bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Temporal variation in habitat quality shapes the distribution–abundance relationship in waterbirds at landscape scale
Authors: Charalambous Constantinos , Musil Petr , Legoguelin Mathilde , Musilová Zuzana , Hořák David 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe distribution–abundance relationship (DAR) is a well‐established macroecological pattern, where more locally abundant species are also more widespread across landscapes. However, it is not clear whether this relationship is temporally invariant, or how destabilization may manifest. Here, we examine the DAR at the landscape level in a unique but overlooked model system, that is, a waterbird assemblage inhabiting fishponds within the Třeboňsko Basin Biosphere Reserve, Czechia. Using 12 years of biannual census data across 134 intensively managed fishponds, collected in May and July, we describe variation in the slope of the DAR, expressed as the association between bird density and fishpond occupancy. We then tested for the role of environmental parameters and bird traits in determining the relationship's shape, utilizing general multivariate regression and a model‐averaging technique. Overall, we corroborated an expected positive DAR for waterbirds, and we present, for the first time, a consistent seasonal weakening of the interspecific DAR. We posit that this decline in the relationship's slope is a result of the deterioration and homogenization of habitat quality later in the summer, which resulted in a large deficit of suitable fishponds as populations increased. The DAR did not vary among years in either month. We also found that population trend was the most influential predictor of each species' response to changing environmental conditions; species with increasing regional abundance have stronger intraspecific DARs. Our results show that seasonal deterioration of habitat quality significantly impacts waterbird communities by altering the population spatial structure and that this is reflected in the shape of the DAR. This finding has important practical consequences, particularly in landscapes under human exploitation, where management decisions can determine ecosystem structure. Such analytical approaches can be used to pinpoint processes that are difficult to detect otherwise and thus assist conservation efforts.
Individual variation underlies large‐scale patterns: Host conditions and behavior affect parasitism
Authors: Brehm Allison M. , Assis Vania R. , Martin Lynn B. , Orrock John L. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractIdentifying the factors that affect host–parasite interactions is essential for understanding the ecology and dynamics of vector‐borne diseases and may be an important component of predicting human disease risk. Characteristics of hosts themselves (e.g., body condition, host behavior, immune defenses) may affect the likelihood of parasitism. However, despite highly variable rates of parasitism and infection in wild populations, identifying widespread links between individual characteristics and heterogeneity in parasite acquisition has proven challenging because many zoonoses exist over wide geographic extents and exhibit both spatial and temporal heterogeneity in prevalence and individual and population‐level effects. Using seven years of data collected by the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), we examined relationships among individual host condition, behavior, and parasitism by Ixodid ticks in a keystone host species, the white‐footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus. We found that individual condition, specifically sex, body mass, and reproductive condition, had both direct and indirect effects on parasitism by ticks, but the nature of these effects differed for parasitism by larval versus nymphal ticks. We also found that condition differences influenced rodent behavior, and behavior directly affected the rates of parasitism, with individual mice that moved farther being more likely to carry ticks. This study illustrates how individual‐level data can be examined using large‐scale datasets to draw inference and uncover broad patterns in host–parasite encounters at unprecedented spatial scales. Our results suggest that intraspecific variation in the movement ecology of hosts may affect host–parasite encounter rates and, ultimately, alter zoonotic disease risk through anthropogenic modifications and natural environmental conditions that alter host space use.
Goose grubbing and warming suppress summer net ecosystem CO2 uptake differentially across high‐Arctic tundra habitats
Authors: Petit Bon Matteo , Beard Karen H. , Bråthen Kari Anne , Lee Hanna , Jónsdóttir Ingibjörg S. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractEnvironmental changes, such as climate warming and higher herbivory pressure, are altering the carbon balance of Arctic ecosystems; yet, how these drivers modify the carbon balance among different habitats remains uncertain. This hampers our ability to predict changes in the carbon sink strength of tundra ecosystems. We investigated how spring goose grubbing and summer warming—two key environmental‐change drivers in the Arctic—alter CO2 fluxes in three tundra habitats varying in soil moisture and plant‐community composition. In a full‐factorial experiment in high‐Arctic Svalbard, we simulated grubbing and warming over two years and determined summer net ecosystem exchange (NEE) alongside its components: gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) and ecosystem respiration (ER). After two years, we found net CO2 uptake to be suppressed by both drivers depending on habitat. CO2 uptake was reduced by warming in mesic habitats, by warming and grubbing in moist habitats, and by grubbing in wet habitats. In mesic habitats, warming stimulated ER (+75%) more than GEP (+30%), leading to a 7.5‐fold increase in their CO2 source strength. In moist habitats, grubbing decreased GEP and ER by ~55%, while warming increased them by ~35%, with no changes in summer‐long NEE. Nevertheless, grubbing offset peak summer CO2 uptake and warming led to a twofold increase in late summer CO2 source strength. In wet habitats, grubbing reduced GEP (−40%) more than ER (−30%), weakening their CO2 sink strength by 70%. One‐year CO2‐flux responses were similar to two‐year responses, and the effect of simulated grubbing was consistent with that of natural grubbing. CO2‐flux rates were positively related to aboveground net primary productivity and temperature. Net ecosystem CO2 uptake started occurring above ~70% soil moisture content, primarily due to a decline in ER. Herein, we reveal that key environmental‐change drivers—goose grubbing by decreasing GEP more than ER and warming by enhancing ER more than GEP—consistently suppress net tundra CO2 uptake, although their relative strength differs among habitats. By identifying how and where grubbing and higher temperatures alter CO2 fluxes across the heterogeneous Arctic landscape, our results have implications for predicting the tundra carbon balance under increasing numbers of geese in a warmer Arctic.
Machine learning approach to identify phenotypes in patients with ischaemic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
Authors: Monzo Luca , Bresso Emmanuel , Dickstein Kenneth , Pitt Bertram , Cleland John G.F. , Anker Stefan D. , Lam Carolyn S.P. , Mehra Mandeep R. , van Veldhuisen Dirk J. , Greenberg Barry , Zannad Faiez , Girerd Nicolas 
Published: December 2024

AimsPatients experiencing ischaemic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) represent a diverse group. We hypothesize that machine learning clustering can help separate distinctive patient phenotypes, paving the way for personalized management.Methods and resultsA total of 8591 ischaemic HFrEF patients pooled from the EPHESUS and CAPRICORN trials (64 ± 12 years; 28% women) were included in this analysis. Clusters were identified using both clinical and biological variables. Association between clusters and the composite of (i) heart failure hospitalization or all‐cause death, (ii) cardiovascular (CV) hospitalization or all‐cause death, and (iii) major adverse CV events was assessed. The derived algorithm was applied in the COMMANDER‐HF trial (n = 5022) for external validation. Five clinical distinctive clusters were identified: Cluster 1 (n = 2161) with the older patients, higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation and previous CV events; Cluster 2 (n = 1376) with the higher prevalence of older hypertensive women and smoking habit; Cluster 3 (n = 1157) with the higher prevalence of diabetes and peripheral artery disease; Cluster 4 (n = 2073) with relatively younger patients, mostly men and with the higher left ventricular ejection fraction; Cluster 5 (n = 1824) with the younger patients and lower CV events burden. Cluster membership was efficiently predicted by a random forest algorithm. Clusters were significantly associated with outcomes in derivation and validation datasets, with Cluster 1 having the highest risk, and Cluster 4 the lowest. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist benefit on CV hospitalization or all‐cause death was magnified in clusters with the lowest risk of events (Clusters 2 and 4).ConclusionClustering reveals distinct risk subgroups in the heterogeneous array of ischaemic HFrEF patients. This classification, accessible online, could enhance future outcome predictions for ischaemic HFrEF cases.
Tumor‐Expressed SPPL3 Supports Innate Antitumor Immune Responses
Authors: Verkerk Tamara , de Waard Antonius A. , Koomen Sofie J. I. , Sanders Jasper , Jorritsma Tineke , Pappot Anouk T. , Zandhuis Nordin D. , Zhang Tao , Wuhrer Manfred , Hoogendijk Arie J. , van Alphen Floris P. J. , van den Biggelaar Maartje , Stockinger Hannes S. J. , van Gisbergen Klaas P. J. M. , Spaapen Robbert M. , van Ham S. Marieke 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThe development of an effective antitumor response relies on the synergistic actions of various immune cells that recognize tumor cells via distinct receptors. Tumors, however, often manipulate receptor–ligand interactions to evade recognition by the immune system. Recently, we highlighted the role of neolacto‐series glycosphingolipids (nsGSLs), produced by the enzyme β1,3‐N‐acetylglucosaminyltransferase 5 (B3GNT5), in tumor immune escape. We previously demonstrated that loss of signal peptide peptidase like 3 (SPPL3), an inhibitor of B3GNT5, results in elevated levels of nsGSLs and impairs CD8 T cell activation. The impact of loss of SPPL3 and an elevated nsGSL profile in tumor cells on innate immune recognition remains to be elucidated. This study investigates the antitumor efficacy of neutrophils, NK cells, and γδ T cells on tumor cells lacking SPPL3. Our findings demonstrate that SPPL3‐deficient target cells are less susceptible to trogocytosis by neutrophils and killing by NK cells and γδ T cells. Mechanistically, SPPL3 influences trogocytosis and γδ T cell‐instigated killing through modulation of nsGSL expression, whereas SPPL3‐mediated reduced killing by NK cells is nsGSL‐independent. The nsGSL‐dependent SPPL3 sensitivity depends on the proximity of surface receptor domains to the cell membrane and the affinity of receptor–ligand interactions as shown with various sets of defined antibodies. Thus, SPPL3 expression by tumor cells alters crosstalk with immune cells through the receptor–ligand interactome thereby driving escape not only from adaptive but also from innate immunity. These data underline the importance of investigating a potential synergism of GSL synthesis inhibitors with current immune cell‐activating immunotherapies.
Is Hydrogel an Appropriate Bioadhesive Material for Sutureless Oral Wound Closure?
Authors: Al‐Azzawi Huda Moutaz Asmael , Paolini Rita , Celentano Antonio 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTBackground and AimsAn effective surgical adhesive must possess strength, biodegradability, flexibility, non‐toxicity, and the ability to accommodate to tissue movement. However, existing adhesives in the market lack some of these crucial properties. Both synthetic cyanoacrylate and natural fibrin glue have been explored for sutureless oral surgery, but they come with specific limitations. This perspective review aims to explore the novel potential of hydrogels as bioadhesives for wound closure in the oral cavity.MethodsThis review thoroughly examines the properties, applications, and limitations of hydrogels as bioadhesive materials for wound closure within the human body.ResultsWe first provide a comprehensive description of materials used for sutureless oral surgery. Next, drawing on our expertise in the field of oral surgery, we propose novel potential applications for hydrogels in oral wound closure. We showed that Hydrogels represent promising bioadhesives in medical field and are undergoing continuous enhancement to expand their applications in wound closure.ConclusionAlthough hydrogels have been utilized in various dental conditions, their potential for closing wounds in the oral cavity remains unexplored.
Effect of Tray Geometry on Multitray Stepped Solar Still Performance: An Experimental Study
Authors: Rahmani Ahmed , Saadi Zine , Keblouti Ouahid 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThe multitray solar still (MTSS) is one of the most efficient and economical designs compared with other solar still systems. MTSS has lower heat loss and a large evaporation area, and its basin is more exposed to solar radiation. Nevertheless, optimizing the tray's geometry is essential to improve the still's thermal behavior and productivity. The primary goal of this study is to examine the effect of the tray's geometry on the MTSS performance under outdoor experiments. A comparative analysis was conducted between the triangular‐trays solar still (TTSS), the rectangular‐trays solar still (RTSS), and the single‐slope conventional solar still (CSS) in winter and summer weather conditions. Results show that integrating a multitray evaporator improves the daily yield compared with the CSS and that the thermal performance of the modified solar still depends mainly on the weather conditions. The comparison shows that the triangular trays are more effective than the rectangular ones. The daily productivity of TTSS exceeds that of RTSS by 10% in winter and 24.24% in summer. Moreover, the daily thermal efficiencies of CSS, RTSS, and TTSS are maximum in summer conditions by about 28.1%, 41.2%, and 44.15%, respectively.
Advanced Image Enhancement and a Lightweight Feature Pyramid Network for Detecting Microaneurysms in Diabetic Retinopathy Screening
Authors: Tahir Muhammad Zeeshan , Lyu Xingzheng , Nasir Muhammad , Zhang Sanyuan 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is a complication of diabetes that can lead to vision impairment and even permanent blindness. The increasing number of diabetic patients and a shortage of ophthalmologists highlight the need for automated screening tools for early detection. Microaneurysms (MAs) are the earliest indicators of DR. However, detecting MAs in fundus images is a challenging task due to its small size and subtle features. Additionally, low contrast, noise, and lighting variations in fundus images, such as glare and shadows, further complicate the detection process. To address these challenges, we incorporated image enhancement techniques such as green channel utilization, gamma correction, and median filtering to improve image quality. Furthermore, to enhance the performance of the MA detection model, we employed a lightweight feature pyramid network (FPN) with a pretrained ResNet34 backbone to capture multiscale features and the convolutional block attention module (CBAM) to enhance feature selection. CBAM applies spatial and channel‐wise attention, which allows the model to focus on the most relevant features for improved detection. We evaluated our method on the IDRID and E‐ophtha datasets, achieving a sensitivity of 0.607 and F1 score of 0.681 on IDRID and a sensitivity of 0.602 and F1 score of 0.650 on E‐ophtha. These experimental results show that our proposed method gives better results than previous methods.
Anxiety‐Like Behaviors in Mice Unmasked: Revealing Sex Differences in Anxiety Using a Novel Light‐Heat Conflict Test
Authors: Lee Sydney E. , Park Sung‐Hoon , Aldrich John C. , Fonken Laura K. , Gaudet Andrew D. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTAnxiety and chronic pain afflict hundreds of millions worldwide. Anxiety and pain are more prevalent in females compared to males. Unfortunately, robust sex differences in human anxiety are not recapitulated in rodent tests, and results from rodent pain studies frequently fail to translate clinically. Therefore, there is a need to develop tests that reflect the differential salience of anxiety or pain‐related stimuli between the sexes. Accordingly, here we introduce the Thermal Increments Dark–Light (TIDAL) conflict test. The TIDAL test places an anxiety‐relevant stimulus (dark vs. illuminated chamber) in conflict with a heat‐related stimulus (incrementally heated vs. isothermic chamber); mice freely explore both apparatus chambers. Here, we aim to determine whether the TIDAL conflict test reveals in mice underappreciated sex differences in anxiety and/or heat sensitivity. We establish in four distinct experiments that females on the TIDAL conflict test persist substantially longer on the dark‐heated plate, suggesting that female mice exhibit elevated anxiety‐like behavior. Mice more strongly prefer the heated‐dark plate on the TIDAL conflict test compared to control thermal place preference with both chambers illuminated. We also reveal that an anxiety‐relieving drug, paroxetine, reduces mouse preference for the heating dark plate, supporting the validity of the TIDAL test. Therefore, our new TIDAL conflict test reliably unmasks the relative salience of anxiety (vs. heat sensitivity): mice that are female exhibit robust anxiety‐like behaviors not consistently observed in classical tests. Future studies should incorporate TIDAL and other conflict tests to better understand rodent behavior and to identify mechanisms underlying anxiety and pain.
Not All Games Play the Same: Specifying How Components of Video Games May be Associated With Creativity
Authors: Stapleton Darian , Goldstein Thalia R. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTUnderstanding the impacts of digital media such as video games is critical for scholarship during the digital transformation. While the literature on the effects of video games continues to grow, there is little work on positive effects, including creativity, either as an outcome from or process within games. Video games are a media type that often requires creative problem‐solving and multiple idea generation. Importantly, adequately theorizing, measuring, and assessing creativity as both an action within video games and a possible outcome of engaging with video games necessitates a detailed understanding of what video games are. Here we propose and outline a taxonomy of the various components within video games that could impact different aspects of creativity interventions and creative processes. We then break down those components, including genre, graphics, mechanics, instructions, incentive systems, and multiplayer functionality. We apply this taxonomy briefly in several games, and Minecraft and Baldur's Gate 3 are used in more depth to show how researchers can apply our proposed framework. Knowing which video game components affect which creativity outcomes can clarify our understanding of creativity and the creative process in a digital world, and identify how gameplay itself can be a creative artifact.
Farnesol inhibits growth and development of Ustilaginoidea virens
Authors: Yu Mina , Yu Junjie , Pan Xiayan , Cao Huijuan , Song Tianqiao , Liu Yongfeng 
Published: December 2024

AbstractRice false smut disease, caused by the pathogen Ustilaginoidea virens, specifically infects rice panicles. This disease leads to significant quantitative and qualitative losses in the rice industry. Farnesol, a naturally occurring terpene produced by plants, exhibits diverse toxic potentials against various fungi. Here, we investigate the in vitro inhibitory effects of farnesol on U. virens isolates. The results indicate that farnesol could retard conidial germination at a concentration of 20 μM and inhibit germination at concentrations exceeding 40 μM. Additionally, farnesol demonstrates inhibitory activity on the mycelial growth and adhesion of U. virens in a dose‐dependent manner. RNA‐seq data show that farnesol treatment results in the misregulation of a subset of genes involved in oxidoreductase activity, membrane components, molecular function, and transcription factor activity. Furthermore, farnesol induces a significant accumulation of reactive oxygen species, including superoxide anions, which may subsequently trigger cell death. Notably, farnesol also induces the expression of genes encoding GTPase activity of UvRas1 and UvRas2, leading to the expression of genes encoding adenylate cyclase, which promotes the synthesis of intracellular cAMP, and activates genes involved in MAPK pathway. Collectively, this study proposes a mechanism by which farnesol affects the growth and development of U. virens.
Food insecurity and coping strategies of low‐income households in Tshwane, South Africa
Authors: Mazenda Adrino , Mushayanyama Tinashe 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThis study used principal component analysis to provide targeted policy interventions in response to livelihood coping strategies adopted by low‐income households in Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa. The empirical findings are categorized into four food‐coping strategy groups. The first group comprises households that depend on begging and borrowing to survive. The second group comprises households who use credit to purchase food and subsequently restrict their meals or skip them altogether. The third group comprises households that frequently borrow money to purchase food. These households prioritize buying necessities and sticking to a budget. These households also resort to selling assets to cushion against income shocks. The final group comprises households that do not have food gardens and rely on buying cheap, undesired food that they eat in smaller portions during their meal times. These findings raise concerns about the need for policies that increase household income and food access for the vulnerable urban population. Raising awareness about healthy and nutritious foods that can be obtained at a lower cost is also essential.
Axial/Peripheral Halogen‐Substituted Phenoxy Boron Subphthalocyanines for Application as Electron Acceptors Materials for Organic Solar Cells and Hole Transport Materials for Perovskite Solar Cells: A DFT Approach
Authors: Lakehal Brahim , Lakehal Salima , Bencherif Hichem , Hannachi Douniazed , Morell Christophe , Chermette Henry 
Published: December 2024

AbstractOrganic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) are a promising low‐cost renewable energy technology. Among various semiconductors studied for OPVs, boron subphthalocyanine chloride (Cl‐BsubPc) is one of the most explored. Phenoxy‐substituted BsubPc (PhO‐subPc) is an analogue of Cl‐BsubPc that introduces an axial phenoxy ligand in order to tune its electronic properties. In this paper, the effects of halogen substitution on the optoelectronic properties of PhO‐subPc are discussed in terms of the nature, number, and location of halogen atoms. DFT calculations show that the peripheral halogen substitutions significantly decrease the exciton binding energy value, increase the reorganization energy value, and also improve the light‐harvesting efficiency of the mentioned molecules. These modifications are symptoms of improved exciton separation and charge transport; hence, the peripherally halogenated PhO‐subPc are those that exhibit the best performances. However, the phenoxy‐substituted BsubPc do not enhance the performance of the boron subphthalocyanine chloride as far as the hole transport materials (HTM) of organic solar cells are concerned.