozygitales showing the highest prevalence and Eurotiales the lowest. Our analysis revealed no significant differences in overall EPF prevalence between tropical and temperate studies, although different fungal taxa showed different geographical patterns. In temperate areas, there is some evidence of increasing infection prevalence toward the end of the growing season. Although quantitative data on the effect of EPF on insect populations are still scarce, evidence is consistent with the emerging generalization that insect populations commonly harbor species‐rich assemblages of pathogenic fungi, but infections rarely reach epidemic levels. Further studies on multi‐species assemblages of EPF associated with natural insect populations are needed to better understand the ecological role of fungal infections.
A Donor Registry: Genomic Analyses of Posidonia australis Seagrass Meadows Identifies Adaptive Genotypes for Future‐Proofing
Authors: Nimbs Matt J. , Glasby Tim M. , Sinclair Elizabeth A. , Swadling Daniel , Davis Tom R. , Coleman Melinda A. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTGlobally, anthropogenic climate change has caused declines of seagrass ecosystems necessitating proactive restoration approaches that would ideally anticipate future climate scenarios, such as marine warming. In eastern Australia, estuaries with meadows of the endangered seagrass Posidonia australis have warmed and acidified over the past decade, and seagrass communities have declined in some estuaries. Securing these valuable habitats will require proactive conservation and restoration efforts that could be augmented with restoration focussed on boosting resilience to future climate. Understanding patterns of selection and where seagrass meadows are adapted to particular environmental conditions is key for identifying optimal donor material for restoration. We used single nucleotide polymorphisms and genotype by environment analyses to identify candidate loci under putative selection to environmental stressors and assess genomic variation and allelic turnover along stressor gradients. The most important physicochemical variables driving selection were associated with temperature, water turbidity, and pH. We developed a preliminary ‘donor registry’ of pre‐adapted P. australis genotypes by mapping the distribution of alleles to visualise allelic composition of each sampled seagrass meadow. The registry could be used as a first step to select source material for future‐proofing restoration projects. A next step is to establish manipulative experiments that will be required to test whether pre‐adapted genotypes confer increased resistance to multiple environmental stressors.
Root, Nodule and Soil Bacterial Communities Associated With the Invasive Nitrogen‐Fixing Lupinus polyphyllus
Authors: Ramula Satu , Mousavi Seyed Abdollah , Vesterinen Eero J. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTPlants host microorganisms that can facilitate their success in becoming invasive. Established plant invasions might thus provide useful insights into potential changes in plant‐associated microbiomes over the course of the invasion process. Here, we investigated the endophytic bacterial communities of the invasive herbaceous legume Lupinus polyphyllus, which is able to form mutualistic associations with N‐fixing bacteria. More specifically, we examined the alpha diversity (observed bacterial taxa richness and Shannon diversity) and composition of bacterial communities in roots and nodules sampled from core and edge locations within 10 established invasion sites (> 10 years old) in southwestern Finland. Moreover, we compared the alpha diversity and structure of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere and bulk soil between core and edge locations within these invasion sites. We found that roots and nodules had distinctive endophytic bacterial communities, with roots having 24% higher bacterial alpha diversity (Shannon diversity) than nodules. In nodules, the dominant bacteria were assigned to the family Bradyrhizobiaceae, which includes N‐fixing bacteria. Soil bacterial communities, instead, were shaped by soil type, with bulk soil hosting up to 27% higher alpha diversity (richness and Shannon diversity) than rhizosphere soil; however, there was no apparent difference in their community composition. Soil bacterial communities were only weakly associated with soil chemistry. Endophytic and soil bacterial communities did not differ between core and edge locations within the established invasions. Our findings suggest that L. polyphyllus may not induce dramatic changes in the bacterial communities with which it associates over the course of the local invasion process.
Hydrodynamics and Aquatic Vegetation Drive Spatial Patterns of Environmental DNA in Ponds
Authors: Mayne Sandra R. , Manning Jeffrey A. , Henderson Stephen M. , Parsley Meghan B. , Strickler Katherine M. , Nielson Jeffrey R. , Goldberg Caren S. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTEnvironmental DNA (eDNA) sampling is a powerful method for detecting aquatic species at low densities. However, eDNA may remain close to the source in lentic systems, decreasing the effectiveness of eDNA surveys. We conducted cage experiments with salamanders and simultaneous detailed hydrologic and wind measurements to investigate the influence of the physical environment on detection patterns of eDNA in ponds. We found much higher detection rates in the surface layer than at depth, and that aquatic vegetation reduced detection of eDNA produced in open water by 80%–94%. Within the surface mixed layer, detection rates were highest close to the source in the direction of water flow in the bottom half of the layer, and detections farthest from the source occurred when velocities in this sublayer were high. Detections were near zero even close to the source when this sublayer was flowing fast and away from the sampling point. The direction of water flow in this lower half of the surface mixed layer was negatively correlated with wind direction for most of the study. These spatial and temporal dynamics indicate that eDNA transport processes in ponds are highly complex. Sampling away from aquatic vegetation, in the surface mixed layer, and upwind of potential sources, in addition to sampling at many locations within a pond and considering temporal patterns, may improve detection of rare pond species. This work contributes to a growing body of literature characterizing the variability of eDNA detection in lentic systems.
Recent Advances in the Hydroxylation of Boronic Acids
Authors: Wan Ya‐Meng , Li Xiang , Ma Jun‐Ying , Zhang Gui‐Sheng 
Published: December 2024

AbstractHydroxylated compounds represent a significant and diverse class of substances in the field of chemistry. These compounds play critical roles in various chemical reactions and are essential components in numerous industrial applications. Recent years have witnessed remarkable advancements in the synthesis of hydroxylated compounds, especially those derived from boronic acids. The synthesis of hydroxylated compounds from boronic acids typically involves the utilization of various types of catalysts, which are essential for enhancing reaction rates and selectivity, including metal catalysts such as CuFe₂O₄, Cu@C₃N₄, AgNPs, and Ti0.97Ni0.3O1.97, as well as non‐metal catalysts like polycaprolactone (PCL), TFB‐BMTH COF materials, C70, and graphene oxide (GO). These catalytic reactions often require the addition of oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) or molecular oxygen, which serve as critical reagents in the hydroxylation process. In certain cases, organic bases act as electron donors to propel the reaction. Furthermore, some studies have reported oxidative hydroxylation reactions that are catalyst‐free.This review aims to summarize the recent advancements and breakthroughs in the synthesis of hydroxylated compounds from boronic acids, with a particular focus on research conducted from 2014 to 2024.
Base Promoted Chemoselective Reduction of α‐Keto Amides and α‐Keto Esters with TsNHNH2
Authors: Wu Yifei , Liu Kewei , Hao Feiyue , Zhao Erqiang , Jin Zhengneng , Wu Jiashou 
Published: December 2024

AbstractA method for chemoselective reduction of α‐keto amides and α‐keto esters using tosylhydrazine in the presence of NaHCO3 has been developed. A variety of α‐hydroxy amides and α‐hydroxy esters were obtained in good to excellent yields, demonstrating the efficiency of the present protocol. A possible reaction mechanism is proposed based on the deuterium‐labelling experiments.
Evaluation of biomass‐based cook stoves in Ethiopia: A transition strategy from conventional to modern cook stoves
Authors: Ebissa Dawit Tessema , Getahun Eshetu 
Published: December 2024

AbstractPerformance improvement of cookstoves has a vital role in reducing indoor air pollution and deforestation. In this study, biomass‐based cook stoves onsite data survey and experimental approaches were carried out to evaluate the performance of different cook stoves. Based on this feasibility research, it was shown that firewood accounted for 75% of the fuel type usage. The results of several studies and experimental performance testing indicated that the efficiency of cook stoves for 3‐stone, lakech, mirt, gonze, tikikil, and pyrolysis stoves was 10%, 25%, 48%, 50%, and 76%, respectively. Merely 87 out of the total 1986 families with kebeles had improved cookstoves; the remaining households used 3‐stone stove types. According to the study, the pyrolysis stove had the lowest fuel consumption rate and cooking time, while the 3‐stone stove had the greatest fuel consumption rate and cooking time. The improvement stove reduced emissions, and the highest emission reduction stove was the gasifier stove, with a magnitude of 1.229 tons CO2/HH/Year. Among cooking stoves, gasifier stoves have a great advantage in producing energy and biochar.
Framework for Regional Seismic Risk Assessments of Groups of Tall Buildings
Authors: Bantis James , Heresi Pablo , Poulos Alan , Miranda Eduardo 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTA novel probabilistic Monte Carlo‐based framework to conduct regional seismic risk assessments using simplified continuous models is proposed. The hazard at rock outcrop is defined by response spectral ordinates, which are simulated to account for spatial correlation and correlation across different periods simultaneously. For sites on firm and soft soils, a simplified site response analysis using a one‐dimensional continuous non‐uniform shear beam model is used to transform the hazard at rock outcrops to the hazard at all sites of interest. Uncertainty in the soil properties at each site is explicitly considered. Response spectra at each site are computed at the principal orientations of each building using recently proposed directionality models that permit the estimation of the seismic hazard at specific orientations. A one‐dimensional continuous coupled shear‐flexural beam model is used to simulate building dynamic properties accounting for modeling uncertainty and to obtain building responses for each building. The parameters of each model only require information on the building height and the lateral resisting system. All relevant uncertainties associated with each module of the framework are explicitly incorporated and propagated. Finally, a case study of tall buildings in San Francisco subjected to a magnitude 7.0 earthquake on the Hayward Fault is presented to illustrate how the framework can be implemented.
Sparse Uniform Traversal of Model Parameter Space for Estimating the Nonlinear Displacement Response of Instrumented Buildings to Earthquakes
Authors: Wang Xiaoyue , Qu Zhe 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThe displacement response of a building structure to earthquake excitations is crucial for assessing its seismic damage, which is usually accompanied by structural nonlinear behavior. This study proposes an efficient method of quickly estimating the nonlinear displacement responses of seismically damaged buildings. By designing a set of sparsely and uniformly distributed samples in the multi‐dimensional parameter space, this method traverses all these samples to find the best set of parameters for a parametric numerical model of the building that minimizes the error between the simulated and the measured responses. Compared to existing model‐driven methods, the proposed method can efficiently match the high‐dimensional parameters of the assumed parametric model without tedious and less robust iterative optimization, even if the instrumented building sustains severe seismic damage and deviates significantly from its initial state. The shaking table test data of a full‐scale four‐story reinforced concrete moment‐resisting frame structure is used to justify the advantage of the method over the state‐of‐the‐art optimization‐based model‐driven method. The proposed method successfully estimated the structural responses of all the stories of the building with an average error of 4.6% for the maximum inter‐story drift across the five earthquake loading runs. It took only approximately 19 min to complete the calculation on a personal computer, which could be greatly accelerated given more computation cores because the traversal is inherently friendly to parallel computation.
Insights Into Metabolic Signatures and Regulatory Effect of Dendrobium officinale Polysaccharides in Gut Microbiota: A Comparative Study of Healthy and Diabetic Status
Authors: Song Qianbo , Zou Junju , Cheng Sau Wan , Li Kendra Sek Lam , Lau David Tai Wai , Yang Xiao , Shaw Pang Chui , Zuo Zhong 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTDendrobium officinale is a kind of popular functional food to be consumed by both healthy and diabetic people. As its major constituent, D. officinale polysaccharide (DOP) is mainly utilized by gut microbiota. Despite distinctive gut microbiota composition between healthy and diabetic individuals, no study compared the interplay between DOP and gut microbiota under healthy and diabetic status. The current study aims to investigate and compare the metabolic signatures and regulatory potential of DOP on gut microbiota between healthy and diabetic status. Our serial in vitro fermentation investigations found that mannose in DOP was more utilized by gut microbiota under diabetic status with higher production of propanoic acid and lower production of butyric acid compared with those under healthy status. Moreover, metabolomic analyses revealed different impacts of DOP on intestinal microbial metabolites between healthy and diabetic status with upregulating taurine and downregulating 2‐hydroxybutyric acid only occurring under diabetic status. Biodiversity analyses demonstrated that DOP treatment could only significantly improve the diversity of gut microbiota under diabetic status while there was no significant effect on that under healthy status. Further gut microbiota composition analyses indicated that DOP treatment could promote probiotics (Dubosiella, Bifidobacterium, and Akkermansia) under both healthy and diabetic status while inhibit pathogens (Escherichia‐Shigella) only under diabetic status. In summary, our current insights into metabolic signatures and regulatory effects of DOP in the gut microbiota under healthy and diabetic status provided scientific evidence for its broad use as functional food.
The development of the GIN‐McMaster checklist extension for guideline adaptation protocol
Authors: Song Yang , Zhang Yuan , Amer Yasser , Darzi Andrea J. , Akl Elie A. , Alonso‐Coello Pablo , Schünemann Holger J. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundTo ensure rigour and transparency in guideline adaptation and contextualization processes, standardized tools and methodological principles are needed. However, methodological challenges have been continuously documented in guideline adaptation processes.ObjectiveTo develop a guideline international network (GIN)‐McMaster guidelines development checklist (GDC) extension for guideline adaptation.MethodsThis project follows multiphase iterative approach, including (1) compiling a list of key methodological steps for guideline adaptation, based on scoping reviews of the current knowledge of guideline adaptation; (2) proposing methodological principles for guideline adaptation based on key methodological steps, in parallel to developing the GIN‐McMaster Guideline Development Checklist extension for adaptation (GDC‐adaptation extension) concerning the original checklist and methodological steps for adaptation; (3) iteratively refining the methodological steps through GIN Adaptation working group discussions, and GDC‐adaptation extension items through several rounds of Delphi consensus survey and (4) Public consultation and finalization. For methodological principles, this involves public consultation; for GDC‐adaptation extension, we will conduct user testing through semi‐structured interviews. Finally, we will submit the final outputs to the GIN board and seek final approval.DiscussionThe identification of the key methodological principles, together with the GIN‐McMaster GDC extension for guideline adaptation and contextualization, will provide clarity in the planning and execution of adaptation, adoption and/or development of recommendations. The aim of the checklist is to improve efficiency and reduce research waste in guideline development while maintaining rigour and transparency.
The effect of land use intensity and habitat characteristics on butterfly community composition within the Southern Great Plains of the United States
Authors: Geest Emily A. , Moranz Raymond A. , Baum Kristen A. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundAs grasslands decline, grassland‐dependent species such as grassland butterflies have experienced widespread population losses. To manage remaining grasslands, prescribed fire, grazing, and haying are common management practices across the Southern Great Plains of the United States. However, the impacts of management and land use intensity (LUI) on butterfly community composition and butterfly community traits are not well understood. Additionally, local habitat characteristics such as vegetation height and cover, as well as broader landscape categorization, including how much agriculture or urbanization is occurring around the habitat, can alter butterfly communities.MethodsWe conducted standardized butterfly and flowering forb surveys at grassland sites across north‐central Oklahoma.ResultsLUI influenced overall butterfly community composition with sites managed only with fire having the most dissimilar butterfly community compared to three other management regimens. The amount of agriculture, urbanization, and wetlands surrounding study sites also influenced butterfly community composition. Flowering forb community measures differed by site with sites managed by fire alone having lower blooming forbs species richness, diversity, and abundance than sites with other management regimens.ConclusionsSites managed with only prescribed fire had the most disparate butterfly community in comparison to other management methods, suggesting that specialist butterfly species may be sensitive to increasing disturbance.
Efficacy and Safety of Polatuzumab Vedotin Plus Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin and Prednisone for Previously Untreated Diffuse Large B‐Cell Lymphoma: A Real‐World, Multi‐Center, Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Zhao Peiqi , Zhao Shu , Huang Chen , Li Yajun , Wang Jiesong , Xu Junqing , Li Lanfang , Qian Zhengzi , Li Wei , Zhou Shiyong , Qiu Lihua , Liu Xianming , Chen Ying , Jiang Yanan , Zheng Yanbin , Chen Daoguang , Zhou Hui , Gao Yuhuan , Zhang Qingyuan , Zhang Huilai 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTPolatuzumab vedotin plus R‐CHP (Pola‐R‐CHP) is approved as a new standard first‐line therapy for diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) based on the POLARIX trial. However, real‐world data on its efficacy and safety in unselected patients is lacking. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate Pola‐R‐CHP versus R‐CHOP outcomes in routine clinical practice in China. This is a multi‐institutional retrospective cohort study and included all consecutive patients that received at least one dose of polatuzumab vedotin up until February 2024. A total of 600 eligible patients from 6 centers were identified, 131 receiving Pola‐R‐CHP and 469 R‐CHOP. After 1:2 propensity score matching, 128 pairs were obtained for further survival and prognosis analysis. With a median follow‐up of 12.8 months, 12‐month progression‐free survival (PFS) was numerically higher with Pola‐R‐CHP versus R‐CHOP (90.3% vs. 84.1%, p = 0.18). Benefits were consistently observed across molecular subgroups, especially advanced stage, ECOG ≥ 2, extranodal involvement ≥ 2 and non‐GCB group. The complete response rate of the Pola‐R‐CHP group was higher than that of the RCHOP group (86.8% vs. 79.7%; p = 0.09), but there was no statistical difference. Safety profiles were comparable, with no new concerns. Among 128 patients treated with Pola‐R‐CHP, 96 underwent gene sequencing analysis: MCD (25.0%), EZB (13.5%), combined subtype (12.5%), ST2 (9.4%), and other/unclassifiable subtype (30.2%). The most common mutations (> 25% of cases) were PIM1, TP53, BCL‐6, KMT2D, SOCS1, BCL‐2. Genetic testing results show the correlation between genotyping, gene mutations in PIM1/TP53 and therapeutic efficacy. This large real‐world study supports Pola‐R‐CHP as an effective frontline option for DLBCL, with sustained efficacy versus R‐CHOP observed in unselected populations. While 12‐month PFS failed to reach statistical significance, subgroup analyses favor Pola‐R‐CHP. Further research with a wider population, longer follow‐up, and screening of advantageous groups are warranted.