bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diversity patterns of herpetofauna communities along a habitat alteration gradient in an Afrotropical large wetland – a test of the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis
Authors: Behangana Mathias , Milembe Fionah , Kibuule Micheal , Byaruhanga Achilles , Luiselli Luca 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Whilst wetlands are vital ecosystems supporting natural cycles and biodiversity, intensive agricultural practices and land use have led to widespread degradation, particularly in tropical Africa. In Uganda’s ‘cattle corridor’, an agro-pastoral landscape stretching across 84 000 km2, natural wetlands have been largely destroyed, and their degradation exacerbated by climate change. The Rufuuha wetland, located in southwestern Uganda, provides a study model to examine biodiversity across different habitat sectors: (i) intact, (ii) degraded, and (iii) restored areas. We studied the amphibian and reptile communities in Rufuuha wetland, which had been heavily degraded due to local community activities, such as agriculture and cattle grazing, before restoration efforts began in 2015. We found significant differences in species richness and diversity between the three areas. While species richness was similar across the areas, diversity and evenness were highest in the intact sector, followed by the restored and degraded areas. There was no support for the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis, whereas evenness clearly detected changes in the community structure of herpetofauna along the habitat gradient that species richness did not. Amphibians were well-represented in the survey, showing clear patterns related to habitat quality, while reptile sampling was less comprehensive. Our study demonstrates that restoration efforts can positively impact biodiversity in Afrotropical wetlands. However, it is not yet clear whether the same biodiversity levels as in the intact areas can be reached also in the restored areas. Further studies, particularly on reptiles, are needed to better understand the full ecological impacts of habitat restoration in this region.
From Semi-democracy to Autocracy
Authors: Almeida Correia Sérgio de 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Under the agreement signed with Portugal, which defined the terms of the handover to China, Macau became a Special Administrative Region on 20 December 1999. China undertook to maintain the way of life, the rights and freedoms of the residents and the essence of the laws previously in force, and guarantee the inapplicability of the socialist system. Events in Hong Kong since 2019 and the concerns of the Central Government have led to changes in the national security law and electoral laws which, among other things, have imposed political screening on candidates for the Legislative Assembly and Chief Executive, which can lead to their exclusion without appeal, while criminalising calls for blank votes, null votes, and abstentions. This article answers the question of whether these changes are compatible with the guarantees provided, the Luso-Chinese Joint Declaration and Macau’s Basic Law.
Raising and Lowering Awareness in the Digital Space
Authors: Berdiqulov Aziz 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Since the wave of repressions targeting primarily Muslim minorities in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), minorities in danger resorted to various online platforms in order to increase awareness about the situation they face and to archive available evidence for future use. Thus, the narrative was created that portrays ill-treatment, forced assimilation, unlawful detention, and cultural erasure. Most Muslims and activists started using the online video platforms of Douyin, which is native to China, and TikTok, its international equivalent, to share videos aimed at domestic and international audiences. These videos vary in production quality and messages, but almost all of them are designed to mobilize viewers to learn more about the human rights crisis in the XUAR and take action. Similarly, Chinese officials started using Douyin and TikTok to create counternarratives via their own videos. Videos by Chinese authorities (e.g., local police departments in Xinjiang) or by China-sponsored content creators depict Muslims enjoying their culture, language, and religion, and the region is often shown as peaceful and rapidly developing, thanks to the efforts of the Chinese government. This article aims to look at examples of Douyin and TikTok videos by both Muslims and human rights activists and pro-CCP (Chinese Communist Party) content creators through the lenses of multimodal discourse analysis to identify potential trends and shared approaches. The theoretical framework includes digital activism, oppositional media resource mobilization, and surveillance studies, focusing on how digital activism emerges as a response to digital repression. The article concludes with findings of how video content by pro-Muslim minority and pro-CCP creators battle on the online spaces of Douyin and TikTok for a dominant narrative, which can be categorized as reactive and proactive measures against state (digital) repression.
Bacillus subtilis DE111 partially reverses endothelial dysfunction in western-diet fed mice
Authors: Risk B.D. , Graham E.L. , Zhang M. , Wei Y. , Stark G.C. , Brown G.D. , Gentile C.L. , Weir T.L. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Imbalances in the gut microbiome have emerged as an important factor in endothelial dysfunction, a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Thus, interventions targeting the microbiome may prove helpful in preventing or reversing this impairment. We previously reported that spore-forming Bacillus subtilis DE111 improved endothelial function in a cohort of healthy, non-obese humans after a four-week intervention. Building on these promising results, the present study sought to investigate whether administering B. subtilis DE111 could reverse endothelial dysfunction in mice with diet-induced obesity. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a Western diet (WD; n = 24) or standard diet (SD; n = 24) for ten weeks to induce endothelial dysfunction, after which half of the animals in each group (n = 12) were allocated to receive B. subtilis DE111 (hereafter, PB) formulated into the diet for an additional eight weeks. Outcomes included endothelial-dependent arterial dilation, glucose tolerance, body weight changes, microbiota profiles, and assessments of intestinal permeability and mucosal immunity markers. Furthermore, a cell culture model of gut barrier function was used to assess the effects of PB on gut barrier integrity. PB treatment significantly attenuated WD-induced mesenteric endothelial-dependent arterial dilation, independent of changes in other cardiometabolic parameters or changes in gut barrier function. In vitro trans-epithelial electrical resistance of the Caco-2 cell culture confirmed that neither PB-conditioned media nor faecal waters from B. subtilis-treated human stool resulted in gut barrier improvements, nor did they protect against inflammation-associated barrier disruptions. Unsurprisingly, microbiota analysis revealed significant differences in Shannon’s alpha diversity of WD-fed animals compared to SD. These data suggest that PB consumption significantly attenuated WD diet-induced endothelial dysfunction; however, the underlying mechanisms of this protection were not determined. Improvement in endothelial function was independent of PB-mediated changes to body weight or gut barrier function. Further studies should explore B. subtilis-mediated immune responses or metabolite production as mechanisms underlying these endothelial protective effects.
Revisiting the “Inner Asianness” of the Qing Dynasty from the Perspective of Multilingual Composition
Authors: Qiang Guangmei , Fordham Carl Gene 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Scholars of the New Qing History school in the United States argue that the use of multi-ethnic languages during the Qing dynasty played a crucial role in shaping its distinctive “Inner Asianness,” in contrast to earlier dynasties of the Central Plain. However, this perspective dose not align entirely with historical facts. Firstly, the multilingual writing system of the Qing dynasty was largely influenced by the political and cultural traditions of the preceding Ming dynasty in the Central Plain, rather than being solely a product of Inner Asian influence. Secondly, the Qing rulers used multilingual composition primarily as a practical measure to govern a diverse empire, not as a means of emphasizing their Inner Asian identity. Furthermore, the Qing rulers identified themselves as the rightful successors of the Central Plain in terms of their political and cultural heritage. They used multilingual composition to establish a unified writing system centered around Confucian values, ultimately transforming the Manchu regime into a unified dynasty integrated into the China’s broader historical narrative.
Effect of photoperiod and 20-hydroxyecdysone on post-embryonic development and diapause disruption in Cirina butyrospermi Vuillet (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) under laboratory conditions
Authors: Ouédraogo Z.S. , Badolo A. , Maria A. , Siaussat D. , Niassy S. , Sanon A. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Cirina butyrospermi (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), commonly known as the shea caterpillar, is an edible insect in several West African countries. However, this insect is seasonal due to a long pupal diapause. This study therefore aims to explore the potential for mass rearing of C. butyrospermi by determining the role of photoperiod and 20-hydroxyecdysone in disrupting or shortening diapause. Exposure of larval growth to different photoperiod conditions, i.e. L.D. 6:18, L.D. 8:16, L.D. 10:14 and L.D. 12:12, affected larval weight and adult emergence. With respect to the photoperiod treatments applied to larval growth from neonate to fourth instar, caterpillars reared under L.D. 6:18 conditions weighed more than those reared under the other photoperiods. However, photoperiod treatments did not significantly affect the pupation rate. Adult emergence was only observed under L.D. 6:18 photoperiod conditions for a diapause average duration of 140.85 days. The recorded emergence percentage was 38.46 ± 1.33%, and emergences occurred over a period of ten days. When the L.D. 6:18 photoperiod conditions were applied only on the fourth instar larvae, 24.39 ± 1.41% of pupae developed to adults in 34.50 days on average and emergences were grouped in 4 days. Injections of increasing doses of 20-hydroxyecdysone into diapausing pupae resulted in diapause breaking within 23-28 days in 7-47% of treated pupae, depending on the dose of 20-hydroxyecdysone and the pupal weight. Conversely, diapause remained in non-treated pupae during the study period. Short photoperiod and 20-hydroxyecdysone are key drivers for diapause termination in C. butyrospermi. The possible interaction between 20E doses and treated pupae weight provides new insights into the hormone’s efficacy in breaking pupal diapause in C. butyrospermi. While the results need further clarification, they represent a significant step towards mass breeding of this important food insect.
Theories of Apparent and Real Correlation between Reason and Divine Law in Twelver Shīʿī Legal Theory
Authors: Gleave Robert 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
For the Muʿtazila, “reason” (either as a human faculty or as an abstract process of argumentation and deduction) can uncover the moral properties of actions. In Twelver Shīʿī legal theory, this position was subject to extensive elaboration, and discussions around the relationship between an action’s moral properties and its legal assessments (aḥkām) gave rise to a theory of “necessary correlation” (mulāzama) between legal and moral descriptions of actions. In the thirteenth/nineteenth century, Twelver Shīʿī legal theory (uṣūl al-fiqh) experienced a renaissance, and many established concepts were reevaluated, including the theory of mulāzama. One innovative, but controversial, new version of mulāzama was proposed by Muḥammad Ḥusayn b. Muḥammad ʿAbd al-Raḥīm al-Iṣfahānī (d. 1253/1837 or 1261/1845) in his book al-Fuṣūl al-Gharawiyya fī al-Uṣūl al-Fiqhiyya (“The Gharawī Chapters in Legal Theory”). He argued that the correlation was logically necessary, but only at the level of appearance (ẓāhir), leaving the question of “real” (ḥaqīqī) correlation moot. In this article, I examine al-Iṣfahānī’s theory and its reception (and ultimately, its rejection) in subsequent Twelver Shīʿī legal theory.
Decolonising Environmental Justice
Authors: Wiktor-Mach Dobrosława , Hajiagha Azad Rahim , Hamelink Wendelmoet 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
This article explores the practices and discourses of environmental justice in Iranian Kurdistan/Rojhelat. In the face of unprecedented destruction of the natural environment, Kurdish people, including a significant number of women, organise themselves to defend ecosystems, lakes, rivers, and forests, making them part of the global environmental justice movement. Local communities face growing challenges such as water scarcity, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, exploitation of natural resources, and pollution, which directly affect their lives and health. Drawing on decolonial and critical perspectives of environmental justice studies, we ask how Kurdish activists understand the concepts of “justice” and “environment” in the context of discriminatory practices of the capitalist, patriarchal, and authoritarian Iranian state. Based on interviews and fieldwork in the region, this article argues that the global environmental justice movement should pay closer attention to the contextual realities of the subaltern, their aims and ideas related to nature, justice, and women empowerment.
Interpretable Quality Control of Sparsely Distributed Environmental Sensor Networks Using Graph Neural Networks
Authors: Lasota Elżbieta , Houben Timo , Polz Julius , Schmidt Lennart , Glawion Luca , Schäfer David , Bumberger Jan , Chwala Christian 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Environmental sensor networks play a crucial role in monitoring key parameters essential for understanding Earth’s systems. To ensure the reliability and accuracy of collected data, effective quality control (QC) measures are essential. Conventional QC methods struggle to handle the complexity of environmental data. Conversely, advanced techniques such as neural networks are typically not designed to process data from sensor networks with irregular spatial distribution. In this study, we focus on anomaly detection in environmental sensor networks using graph neural networks, which can represent sensor network structures as graphs. We investigate its performance on two datasets with distinct dynamics and resolution: commercial microwave link (CML) signal levels used for rainfall estimation and SoilNet soil moisture measurements. To evaluate the benefits of incorporating neighboring sensor information for anomaly detection, we compare two models: graph convolution network (GCN) and a graph-less baseline: long short-term memory (LSTM). Our robust evaluation through a five-fold cross validation demonstrates the superiority of the GCN models. For CML, the mean area under receiver operating characteristic curve for the GCN was 0.941 compared to 0.885 for the baseline LSTM, and for SoilNet, it was 0.858 for GCN and 0.816 for the baseline LSTM. Visual inspection of CML time series revealed that the GCN proficiently classified anomalies and remained resilient against rain-induced events often misidentified by the baseline LSTM. However, for SoilNet, the advantage of GCN was less pronounced, likely due to inconsistent and less precise labeling. Through interpretable model analysis, we demonstrate how feature attributions vividly illustrate the significance of neighboring sensor data, particularly in distinguishing between anomalies and expected changes in the signal level in the time series.
Soil Moisture–Latent Heat Flux Coupling in Climate Modeling: Insights and Implications from the Offline Land Model
Authors: Tokuda Daisuke , Hsu Hsin , Dirmeyer Paul A. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Understanding the relationship between soil moisture (SM) and latent heat flux (LE) is crucial for forecasting seasonal extremes like heat waves and droughts and grasping long-term climate systems. Despite its importance, substantial disparities exist among various models’ interpretations of this relationship. This study defines four SM–LE indicators: wilting point, critical SM, saturated LE, and SM–LE slope, characterizing SM–LE regimes and corresponding breakpoints delineating the regimes using segmented regression, and scrutinizes model disparities by contrasting conventional coupled simulations with matching offline land model (LM) simulations within phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) framework. It is revealed that those indicators have lower variability among ensemble members from the same model than among different models. Moreover, all indicators except for the SM–LE slope demonstrate strong correlations between the coupled and uncoupled simulations using the same LMs. While the spatial distributions of breakpoint values correspond only moderately well with the indicators’ values, they improve after adjusting for model atmospheric biases of precipitation and downward radiation. The impact of the atmospheric fields on the four SM–LE indicators is well correlated between the coupled and offline experiments, except for the relationship between precipitation and the wilting point. Consequently, this indicates a significant constraint of the SM–LE relationship in coupled model simulations determined by the LM’s behavior. Thus, one may determine much about the land–atmosphere coupling behavior parsimoniously in a model system without running the fully coupled model, justifying a hierarchical approach for model development and assessment.
Upper-Ocean Processes and Sea Ice Production in the Southeastern Amundsen Sea Polynya in Austral Autumn
Authors: Zheng Yixi , Webber Benjamin G. M. , Heywood Karen J. , Stevens David P. , Stammerjohn Sharon E. , Hall Rob A. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
The mixed layer of polynyas is vital for local climate as it determines the exchange of properties and energy between ocean, sea ice, and atmosphere. However, its evolution is poorly understood, as it is controlled by complex interactions among these components, yet highly undersampled, especially outside summer. Here, we present a 2-month, high vertical-resolution, full-depth hydrographic dataset from the southeastern Amundsen Sea polynya in austral autumn (from mid-February to mid-April 2014) collected by a recovered seal tag. This novel dataset quantifies the changes in upper-ocean temperature and salinity stratification in this previously unobserved season. Our seal-tag measurements reveal that the mixed layer experiences deepening, salinification, and intense heat loss through surface fluxes. Heat and salt budgets suggest a sea ice formation rate of ∼3 cm per day. We use a one-dimensional model to reproduce the mixed layer evolution and further identify key controls on its characteristics. Our experiments with a range of reduced or amplified air–sea fluxes show that heat loss to the atmosphere and related sea ice formation are the principal determinants of stratification evolution. Additionally, our modeling demonstrates that horizontal advection is required to fully explain the mixed layer evolution, underlining the importance of the ice-covered neighboring region for determining sea ice formation rates in the Amundsen Sea polynya. Our findings suggest that the potential overestimation of sea ice production by satellite-based methods, due to the absence of oceanic heat flux, could be offset by horizontal advection inhibiting mixed layer deepening and sustaining sea ice formation.
A core outcome set for best care for the dying person: Results of an international Delphi study and consensus meeting
Authors: Zambrano Sofia C. , Egloff Martina , Gonzalez-Jaramillo Valentina , Christen-Cevallos Rosero Andri , Allan Simon , Barnestein-Fonseca Pilar , Ellershaw John , Fischer Claudia , Haugen Dagny Faksvåg , Lunder Urška , Martin-Rosello Marisa , Mason Stephen , Rasmussen Birgit , Sigurðardóttir Valgerdur , Simon Judt , Tripodoro Vilma A. , van der Heide Agnes , van Zuylen Lia , Voltz Raymond , Fürst Carl Johan , Williamson Paula R. , Eychmüller Steffen ,   on behalf of iLIVE
Published: December 2024

Background: Outcome measurement is essential to progress clinical practice and improve patient care. Aim: To develop a Core Outcome Set for best care for the dying person. Design: We followed the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) Initiative guidelines, which involved identifying potential outcomes via a systematic literature review (n = 619 papers) and from participants in the “iLIVE” project (10 countries: 101 patients, 37 family members, 63 clinicians), followed by a two-round Delphi study, and a consensus meeting. Setting/participants: Clinicians, researchers, family members, and patient representatives from 20 countries participated in the Delphi Rounds 1 (n = 462) and 2 (n = 355). Thirty-two participants attended the consensus meeting. Results: From the systematic review and the cohort study we identified 256 and 238 outcomes respectively, from which we extracted a 52-outcome list covering areas related to the patients’ physical, psychosocial, and spiritual dimensions, family support, place of care and care delivery, relational aspects of care, and general concepts. A preliminary 13-outcome list reached consensus during the Delphi. At the consensus meeting, a 14-item Core Outcome Set was ratified by the participants. Conclusions: This study involved a large and diverse sample of key stakeholders in defining the core outcome set for best care for the dying person, focusing on the last days of life. By actively integrating the perspectives of family carers and patient representatives from various cultural backgrounds this Core Outcome Set enriches our understanding of essential elements of care for the dying and provides a solid foundation for advancing quality of end-of-life care.
RAB32 promotes glioma cell progression by activating the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway
Authors: Zhang Sinan , Jiang Xudong , Wei Qing , Huang Liji , Huang Zhuoyan , Zhang Lina 
Published: December 2024

Objective This study aimed to investigate the role of RAB32 in glioblastomas and its molecular mechanisms that regulate gliomas. Methods The expression and prognostic value of RAB32 were evaluated using western blotting and the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive, Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas, and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases. Lentivirus containing sh-RAB32 or OE-RAB32 was used to manipulate RAB32 expression in glioma cells. The effects of RAB32 on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were determined by western blotting, cell counting kit-8, plate cloning, wound healing, and transwell assays. Gene set enrichment analysis was used to screen for associations between the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway and RAB32. The role of this pathway was verified using JAK/STAT3 inhibitors. Results RAB32 expression was significantly upregulated in patients with glioma and in glioma cell lines. The expression level was positively correlated with the glioma grade and served as an independent prognostic factor. In vitro experiments revealed that RAB32 knockdown inhibited glioblastoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while the opposite effects were observed with overexpression and could be inhibited by the JAK/STAT3 inhibitor BP-1-102. Conclusion RAB32 promotes malignant progression of glioblastoma cells through the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, providing new possibilities for therapeutic targets for glioblastoma.