bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dietary differences in males and females of a strongly sexually dimorphic ungulate
Authors: Brambilla Alice , Bal Xavier , Lusetti Maria Letizia , Colombo Mattia , Mainetti Andrea , Keller Lukas , Bassano Bruno 
Published: September 2024

AbstractDetailed knowledge of dietary preferences in wild species are important both for understanding evolutionary processes as well as for their conservation. By means of DNA metabarcoding analysis of faecal samples, we investigated the diet of Alpine ibex (Capra ibex), a mountain ungulate characterised by strong sexual dimorphism and segregation, and analysed differences between male and female diet. Despite a low level of selectivity, we found differences in the diet of males and females that consumed different plant in different quantities. Differences were maintained during both spring and summer. Males tended to feed more on plants richer in fibres (i.e., grasses and sedges) and showed stronger seasonal differences while females consumed more digestible plant families (i.e., forbs). Differences in diet between male and female Alpine ibex are compatible with the strong sexual dimorphism and segregation typical of the species and with female reproductive constraints. These results also show that conservation actions have to take into account different ecological needs of males and females in species characterized by sexual dimorphism and segregation.
Characterization of the floral traits, pollen micromorphology and DNA barcoding of the edible flowers from three basil taxa (Lamiaceae)
Authors: Bazzicalupo Miriam , Betuzzi Federica , Frigerio Jessica , Nissim Werther Guidi , Rapallo Fabio , Ruffoni Barbara , Cornara Laura , Copetta Andrea 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe edible flowers sector is expanding due to the popularity and uses in culinary recipes of different species. In particular, flowers of Ocimum basilicum L. and related taxa are increasingly used for their aromas and nutritional value. However, there is limited information regarding their morphological characteristics and molecular profiles, which are both important to perform a quality control of food, and to avoid contaminations. Hence, our aim was the study of three basil taxa (O. basilicum ‘Cinnamon’, O. basilicum ‘Blue Spice’, and the hybrid O. × africanum Lour.) to obtain data useful for taxa identification and to understand which traits could be linked to their chemodiversity. The plants were grown in a greenhouse starting from seeds. Flowers were collected at anthesis; the morphology of calyxes, corolla and pollen grains was characterized; DNA barcoding analyses were performed. All taxa were identified only as O. basilicum by molecular analyses, but two haplotypes were distinguishable. All taxa were identifiable due to the presence/absence of specific glandular trichomes, and by pollen size and number of colpi. ‘Cinnamon’ and O. × africanum showed more morphological affinities to each other, but histochemical analyses suggested the separation of the three taxa. Pollen grains from ‘Cinnamon’ had the smallest diameter in polar view and were hexacolpate, while ‘Blue Spice’ pollen showed the highest diameter with grains being hexacolpate/octacolpate, similarly to O. × africanum. Our interdisciplinary study provides the first information for authenticating these basil cultivars in packaged products for human consumption.
Quantum geodesic flows on graphs
Authors: Beggs Edwin , Majid Shahn 
Published: September 2024

AbstractWe revisit the construction of quantum Riemannian geometries on graphs starting from a hermitian metric compatible connection, which always exists. We use this method to find quantum Levi-Civita connections on the n-leg star graph for $$n=2,3,4$$

n
=
2
,
3
,
4

and find the same phenomenon as recently found for the $$A_n$$

A
n

Dynkin graph that the metric length for each inbound arrow has to exceed the length in the other direction by a multiple, here $$\sqrt{n}$$

n

. We then study quantum geodesics on graphs and construct these on the 4-leg graph and on the integer lattice line $$\mathbb {Z}$$
Z
with a general edge-symmetric metric.
Desıgn of quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifiers wıth near-zero linewidth enhancement factor
Authors: Aşırım Özüm Emre , Jirauschek Christian 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe linewidth enhancement factor (LWEF) of a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) quantifies refractive index fluctuations in the gain medium, which induce phase distortion in the amplified optical signal. Optoelectronic systems employing SOAs with high LWEFs often exhibit poor device stability and beam coherence. Thus, designing SOAs with low LWEF is imperative. Recently, Quantum-Dot (QD) SOAs have emerged as a solution for LWEF suppression due to quantum-confinement effects enabling tunability of the QD carrier density and emission frequency. In this study, we aim to design a composite active region comprised of a host medium and the embodied QDs, to explore the corresponding LWEF variation and propose the ultimate design strategy to achieve near-zero LWEF in QD SOAs for enhancing device stability and beam coherence. Our approach entails modeling the refractive index of the composite active region using effective medium approximation via Maxwell–Garnett mixing formulation. We then extensively tune key SOA parameters, including QD carrier density, QD emission frequency, and the collision-time constant of the carriers to uncover the optimal configuration for minimizing the LWEF. Based on empirical values, we have developed and validated a simple yet effective algorithm that precisely simulates LWEF behavior in response to changes in key QD SOA parameters. This approach offers a straightforward model for estimating LWEF variation, and its corresponding minimization in QD SOAs without requiring complex experimental measurement techniques.
Adaptability, stability, and productivity of potato breeding clones and cultivars at high latitudes in Europe
Authors: Ortiz Rodomiro , Reslow Fredrik , Huicho José , Vetukuri Ramesh , Crossa José 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe aim of potato breeding is to release cultivars that exhibit high and stable performance across the target population of environments. The objective of this research was therefore to investigate the use of various methods (site regression [SREG], coefficient of variation and regression deviation [σ2δ]) for determining the adaptability and stability of productive and quality traits in the Nordic region of Europe. The multi-environment trials included 256 breeding clones and released cultivars grown by EU farmers at three distinct testing sites over two years in Sweden. There was significant (P < 0.001) variation in tuber yield, starch percentage and reducing sugars in the tuber flesh among the breeding clones and cultivars, testing environments and the genotype by environment interaction (GEI). The environments were very diverse, as revealed by the SREG biplots and particularly for the GEI patterns noted in terms of their productive and quality characteristics. The percentage of stable high-tuber yielding germplasm was greater for breeding clones (23%) than for released European cultivars (2%), thus revealing the advantage of potato breeding in the target population of environments. SLU 1415001 and SLU 1314015 were the most promising breeding clones due to their stable high tuber yield. This characteristic was best for the starch potato cultivars, although none of them exhibited a significant different σ2δ. ‘Talent’ shows an almost stable good performance among low reducing sugar cultivars and breeding clones, which are often unstable in terms of their scoring across environments. Neither a breeding clone nor a cultivar was at the top for stable tuber yield, tuber flesh starch or reducing sugars in the tuber flesh, which shows the challenge faced by potato breeding while addressing the needs of different markets.
Equivalent Error Based Modelling for Prediction and Analysis of Measuring Accuracy in 3-Axis FXYZ Coordinate Measuring Machines from Position, Repeatability and Reversibility Errors
Authors: Jodar J. , Franco P. 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe measuring accuracy of coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) will be affected by the different geometrical and dynamic errors, including the deviations associated to the axis displacement, the working table and the part to be measured. This work is focused on the analysis of the influence of the position errors, repeatability errors and reversibility errors in 3-axis FXYZ coordinate measuring machines, and it will be developed by a numerical model that is known as EE-based stochastic model. This model implements a new error index that is named equivalent error (EE), which will integrate the totality of machine errors of the CMMs and will allow a global description of all these error sources by means of a unique error parameter. The results obtained by this numerical model have been compared with the application of a traditional method, and it was probed that the EE-based model makes possible an increase of a 13.29% in the linear modelling of the performance of CMMs from the machine errors considered in this work, which implies a relevant improvement for the analysis and description of the effect of the distinct error sources on the achievable measuring accuracy of CMMs. For this reason, the EE-based model will be of special interest for industrial applications such as the quality control to be applied inside the production systems dedicated to manufacture mechanical components of high dimensional accuracy.
A simplified rare earth element mining project cost estimator - a new tool for evaluating future mine supply
Authors: O’Brien Tim M. , Alonso Elisa 
Published: September 2024

AbstractRare earth elements (REE) are essential for the future of electric vehicles and renewable energy production, but currently there is limited REE production outside of China. Forecasting global future supplies of REE often relies on the valuation of advanced mining projects to assess if projects will initiate production. Classical valuation methods, such as net present value (NPV), require knowledge of initial capital and operating expenditures to assess the economic feasibility of a given project. Typical industry unit expenditure projections are highly precise but are extremely project dependent and require detailed knowledge of a site that is far beyond the level that a domestic and/or global supply-demand model can obtain. To model future REE supplies we developed a new globally representative, simplified, mining project cost model that can be used to approximate the capital and operating expenditures of greenfield REE mining projects. Results from this model allow users to estimate expenses of open-pit and underground mines with mineral processing operations that range from solely beneficiation to individual REE separation. Using our new model and an estimate of NPV, we evaluate several REE mining projects and assess the economic variables impacting the likelihood for these projects to advance to the production stage. Of 12 assessed projects located outside of China, in the early to advanced development stages, nine had positive NPV at 2011 peak REE prices, but none had positive NPV when prices reached bottom in 2016. Two projects yielded positive NPV’s using 2022 and projected 2028 prices. The viability of these projects given the impact of the volatility in REE prices explains the high uncertainty in the future supply for these mineral commodities.
Exogenous Application of Selenium Nanoparticles (Se-NPs) to Mitigate Salt Stress in Soybean-Evaluation of Physiological, Molecular and Biochemical Processes
Authors: Desouky Abeer F. , Desoukey S. F. , Abdel-Aziz Hend S. M. , EL-kholy Ragab I. , Hanafy Moemen S. 
Published: September 2024

AbstractSalt stress is identified as a significant abiotic stress that hampers agricultural sustainability globally. The study was carried out to investigate the potential mitigating effects of selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) on salt stress in soybean. Two weeks old grown soybean seedlings were subjected to salt stress conditions (4000 mg L− 1 of sea salts). The plants were foliar sprayed with Se-NPs at concentrations of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mg L− 1 twice. The first application was applied at four weeks from sowing and the second application was added after two weeks from the first application. Compared to control, Se-NPs application mitigates the negative effect of salinity on plant growth to a variable extent. This improvement may be attributed to several factors such as increased the concentrations of photosynthetic pigments, total soluble sugars and total protein. In addition, Se-NPs alleviated the adversely effect of oxidative stress by increasing the antioxidant activities and potassium contents without markedly increase in the sodium content of the soybean leaf tissues. Also, Se-NPs enhanced the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites such as total phenolic content under salinity. Moreover, Se-NPs spray significantly reinforced the development of conducting secondary tissues in the leaves and roots of the treated plants. GmHKT1 gene transcription was markedly up-regulated in salinized soybean and foliar sprayed with Se-NPs as a molecular strategy to cope with the salinity. Based on the obtained results, among the different doses of Se-NPs, soybean plants sprayed with 1.0 mg L− 1 Se-NPs showed better salt tolerance. The foliar spray of Se-NPs may be considered as a promising approach to enhance salt tolerance in soybean plants, which could have significant implications for improving agricultural sustainability in salt-affected regions.
Spatial dynamics and drivers of recent changes in grass and shrub cover in submontane grassland plant communities
Authors: Hua Xiaobin , Ohlemüller Ralf , Sirguey Pascal 
Published: September 2024

AbstractShrub encroachment into grassland ecosystems has been increasingly observed and documented worldwide in recent years. A grass–shrub transition can affect the diversity, abundance and functional integrity of grassland plant communities and understanding the drivers behind these processes is therefore crucial. While potential environmental drivers are often investigated, the role of spatial patterns of neighbouring shrub density in local shrub encroachment has been less well studied. The aim of this study is to investigate the relative role of neighbouring shrub density and topography as potential key drivers of shrub encroachment in a typical montane grassland ecosystem in New Zealand. We used the SPOT (Satellite Pour l’Observation) 6/7 multispectral imagery captured on one day in 2013 and in 2017 to calculate recent changes in shrub/grass cover during this period. Using the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), we classified the study area into grassland and shrubland and quantified the extent and change in these two land-cover types over the study period. We then investigated the relationships between changes in land cover and neighbourhood shrub density, elevation and aspect. Between 2013 and 2017, there was an overall shrubland increase of + 0.35% of the study area per year, and grassland decrease of −0.43% per year. Locations at which any change in vegetation type occurred were more likely to be at mid-elevation (c. 600–1,000 m a.s.l.) and on west-facing slopes. Highest shrub expansion rates were observed on areas that were on warmer, north-facing slopes and at elevations below 900 m a.s.l.; this is consistent with areas below the pre-human, natural treeline which is estimated to be at very similar elevations. We found a marked threshold in the degree to which neighbourhood shrub density correlated with local shrub encroachment: local shrub encroachment only occurred when shrub cover in the neighbourhood exceeded 40% and peaked at c. 60% indicating the potential for a sudden grass–shrub regime shift once shrub cover reaches a certain level. Our study provides new evidence from the Southern Hemisphere of a measurable and interacting effect of topography and neighbourhood shrub density on recent shrub encroachment rates in montane grasslands even over short time periods.
A simple model for the estimation of turbofan engine performance in all airborne phases of flight
Authors: Poll D.I.A. , Schumann U. 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe overall efficiency of a turbofan engine may be expressed as a function of the Mach number, flight level and one other parameter. This may be either the net thrust, the turbine entry temperature or the fuel flow rate. Using basic aero-thermodynamic principles, dimensional analysis, normalisation and curve fitting, five approximate and “near universal” relations have been identified for engines having bypass ratios between 1 and 13. These relations contain five independent characteristic engine parameters. When these parameters are known, the relations form the basis of an estimation method for engine overall efficiency that is simple, fast, open source, completely transparent and, as new information appears, capable of further refinement. Since the empirical relations presented in this analysis are valid for Mach numbers greater than 0.2, the method is applicable to all airborne phases of flight. For a given aircraft, if the flight trajectory is specified in sufficient detail for the variation of net thrust with Mach number and flight level to be determined, only three of the five relations, together with the value of engine overall efficiency at a single reference condition, are needed to estimate the overall efficiency at every point on the trajectory. Comparisons with the data used in this analysis suggest that the accuracy is better than ±5% in most cases. In the completely general case, two additional engine characteristic parameters, one a total temperature ratio and the other a Mach number, are introduced. If these are known, both engine overall efficiency and net thrust can be expressed as functions of Mach number, flight level and turbine entry temperature. This allows the method to be used for the estimation of operating limits in the various phases of flight and in simplified optimisation studies, e.g. finding the environmentally optimum flight trajectory.In previous work, estimates of engine overall efficiency at the “design optimum” condition have been estimated for 53 aircraft and engine combinations. It is shown that the ‘design optimum’ condition is an appropriate choice for the engine reference condition. Updated and revised values for the relevant parameters for these 53 examples, together with estimates for the two additional engine characteristic parameters, are given in tabular form.
Fluoroquinolones in Focus: Unraveling Prescription Trends among Clinician Specialties in Washington State
Authors: Evans David , Zering Jessica , Stohs Erica , D’Angeli Marisa , Katarina Kamenar 
Published: September 2024

Background: An overall decrease of prescriptions for outpatient fluoroquinolones (FQs) following the FDA’s release of boxed warnings in 2016 was shown in a previous analysis1. An additional study found that this decline held true when further broken down by specialty 2. We sought to determine which different clinician specialties in Washington State (WA) continue to prescribe FQs and if these rates are congruent with previously conducted national analyses. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive analysis of Medicare Part D data from 2021. We identified specialty types contributing the highest proportions of FQ claims from the total volume of claims in 2021. Subsequently, we calculated the average FQ claims per 1,000 Medicare Part D beneficiaries for each specialty. The analysis excluded providers with missing beneficiary data. All dosage formulations were included (i.e. topical & oral). We repeated this process for each year from 2021 to 2013 to assess changes in the average FQ prescription rate for each specialty over time. Results: Our analysis encompassed 99,250 FQ prescriptions involving 976,209 Medicare Part D beneficiaries from January 1 to December 30, 2021. Among the specialties, urologists emerged as the highest prescribers of FQs to Medicare Part D beneficiaries, closely followed by ophthalmologists and family practitioners (Table 1). Notably, 72.4% of urologists prescribed FQs, while only 12.4% of family practitioners did so in 2021. Trend analysis indicated that the average FQ claims per 1,000 beneficiaries for urologists decreased from 251 claims per 1,000 beneficiaries (SD = 177.98) in 2013 to 130 claims per 1,000 beneficiaries (SD = 122.50) in 2021 (Figure 1A). In contrast, the only specialty types that had positive trends in average FQ claims per 1,000 beneficiaries from 2013 to 2021 included ophthalmologists, optometrists, and otolaryngologists (Figure 1A). Conclusion: Throughout the years leading up to 2021, most prescriber specialties contributing high volumes of FQ claims experienced a decline in FQ prescriptions. The positive trend noted amongst ophthalmologists, optometrists, and otolaryngologists could be due to the limited ability to differentiate between oral & topical FQ formulations within the dataset. These findings underscore the importance of understanding specialist prescribing behaviors and partnering with them to formulate tailored antibiotic stewardship guidance. By doing so, we can further promote patient safety and well-being in the context of FQ usage. Public health departments can promote more holistic antibiotic stewardship interventions and better patient safety outcomes with FQs. Ambulatory Fluoroquinolone Use in the United States 2015–2019 Outpatient Fluoroquinolone Prescription Fills.Disclosure: Erica Stohs: Contracted research - Merck; Contracted research – bioMerieux