bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long‐term response of wetland plant communities to management intensity, grazing abandonment, and prescribed fire
Authors: Sonnier Grégory , Boughton Elizabeth H. , Whittington Ruth 
Published: August 2022

AbstractIsolated, seasonal wetlands within agricultural landscapes are important ecosystems. However, they are currently experiencing direct and indirect effects of agricultural management surrounding them. Because wetlands provide important ecosystem services, it is crucial to determine how these factors affect ecological communities. Here, we studied the long‐term effects of land‐use intensification, cattle grazing, prescribed fires, and their interactions on wetland plant diversity, community dynamics, and functional diversity. To do this, we used vegetation and trait data from a 14‐year‐old experiment on 40 seasonal wetlands located within seminatural and intensively managed pastures in Florida. These wetlands were allocated different grazing and prescribed fire treatments (grazed vs. ungrazed, burned vs. unburned). Our results showed that wetlands within intensively managed pastures have lower native plant diversity, floristic quality, evenness, and higher nonnative species diversity and exhibited the most resource‐acquisitive traits. Wetlands embedded in intensively managed pastures were also characterized by lower species turnover over time. We found that 14 years of cattle exclusion reduced species diversity in both pasture management intensities and had no effect on floristic quality. Fenced wetlands exhibited lower functional diversity and experienced a higher rate of community change, both due to an increase in tall, clonal, and palatable grasses. The effects of prescribed fires were often dependent on grazing treatment. For instance, prescribed fires increased functional diversity in fenced wetlands but not in grazed wetlands. Our study suggests that cattle exclusion and prescribed fires are not enough to restore wetlands in intensively managed pastures and further highlights the importance of not converting seminatural pastures to intensively managed pastures. Our study also suggests that grazing levels applied in seminatural pastures maintained high plant diversity and prevented tree and shrub encroachment and that in the absence of grazing, prescribed fire became crucial to maintaining higher species evenness.
Seed germination thermal niche differs among nine populations of an annual plant: A modeling approach
Authors: Maleki Keyvan , Baskin Carol C. , Baskin Jerry M. , Kiani Mohadeseh , Alahdadi Iraj , Soltani Elias 
Published: August 2022

AbstractGermination timing is an important determinant of survival and niche breadth of plants. The annual plant Nigella sativa occurs in diverse environments along a steep temperature gradient and thus is a suitable model for the study of germination behavior in response to temperature. We used a modeling approach to compare the germination thermal niche of seeds of nine populations of N. sativa produced in a common garden. Germination time courses were obtained by a newly developed process‐based model, and thermal niche was visualized by plotting germination breadth as a function of after‐ripening time. Seeds were sampled five times: immature (2 weeks before maturity), mature, and afterripened for 1, 2, and 5 months. Immature and mature seeds had a greater depth of dormancy than afterripened seeds, as estimated by lower values of high‐limit temperatures (Th). Afterripening increased germination percentage, synchrony, and thermal niche breadth of all nine populations. The highest asynchrony was for immature and mature seeds, and afterripening enhanced synchrony. Based on the new graphical method, N. sativa has Type 1 nondeep physiological dormancy, and thus, the germination niche is narrow at seed maturity, leading to a delayed germination strategy that is highly dependent on thermal time accumulated during afterripening. Our findings show that there is considerable variation in the germination thermal niche among populations. Temperature regimes in the natural habitats of N. sativa have played a significant role in shaping variation in thermal niche breadth for seed germination of this annual species. The models used in our study precisely predict germination behavior and thermal niche under different environmental conditions. The germination synchrony model also can estimate germination pattern and degree of dormancy during the year, suggesting a useful method for quantification of germination strategies.
Occupancy data improves parameter precision in spatial capture–recapture models
Authors: Jiménez José , Díaz‐Ruiz Francisco , Monterroso Pedro , Tobajas Jorge , Ferreras Pablo 
Published: August 2022

AbstractPopulation size is one of the basic demographic parameters for species management and conservation. Among different estimation methods, spatially explicit capture–recapture (SCR) models allow the estimation of population density in a framework that has been greatly developed in recent years. The use of automated detection devices, such as camera traps, has impressively extended SCR studies for individually identifiable species. However, its application to unmarked/partially marked species remains challenging, and no specific method has been widely used. We fitted an SCR‐integrated model (SCR‐IM) to stone marten Martes foina data, a species for which only some individuals are individually recognizable by natural marks, and estimate population size based on integration of three submodels: (1) individual capture histories from live capture and transponder tagging; (2) detection/nondetection or “occupancy” data using camera traps in a bigger area to extend the geographic scope of capture–recapture data; and (3) telemetry data from a set of tagged individuals. We estimated a stone marten density of 0.352 (SD: 0.081) individuals/km2. We simulated four dilution scenarios of occupancy data to study the variation in the coefficient of variation in population size estimates. We also used simulations with similar characteristics as the stone marten case study, comparing the accuracy and precision obtained from SCR‐IM and SCR, to understand how submodels' integration affects the posterior distributions of estimated parameters. Based on our simulations, we found that population size estimates using SCR‐IM are more accurate and precise. In our stone marten case study, the SCR‐IM density estimation increased the precision by 37% when compared to the standard SCR model as regards to the coefficient of variation. This model has high potential to be used for species in which individual recognition by natural markings is not possible, therefore limiting the need to rely on invasive sampling procedures.
Evidence of reduced abundance, density, and survival of coyotes under federal management for red wolf recovery
Authors: Hinton Joseph W. , Chamberlain Michael J. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractTo mitigate coyote (Canis latrans) introgression in the wild red wolf (Canis rufus) genome, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Red Wolf Recovery Program used a combination of reproductive sterilization and lethal removal of coyotes to minimize hybridization and increase the endangered red wolf population. Although sterilization assisted in limiting coyote introgression to ≤4% in the wild red wolf genome, its potential negative effect on coyote and hybrid abundance and density is unknown. Using long‐term capture–mark–recapture and radio‐telemetry data collected on red wolves, coyotes, and hybrids under the USFWS Red Wolf Adaptive Management Plan implemented during 2000–2013, we explored three areas of research: (1) spatial modeling to correlate land cover characteristics with the relative probabilities of capture for red wolves, coyotes, and hybrids; (2) survival analysis of radio‐marked canids; and (3) annual population estimates for the three Canis taxa. We detected no differences in the relative probability of capture among Canis taxa. Red wolves, coyotes, and hybrids were most frequently captured in areas proximate to road networks with low canopy cover (i.e., cropland) and away from coastal bottomland forests. Annual apparent survival for red wolves and hybrids was greater than survival for coyotes; however, wolves and hybrids exhibited similar annual survival. Mortality of coyotes and hybrids was predominately attributed to deliberate take through lethal control by the USFWS biologists and harvest by hunters and trappers. We observed annual densities of coyotes ranging between 2.5 and 21.5 coyotes/1000 km2, with densities annually increasing during 2005–2013 when the red wolf population plateaued before declining after 2013. Despite the increase in coyote density, our density estimates are less than most estimates reported throughout the coyote's geographic range, and similar to those reported in areas where coyote populations are limited by extreme environments such as their northern range limits in Alaska, United States, and Canada. Our findings indicate that red wolf presence and federal management of coyotes using fertility control may have limited coyote densities in northeastern North Carolina.
Populism unrestrained: Policy responses of the Orbán regime to the pandemic in 2020–2021
Authors: Ádám Zoltán , Csaba Iván 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe paper provides a case study on how the Orbán regime in Hungary has dealt with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) in 2020–2021. Despite having led worldwide rankings in pandemic‐related death rates since the second part of 2020, the government was not politically shaken by COVID‐19. Institutionally unrestrained, the governing majority periodically renewed emergency legal regimes to control public discourses and curtail the financial resources of opposition‐led local governments. The policy conduct of the regime is discussed in the context of authoritarian populism, which is conceptualized along a strategy‐based approach to populism. In this, authoritarian populism is seen to generate democratic legitimacy for dismantling the institutional foundations of liberal democracy and the rule of law. This had been happening in Hungary well before COVID‐19 kicked in, but the pandemic provided enhanced opportunities for this strategy. Meanwhile, fiscal policies became increasingly expansionary, signalling a partial return to the practice of preelection overspending.
Microstructure analysis of microwave and conventionally fired porcelain
Authors: Santos Tiago A. C. , Costa Vítor A. F. , Costa Luís M. C. M. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe evolution of porcelain closed porosity during microwave and electric fast‐firing is investigated and compared with that of conventionally gas‐fired porcelain (taken as reference). Samples were fired in less than 70 min and are considered to be fast‐fired as their processing takes less than one‐half of the conventional heating time (~210 min). The closed porosity relationship with the porcelain functional properties explains some of the observed differences between microwave and electrically fired porcelain. Electrically‐fired samples at 1100°C present a microstructure like that of the biscuit reference, fired at ~1000°C in 460 min, whereas microwave‐fired samples already show some vitrification at this temperature. The samples microwave fired between 1300°C and 1380°C, in 70 min, present a microstructure similar to that of reference samples fired at 1380°C in 210 min. Electric fast‐firing requires ~80°C higher firing temperatures (between 1350°C and 1380°C) than microwave fast‐firing to reach similar features. Both electrically and microwave fast‐fired porcelain show similar microstructure evolutions and densifications (~95% of the real density, equal to 2.57 g.cm−3), the microwave‐fired samples presenting a more developed microstructure state for the same firing temperature.
Fiber‐enriched botanicals: A therapeutic tool against certain metabolic ailments
Authors: Khalid Waseem , Arshad Muhammad Sajid , Jabeen Ayesha , Muhammad Anjum Faqir , Qaisrani Tahira Batool , Suleria Hafiz Ansar Rasul 
Published: August 2022

AbstractPlant‐based foods are natural sources including vegetables, fruits, cereals and legumes. These foods consist of various types of nutrients in which carbohydrate is the basic component. However, some plant‐based diets contain carbohydrates in the form of fiber. The fiber is usually a nondigestible polysaccharide that is not digested in the human body. It is present in the form of soluble or insoluble in different part of foods like peel, bran, pulp and grain. Pectin, beta‐glucan, mucilage, psyllium, resistant starch and inulin are soluble fiber, and cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin are insoluble fiber attained from plant foods. The major function enhances immunity by creating gastrointestinal barrier, mucus production, immune cell activity and IgA level. Previous evidences showed that peoples with strong immunity have fewer chances of viral disease. A recent viral disease named COVID‐19 spread in the world and millions of peoples died due to this viral disease. Coronavirus mostly attacks humans that suffer with weak immune system. It is due chronic diseases like diabetes and CVD (cardiovascular disease). The current review shows that fiber‐containing plant‐based foods boost immunity and aid human against COVID‐19. The therapeutic role of fiber in the human body is to control the risk of hypertension and diabetes because a high‐fiber diet has the ability to lower cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar. Fibers aid in GIT (gastrointestinal tract) and prevent constipation because it absorbs water and adds bulk to stool.
The principles of person‐centredness in quality patient care–Evaluation of the Community Pharmacy Services Quality Guidelines in Estonia
Authors: Sepp Kristiina , Cavaco Afonso , Volmer Daisy 
Published: August 2022

AbstractIntroductionPerson‐centredness is considered a key component of quality healthcare and the core competence of all healthcare professionals. However, person‐centred care (PCC) is not often considered a priority for improving the quality of healthcare. This study aimed to evaluate to what extent the PCC principles are included in the Community Pharmacy Services Quality Guidelines (CPSQG) in Estonia.MethodsThe deductive content analysis was performed using the PCC framework developed by Santana et al.ResultsApproximately 2/3 (n = 78) of the CPSQG indicators (n = 126) in the practical guide used in Estonian community pharmacies support PCC principles. These results demonstrate that quality service itself includes some PCC components, as it forms an integral part of quality care and is directly related to its development. More than half (61.6%) of the CPSQG indicators were divided into process (covering the interaction of pharmacists and patients), one fourth into structure (mainly represented as environment and operation topics), and one tenth into outcome category (access to care). This result is in line with the situation of pharmacies in Estonia, where the current focus is on developing and implementing quality services (e.g., quality guidelines, e‐tools supporting dispensing, restructuring of counselling area for private consultations) and finding the necessary resources for described activities.ConclusionsTo support a more effective application of PCC principles in the community pharmacy practice, the CPSQG should be supplemented with indicators identifying patients' individual preferences, values, and needs. Additionally, interactions with other healthcare professionals should be encouraged, and they should be engaged in developing the CPSQG.
Desaturases: Structural and mechanistic insights into the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids
Authors: Cerone Michela , Smith Terry K. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThis review highlights the key role of fatty acid desaturases in the synthesis of naturally occurring, more common and not unsaturated fatty acids. The three major classes of fatty acid desaturases, such as acyl‐lipid, acyl‐acyl carrier protein and acyl‐coenzyme A, are described in detail, with particular attention to the cellular localisation, the structure, the substrate and product specificity and the expression and regulation of desaturase genes. The review also gives an insight into the biocatalytic reaction of fatty acid desaturation by covering the general and more class‐specific mechanistic studies around the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids Finally, we conclude the review by looking at the numerous novel applications for desaturases in order to meet the very high demand for polyunsaturated fatty acids, taking into account the opportunity for the development of new, more efficient, easily reproducible, sustainable bioengineering advances in the field.
Proactive approach to minimize lithium pollution
Authors: Chow Alex T. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractWith the advancements in lithium‐ion battery technology, lithium has been extensively used in many electronic products. Lithium usage is expected to increase in the coming decades. Elevated levels of lithium in the environments, including source water and biota, have been recently reported. Lithium can cause soil dispersion and aggerate swelling and can be readily taken up by plants and filter‐feeders, potentially causing toxicity to plants, organisms, and human. As learnt from the reactive approach of the Clean Water Act, many emerging pollutants have not been recognized until they have been widespread and reached dangerous levels in the environments. Aftermath cleanup costs are huge, and many of these damages are irreversible. To avoid lithium being the next global contaminant of emerging concern, environmental agencies shall implement proactive regulation and education soon.
Immunohistochemical analysis of intestinal biopsies in individuals with celiac disease
Authors: Alhabbal Adel , Abou Khamis Imad 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBackground and AimsThe immunohistochemical application of CD3 (T lymphocytes) and CD20 (B lymphocytes) markers in duodenal biopsy can facilitate the detection of the number and distribution of intraepithelial lymphocytes along the villi, which is regarded as a key factor for accurate diagnosis of celiac disease. This study aims at finding a relationship between CD3 and CD20 immunohistochemical and histopathological alterations of celiac disease, and at investigating whether the application of those immunohistochemical stainings would improve the detection of lymphocytosis within the epithelium and add advantages to celiac disease diagnosis.MethodsBiopsies were obtained from 100 individuals and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). They were then evaluated according to the Marsh classification. After that, staining for CD3 and CD20 was individually done and assessed.ResultsThe overall mean intraepithelial lymphocyte count per 100 enterocytes for H&E was 23.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 19.52–26.68), and for immunohistochemistry by CD3 and CD20 was 27.84 (95% CI = 24.31–31.38). The difference was highly significant, P = 0.001. The expression of CD3 immunohistochemically was as follows: Less‐than‐half staining pattern was reported in 16% cases, and half staining pattern was seen in 26%, while most cases 58% had more than half staining pattern. This discovery was consistent with the histological classification of March III among most cases. The expression of CD20 immunohistochemically was as follows: mild crypt involvement was observed in 16% of cases, while moderate crypt involvement and intense crypt involvement were seen in 43% and 41% of cases, respectively.
Investigation of fragmentation pathways of protonated 2‐methoxypyrimidine derivatives
Authors: Zu Chengli , Wang Nick X. , Brown Christopher J. , Yang Qiang , Gilbert Jeffrey R. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractSeveral representative pyrimidine derivatives were selected to undergo electrospray ionization (ESI) followed by collision‐induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (CID MS/MS) experiments. Two competitive pathways were found to govern the formation of major fragment ions from protonated species of these molecules. The pathways were largely affected by the 2‐O‐methyl group but not significantly influenced by the substitution on C‐5 site of the pyrimidine ring. These findings were supported by both deuterium labeling CID MS/MS experiments and theoretical calculations. The deuterium labeled pyrimidine ion molecules were generated in‐source in ESI from the fully deuterated hydrazinyl pyrimidines, which were readily obtained through hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange when dissolved in deuterium oxide (D2O).
A novel design approach for T‐XOR gate in ternary quantum‐dot cellular automata circuits
Authors: Ghadamgahi Seyed Mahdi , Sabbaghi‐Nadooshan Reza , Navi Keivan 
Published: August 2022

AbstractReducing the size of transistors to nano‐dimensions has brought new problems and challenges to the semiconductor field‐effect transistor industry. Therefore, quantum cells are considered as an alternative technology to solve these problems. The efforts of the past few years on the earth of nano‐electronics circuits have focused more on minimizing the cost of hardware by processing more than two values per basic action. In this paper, for the first time, the ternary XOR circuit has been designed and simulated in ternary quantum cells (TQCA) technologies. The proposed ternary XOR‐based on TQCA with 369 cells, area‐delay cost (m2 − scc) is 136.76, power equal to 1704.7 × 10−20 J equivalent to 106.4 eV, area 0.074128 μm2, and a delay of 1.25 clock was designed and simulated for validation with TQCAsim software. In addition, the ternary decoder circuit was simulated with 14 cells, cost (m2 − scc) is 0.0339, area 0.0021 μm2, and delay of one clock cycle. The comparison indicates that TQCA technology has unique behaviors and advantages in various criteria such as low power consumption, delay reduction, reduction of occupied space, and a significant increase in working frequency.
Local simvastatin and inflammation during periodontal mini‐flap wound healing: Exploratory results
Authors: Christiansen Devin L. , Killeen Amy C. , Ramer‐Tait Amanda , Hattervig Robin L. , Nawshad Ali , Beede Kristen , Samson Kaeli K. , Reinhardt Richard A. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBackgroundThe objective of this exploratory study was to evaluate inflammatory markers in periodontal maintenance patients from a randomized, double‐masked, parallel intervention clinical trial comparing local simvastatin (SIM) to carrier alone following mini‐flap access.MethodsFifty patients with a 6–9‐mm inflamed pocket during periodontal maintenance therapy (PMT) were treated with papilla reflection (PR)/root planing and placement of 2.2‐mg simvastatin in methylcellulose (SIM/MCL) or methylcellulose alone (MCL). A small piece of interproximal soft tissue was harvested at baseline and 2 weeks postoperatively, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) obtained at baseline, 2 weeks and 12 months, and bleeding on probing (BOP) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were measured at baseline and 12 months. Pro‐inflammatory interleukin (IL)‐6 and anti‐inflammatory IL‐10 gene activation were determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rt‐PCR). GCF IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐10, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF‐A) were measured with multiplex technology. Comparisons between groups and over time used logistic regression and general estimating equations. Associations between inflammatory markers and 12‐month outcomes used Wilcoxon rank sum tests or Pearson correlations.ResultsPatients in the SIM group had 4.17 greater odds (p = 0.047) of improved BOP at 12 months. Median IL‐6 and VEGF were significantly increased for all patients after 2 weeks of healing (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.03, respectively), while median IL‐10 gene activation was increased after 2 weeks in SIM/MCL (NS). Overall, elevated GCF IL‐10 at 2 weeks was significantly correlated with improved CAL at 12 months (r = −0.32, p = 0.03).ConclusionsLocal SIM/MCL may have anti‐inflammatory effects that potentially are associated with improved long‐term CAL outcomes.