bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of a gene conferring resistance to US Russian wheat aphid biotypes in the Iranian wheat landrace PI 625139
Authors: Xu Xiangyang , Li Genqiao , Wolabu Tezera W. , Bai Guihua , Bian Ruolin , Bernardo Amy , Carver Brett F. , Wu Yanqi 
Published: October 2024

AbstractRussian wheat aphid (RWA, Diuraphis noxia Kurdjumov) is a highly invasive and destructive wheat pest evolving rapidly to overcome host resistance. Novel genes conferring resistance to multiple RWA biotypes are needed to sustain wheat production. The Iranian landrace PI 625139 is resistant to all five US RWA biotypes. To map the RWA resistance gene in PI 625139, both F2 and F2:3 populations were developed from cross PI 625139 × Smith's Gold, and the F2:3 population was evaluated for responses to five RWA biotypes, RWA1, RWA2, RWA3/7, RWA6, and RWA8. RWA assays identified a single gene in PI 625139, designated Dn625139, conditioning resistance to all five US RWA biotypes. Selective genotyping of a subset of F2 plants using genotyping‐by‐sequencing (GBS) revealed a set of single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers on the short arm of chromosome 7D that are closely associated with RWA resistance. Kompetitive allele‐specific PCR (KASP) markers were developed from selected GBS‐SNPs in 7DS. Genetic analysis using the new KASP and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers placed Dn625139 to a 2.6 cM interval. Dn625139 was 1.2 cM proximal to the KASP marker Stars‐KASP1007 (169.57 Mb) and 1.4 cM distal to the SSR marker Stars1039 (195.27 Mb) in the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC) RefSeq v2.1 reference sequence, and co‐segregated with the SSR marker Stars1029 (180.82 Mb). Dn625139 is a valuable gene conferring resistance to multiple RWA biotypes, and the molecular markers developed in this study can facilitate its rapid introgression into locally adapted cultivars to enhance wheat RWA resistance.
Environmental, social, and governance evaluation for European small and medium enterprises: A multicriteria approach
Authors: Barro Diana , Corazza Marco , Filograsso Gianni 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe exposure to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks can be effectively measured by companies to identify opportunities for long‐term sustainable growth, along with the social and environmental impact. This process is crucial for listed small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) wanting additional support in their ESG transition, and for European SMEs it will be required by the implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), starting from 2026. In this contribution, we propose to apply a multicriteria decision aiding approach to assess the sustainability profiles of SMEs. The methodology, which allows the measurements of a firm's ESG efforts (ESGness), is applied to a sample of European‐listed SMEs, controlling for potential sector‐specific effects, in order to understand what is the situation on the ESG front, and to identify ESG leaders and laggards. The model can provide valuable information for the firm, and for a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including policymakers and investors. The obtained rankings show some degree of robustness across different model parameterizations. The benefits of voluntary disclosure of sustainability information are investigated under a prudential scoring framework.
The role of wild bees and cavity‐nesting wasps as ecological indicators of the last traditionally managed meadows in Eastern Europe
Authors: Demeter Imre , Lajos Károly , Balog Adalbert , Sárospataki Miklós 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe number of wild bees and cavity‐nesting wasps is abundant in agricultural areas and they contribute significantly to ecosystem services. Due to their specialization in nesting sites and food sources, these groups are sensitive to habitat condition changes and they are therefore important indicators for environmental impact assessments. As semi‐natural habitats are steadily declining and often understudied, their significance for research is increasingly recognized. During this research, the role of wild bee species and cavity‐nesting Hymenopteran taxa as indicators was examined, along the unique combination of high nature value and traditional land use habitats in Eastern Europe, Transylvania. Transects and trap nests were used to test the diversity and abundance of wild bees and cavity‐nesting Hymenopterans to identify possible differences between highly protected and less protected areas. The differences in taxonomic groups between the sites and the potential effects of landscape structure on wild bees and cavity‐nesting Hymenopterans were also assessed. We detected a high diversity of wild bee species and a significant species replacement from one study year to another. Among the nest‐building Hymenopteran taxa, the majority of nests was built by Trypoxylon sp. during both study years, with a stronger dominance in the second year. The different taxonomic groups of wild bees and cavity‐nesting Hymenopterans showed differences in their habitat affinities. The majority of the sampled bumblebee species as well as Trypoxylon sp. had an affinity towards the study sites located within the highly protected study area. Altogether, we found different habitat preferences for different Hymenopteran groups (both wild bees and wasps) and conclude that these groups definitely have the potential to serve as indicators for differences in the intensity of land use.
Bill Length of Non‐breeding Shorebirds Influences the Water Depth Preferences for Foraging in the West Coast of India
Authors: Aarif K. M. , Zouhar Jan , Musilova Zuzana , Musil Petr , Nefla Aymen , Muzaffar Sabir Bin , Rubeena K. A. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTBody size, bill length and shape determine foraging techniques, habitat selection and diet among shorebirds. In this study, water depth preferences of different shorebirds with different bill sizes in various habitats including mudflats, mangroves at Kadalundi‐Vallikkunnu Community Reserve (KVCR) (19 shorebird species) and adjacent agroecosystems at Vazhakkad (12 species) were studied between 2017 and 2020. The bill length of the shorebirds was significantly and positively associated with the average water depth, where shorebirds were observed to forage. Shorebirds with shorter bill lengths preferred shallow waters and those with longer bills preferred deep waters for their foraging activities. Habitat type also had a significant effect on the shorebird occurrence. Eurasian Curlews in both mangroves and mudflats were observed in areas with a higher water depth compared to other species. This is due to the fact that shorebirds tend to specialise in feeding habitats or in prey items to reduce intraspecific competition and distribute themselves in space and time in accordance with the availability of their resources. The occurrence of some species in agroecosystems is attributed to the reduced food availability, habitat quality and other disturbances for shorebirds on tidal flats, which are critical for sustaining migratory phenology. The differences in bill morphology are crucial in determining diet, water depth, niche preferences and segregation. Morphological characters and hydrological rhythms determine specialisation in diet and habitat preference in shorebirds.
Prehatch Calls and Coordinated Birth in Turtles
Authors: Jorgewich‐Cohen Gabriel , Wheatley Madeleine , Gaspar Lucas Pacciullio , Praschag Peter , Lubberink Nicole Scholte , Ming Keesha , Rodriguez Nicholas A. , Ferrara Camila R. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTHatching synchronisation is widespread in oviparous taxa. It has been demonstrated that many species use sounds to coordinate synchronous hatching, being widespread among archosaurs (birds and crocodilians). Recent studies have shown that some turtle species produce vocalisations from within the egg, but the role of this behaviour in synchronising hatch is untested. The small amount of information about sound production by turtle embryos, limited to a handful of closely related species, precludes any inferences based on differences in their ecology, reproductive behaviour and phylogenetic context. With the goal to investigate if coordinated synchronous behaviour is mediated by within‐egg vocalisations in turtles, we recorded clutches from six different turtle species. The selected animals present different ecological and reproductive niches and belong to distinct phylogenetic lineages at the family level. We aimed to understand: (1) what is the phylogenetic distribution of within‐egg vocal behaviour among turtles; (2) if asynchronous turtle species vocalise from within the egg; (3) if clutch size influences synchronous behaviour and (4) if within‐egg turtle calls follow any phylogenetic signal. The new evidence provides light to the current knowledge about synchronous behaviour and within‐egg calls, challenging previous hypothesis that within‐egg sounds are accidentally produced as side‐effects of other behaviours.
Lemming and Vole Cycles: A New Intrinsic Model
Authors: Levay Elizabeth A. , Nasser Helen , Zelko Matthew D. , Penman Jim , Johns Terrance G. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTIt is 100 years since the first paper described the multiannual cycles in Arctic rodents and lagomorphs. The mechanisms driving population cycles in animals like lemmings and voles are complex, often attributed to extrinsic factors, such as food availability and quality, pathogens, parasites and/or predators. While extrinsic factors provide insights into population cycles, none fully explain the phenomenon. We propose an underlying innate, intrinsic mechanism, based on epigenetic regulation, that drives population cycles under harsh arctic conditions. We propose that epigenetically driven phenotypic changes associated with sexual development, growth and behaviour accumulate over time in offspring, eventually producing a phase change from rising population density to eventual population collapse. Under this hypothesis, and unlike previous hypotheses, extrinsic factors modify population cycles but would not be primary drivers. The interaction between our intrinsic cycle and extrinsic factors explains established phenomena like delayed‐density dependence, whereby population growth is controlled by time‐dependent negative feedback. We advocate integrating a century of field research with the latest epigenetic analysis to better understand the drivers of population cycles.
Measuring Temporal Change in Scrub Vegetation Cover Using UAV‐Derived Height Maps: A Case Study at Two UK Nature Reserves
Authors: Jordan Matthew , Vafidis Jim , Steer Mark , Fawcett Kathy , Meakin Kathy , Parry Gareth , Brown Matthew 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTMeasuring the outcome of practical interventions and actions helps to inform conservation management objectives and assess progress towards objectives and targets. Measuring success also informs future management by identifying actions that are effective and those that are not. Scrub vegetation is an important habitat type in terrestrial ecosystems, providing important shelter and food resources for biodiversity and livestock. Much of practical land management in the UK involves the monitoring and management of scrub, and current drone‐based methods of scrub collection requires expensive equipment or complex methods. A 2021 paper determined a cheap and simple way to determine scrub levels, and this could potentially be used to map temporal changes, as well as identify directional change in scrub. This study looks at whether the method outlined in the 2021 study could be used to measure temporal and directional changes in scrub cover on two nature reserves in the UK: Daneway Banks in Gloucestershire and Flat Holm Island in the Severn Estuary. Scrub levels at Daneway Banks increased from 14.63% in 2015 to 16.52% in 2017, before decreasing to 14.89% in 2021 due to managed cutting and clearing. Scrub cover at Flatholm Island decreased from 10.18% in 2019 to 8.71% in 2021. The exact locations of scrub growth and loss for each site was also calculated and mapped. This approach was found to be a viable way of measuring temporal and directional change in scrub levels. The data can also be used to reframe changes in scrub levels as a shift towards vegetation succession or reduction, to better visualise how changes in scrub levels affect overall site management goals, and is a cheaper, more accessible alternative to current methods of measuring temporal vegetation changes.
Efficient Visible‐Light‐Induced π‐Extension of Perylene Tetraesters: An Investigation on Regioselectivity
Authors: Fujimoto Keisuke , Miyano Shingo , Norizuki Kenshin , Inuzuka Toshiyasu , Sengoku Tetsuya , Takahashi Masaki 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe present study discloses a highly efficient visible‐light‐induced π‐extension of perylene tetraesters and discussion on the regioselectivity in the photocyclization. We initially found that π‐extension reaction of 3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl perylene tetraester smoothly proceeded by only irradiating blue LED with a complete regioselectivity. Investigations of the photocyclization with various substrates revealed the relationship between the regioselectivity and electron‐donating/withdrawing effects of the substituents on the aromatic groups. Moreover, theoretical investigation suggested the importance of bond alteration in the aromatic groups: cyclization proceeds preferentially at shorter C−C bonds with higher double bond characters. The findings will open new possibilities for the practical synthesis of custom‐designed π‐extended perylene materials.
Comparison of environmental and health acceptability of squatting and sitting toilets: A review
Authors: Salehfar Hanyieh , Torkalipour Asma , Karimi Seyydeh‐Amene , Fayyazi Hossein , Mahdavianpour Mostafa 
Published: October 2024

AbstractIn general, two types of sitting and squatting toilets are used by people in the world, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages from an environmental and health point of view. So far, no study has been done to compare these two types of toilets, precisely. Therefore, the precise comparison of these two types of toilets based on a simple literature review was the main purpose of this study. For this purpose, the amount of water consumption, toilet paper consumption, related diseases, ease of cleaning, odor problem, and the flexibility to equip with treatment and reuse systems in both types of toilets was compared. Squatting toilets is a better option in terms of water consumption, toilet paper consumption, ease of cleaning, and diseases related to body posture. In the case of infectious diseases, the sitting toilet has better conditions and in terms of flexibility to install the treatment and reuse systems, the conditions of both were almost similar. The odor problem in the sitting toilet is less than the squatting toilet. Since the advantages and disadvantages of both types of toilets are also complementary, the best option is to install both toilets together.
Seismic design of steel moment‐resisting knee‐braced frame system by failure mode control
Authors: Sepahvand Mostafa Fathi , Lenwari Akhrawat 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThis paper presents the seismic design of a steel moment‐resisting knee‐braced frame (MKF) using the theory of plastic mechanism control (TPMC) within the capacity‐based design framework. The MKF is an alternative system to MRFs, wherein knee elements are utilized to provide rigid connections and enhance lateral stiffness. Capacity‐based design, the predominant approach in current seismic provisions, relies on two key principles: (1) selecting specific structural components as fuses with sufficient ductility to dissipate seismic energy, and (2) ensuring non‐fuse elements can resist the maximum probable reactions from these fuses. The ultimate goal is to achieve a global mechanism where yielding occurs in all structural fuses and at the base of first‐story columns. However, existing seismic design provisions often struggle to fully satisfy the second principle due to the lack of a method for controlling failure modes. TPMC addresses this challenge by ensuring compliance with the second principle, grounding its approach in the kinematic method and the mechanism equilibrium curve within the rigid‐plastic analysis framework. By considering all potential story‐based undesirable mechanisms and calculating the required plastic moment of columns up to a target design displacement, TPMC ensures adherence to the second principle of the capacity‐based design approach, leading to the achievement of a global collapse mechanism. In this paper, an iterative method is proposed for designing beams and knee elements by considering plastic hinges at both ends of the beams, followed by a TPMC‐based methodology for designing columns to ensure a global mechanism. A parametric analysis of a single‐story single‐span MKF explores the effects of knee element geometry ( and ) on component demands. The results indicate that optimal parameter ranges of and can minimize the demands for MKF components. Practical design examples are illustrated using three steel MKFs, each consisting of four, seven, and ten stories with five spans. Pushover analysis and nonlinear dynamic analyses were performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design procedure in ensuring the attainment of a global mechanism and excellent seismic performance under real ground motions.
Target‐drift seismic‐force‐based design of one‐story reinforced concrete precast buildings considering the requirements of the second generation of the Eurocode 8 standard
Authors: Isaković Tatjana 
Published: October 2024

AbstractResults are presented concerning the force‐based design of a wide range of reinforced concrete, single‐story precast buildings, considering the requirements of the new Eurocode 8 standard. The relevant criterion defining the cross‐sectional dimensions of the columns was the 2% drift limitation. Buildings were designed considering a behavior factor of 3 and a 50% reduction in stiffness corresponding to the gross cross‐section. The design evaluation, using a nonlinear pushover analysis, revealed that all the buildings could expect approximately twice the drift considered in the design with significant second‐order effects, particularly in very tall columns. The main reasons for large discrepancies between the elastic and nonlinear analyses were the arbitrarily selected behavior factor and the arbitrarily selected reduction in stiffness corresponding to the gross cross‐section (the stiffness considered in the design was approximately double what the nonlinear analysis revealed). The analysis revealed that these two quantities are closely correlated. Once the dimensions of the columns had been selected, the force and initial stiffness reduction could not be chosen arbitrarily. Correlations were determined between the column dimensions, theoretical stiffness reduction, seismic force reduction (behavior factor) and second‐order effects. From these correlations, a new target‐drift force‐based design methodology was proposed. All considered buildings were redesigned using the proposed method. The results of the new design and the nonlinear‐pushover‐based analysis correlated well.
Research on high‐pressure abrasive water jet slotting and pressure relief technology for hard rock roof
Authors: Zhenfei Huang , Wenbin Wu 
Published: October 2024

AbstractTo solve the problem of severe rock pressure near coal mining face tunnels, a high‐pressure abrasive water jet slotting and roof breaking pressure relief technology is proposed. First, the laneway deformation mechanism and the process of hard rock slotting using high‐pressure abrasive water jets under long‐distance cantilever conditions are analyzed, and the crack initiation conditions of roof strata are obtained. Second, slotting tests under different slotting pressures, nozzle diameters, abrasive particle sizes and slotting times were carried out, and the slotting parameters of a high‐pressure abrasive water jet on a typical roof rock were obtained. Finally, industrial application was carried out in the 81,403 working face of Huayang No.1 Mine. After the hydraulic roof slotting measures were implemented in the test area, the maximum axial force of the anchor cable was reduced to 67 kN, which was 35.5% lower than that of the comparison. The average stress of the coal seam was 15 MPa, which was approximately 25% lower than that of the comparison. The deformation of the tunnel in the experimental area was significantly controlled, with an average movement of 30.0% toward the roof and floor of the tunnel and an average movement of 23.2% toward the two sides of the tunnel. Compared with the movement in the comparison section, the movement toward the roof and floor of the laneway was 42.3% lower, and the movement toward the two sides was 38.2% lower. The industrial application results show that high‐pressure abrasive water jet roof slotting and pressure relief technology can cut off the stress transmission path between the roof rock on both sides, effectively improve the stress state of the surrounding rock of the laneway, reduce the deformation of the roof, floor and two sides of the working face in the later stage of the mining laneway.
Enhanced Cooperative Compressive Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radio Networks
Authors: Benzater Hadj Abdelkader , Teguig Djamal , Lassami Nacerredine 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTThe demand for bandwidth in cognitive radio networks (CRNs) is growing as applications become increasingly data intensive. Techniques such as compressed spectrum sensing (CSS) and cooperative spectrum sensing (C‐SS) are employed to address this challenge. C‐SS enhances overall detection accuracy and reliability by enabling multiple nodes to share and combine their local sensing data. Conversely, CSS effectively reduces the required information for spectrum usage decision making, thereby improving bandwidth utilization. Integrating these two methods allows CRNs to utilize the spectrum reliably and efficiently, leading to increased spectral efficiency. To further improve reconstruction performance, we leverage the sparsity concept to transcend hardware constraints and merge restrictions from both real and synthesized channels. This approach involves the virtual synthesis of channels, which linearly enhances the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) within the network's size range. Simulation results demonstrate that our proposed method offers significant advantages over single‐node recovery, as validated by simulations and software defined radio (SDR) Implementation. The integration of spectral estimations from various local CR detectors enhances spatial diversity gain and sensing quality, particularly in fading channels. Compared to traditional approaches, our method achieves superior performance, evidenced by an increase in (from 93.97% to 96.52%) with almost the same .