bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Niche partitioning and the storage effect facilitate coexistence in an amphibian community
Authors: Brooks George C. , Caruso Nicholas M. , Chandler Houston C. , Haas Carola A. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractVirtually all natural community assemblages are dominated by a handful of common species. Dominant species can exert negative impacts on biodiversity through competitive exclusion, and thus there is a strong incentive to understand imbalances in community composition, changes in dominance hierarchies through time, and mechanisms of coexistence. Pond‐breeding amphibians that utilize ephemeral wetlands provide an excellent opportunity to evaluate theoretical predictions of community composition in stochastic environments. One of the most striking features of pond‐breeding amphibians is the marked stochastic fluctuations in abundance across years. Given strong theoretical and empirical links between evenness and biomass, one would expect community evenness to change from year to year. Moreover, if different species exhibit different boom‐and‐bust reproductive cycles, then a storage effect may help to explain why one species does not outcompete all others. Here, we explore the interplay between biotic and abiotic conditions in shaping amphibian communities at two ephemeral wetlands on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. We document consistent community composition over 6 years of monitoring, resulting from a lack of species turnover and similar responses of all community members to environmental conditions. The similar dynamics of species argues against a storage effect as the sole mechanism for coexistence and instead points to niche partitioning as a more important factor. In support of this conclusion, we show that the degree of synchrony in breeding migrations only correlates with environmental conditions within species, not between species. The lack of pattern seen between species implies that individuals are somewhat constrained in the timing of breeding migrations, perhaps owing in part to competition with other community members. We hope that our work reinvigorates interest in amphibian communities and highlights ephemeral wetlands as model systems to study community dynamics in stochastic environments.
The response of stream ecosystem properties to two size classes of herbivorous minnow species
Authors: Martin Erika C. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractLosses in freshwater fish diversity might produce a loss in important ecological services provided by fishes in particular habitats. An important gap in our understanding of ecosystem services by fishes is the influence of individuals from different size classes, which is predicted based on known ontogenetic shifts in metabolic demand and diet. I used 20 experimental stream mesocosms located at Konza Prairie Biological Station (KPBS), KS, USA, to assess the influence of fish size on ecosystem properties. Mesocosms included two macrohabitats: one riffle upstream from one pool filled with consistent pebble and gravel substrate. There were four experimental and one control treatment, each replicated four times (N = 20). I used two size classes of central stonerollers (Campostoma anomalum) and southern redbelly dace (Chrosomus erythrogaster). Five ecosystem properties were assessed: algal filament length (cm), benthic chlorophyll a (μg/cm2), benthic organic matter (g/m2), macroinvertebrate biomass (g/m2), and stream metabolism (g O2/m2/day−1). Size structure of fish populations affected some, but not all, ecosystem properties, and these effects were dependent upon species identity. Size structure of both species had effects on algal filament lengths where stonerollers of both size classes reduced algal filaments, but only small redbelly dace kept filaments short. A better understanding of the relationship between these prairie stream minnows and their small stream habitats could be useful to both predict changes in stream properties if species are lost (redbelly dace are a Species In Need of Conservation) or size structure shifts.
Aberrant neutrophil degranulation in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 partially remains for 6 months
Authors: Hafkamp Florianne M.J. , Taanman‐Kueter Esther W. M. , van Capel Toni M. M. , Wynberg Elke , van Willigen Hugo D. G. , Verveen Anouk , Kootstra Neeltje A. , Nieuwkerk Pythia , de Jong Menno D. , de Bree Godelieve J. , Prins Maria ,   RECoVERED study group, Hazenberg Mette D. , Groot Kormelink Tom , de Jong Esther C. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractNeutrophils are important players in COVID‐19, contributing to tissue damage by release of inflammatory mediators, including ROS and neutrophil elastase. Longitudinal studies on the effects of COVID‐19 on neutrophil phenotype and function are scarce. Here, we longitudinally investigated the phenotype and degranulation of neutrophils in COVID‐19 patients (28 nonhospitalized and 35 hospitalized patients) compared with 17 healthy donors (HDs). We assessed phenotype, degranulation, CXCL8 (IL‐8) release, and ROS generation within 8 days, at one or 6 month(s) after COVID‐19 diagnosis. For degranulation and ROS production, we stimulated neutrophils, either with ssRNA and TNF or granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor and N‐Formylmethionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine. During active COVID‐19, neutrophils from hospitalized patients were more immature than from HDs and were impaired in degranulation and ROS generation, while neutrophils from nonhospitalized patients only demonstrated reduced CD66b+ granule release and ROS production. Baseline CD63 expression, indicative of primary granule release, and CXCL8 production by neutrophils from hospitalized patients were elevated for up to 6 months. These findings show that patients hospitalized due to COVID‐19, but not nonhospitalized patients, demonstrated an aberrant neutrophil phenotype, degranulation, CXCL8 release, and ROS generation that partially persists up to 6 months after infection.
Vehicular social aspects in data dissemination of urban critical events with QoS and QoE for supporting emergency response
Authors: Yury Alisson , Andrade Everaldo , Santos Aldri , Matos Fernando 
Published: October 2023

AbstractCritical urban events impact the city agenda, like sustainable urban mobility, safe transportation, and efficient governance, thus leading many times to social disturbance, environmental degradation, and economic and human losses. Such events demand efficient dissemination of their data to the authorities to take rapid and effective actions to minimize their effects. The Social Internet of Vehicles (SIoV) paradigm can aid in monitoring such events in time and space. Vehicles are suitable for monitoring random events in space and time due to their ubiquity. Simultaneously, social relationships between vehicle users establish local communities where social intelligence can help disseminate data collected by VANET to support public management in event recognition. Thus, this article proposes a distributed and robust QoS/QoE aware, social‐based data dissemination solution for critical urban events and investigates how social parameters influence the quality of data dissemination. The impact of social influence, social activity, and friendship strategies was analyzed by simulation. The results show the gains in QoS when using social activity and in QoE subjective metrics when employing social influence.
Microstructural changes in nickel‐ceria fuel electrodes at elevated temperature
Authors: Liu Yanting , Wankmüller Florian , Lehnert Tibor Peter , Juckel Martin , Menzler Norbert H. , Weber André 
Published: October 2023

AbstractDurability testing of low temperature solid oxide cells is challenging as degradation phenomena related to microstructural changes like nickel‐agglomeration are slow. In the present study, a nickel/gadolinia doped ceria (GDC) fuel electrode with a porous GDC‐interlayer towards the zirconia electrolyte was investigated. The electrode, designed for operating temperatures of 600°C, was tested at an elevated temperature of 900°C for up to 1100 h to accelerate aging. Contrary to every expectation, the electrodes showed continuous improvement in electrochemical performance. Impedance spectroscopy, the distribution of relaxation times analysis, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope were applied to correlate electrochemical and microstructural changes. Structural analysis showed a significant Ni agglomeration accompanied by a decrease in triple phase boundary density. Furthermore, a minor particle growth in the GDC‐phase decreased the volume‐specific double phase boundary GDC/pore. Considering these microstructural changes, the decrease in active reaction sites should have increased the polarization resistance, but a decrease of about 32% was observed. The discrepancy between polarization resistance improvement and microstructural degradation might be attributed to an activation of the GDC‐surfaces in the electrode and the porous GDC‐interlayer.
Revisiting deficits in threat and safety appraisal in obsessive‐compulsive disorder
Authors: Hearne Luke J. , Breakspear Michael , Harrison Ben J. , Hall Caitlin V. , Savage Hannah S. , Robinson Conor , Sonkusare Saurabh , Savage Emma , Nott Zoie , Marcus Leo , Naze Sebastien , Burgher Bjorn , Zalesky Andrew , Cocchi Luca 
Published: October 2023

AbstractCurrent behavioural treatment of obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) is informed by fear conditioning and involves iteratively re‐evaluating previously threatening stimuli as safe. However, there is limited research investigating the neurobiological response to conditioning and reversal of threatening stimuli in individuals with OCD. A clinical sample of individuals with OCD (N = 45) and matched healthy controls (N = 45) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging. While in the scanner, participants completed a well‐validated fear reversal task and a resting‐state scan. We found no evidence for group differences in task‐evoked brain activation or functional connectivity in OCD. Multivariate analyses encompassing all participants in the clinical and control groups suggested that subjective appraisal of threatening and safe stimuli were associated with a larger difference in brain activity than the contribution of OCD symptoms. In particular, we observed a brain‐behaviour continuum whereby heightened affective appraisal was related to increased bilateral insula activation during the task (r = 0.39, pFWE = .001). These findings suggest that changes in conditioned threat‐related processes may not be a core neurobiological feature of OCD and encourage further research on the role of subjective experience in fear conditioning.
An unexpected complication of hypoglossal schwannoma surgery: Cerebrospinal fluid leakage—A case report and literature review
Authors: Asya Orhan , Kuyumcu Ömer Faruk , Gündoğdu Yavuz 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundExtracranial hypoglossal schwannoma is a rare tumor primarily treated with surgical excision. This article aims to highlight the potential for unexpected complications intraoperatively, such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage from skullbase to neck.MethodsA previously healthy 23‐year‐old male presented with tongue numbness. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 17 × 20 mm nodular lesion adjacent to the cervical segment of the internal carotid artery. Surgical excision was scheduled due to suspicion of a neurogenic tumor.ResultsIntraoperatively, despite careful handling, cerebrospinal fluid leakage was observed. Manipulation of the mass caused detachment of proximal nerve fibers, potentially indicating avulsion of the hypoglossal nerve from the brainstem or nearby. Clear fluid leakage from the skull base was also noted.ConclusionThorough preoperative evaluation and patient education regarding potential complications are crucial. This article presents an unexpected complication encountered during surgical excision of extracranial hypoglossal schwannoma, emphasizing the need for awareness and preparedness in such cases.
Analyzing the emerging patterns of SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron subvariants for the development of next‐gen vaccine: An observational study
Authors: Mohapatra Ranjan K. , Mishra Snehasish , Kandi Venkataramana , Branda Francesco , Ansari Azaj , Rabaan Ali A. , Kudrat‐E‐Zahan Md. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackground and AimUnderstanding the prevalence and impact of SARS‐CoV‐2 variants has assumed paramount importance. This study statistically analyzed to effectively track the emergence and spread of the variants and highlights the importance of such investigations in developing potential next‐gen vaccine to combat the continuously emerging Omicron subvariants.MethodsTransmission fitness advantage and effective reproductive number (Re) of epidemiologically relevant SARS‐CoV‐2 sublineages through time during the study period based on the GISAID data were estimated.ResultsThe analyses covered the period from January to June 2023 around an array of sequenced samples. The dominance of the XBB variant strain, accounting for approximately 57.63% of the cases, was identified during the timeframe. XBB.1.5 exhibited 37.95% prevalence rate from March to June 2023. Multiple variants showed considerable global influence throughout the study, as sporadically documented. Notably, the XBB variant demonstrated an estimated relative 28% weekly growth advantage compared with others. Numerous variants were resistant to the over‐the‐counter vaccines and breakthrough infections were reported. Similarly, the efficacy of mAB‐based therapy appeared limited. However, it's important to underscore the perceived benefits of these preventive and therapeutic measures were restricted to specific variants.ConclusionGiven the observed trends, a comprehensive next‐gen vaccine coupled with an advanced vaccination strategy could be a potential panacea in the fight against the pandemic. The findings suggest that targeted vaccine development could be an effective strategy to prevent infections. The study also highlights the need of global collaborations to rapidly develop and distribute the vaccines to ensure global human health.
From cave to spring: Understanding transport of suspended sediment particles in a fully phreatic karst conduit using particle analysis and geochemical methods
Authors: Mueller Yanina K. , Goldscheider Nico , Eiche Elisabeth , Emberger Hanna , Goeppert Nadine 
Published: October 2023

AbstractKarst aquifers are vulnerable to contamination, especially in the context of heavy rainfall events. Contamination is often associated with turbidity that can originate from the soil zone, infiltrating surface waters or resuspension of previously deposited sediments within the aquifer. While turbidity events can be well monitored at karst springs, related information about the sediment origin and the spatiotemporal input function usually remain unknown. Thus, the mobility and attenuation of the particulate matter and associated pollutants can hardly be determined quantitatively. A tracer test with suspended cave sediments and solute tracers for comparison has hence been performed in a karst aquifer at the Blue Spring (Blautopf) in Southern Germany. The tracers were injected in the cave system, at the beginning of a fully phreatic karst conduit, and monitored at the spring after a travel distance of 1250 m. The particle‐size distribution was monitored using a particle counter and sediment samples were filtered with 0.45‐μm cellulose acetate filters. Particles on the filter were analysed for major and trace elements as well as rare earth elements (REE) by ICP‐MS after acid digestion. Results show that (1) sediment particles were transported faster than solutes, which was interpreted as a transport in the main flow path of the conduit, whereas conservative tracers tend to diffuse into smaller fissures as well. (2) All measured particles sizes were transported at similar flow velocities. (3) A transport associated to sediment particles could be shown for all measured elements. This study presents a methodological improvement of comparative sediment tracer tests as well as deeper insights into particle and element transport processes in karst aquifers, originating from previously deposited cave sediment. Results provide deeper knowledge into transport processes of sediment‐associated contaminants, such as heavy metals which may strongly be affected by the particle size. This knowledge contributes to a better management of karst water resources in the context of turbidity events.
MultiPrime: A reliable and efficient tool for targeted next‐generation sequencing
Authors: Xia Han , Zhang Zhe , Luo Chen , Wei Kangfei , Li Xuming , Mu Xiyu , Duan Meilin , Zhu Chuanlong , Jin Luyi , He Xiaoqing , Tang Lingjie , Hu Long , Guan Yuanlin , Lam David C. C. , Yang Junbo 
Published: October 2023

AbstractWe present multiPrime, a novel tool that automatically designs minimal primer sets for targeted next‐generation sequencing, tailored to specific microbiomes or genes. MultiPrime enhances primer coverage by designing primers with mismatch tolerance and ensures both high compatibility and specificity. We evaluated the performance of multiPrime using a data set of 43,016 sequences from eight viruses. Our results demonstrated that multiPrime outperformed conventional tools, and the primer set designed by multiPrime successfully amplified the target amplicons. Furthermore, we expanded the application of multiPrime to 30 types of viruses and validated the work efficacy of multiPrime‐designed primers in 80 clinical specimens. The subsequent sequencing outcomes from these primers indicated a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 89%.
Can tropical nature reserves provide and protect cultural ecosystem services? A case study in Xishuangbanna, China
Authors: Liu Peng , Li Wenwen , Li Qiuping , Guo Xianming , Wang Bin , Zhang Ludan , Shen Qingzhong , Fu Ranfei , Peng Junyu , Deng Zhiyun , Zhang Li 
Published: October 2023

AbstractCultural ecosystem services (CES) play a pivotal role in local natural conservation and management; however, they frequently remain overlooked by policymakers due to challenges in their definition and quantification. These services are particularly relevant to Asia's indigenous populations. Shangyong and Mengla, two tropical forest reserves in the Xishuangbanna region of Yunnan province, China, were selected for an in‐depth study of CES in this area. Through village interviews and questionnaire surveys, the varieties of CES and their significance were identified and catalogued. Subsequently, the distributions of different CES types were mapped and modelled based on environmental drivers and hotspots. A conservation priority indicator was then formulated to identify the most critical CES necessitating conservation, as these are susceptible to human disturbances in the absence of protected nature reserves. Our findings indicated that the most commonly recognised CES included wildlife, leisure and recreational, folk and custom, and sense of place and identity. Benefits derived from leisure and recreational, and wildlife CES were predominantly safeguarded by nature reserves. In contrast, folk and custom CES and spiritual and religious CES were less reliant on these reserves due to intrinsic community‐based protection. Consequently, while the two tropical forest reserves in Xishuangbanna offer a range of CES, there is a need for differentiated management strategies to foster local support for conservation management decision‐making. The inherent conservation initiatives for spiritual and religious CES and folk and custom CES should be leveraged by incorporating or co‐managing these sacred sites within our protected area system. Conversely, CES with a higher conservation priority index, such as leisure and recreational CES and wildlife CES, require government‐led conservation to safeguard the cultural well‐being of local communities. In conclusion, incorporating CES into nature reserve management strategies is crucial across various conservation contexts.
Smartphone and social network addiction in early adolescents: The role of self‐regulatory self‐efficacy in a pilot school‐based intervention
Authors: Favini Ainzara , Culcasi Flavia , Cirimele Flavia , Remondi Chiara , Plata Maryluz Gomez , Caldaroni Silvia , Virzì Alessia Teresa , Luengo Kanacri Bernadette Paula 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundYouths' online problematic behaviors, such as smartphone or social network sites (SNS) addiction, gained increasing attention nowadays, due to their impact on concurrent and later adjustment, such as emotional and/or behavioral problems, academic impairments, or relational issues.AimsThis study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a pilot school‐based intervention to contrast online addictive behaviors while fostering adolescents' self‐regulative abilities.Materials & MethodsThe intervention started in January 2022 in an Italian junior high school located in Rome, and consisted of four meetings with students. A total sample of 462 15‐year‐old adolescents (Mage = 15.2; SD = 0.50; 41% females; Ncontrol = 214; Nintervention = 248) was considered. Within the latent difference score framework, we examined short‐term changes from the pre‐to‐the‐postintervention levels of SNS and smartphone addiction, and self‐regulatory self‐efficacy (SRSE) beliefs as a possible booster of the intervention's effectiveness.ResultsResults showed a significant decrease in both online addictions (SNS and smartphone addiction), controlling for age, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status, because of the short‐term efficacy of the project. The buffering effect of SRSE beliefs was further supported.ConclusionThese findings emphasized the usefulness of promoting youths' self‐regulative beliefs to contrast problematic tendencies, according to a Positive Youth Development perspective which focused on resources rather than only on the prevention of negative outcomes for youths' adjustment.
New palladium complexes with N‐heterocyclic carbene and morpholine ligands: Synthesis, characterization, crystal structure, molecular docking, and biological activities
Authors: Behçet Ayten , Taslimi Parham , Şen Betül , Taskın‐Tok Tuğba , Aktaş Aydın , Gök Yetkin , Aygün Muhittin , Gülçin İlhami 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis work includes the synthesis of a new series of palladium‐based complexes containing both morpholine and N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands. The new complexes were characterized using NMR (1H and 13C), FTIR spectroscopic, and elemental analysis techniques. The crystal structure of complex 1b was obtained by utilizing the single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction method. X‐ray studies show that the coordination environment of palladium atom is completed by the carbene carbon atom of the NHC ligand, the nitrogen atom of the morpholine ring, and a pair of bromide ligand, resulting in the formation of slightly distorted square planar geometry. All complexes were determined for some metabolic enzyme activities. Results indicated that all the synthetic complexes exhibited powerful inhibitory actions against all aims as compared to the control molecules. Ki values of new morpholine‐liganded complexes bearing 4‐hydroxyphenylethyl group 1a‐e for hCA I, hCA II, AChE, BChE, and α‐glycosidase enzymes were obtained in the ranges 0.93–2.14, 1.01–2.03, 4.58–10.27, 7.02–13.75, and 73.86–102.65 µM, respectively. Designing of reported complexes is impacted by molecular docking study, and interaction with the current enzymes also proclaimed that compounds 1e (–12.25 kcal/mol for AChE and –11.63 kcal/mol for BChE), 1c (–10.77 kcal/mol and –9.26 kcal/mol for α‐Gly and hCA II, respectively), and 1a (–8.31 kcal/mol for hCA I) are showing binding affinity and interaction from the synthesized five novel complexes.