bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Seasonality of host immunity in a tropical disease system
Authors: Rosa Gonçalo M. , Perez Rachel , Richards Lora A. , Richards‐Zawacki Corinne L. , Smilanich Angela M. , Reinert Laura K. , Rollins‐Smith Louise A. , Wetzel Daniel P. , Voyles Jamie 
Published: July 2022

AbstractInfectious disease systems frequently exhibit strong seasonal patterns, yet the mechanisms that underpin intra‐annual cycles are unclear, particularly in tropical regions. We hypothesized that host immune function fluctuates seasonally, contributing to oscillations in infection patterns in a tropical disease system. To test this hypothesis, we investigated a key host defense of amphibians against a lethal fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). We integrated two field experiments in which we perturbed amphibian skin secretions, a critical host immune mechanism, in Panamanian rocket frogs (Colostethus panamansis). We found that this immunosuppressive technique of reducing skin secretions in wild frog populations increased Bd prevalence and infection intensity, indicating that this immune defense contributes to resistance to Bd in wild frog populations. We also found that the chemical composition and anti‐Bd effectiveness of frog skin secretions varied across seasons, with greater pathogen inhibition during the dry season relative to the wet season. These results suggest that the effectiveness of this host defense mechanism shifts across seasons, likely contributing to seasonal infection patterns in a lethal disease system. More broadly, our findings indicate that host immune defenses can fluctuate across seasons, even in tropical regions where temperatures are relatively stable, which advances our understanding of intra‐annual cycles of infectious disease dynamics.
Seasonal carryover of water and effects on carbon dynamics in a dryland ecosystem
Authors: Pérez‐Ruiz Eli R. , Vivoni Enrique R. , Sala Osvaldo E. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractNet primary productivity in arid and semiarid regions is controlled by water availability for which rainfall has been a commonly used proxy at annual scales. However, the hydrological partitioning occurring through the water balance can also shape both seasonal and annual net ecosystem productivity. In this study, we used 10 years of water and carbon flux measurements in a mixed shrubland watershed of the Chihuahuan Desert to investigate the seasonal variability and controls on net ecosystem production. Over this period, the site exhibited a bimodal rainfall regime with an average of 211 and 67 mm for the wet (July–December) and dry (January–June) periods of the year, respectively. During the wet season, soil infiltration and channel transmission losses led to an average of 35.8 mm of water stored in the subsurface for subsequent dry periods. By contrast, dry seasons consumed 30.3 mm of stored subsurface water to fulfill the ecosystem water demand, particularly during the springtime. In response, gross primary productivity occurred in equal amounts for both seasons, while ecosystem respiration was substantially higher during the wet season. This resulted in the mixed shrubland acting as an annual net sink of carbon (average of 153.2 g C m−2 year−1) of which 65% occurred during the dry season. We determined that the wet season provided water in excess of vegetation demands in that season, a portion of which was stored in the watershed subsurface for subsequent use, leading to a legacy effect. Gross primary productivity during the dry season was dependent on carryover soil moisture accessed by deep‐rooted shrubs. Our coordinated observations of water–carbon dynamics revealed that water availability during the wet season can sustain the annual ecosystem productivity by impacting the subsequent dry season carbon uptake.
Estimates of species‐level tolerance of urban habitat in North American birds
Authors: Fanelli Rachel E. , Martin Paul R. , Robinson Orin J. , Bonier Frances 
Published: July 2022

AbstractSpecies vary in their responses to urban habitat; most species avoid these environments, whereas others tolerate or even thrive in them. To better characterize the extent to which species vary in their responses to urban habitat (from this point forwards “urban tolerance”), we used several methods to quantify these responses at a continental scale across all birds. Using open access community science‐derived data from the eBird Status and Trends Products and two different types of high‐resolution geospatial data that quantify urbanization of landscapes, we calculated urban tolerance for 432 species with breeding ranges that overlap large cities in Canada or the USA. We developed six different calculations to characterize species‐level urban tolerance, allowing us to assess how each species' relative abundance across their breeding range varied with estimates of urban habitat use and intensity. We assessed correlations among these six indices, then compressed the two best‐performing indices into a single principal component (multivariate urban tolerance index) that captured variation in urban tolerance among species. We assessed the accuracy of our single and multivariate urban tolerance indices using 24 test species that have been well characterized for their tolerance or avoidance of the urban habitat, as well as with previously published, independent urban tolerance estimates. Here, we provide this new dataset of species‐level urban tolerance estimates that improves upon previous metrics by incorporating continental‐scale, continuous estimates that better differentiate species' tolerance of urban habitat compared with existing, categorical methods. These refined metrics can be used to test hypotheses that link ecological, life history, and behavioral traits to avian urban tolerance. The dataset is licensed as CC‐By Attribution 4.0 International. Users must appropriately cite the data paper and dataset if used in publications and scientific presentations.
Fitness homeostasis across an experimental water gradient predicts species' geographic range and climatic breadth
Authors: Pearse Ian S. , McIntyre Patrick , Cacho N. Ivalú , Strauss Sharon Y. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractSpecies range sizes and realized niche breadths vary tremendously. Understanding the source of this variation has been a long‐term aim in evolutionary ecology and is a major tool in efforts to ameliorate the impacts of changing climates on species distributions. Species ranges that span a large climatic envelope can be achieved by a collection of specialized genotypes locally adapted to a small range of conditions, by genotypes with stable fitness across variable environments, or a combination of these factors. We asked whether fitness expressed along a key niche axis, water availability, could explain a species' realized niche breadth, its geographic range and climate breadth, in 11 species from a clade of jewelflowers whose range sizes vary by two orders of magnitude. Specifically, we explored whether the range size of a species was related to the ability of genotypes (maternal families) to maintain fitness across a range of experimental water availabilities based on 30‐year historical field precipitation regimes. We operationally characterized fitness homeostasis through the coefficient of variation in fitness of a genotype (family) across the experimental water gradient. We found that species with genotypes that had high fitness homeostasis, low variation in fitness over our treatments, had larger climatic niche breadth and geographic range in their field distributions. The result was robust to alternate measures of fitness homeostasis. Our results show that the fitness homeostasis of genotypes can be a major factor contributing to niche breadth and range size in this clade. Fitness homeostasis can buffer species from loss of genetic diversity and under changing climates, provides time for adaptation to future conditions.
Conditioned pain modulation and offset analgesia: Influence of sex, sex hormone levels and menstrual cycle on the magnitude and retest reliability in healthy participants
Authors: Vollert Jan , Trewartha Nils , Kemkowski Deborah , Cremer Alexander Felix , Zahn Peter K. , Segelcke Daniel , Pogatzki‐Zahn Esther M. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractBackgroundConditioned pain modulation (CPM) and offset analgesia quantify impairment of endogenous pain modulation, but magnitude and reliability vary broadly between studies, indicating influencing factors that are not currently controlled for. The aim of this study was to quantify magnitude and retest reliability of CPM and offset analgesia in healthy participants, while investigating the influence of sex and sex hormone levels.MethodsSixty‐two participants (30 female) completed the study. We tested CPM (heat–cold paradigm) and offset analgesia on 6 days within two menstrual cycles (tests were performed in each phase of two subsequent menstrual cycles, with similar time points for men).ResultsMedian offset effect was −29.4% in female and − 22.5% in male participants (as change from initial stimulus). Median early CPM effects were − 16.7% for women versus −13.3% for men. Reliability (intra‐class correlation coefficient [ICC]) was similar between the main measures, offset effect (female: 0.48, male: 0.47) and early CPM effect (female: 0.49, male: 0.43). There was significant variance between individual experimental parameters within protocols but not between sexes or menstrual phases. While oestradiol and progesterone did not correlate with the magnitude of effect within sexes, we found that testosterone levels explained an estimated 5%–10% of variance within individual responses in all sexes.ConclusionsOur results show that the reliability of both CPM effect and offset analgesia was independent of sex and menstrual cycle phase. The magnitude of CPM and offset effects was weakly influenced by sex and testosterone levels, indicating an area for future research, rather than clinical significance.SignificanceThis study investigated CPM and offset analgesia in parallel, across sexes and during two menstrual cycles while assessing the impact of sex hormones. Reliability seems to depend on experimental parameters rather than participant characteristics, while the magnitude of effect could be weakly linked to sex hormones and sex.
A Ti3C2TX/Pt–Pd based amperometric biosensor for sensitive cancer biomarker detection
Authors: Ran Bin , Chen Chaozhan , Liu Bo , Lan Minbo , Chen Huaying , Zhu Yonggang 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe detection of cancer biomarkers is of great significance for the early screening of cancer. Detecting the content of sarcosine in blood or urine has been considered to provide a basis for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. However, it still lacks simple, high‐precision and wide‐ranging sarcosine detection methods. In this work, a Ti3C2TX/Pt–Pd nanocomposite with high stability and excellent electrochemical performance has been synthesized by a facile one‐step alcohol reduction and then used on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with sarcosine oxidase (SOx) to form a sarcosine biosensor (GCE/Ti3C2TX/Pt–Pd/SOx). The prominent electrocatalytic activity and biocompatibility of Ti3C2TX/Pt–Pd enable the SOx to be highly active and sensitive to sarcosine. Under the optimized conditions, the prepared biosensor has a wide linear detection range to sarcosine from 1 to 1000 µM with a low limit of detection of 0.16 µM (S/N = 3) and a sensitivity of 84.1 µA/mM cm2. Besides, the reliable response in serum samples shows its potential in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer. More importantly, the successful construction and application of the amperometric biosensor based on Ti3C2TX/Pt–Pd will provide a meaningful reference for detecting other cancer biomarkers.
Investigation of the formation behaviors of CO2 hydrate in porous media below the freezing point
Authors: Zhang Xuemin , Yang Huijie , Li Jinping , Zhang Mengjun , Wang Yingmei , Yao Ze 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe formation process of gas hydrate is a stochastic phenomenon considered to be significant for its application in the areas such as hydrate‐based technology and natural gas hydrate exploitation. The formation behaviors of CO2 hydrate were studied in porous media below the freezing point. In addition, the formation experiments were conducted in the high‐pressure vessel under different temperature and pressure conditions. The formation process of CO2 hydrate showed different formation behaviors in the porous media under different experimental conditions. The results showed that the formation rate was higher in earlier stage and the largest formation rate attained 7.18 × 10−4 mol h−1. The influence of initial pressure on the formation rate was indistinctive in porous media below the freezing point. Particle size of the porous media played an important role in affecting the formation characteristic of CO2 hydrate below the freezing point. The results indicated that, the smaller the particle size of porous media was, the larger the formation rate and the conversion rate of CO2 hydrate. The maximum conversion rate was attained 90.61%. The results also indicated that CO2 hydrate had a good gas storage capacity in porous media below the freezing point. The gas storage capacity was close to 160 L/L in frozen quartz sand with the particle size of 250 μm in the experiments. The relative results will provide some insight for sequestration and storage process of CO2 gas in the form of hydrates into sediments.
Transoral robotic excision of thyroglossal duct cyst using vestibular and sublingual incisions
Authors: Tae Kyung , Kim Hee Ryung 
Published: July 2022

AbstractWith the extension of remote‐access head and neck surgery to improve postoperative cosmetic outcomes, a robotic or endoscopic procedure was developed to excise thyroglossal duct cysts (TGDCs). Here, we present the operative procedure of a novel transoral robot‐assisted Sistrunk operation using oral vestibular and sublingual incisions in a 21‐year‐old woman with TGDC. A 1.5‐cm central vestibular incision and two lateral vestibular incisions were made. In addition, a midline vertical sublingual incision was made to cut the hyoid bone via the sublingual route. The surgery was successfully completed without conversion to the conventional transcervical approach. Our technique using three vestibular incisions and a sublingual incision was more efficient in performing the Sistrunk operation than frenulotomy or endoscopic vestibular approaches. In conclusion, the transoral robotic Sistrunk operation using three vestibular incisions and a sublingual incision is feasible and safe and yields excellent postoperative cosmesis.
Quantifying the uncertainty in future groundwater recharge simulations from regional climate models
Authors: Ajjur Salah Basem , Al‐Ghamdi Sami G. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThis study aims to show how future groundwater recharge (GR) simulations in arid areas respond to uncertainty in climatic parameters—a question, if explored, that bridges a gap in water resources management plans. To this aim, eight regional climate models (RCMs) under two representative concentration pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) projected four climatic parameters [surface air temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and potential evapotranspiration (PET)] over Qatar during the period of 2071–2100. Using topographic and groundwater data, a physically based water balance model was built to simulate future GR under these 16 scenarios. Results show high uncertainty in climatic parameters. Relative to the reference period (1976–2005), values varied under RCP4.5 (RCP8.5) from +1.8 to +3.4 (+3.8 to +5.6)°C for average temperature, −48% to +15% (−60% to +6%) for annual precipitation, −0.23 to +0.1 (−0.27 to +0.04) m/hour for wind speed, and from −5.7 to +12.8 (+4.3 to +17) mm for annual PET. Uncertainty in climatic parameters caused great uncertainty in future GR estimations. During the late 21st century, GR simulations varied from −67% to +64% with an average value of −20% under RCP4.5, and from −81% to +8% with an average value of −36% under RCP8.5. The greatest uncertainty resulted from the driving model, whereas the choice of emission scenario had a secondary impact. Since GR is a critical component of feeding arid aquifers, the study's findings emphasize the importance of both considering the uncertainty associated with climatic parameters and the regional climatic information chosen.
The impact of Islamic events on herding behaviour in Saudi Arabian equities market
Authors: Gabbori Dina , Virk Nader , Aftab Nadeem , Awartani Basel 
Published: July 2022

AbstractUsing data from Saudi Arabia, a strictly religious society, we examine how Islamic events (i.e., Ramadan, Eid‐ul‐Fitr, Eid‐ul‐Adha and Ashoura) moderate the impact of social mood (positive and negative) on herding in the stock market. We use the cross‐sectional absolute deviation (CSAD) of returns and find that investors' mood during Islamic events of Eid‐ul‐Fitr, Eid‐ul‐Adha and Ashoura significantly affects herding behaviour in the market. Our results, however, contrast with existing evidence of herding in the month of Ramadan. Overall, results are robust after controlling for market conditions (i.e., domestic and US market returns, liquidity, sentiments, and oil price volatility) and crisis events (i.e., global financial crisis and Arab Spring). Though most prior research investigates the impact of individual Islamic events on stocks as seasonal anomalies, our study contributes by jointly exploring how four key Islamic events, associated with contrasting moods, induce diverse herding patterns in the Saudi stock market.
The effect of BNT162b2 SARS‐CoV‐2 mRNA vaccine on menstrual cycle symptoms in healthy women
Authors: Lessans Naama , Rottenstreich Amihai , Stern Shira , Gilan Adi , Saar Tal D. , Porat Shay , Dior Uri P. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the impact of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine on women's menstrual cycle.MethodsIn this questionnaire‐based cross‐sectional study, we assessed menstrual pattern and changes in women who completed the SARS‐CoV‐2 mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine 3 months before and after receiving the vaccine. Included were women aged 18–50 years without known gynecologic comorbidities who regularly monitor their menstruation through electronic calendars. All participants competed a detailed questionnaire on their menstrual symptoms including information on any irregular bleeding. To minimize bias, each woman served as a self‐control before and after vaccination. Primary outcome was rate of irregular bleeding following vaccination and secondary outcome was presence of any menstrual change, including irregular bleeding, mood changes, or dysmenorrhea following the vaccine.ResultsA total of 219 women met the inclusion critieria. Of them, 51 (23.3%) experienced irregular bleeding following the vaccine. Almost 40% (n = 83) of study participants reported any menstrual change following vaccination. Parity was positively asssociated with irregular bleeding with 26 (50%) of those suffering from irregular bleeding being multiparous compared with only 53 (31.5%) of women with no irregular bleeding (nulliparous 46% vs 60%, multiparous 50% vs 31%, rest 4% vs 8%, P = 0.049). The presence of medical comorbidities was also significantly higher among patients who experienced irregular bleeding (20.0% vs 6.0%, P = 0.003).ConclusionOur study shows relatively high rates of irregular bleeding and menstrual changes after receiving the SARS‐CoV‐2 mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine. Further research is needed to confirm our findings and to better characterize the magnitude of change and any possible long‐term implications.
Would central government's direct supervisions enhance local environmental qualities? Evidence from China
Authors: Hu Zhilin 
Published: July 2022

AbstractWith the construction of ecological civilization, central government's direct inspections have become the new norm of environmental protection supervision. Since 2016, the central government has been dispatching supervision teams, one batch after another, to conduct environmental protection supervision in the provinces. In this paper, the regression discontinuity designs were used to study the impact of central environmental protection supervision on the quality of air and water. Our results indicate that air quality was improved significantly during the supervision, while water quality was improved significantly during the rectification period after the supervision. A heterogeneity analysis shows that supervision had a significant impact on highly polluted areas. The results further suggest that for the continuous improvement of environmental quality, it is necessary to build a long‐term governance mechanism.
The Belt and Road Initiative, political involvement, and China's OFDI
Authors: Ding Haoyuan , Li Yi , Wang Liang , Xue Chang 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an important strategy for China. This study examines the effect of political involvement on firms' outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) in belt‐road countries after the BRI. Using merged Chinese nonfinancial listed firm data, the fDi Markets database, and the Thomson One database (formerly known as SDC Platinum) for the period 2008–2018, we find that political involvement has positive effect on firms' OFDI in belt‐road countries after the BRI. Furthermore, we find that the positive effect is heterogeneous across state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) and non‐SOEs. Political involvement has a positive effect on M&A for SOEs and Greenfield investment for non‐SOEs in belt‐road countries after the BRI. Our findings suggest that political involvement promotes firms' OFDI in belt‐road countries after the BRI and is helpful to the macro‐policy implementation.
Protective effects of salvianolic acid A on clozapine‐induced cardiotoxicity in zebrafish
Authors: Lin Shenghua , Mo Cailian , Yan Luyi , Zhang Feng , Liu Xin , Ma Honglin , Shen Chuanlin , Fan Wei , Liu Kechun , Zhu Qing , He Qiuxia 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe clinical use of clozapine (CLZ), an atypical antipsychotic drug, was affected by side effects, such as cardiotoxicity. We selected normally developing zebrafish embryos to explore the antagonism of salvianolic acid A (SAA) against clozapine‐induced cardiotoxicity. Embryos were treated with CLZ and SAA, and zebrafish phenotypes were observed at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 96 h after treatment. The observed phenotypes included heart shape, heart rate, and venous sinus‐arterial bulb (SV‐BA) interval. Real‐time quantitative PCR was used to detect changes in the expression of genes involved in heart inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. The results showed that SAA relieved pericardial edema, increased heart rate, and reduced the SV‐BA interval. The PCR results also showed that when the zebrafish embryos were incubated with SAA and CLZ for 96 h, the expression of il‐1b and nfkb2 were significantly downregulated, the expression of sod1 and cat were significantly upregulated, and the expressions of mcl1a and mcl1b were significantly downregulated. In summary, SAA can antagonize clozapine‐induced cardiotoxicity.