bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Warmer and wetter climate promotes net primary production in C4 grassland with additional enhancement by hay harvesting
Authors: Jung Chang Gyo , Xu Xia , Shi Zheng , Niu Shuli , Xia Jianyang , Sherry Rebecca , Jiang Lifen , Zhu Kai , Hou Enqing , Luo Yiqi 
Published: January 2022

AbstractGrassland ecosystems provide essential services to society. To maintain ecosystem functions and services of grasslands under changing environments, it is critical to understand how grasslands respond and feedback to climate change. Here, we present results from a long‐term (16 years) warming and clipping (to mimic hay harvesting or grazing) experiment conducted in a grassland ecosystem dominated by C4 grasses in the Great Plains, USA. We analyzed responses of net primary production (NPP), aboveground NPP (ANPP), and belowground NPP (BNPP) to the expanded ranges of climate conditions observed in the experiment. NPP, ANPP, and BNPP all responded to the climatic variables nonlinearly, with higher degrees of nonlinearity for BNPP than that for ANPP. BNPP peaked at the optimum air temperature of 17.5–18.5°C while ANPP peaked at the optimum air temperature of 18.5–20.0°C. The optimum air temperatures for both ANPP and BNPP were higher than mean annual temperature (16.3°C) at the site. The optimum precipitation for BNPP was intermediate levels (775–1250 mm) while ANPP was maximized in wetter conditions (1250–1605 mm) compared with BNPP. Clipping significantly reduced ANPP and shifted the optimum conditions for BNPP to warmer and wetter conditions. In summary, C4‐grass dominant ecosystems have the potential to increase NPP in future warmer and wetter conditions, and clipping may amplify this positive effect in this grassland ecosystem.
Biomass allocation in response to salinity and competition in native and invasive species
Authors: Tang Long , Zhou Qing Shi , Gao Yang , Li Peng 
Published: January 2022

AbstractBiomass allocation to different plant parts affects the subsequent capture rate of resources and reproduction. Thus, many studies have been conducted on the biomass allocation to learn growth, reproduction, and competitive ability of plants. However, few researchers have explored how biomass allocation responses to nonresource factor and interspecific competition over time. We experimentally investigated the effects of soil salinity and competition on root : shoot ratio (RS), reproductive effort (RE; seed biomass : total biomass ratio), the relationship between belowground and aboveground biomass, the relationship between reproductive and vegetative biomass, growth, and reproduction of invasive Spartina alterniflora and native Phragmites australis. The biomass of P. australis decreased with increasing salinity, whereas that of S. alterniflora did not significantly change. The reproduction of P. australis decreased with increasing salinity under competitive conditions, and that of S. alterniflora increased. Therefore, P. australis was less‐tolerant, and S. alterniflora was more‐tolerant. The RS of P. australis increased over time under competitive conditions and with increasing salinity, and that of S. alterniflora did not significantly change. The RE of P. australis decreased to zero with decreasing total biomass, and that of S. alterniflora did not significantly correlate with total biomass. Both species exhibited a linear relationship between belowground and aboveground biomass. The relationship between reproductive and vegetative biomass in P. australis was linear, and the reproductive biomass of S. alterniflora did not significantly correlate with the vegetative biomass. Competitive dominance shifted from P. australis to S. alterniflora with increasing salinity. The findings demonstrated that the plastic biomass allocation of less‐tolerant species facilitates performance of less‐tolerant species in favorable environments, while the fixed biomass allocation of more‐tolerant species facilitates performance of more‐tolerant species in stressful environments, suggesting that S. alterniflora invasion driven by competitive exclusion probably occur in high salinity zones, and reproductive ability of invasive species should be relatively stronger during exclusion. More broadly, linking level of environmental stresses with tolerance of plants is crucial to understanding and predicting the biomass allocation and its effects on plant performance, which is an expansion of predictions from optimal theory and allometric theory and therefore illustrates the conditionality of these predictions.
Modeling the effect of rockfall on forest development in a dynamic forest landscape model
Authors: Moos Christine , Lischke Heike 
Published: January 2022

AbstractMountain forests below rocky cliffs are regularly impacted by falling blocks. Rockfall thus increases tree mortality and can locally alter the forest structure. At the same time, trees can decelerate or stop falling blocks and play an important role in protecting settlements and infrastructure from rockfall impacts. Furthermore, trees in the upper part of a slope protect trees further downslope. Considering the interaction between forest dynamics and rockfall disturbance in dynamic forest models is necessary to accurately predict the development of rockfall protection forests in the long term. In this study, we integrated the disturbing effect of rockfall on trees in the dynamic forest landscape model TreeMig through a coupling with three‐dimensional rockfall simulations and analyzed the rockfall‐forest feedback over time. We introduced an additional mortality per cell, based on the probability and severity of rockfall disturbance derived from rockfall simulations. We implemented the potential feedback effect between rockfall disturbance and forest development using a meta‐model of the rockfall simulations and analyzed the sensitivity of forest development to varying disturbances for a case study in the Swiss Alps. With increasing disturbance, the total biomass of the forest decreased, whereby differences were relatively small at the scale of the forest complex, but more pronounced at local (cell) scale. Generally, the comparison to light detection and ranging (LiDAR)‐derived forest data showed a better agreement between the modeled forest and reality when considering the rockfall disturbing effect. The coupled simulations further revealed a positive feedback effect of rockfall disturbance and forest development. Disturbance probability and severity clearly decreased with advancing forest growth, which, however, lead to an overestimated recolonization of the disturbed areas. Still, the rockfall disturbance module clearly improved the simulations of a rockfall protection forest with TreeMig. Future improvement of the model should include a better representation of soil formation and water availability in the disturbed areas and the consideration of long‐term effects of the rockfall disturbances, such as pests and diseases. The consideration of the rockfall disturbance in forest modeling is particularly relevant for small‐scale studies requiring a detailed representation of spatial differences in forest cover, as this is the case in protection forest management.
Make visible the invisible: Optimized development of an environmental DNA metabarcoding tool for the characterization of trematode parasitic communities
Authors: Douchet Philippe , Boissier Jérôme , Mulero Stephen , Ferté Hubert , Doberva Margot , Allienne Jean‐François , Toulza Eve , Bethune Kévin , Rey Olivier 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe world's parasitic and mutualistic biodiversity is undergoing major upheavals related to modifications in host community structures, changes in interactions between species, and through coextinction events. Trematodes are an important component of this invisible biodiversity, in terms of species richness, but also because of their role in ecosystems functioning and in the emergence of associated diseases. Taken together, these elements point to the need for a better assessment and understanding of the structure and dynamics of trematode diversity. In this context, our aim was to develop an optimized eDNA‐based metabarcoding approach to detect trematodes and characterize their communities, most of which associated with aquatic environments. The efficiency of this newly developed tool was first assessed by exhaustive in‐silico and in‐vitro validation steps. We next assessed the ability of our eDNA‐based approach to reconstruct trematode communities compared to a classical trematode monitoring method over four freshwater aquatic ecosystems. Our eDNA‐based monitoring tool displayed a high amplification enrichment of trematode DNA, a 100% detection score for tracking back an in‐vitro mock community composed of 28 trematode species, and high genetic resolution, which makes it relevant to discriminate between even phylogenetically close trematode species. Over the four natural ecosystems screened in natura, 33 OTUs were generated from the eDNA‐based approach, from which 11 trematode species were identified. In comparison, we identified five trematode species using the classical monitoring method, three of which were also detected by the eDNA‐based approach. We believe that this new eDNA‐based metabarcoding tool will open new perspectives for fundamental and applied research in community ecology, conservation, and health survey.
Third Time is a Charm – Protonating Tricarboxybenzenes
Authors: Nitzer Alexander , Regnat Martin , Jessen Christoph , Kornath Andreas J. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractTriprotonation of the three constitution isomers of tricarboxybenzene was accomplished. Furthermore, the preparation of selected mono‐ and dications showed the sequence of protonation steps. The cations were mostly isolated as [SbF6] and [AsF6] species, which were characterized by Raman and NMR spectroscopy as well as X‐ray structure determination. To further elucidate the experimental results, quantum chemical calculations are employed, especially in regard to charge distribution with NPA charges and aromaticity by NICS(0) values. Thermal decomposition of the compounds was investigated in order to explore the possibility of acyl cation formation. The influence of the aromatic system, substitution pattern and anomeric effect concerning the properties of the respective compounds was thus explained.
Increasing the efficiency of liquefied natural gas production plant with considering appropriate refrigerant components
Authors: Bozorgkhou Nastaran , Pirouzfar Vahid , Su Chia‐Hung 
Published: January 2022

AbstractIn liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, the total efficiency of the system increased by using mixed refrigerants for the liquefaction process. In this study, the mixing of the effective refrigerants is considered as one of the most important factors in the optimization of liquefaction process of natural gas. In this regard, three mixed refrigerants with different compositions and conditions were selected. The refrigerants were selected based on optimization of power and electrical efficiency, overall thermal efficiency, heat exchanged with refrigeration cycle, and mass flow rate of Refrigerants in cycle. The optimized chemical process with related energy integrations were simulated and evaluated by Aspen HYSYS and Aspen energy analyzer (HX‐Net), respectively. Furthermore, the Aspen Capital Cost Estimator (Icarus) was employed for the economic analysis of these processes. The investment and operating costs of the optimized process (in the process with considering the MR3 refrigerant) are less than other processes. The calculated capital, operating, and equipment costs are about 22.6, 20.1, and 10.3 million US Dollars in the process with MR3 refrigerant. The mixed refrigerant 3 (MR3) contains the CH4, C2H6, C3H8, and N2with the mole fraction of 0.1316, 0.1317, 0.0299, and 0.7098, respectively. Modeling and cost estimation techniques can be used as a useful tool for the design and optimization of appropriate gas liquefaction and refrigeration processes with an effective performance for various industrial applications.
Analysis of rural household food and non‐food poverty status in Ethiopia: The Case Study from Meskan District
Authors: Kassahun Teshome , Tessema Ayele , Adbib Kebede 
Published: January 2022

AbstractPoverty is the lack of ability to reach the least possible level of standard of living. Both food and non‐food poverty remain the foremost concern in many developing countries in general and Ethiopia in particular. The proportions of rural households living below poverty line in Ethiopia have been increasing over the past decades. The causes of poverty are enormous and multifaceted. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the status and determinants of poverty among rural households in Meskan District. Cross‐sectional survey data were collected from 360 rural households randomly. The costs of basic needs approach, Foster, Greer, and Thorbecke methods (FGT index), and logit model were used to determine poverty line and identify determinants of poverty status among rural households, respectively. Moreover, for the analysis of the data, the respective statistical and econometric tests were employed. The findings show that poverty line/absolute poverty status was found about birr 6305 per year per adult equivalent consumption in District. Besides, the annual mean food and non‐food consumption expenditure poverty lines were birr 4157.7 and birr 2147.6 per year, respectively. The incidence, depth, and severity of poverty measures and its status were found to be 0.333, 0.051, and 0.013 values, while compared poverty measures and its status with national poverty incidence status; there was highest poverty incidence among rural households due to low human, physical, financial, and natural capitals as well as weak institutional arrangements. Logit model result similarly shows that factors affecting poverty level among rural households are highly associated with age of households, dependency ratio, marital status of household, education level household, farm size, distance from nearest market, access to food aid, oxen and livestock possession in study District. Our results suggest that the poverty reduction plans and policies should target specific localities and households livelihood situations because poverty by its nature is individual concentrated rather than aggregate national as whole.
Approaches and determinants to sustainably improve crop production
Authors: Gojon Alain , Nussaume Laurent , Luu Doan T. , Murchie Erik H. , Baekelandt Alexandra , Rodrigues Saltenis Vandasue Lily , Cohan Jean‐Pierre , Desnos Thierry , Inzé Dirk , Ferguson John N. , Guiderdonni Emmanuel , Krapp Anne , Klein Lankhorst René , Maurel Christophe , Rouached Hatem , Parry Martin A. J. , Pribil Mathias , Scharff Lars B. , Nacry Philippe 
Published: January 2022

AbstractPlant scientists and farmers are facing major challenges in providing food and nutritional security for a growing population, while preserving natural resources and biodiversity. Moreover, this should be done while adapting agriculture to climate change and by reducing its carbon footprint. To address these challenges, there is an urgent need to breed crops that are more resilient to suboptimal environments. Huge progress has recently been made in understanding the physiological, genetic and molecular bases of plant nutrition and environmental responses, paving the way towards a more sustainable agriculture. In this review, we present an overview of these progresses and strategies that could be developed to increase plant nutrient use efficiency and tolerance to abiotic stresses. As illustrated by many examples, they already led to promising achievements and crop improvements. Here, we focus on nitrogen and phosphate uptake and use efficiency and on adaptation to drought, salinity and heat stress. These examples first show the necessity of deepening our physiological and molecular understanding of plant environmental responses. In particular, more attention should be paid to investigate stress combinations and stress recovery and acclimation that have been largely neglected to date. It will be necessary to extend these approaches from model plants to crops, to unravel the relevant molecular targets of biotechnological or genetic strategies directly in these species. Similarly, sustained efforts should be done for further exploring the genetic resources available in these species, as well as in wild species adapted to unfavourable environments. Finally, technological developments will be required to breed crops that are more resilient and efficient. This especially relates to the development of multiscale phenotyping under field conditions and a wide range of environments, and use of modelling and big data management to handle the huge amount of information provided by the new molecular, genetic and phenotyping techniques.
Antioxidant activity of banana flesh and antiproliferative effect on breast and pancreatic cancer cells
Authors: Kim Dae Kyeong , Ediriweera Meran Keshawa , Davaatseren Munkhtugs , Hyun Ho Bong , Cho Somi Kim 
Published: January 2022

AbstractBananas, one of the most widely consumed fruits worldwide, are a rich source of valuable phytochemicals. In this study, the antioxidant and the anticancer potential of banana flesh was investigated. Of the four kinds of banana flesh extracts, the hexane extract (HE) had the highest total polyphenol content (2.54 ± 0.60 mg GAE/g) and total flavonoid content (1.69 ± 0.34 mg RE/g), followed by the chloroform fraction, total ethanol extract, and ethanol fraction. HE was found to exert a strong radical scavenging activity on 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) and 2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonicacid) (ABTS•) free radicals. According to the IC50 values in various cancer cell lines, HE was found to possess the greatest cell growth inhibitory potential in human pancreatic cancer PANC‐1 cells and human triple‐negative breast cancer MDA‐MB‐231 cells. HE induced apoptosis in PANC‐1 and MDA‐MB‐231 cells, as evidenced by the appearance of condensation of chromatin, proteolytic activation of caspase‐3 and 7, and increase in the level of the cleaved form of poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase protein. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) analysis of HE identified several anticancer compounds including palmitic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, campesterol, stigmasterol, and γ‐sitosterol, supporting the anticancer potential of HE. Our investigation provides a rationale for the use of banana flesh to minimize the risk of cancer‐like diseases.
Factors associated with loss to follow‐up after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer
Authors: Hoyle John M. , Correya Tanya A. , Kenzik Kelly , Francisco Liton , Spencer Sharon A. , Willey Christopher D. , Bonner James A. , Snider James W. , Boggs Drexell Hunter , Carroll William R. , Bhatia Smita , McDonald Andrew M. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractObjectivesHead and neck cancer (HNC) patients are at high risk for late occurring radiation‐related morbidity and recurrence, necessitating close long‐term medical surveillance. This study identified factors associated with becoming lost to follow‐up (LTFU) at a comprehensive cancer center.Materials and MethodsPatients were drawn from survivors who received radiation for HNC at a single institution between 2001 and 2018. LTFU was defined as living patients without a clinical encounter within 2 years of the data query.ResultsIn total, 537 patients met the inclusion criteria and 57 (10.6%) were identified as LTFU. Individual comparisons identified time since completing radiation, non‐White race and being unmarried as associated with LTFU. Multiple regression identified time since treatment and being unmarried as factors associated with LTFU. A decision tree correctly sorted 89.4% using time, distance, and marital status.ConclusionTime since radiation, distance to clinic, and being unmarried were factors associated with becoming LTFU.
A Comparative Analysis of Adopters and Non‐adopters of Drip Irrigation under Plastic Tunnels for Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Production in Balochistan, Pakistan
Authors: Qasim Said , Qasim Muhammad , Hassan Anees , Murtaza Ghulam , Khan Amir Nawaz 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThis research tries to compare the water use efficiency, electricity efficiency and economic efficiency of adopters and non‐adopters of drip irrigation under plastic tunnels (DIUPT). Data regarding the socio‐economic conditions of farmers and their views on the advantages and disadvantages of the DIUPT were collected through a questionnaire survey of 200 farmers. For expenses, income, electricity efficiency and water use efficiency, we collected data only from the sample farmers, i.e. one adopter and one non‐adopter. Results also revealed that the total horsepower (HP) hours of water per acre used for drip‐irrigated cucumber under plastic tunnels was 240 compared to 576 HP hours for the flood method of irrigation, thereby saving 58% (336 HP hours) of energy. In other words, with the same amount of water used for irrigating 1 acre of cucumber under flood irrigation, 2.4 acres of cucumber could be irrigated using drip irrigation. Realizing about 51% higher yields under drip irrigation, adopters enjoy 40% higher returns than non‐adopter farmers. The study recommends dissemination of information to farmers about DIUPT through training and seminars. Adoption of these technologies would lead to efficient and sustainable use of already depleting water resources in the drought‐prone province of Balochistan.
CircRNA_0040705 promotes the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Li Yanxia , Ji Mengyao , Huang Xu , Yang Fan , Yang Zhiyong , Shen Lei 
Published: January 2022

AbstractCircular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in cancer progression. Nonetheless, the role and mechanism of circ_0040705 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are unclear. The aberrantly expressed circRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) in HCC tissues were screened by bioinformatics. Circ_0040705, miR‐557, SRY‐box transcription factor 2 (SOX2), E‐cadherin, and N‐cadherin expressions were determined using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) or Western blot. Cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8), 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine (EdU), and Transwell experiments were utilized to examine the changes in HCC cell growth, migration, and invasion after circ_0040475 was overexpressed or knocked down. Lung metastasis assay was used to validate the effects of circRNA_0040705 on the lung metastasis of HCC cells in vivo. Binding sequences between circ_0040705 and miR‐557 and between miR‐557 and SOX2 were verified using dual‐luciferase reporter gene experiments. The expression levels of circ_0040705 and SOX2 mRNA were markedly increased in HCC tissues, but miR‐557 expression was down‐regulated. Circ_0040705 overexpression enhanced the growth, migration, invasion, and the expressions of E‐cadherin and N‐cadherin of HCC cells and promoted lung metastasis in vivo, whereas circ_0040705 knockdown exerted the opposite effects in HCC cells. Circ_0040705 worked as a sponge for miR‐557 to down‐modulate miR‐557 expression, and miR‐557 could specifically down‐modulate SOX2 expression. Circ_0040705 facilitates HCC cell growth, migration, and invasion by down‐modulating miR‐557 expression and up‐modulating SOX2 expression.