bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Beyond genes‐for‐behaviour: The potential for genomics to resolve long‐standing questions in avian brood parasitism
Authors: Rönkä Katja , Eroukhmanoff Fabrice , Kulmuni Jonna , Nouhaud Pierre , Thorogood Rose 
Published: November 2024

AbstractBehavioural ecology by definition of its founding ‘Tinbergian framework’ is an integrative field, however, it lags behind in incorporating genomic methods. ‘Finding the gene/s for a behaviour’ is still rarely feasible or cost‐effective in the wild but as we show here, genomic data can be used to address broader questions. Here we use avian brood parasitism, a model system in behavioural ecology as a case study to highlight how behavioural ecologists could use the full potential of state‐of‐the‐art genomic tools. Brood parasite–host interactions are one of the most easily observable and amenable natural laboratories of antagonistic coevolution, and as such have intrigued evolutionary biologists for decades. Using worked examples, we demonstrate how genomic data can be used to study the causes and mechanisms of (co)evolutionary adaptation and answer three key questions for the field: (i) Where and when should brood parasitism evolve?, (ii) When and how should hosts defend?, and (iii) Will coevolution persist with ecological change? In doing so, we discuss how behavioural and molecular ecologists can collaborate to integrate Tinbergen's questions and achieve the coherent science that he promoted to solve the mysteries of nature.
Wolf Predation on White‐tailed Deer Before, During, and After a Historically Mild Winter in Northern Minnesota
Authors: Gable Thomas D. , Homkes Austin T. , Bump Joseph K. 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTIn many southern boreal ecosystems of North America, wolves are the primary predators of white‐tailed deer, and white‐tailed deer are the primary prey of wolves. Furthermore, wolf–deer systems have and will continue to become more common as white‐tailed deer range continues expanding northward in North America. Despite this, there is little information on kill rates of wolves on deer (i.e., the number of deer killed per wolf per unit of time)—a fundamental metric of wolf predation on deer—and how kill rates vary with deer density, wolf density, and environmental conditions. We estimated kill rates of wolves on deer before, during, and after a historically mild winter in the Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem, Minnesota, USA. Kill rates of wolves on deer were low (0.009–0.018 deer/wolf/day) in fall, peaked in February (0.050 deer/wolf/day), and quickly declined to 0 deer/wolf/day by April. The kill rates of wolves on deer we observed in winter were some of the lowest kill rates of wolves on deer that have been documented. Wolves in the Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem appeared unable to catch and kill a sufficient number of deer to meet their daily energetic requirements during Winter 2023–2024, and thus most wolves likely lost weight during winter, a period when wolves are typically in peak physical condition. The rates of wolf predation we observed appeared to be well below those needed to decrease deer population density in the GVE. Thus, our work, in combination with numerous other studies, indicates winter conditions are the primary driver of deer population change in northern climates.
Use of a Truffle Dog Provides Insight Into the Ecology and Abundant Occurrence of Genea (Pyronemataceae) in Western Oregon, USA
Authors: Dawson Hilary Rose , Dawson Heather A. 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTHypogeous fungi (“truffles”) are challenging to study because they produce underground sporocarps that may not be located during traditional fungal surveys. Commercially valuable truffles are located using scent‐detection dogs trained on truffles. However, the dogs are not necessarily limited to commercial truffle species when trained on other taxa of interest. For example, Genea (Pyronemataceae, Ascomycota) is a genus of common but difficult to find truffles that develops small and often soil‐colored hypogeous ascomata. We used a truffle dog trained to locate Genea sporocarps in the southern Willamette Valley and associated mountains in western Oregon, USA, recording when the sporocarps were present at a wide range of elevations (113 to 1879 m). We found Genea was present in half of our surveys and noted that it rarely fruited in areas that had experienced wildfire. This study demonstrates the value of using truffle dogs in documenting truffle diversity, particularly those that are difficult to locate visually, and provides further evidence for the abundance of Genea.
Evolutionary Links Between Skull Shape and Body Size Suggest Allometric Forces and Selection at Work in a Generalist Group of Lizards
Authors: Rivera Julio A. , Fuentes‐G. Jesualdo A. , Martins Emília P. 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTThe vertebrate skull is a complex structure, and studies of skull shape have yielded considerable insight into the evolutionary forces shaping specialized phenotypes in organisms as diverse as bats, frogs, and fossorial animals. Here, we used phylogenetic comparative analyses of CT scans of male skulls from 57 species of Sceloporus lizards to explore patterns of skull evolution in a group of generalist taxa. We found that most interspecific variation is in terms of skull elongation such that some species have long, narrow skulls, whereas others exhibit more compact and robust skulls. We also found strong links to overall body size, with evolutionary shifts to larger bodies being associated with more compact skulls and slower evolutionary rates. This is the opposite of the pattern in most mammals in which larger bodied species have longer snouts, and more like the pattern in frogs in which function has played a more important evolutionary role. Also, unlike other vertebrates, the jaw, anterior, and posterior parts of the Sceloporus skull are largely integrated, having evolved independently of each other only to a limited, albeit significant, degree. Our results emphasize the importance of body size in the evolutionary shaping of the skull and suggest that additional studies of behavioral function in a generalist group are warranted.
Cytokine Autoantibodies Alter Gene Expression Profiles of Healthy Donors
Authors: von Stemann Jakob Hjorth , Dubois Florian , Saint‐André Violaine , Bondet Vincent , Posseme Celine , Charbit Bruno , Quintana‐Murci Lluis , Hansen Morten Bagge , Ostrowski Sisse Rye , Duffy Darragh ,   Milieu Intérieur Consortium
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTAutoantibodies against cytokines (c‐aAb) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases, and a variety of infections. In addition, several independent studies have detected elevated titers of c‐aAb in the circulation of healthy individuals. To further understand their impact on immune responses, we measured c‐aAb against IFN‐α, IFN‐γ, CSF2, IL‐1α, IL‐6, and IL‐10 in the plasma of 1000 healthy individuals of the Milieu Intérieur (MI) cohort. Focusing on donors above a defined positive cut‐off we observed significant age effects for c‐aAb against IL‐1α, but no major environmental or lifestyle associated factors were identified. Using TruCulture stimulation data from the MI cohort, we observed a strong association between induced IL‐1α and c‐aAb levels after LPS stimulation. For several other stimuli, c‐aAb against IL‐1α and IL‐10 were associated with decreased or increased proinflammatory gene expression, respectively. Finally, TruCulture assays supplemented with plasma containing high‐titer c‐aAb showed a strong influence of anti‐IFN‐α and anti‐IL‐6 c‐aAb on both baseline and induced gene expression. In summary, this study shows a widespread prevalence of anti‐cytokine autoantibodies in healthy donors with impacts on diverse immune responses, suggesting a significant contribution of c‐aAb to interindividual immune heterogeneity.
Expectation of analgesia increases the inhibitory response of conditioned pain modulation in healthy participants who at baseline have a non‐inhibitory profile
Authors: Nascimento Allen Matheus S. , Ardestani Soraya S. , Novaes Isabela C. , Conti Paulo César R. , Bonjardim Leonardo R. , Exposto Fernando G. , Svensson Peter , Costa Yuri M. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractBackgroundThis study assessed the effect of expectation of analgesia on conditioned pain modulation (CPM) in healthy participants stratified into inhibitors and non‐inhibitors.MethodsA parallel CPM protocol was assessed on 21 women and 22 men across two sessions: baseline and expectation of analgesia, which was induced by a standardized audiovisual suggestion. The CPM assessment involved two different test stimuli (TS): mechanically controlled palpation and the pressure pain threshold, applied to two different regions: anterior temporalis and thenar eminence of the hand. The conditioning stimulus (CS) involved immersing the non‐dominant forearm in cold water. The order of the TS and regions was randomized for each participant. The CPM protocol was performed three times, with a 1‐min interval between TS/region sequences. After a 20‐min rest, the CPM assessment was repeated (two blocks in total). The standard error of measurement (SEM) was computed to identify inhibitors (inhibitory responses) and non‐inhibitors (including non‐inhibitors and facilitatory responses). Cochran's Q, ANOVA and ANCOVA were applied to the data (p < 0.05).ResultsThere was a significant decrease in the proportion of non‐inhibitors during the expectation of analgesia session (32.6%–44.2%) when compared with the baseline session (51.2%–72.1%). The non‐inhibitors exhibited a lower inhibitory CPM magnitude than the inhibitors only in block 1 of the baseline session. The expectation of analgesia resulted in an increased magnitude of the inhibitory CPM solely in non‐inhibitors.ConclusionExpectation of analgesia can increase the inhibitory response of the CPM beyond the measurement error in healthy participants with a baseline non‐inhibitory profile.SignificanceSeveral studies have investigated whether cognitive modulation can alter the magnitude of the inhibitory response of conditioned pain modulation (CPM), yet some gaps remain. This study accounted for measurement error to accurately determine changes in CPM influenced by expectation of analgesia.
The Influence of Population Aging on Living Carbon Emissions in the Yellow River Basin: Comparisons Between Urban and Rural Areas
Authors: Song Mei , Zhang Jia , Li Mengxue , Gao Yujin 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTPopulation aging presents a major challenge to China's economic and social development. While some research has addressed the relationship between population aging and energy consumption or generalized carbon emissions, its impact on living carbon emissions has been less explored. This study uses provincial panel data from the Yellow River Basin (2006–2020) and employs a threshold regression model to analyze the relationship between population aging and living carbon emissions. A Multiple Mediation Effect Model is also applied to explore the mechanisms behind this relationship, with a comparative analysis between urban and rural areas. The results indicate a U‐shaped nonlinear effect of population aging on living carbon emissions, which are initially inhibited and then promoted, with different “turning points” for rural and urban regions. As income levels rise, population aging has a marginally increasing effect on living carbon emissions. However, upgrading the consumption expenditure structure, expanding family size, and increasing clean energy consumption can help mitigate the promoting effect of aging on emissions. The mediation model identifies four pathways through which population aging influences living carbon emissions, with income level and consumption expenditure structure playing key roles. This study offers policy insights for addressing urban‐rural disparities and fostering sustainable regional development.
Morphology and dynamics of thermokarst ponds in a subarctic permafrost peatland, northern Sweden
Authors: Seemann Fabian , Sannel A. Britta K. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractRapid climatic changes cause permafrost to thaw, initiating thermokarst landforms such as lakes and ponds. These waterbodies cover large extents of the northern circumpolar permafrost region and are significant sources of greenhouse gases. For the assessment of current and potential future waterbody development, continuous monitoring and analyses of the driving factors are required. In Dávvavuopmi, a permafrost peatland located in the sporadic permafrost zone of northern Sweden, high‐resolution imagery of the first two decades of the 21st century is available. This study combined field, GIS and statistical methods to explain spatiotemporal pond dynamics by investigating pond morphology and regional climate characteristics. Erosion affected 42% of the shorelines, and the erosion intensity was significantly correlated with the height and slope of bluffs facing the waterbodies. Along some sections, active erosion was causing shoreline retreat, but the dominant trend in this landscape was pond drainage and terrestrialisation/fen vegetation ingrowth. Between 2003 and 2021 the thermokarst pond area and number decreased by 6%/decade and 27%/decade, respectively. Inter‐ and intra‐annual climatic parameters could not be directly linked to thermokarst pond dynamics. Instead, the climate conditions (MAAT/snow depth) control permafrost degradation, causing enhanced hydrological connectivity in the landscape, which drives the pond drainage trend.
Polyether‐Derived Carbon Material and Ionic Liquid (Tributylmethylphosphonium iodide) Incorporated Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride‐co‐Hexafluoropropylene)‐Based Polymer Electrolyte for Supercapacitor Application
Authors: Nazir Sehrish , Singh Pramod K. , Jain Amrita , Michalska Monika , Yahya M. Z. A. , Yusuf S. N. F. , Diantoro Markus , Latif Famiza Abdul , Singh Manoj K. 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTPoly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF‐HFP)‐sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN) solid polymer electrolytes containing different weight ratios of ionic liquid (IL)—tributylmethylphosphonium iodide (TBMPI) were prepared using solution‐cast approach. Electrochemical impedance data indicates that increasing ionic liquid into polymer electrolyte matrix increases ionic conductivity and the maximum value of ionic conductivity was obtained at 150 wt% TBMPI, having conductivity value of 8.3 × 10−5 S cm−1. The dielectric measurement supports our conductivity data. Ionic transference number measurement affirms this system to be predominantly ionic in nature, while electrochemical stability window (ESW) was found to be 3.4 V. Polarized optical microscopy (POM) along with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) suggest suitability of TBMPI as plasticizer, while infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirms ion interaction, complexation, and composite nature. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows thermal stability of these ionic liquid‐doped polymer electrolytes (ILDPEs). Using maximum conducting ILDPE, a sandwiched supercapacitor has been fabricated which shows stable performance as high as 228 Fg−1 using cyclic voltammetry (CV).
Novel HMGA2::COL14A1 Fusion Identified in Xanthogranulomatous Epithelial Tumor/Keratin‐Positive Giant Cell Tumor
Authors: Dehner Carina A. , Buehler Darya , Hofich Christopher , Halling Kevin C. , Folpe Andrew L. 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTXanthogranulomatous epithelial tumor (XGET)/Keratin‐positive giant cell tumor (KP‐GCT) represents a spectrum of recently described neoplasms characterized by a proliferation of distinctive mononuclear cells expressing keratin within a background of osteoclast‐like giant cells, mixed inflammatory cells, and a variably prominent xanthogranulomatous component. Recent studies demonstrated a recurrent HMGA2::NCOR2 fusion in many cases. We herein describe a case of XGET/KP‐GCT arising in the right femoral head of a 19‐year‐old male harboring a rare novel HMGA2::COL14A1 fusion.
The Impact of Food Specific IgG Antibodies on Migraine and Its Comorbidities
Authors: Zhao Zhi‐Ming , Yang Mei‐Mei , Zhao Xian‐Shu , Wan Fu‐Jun , Ning Bao‐Li , Zhang Li‐Ming , Fu Jun 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo investigate the differences in headache and comorbidity symptoms between migraine patients with negative and positive food specific IgG antibodies, and explore the correlation between these symptoms with food specific IgG antibodies.MethodsA total of 129 migraine patients were enrolled. Seven questionnaires were used to gather information regarding the symptoms of migraine, gastrointestinal, depression, anxiety, and sleep. Serum specific IgG antibodies against 14 kinds of food were detected using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays.ResultsPatients with migraine diagnosis who had positive food specific IgG antibodies had significantly worse headaches, gastrointestinal and anxiety symptoms, compared to the patients with negative IgG antibodies. Patients with more IgG positive foods and higher total positive IgG concentration generally had worse migraine conditions, anxiety, depression, and gastrointestinal symptoms.ConclusionThe effect of food specific IgG antibodies on severity of migraine and its comorbidities were antibody‐quantity and IgG‐concentration dependent. Future studies are warranted to explore the mechanism underlying such relationship.
HPV vaccination is highly effective and cost‐effective for cervical cancer prevention in women living with HIV in China: A cost‐effectiveness analysis
Authors: Liu Hanting , Zou Maosheng , Shen Mingwang , Kamarulzaman Adeeba , Chen Simiao , Li Jinghua , Li Rui , Liu Huan , Zou Zhuoru , Zhang Lei 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThe presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection increases the risk of acquiring human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and developing HPV‐related adversities. We aimed to estimate the cost‐effectiveness of HPV vaccination for women living with HIV in a Chinese setting. A decision‐analysis Markov model was developed to estimate the cost‐effectiveness of 36 HPV vaccination strategies for women living with HIV aged 18–45 years, from the healthcare system perspective. With the status quo, not vaccinating women living with HIV would lead to 51.99% (51,985/100,000) HIV‐related deaths; 35.10% (35,098/100,000) would develop genital warts, 0.36% (355/100,000) develop cervical cancer, and among which 63.66% (226/355) die from cervical cancer over their lifetime (1,601,457 person‐years). With a willingness to pay (WTP) threshold of three times gross domestic product (GDP), Gardasil 4 vaccination for all women living with HIV aged 18–45 years was the most cost‐effective strategy (ICER = US $32,766/QALY gained). This strategy would reduce genital warts by 35.52% (12,467/35,098), cervical cancers by 12.96% (46/355), and cervical cancer deaths by 12.39% (28/226) over the lifetime of the cohort. If the future domestic Cecolin 9 vaccine is priced at 60% of Gardasil 9, vaccinating all women living with HIV aged 18–45 years with Cecolin 9 would be the most cost‐effective strategy (ICER = US $30,493/QALY gained). Improving adherence to antiretroviral therapy for HIV may substantially improve the cost‐effectiveness of both Gardasil 4 and Cecolin 9 vaccination.
Estimating round‐tripping FDI from firm‐level data in China
Authors: Qian Zeyi , Zhang Junfu , Chen Qiangyuan 
Published: November 2024

AbstractWhen capital leaves a country and then flows back as foreign direct investment (FDI), we call it round‐tripping FDI. It is widely suspected that China's official FDI statistics contain a substantial amount of round‐tripping FDI. However, it is difficult to quantify the round‐tripping FDI due to the lack of data. In this paper, we propose two methods to identify round‐tripping FDI. The first one tracks capital flows at the firm level. If a firm in China invests in a foreign firm and this foreign firm makes an investment back to China shortly after, then we consider this investment to China as round‐tripping FDI. Our second measure of round‐tripping FDI adds to the first measure by including investments in China made by Chinese investors registered in tax havens. The first estimate of round‐tripping FDI accounts for up to 3% of China's total FDI from 1999 to 2015, whereas the second estimate accounts for up to 70% in the period. Our firm‐level analysis shows that industrial firms facing higher tax burdens are more likely to make round‐tripping FDI. We also show that at the city level, adjusted FDI statistics by subtracting the estimated round‐tripping FDI are better predictors of imports and exports. Finally, we show that provinces receiving higher shares of round‐tripping FDI are more likely to be punished for illegal financial activities. Taken together, these findings suggest that our measures of round‐tripping FDI, although noisy, are indicative of real transactions.
Identification of the Oncogenic Role of the Circ_0001326/miR‐577/VDAC1 Cascade in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Zhu Zhirong , Tang Guiliang , Shi Mengqi , Fang Mengjie , Zhang Xiaolong , Xu Huali 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTProstate cancer (PCa) is one of the leading causes of cancer death among men worldwide. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of PCa. However, the precise action of circ_0001326 in PCa malignant progression is still unknown. The levels of circ_0001326, miR‐577 and voltage dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1) were determined by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and western blot. Cell proliferation, colony formation, apoptosis, migration and invasion were evaluated by the Cell Counting Kit‐8 (CCK‐8), EdU staining, colony formation, flow cytometry, wound‐healing and transwell assays, respectively. Targeted relationships among circ_0001326, miR‐577 and VDAC1 were confirmed by dual‐luciferase reporter assays. Xenograft experiments were performed to detect the role of circ_0001326 in tumor growth. Our data revealed that circ_0001326 was overexpressed in PCa tissues and cells. Circ_0001326 depletion repressed PCa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and enhanced apoptosis in vitro, as well as hampered tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, circ_0001326 directly targeted miR‐577, and VDAC1 was directly targeted and suppressed by miR‐577. Moreover, the effects of circ_0001326 knockdown on PCa cell functional behaviors were mediated by miR‐577. VDAC1 silencing phenocopied miR‐577 overexpression in regulating PCa cell functional behaviors in vitro. Furthermore, circ_0001326 regulated VDAC1 expression through sponging miR‐577. Our findings showed that circ_0001326 regulated PCa cell functional behaviors at least partly through targeting the miR‐577/VDAC1 axis.