bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sustainable development goals disclosures: Evidence from Sri Lanka
Authors: Weerasinghe Thanya , Gunarathne Nuwan , Samudrage Dileepa N. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractIn developing countries, the extent of SDG disclosures in annual reports remains largely unexplored despite the popularity of corporate commitments to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hence, this study aims to assess the extent to which companies make SDG disclosures in Sri Lanka and identify the reasons affecting such disclosures. This study collected data by content analyzing the annual reports of 45 listed companies, followed by trend analysis and semi‐structured interviews. The results show that SDG 9 (Industry Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) are the most disclosed SDGs. Of these goals, the disclosure pattern related to SDG 17 is influenced by the collectivistic nature of the country's community. However, the average level of disclosure related to SDGs remains low, as they are often treated as add‐ons to existing sustainability strategies. Additionally, interviews revealed that companies have not actively adjusted their operations to integrate SDGs, suggesting that SDG disclosures primarily serve as a means to enhance their legitimacy.
Stability and passivity analysis of higher‐order differential systems inspired by RLC circuits
Authors: Ateş Muzaffer , Ateş Muhammet 
Published: September 2023

SummaryThis paper discusses the global asymptotic stability and strong passivity analysis of fourth‐order nonlinear and time‐varying dynamical systems by utilizing the Lyapunov direct method. The mathematical model of the main system is obtained from a non‐linear and aging RLC circuit that we have designed before. RLC circuits play an excellent role in the stability of modern system theory. Without the concept of storage elements, the construction of Lyapunov or energy functions for nonlinear and time‐varying systems may be difficult. Because of this, although there are many studies on the stability concept, but the subject has not been completed yet. Therefore, this study may present some mathematical technicalities to the Lyapunov stability with physical considerations. The Lyapunov functions obtained from RLC circuits are natural storage functions, and they satisfy the dissipation inequality. The theoretical stability results of the system are also discussed by Lyapunov's linearization method. The relationship between stability and passivity is also given. Meanwhile, we realized that linear system analysis is not a guaranteed way for determining the stability properties of a full system. Finally, the correctness and availability of the proposed approach are verified through simulation results.
Army ant middens – Home and nursery of a diverse beetle fauna
Authors: von Beeren Christoph , Pohl Sebastian , Fikáček Martin , Kleinfelder Stephan , Tishechkin Alexey K. , Yamamoto Shûhei , Chani‐Posse Mariana , Żyła Dagmara , Tokareva Alexandra , Maruyama Munetoshi , Hall W. Eugene , Sandoval Liliana P. , Kronauer Daniel J. C. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractArmy ants provide nourishment to a large variety of animals. This includes birds that feed on animals flushed out by army ant raids, symbiotic arthropods that consume the ants' prey or their brood, and other arthropods that scavenge on army ant refuse deposits. The latter have not received much attention, and the few published studies lack detailed species identifications. Here we provide a first systematic inventory of the beetle fauna associated with refuse deposits of Eciton army ants, with a focus on Eciton burchellii. We collected 8364 adult beetles, 511 larvae, and 24 eggs from 34 deposits at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. We used a combination of DNA barcoding and morphology to identify a subset of 436 specimens to species level. The samples included several new species, and we here formally describe two water scavenger beetles (Hydrophilidae). Refuse deposits harbored a diverse beetle fauna. The identified subset consisted of 91 beetle species from 12 families, with rove beetles being the most abundant and diverse visitors. Of the 85 species found with E. burchellii, 50 species were collected from only one or two refuse deposits. Conversely, seven species were found in 10 or more refuse deposits, indicating a certain level of habitat specialization. We matched adults and immatures for 22 beetle species via DNA barcodes, demonstrating that army ant middens also serve as a beetle nursery. The present survey highlights the significant ecological function of army ants as promoters of biodiversity and their status as keystone species in tropical rainforests.
Is ecology different when studied with citizen scientists? A bibliometric analysis
Authors: Castagneyrol Bastien , Bedessem Baptiste , Julliard Romain 
Published: September 2023

AbstractEcology is broad and relies on several complementary approaches to study the mechanisms driving the distribution and abundance of organisms and their interactions. One of them is citizen science (CitSci), the co‐production of scientific data and knowledge by nonprofessional scientists, in collaboration with, or under the direction of, professional scientists. CitSci has bloomed in the scientific literature over the last decade and its popularity continues to increase, but its qualitative contribution to the development of academic knowledge remains understudied. We used a bibliometric analysis to study whether the epistemic content of CitSci‐based articles is different from traditional, non‐CitSci ones within the field of ecology. We analyzed keywords and abstracts of articles published in ecology over the last decade, disentangling CitSci articles (those explicitly referring to citizen science) and non‐CitSci articles. Keyword co‐occurrence and thematic map analyses first revealed that CitSci and non‐CitSci articles broadly focused on biodiversity, conservation, and climate change. However, CitSci articles did so in a more descriptive way than non‐CitSci articles, which were more likely to address mechanisms. Conservation biology and its links with socio‐ecosystems and ecosystem services was a central theme in the CitSci corpus, much less in the non‐CitSci corpus. The situation was opposite for climate change and its consequences on species distribution and adaptation, which was a central theme in the non‐CitSci corpus only. We only revealed subtle differences in the relative importance of particular themes and in the way these themes are tackled in CitSci and non‐CitSci articles, thus indicating that citizen science is well integrated in the main, classical research themes of ecology.
Non‐cardiac comorbidities and intensive up‐titration of oral treatment in patients recently hospitalized for heart failure: Insights from the STRONG‐HF trial
Authors: Chioncel Ovidiu , Davison Beth , Adamo Marianna , Antohi Laura E. , Arrigo Mattia , Barros Marianela , Biegus Jan , Čerlinskaitė‐Bajorė Kamilė , Celutkiene Jelena , Cohen‐Solal Alain , Damasceno Albertino , Diaz Rafael , Edwards Christopher , Filippatos Gerasimos , Kimmoun Antoine , Lam Carolyn S.P. , Metra Marco , Novosadova Maria , Pagnesi Matteo , Pang Peter S. , Ponikowski Piotr , Radu Razvan I. , Saidu Hadiza , Sliwa Karen , Voors Adriaan A. , Takagi Koji , Ter Maaten Jozine M. , Tomasoni Daniela , Cotter Gad , Mebazaa Alexandre 
Published: September 2023

AimsTo assess the potential interaction between non‐cardiac comorbidities (NCCs) and the efficacy and safety of high‐intensity care (HIC) versus usual care (UC) in the STRONG‐HF trial, including stable patients with improved but still elevated natriuretic peptides.Methods and resultsIn the trial, eight NCCs were reported: anaemia, diabetes, renal dysfunction, severe liver disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/asthma, stroke/transient ischaemic attack, psychiatric/neurological disorders, and malignancies. Patients were classified by NCC number (0, 1, 2 and ≥3). The treatment effect of HIC versus UC on the primary endpoint, 180‐day death or heart failure (HF) rehospitalization, was compared by NCC number and by each individual comorbidity. Among the 1078 patients, the prevalence of 0, 1, 2 and ≥3 NCCs was 24.3%, 39.8%, 24.5% and 11.4%, respectively. Achievement of full doses of HF therapies at 90 and 180 days in the HIC was similar irrespective of NCC number. In HIC, the primary endpoint occurred in 10.0%, 16.6%, 13.6% and 26.2%, in those with 0, 1, 2 and ≥3 NCCs, respectively, as compared to 19.1%, 25.4%, 23.3% and 26.2% in UC (interaction‐p = 0.80). The treatment benefit of HIC versus UC on the primary endpoint did not differ significantly by each individual comorbidity. There was no significant treatment interaction by NCC number in quality‐of‐life improvement (p = 0.98) or the incidence of serious adverse events (p = 0.11).ConclusionsIn the STRONG‐HF trial, NCCs neither limited the rapid up‐titration of HF therapies, nor attenuated the benefit of HIC on the primary endpoint. In the context of a clinical trial, the benefit–risk ratio favours the rapid up‐titration of HF therapies even in patients with multiple NCCs.
Construction of the Bioconjugate Py‐Macrodipa‐PSMA and Its In Vivo Investigations with Large 132/135La3+ and Small 47Sc3+ Radiometal Ions
Authors: Hu Aohan , Martin Kirsten E. , Śmiłowicz Dariusz , Aluicio‐Sarduy Eduardo , Cingoranelli Shelbie J. , Lapi Suzanne E. , Engle Jonathan W. , Boros Eszter , Wilson Justin J. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractTo harness radiometals in clinical settings, a chelator forming a stable complex with the metal of interest and targets the desired pathological site is needed. Toward this goal, we previously reported a unique set of chelators that can stably bind to both large and small metal ions, via a conformational switch. Within this chelator class, py‐macrodipa is particularly promising based on its ability to stably bind several medicinally valuable radiometals including large 132/135La3+, 213Bi3+, and small 44Sc3+. Here, we report a 10‐step organic synthesis of its bifunctional analogue py‐macrodipa‐NCS, which contains an amine‐reactive −NCS group that is amenable for bioconjugation reactions to targeting vectors. The hydrolytic stability of py‐macordipa‐NCS was assessed, revealing a half‐life of 6.0 d in pH 9.0 aqueous buffer. This bifunctional chelator was then conjugated to a prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA)‐binding moiety, yielding the bioconjugate py‐macrodipa‐PSMA, which was subsequently radiolabeled with large 132/135La3+ and small 47Sc3+, revealing efficient and quantitative complex formation. The resulting radiocomplexes were injected into mice bearing both PSMA‐expressing and PSMA‐non‐expressing tumor xenografts to determine their biodistribution patterns, revealing delivery of both 132/135La3+ and 47Sc3+ to PSMA+ tumor sites. However, partial radiometal dissociation was observed, suggesting that py‐macrodipa‐PSMA needs further structural optimization.
1,2,5‐Azadiborolane as a Building Block for Inorganic–Organic Hybrid Polymers
Authors: Maier Matthias , Zeh Vivien , Munker Nadine , Glock Julian , Oberdorf Kai , Ayhan Ozan , Lichtenberg Crispin , Helten Holger 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThe incorporation of BN units in organic scaffolds by isoelectronic/isosteric substitution of selected CC couples has emerged as an efficient tool to produce new materials with useful properties and functions. The knowledge about BN‐doped inorganic–organic hybrid polymers, however, is still rather scarce. This is especially true for linear or cyclolinear macromolecules that feature longer inorganic chains. Herein, we introduce 1,2,5‐azadiborolane as a polymer building block for the first time. An attempt to apply it for the synthesis of a cyclolinear poly(iminoborane) resulted after only two B−N coupling events in the formation of a molecular compound comprising a chain of three nitrogen and two boron atoms – as confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffractometry. In combination with a p‐phenylene diamine‐based co‐monomer, we accomplished to incorporate the 1,2,5‐azadiborolane into a hybrid polymer of considerable molecular weight that features a B2N3 chain. We additionally synthesized a small molecular model compound for the polymer and characterized it crystallographically as well. Comparison of the UV‐vis spectra of the monomer, the oligomer, and the polymer revealed systematic red‐shifts of the longest‐wavelength absorption band with increasing number of BN units in the chain.
A comparative study of lupeol extraction from a by‐product of lupin processing by hydrophobic natural deep eutectic solvents and their precursor components
Authors: Bañares Celia , Baréa Bruno , Chabni Assamae , Torres Carlos F. , Durand Erwann , Villeneuve Pierre 
Published: September 2023

AbstractA series of hydrophobic natural deep eutectic solvents (HNADESs) have been employed to extract lupeol from lupin seed coat at 30 and 70°C. The extraction yields have been compared with those obtained with conventional organic solvents. In general, lupeol extraction yields (LEYs) obtained when using HNADES are somewhat smaller than those obtained if organic solvents are used. However, the nature of the HNADES mixtures as green solvents represents a superior performance in terms of sustainability of the extraction process. Additionally, an investigation has been carried out in order to compare the LEYs obtained when using the HNADES mixtures with those obtained if the isolated precursor compounds are employed at a temperature (70°C) where both HNADES and the corresponding precursor compounds are liquids. Surprisingly, LEYs for lupeol at 70°C were found to be, in some cases, slightly higher if the precursor compounds are used in comparison with the proper HNADES mixtures. It seems that the unique properties of the HNADES mixtures are not enough to perform better as extractants in comparison with the isolated precursor compounds at moderate temperatures, at least for the case of lupeol from lupin seed coat. Some hints are presented to explain these results.Practical Applications: The demand to use by‐products, such as raw materials, to obtain potential bioactive compounds is gaining strong attention in the last years. The use of green solvents to extract these compounds is also envisaged to obtain substances in an environment‐friendly way and with high sustainability for the economy and end‐consumers. The main aim of this work is the extraction of lupeol from lupin seed coat by using on one side different hydrophobic natural deep eutectic solvent (HNADES) mixtures, and on the other side by using the precursor compounds of the mixtures, in order to evaluate the efficiency of these green extraction solvents in the recovery of bioactive compounds with health benefits from waste material. Our results show that lupeol can be extracted both with the HNADES mixtures and with their precursor components at moderate temperatures with similar efficiency. This work questions the need of using HNADES as clean extraction solvents as the precursor compounds have themselves interesting extracting capacities.
The heterogeneous geomorphological impact of an exceptional flood event and the role of floodplain vegetation
Authors: Dawson Martin , Lewin John 
Published: September 2023

AbstractApplication of an integrated spatial approach combining several sources of remote sensing data to include both channel and floodplain morphological and sedimentological impacts has identified the geomorphological effects of three extreme flood events during a single flood season (2019–2020) along a 16‐km reach of the River Teme, UK. This combined approach allowed the assessment of in‐channel pattern development, incision and aggradation; lateral bank migration; and overbank sedimentation and scour by out‐of‐channel flows. Rates of change during the event period were compared with those in the previous 10 years. The approach also allowed the role of vegetation and cultivation, both bankside and out on floodplains, to be assessed with variations in the extent of riparian wood and channel slope driving contrasts in the extent of the response. The spatial impacts from such extreme events are highly localised, varied in kind, and can be considered for both rivers and floodplains together. Erosional effects were distinctively distributed and not simply contributions to ongoing meander development; channel aggradation was localised, and overbank sedimentation explicably patchy. In reaches without woody vegetation, differences in channel and floodplain slope, local floodplain relief as created by prior events, and the impact of man‐made structures were factors that drove variations in flood response. This study strongly underlines the role of continuous riparian vegetation in maintaining bank stability and constraining lateral channel migration, but also to the potential influence of floodplain vegetation and planting for ‘natural engineering’ in the context of floodplains as well as channels in comparable environments. Maintenance of riparian vegetation in the context of landowner and Natural England conflict and management of future flood risk is important, but also highlighted is the need to consider the role of hedgerows and wider planting for constraining soil and riverbank erosion during flood events.
Extension of moving particle simulation by introducing rotational degrees of freedom for dilute fiber suspensions
Authors: Enomoto Keigo , Ishida Takato , Doi Yuya , Uneyama Takashi , Masubuchi Yuichi 
Published: September 2023

AbstractWe develop a novel Moving Particle Simulation (MPS) method to reproduce the motion of fibers floating in sheared liquids accurately. In conventional MPS schemes, if a fiber suspended in a liquid is represented by a one‐dimensional array of MPS particles, it is entirely aligned to the flow direction due to the lack of shear stress difference between fiber–liquid interfaces. To address this problem, we employ the micropolar fluid model to introduce rotational degrees of freedom into the MPS particles. The translational motion of liquid and solid particles and the rotation of solid particles are calculated with the explicit MPS algorithm. The fiber is modeled as an array of micropolar fluid particles bonded with stretching, bending and torsional potentials. The motion of a single rigid fiber is simulated in a three‐dimensional shear flow generated between two moving solid walls. We show that the proposed method is capable of reproducing the fiber motion predicted by Jeffery's theory which is different from the conventional MPS simulations.
Lemon flavonoids nutraceutical (Eriomin®) attenuates prediabetes intestinal dysbiosis: A double‐blind randomized controlled trial
Authors: Ramos Fernanda M. M. , Ribeiro Carolina B. , Cesar Thais B. , Milenkovic Dragan , Cabral Lucélia , Noronha Melline F. , Sivieri Katia 
Published: September 2023

AbstractEriocitrin (eriodictyol 7‐O‐β‐rutinoside), a citrus flavonoid from lemon juice and peel, reduces hyperglycemia and improves diabetes‐related biomarkers in prediabetes patients. Eriocitrin is first metabolized by gut microbiota, producing energy for gut cells and short chain fatty acids that play a relevant role in glycemic control. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Eriomin®, a nutraceutical composed of 70% eriocitrin, 5% hesperidin, and 4% naringin, on the microbiota of prediabetic patients. Patients were randomly divided into two groups and received unlabeled capsules of Eriomin® (200 mg/day) or placebo during 12 weeks. After treatment with the nutraceutical, it was a 6% decrease of hyperglycemia and 22% increase of GLP‐1 blood levels of (p < .05). The profile of intestinal microorganisms, obtained by 16S rRNA sequencing of the patients' feces extract, showed changes in microbiota composition, such as lower growth of Firmicutes and less abundance of the Lachnospiraceae family. The family Ruminococcaceae increased and Blautia genus reduced with Eriomin® supplementation. In additional, Blautia was positively correlated with hyperglycemia reduction. In conclusion, the nutraceutical Eriomin® moderately reduced the growth of microorganisms associated with intestinal dysbiosis and increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria. Changes promoted mainly by the flavonoid eriocitrin in the microbiota were related to a lower glycemic level and increased production of GLP‐1 in patients with prediabetes.
Drought‐stress induced changes of fatty acid composition affecting sunflower grain yield and oil quality
Authors: Ghaffari Mehdi , Gholizadeh Amir , Rauf Saeed , Shariati Farnaz 
Published: September 2023

AbstractWater availability is the most important key factor affecting sunflower productivity and its oil quality. This study investigated the effect of drought stress on sunflower fatty acids and its effects on grain yield and related components. Thirteen sunflower hybrids were evaluated as randomized complete block design with three replications under normal and drought stress conditions in Karaj, Iran, during 2 years (2019 and 2020). Drought stress was imposed by water withholding during the reproductive stage. Drought stress accelerated the maturity of sunflower and caused a reduction in grain yield (30%), grains weight (11%), and grain numbers/head (22%) compared with normal irrigation. Means of grain yield were 2.7 and 1.8 t/ha under normal and drought stress conditions respectively. Grain numbers/head had higher correlation with grain yield than grains weight under both conditions. Among the fatty acids, the contents of palmitic and linoleic acids were increased (11% and 3%, respectively) while stearic and oleic acids were decreased (6% and 11%). The results indicated that sunflower hybrids benefit from the escape strategy differentially to adapt drought stress condition. However, this adaptation changes sunflower fatty acid profile that reduces grain yield and quality of sunflower oil in Karaj conditions in Iran. In order to achieve the higher yields and higher oil quality, it is necessary to avoid drought stress in sunflower production fields.
Ethnic inequality and public health
Authors: Ponnusamy Sundar , Hakeem Mohammad Abbas 
Published: September 2023

AbstractWe examine the association between ethnic inequality and various key health outcomes for a global set of developed and developing countries. Our results show that higher ethnic inequality is associated with a poor state of public health, such as higher child and maternal mortality, increased stillbirths and child stunting, and reduced life expectancy at birth. This set of effects is found to be predominant mainly in developing countries, and Sub‐Saharan African countries. Results remain robust to the inclusion of various other measures of inequality, ethnic composition indices, geographic endowments, and other relevant controls. We argue that lower contraceptive usage and poor vaccination rates are potential mechanisms through which ethnic inequality affects health outcomes. Policies targeted at improving public health may need to focus more on these key intermediate channels in ethnic minority regions.