bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differing Agents of Physical Damage to Artificial Seedlings in Remnant and Restored Forests
Authors: Quirós Cedeño Gerald J. , Joyce Francis H. , Zúñiga Amador María Auxiliadora , Holl Karen D. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTWe tested the importance of physical damage to seedlings as a bottleneck to natural regeneration in restored tropical forests using an artificial seedling experiment. After one year, more artificial seedlings had been damaged in restored forests (17.6% ± 2.6% SE) compared to remnant forests (12.7% ± 1.1% SE), primarily due to greater frequency of woody debris falling from planted trees. Vertebrate damage was more common in remnant forests.
Rapid identification and phenotyping of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients using a machine‐based approach in diverse healthcare systems
Authors: Basile Anna O. , Verma Anurag , Tang Leigh Anne , Serper Marina , Scanga Andrew , Farrell Ava , Destin Brittney , Carr Rotonya M. , Anyanwu‐Ofili Anuli , Rajagopal Gunaretnam , Krikhely Abraham , Bessler Marc , Reilly Muredach P. , Ritchie Marylyn D. , Tatonetti Nicholas P. , Wattacheril Julia 
Published: December 2024

AbstractNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common global cause of chronic liver disease and remains under‐recognized within healthcare systems. Therapeutic interventions are rapidly advancing for its inflammatory phenotype, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) at all stages of disease. Diagnosis codes alone fail to recognize and stratify at‐risk patients accurately. Our work aims to rapidly identify NAFLD patients within large electronic health record (EHR) databases for automated stratification and targeted intervention based on clinically relevant phenotypes. We present a rule‐based phenotyping algorithm for efficient identification of NAFLD patients developed using EHRs from 6.4 million patients at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) and validated at two independent healthcare centers. The algorithm uses the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) Common Data Model and queries structured and unstructured data elements, including diagnosis codes, laboratory measurements, and radiology and pathology modalities. Our approach identified 16,006 CUIMC NAFLD patients, 10,753 (67%) previously unidentifiable by NAFLD diagnosis codes. Fibrosis scoring on patients without histology identified 943 subjects with scores indicative of advanced fibrosis (FIB‐4, APRI, NAFLD–FS). The algorithm was validated at two independent healthcare systems, University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) and Vanderbilt Medical Center (VUMC), where 20,779 and 19,575 NAFLD patients were identified, respectively. Clinical chart review identified a high positive predictive value (PPV) across all healthcare systems: 91% at CUIMC, 75% at UPHS, and 85% at VUMC, and a sensitivity of 79.6%. Our rule‐based algorithm provides an accurate, automated approach for rapidly identifying, stratifying, and sub‐phenotyping NAFLD patients within a large EHR system.
Dermal CIC‐Rearranged Sarcoma With Neuroendocrine Differentiation Mimicking Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Freeman Timothy , Wilson Kelsey , McKay Kristopher 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTCapicua transcriptional repressor (CIC)‐rearranged sarcoma (CRS) is a rare and recently described tumor that most commonly affects patients between 15 and 30 years of age. It is an undifferentiated round cell malignancy, with a disease defining CIC fusion, with double homeobox 4 (DUX4) being the most common partner. Here, we report a 77‐year‐old woman who presented with a cutaneous thigh mass with a clinical morphology suggesting Merkel cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemically, there was positivity for INSM1 (extensive) and synaptophysin (patchy) and granular expression of neurofilament (extensive), CAM5.2, and CK20 (focal, nonspecific). The majority of the tumor showed histopathologic features within the range of what can be seen in Merkel cell carcinoma, but there were divergent features, including a myxoid zone with corded and stranded tumor cells and a Ewing‐sarcoma‐like zone with confluent concentric membranous CD99 expression. WT‐1 was strongly expressed, prompting RNA‐based next generation sequencing for gene fusions, which identified the CIC:DUX4 [t(19;4)(19q13.2;4q35.2)]. A novel IRAK3:HMGA2 fusion was also identified. This example of CRS simulated MCC clinically, histopathologically, and immunohistochemically and represents a likely underrecognized diagnostic pitfall.
Rethinking BCC diagnosis: Automating concept‐specific detection of BCC in dermatoscopic images
Authors: Wang Zheng , Hu Hui , Liu Zirou , Lin Kaibin , Yang Ying , Liu Chen , Chen Xiao , Zhang Jianglin 
Published: December 2024

SummaryBackgroundBasal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a prevalent type of skin cancer in which the inherent subjectivity of dermoscopy poses diagnostic challenges. Existing AI systems, which provide mainly image‐level insights, lack the interpretability that is crucial for effective clinical decisions and patient education.Patients and MethodsOur study developed a refined BCC dataset from the Human‒Machine Adversarial Model (HAM10000), which was annotated by clinicians to identify key diagnostic features. We integrated the ResNet50 and Mask R‐CNN architectures to enhance the model's performance by synthesizing feature‐related knowledge. Statistical evaluations, such as grouped bar charts and line graphs, validated the improvement in our clinical diagnosis evaluation scheme.ResultsThe RFSD‐BCC system significantly enhanced the diagnosis of BCC, with higher sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. The system achieved an area under the precision‐recall curve of 0.84, which closely matches physicians' diagnoses with high R2 values and low MAEs. With the RFSD‐BCC, the sensitivity increased by 7%, the specificity increased by 11%, the accuracy increased by 10%, and the intraclass correlation coefficient increased by 6%, which demonstrates the system's effectiveness in clinical settings.ConclusionsThe RFSD‐BCC system improves BCC diagnosis by integrating feature combination models, which enhances both sensitivity and specificity. It offers interpretable diagnoses that bridge AI analysis with clinical practice, significantly improving clinicians' diagnostic accuracy and fostering better patient understanding.
Plasticity syndromes in wild vertebrates: Patterns and consequences of individual variation in plasticity across multiple behaviours
Authors: Johansson Erik , Boersma P. Dee , Jones Timothy , Abrahms Briana 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBehavioural plasticity is an important mechanism allowing animals to cope with changing environments. Theory has hypothesized the existence of ‘plasticity syndromes’—positive correlations in plasticity across multiple behaviours within an individual—affording a generalized ability to respond to environmental change. However, the occurrence of correlated plasticities and their potential fitness consequences in natural populations remain untested. Using a 40‐year dataset on free‐ranging Magellanic penguins, we find evidence of both positively and negatively correlated behavioural plasticities. Plasticity did not strongly affect lifetime reproductive success, but its effect on interannual performance varied significantly by environmental context: plasticity reduced success in average oceanic conditions, increased success in anomalously productive conditions and, contrary to expectation, did not buffer against anomalously unproductive conditions. Such results highlight the complex patterns and consequences of plasticity across behaviours, individuals and environments, and the context‐dependent role that correlated plasticities play in the adaptive capacity of populations to environmental change.
Community Synchrony in Seed Production is Associated With Trait Similarity and Climate Across North America
Authors: LaMontagne Jalene M. , Greene David F. , Holland E. Penelope , Johnstone Jill F. , Schulze Mark , Zimmerman Jess K. , Lyon Nicholas J. , Chen Angel , Miller Tom E. X. , Nigro Katherine M. , Snell Rebecca S. , Barton Jessica H. , Chaudhary V. Bala , Cleavitt Natalie L. , Crone Elizabeth E. , Koenig Walter D. , Macias Diana , Pearse Ian S. , Redmond Miranda D. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTMast seeding, the synchronous and highly variable production of seed crops by perennial plants, is a population‐level phenomenon and has cascading effects in ecosystems. Mast seeding studies are typically conducted at the population/species level. Much less is known about synchrony in mast seeding between species because the necessary long‐term data are rarely available. To investigate synchrony between species within communities, we used long‐term data from seven forest communities in the U.S. Long‐Term Ecological Research (LTER) network, ranging from tropical rainforest to boreal forest. We focus on cross‐species synchrony and (i) quantify synchrony in reproduction overall and within LTER sites, (ii) test for relationships between synchrony with trait and phylogenetic similarity and (iii) investigate how climate conditions at sites are related to levels of synchrony. Overall, reproductive synchrony between woody plant species was greater than expected by chance, but spanned a wide range of values between species. Based on 11 functional and reproductive traits for 103 species (plus phylogenetic relatedness), cross‐species synchrony in reproduction was driven primarily by trait similarity with phylogeny being largely unimportant, and synchrony was higher in sites with greater climatic water deficit. Community‐level synchrony in masting has consequences for understanding forest regeneration dynamics and consumer‐resource interactions.
Climate Change Impacts Pair‐Bond Dynamics in a Long‐Lived Monogamous Species
Authors: Sun Ruijiao , Fay Rémi , Ventura Francesco , Şen Bilgecan , Barbraud Christophe , Delord Karine , Krumhardt Kristen , Jenouvrier Stéphanie 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTClimate change can influence populations of monogamous species by affecting pair‐bond dynamics. This study examined the impact of climate on widowhood and divorce, and the subsequent effects on individual vital rates and life‐history outcomes over 54 years in a snow petrel (Pagodroma nivea) population. We found that environmental conditions can affect pair‐bond dynamics both directly and indirectly. Divorce was adaptive, occurring more frequently after breeding failure and leading to improved breeding success. Divorce probabilities also increased under severe climatic conditions, regardless of prior breeding success, supporting the ‘Habitat‐mediated’ mechanisms. Overall, pair‐bond disruptions reduced subsequent vital rates and lifetime outcomes. Climate forecasts from an Atmosphere–Ocean General Circulation Model projected increased male widowhood rates due to decreased sea ice negatively affecting female survival, despite considerable uncertainty. These findings highlight the importance of environmentally induced changes in demographic and pair‐bond disruption rates as crucial factors shaping demographic responses to climate change.
Hidden Causes of Variation in Offspring Reproductive Value: Negative Effects of Maternal Breeding Age on Offspring Telomere Length Persist Undiminished Across Multiple Generations
Authors: Marasco Valeria , Boner Winnie , Griffiths Kate , Raveh Shirley , Monaghan Pat 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTOffspring of older breeders frequently show reduced longevity, which has been linked to shorter offspring telomere length. It is currently unknown whether such telomere reduction persists beyond a single generation, as would be the case if germline transmission is involved. In a within‐grandmother, multi‐generational study using zebra finches, we show that the shorter telomeres observed in F1 offspring of older mothers are still present in the F2 generation even when the breeding age of their F1 mothers is young. The effect was substantial: 43% shorter telomeres in grandoffspring from the ‘grandmother old at breeding’ line compared with those from the ‘grandmother young at breeding’ line. Shorter telomeres at fledging in this species are associated with a reduction in lifespan. Our data demonstrate the need to look beyond a single generation to explain inter‐individual variation in ageing rates and thereby variation in optimal allocation of age‐specific reproductive effort.
An Experimental Validation Test of Ecological Coexistence Theory to Forecast Extinction Under Rising Temperatures
Authors: Terry J. Christopher D. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTInteractions between species pose considerable challenges for forecasting the response of ecological communities to global changes. Coexistence theory could address this challenge by defining the conditions species can or cannot persist alongside competitors. However, although coexistence theory is increasingly deployed for projections, these frameworks have rarely been subjected to critical multigenerational validation tests. Here, using a highly replicated mesocosm experiment, I directly test if the modern coexistence theory approach can predict time‐to‐extirpation in the face of rising temperatures within the context of competition from a heat‐tolerant species. Competition hastened expiration and the modelled point of coexistence breakdown overlapped with mean observations under both steady temperature increases and with additional environmental stochasticity. That said, although the theory identified the interactive effect between the stressors, predictive precision was low even in this simplified system. Nonetheless, these results support the careful use of coexistence modelling for forecasts and understanding drivers of change.
Embracing Neurodivergence: Essential considerations in family law practice
Authors: Cottingham Marianne , Spear Talia 
Published: December 2024

AbstractNeurodiversity encompasses the natural wiring of the mind, shaping how individuals think, behave, communicate, and perceive the world. While society largely caters to the neurotypical majority, neurodivergent individuals, who represent a minority, experience the world differently and face unique challenges. Stigma persists surrounding neurodivergent people, and they are consistently marginalized. Family law professionals often work with neurodivergent individuals but need improved awareness and knowledge of neurodivergent traits and client presentation. Recognizing neurodivergence and providing inclusive support and access to services is crucial. This article defines relevant concepts and definitions and provides scenarios and examples that illustrate how neurodivergence may show up in day‐to‐day family law practice. Tips are provided for increasing awareness for professionals, along with practical suggestions for working with neurodivergent individuals.
Chinese EFL Teachers’ Professional Agency as a Facilitator of Their Sustainable Development and Work Engagement
Authors: Cao Guihua 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTResearch suggests that teacher agency influences different areas of English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers’ practice and professionalism. Nevertheless, the role of teacher professional agency in facilitating sustainable professional development (SPD) and work engagement has been overlooked. To fill this gap, this study used a semi‐structured interview with a sample of 27 Chinese EFL teachers to unveil their perceptions of the interplay of concern. The results indicated different venues through which EFL teachers’ professional agency could contribute to their SPD and work engagement. Professional agency could lead to teachers’ SPD by affecting their teaching motivation, positive emotional experiences, professional enthusiasm, and self‐development. Conversely, it was found that professional agency facilitated EFL teachers’ work engagement by influencing their teaching methods/materials, enthusiasm, satisfaction, commitment, responsibility, and teaching horizons. The findings are discussed and implications are listed for EFL teachers to use agentic practices in second/foreign language (L2) education, as triggers of many other positive outcomes like engagement and professional development.
Understanding the genetics of sex determination in insects and its relevance to genetic pest management
Authors: Ashmore Jade S. , Slippers Bernard , Duong Tuan A. , Dittrich‐Schröder Gudrun 
Published: December 2024

AbstractSex determination pathways regulate male and female‐specific development and differentiation and offer potential targets for genetic pest management methods. Insect sex determination pathways are comprised of primary signals, relay genes and terminal genes. Primary signals of coleopteran, dipteran, hymenopteran and lepidopteran species are highly diverse and regulate the sex‐specific splicing of relay genes based on the primary signal dosage, amino acid composition or the interaction with paternally inherited genes. In coleopterans, hymenopterans and some dipterans, relay genes are Transformer orthologs from the serine‐arginine protein family that regulate sex‐specific splicing of the terminal genes. Alternative genes regulate the splicing of the terminal genes in dipterans that lack Transformer orthologs and lepidopterans. Doublesex and Fruitless orthologs are the terminal genes. Doublesex and Fruitless orthologs are highly conserved zinc‐finger proteins that regulate the expression of downstream proteins influencing physical traits and courtship behaviours in a sex‐specific manner. Genetic pest management methods can use different mechanisms to exploit or disrupt female‐specific regions of different sex determination genes. Female‐specific regions of sex determination genes can be exploited to produce a lethal gene only in females or disrupted to impede female development or fertility. Reducing the number of fertile females in pest populations creates a male‐biased sex ratio and eventually leads to the local elimination of the pest population. Knowledge on the genetic basis of sex determination is important to enable these sex determination pathways to be exploited for genetic pest management.
Controlling the permeability of the particle‐stabilized ceramic foams with polymethyl methacrylate microsphere as pore‐forming agent
Authors: Leng Quanle , Yao Dongxu , Xia Yongfeng , Zhu Ming , Zhao Jun , Zeng Yu‐Ping 
Published: December 2024

AbstractOpen‐cell ceramic foams with controllable cell connectivity were fabricated by polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microspheres as pore‐forming agent combined with particle‐stabilized foaming method. In order to adjust the open‐cell structures of ceramic foams, PMMA microspheres with distinct particle sizes and contents were used. The results indicate that the bubble‐derived pores in the prepared ceramic foams were interconnected by microsphere‐derived pores within cell walls, and the average size and volume fraction of microsphere‐derived pores and bubble‐derived pores could be tailored by adjusting the particle size and content of PMMA microspheres. The impacts of open‐cell structures on connectivity were described in terms of permeability in this study. The open‐cell ceramic foams obtained using larger PMMA particle size and content exhibited larger Darcian and non‐Darcian permeability constants due to the increase of the size and volume fraction of microsphere‐derived pores. The ratio of Darcian and non‐Darcian permeability constant represents the individual contribution of viscous and inertial effects to the total pressure drop during the permeation process that are strongly dependent on the microsphere‐derived pore size and pore volume fraction. The Darcian and non‐Darcian constants in this study were in the range of 3.54 × 10−12 to 4.09 × 10−11 m2 and 3.05 × 10−7 to 5.10 × 10−6 m, respectively. These results are of practical value for the preparation and optimization of ceramic foams in applications requiring open‐cell structures.
Do Medicare Beneficiaries Under Accountable Care or Medicare Advantage Use Lower Quality Nursing Homes?
Authors: Wang Huiying , Kosar Cyrus , Rahman Momotazur , Mor Vince 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundWith the growing number of Medicare beneficiaries attributed to Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) or enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) and their financial incentives to lower the cost of the cared patients, it is essential to understand how these alternative payment models affect post‐acute outcomes among beneficiaries, with or without dementia diagnoses. In this study, we examined the quality of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) that beneficiaries entered after hospital discharge under different payment models.Study ParticipantsMedicare beneficiaries who were discharged from hospitals and admitted to SNFs between 2013 and 2018.Key MeasuresThe exposure variable was a payment indicator, including ACO, MA, or non‐ACO traditional Medicare (TM) fee‐for‐service. The dependent variable was high overall quality SNF, defined as with at least 4‐star rating in the CMS Nursing Home Care Compare.Analytic PlanWe examined the payer distribution by dementia diagnosis using ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) fixed effects and adjusted for age, gender, and race. We also estimated the probabilities of entering high‐quality SNF as a function of payer status and dementia diagnosis each year using hospital and ZCTA fixed effects and accounting for beneficiary‐level covariates.ResultsAmong SNF admissions from 2013 to 2018, the share of ACO‐attributed beneficiaries increased from 7.6% to 20.2%, MA enrollees increased from 25.2% to 32.8%, and non‐ACO‐attributed TM enrollees decreased from 67.2% to 47.3%. Consistently, ACO‐attributed beneficiaries were the most likely, while MA enrollees were the least likely to enter high‐quality SNFs, regardless of dementia diagnosis.ConclusionsOur findings highlight significant differences in access to high‐quality SNFs across Medicare payment models, with ACO‐attributed beneficiaries consistently experiencing better access than their MA or traditional Medicare counterparts, regardless of dementia diagnosis. These results underscore the need for further investigation into how payment models influence care quality and access, particularly for vulnerable populations.