bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Low‐grade inflammation in persons with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes: The role of abdominal adiposity and putative mediators
Authors: Domazet Sidsel L. , Olesen Thomas B. , Stidsen Jacob V. , Svensson Camilla K. , Nielsen Jens S. , Thomsen Reimar W. , Jessen Niels , Vestergaard Peter , Andersen Mette K. , Hansen Torben , Brøns Charlotte , Jensen Verena H. , Vaag Allan A. , Olsen Michael H. , Højlund Kurt 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAimsTo determine the magnitude of the association between abdominal adiposity and low‐grade inflammation in persons with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D) and to determine to what extent this association is mediated by low physical activity level, hyperinsulinaemia, hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, and comorbidities.Materials and MethodsWe measured waist circumference, clinical characteristics, and inflammatory markers i.e. tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), in >9000 persons with recently diagnosed T2D. We applied multiple mediation analysis using structural equation modelling, with adjustment for age and sex.ResultsWaist circumference as a proxy for abdominal adiposity was positively associated with all inflammatory markers. Hence, a one‐standard deviation (SD) increase in waist circumference (SD = 15 cm) was associated with a 22%, 35%, and 46% SD increase in TNF‐α (SD = 1.5 pg/mL), IL‐6 (SD = 4.4 pg/mL), and hsCRP (SD = 6.9 mg/L), respectively. The level of hyperinsulinaemia assessed by fasting C‐peptide was quantitatively the most important mediator, accounting for 9%–25% of the association between abdominal adiposity and low‐grade inflammation, followed by low physical activity (5%–7%) and high triglyceride levels (2%–6%). Although mediation of adiposity‐induced inflammation by greater comorbidity and higher glycated haemoglobin levels reached statistical significance, their impact was minor (1%–2%).ConclusionsIn persons with recently diagnosed T2D, there was a clear association between abdominal adiposity and low‐grade inflammation. A considerable part (20%–40%) of this association was mediated by other factors, with hyperinsulinaemia as a potentially important driver of adiposity‐induced inflammation in T2D.
Blockchain technology in the supply chain management classroom: Proof of Attendance Protocols
Authors: Dreyfus David 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis research demonstrates a method to introduce blockchain technology in the classroom based on the Proof of Attendance Protocol (POAP). A blockchain is a digital distributed ledger with the potential to improve transparency and trust between parties. Businesses are testing, piloting, and deploying blockchain technology across their organizations, and students show growing interest in the technology. This teaching brief proposes an exercise that uses POAPs, nonfungible tokens (NFTs) associated with an event, to help students understand blockchain technology within supply chain management contexts. Instructors can use the exercise for various purposes: as incentives for behavior the instructor wishes to encourage (such as attending class) or as prizes for games. The exercise also includes a glossary of blockchain‐related terms to introduce the language of this industry to students. Student surveys showed a significant change in their knowledge of blockchain technology, specifically, a 41% increase in understanding of how blockchain technology may benefit supply chain management and a 35% improvement in the ability to explain blockchain technology to others. This brief concludes with resources to create and distribute POAPs for courses and other settings.
Overwintering conditions affect cold hardiness, survival, and post‐overwintering fitness of the pea leaf weevil
Authors: Wijerathna Asha , Cárcamo Héctor , Evenden Maya 
Published: March 2024

AbstractOverwintering conditions affect the physiological state of ectotherms, and therefore, their cold hardiness and survival. A measure of the lethal and sublethal impacts of overwintering conditions on pest populations is crucial to predict population dynamics and to manage pests the following spring. The impact of winter conditions can be most intense for invasive insects undergoing range expansion. Insect herbivores can display plastic host use behaviours that depend on their body condition following winter. The pea leaf weevil, Sitona lineatus L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is an invasive pest of field peas, Pisum sativum L., and faba bean, Vicia faba L. (Fabaceae). Pea leaf weevil has expanded its range in North America to include the Prairie Provinces of Canada. This study investigated the effects of temperature and microhabitat on overwintering survival and cold hardiness of pea leaf weevil in its expanded range. Further, we investigated the sublethal effect of overwintering temperature and duration on post‐overwintering survival, feeding, and oviposition of pea leaf weevil. We also investigated the role of juvenile hormone in modulating body condition of overwintering weevils. The overwintering survival of pea leaf weevil adults increased with soil temperature and varied with region and microhabitat. More weevils survived winters when positioned near tree shelterbelts compared to open alfalfa fields. The supercooling point of pea leaf weevil varied throughout its expanding range but did not differ for weevils held in the two microhabitats. The average threshold lethal temperature of pea leaf weevil at all three sites was −9.4 °C. Weevils that overwintered for a longer duration and at a higher temperature subsequently fed more on faba bean foliage and laid more eggs compared to those which overwintered for a shorter duration at a lower temperature. Our findings highlight that warm winters would increase overwintering survival and post‐overwintering fitness, facilitating further pea leaf weevil invasion northward in the Prairie Provinces of Canada.
Does the Neotropical‐native parasitoid Ganaspis pelleranoi successfully attack the worldwide invasive pest Drosophila suzukii?
Authors: Biancheri María Josefina Buonocore , Núñez‐Campero Segundo Ricardo , Suárez Lorena , Ponssa Marcos Darío , Kirschbaum Daniel Santiago , Garcia Flávio Roberto Mello , Ovruski Sergio Marcelo 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe Asian Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a harmful invasive pest widespread throughout Argentinian fruit‐producing regions. It coexists with both pests, the sub‐Saharan African Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) and the Neotropical‐native Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (both Diptera: Tephritidae), in northwestern Argentina. The Neotropical‐native parasitoid Ganaspis pelleranoi (Brèthes) (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) is frequently found in non‐crop fruit infested by those frugivorous dipterans. The northwestern Argentinian region is known for producing and exporting berries and citrus, which are affected by those pests. Thus, eco‐friendly control strategies are under assessment. This study mainly assessed the potential of the G. pelleranoi population lineage from Tucumán (GpTuc) as a D. suzukii biocontrol agent. First, both the host‐killing effectiveness and the reproductive success of GpTuc on larvae of D. suzukii, C. capitata, A. fraterculus, and Drosophila melanogaster Meigen were compared in no‐choice tests under laboratory conditions. Then, the GpTuc host preference was evaluated in dual‐choice tests (D. suzukii vs. C. capitata or A. fraterculus) under laboratory and field conditions. Naive parasitoid females were allowed to forage for 8 h on screen‐covered Petri dishes filled with host larvae under laboratory conditions and for 48 h on peaches inoculated with host larvae under field conditions. Host puparia dissections were performed to determine the number and condition of parasitoid eggs, first and second instars, such as alive/dead, without/with melanization process, and proportions of parasitized, superparasitized, and dead puparia. Drosophila suzukii was not a suitable host for the successful development of GpTuc immature stages as they did not overcome the host's immune system. However, GpTuc performed efficiently regarding D. suzukii mortality, but parasitoid specificity was restricted to both tephritid species as only thriving offspring were achieved from them. Interestingly, the effectiveness of GpTuc on D. suzukii increased when it co‐occurred with C. capitata instead of A. fraterculus, the preferred host.
Interactions between soil structure dynamics, hydrological processes, and organic matter cycling: A new soil‐crop model
Authors: Jarvis Nicholas , Coucheney Elsa , Lewan Elisabet , Klöffel Tobias , Meurer Katharina H. E. , Keller Thomas , Larsbo Mats 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe structure of soil is critical for the ecosystem services it provides since it regulates many key soil processes, including water, air and solute movement, root growth and the activity of soil biota. Soil structure is dynamic, driven by external factors such as land management and climate and mediated by a wide range of biological agents and physical processes operating at strongly contrasting time‐scales, from seconds (e.g., tillage) to many decades (e.g., faunal activity and soil aggregation). In this respect, positive feedbacks in the soil–plant system may lead in the longer term to soil physical degradation or to the recovery of structurally poor soils. As far as we are aware, no existing soil‐crop model can account for such processes. In this paper, we describe a new soil‐crop model (USSF, Uppsala model of Soil Structure and Function) that accounts for the effects of soil structure dynamics on water and organic matter cycling at the soil profile scale. Soil structure dynamics are expressed as time‐varying physical (bulk density, porosity) and hydraulic properties (water retention, hydraulic conductivity) responding to the activity of biological agents (i.e., earthworms, plant roots) and physical processes (i.e., tillage, soil swell‐shrink) at seasonal to decadal time‐scales. In this first application of the model, we present the results of 30‐year scenario simulations that illustrate the potential role and importance of soil structure dynamics for the soil water balance, carbon storage in soil, root growth, and winter wheat yields on two soils (loam and clay) in the climate of central Sweden. A sensitivity analysis was also performed for these two scenarios using the Morris method of elementary effects, which revealed that the most sensitive parameters controlling soil structure dynamics in the USSF model are those determining aggregation induced by organic matter turnover and swell/shrink. We suggest that the USSF model is a promising new tool to investigate a wide range of processes and phenomena triggered by land use and climate change. Results from this study show that feedback in the soil‐crop system mediated by the dynamics of soil physical and hydraulic properties are potentially of central importance for long‐term predictions of soil water balance, crop production, and carbon sequestration under global change.
Exchangeable acidity and pedotransfer functions for the soils of Ghana
Authors: Owusu Stephen , Hartemink Alfred E. , Zhang Yakun , Csorba Ádám , Michéli Erika 
Published: March 2024

AbstractSoil exchangeable acidity (EA) is an indicator of aluminium toxicity potential in acidic soils. Predicting the distribution and dynamics of EA is needed for the identification and management of acidic soils. In this study, we used datasets of 355 pedons from across Ghana and the Cubist rule‐based algorithm to generate pedotransfer functions (PTFs) of EA. Eight soil properties (pH, organic carbon, calcium, sodium, magnesium, total exchangeable bases, cation exchange capacity [CEC] to clay ratio and soil depth) were used to predict EA. We first used the whole dataset to construct generic PTFs and then stratified the dataset based on World Reference Base‐Reference Soil Groups (WRB‐RSGs) to generate soil‐specific PTFs. Goodness‐of‐fit statistics comprising the root mean squared error (RMSE), Lin's concordance correlation coefficient () and coefficient of determination (R2) were used to evaluate the prediction accuracy and reliability of the developed PTF models on both calibration and validation datasets. The Fluvisols EA‐PTF exhibited lower performance metrics in the validation (RMSE = 0.17 cmolc kg−1, = 0.19, R2 = 0.24), whereas the EA‐PTFs for all other WRB‐RSGs and whole dataset had above‐average performance metrics in the validation (0.05 ≤ RMSE ≤ 0.97 cmolc kg−1; 0.34 ≤ ≤ 0.94; 0.52 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.96). Soil pH sufficed for predicting EA in soils with pH above 5.0, but in soils with a pH < 5.0, the levels of exchangeable bases (e.g., Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+), CEC to clay ratio (CCR) and soil depth improved the prediction of EA. The developed EA‐PTFs are useful for estimating the missing values of EA in soil databases.
Effect of severe wildfire on soil phosphorus fractions and adsorption in a cold temperate coniferous forest after 5 years
Authors: Deng Yating , Zhang Yun , Zheng Xinxin , Cui Xiaoyang 
Published: March 2024

AbstractForest fires are a primary driver of biogeochemical processes in ecosystems and affect the soil nutrient balance by altering the distribution of organic matter and associated nutrients as well as the composition and availability of elemental nutrients. We investigated the changes in soils’ phosphorus (P) fractions and the adsorption characteristics of potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate (orthoP) and myo‐inositol hexakisphosphate (IHP) at two depths (0–5 and 5–10 cm) in soils from two sites differing in fire severity: long‐unburned and heavily burned. Five years after the fire, there were increases in the total P and extractable inorganic P (H2O‐P, NaHCO3‐Pi, NaOH‐Pi, D.HCl‐Pi and C.HCl‐Pi) contents. Conversely, there was a decrease in organic P (NaHCO3‐Po, NaOH‐Po and C.HCl‐Po). The adsorption of soil for orthoP at a depth of 0–5 cm was dependent on the amount of P supplied by the soil; at low concentrations, heavily burned soil showed a lower adsorption than long‐unburned soil. However, at high concentrations, the adsorption of heavily burned soil was significantly larger than that of long‐unburned soil. With respect to IHP, the adsorption of long‐unburned soil was also more significant at depths of 0–5 cm. The adsorption of both orthoP and IHP of heavily burned soil was significantly higher than that of long‐unburned soil at a depth of 5–10 cm. Fire also decreased the binding degree (k1) of soil‐P and the solid phase at depths of 0–5 and 5–10 cm. The increase in P adsorption capacity outweighed the addition of P from ash, resulting in less leaching in heavily burned areas and minimizing P loss. Overall, forest fires significantly affect the adsorption characteristics and P fractions of soil, specifically orthoP and IHP, during the initial stage of postfire recovery. These effects are closely related to the direct influences of iron oxide, soil organic matter and aluminium oxide in the soil and may even produce relatively long‐term effects on the P recycling process of the entire ecosystem.
Straw addition promotes the nitrification process and the wheat yield linked to trophic interactions among microbes
Authors: Jia Chunhua , Zhou Guixiang , Qiu Xiuwen , Zhang Congzhi , Wang Jingkuan , Zhang Jiabao , Chen Lin , Ma Donghao , Zhao Zhanhui , Xue Zaiqi 
Published: March 2024

AbstractStraw return with nitrogen (N) fertilizer can generally regulate soil N cycling by affecting the microbial community, thereby influencing crop productivity. Bacteria and fungi play a key role in nitrification, while the effects of soil microbial interactions that include protists under the condition of straw return and N fertilizer remain uncertain. Here, we evaluated the importance of the soil microbiome, particularly protists and ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB), in regulating the soil N transformation potential and wheat yields under different fertilization practices. The results showed that the activity of β‐1,4‐N‐acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) and the potential nitrification rate (PNR) increased significantly by 156.4% ~ 312.3% and 183.1% ~ 402.6% with the addition of N fertilizer and straw, respectively. The effect on PNR was greater for straw than fertilizer addition. The fertilization practices changed the microbial community structure, and there were stronger responses from the protists and AOB. The soil microbiome formed three closely co‐occurring modules (Modules 0, 1 and 2). Among them, Module 0 showed strong positive correlations with the soil total N, NAG, PNR and crop yield and may be the key ecological cluster. Moreover, the predatory protists Cercozoa, Conosa and Ochrophyta in Module 0 were significantly positively associated with the activity of NAG and the PNR, yields and AOB. The predatory protists in Module 0 may change the soil potential nitrification rate and enhance the yield of wheat by preying on the competitors of AOB. The results suggest that the incorporation of straw promotes the N transformation potential and wheat yields linked to trophic interactions between predatory protists and AOB in fluvo‐aquic soil.
Neurological autoimmunity in patients with non‐pulmonary neuroendocrine neoplasms: clinical manifestations and neural autoantibody profiles
Authors: Mangioris Georgios , Halfdanarson Thorvardur R. , Lennon Vanda A. , Chang Bryce K. , Dubey Divyanshu , Dyck P. James B. , Flanagan Eoin P. , McKeon Andrew , Mills John R. , Pittock Sean J. , Zekeridou Anastasia 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackground and purposeParaneoplastic neurological autoimmunity is well described with small‐cell lung cancer, but information is limited for other neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs).MethodsAdult patients with histopathologically confirmed non‐pulmonary NENs, neurological autoimmunity within 5 years of NEN diagnosis, and neural antibody testing performed at the Mayo Clinic Neuroimmunology Laboratory (January 2008 to March 2023) were retrospectively identified. Control sera were available from patients with NENs without neurological autoimmunity (116).ResultsThirty‐four patients were identified (median age 68 years, range 31–87). The most common primary tumor sites were pancreas (nine), skin (Merkel cell, eight), small bowel/duodenum (seven), and unknown (seven). Five patients received immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy before symptom onset; symptoms preceded cancer diagnosis in 62.1% of non‐ICI‐treated patients. The most frequent neurological phenotypes (non‐ICI‐treated) were movement disorders (12; cerebellar ataxia in 10), dysautonomia (six), peripheral neuropathy (eight), encephalitis (four), and neuromuscular junction disorders (four). Neural antibodies were detected in 55.9% of patients studied (most common specificities: P/Q‐type voltage‐gated calcium channel [seven], muscle‐type acetylcholine receptor [three], anti‐neuronal nuclear antibody type 1 [three], and neuronal intermediate filaments [two]), but in only 6.9% of controls. Amongst patients receiving cancer or immunosuppressive therapy, 51.6% had partial or complete recovery. Outcomes were unfavorable in 48.3% (non‐ICI‐treated) and neural autoantibody positivity was associated with poor neurological outcome.DiscussionNeurological autoimmunity associated with non‐pulmonary NENs is often multifocal and can be treatment responsive, underscoring the importance of rapid recognition and early treatment.
Demographic patterns of walleye (Sander vitreus) reproductive success in a Wisconsin population
Authors: Davis Robert P. , Simmons Levi M. , Shaw Stephanie L. , Sass Greg G. , Sard Nicholas M. , Isermann Daniel A. , Larson Wesley A. , Homola Jared J. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractHarvest in walleye Sander vitreus fisheries is size‐selective and could influence phenotypic traits of spawners; however, contributions of individual spawners to recruitment are unknown. We used parentage analyses using single nucleotide polymorphisms to test whether parental traits were related to the probability of offspring survival in Escanaba Lake, Wisconsin. From 2017 to 2020, 1339 adults and 1138 juveniles were genotyped and 66% of the offspring were assigned to at least one parent. Logistic regression indicated the probability of reproductive success (survival of age‐0 to first fall) was positively (but weakly) related to total length and growth rate in females, but not age. No traits analyzed were related to reproductive success for males. Our analysis identified the model with the predictors' growth rate and year for females and the models with year and age and year for males as the most likely models to explain variation in reproductive success. Our findings indicate that interannual variation (i.e., environmental conditions) likely plays a key role in determining the probability of reproductive success in this population and provide limited support that female age, length, and growth rate influence recruitment.
A novel fracture criterion for elastic‐brittle cracked body under compression and shear conditions
Authors: Zhu Fengjin , Shi Sheng , Liu Fushen , Zhu Jiancai 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWhen the elastic‐brittle cracked body is subjected to compressive‐shear loading, not only does the phenomenon of wing crack initiation and propagation occur, but there is also a notable incidence of secondary crack initiation and propagation due to shear stress. Moreover, the shear fracture toughness (KIIc) predicted by the fracture criterion in the framework of classical fracture mechanics is usually smaller than the tensile fracture toughness (KIc), which is inconsistent with the actual observations. Therefore, this research firstly establishes a mechanical model of an elastic‐brittle cracked body under biaxial compression considering three kinds of crack parameters and materials' mechanical properties. Then, the stress field characteristics at the crack tip are analyzed. Next, a compression‐shear mixed fracture criterion is proposed. Finally, the effects of the lateral pressure coefficient (λ), critical plastic zone size (rc), friction coefficient (f), and deformation parameters of the crack surface on the failure modes at the crack tip are investigated.
Homozygous HLA‐DQB1*06:02 combined with T‐cell receptor alpha polymorphism results in narcolepsy onset – A familial case report
Authors: Jervis Steven , Payton Antony , Verma Arpana , Thomasson Rachel , Poulton Kay 
Published: March 2024

AbstractNarcolepsy is a life‐long neurological disorder with well‐established genetic risk factors. Human leukocyte antigen‐DQB1*06:02 remains the strongest genetic predeterminant; however, polymorphisms in genes encoding the T‐cell receptor alpha chain are also strongly linked. This case report shows the inheritance pathway of these genetic markers contributing to narcolepsy onset in a 17‐year‐old female.
Negative social capital and requests for resources in a developing country: The case of rural–urban migrants in Kampala, Uganda
Authors: Solano Giacomo 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis article analyses the social networks of rural–urban migrant entrepreneurs in Uganda. While social contacts are often an important asset to access resources for migrants, they are often expected to financially support the members of their social networks. These claims for support are here labelled ‘negative social capital’, following Portes' seminal work. This paper focuses on the kinds of networks that are more likely to produce negative social capital, operationalized here as requests for financial resources, and links this to the discourse on bridging and bonding social capital. By means of a regression analysis, this article provides evidence of dense networks with a higher share of migrants (bonding social capital) being associated with negative social capital. In addition, both a higher share of contacts met before migration, which is related to bonding social capital, and a higher share of contacts living in the city, which is related to bridging social capital, are negatively associated with requests for resources. These findings suggest that migrants can instrumentally keep some contacts from before migration and acquire new key contacts in the urban area.