bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
No evidence of early life resource pulse effects on age‐specific variation in survival, reproduction and body mass of female Siberian flying squirrels
Authors: Le Coeur C. , Berger V. , Lummaa V. , Wistbacka R. , Selonen V. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Understanding the diversity and causes of senescence patterns in the wild remains a challenging task, in particular among fast‐living species for which senescence patterns have been poorly studied. Early life environmental conditions can shape senescence by influencing trade‐offs between early and late life performance (disposable soma theory) or individual fitness through lifelong positive effects (silver spoon effects).

Using a 23‐year‐long monitoring dataset of two populations of Siberian flying squirrels (Pteromys volans L.) in western Finland, we analysed the occurrence, onset and rate of senescence in female survival, body mass and reproductive performance. We also examined how early life pulsed resources (tree masting during the year of birth) influence age‐specific variations in these traits.

Our results indicate that survival senescence occurs after sexual maturity from 3 years of age. Females experiencing high resource availability at birth tended to survive better, but the age‐specific trend was not affected by early life resource conditions. Maternal body mass declined slightly with age, starting at 4 years, regardless of early resource conditions. Similarly, among reproductive traits, we showed late‐onset senescence in both litter size and annual reproductive probability, with no evidence supporting an effect of early life resources on these trends. We found no decline in juvenile body mass or in the juvenile size‐number trade‐off with maternal age.

Our findings suggest that pulsed resources experienced at birth have a limited long‐lasting impact on the life‐history traits of this fast‐living rodent, with no significant effect on senescence patterns.
Seasonally variable thermal performance curves prevent adverse effects of heatwaves
Authors: Sasaki Matthew , Finiguerra Michael , Dam Hans G. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract1. Differential vulnerability to heatwaves may affect community dynamics in a changing climate. In temperate regions, this vulnerability to heatwaves depends on the interactions between seasonal temperature fluctuations and the capacity to rapidly shift thermal performance curves.2. Here we investigate how these dynamics affect the vulnerability of two ecologically important copepod congeners, Acartia tonsa and A. hudsonica, to heatwaves of different durations. Using a combination of field observations and simulated laboratory heatwave experiments, we uncover strong seasonal variation in the performance curves of A. tonsa but not A. hudsonica. This translated to species‐specific seasonal patterns of vulnerability to heatwaves, with increased vulnerability in A. hudsonica.3. By reducing parental stress during simulated heatwaves, seasonal performance curve shifts likely reduced indirect, transgenerational effects of these events on offspring performance in A. tonsa.4. Our results illustrate how different levels of seasonal variation in thermal performance curves will affect population persistence in a changing climate
Landscape metrics predict habitat redundancy of restored oyster reefs for recruitment enhancement of dominant estuarine fish
Authors: Davenport Theresa M. , Hughes A. Randall , Grabowski Jonathan H. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Structured biogenic habitats in estuarine and coastal landscapes (or seascapes) augment nekton species' production; yet, landscape setting may make restored habitats functionally redundant to co‐occurring habitats for some species. Few relationships between recruitment enhancement and continuous landscape metrics have been quantified, limiting our ability to incorporate functional redundancy into restoration practice.

To address this gap, we quantified two landscape metrics, per cent structure of proximal habitat and near distance to co‐occurring structured habitats, for experimentally restored oyster reefs in an intertidal landscape in Middle Marsh, North Carolina, USA. We then examined relationships between each landscape metric and recruitment enhancement of juvenile pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides), a species that uses multiple biogenic habitats and has high site fidelity as juveniles.

We estimated that reefs with <33% proximal structured habitat within 15 m and <59% within 50 m contributed to recruitment enhancement, as defined by greater juvenile pinfish abundances at reefs than controls and no overlap in 95% confidence intervals.

Additionally, functional redundancy, assigned according to per cent structure of proximal habitat within 15 or 50 m of restored reefs, reduced estimates of nekton recruitment enhancement in this experimental landscape by 58.3% or 33.3%, respectively. Estimates of nekton production augmented by restoration may be inflated if they have not been adjusted to account for habitat redundancy.

Synthesis and applications. Landscape metrics offer some predictive capacity to help restoration practitioners avoid habitat redundancy for recruitment enhancement and extend beyond considering individual habitats toward integrating landscape scale processes into predictions and restoration practice. We demonstrated a straightforward process for restoration practitioners to identify where habitats may be redundant and incorporate the landscape into restoration siting decisions: delineate co‐occurring structured habitat with publicly accessible orthoimagery and model juvenile nekton relationships with proximal percent structure and near distance to other structured habitats.
Widespread resilience of animal species, functional diversity, and predator–prey networks to an unprecedented gigafire
Authors: Linley Grant D. , Jolly Chris J. , Wooster Eamonn I. F. , Spencer Emma E. , Cowan Mitchell A. , Geary William L. , de Laive Alana , Michael Damian R. , Ritchie Euan G. , Nimmo Dale G. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Climate change is altering fire regimes globally, leading to an increased incidence of large and severe wildfires, including gigafires (>100,000 ha), that homogenise landscapes. Despite this, our understanding of how large, severe wildfires affect biodiversity at the landscape scale remains limited.

We investigated the impact of a gigafire that occurred during the unprecedented 2019–20 Australian ‘Black Summer’ on terrestrial fauna. We selected 24 study landscapes, each 0.785 km2 in size, that represented a gradient in the extent of high severity fire, unburnt vegetation, and the diversity of fire severity classes (‘pyrodiversity’). We used wildlife cameras to survey biodiversity across each landscape and quantified species activity, community and functional diversity, and predator–prey network metrics. We used Bayesian mixed‐effects models to assess the influence of fire‐induced landscape properties on these measures.

Most native species showed resilience to the 2019–20 wildfires, displaying few relationships with fire‐induced properties of landscapes, including the extent of high severity fire, unburnt vegetation, or pyrodiversity.

Community and functional diversity and measures of predator–prey networks were also largely unaffected by fire‐induced landscape properties, although landscapes with a greater proportion of high severity fire had higher abundance and richness of introduced animal species.

Synthesis and applications: Despite prevailing narratives of widespread ecological destruction following the 2019–20 wildfires, our findings suggest widespread resilience, potentially facilitated by evolutionary adaptations of animals to fire. Interventions aimed at helping such species recover may not be necessary and could instead focus on the subset of species that are vulnerable to severe fire. While mixed‐severity fires are often advocated to promote biodiversity through pyrodiversity, our results suggest that such management efforts might not be necessary in our study region. Given that severe fire favours introduced animal species, invasive species management could focus on large, severely burnt areas.
Understanding vegetative ecophysiological responses of herbaceous species from a Brazilian dry forest by simulating 60‐year precipitation extremes
Authors: Aguiar Bruno Ayron de Souza , de Souza José Djalma , Simões Júlia Arruda , da Silva Prazeres Fernanda Polyana , de Andrade Juliana Ramos , da Silva Kleber Andrade , Lopes Clarissa Gomes Reis , de Lima Araújo Elcida 
Published: November 2024

AbstractIn the Caatinga, a Brazilian dry forest, low water availability is a limiting factor that affects the growth and survival of herbaceous plants. Thus, we hypothesize that simulated extreme changes in precipitation modify aboveground and belowground vegetative responses differently between annual and perennial herbaceous species. Seedlings of the species were obtained through seed germination. During 1 year, they were submitted to three rainfall simulation (RS) treatments, defined from a 60‐year sequence: Twet‐RS of rainy years; Tcontrol‐RS of years close to the historical average; Tdry‐RS of dry years; and with 30 repetitions per treatment. The daily water administration corresponded to the daily average of rainfall in the past. In the simulation of dry years, the annual species reduced the growth drastically, while the perennials showed a moderate reduction. All species reduced biomass and production and expansion of their leaves in dry years but invested in water storage and leaf longevity. Below ground, annuals explored surface water resources and perennials invested in root growth, accessing underground layers. If reductions in rainfall are confirmed, the allocation of herbaceous biomass may follow an “optimal partitioning” strategy, along with maintaining higher water content in the organs, which is an efficient survival strategy.
Zinc oxide nanomaterials: Safeguarding food quality and sustainability
Authors: Gökmen Gökhan Gurur , Mirsafi Fatemeh Sadat , Leißner Till , Akan Tamer , Mishra Yogendra Kumar , Kışla Duygu 
Published: November 2024

AbstractIn this era, where food safety and sustainability are paramount concerns, the utilization of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) is a promising solution to enhance the safety, quality, and sustainability of food products. ZnO NPs in the food industry have evolved significantly over time, reflecting advancements in synthesizing methods, antimicrobial activities, and risk assessment considerations for human health and the environment. This comprehensive review delves into the historical trajectory, current applications, and prospects of ZnO NPs in food‐related contexts. Synthesizing methods, ranging from solvothermal and solgel techniques to laser ablation and microfluidic reactors, have facilitated the production of ZnO NPs with tailored properties suited for diverse food applications. The remarkable antimicrobial activity of ZnO NPs against a wide spectrum of pathogens has garnered attention for their potential to enhance food safety and extend shelf‐life. Furthermore, comprehensive risk assessment methodologies have been employed to evaluate the potential impacts of ZnO NPs on human health and the environment, regarding toxicity, migration, and ecological implications. By navigating the intricate interplay between synthesis methods, antimicrobial efficacy, inhibitory mechanisms, and risk assessment protocols, by elucidating the multifaceted role of ZnO NPs in shaping the past, present, and future of the food industry, this review offers valuable insights and promising avenues for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to enhance food safety, quality, and sustainability.
Machine vision combined with deep learning–based approaches for food authentication: An integrative review and new insights
Authors: Shen Che , Wang Ran , Nawazish Hira , Wang Bo , Cai Kezhou , Xu Baocai 
Published: November 2024

AbstractFood fraud undermines consumer trust, creates economic risk, and jeopardizes human health. Therefore, it is essential to develop efficient technologies for rapid and reliable analysis of food quality and safety for food authentication. Machine vision–based methods have emerged as promising solutions for the rapid and nondestructive analysis of food authenticity and quality. The Industry 4.0 revolution has introduced new trends in this field, including the use of deep learning (DL), a subset of artificial intelligence, which demonstrates robust performance and generalization capabilities, effectively extracting features, and processing extensive data. This paper reviews recent advances in machine vision and various DL‐based algorithms for food authentication, including DL and lightweight DL, used for food authenticity analysis such as adulteration identification, variety identification, freshness detection, and food quality identification by combining them with a machine vision system or with smartphones and portable devices. This review explores the limitations of machine vision and the challenges of DL, which include overfitting, interpretability, accessibility, data privacy, algorithmic bias, and design and deployment of lightweight DLs, and miniaturization of sensing devices. Finally, future developments and trends in this field are discussed, including the development of real‐time detection systems that incorporate a combination of machine vision and DL methods and the expansion of databases. Overall, the combination of vision‐based techniques and DL is expected to enable faster, more affordable, and more accurate food authentication methods.
Salmonella Presence and Risk Mitigation in Pet Foods: A Growing Challenge with Implications for Human Health
Authors: Dhakal Janak , Cancio Leslie Pearl M. , Deliephan Aiswariya , Chaves Byron D. , Tubene Stephan 
Published: November 2024

AbstractPet food is increasingly recognized as a significant vehicle for the transmission of foodborne pathogens to humans. The intimate association between pets and their owners, coupled with the rising trend of feeding pets raw and unprocessed foods, contributes substantially to this issue. Salmonella contamination in pet food can originate from raw materials and feed ingredients, the processing environment, and postprocessing handling and applications. The absence of standardized postprocessing pathogen mitigation steps in the production of dry kibble and treats, along with the lack of validated heat and chemical interventions in raw pet foods, renders pet food susceptible to contamination by pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, etc. Pets can then serve as carriers of Salmonella, facilitating its transmission to pet owners. Since 1999, there have been over 117 recalls of pet foods due to Salmonella contamination in the United States, with 11 of these recalls linked to human outbreaks. Notably, 5 of the 11 human outbreaks involved multidrug‐resistant Salmonella strains. Various antimicrobial interventions, including high‐pressure processing, ozone, irradiation, chemical treatments such as organic acids and acidulants, plant‐derived antimicrobials, and biological interventions such as bacteriophages, have proven effective against Salmonella in pet foods. This review aims to summarize the prevalence of Salmonella in different types of pet foods, identify common sources of contamination, outline reported outbreaks, and discuss control measures and the regulatory framework governing pet food safety.
Humoral factors in serum as predictors of therapeutic response to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Saito Keisuke , Yamamoto Shotaro , Kamata Yasuyuki , Nagashima Takao , Sato Takeo , Minota Seiji , Sato Kojiro 
Published: November 2024

AbstractAimThis study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of serum humoral factors in determining the therapeutic responses to biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs), especially TNF inhibitors (TNFis), in patients with RA.MethodsA cohort of 52 patients with RA who were treated with bDMARDs, including TNFis, abatacept, and tocilizumab, was analyzed. Serum samples were collected at baseline (t1), 5 ± 1 (t2), and 14 ± 2 weeks (t3) after treatment. A bead‐based immunoassay was used to quantify serum cytokines/chemokines. Treatment response was determined 1 year after initiation.ResultsDistinct patterns of IL‐6 behaviors were observed among different bDMARDs. Patients exhibiting IL‐6 rebound at 14 weeks were more likely to be non‐responders to TNFi after 1 year, and this rebound appeared to be associated with increases in IFN‐γ and IL‐12 levels. IFN‐β was more detectable than IFN‐α2 in RA. Additionally, patients with measurable IFN‐β at baseline tended to be TNFi responders.ConclusionMonitoring serum humoral factors may offer valuable insights into the likelihood of therapeutic success of TNFi in patients with RA. IL‐6 rebound at 14 weeks might serve as an early indicator of non‐responsiveness to TNFi. These findings highlight the potential of personalized treatment strategies for RA based on serum humoral factor profiling. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate these results and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
The contribution of beneficial wheat seed fungal communities beyond disease‐causing fungi: Advancing heritable mycobiome‐based plant breeding
Authors: Becker Lindsey E. , Cubeta Marc A. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractWheat (Triticum sp.) is a staple cereal crop, providing nearly a fifth of the world's protein and available calories. While fungi associated with wheat plants have been known for centuries, attention to fungi associated with wheat seeds has increased over the last hundred years. Initially, research focused on fungal taxa that cause seed‐borne diseases. Seeds act as a physical link between generations and host specialized fungal communities that affect seed dormancy, germination, quality, and disease susceptibility. Interest in beneficial, non‐disease‐causing fungal taxa associated with seeds has grown since the discovery of Epichloë in fescue, leading to a search for beneficial fungal endophytes in cereal grains. Recent studies of the wheat seed mycobiome have shown that disease, seed development, and temporal variation significantly influence the composition and structure of these fungal communities. This research, primarily descriptive, aims to better understand the wheat seed mycobiome's function in relation to the plant host. A deeper understanding of the wheat seed mycobiome's functionality may offer potential for microbiome‐assisted breeding.
Kingston Student Housing Co‐operative: Budgeting and Governance in a Global Crisis*
Authors: Stack Ryan , Malsch Bertrand 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTThis field research case focuses on a housing cooperative based in Kingston, Ontario. The key issue is the need to craft a budget to support the general manager, Brent Bellamy, as he plans for the coming academic year. Because of the COVID‐19 pandemic, Queen's University suspended in‐person classes for the 2020–2021 school year. The Kingston Student Housing Co‐operative (KSHC) depends on student members who attend Queen's to stay in its rooms and participate in its operations and governance structure. With Queen's effectively shutting down, KSHC's key source of funds will be absent for the coming year. Brent needs help recalculating the budget for the coming year, leading to advice on some of his strategic options. He is also worried about other issues at KSHC: (1) the organization's long‐time bookkeeper has just given notice of her intent to retire, and he must evaluate the bookkeeping tasks that were her responsibility; (2) he has concerns about the governance structure, which sees a lack of continuity in the board of directors between years; and (3) KSHC was considering a significant build project prior to the COVID‐19 pandemic that Brent would like to advance. In considering these issues, Brent must acknowledge and respect the unique nature of a cooperative as a member‐owned nonprofit organization based on certain cooperative principles.
Finland: Political Developments and Data in 2023
Authors: PALONEN EMILIA 
Published: November 2024

AbstractParliamentary elections in 2023 brought in a discourse on debt. Power was passed from the Marin I to the Orpo I government. This was historically the most right‐wing government to date in Finland, whose formation also took historically long but finally united both the populist‐nativist right with the liberal right in the same coalition. The ministerial appointments raised questions among the opposition, and the issue of racism was discussed in connection to the coalition partners. The government's austerity policies sought to limit the power of trade unions, which in turn generated strong reactions. Proposals to limit strike action were faced with opposition. As the three largest parties shifted around, the political centre chose to remain in the opposition and also took issue with the underfunding of social services. The parliamentary polarisation formed a stark contrast to the consensual way in which Finland had approached North Atlantic Treaty Organisation membership, for which a compatible institutional setting was built.
Ambient air pollution exposure and incidence of cataract surgery: The prospective 3City‐Alienor study
Authors: Gayraud Laure , Mortamais Marion , Schweitzer Cédric , de Hoogh Kees , Cougnard‐Grégoire Audrey , Korobelnik Jean‐François , Delyfer Marie‐Noelle , Rougier Marie‐Bénédicte , Leffondré Karen , Helmer Catherine , Vienneau Danielle , Delcourt Cécile 
Published: November 2024

AbstractPurposeCataract, the leading cause of blindness worldwide, is a multifactorial disease involving oxidative stress mechanisms. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between air pollution exposure and the incidence of cataract surgery.MethodsThe 3C‐Alienor study is a population‐based cohort of residents of Bordeaux, France, aged 65 years or more, recruited in 1999–2000 and followed every 2–3 years until 2017. Cataract surgery was self‐reported and checked at slit‐lamp by trained professionals. Average air pollution exposure (particulate matter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), nitrogen dioxide (NO2)) in the 10 years preceding baseline was estimated at the participants' geocoded residential address, using temporally adjusted land use regression. Associations of 10‐year average air pollution exposure with incidence of cataract were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for confounders.ResultsThe study included 829 subjects without cataract surgery prior to inclusion; the mean age at inclusion was 72.6 years (standard deviation (SD): 4.2) and 61% were women. The median (Interquartile‐range (IQR)) follow‐up duration was 14.1 (6.4) years during which 507 participants underwent cataract surgery. Exposure to a concentration ≥40 μg/m3 of NO2 (the current regulatory limit value in Europe) was associated with incident cataract surgery (HR = 1.46, CI (1.16, 1.84), p = 0.001). No statistically significant association was found with PM2.5 and BC.ConclusionLong‐term exposure to a NO2 concentration ≥ 40 μg/m3 was associated with an increased incidence of cataract surgery. Complying with current European air pollution standards could reduce cataract surgery costs and improve population quality of life.
Understanding linear interaction analysis with causal graphs
Authors: Kim Yongnam , Jung Geryong 
Published: November 2024

AbstractInteraction analysis using linear regression is widely employed in psychology and related fields, yet it often induces confusion among applied researchers and students. This paper aims to address this confusion by developing intuitive visual explanations based on causal graphs. By leveraging causal graphs with distinct interaction nodes, we provide clear insights into interpreting main effects in the presence of interaction, the rationale behind centering to reduce multicollinearity, and other pertinent topics. The proposed graphical approach could serve as a useful complement to existing algebraic explanations, fostering a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanics of linear interaction analysis.