bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gape‐limited invasive predator frequently kills avian prey that are too large to swallow
Authors: Kastner Martin , Goetz Scott M. , Baker Kayla M. , Siers Shane R. , Paxton Eben H. , Nafus Melia G. , Rogers Haldre S. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractGape‐limited predators (e.g., snakes, many fish) are not generally expected to pose a predation threat to prey that are too large for them to swallow. However, the extent to which snakes predate on prey that exceed their gape limitation remains largely unknown. We conducted the first study to investigate the influence of both prey and predator sizes on the frequency of ingestion success by snakes in a natural system. We combined survival monitoring of an avian prey species (Aplonis opaca) via radio‐telemetry with a survey of the size distribution of their major predator (Boiga irregularis) on Guam. This allowed us to assess (1) the frequency of unsuccessful ingestion by the predator, (2) whether the size of the prey predicts ingestion success, (3) whether the size of the predator predicts ingestion success, and (4) the relationship between prey and predator sizes in successful ingestion attempts. We found that nearly half (47.95%) of ingestion attempts by snakes on fledgling birds were unsuccessful, and no instances where unsuccessful ingestion caused the mortality of the snake. Attempts to consume smaller fledglings were as likely to be unsuccessful as attempts to swallow larger fledglings. However, snakes that successfully ingested fledglings were among the largest snakes in the population, and larger than average conspecifics attracted to endothermic prey. The smallest snakes that successfully ingested fledglings attained remarkably high relative prey mass values for their species, consuming prey weighing up to 79.9% of their own mass. Our study indicates that B. irregularis routinely predate prey that are too large for them to successfully ingest, which causes mortality to the prey but poses little risk to the predator. The potential reward for snakes in consuming oversized prey may outweigh the inherent risks, while instances of predation that do not result in consumption may have considerable impacts on prey populations.
Alpine songbirds at higher elevations are only raised with a slight delay and therefore under harsher environmental conditions
Authors: Paterno Julia , Korner‐Nievergelt Fränzi , Gubler Stefanie , Anderwald Pia , Amrhein Valentin 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe breeding phenology of birds is often timed to coincide with a peak in food availability. However, the shortening of the vegetation period with increasing elevation may force bird species at high elevations to breed earlier in relation to optimal environmental conditions due to time constraints. We investigated differences in fledging dates in five Alpine woodland songbird species along an elevational gradient from 1500 to 2200 m in Switzerland. We estimated fledging dates from a nationwide citizen science bird monitoring dataset and used the date when the proportion of observations of ‘fledged young’ reached 50% among all observations indicating breeding behaviour. This measure had the advantage that we could estimate average timing of the broods across a wide geographic range and over many years without the need to search for individual nests. We then compared differences in timing of the broods with climatic conditions and larch budburst across different elevational bands. The daily mean air temperature of 10–15°C was reached 34–38 days later at 2200 m compared to 1500 m, which is a similar delay as found in previous reports on snow melt‐out date. The average delay in larch budburst was 19.2 days at 2200 m compared to 1500 m. In comparison, the average timing of the birds' broods was only 5.4 days later in coal tits and 0.5 days later in Alpine tits at 2200 compared to 1500 m (the two species for which we had the narrowest interval estimates). Also, the estimated delay at higher elevations in the broods of song thrushes, mistle thrushes and Eurasian chaffinches was relatively small. Rather than postponing breeding dates to better environmental conditions later in the season that would match the earlier conditions at low elevation, songbirds breeding at higher elevations may thus have evolved adaptations to cope with the harsher conditions.
Decoupled shifts of dominant and rarer fish species as a response to warming and extreme events in a large estuary
Authors: Anadón J. D. , Piñeiro O. , Ruhi A. , Hornstein J. , Waldman J. R. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractDisentangling community responses to multiple stressors in a warming context is one of the most challenging tasks ecologists face. Taking advantage of a long‐term (1989–2017) and intensive fish monitoring survey (N = ~900K from 804 seines‐day), we present a comprehensive analysis on the dynamics of coastal fish communities in Jamaica Bay, New York, by addressing multiple dimensions of community change that although closely related are rarely considered in a single work. Specifically, we tested hypotheses about changes in composition, composition variability and community functional attributes, and the role of environmental drivers acting at different temporal scales. Our analyses suggest two decoupled community dynamics triggered by two different extreme events. First, the 1999 Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation phase switch caused an abrupt shift from a single‐species dominance to intermittent co‐dominance, with species preferring higher temperatures, a shift that has persisted in time but that may be cyclical at a multidecadal scale. Second, the 2012 heat wave promoted an abrupt collapse of rare and cold‐water species, and the sudden arrival of warmer‐water species in a portion of the community that was already increasingly variable due to long‐term warming. Functionally, the entire community subtly shifted toward species with faster turnover and lower trophic levels. Our work sheds light on the complex responses of biological communities to warming in terms of the impacts on composition, its temporal variability, and its functional dimension, by disentangling the interplay of long‐term environmental trends such as warming, multidecadal cycles, and extreme events on different portions (i.e., dominant and rare thermal species) of the community.
Inferring ecological selection from multidimensional community trait distributions along environmental gradients
Authors: Kaarlejärvi Elina , Itter Malcolm , Tonteri Tiina , Hamberg Leena , Salemaa Maija , Merilä Päivi , Vanhatalo Jarno , Laine Anna‐Liisa 
Published: July 2024

AbstractUnderstanding the drivers of community assembly is critical for predicting the future of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Ecological selection ubiquitously shapes communities by selecting for individuals with the most suitable trait combinations. Detecting selection types on key traits across environmental gradients and over time has the potential to reveal the underlying abiotic and biotic drivers of community dynamics. Here, we present a model‐based predictive framework to quantify the multidimensional trait distributions of communities (community trait spaces), which we use to identify ecological selection types shaping communities along environmental gradients. We apply the framework to over 3600 boreal forest understory plant communities with results indicating that directional, stabilizing, and divergent selection all modify community trait distributions and that the selection type acting on individual traits may change over time. Our results provide novel and rare empirical evidence for divergent selection within a natural system. Our approach provides a framework for identifying key traits under selection and facilitates the detection of processes underlying community dynamics.
Drought tolerance and species abundance mediate dry season negative density dependence in a tropical forest
Authors: Song Xiaoyang , Katabuchi Masatoshi , Chase Jonathan M. , Johnson Daniel J. , Zhang Wenfu , Deng Xiaobao , Cao Min , Yang Jie 
Published: July 2024

AbstractConspecific negative density dependence (CNDD) is thought to be a key process in maintaining plant diversity. However, the strength of CNDD is highly variable in space and time as well as among species, and correlates of this variation that might help to understand and explain it remain largely unquantified. Using Bayesian hierarchical models, we took advantage of 10‐year seedling monitoring data that were collected annually in every dry and rainy season in a seasonal tropical forest. We quantified the interspecific variation in the strength of CNDD and its temporal variation. We also examined potential correlates of this interspecific and temporal variation, including species functional traits (such as drought‐tolerant traits, defense‐related traits, and recourse acquisition traits) and species abundances. In the dry season, we found a negative relationship between the density of neighboring conspecific seedlings on seedling survival, while in the rainy season, there was a negative relationship between the density of neighboring conspecific adults on seedling survival. In addition, we found that interspecific variation in CNDD was related to drought‐tolerant traits in the dry season but not in the rainy season. Across years, we found that drought‐intolerant species suffer less CNDD during the dry seasons that have higher rainfall, whereas drought‐tolerant species suffer less CNDD when the dry season has lower rainfall. We also found that rare species suffered stronger CNDD in the dry season. Overall, our study highlights that CNDD is highly variable among species and through time, necessitating a deeper appreciation of the environmental and functional contexts of CNDD and their interactions.
SGLT2 inhibition, blood lipids, and cardiovascular disease: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Li Jiangtao , Li Chenhe , Feng Xin , Wei Xiang 
Published: July 2024

AbstractAimsWe aim to investigate the causal effect of blood lipids mediating sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibition in cardiovascular disease (CVD) using Mendelian randomization (MR).Methods and resultsA two‐sample two‐step MR study was conducted to evaluate the association of SGLT2 inhibition with CVDs and the mediation effects of blood lipids linking SGLT2 inhibition with CVDs. Genetic instruments for SGLT2 inhibition were identified as genetic variants, which were associated with the expression of the SLC5A2 gene and glycated haemoglobin level (HbA1c). SGLT2 inhibition was associated with reduced risk of heart failure (HF) (OR 0.44 [95% CI 0.32–0.61]; P = 6.0 × 10−7), atrial fibrillation (AF) (0.47 [0.37–0.61]; P = 1.81 × 10−8), coronary artery disease (CAD) (0.47 [0.30–0.73]; P = 7.46 × 10−4), myocardial infarction (MI) (0.30 [0.15–0.61]; P = 7.44 × 10−4), any stroke (AS) (0.28 [0.18–0.42]; P = 1.14 × 10−9), and ischaemic stroke (IS) (0.27 [0.17–0.44]; P = 1.97 × 10−7). Our results indicated that the proportion mediated of the mediating effect of total cholesterol was 1.7% (OR 0.99 [95% CI 0.98, 0.99], P = 0.004), 4.7% (0.96 [0.95, 0.98], P = 0.002), and 2.7% (0.97 [0.95, 0.98], P = 0.002) in the association between SGLT2 inhibition and the risk of HF, CAD, and MI, respectively. For low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, the proportion mediated of the mediating effect was 2.2% for HF (OR 0.98 [95% CI 0.98, 0.99], P = 0.003), 8.6% for CAD (0.93 [0.91, 0.95], P = 5.74 × 10−4), and 5.0% for MI (0.95 [0.94, 0.96], P = 6.97 × 10−4). For non‐high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, the proportion mediated of the mediating effect was 3.4% for HF (OR 0.98 [95% CI 0.97, 0.98], P = 4.42 × 10−6), 11.8% for CAD (0.92 [0.90, 0.93], P = 7.23 × 10−8), 5.7% for MI (0.94 [0.92, 0.95], P = 8.17 × 10−7), 1.5% for AS (0.98 [0.98, 0.99], P = 0.001), and 1.4% for IS (0.98 [0.98, 0.99], P = 0.004).ConclusionsOur study showed the association of SGLT2 inhibition with the reduced risk of CVDs and blood lipids might mediate this association.
Pilot trial of an electronic decision support to improve care for emergency department patients with acute heart failure
Authors: Sax Dana R. , Mark Dustin G. , Rana Jamal S. , Huang Jie , Casey Scott D. , Norris Robert P. , Tillage Viliami , Reed Mary E. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractAimsEmergency department (ED) providers play an important role in the management of patients with acute heart failure (AHF). We present findings from a pilot study of an electronic decision support that includes personalized risk estimates using the STRIDE‐HF risk tool and tailored recommendations for initiating guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT) among appropriate patients.MethodsAmong ED patients treated for AHF who were discharged from the ED or the ED‐based observation unit in two EDs from 1 January 2023 to 31 July 2023, we assess prescriptions to the four classes of GDMT at two intervals: (1) ED arrival and (2) ED discharge. Specifically, we report active prescriptions for beta‐blockers (BBs), renin–angiotensin receptor system inhibitors (RASis), sodium‐glucose transport protein 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) among patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and mildly reduced (HFmrEF). Second, we describe rates of 30‐day serious adverse events (SAE) (death, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, balloon‐pump insertion, intubation, new dialysis, myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization) among patients predicted to be very low risk by STRIDE‐HF and discharged home.ResultsAmong 234 discharged patients, 55% were female and 76% were non‐White. We found 51 (21.8%), 21 (9.0%) and 126 (53.8%) had HFrEF, HFmEF and HFpEF, respectively, while 36 (15.4%) were missing EF, and 51 (22%) were very low risk, 82 (35%) were low risk, 60 (26%) were medium risk and 41 (18%) were high risk. Among HFrEF patients, 68.6%, 66.7%, 25.5% and 19.6% were on a RASi, BB, SGLT2i and MRA, respectively, at ED arrival, while 42.9%, 66.7%, 14.3% and 4.8% of HFmrEF patients were on a RASi, BB, SGLT2i and MRA, respectively. Among patients with HFpEF, only 6 (4.8%) were on an SGLT2i at ED arrival. The most prescribed new medication at ED discharge was an SGLT2i, with a nearly 10% increase in the proportion of patients with an active prescription for SGLT2i at ED discharge among HFrEF and HFmEF patients. We observed no 30‐day SAE among the 51 patients predicted to be very low risk and discharged home.ConclusionsOngoing treatment with GDMT at ED arrival was sub‐optimal. Initiation among appropriate patients at discharge may be feasible and safe.
Investigation of induced electroosmotic flow in small‐scale capillary electrophoresis devices: Strategies for control and reversal
Authors: De Silva Miyuru , Opallage Prabhavie M. , Dunn Robert C. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractElectroosmotic flow (EOF) is the bulk flow of solution in a capillary or microchannel induced by an applied electric potential. For capillary and microchip electrophoresis, the EOF enables analysis of both cations and anions in one separation and can be varied to modify separation speed and resolution. The EOF arises from an electrical double layer at the capillary wall and is normally controlled through the pH and ionic strength of the background buffer or with the use of additives. Understanding and controlling the electrical double layer is therefore critical for maintaining acceptable repeatability during method development. Surprisingly, in fused silica capillaries at low pH, studies observe an EOF even though the capillary surface should be neutralized. Previous work has suggested the presence of an “induced electroosmotic flow” from radial electric fields generated across the capillary wall due to the separation voltage and grounded components external to the capillary. Using thin‐wall (15 µm) fused silica separation capillaries to facilitate the study of radial fields, we show that the EOF mobility depends on both the separation voltage and the location of external grounds. This is consistent with the induced EOF model, in which radial electric fields embed positive charges at the capillary walls to create an electrical double layer. The magnitude of the effect is characterized and shown to have long‐range influences that are difficult to completely null by moving grounded components away from the separation capillary. Instead, active EOF control using externally applied potentials or a passive approach using a negative separation voltage are discussed as two possible methods for controlling the induced EOF. Both methods can reverse the EOF and improve the resolution and peak efficiency in amino acid separations.
Phase‐controllable cobalt phosphide heterostructure for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution in water and seawater
Authors: Huang Guo , Huang Yujin , Ali Asad , Chen Zhijie , Shen Pei Kang , Ni Bing‐Jie , Zhu Jinliang 
Published: July 2024

AbstractCobalt phosphides attract broad attention as alternatives to platinum‐based materials towards hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The catalytic performance of cobalt phosphides largely depends on the phase structure, but figuring out the optimal phase towards HER remains challenging due to their diverse stoichiometries. In our work, a series of cobalt phosphide nanoparticles with different phase structures but similar particle sizes (CoP‐Co2P, Co2P‐Co, Co2P, and CoP) on a porous carbon network (PC) were accurately synthesized. The CoP‐Co2P/PC heterostructure demonstrates upgraded HER catalytic activity with a low overpotential of 96.7 and 162.1 mV at 10 mA cm−2 in 1 M KOH and 1 M phosphate‐buffered saline solution, respectively, with a long‐term (120 h) durability. In addition, the CoP‐Co2P/PC exhibits good HER performance in alkaline seawater, with a small overpotential of 111.2 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a low Tafel slope of 64.2 mV dec−1, as well as promising stability. Density functional theory results show that the Co2P side of the CoP‐Co2P/PC heterostructure has the best Gibbs free energy of each step for HER, which contributes to the high HER activity. This study sets the stage for the advancement of high‐performance HER electrocatalysts and the implementation of large‐scale seawater electrolysis.
Assessing policy capacity and policy effectiveness: A comparative study using sustainable governance indicators
Authors: Khan Rameen , Hussain Fiaz 
Published: July 2024

AbstractPolicy capacity is vital for a nation's prosperity and sustainability, enabling governments to fulfill diverse responsibilities, such as security, economic growth, and accountable governance. This study evaluates policy capacity across countries from 2014 to 2020 using Sustainable Governance Indicators by the Bertelsmann Foundation. Focusing on executive capacity, which encompasses policy capacity's analytical, managerial, and political aspects, we gauge governments' ability to implement sustainable policies. Executive capacity is further classified into steering capability, policy implementation, and institutional learning. Findings show that policy capacity significantly influences policy effectiveness in all countries, with high‐capacity countries demonstrating more impact. Enhancing policy capacity through efficient steering, implementation, and learning can improve policy effectiveness and foster responsive governance for sustainable development. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers seeking to bolster governance capacities and achieve positive policy outcomes.
Detecting the three‐dimensional dynamics of post‐dam sandbars from Sentinel‐2 time‐series images: A case study in the lower Lancang–Mekong River
Authors: Li Xiaoyang , Fan Hui , Yang Ting 
Published: July 2024

AbstractChannel sandbars are extremely sensitive to basin‐wide natural processes and human activities, and their modifications considerably affect channel stability and river ecosystem health. However, quantitatively detecting the three‐dimensional dynamics of channel sandbars at a high spatial resolution over a large area remains challenging. In this study, we propose a semi‐automated process to address this challenge by extracting sandbar contours from Sentinel‐2 images in the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. We then generate contour datasets for each sandbar based on the spatial relationship between contours and water levels at nearby hydrological stations. Subsequently, digital elevation models (DEMs) are created for each sandbar using the contour dataset, and non‐linear relations between sandbar areas and water levels are fitted through polynomial curves of degrees 3–6 to calculate changes in sandbar volumes. Finally, we comprehensively analysed the driving mechanisms of sandbar changes in different sub‐reaches. Our findings reveal the area and volume of sandbars in three of the four sub‐reaches increased significantly between 2018 and 2019; however, these values decreased significantly and continuously between 2019 and 2022. Sandbars located downstream near the dam experienced more severe erosion compared to those farther downstream. Although the morphodynamic processes of each sub‐reach were different, extremely low rainfall in 2019–2020 and the operation of the Xayaburi Dam are significant global factors leading to the shrinkage of the sandbars. Furthermore, abnormal erosion with a change rate of −9.62% in area and −8.95% in volume was observed in the sub‐reach between Vientiane and Khong Chiam hydrological stations between 2018 and 2019, with the susceptibility of the channel to flow scour and anthropogenic sand mining being significant factors. Although the sediment replenishment from tributaries diminishes the impact of upstream dams and droughts on the reach farther downstream, the threat to channel stability due to excessive sand mining should be given high priority. Our study highlights how satellite remote sensing, specifically utilizing time series images with fine spatio‐temporal resolutions, effectively detects three‐dimensional variations in sandbars and river geomorphic changes. Additionally, it demonstrates the significant post‐dam alteration of erosion patterns and deposition dynamics within the sandbar region of the lower Mekong River.
Characterization of The Permeation Properties of Membrane Filters and Sorption Properties of Sorbents Used for Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Samplers
Authors: Moriya Miyu , Noro Kazushi , Nagaosa Aika , Banno Arisa , Ono Junko , Amagai Takashi , Yabuki Yoshinori 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) are promising devices for measuring the time-weighted average concentrations of hydrophilic compounds in aquatic environments. However, the mechanisms underlying compound uptake by POCIS remain unclear. We investigated the permeation kinetics of polyethersulfone and polytetrafluoroethylene membrane filters, and the sorption kinetics of Oasis HLB (Waters), Envi-Carb (Supelco), and Oasis WAX (Waters) sorbents. The log octanol−water partition coefficient (KOW) values of the 19 targeted compounds ranged from −0.55 to 6.0. The overall mass-transfer coefficients were negatively correlated with KOW, indicating that interactions between hydrophobic compounds and the membrane inhibit permeation. The sorption rate coefficient showed no correlation with KOW and depended on the type of sorbent used. These results imply that the uptake of highly hydrophilic compounds by POCIS is determined by both the membrane and the sorbent kinetics; however, membrane kinetics dominate the uptake of hydrophobic compounds. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:2115–2121. © 2024 SETAC
Design of this study. Sorption rate coefficients (s; g s–1) and overall mass transport coefficients (ko; m3 s–1) were obtained from sorption and permeation experiments, respectively. Kinetic factors (F; a.u.) were calculated as F=sVkomp where V (m3) is the volume of water and mp (g) is the mass of sorbent in the polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS). High F values indicate that uptake by POCIS dominated by membrane kinetics. Kow(L kg−1) = octanol-water partition coefficient.