bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-Guided vs Clinician-Guided Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Kern Dorian , Ljótsson Brjánn , Lönndahl Louise , Hedman-Lagerlöf Erik , Molander Olof , Liliequist Björn , Bradley Maria , Lindefors Nils , Kraepelien Martin
Published: December 2024

Importance

Clinician-guided online self-help based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective at decreasing symptom severity for people with atopic dermatitis (AD). A brief online self-guided CBT intervention could be more cost-effective and allow for easy implementation and broader outreach compared with more comprehensive clinician-guided interventions.

Objective

To investigate whether a brief online self-guided CBT intervention is noninferior to a comprehensive online clinician-guided CBT treatment.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This single-blind randomized clinical noninferiority trial was conducted at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Adult individuals with AD were enrolled from November 2022 to April 2023. The last postintervention data were collected in December 2023.

Interventions

Participants randomized to the self-guided group had access to a self-guided online CBT intervention for 12 weeks without clinician support. Participants randomized to the clinician-guided group received online CBT for 12 weeks.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was change in score from baseline to postintervention to 12-week follow-up on the self-reported Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM). The predefined noninferiority margin was 3 points on POEM.

Results

Of 168 randomized participants, 142 (84.5%) were female, and the mean (SD) age was 39 (10.5) years. A total of 86 participants were randomized to the self-guided group and 82 were randomized to the clinician-guided group. A total of 151 (90.0%) completed the main outcome postintervention assessment. Postintervention, the clinician-guided group had improved 4.20 points (95% CI, 1.94-6.05) on POEM and the self-guided group improved 4.60 points (95% CI, 2.57-6.64), corresponding to an estimated mean difference in change of 0.36 points (1-sided 97.5% CI, −∞ to 1.75), which was below the noninferiority margin of 3 points. No serious adverse events were reported. In the clinician-guided group, clinicians spent a mean (SD) of 36.0 (33.3) minutes (95% CI, 29.2-41.7) on treatment guidance and 14.0 (6.0) minutes (95% CI, 12.9-15.6) on assessments compared to 15.8 (6.4) minutes on assessments in the self-guided group.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this randomized clinical noninferiority trial, a brief self-guided CBT intervention was noninferior to clinician-guided CBT. Given the limited clinical resources required to deliver self-guided CBT, this treatment might be a promising means to disseminate evidence-based psychological treatment for patients with AD.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05517850
Interobserver and Intraobserver Agreement on the Treatment of Infantile Hemangiomas
Authors: Colmenero-Sendra María , del Boz-González Javier , Grau-Pérez Mercè , Ruiz-Villaverde Ricardo , Descalzo-Gallego Miguel Ángel , García-Doval Ignacio , Baselga Torres Eulalia
Published: December 2024

Importance

Although clinical practice guidelines exist for the treatment of infantile hemangiomas (IHs), recommendations are heterogeneous, and wide practice variations in IH management have been reported.

Objective

To analyze the degree of agreement in treatment choices for IH among pediatric dermatologists in North America and Europe and assess whether there are differences across IH risk categories.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional interrater and intrarater agreement study was conducted through a survey based on the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology IH prospective cohort. The survey used 50 vignettes of IH cases that were randomly selected from the cohort. It was administered twice in 2023, 1 month apart, to allow for interrater and intrarater agreement assessments. Data were analyzed in January 2024. The study involved pediatric dermatologists from North America (via the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance) and Europe (via the European Society of Pediatric Dermatologists).

Exposures

Participants were asked to choose 1 of 3 treatment options (propranolol, topical timolol, or observation) for each vignette.

Main Outcome and Measure

The primary outcome was the interrater agreement in treatment choices for IH cases, measured using κ statistics (Gwet AC1 coefficient).

Results

The global interobserver agreement among 90 pediatric dermatologists was fair (AC1, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.29-0.46). In North America (45 pediatricians), agreement was moderate (AC1, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.33-0.49), while in Europe (45 pediatricians) it was fair (AC1, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.28-0.46). The degree of agreement varied depending on the risk category of IH, with excellent agreement in high-risk IH and only moderate agreement in intermediate-risk and low-risk IHs. Propranolol was predominantly chosen for high-risk IH, while observation was most frequent for low-risk IH (55.9%). The second survey had 61 respondents, with no significant intrarater differences.

Conclusions and Relevance

The results of this survey study suggest that there is an important variability in the treatment of intermediate-risk and low-risk IH. The study findings support the need for more evidence regarding the role of topical timolol in IH treatment, which may help harmonize treatment approaches and improve consistency in IH management globally.
US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Policy Shift
Authors: Malas Mahmoud B.
Published: December 2024

This Viewpoint discusses recent changes in US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services policy changes for transfemoral carotid artery stenting in all patients.
Dissecting the Predictors of Cyber‐Aggression Through an Explainable Machine Learning Model
Authors: Zhu Wenfeng , Wang Kai , Liu Songyu , Sha Qianli , Yang Yuguang , Wang Qiang , Tian Xue
Published: December 2024

The general aggression model (GAM) suggests that cyber‐aggression stems from individual characteristics and situational contexts. Previous studies have focused on limited factors using linear models, leading to oversimplified predictions. This study used the light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) to identify and rank the importance of various risk and protective factors in cyber‐aggression. The SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) technique estimated each variable's predictive effects, and two‐dimensional partial dependence (PD) Plots examined interactions among predictors. Among 30 potential factors, the top five were attitudes toward violence, revenge motivation, anti‐bullying attitudes, moral disengagement, and anger rumination. PD analysis showed significant interactions between protective factors (anti‐bullying attitudes and moral reasoning) and risk factors (attitudes toward violence, revenge motivation, moral disengagement, and anger rumination). High scores on protective factors mitigated the impact of risk factors on cyber‐aggression. These findings support and expand GAM, offering implications for reducing cyber‐aggression among Chinese college students.
Thickness‐Related Analog Switching in SiOx/Cu/SiOx Memristive Devices for Neuromorphic Applications
Authors: Lamprecht Rouven , Vialetto Luca , Gergs Tobias , Zahari Finn , Marquardt Richard , Kohlstedt Hermann , Trieschmann Jan
Published: December 2024

This study examines the development of TiN/SiOx/Cu/SiOx/TiN memristive devices for neuromorphic applications using wedge‐type deposition and Monte Carlo simulations. Identifying critical parameters for the desired device characteristics can be challenging with conventional trial‐and‐error methods, which often obscure the effects of varying layer compositions. By employing an off‐center thermal evaporation method, a thickness gradient of SiOx and Cu on a 4 inch wafer is created, facilitating detailed resistance map analysis through semiautomatic measurements. This approach allows for investigating the influence of layer composition and thickness while keeping other process conditions constant. Combining experimental data with simulations provides a precise understanding of layer thickness distribution and its impact on device performance. Optimizing the SiOx layers to be below 12 nm, coupled with a discontinuous Cu layer with a nominal thickness under 0.6 nm, exhibits analog switching properties with an Ron/Roff ratio of >100, suitable for neuromorphic applications, while R × A and power exponent γ analysis show signs of multiple conduction mechanisms. The findings highlight the importance of SiOx and Cu thickness in determining switching behavior, offering insights for developing high‐performance analog switching components for bioinspired computing systems.
Enhancement of the Mechanical Properties and Biological Performance of Hydroxyapatite Coating by Selenium and Fluorine Ion Codoping
Authors: Zhang Chennan , Bai Yu , Li Ting , Gao Yuanming , Ma Wen
Published: December 2024

Ion doping is a feasible method to improve the mechanical and biological properties of hydroxyapatite (HA) as an implant coating material. F and Se codoped HA (SeF‐HA) powder is synthesized with the method of chemical codeposition and directly used for coating preparation via suspension plasma spray technology. Various characterizations indicate that F and Se ions have been codoped into the HA structure by substituting OH− and PO43− groups, respectively. The SeF‐HA coatings exhibit excellent adhesion strength with the substrate, fully meeting the ISO requirement of 15 MPa. The dissolution behavior is investigated by immersing the coatings in simulated body fluid for different durations. The results show that the dissolution rate of the SeF‐HA coatings is lower than that of the single Se‐doped HA coating, suggesting an improvement in the stability of the SeF‐HA coating. The in vitro studies show that the SeF‐HA coating can promote the osteogenic activity of osteoblasts and has an antiproliferative effect on osteosarcoma cells. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the combined effects of Se and F can make suspension plasma sprayed HA coating a potential coating material for dental implants or for bone tissue repair in osteosarcoma patients.
Dual‐Active Centers Linked by Oxygen Transfer for Enhancing Proximity‐Orientation Effect of Nanozyme
Authors: Shen Haoran , Chen Shizhang , Mo Shi‐Cong , Huang Haoliang , Liang Hongzhi , Zhang Jiahao , Xu Zhen‐Lin , Liu Weipeng , Liu Yingju
Published: December 2024

Proximity‐orientation effects (POE) are essential for enzymes, as the spatial arrangement and orientation of catalytic sites strongly influence substrate binding and enhance catalysis. However, nanozymes often face limitations due to weak POE arising from uniform catalytic interfaces. Herein, Co atoms are incorporated into the lattice of Pt‐based nanozymes, exploiting differences in electron configuration and atomic radius between transition metals and noble metals. This integration induced lattice distortion formed new catalytic sites, and restricted the transport path, thereby enhancing the POE. Such transition metal‐doped alloy nanozyme (TANzyme) can be functioned as a self‐cascading nanozyme with artificial catalase‐oxidase activity. Density functional theory calculations demonstrated that the Pt site selectively decomposed H2O2 into H2O and O2, while the Co site specifically adsorbed O2 and conversed into superoxide anions, so an oxygen transfer path to connect dual‐active centers not only increased the POE but also improved catalytic specificity. Additionally, by leveraging the efficient catalytic property of TANzyme, a visual origami‐based sensing strategy is developed for the cascade detection of H2O2, nucleic acids, and marine toxins. This strategy highlighted the pivotal role of POE in enhancing the catalytic specificity of nanozymes, mimicking natural POE in enzymes, and providing a solution to design next‐generation nanozymes.
Regulating the Positive Localized Electric Field in Mixed Matrix Membranes by Charge Reversal of ILs‐COF for Boosting CO2 Separation
Authors: Liang Chao , Zhang Yong , Yu Jiangnan , Che Qingbin , Wang Shaofei , Li Xueqin
Published: December 2024

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), characterized by their high porosity and stability, hold great potential for applications in gas separations. However, achieving precise size sieving without hindering the gas diffusion rate is challenging. This study presents a novel approach to establishing tunable localized electric fields in COF channels to achieve efficient CO2 separation in Pebax‐based mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). Different charge densities of the localized electric field are achieved by the host–guest interaction between COF and varying charged ionic liquids (ILs). Remarkably, the MMM with a positive localized electric field attains the optimal CO2/CH4 separation performance with a significantly enhanced permeability (≈38%) and selectivity (≈99%), surpassing the Robeson upper bound. Through density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the enhanced CO2/CH4 selectivity of MMM is due to the “sieving effect” of a positive localized electric field on CO2 over CH4. Specifically, the negatively charged O atom in CO2 exhibits stronger electrostatic interaction than the positively charged H atom of CH4. Therefore, the strategy of regulating the localized electric field can be employed as an efficient design for CO2 separation in MMMs.
Intrinsic Screening Descriptor for Organic Proton Donors to Enable Long Lifespan Aqueous Zinc||Polyaniline Batteries
Authors: Zhang Qianjin , Chen Tao , Qian Xiaohu , Fu Jiajun
Published: December 2024

The incorporation of additives into aqueous electrolytes provides substantial opportunities to mitigate dendrite formation and side reactions on zinc anodes. However, there is a lack of an effective guideline for selecting suitable electrolyte additives based on critical performance‐limiting factors. Herein, the use of the acid dissociation constant (pKa) as an intrinsic descriptor for screening suitable organic proton donors is proposed to achieve highly reversible Zn||polyaniline (PANI) batteries. Experimental results and theoretical calculations reveal that L‐malic acid (L‐MA) with a low pKa can supply constant protons to effectively reduce the accumulation of nonconductive alkaline byproducts and address the deprotonation issue of the PANI cathode. Meanwhile, the deprotonated malate anions form bidentate coordination with Zn2+, thereby reconfiguring a water‐deficient solvation structure of hydrated Zn2+ and facilitating the formation of ZnCO3‐rich solid electrolyte interphase. Taking L‐MA as a demonstration, Zn||Zn symmetric cells can stably cycle for over 460 h at a high depth of discharge of 80%. Additionally, the L‐MA additive enables Zn||PANI full cells to retain 89% capacity after 5000 cycles. The screening principle of organic proton‐donors that can simultaneously stabilize Zn anode and cathode of aqueous batteries is highlighted here.
Functionally Graded Impact Attenuator Using Bonded Construction
Authors: dos Reis M. Q. , Carbas R. J. C. , Marques E. A. S. , da Silva L. F. M.
Published: December 2024

Automotive collisions are one of the major causes of death in the European Union, especially in childhood and adolescence. However, improvements in vehicle safety cannot be achieved only by increasing the size and dimensions of the structures, as this demands more materials and more costly manufacturing processes, which leads to an increased resource expenditure and lowered sustainability. Moreover, the increase of the structure size raises the vehicle's weight, leading to added fuel consumption, which cannot be accepted considering modern environmental regulations. To solve these issues, the application of bonded joints using the combination of several adherends materials, such as steel and aluminium alloys and fibber‐reinforced polymers with crash‐resistant adhesives presents itself as a novel solution, allowing to attain enhanced joint strength, energy absorption and weight reduction. The present works introduce a novel concept of an impact attenuator using bonded, geometrically optimized using the concept of functionally graded adherends to maximize energy absorption by ensuring that a load‐bearing path is kept during impact, converting the impact energy into the plastic deformation of panels with variable mechanical properties, tailored to withstand specific load cases, fulfilling a gap in the literature regarding impact absorption devices that combines graded materials and bonded construction. The results obtained present an increase in the energy absorption values of the graded impact attenuators above 200% when compared to the homogenous materials.
Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Reactive Dyes Under Visible Light Using ZnO/CdS/Co Nanocomposites: A Step Toward Advanced Environmental Remediation
Authors: Arun Velumani , Priyadharsan Arumugam , Sivakumar Santhanam , Ranjith Rajendran , Handayani Murni , Muqoyyanah  , Redhyka Grace Gita , Wadaan Mohammad Ahmad , Mythili Raja , Rahmayanti Yosephin Dewiani
Published: December 2024

In this study, ZnO, CdS, ZnO/CdS, and ZnO/CdS/Co nanostructures were successfully synthesized using a simple chemical precipitation method. The formation of these nanostructures was confirmed through x‐ray diffraction (XRD), but their morphological properties were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Their optical properties were investigated using UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV‐DRS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The photocatalytic activity of these materials was tested for the degradation of Reactive Blue 160 (RB 160) under visible light. It was observed that ZnO/CdS nanocomposites exhibited superior photocatalytic performance compared to pure ZnO. Furthermore, the inclusion of cobalt (Co) in the ZnO/CdS nanocomposites significantly enhanced this activity, likely due to improved visible light absorption. These findings suggest that ZnO/CdS/Co nanocomposites are promising candidates for efficient photocatalytic applications, particularly in environmental remediation under visible light.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells‐Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles and Their Validation as a Promising Treatment for Chondrosarcoma in a 3D Model in Vitro
Authors: Romano Eugenia , Perut Francesca , Avnet Sofia , Di Pompo Gemma , Silvestri Simona , Roffo Felicia , Baldini Nicola , Netti Paolo Antonio , Torino Enza
Published: December 2024

Chondrosarcomas (CHS) constitute approximately 20% of all primary malignant bone tumors, characterized by a slow growth rate with initial manifestation of few signs and symptoms. These malignant cartilaginous neoplasms, particularly those with dedifferentiated histological subtypes, pose significant therapeutic challenges, as they exhibit high resistance to both radiation and chemotherapy. Ranging from relatively benign, low‐grade tumors (grade I) to aggressive high‐grade tumors with the potential for lung metastases and a grim prognosis, there is a critical need for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, particularly for patients with more aggressive forms. Herein, small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) derived from mesenchymal stem cells are presented as an efficient nanodelivery tool to enhance drug penetration in an in vitro 3D model of CHS. Employing high‐pressure homogenization (HPH), we achieved unprecedented encapsulation efficiency of doxorubicin (DXR) in sEVs derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC‐EVs). Subsequently, a comparative analysis between free DXR and MSC‐EVs encapsulated with DXR (DXR‐MSC‐EVs) was conducted to assess their penetration and uptake efficacy in the 3D model. The results unveiled a higher incidence of necrotic cells and a more pronounced toxic effect with DXR‐MSC‐EVs compared to DXR alone. This underscores the remarkable ability of MSC‐EVs to deliver drugs in complex environments, highlighting their potential application in the treatment of aggressive CHS.
The Impact of Metaphors on Academic Text Comprehension: The Case of Students With Dyslexia
Authors: Cersosimo Rita , Domaneschi Filippo , Cancer Alice
Published: December 2024

Metaphor has long been used by scholars to make concepts more comprehensible. However, this use of figurative language has never been investigated in relation to the way students with dyslexia learn from academic texts. This study aims to assess the impact of metaphors on overall academic text comprehension in university students with and without dyslexia. Excerpts from scientific articles containing metaphors were adapted to be presented in two comparable conditions: metaphorical and literal. Legibility indexes were controlled for to guarantee the same difficulty between conditions. Twenty‐eight students with dyslexia and thirty students without dyslexia underwent a multiple‐choice comprehension task for two texts, one for each condition, and provided evaluations of text perception. A standardised assessment of general reading comprehension and cognitive abilities, such as reading speed, reading accuracy, and working memory was conducted. Data revealed that, when reading ability was controlled for, students with dyslexia presented significantly lower comprehension scores only in texts containing metaphors, despite comparable perceived complexity and increased interest in metaphorical texts. These findings suggest that metaphors used in educational discourse may not be entirely inclusive, as they seem to impose additional cognitive demands on students with dyslexia.
Influence of ecological characteristics and phylogeny on native plant species' commercial availability
Authors: Zinnen Jack , Barak Rebecca S. , Matthews Jeffrey W.
Published: December 2024

Plant vendors generate a commercial species pool, the subset of species in a regional flora that is purchasable. The availability of plant species from commercial vendors can influence the composition and outcomes of conservation, landscaping, and restoration plantings. Although previous research suggests that most plant species are unavailable, there is little information that identifies the plant characteristics associated with commercial availability. We studied the composition of the commercial species pool by examining the ecology, phylogeny, and phenology of a regional flora in the Midwestern United States. We used a database of native plant species sold by 557 vendors throughout the Midwest (USA) to characterize species' availability. We compiled ecological characteristics of all plant species, including range size, growth form, moisture requirements, and conservatism—meaning fidelity to high‐quality natural areas. We characterized phenological (bloom time) data for a subset of the regional flora. Finally, we constructed a regional phylogeny to assess the phylogenetic signal of plant availability. We expected that commercially unavailable species would be niche specialists or short‐lived (often nonconservative “weedy”) species, and that they would bloom earlier in the season and for a shorter time. We found that commercially available species were more long‐lived, had larger range sizes, had intermediate fidelities to wetlands and high‐quality or disturbed natural areas, and were associated with certain plant types, especially shrubs and trees. In contrast, ferns and graminoids were underrepresented in the commercial trade. There was a strong phylogenetic signal associated with commercial availability; some plant families had nearly all or none of their species commercially available. Example families with low representation included Orchidaceae, Potamogetonaceae, Cyperaceae, and fern families. Longer bloomed species were more commercially available, but we did not find differences in availability between early‐ and late‐blooming species. Despite the diversity of the commercial pool in the Midwest, it is an unrepresentative, nonrandom subset of the regional species pool. This finding may promote the mismatch in species diversity and composition between remnant natural habitats and restorations because many specialized species are commercially unavailable to conservation and restoration practitioners. We encourage strategies to promote the availability of underrepresented plant diversity in the commercial species pool.
Bee Habitat, but Not Bee Community Structure, Varies Across Grassland Management in Four National Parks in the Mid‐Atlantic, USA
Authors: Larson Diane L. , Simanonok Michael , Landsman Andrew , Larson Jennifer L. , Davies Cora , Otto Clint R. V.
Published: December 2024

National Park Service units in the United States play a large role in providing habitat for native pollinators. In parks that are established to preserve cultural landscapes, park managers recognize an opportunity to improve pollinator habitat while maintaining historically accurate conditions. In this study, we document floral resources and native bees within managed park grasslands, with the goal of providing information to managers to help them maximize pollinator habitat while meeting other management objectives. The study was performed on 37 grassland properties in the mid‐Atlantic region of the eastern United States, distributed across four parks; each property was managed with one of three management types: cool‐season hayed, cool‐season pasture, or warm‐season meadows managed with multiple approaches. We surveyed bees and open flowers on 50‐m transects twice each year in 2021 and 2022. Repeated‐measures ANOVA models revealed that mean bee abundance, richness, evenness, and diversity did not vary among sites or management types. This finding was further supported by a principal coordinates analysis that showed that bee community composition was similar across management types. Nonetheless, we found evidence to indicate that the three management types did not produce equivalent habitat for bees. Species accumulation curves showed that the effective number of flower species was consistently lower in cool‐season pastures, relative to the other two management types. Furthermore, we detected positive correlations between bee and flower diversity metrics in one of the 2 years, indicating that floral metrics are associated with bee communities, at least under certain conditions. Collectively, our study suggests that cool‐season fields that are hayed and warm‐season meadows have higher floral diversity than cool‐season pastures within national park units of the mid‐Atlantic region, and this higher diversity of forbs has the potential to benefit native bee diversity.
The Elevational Distribution Patterns of Plant Diversity and Phylogenetic Structure Vary Geographically Across Eight Subtropical Mountains
Authors: Zu Kuiling , Chen Fusheng , Huang Chao , Liu Yuanqiu , Wang Fangchao , Zhu Guojin , Bu Wensheng , Fang Xiangmin , Guo Liping
Published: December 2024

Mountains have been recognized as biodiversity hotspots and possess strong elevational gradients. Whether these gradients exhibit similar characteristics in the multidimensional diversity patterns across different mountain ranges is a subject of inquiry. Exploring the elevational patterns of the diversity and phylogenetic information of plant species in the different subtropical mountains is necessary. Here, we compiled the elevational patterns of plant diversity occurring in the eight subtropical mountains of China and focused on the assessment of the patterns and determinants of the multi‐dimensional diversity and phylogenetic structure in different mountains. We also detected the elevational patterns and their relationship between different groups. The results indicate two main patterns of multi‐dimensional diversity: monotonic decrease and hump‐shaped, along with the area effect on the species diversity. There is a strong positive link between the non‐native and native species of species richness, and significant differences in phylogenetic structure's elevational distribution. We did not find the same rule in the mountains that the plant species in the lowlands indicate phylogenetic overdispersion, and the species in the higher elevation regions indicate phylogenetic clustering. We found that the plants' diversity peak is related to the mountains size, and this result showed that we should pay more attention to the conservation of plant communities in the higher elevation regions for the higher mountains. This study suggested that we should take different protective measures for the subtropical mountains: the lowland regions should be paid more attention in Mt. Lushan (LS), Mt. Guanshan (GS), Mt. Huanggang (HG), and Mt. Fanjing (FJ), and the middle‐altitude regions should be of concern for other mountains. This study helps to better understand the elevational gradients of species diversity on different scales and provides supporting scientific basis for biodiversity conservation in the subtropical mountain regions.
Partly cloudy with a chance of mosquitoes: Developing a flexible approach to forecasting mosquito populations
Authors: McDevitt‐Galles Travis , Degaetano Arthur T. , Elmendorf Sarah C. , Foster John R. , Ginsberg Howard S. , Hooten Mevin B. , LaDeau Shannon , McClure Katherine M. , Paull Sara , Posthumus Erin , Rochlin Ilia , Grear Daniel
Published: December 2024

Climate‐induced shifts in mosquito phenology and population structure have important implications for the health of humans and wildlife. The timing and intensity of mosquito interactions with infected and susceptible hosts are a primary determinant of vector‐borne disease dynamics. Like most ectotherms, rates of mosquito development and corresponding phenological patterns are expected to change under shifting climates. However, developing accurate forecasts of mosquito phenology under climate change that can be used to inform management programs remains challenging despite an abundance of available data. As climate change will have variable effects on mosquito demography and phenology across species it is vital that we identify associated traits that may explain the observed variation. Here, we review a suite of modeling approaches that could be applied to generate forecasts of mosquito activity under climate change and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches. We describe four primary life history and physiological traits that can be used to constrain models and demonstrate how this prior information can be harnessed to develop a more general understanding of how mosquito activity will shift under changing climates. Combining a trait‐based approach with appropriate modeling techniques can allow for the development of actionable, flexible, and multi‐scale forecasts of mosquito population dynamics and phenology for diverse stakeholders.
Disease suppression is driven by microbial community properties at fine taxonomic scales
Authors: Shan Shan , George Isabelle , Millican Michael D. , Kinkel Linda L. , Lankau Richard A.
Published: December 2024

The soil microbiome provides essential services in agroecosystems that can increase plant health and productivity, such as disease suppression and growth promotion. A small number of microbial groups have been proposed as main players behind disease suppression, but the complete picture of the underlying mechanisms remains unclear for both functions in many soil systems. Here, we investigated broad and fine‐scale microbial community features for their contributions to disease suppression and growth promotion for potato plants. In a greenhouse study, we grew potato plants in pots sharing a common background soil and inoculated with living soil microbial communities with or without a separate inoculation with Streptomyces scabiei, the causal agent of potato common scab disease. The suppression of common scab and growth promotion abilities of a variety of soil microbial communities were estimated and related to quantitative patterns in microbial community structure. We found that suppression of common scab was mostly driven by fine‐scale microbial community features, especially the diversity within the Actinomycetota phylum. Even though opposing components of microbial community structure might be related to the two functions, disease suppression did not cause a negative trade‐off in growth promotion. This suggests high functional redundancy in growth promotion. It may be possible to improve the multi‐functionality of soil microbial communities by engineering the communities toward optimized disease suppression and growth promotion ability.
High fire frequency in California chaparral reduces postfire shrub regeneration and native plant diversity
Authors: Grupenhoff Ashley R. , Safford Hugh D.
Published: December 2024

Fire is crucial for maintaining species diversity and resilience in fire‐adapted shrublands of the world's Mediterranean climate zones (MCZs), which include the chaparral shrublands of the North American MCZ. Chaparral is adapted to high‐intensity burning, with relatively long intervals between fires (30–100 years) typifying undegraded conditions. Modern fire frequencies are much higher in chaparral, driven largely by high densities of human ignitions and coincidence between ignitions and severe weather conditions. This change in the fire regime has major implications for biodiversity, leading to exotic invasion, decreased ecosystem services, and potential type conversion of shrubland to grassland dominated by exotic species. We studied the impact of increased fire frequencies on the composition and abundance of herbaceous and woody species in the Interior Coast Range of northern California. Our study area is one of the most frequently burned areas in California, which allowed us to investigate higher fire frequencies than previously published in the scientific literature for California. We surveyed fifty‐four 250‐m2 plots to assess changes in plant community composition and postfire regeneration of chaparral shrubs across a wide range of fire frequencies, including plots that have burned up to six times in the past 30 years. Our findings reveal that short‐interval fires significantly reduced postfire native woody regeneration, with obligate seeding species experiencing a 99% reduction and facultative species showing an 83% reduction in regeneration in the most frequently burned plots. Moreover, the overall marginal effect of one additional fire since 1985 decreased the proportion of native species cover by 12% and both richness and Shannon diversity by 4%. Consequently, areas with higher fire recurrence supported a more structurally and botanically homogeneous landscape dominated by a homogeneous group of non‐native species.
Invasive shrubs amplify seasonal granivory, revealing optimal windows for seed survival following invasive shrub removal
Authors: Fuka Mark E. , Orrock John L.
Published: December 2024

Invasive shrubs dramatically reduce the biodiversity of native plants, making invaded areas important targets of conservation and restoration. Adding seeds of native plant species, in addition to the removal of invasive plants, is a potentially promising means for restoration of native plant communities. However, because seed survival may vary among seasons, it is essential to understand temporal patterns of seed survival. For example, dense habitats created by invasive shrubs exhibit seasonal changes in structure and food resources that could create seasonal variation in seed survival by altering the activity and abundance of native seed‐eating rodents. Despite the potential for invasive shrubs to generate seasonal changes in granivory, we lack experimental studies to evaluate changes in granivory caused by invasive plants over a full year. We mechanically removed the widespread invasive species common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) from half of 14 sites (20 × 20 m) in a deciduous oak‐maple forest to track rodent and arthropod granivory of three native tree species, basswood (Tilia americana), black cherry (Prunus serotina), and sugar maple (Acer saccharum), and the invasive shrub R. cathartica over a year. Our results reveal that the effect of invasive shrubs on granivory changed across seasons. Seeds in invaded habitats experienced, on average, 25.9% higher seed removal than seeds in areas with R. cathartica removed, with the largest difference in removal occurring in winter. Seed removal was almost entirely due to rodent granivores that removed seeds at similar rates among species. These results indicate that, following removal of invasive shrubs, sowing seeds in winter may optimize seedling establishment by minimizing granivory. Our findings further reinforce the importance of removing invasive shrubs as an important restoration tool because invasions may amplify granivory throughout the year. Understanding the mechanisms that could be affecting seasonal granivory within invaded systems, the important role of rodent granivores, and the similarities in seed consumption between native and nonnative seeds is critical for continual conservation and restoration efforts aimed at promoting forest regeneration.
Colder temperatures augment viability of an indirectly transmitted songbird pathogen on bird feeders
Authors: Teemer Sara R. , Tulman Edan R. , Arneson Alicia G. , Geary Steven J. , Hawley Dana M.
Published: December 2024

Inanimate surfaces that are contaminated with infectious pathogens are common sources of spread for many communicable diseases. Understanding how ambient temperature alters the ability of pathogens to remain viable on these surfaces is critical for understanding how fomites can contribute to seasonal patterns of disease outbreaks. House finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) experience fall and winter outbreaks of mycoplasmal conjunctivitis, caused by the bacterial pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG). Although bird feeder surfaces serve as an indirect route of MG transmission between sick and healthy individuals, the contributions of feeders to MG transmission in the wild will depend on how ambient temperature affects viability and pathogenicity of MG on feeder surfaces over time. Here, we used two experiments, with identical initial design, to assess such temperature effects. For both experiments, we pipetted equal amounts of MG onto replicate feeder ports held at night‐day temperatures representing summer (22–27°C) or winter (4–9°C). We allowed MG to incubate on feeders at either temperature and swabbed remaining inocula from surfaces at 0, 1, 2, 4, or 7 days post‐inoculation of the feeder, with each replicate feeder port only swabbed at a single time point. In the first study, we analyzed swabs using a culture‐based assay and found that MG incubated at colder versus warmer temperatures maintained higher viability on feeder surfaces over time. In the second study, we replicated the same experimental design but used MG swabs from feeder surfaces to inoculate wild‐caught, pathogen‐naïve birds and measured resulting disease severity and pathogen loads to determine pathogenicity. We found that MG remained pathogenic on feeder surfaces at cold ambient temperatures for up to one week, much longer than previously documented. Further, MG was significantly more pathogenic when incubated on feeders in colder versus warmer temperatures, with the strongest effects of temperature present after at least four days of incubation on feeder surfaces. Overall, cold ambient temperatures appear to alter the role of fomites in the MG transmission process, and temperature likely contributes to seasonal disease dynamics in this system and many others.
Global Impact of Aging on the Hemodynamic Response Function in the Gray Matter of Human Cerebral Cortex
Authors: Fesharaki Nooshin J. , Taylor Amanda , Mosby Keisjon , Li Ruosha , Kim Jung Hwan , Ress David
Published: December 2024

In functional magnetic resonance imaging, the hemodynamic response function (HRF) is a stereotypical response to local changes in cerebral hemodynamics and oxygen metabolism due to briefly (< 4 s) evoked neural activity. Accordingly, the HRF is often used as an impulse response with the assumption of linearity in data analysis. In cognitive aging studies, it has been very common to interpret differences in brain activation as age‐related changes in neural activity. Contrary to this assumption, however, evidence has accrued that normal aging may also significantly affect the vasculature, thereby affecting cerebral hemodynamics and metabolism, confounding interpretation of fMRI cognitive aging studies. In this study, use was made of a multisensory task to evoke the HRF in ~87% of cerebral cortex in cognitively intact adults with ages ranging from 22 to 75 years. This widespread activation enabled us to investigate age trends in the spatial distributions of HRF characteristics within the majority of cortical gray matter, which we termed as global age trends. The task evoked both positive and negative HRFs, which were characterized using model‐free parameters in native‐space coordinates. We found significant global age trends in the distributions of HRF parameters in terms of both amplitudes (e.g., peak amplitude and contrast‐to‐noise ratio) and temporal dynamics (e.g., full‐width‐at‐half‐maximum). Our findings offer insight into how age‐dependent changes affect neurovascular coupling and show promise for use of HRF parameters as non‐invasive indicators for age‐related pathology.
Comparison of Postoperative Outcomes in Two Lip‐Splitting Approaches for Buccal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Ablation
Authors: Al‐Aroomi Maged Ali , Liang Ye , Chen Jie , Feng Yiheng , Pei‐Xuan Liu , Jiang Canhua
Published: December 2024

Objectives

The choice of surgical access for resection and reconstruction of buccal squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) with the lip‐splitting incision is controversial. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes of midline lip split with lazy‐S incision (MLSI) against the lateral lip‐splitting incision (LLSI).

Methods

A retrospective review was conducted on 41 patients with primary BSCC who underwent resection and reconstruction using MLSI approach (n = 19) and LLSI approach (n = 22) between 2022 and 2024. Functional outcomes, including skin sensitivity testing, oral competency, lip movement, cold perception, and other relevant measures, were evaluated with appropriate scales. Functional satisfaction and Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) were analyzed.

Results

None of the patients in either group demonstrated differences in sensation to light touch from baseline at 6 months postoperatively. Patients with MLSI approach reported higher lip function satisfaction (p = 0.037), and no patients in either group reported drooling. Besides, groove formation was significantly more common in the LLSI compared to the MLSI groups (50% vs. 15.8%, respectively; p = 0.046). A statistically significant difference was also observed in the self‐assessment of mouth‐opening movement among MLSI patients (p = 0.041). No significant differences were found in the mean POSAS scores, except that irregularity and surface area parameters were better in the MLSI group.

Conclusions

Objective sensation deficits are reversible and do not impact long‐term daily activities. The MLSI approach provides better postoperative outcomes and low disfigurement perception.
Hippocampal Discoveries: Spatial View Cells, Connectivity, and Computations for Memory and Navigation, in Primates Including Humans
Authors: Rolls Edmund T.
Published: December 2024

Two key series of discoveries about the hippocampus are described. One is the discovery of hippocampal spatial view cells in primates. This discovery opens the way to a much better understanding of human episodic memory, for episodic memory prototypically involves a memory of where people or objects or rewards have been seen in locations “out there” which could never be implemented by the place cells that encode the location of a rat or mouse. Further, spatial view cells are valuable for navigation using vision and viewed landmarks, and provide for much richer, vision‐based, navigation than the place to place self‐motion update performed by rats and mice who live in dark underground tunnels. Spatial view cells thus offer a revolution in our understanding of the functions of the hippocampus in memory and navigation in humans and other primates with well‐developed foveate vision. The second discovery describes a computational theory of the hippocampal‐neocortical memory system that includes the only quantitative theory of how information is recalled from the hippocampus to the neocortex. It is shown how foundations for this research were the discovery of reward neurons for food reward, and non‐reward, in the primate orbitofrontal cortex, and representations of value including of monetary value in the human orbitofrontal cortex; and the discovery of face identity and face expression cells in the primate inferior temporal visual cortex and how they represent transform‐invariant information. This research illustrates how in order to understand a brain computation, a whole series of integrated interdisciplinary discoveries is needed to build a theory of the operation of each neural system.
Integration of personalised ultrasensitive ctDNA monitoring of patients with metastatic breast cancer to reduce imaging requirements
Authors: Mouhanna Pia , Ståhlberg Anders , Andersson Daniel , Albu‐Kareem Ahmed , Elinder Ellinor , Eriksson Olle , Kavanagh Amy , Kovács Anikó , Larsson Karolina F. , Linderholm Barbro , Uminska Monika , Österlund Tobias , Howell Sacha J. , Ekholm Maria
Published: December 2024

Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) is an emerging biomarker for monitoring cancers. The personalised disease monitoring in metastatic breast cancer (PDM‐MBC) study is an ongoing study instigated to evaluate ctDNA as a biomarker to individualise imaging requirements in patients with MBC. Patients receiving first‐line endocrine therapy (aromatase inhibitor + cyclin‐dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor) had plasma samples collected pre‐treatment, weeks 2 and 4, and concurrently with imaging until progressive disease (PD). Here, we apply an experimental analytical workflow for ultrasensitive ctDNA analysis, utilising personalised ctDNA panels designed from mutations identified in tumour tissue, and present results for 24 patients. Twenty patients (83%) had detectable ctDNA pre‐treatment. The median progression‐free survival was 25.6 months, and 13 patients experienced PD, with rising ctDNA detected at or prior to PD in 12 patients (92%). If imaging had been omitted until the detection of rising ctDNA for at least one mutation, 68% (n = 71) of the scans performed amongst ctDNA‐positive patients would have been avoided. Our results demonstrate that integration of personalised ctDNA monitoring of patients with MBC has potential to substantially reduce the imaging needs in patients showing ctDNA response to treatment.
ESG Rating Disagreement and the Quality of Analysts' Forecasts: Information or Noise
Authors: Li Menghan , Chen Qi
Published: December 2024

The rise of ESG investment has stimulated the development of ESG ratings, while there is substantial ESG rating disagreement among different rating agencies, which creates a major obstacle to sustainable investment. This study empirically examines the impact of ESG rating disagreement on the quality of analysts' forecasts based on the data of Chinese listed companies from 2015 to 2021. It is found that the ESG rating disagreement significantly improves the quality of analysts' forecasts. Mechanism analysis demonstrates that ESG rating disagreement can enhance the quality of analysts' forecasts by increasing analysts' attention. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the observed effect is more pronounced in companies with low information quality and those with star analysts. These findings not only objectively assess the impact of ESG rating disagreement, but also emphasise the crucial role of analysts in improving the capital market information environment.