bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Linkage between cross-equatorial potential vorticity flux and surface air temperature over the mid–high latitudes of Eurasia during boreal spring
Authors: Sheng Chen , Wu Guoxiong , He Bian , Liu Yimin , Ma Tingting 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe source of potential vorticity (PV) for the global domain is located at the Earth’s surface. PV in one hemisphere can exchange with the other through cross-equatorial PV flux (CEPVF). This study investigates the features of the climatic mean CEPVF, the connection in interannual CEPVF with the surface thermal characteristics, and the associated mechanism. Results indicate that the process of positive (negative) PV carried by a northerly (southerly) wind leads to the climatologically overwhelming negative CEPVF over almost the entire equatorial cross-section, while the change of the zonal circulation over the equator is predominately responsible for CEPVF variation. By introducing the concept of “PV circulation” (PVC), it is demonstrated that the interannual CEPVF over the equator is closely linked to the notable uniform anomalies of spring cold surface air temperature (SAT) over the mid–high latitudes of Eurasia by virtue of the PVC, the PV-θ mechanism, and the surface positive feedback. Further analysis reveals that equatorial sea surface temperature (SST) forcing, such as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and tropical South Atlantic uniform SST, can directly drive anomalous CEPVF by changing the zonal circulation over the equator, thereby influencing SAT in the Northern Hemisphere. All results indicate that the equilibrium linkage between CEPVF and extratropical SAT is mainly a manifestation of the response of extratropical SAT to tropical forcing by virtue of PVC, and that the perspective of PVC can provide a reasonably direct and simple connection of the circulation and climate between the tropics and the mid–high latitudes.
Precision of the Wilson corrective osteotomy of the first metacarpal base using specific planning and instruments for treatment of basal thumb arthritis
Authors: Kriechling Philipp , Reissner Lisa , Zindel Christoph , Andronic Octavian , Schweizer Andreas 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Introduction
Arthritis of the basal thumb is a relatively common condition also affecting younger patients. Wilson et al. described a 20°–30° closing wedge osteotomy of the first metacarpal bone to unload the trapeziometacarpal joint. It was the purpose of this study to analyze the clinical and radiographic outcome of patients who underwent proximal extension osteotomy of the first metacarpal bone using patient-specific planning and instruments (PSI).

Methods
All patients who underwent proximal metacarpal osteotomy for basal thumb arthritis at our tertiary referral center were retrospectively included. The patients underwent preoperative planning using computed tomography and 3D segmentation to build patient-specific guides and instruments for the operative treatment. Stable fixation of the osteotomy was achieved by internal plating. The inclusion criterion was a minimum follow-up of 1 year with clinical examination, including the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ), and computed tomography to validate the correction. Complications and reinterventions were recorded.

Results
A total of eight Wilson osteotomies in six patients could be included at a mean follow-up duration of 33±16 months (range, 12 to 55 months). The patients were 49±8 years (range, 36 to 58 years) at the surgery and 88% were female. The postoperative MHQ for general hand function was 77±8 (range, 45 to 100) and the MHQ for satisfaction was 77±28 (range, 17 to 100). The working status was unchanged in 7/8 hands (6/7 patients). Radiographic analysis revealed successful correction in all cases with unchanged Eaton–Littler stage in 7/8 hands. No complications were recorded.

Conclusion
The combined extending and ulnar adducting osteotomy using patient-specific guides and instrumentation provides an accurate treatment for early-stage thumb arthritis.

Level of evidence
Type IV—retrospective, therapeutic study.
Surgical management of endocervical and decidual polyps during pregnancy: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Riemma Gaetano , Della Corte Luigi , Vitale Salvatore Giovanni , Cianci Stefano , La Verde Marco , Giampaolino Pierluigi , Cobellis Luigi , De Franciscis Pasquale 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate the impact of endocervical and decidual polypectomy on obstetrical outcomes of pregnant women.

Methods
MEDLINE, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, Scielo, EMBASE, Cochrane Library at the CENTRAL Register of Controlled Trials, and LILACS were searched from inception to April 2021. No language or geographical restrictions were applied. Inclusion criteria regarded observational studies concerning pregnant women with a cervical lesion who underwent cervical polypectomy. Co-primary outcomes were incidence of late pregnancy loss and preterm birth in women with endocervical or decidual polypectomy as well as polypectomy versus expectant management. Random effect meta-analyses to calculate risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were performed. Quality assessment of included papers was performed using Newcastle–Ottawa Scale criteria.

Results
Three studies, with data provided for 3097 women, were included in quantitative analysis, with comparisons between endocervical and decidual polyps extracted from two studies and 156 patients. After a first trimester endocervical or decidual polypectomy, no significant differences were found for late pregnancy losses (RR 0.29 [95% CI 0.05, 1.80], I2 = 11%). Risk for preterm birth was significantly higher for decidual polyps’ removal (RR 6.13 [95% CI 2.57, 14.59], I2 = 0%). One paper compared cervical polypectomy vs expectant management, with increased incidence of late pregnancy loss (4/142 vs 5/2799; p < 0.001) and preterm birth (19/142 vs 115/2799; p < 0.001) in women subjected to polypectomy.

Conclusions
Evidence regarding the removal of cervical polyps in pregnancy is extremely limited. However, the removal of either decidual or endocervical polyps seems associated with increased risk of pregnancy loss and preterm birth, with increased preterm birth risk following endocervical rather than decidual polypectomy.
Topographic, tomographic, and corneal wavefront asymmetry in keratoconus: towards an eye asymmetry index EASIX
Authors: Mehlan Juliane , Steinberg Johannes , Druchkiv Vasyl , Katz Toam , Linke Stephan Johannes 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to explore the intereye asymmetry in normal and keratoconic individuals and to evaluate the discriminant power of single and combined asymmetry parameters.

Methods
This is a retrospective designed study including 414 patients who had Pentacam Scheimpflug topographic and tomographic imaging in both eyes: 124 subjects with bilateral normal corneas evaluated for refractive surgery and 290 with keratoconus. All elevation-, pachymetric-, and volumetric-based data (56 parameters) were electronically retrieved and analyzed. Intereye asymmetry was determined by subtracting the lowest value from the highest value for each variable. The degree of asymmetry between each subject’s eyes was calculated with intraclass correlation coefficients for all the parameters. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine predictive accuracy and to identify optimal cutoffs of these values and combinations thereof.

Results
In the normal/keratoconus subjects the median intereye asymmetries were 0.30/3.45 for K2 (flat) meridian, 0.03/0.25 for BFS front, 1.00/15.00 for elevation back BFS apex, and 7.00/29.00 for pachy min.

Conclusions
In addition to Rabinowitz’s Kmax intereye asymmetry we propose pachymetric, elevation-based, and high-order corneal wavefront intereye asymmetry parameters to improve the diagnostic armamentarium of keratoconus.
Single nephron glomerular filtration rate measured by linescan multiphoton microscopy compared to conventional micropuncture
Authors: Costanzo Vincenzo , D’Apolito Luciano , Sardella Donato , Iervolino Anna , La Manna Gaetano , Capasso Giovambattista , Frische Sebastian , Trepiccione Francesco 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Renal micropuncture, which requires the direct access to the renal tubules, has for long time been the technique of choice to measure the single nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR) in animal models. This approach is challenging by virtue of complex animal preparation and numerous technically difficult steps. The introduction of intravital multiphoton microscopy (MPM) offers another approach to the measure of the SNGFR by mean of the high laser-tissue penetration and the optical sectioning capacity. Previous MPM studies measuring SNGFR in vivo relied on fast full-frame acquisition during the filtration process obtainable with high performance resonant scanners. In this study, we describe an innovative linescan–based MPM method. The new method can discriminate SNGFR variations both in conditions of low and high glomerular filtration, and shows results comparable to conventional micropuncture both for rats and mice. Moreover, this novel approach has improved spatial and time resolution and is faster than previous methods, thus enabling the investigation of SNGFR from more tubules and improving options for data-analysis.
Linking crown structure with tree ring pattern: methodological considerations and proof of concept
Authors: Pretzsch Hans , Ahmed Shamim , Jacobs Martin , Schmied Gerhard , Hilmers Torben 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Key message
Structural characteristics of tree crowns obtained by TLidar scanning can be used for estimating the course of the stem diameter growth in the past.

Abstract
To improve human well-being through sustainable management of ecosystems, particular attention is given to the structures, functions, and services of forest trees and stands. The classical timber provision has become only one of many other forest ecosystem services. At the same time, the methods of ecosystem observation, analysis, and modelling have enormously improved. Here, we fathomed the information potential of the tree crown structure. Our overarching hypothesis was that the crown structure reflects essential characteristics of the tree ring pattern. The empirical part of this study was based on sample trees from the combined spacing-thinning trial in Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) Fürstenfeldbruck 612 in Southern Germany. First, we showed that the external characteristics of tree crowns and the internal stem structure are functionally linked. Second, we derived metrics for the tree ring pattern and crown shape, and found especially close relationships between the level and bending of the growth curve and the size and stereometric shape of the crown. Third, we investigated how the derived statistical relationships between tree ring pattern and crown structure can be applied to derive the course of tree growth from the crown structure. We showed how measures such as size and variability of the crown could be used to estimate the course of diameter growth. Finally, we showed that the revealed link could be used to assess past and future growth and life expectancy of trees. These findings can be used to monitor the stress defence potential, resistance, and resilience of trees.
Optimizing contract allocation for risky conservation tenders
Authors: Olita Harriet Toto , Iftekhar Md. Sayed , Schilizzi Steven G. M. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractIn the face of a shrinking budget for environmental activities, conservation agencies must design and implement agri-environmental policies that cost-effectively meet the environmental objectives. However, designing such programs is often challenging due to different uncertainties. For example, landholders may be exposed to risks when carrying out conservation projects. To minimise the negative impact of unexpected losses, landholders may require additional financial incentives as compensation for undertaking “risky” conservation projects. In such situations, the conservation agency risks over-spending public funds because of prohibitively high opportunity costs from landholders or failing to meet the environmental target. We used analytical and simulation approaches to explore optimal budget allocation in a target-constrained conservation tender. We also compared the performance of the tender with and without own-cost uncertainty. Results showed that as landholders’ own-cost uncertainty rises, the conservation agency is forced to allocate more funding to secure the same level of the environmental target. We found that the optimal funding level is sensitive to landholders’ competition uncertainty and the magnitude of expected losses.
Temporal and spatial variability of cross-fault groundwater-level differences: the impact of fault-induced permeability reduction, precipitation and evapotranspiration
Authors: Lapperre Rimbaud E. , Bense Victor F. , Kasse Cornelis , van Balen Ronald T. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractFaults in the Roer Valley Rift System (Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany) act as barriers to lateral groundwater flow in unconsolidated sedimentary aquifers. This causes a cross-fault groundwater-level step of up to several metres. Using a dataset obtained through 5 years of high-frequency monitoring, the effect of fault-zone permeability, precipitation and evapotranspiration on cross-fault groundwater-level steps is studied at two sites situated across the Peel Boundary Fault. Hydraulic conductivity values at the fault are 1–3 orders of magnitude lower than that of similar lithologies away from the fault, indicating that fault displacement has a significant impact on groundwater flow. The influence of precipitation and evapotranspiration on fault-zone hydrology is inferred from water-table fluctuations over short distances across the fault. On the foot wall, the water table is nearer to the surface and displays a shorter level range with a spiky temporal variability. On the hanging wall, a deeper water table is sloping away from the fault and shows a wider level range with a smoother temporal variability. The observed groundwater level fluctuations are attributed mainly to precipitation and evapotranspiration dynamics. At a larger spatial scale, the 5-year-average cross-fault groundwater-level steps at the two sites are 1.59 and 1.39 m. At a smaller scale, the cross-fault groundwater-level step is much less because of the rising water table towards the fault on the hanging wall. At the smallest scale, just across the fault zone, the groundwater level step is around 0.2 m, indicating that the fault is semi-impermeable.
User experience in safety–critical domains: a survey on motivational orientations and psychological need satisfaction in acute care
Authors: Hohm Anna , Happel Oliver , Hurtienne Jörn , Grundgeiger Tobias 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe relevance of user experience in safety–critical domains has been questioned and lacks empirical investigation. Based on previous studies examining user experience in consumer technology, we conducted an online survey on positive experiences with interactive technology in acute care. The participants of the study consisted of anaesthesiologists, nurses, and paramedics (N = 55) from three German cities. We report qualitative and quantitative data examining (1) the relevance and notion of user experience, (2) motivational orientations and psychological need satisfaction, and (3) potential correlates of hedonic, eudaimonic, and extrinsic motivations such as affect or meaning. Our findings reveal that eudaimonia was the most salient aspect in these experiences and that the relevance of psychological needs is differently ranked than in experiences with interactive consumer technology. We conclude that user experience should be considered in safety–critical domains, but research needs to develop further tools and methods to address the domain-specific requirements.
Semantic-driven multi-camera pedestrian detection
Authors: López-Cifuentes Alejandro , Escudero-Viñolo Marcos , Bescós Jesús , Carballeira Pablo 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
In the current worldwide situation, pedestrian detection has reemerged as a pivotal tool for intelligent video-based systems aiming to solve tasks such as pedestrian tracking, social distancing monitoring or pedestrian mass counting. Pedestrian detection methods, even the top performing ones, are highly sensitive to occlusions among pedestrians, which dramatically degrades their performance in crowded scenarios. The generalization of multi-camera setups permits to better confront occlusions by combining information from different viewpoints. In this paper, we present a multi-camera approach to globally combine pedestrian detections leveraging automatically extracted scene context. Contrarily to the majority of the methods of the state-of-the-art, the proposed approach is scene-agnostic, not requiring a tailored adaptation to the target scenario–e.g., via fine-tuning. This noteworthy attribute does not require ad hoc training with labeled data, expediting the deployment of the proposed method in real-world situations. Context information, obtained via semantic segmentation, is used (1) to automatically generate a common area of interest for the scene and all the cameras, avoiding the usual need of manually defining it, and (2) to obtain detections for each camera by solving a global optimization problem that maximizes coherence of detections both in each 2D image and in the 3D scene. This process yields tightly fitted bounding boxes that circumvent occlusions or miss detections. The experimental results on five publicly available datasets show that the proposed approach outperforms state-of-the-art multi-camera pedestrian detectors, even some specifically trained on the target scenario, signifying the versatility and robustness of the proposed method without requiring ad hoc annotations nor human-guided configuration.
Uncertainty of biomass stocks in Spanish forests: a comprehensive comparison of allometric equations
Authors: Ameztegui Aitor , Rodrigues Marcos , Granda Víctor 
Published: April 2022

AbstractBiomass and carbon content are essential indicators for monitoring forest ecosystems and their role in climate action, but their estimation is not straightforward. A typical approach to solve these limitations has been the estimation of tree or stand biomass based on forest inventory data, using either allometric equations or biomass expansion factors. Many allometric equations exist, but very few studies have assessed how the calculation methods used may impact outcomes and how this impact depends on genera, functional group, climate or forest structural attributes. In this study we evaluate the differences in biomass estimates yielded by the most widely used biomass equations in Spain. We first quantify the discrepancies at tree level and among the main forest tree species. We observed that the divergences in carbon estimations between different equations increased with tree size, especially in the case of hardwoods and for diameters beyond the range used to calibrate the equations. At the plot level, we found considerable differences between the biomass values predicted using different methods (above 25% in one out of three plots), which constitutes a warning against the uncritical choice of equations to determine biomass or carbon values. The spatial representation of the differences revealed geographical patterns related to the dominance of fast-growing species such as Eucalyptus or Pinus pinaster, with a minor effect of forest structure, and almost no effect of climate. Finally, we observed that differences were mostly due to the data source rather than the modelling approach or equation used. Based on our results, BEF equations seem a valid and unbiased option to provide nation-level estimations of carbon balance, although local equations should preferably be used if they are available for the target area.
Long-term response of soil and stem wood properties to repeated nitrogen fertilization in a N-limited Scots pine stand
Authors: Smolander Aino , Henttonen Helena M. , Nöjd Pekka , Soronen Päivi , Mäkinen Harri 
Published: April 2022

AbstractNitrogen is the nutrient mainly limiting forest growth on mineral soil sites in the boreal regions. The objective of this study was to find out the response of stem wood N to repeated fertilizations and to find out their long-lasting effects on soil organic matter composition, focusing on C and N cycling processes and concentrations of condensed tannins. The site was located in a relatively unfertile Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand in eastern Finland. The treatments were three levels of N fertilization (0, 150, 300 kg/ha) applied four times at 5-year intervals with the last addition 29 years ago. The N additions had not changed the pH of the humus layer but resulted in higher availability of N. The C-to-N ratio of organic matter decreased with increasing N addition. The treatment of 300 kg/ha increased the net N mineralization rate and the ratio of net N mineralization/microbial biomass N and decreased the amount of C in the microbial biomass and its C-to-N ratio and the concentration of condensed tannins. Net nitrification and extractable nitrate were negligible in all soils. In soil diffusive fluxes, NH4-, NO3- and amino acid-N were all detected by in situ microdialysis sampling; the results showed large variation but supported higher N availability in N fertilized soil. The N fertilization increased tree-ring widths and the effect lasted for about 10 years after the last fertilization event. Nitrogen content and the N isotopic ratio 15N/14N (δ15N) in tree-rings increased both after the first N addition in the treatment of 300 kg/ha. In conclusion, soil properties still indicated higher N availability in the N fertilized soil after three decades since the latest fertilization, but the response of tree diameter growth had faded out after a much shorter period.
Molecular and morphological identification of the alfalfa weevil larval parasitoids Bathyplectes anura and Bathyplectes curculionis to estimate the rate of parasitism
Authors: Levi-Mourao Alexandre , Muñoz Pilar , Cerda-Bennasser Pedro , Meseguer Roberto , Pons Xavier 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica Gyllenhal, Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a major pest of alfalfa crops. Chemical control measures are inefficient, but the larvae are often infested by parasitoid wasps of the genus Bathyplectes Förster (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), which offer a potential biological control strategy. The development of effective biological control requires the identification of parasitoid species, but conventional methods involve the rearing of parasitoids to the puparium stage for morphological confirmation. Here we designed a PCR method in which two pairs of primers are used to detect and identify Bathyplectes curculionis Thomson and Bathyplectes anura Thomson larvae in a faster way. We compared conventional rearing to the new method as a means to determine the parasitism rates caused by each species in Spain during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. In 2019, the PCR method detected five times as many B. curculionis events and twice as many B. anura events. Similarly, in 2020, the PCR method detected seven times as many B. curculionis events and twice as many B. anura events. High mortality of H. postica larvae was recorded in 2020 due to an epizootic attack by the fungus Zoophthora phytonomi Arthur (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales), explaining the lower overall rate of parasitism and the widespread death of the larvae. Statistical analysis confirmed that the PCR method is more sensitive than conventional rearing for the detection of target parasitoids. However, only rearing can confirm the effective parasitism or the presence of unexpected species. We therefore recommend the use of both methods in parallel when evaluating host–parasitoid systems.