bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The need for carbon finance schemes to tackle overexploitation of tropical forest wildlife
Authors: Milson Caroline E. , Lim Jun Ying , Ingram Daniel J. , Edwards David P. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractDefaunation of tropical forests, particularly from unsustainable hunting, has diminished populations of key seed dispersers for many tree species, driving shifts in forest community composition toward small‐fruited or wind‐dispersed trees with low wood density. Such shifts can reduce aboveground biomass, prompting calls for overexploitation to be included in bioeconomic policy, but a synthesis of existing literature for wildlife impacts on carbon stores is lacking. We evaluated the role of wildlife in tropical forest tree recruitment and found that it was critical to tropical forest carbon dynamics. The emerging financial value of ecosystem services provided by tropical forest fauna highlights the need for carbon‐based payments for ecosystem services schemes to include wildlife protection. We argue for three cost‐effective actions within carbon finance schemes that can facilitate wildlife protection: support land security opportunities for Indigenous peoples and local communities; provide support for local people to protect forest fauna from overexploitation; and focus on natural regeneration in restoration projects. Incorporating defaunation in carbon‐financing schemes more broadly requires an increased duration of carbon projects and an improved understanding of defaunation impacts on carbon stores and ecosystem‐level models. Without urgent action to halt wildlife losses and prevent empty forest syndrome, the crucial role of tropical forests in tackling climate change may be in jeopardy.
Amazonian conservation across archipelagos of Indigenous territories
Authors: Esbach Michael S. , Correia Joel E. , Valdivia Gabriela , Lu Flora 
Published: October 2024

AbstractIndigenous stewardship is essential to the conservation of biocultural diversity, yet conventional conservation models often treat Indigenous territories (ITs) as homogeneous or isolated units. We propose that archipelagos of Indigenous territories (AITs), clusters of ITs that span geographies but are connected through shared cultural or political ties maintained by Indigenous nations, are crucial for understanding and enhancing conservation strategies that recognize the complexity of Indigenous stewardship. We classified 3572 ITs in the Amazon into 4 categories—single or multiple nations with either singular IT or AIT—to assess their spatial heterogeneity, governance, and conservation potential. We then assessed species richness, carbon stocks, and pressures across these different categories. To examine how AITs can enhance biocultural conservation efforts, we conducted a case study of the Cofán Nation in Ecuador. AITs covered 45% of the Amazonian land area and had higher species richness and carbon stocks than single IT configurations. However, AITs faced greater pressures from development and extractive activities. In the case study, the Cofán AIT was shaped by colonization and land titling challenges, but their community‐driven governance, cross‐territorial collaboration, and adaptive responses—such as comanagement agreements and resisting extractive activities—enhanced their ecological and cultural resilience amid growing development pressures. Our findings suggest that AITs facilitate the exchange of resources, knowledge, and cultural practices, which strengthens social connectivity, reinforces governance structures, and enables adaptive management across ITs, thereby enhancing biocultural resilience across discontinuous spaces. This work advocates for a paradigm shift in conservation planning and practice that recognizes the vital role of AITs in sustaining Amazonian ecosystems and Indigenous lifeways, particularly in the face of increasing pressures.
Legal and economic perspectives on fair and equitable benefit sharing in the Nagoya Protocol
Authors: Park Tae Jung , Park Sung‐Pil 
Published: October 2024

AbstractAdopted in 2010 as a supplementary agreement to the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity, the Nagoya Protocol (NP) mandates the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources provided by Indigenous peoples. Member states must newly enact or amend domestic laws to align with the NP. Consequently, many countries are currently implementing legislative, administrative, and policy measures to ensure fair benefit sharing from the use of Indigenous genetic resources. We examined the inclusion of intellectual property (IP) protection in the sharing of benefits from research and development that utilizes Indigenous genetic resources. The NP does not specify guidelines for IP‐related benefit sharing, leaving each member state to establish its own rules. We used an economics‐based approach to explore the optimal scope and duration of IP protection for maximizing stakeholder interests, including those of Indigenous peoples, at the national level. The optimal duration of IP protection was when the marginal social cost and benefit of IP protection were equal. When this point occurred varied depending on various factors, such as the type of genetic resources in the country, existence of alternatives, number of users, and competing actors. The optimal scope of IP protection was when the social benefit of investment in fundamental research equaled the social benefit of application development. Likewise, this point of implementation also varied based on various factors, such as the type, uniqueness, potential for further discovery, and diversity of providers in the country.
Consuming ‘God Juice’: Using ‘ethnopharmacological‐connoisseurship’ to situate trenbolone use and knowledge among image and performance enhancing drug communities
Authors: Piatkowski Timothy , Gibbs Nick , Neumann David , Dunn Matthew 
Published: October 2024

AbstractIntroductionTrenbolone, a potent anabolic‐androgenic steroid (AAS), is used for its muscle growth benefits but poses significant health risks, including psychosocial issues. Existing research among humans is limited by lack of targeted investigation. This study addresses gaps in existing research by leveraging the ethnopharmacological expertise of trenbolone consumers. By engaging with the community's connoisseurship, we sought to enhance harm reduction strategies and foster collaboration between consumers, scholars and health practitioners.MethodsAn international sample of trenbolone consumers (N = 30) were interviewed. Interviews explored trenbolone use, knowledge levels and harm reduction strategies. Analysis involved an iterative categorisation approach, incorporating the lead author's lived experience with trenbolone.ResultsParticipants described trenbolone as both a physical enhancer and a source of psychological boosts, tempered by adverse effects such as emotional volatility and intrusive thoughts. Despite warnings about its dangers the drug's allure was amplified by social media and community visibility. Consumers spoke of a developing connoisseur‐like knowledge about trenbolone through personal and shared experiences. Through this collective expertise, they developed harm reduction strategies such as conservative dosing and regular health monitoring.Discussion and ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the importance of integrating ethnopharmacological‐connoisseurship from the image and performance enhancing drug community to develop a contextually relevant understanding of AAS use—trenbolone being one of these. By elevating community insights, we advocate for a collaborative approach to harm reduction. Ultimately, we call for partnerships between researchers, health professionals and consumers to enhance health and reduce harm in image and performance enhancing drug communities.
Association between delay in diabetes development and mortality in people with obesity: Up to 33 years follow‐up of the prospective Swedish Obese Subjects study
Authors: Carlsson Lena M. S. , Carlsson Björn , Jacobson Peter , Andersson‐Assarsson Johanna C. , Karlsson Cecilia , Kristensson Felipe M. , Ahlin Sofie , Näslund Ingmar , Karason Kristjan , Svensson Per‐Arne , Taube Magdalena , Peltonen Markku , Sjöholm Kajsa 
Published: October 2024

AbstractAimsLife expectancy is reduced in people with obesity and is further reduced in those with concomitant type 2 diabetes. The aim of the study was to assess whether a 2‐year delay in diabetes development influences life expectancy in people with obesity.Materials and MethodsParticipants from the Swedish Obese Subjects study without diabetes at baseline and known diabetes status at the 2‐year follow‐up were included: bariatric surgery (n = 1471) and usual obesity care (n = 1392). Median follow‐up was 26.1 years (interquartile range: 22.7–28.7 years). The Swedish Cause of Death Register, case sheets and autopsy reports were assessed to determine the direct cause of death. Analyses were adjusted for preselected risk factors: inclusion year, sex, baseline age, body mass index (BMI) and smoking.ResultsAcross both study arms, 146 participants were newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at the 2‐year examination, whereas 2717 remained diabetes‐free. Most participants diagnosed with diabetes (n = 140) were from the usual care control group. During the follow‐up, there were 18.3 deaths per 1000 person‐years (95% confidence interval [CI]:14.1–23.9) in the group with diagnosed diabetes at the 2‐year follow‐up and 10.9 deaths per 1000 person‐years (95% CI:10.2–11.8) in the group that remained diabetes‐free (adjusted hazard ratio [HRadj] 1.60, 95% CI: 1.19–2.15, p = 0.002). The adjusted median life expectancy in the diabetes group was 3.7 years (95% CI: 1.4–6.0, p = 0.002) shorter than in the diabetes‐free group. Specifically, cardiovascular mortality was higher in the group with diabetes (adj sub‐hazard ratio [sub‐HR] 1.74 [95% CI: 1.09–2.77], p = 0.021).ConclusionsA 2‐year delay in diabetes development may be linked to increased life expectancy, possibly due to a reduction in cardiovascular mortality. Future studies should confirm these findings.
Trends in anti‐diabetic medication use, severe hyperglycaemia and severe hypoglycaemia among American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples, 2009–2013
Authors: Dai Jiahui , Chang Jenny , Choi Jung M. , Bullock Ann , Manson Spero M. , O'Connell Joan , Jiang Luohua 
Published: October 2024

AbstractAimsType 2 diabetes (T2D) and its complications disproportionally affect American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) peoples. Prescribing decisions for anti‐diabetic medications are complicated and require balancing medication benefits, costs and side effects. Little is known about trends in anti‐diabetic medication use as well as acute diabetes complications among AI/AN adults. Here, we examined patterns and trends in anti‐diabetic medication use and rates of hospital admissions or emergency department (ED) visits due to severe hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia among AI/AN adults with T2D.Materials and MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of Indian Health Service (IHS) Improving Health Care Delivery Data Project. A total of 39 183 AI/AN adults aged ≥18 years with T2D who used IHS or Tribal health services during any of the fiscal years (FYs) 2009–2013 were included. Utilization rates of each class of anti‐diabetic medications and rates of severe hypoglycaemia and severe hyperglycaemia in emergency room and/or inpatient discharge diagnoses were calculated for each year. Longitudinal statistical models were fitted to examine time trends of anti‐diabetic medication use and complications.ResultsDuring 2009–2013, use of metformin (56.0%–60.5%), insulin (31.4%–35.9%) and dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors (1.4%–9.0%) increased, whereas the use of sulfonylureas (40.3%–32.9%) and thiazolidinediones (TZDs, 31.6%–8.8%) decreased significantly. Trends in severe hypoglycaemia (1.6%–0.8%) and severe hyperglycaemia (2.0%–1.6%) declined gradually.ConclusionsThere were significant changes in the utilization of different anti‐diabetic medication classes during 2009–2013 among AI/AN adults with T2D. Concurrently, there were significant reductions in severe hypoglycaemia and severe hyperglycaemia.
Investigation of exon skipping therapy in kidney organoids from Alport syndrome patients derived iPSCs
Authors: Yabuuchi Kensuke , Horinouchi Tomoko , Yamamura Tomohiko , Nozu Kandai , Takasato Minoru 
Published: October 2024

AbstractAlport syndrome (AS) is a hereditary disease caused by mutations in the COL4A5 gene and leads to chronic kidney disease. Currently, no specific treatment has been developed. However, a recent study using AS‐model mice demonstrated that the exon skipping method could partially rescue the symptoms. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the exon skipping method using kidney organoids generated from AS‐patient‐derived induced pluripotent stem cells (AS‐iPSCs). We generated kidney organoids from AS‐iPSCs, which exhibited nephron structures. As expected, the C‐terminus of COL4A5 was not expressed in AS‐organoids. Interestingly, anti‐sense oligonucleotides restored the expression of the C‐terminus of COL4A5 in vitro. Next, we transplanted AS‐organoids into mice and evaluated glomerular basement membrane formation in vivo. We found that AS‐organoids formed a lower slit diaphragm ratio compared to control organoids. Finally, we assessed the effects of exon skipping on transplanted organoids but observed minimum effects. These studies suggest that AS‐iPSCs can generate kidney organoids lacking the C‐terminus of COL4A5, and that exon skipping can induce its expression in vitro.
The importance of the vibrational entropy in the mixing stabilization for complex ceramics
Authors: Tang Xiaochuan , Thompson Gregory B. , Weinberger Christopher R. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe concept of high‐entropy materials has been introduced based on the idea that multiple principal components can be mixed through the increase in configurational entropy. Implicit in this idea is that the vibrational entropy, the other component of the mixing entropy, is small compared to the configurational entropy. To explore this relationship, we examined the mixing enthalpy, configurational entropy, and vibrational entropy of two binary ceramic systems—the transition metal carbides and transition metal diborides. We computed the vibrational entropy directly using the dynamical matrices obtained from density functional theory and the quasiharmonic approximation. The mixing vibrational entropy of the mixed diborides is at least as large as the configurational entropy while it is smaller for the carbides. Utilizing the phonon density of states, we further demonstrate the origin of the high mixing vibrational entropy arises because of a large number of new low‐frequency modes that appear in the diborides. Similar modes occur in the carbides but occur at larger frequencies. These differences ultimately arise because of the structural differences where metal atoms share nearest neighbors in the diborides, while they do not in the carbides. This increased vibrational mixing entropy dramatically enhances the mixing of the diborides and demonstrates that this type of entropy cannot be neglected when considering what stabilizes mixtures and provides a new perspective on what is considered high entropy.
Preparation of high‐strength Si3N4 ceramics via vat photopolymerization: A bi‐phase particle size gradation strategy
Authors: Wang Xuye , Duan Wenyan , Li Shan , Huang Zhifeng , Liu Bingshan , Wang Gong , Chen Fei 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThis paper introduces an approach to preparing high‐strength Si3N4 ceramics using vat photopolymerization with a bi‐phase particle size gradation strategy. The influence of different ratios of coarse β‐Si3N4 powders (Cβ) and fine α‐Si3N4 powders (Fα) on the slurry performance, microstructure evolution, and final ceramic strength was systematically studied. It was found that an appropriate particle size gradation can significantly reduce the viscosity of the slurry. The curing depth of Si3N4 slurries decreases with increasing Fα content, while the stability increases. During sintering, dissolved Fα‐Si3N4 not only directly precipitates into small elongated β‐Si3N4 grains but also onto the neighboring Cβ‐Si3N4, promoting the development of large elongated β‐Si3N4 grains and resulting in a bimodal microstructure distribution. The highest strength of Si3N4 ceramics was achieved with a ratio of 6:4 Cβ to Fα Si3N4 powders. Under these conditions, the Si3N4 ceramics exhibited a flexural strength of 472 MPa, significantly higher than that of Si3N4 ceramics prepared using pure Cβ/Fα powders. The strength improvement is primarily due to the well‐designed bi‐phase particle size gradation strategy, which optimizes slurry performance, minimizes defects that may be introduced during the green part printing process while controlling the microstructure evolution during sintering, achieves the ideal bimodal microstructure distribution. The outcomes of this research demonstrate the feasibility of using vat photopolymerization with bi‐phase particle size gradation for the preparation of high‐strength Si3N4 ceramics, which has great potential for application in the manufacturing of various ceramic products.
Evaluating allied health primary contact models of care: A mixed methods analysis of current practice
Authors: Brandenburg Caitlin , Ward Elizabeth C. , Schwarz Maria , Palmer Michelle , Hartley Carina , Byrnes Joshua , Coccetti Anne , Phillips Rachel , Wishart Laurelie R. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractRationaleAllied Health Primary Contact Clinic (AHPCC) models of care are increasingly used to manage growing demands on health service capacity. There is a critical need for new models of care to demonstrate value, however comprehensive evaluation of AHPCCs, including use of metrics frameworks like the Moretto framework, have been slow to uptake, and the reasons for this are unclear.Aims and ObjectivesTo understand current evaluation practices as mapped to the Moretto framework, and explore clinician attitudes to the process of service evaluation across a variety of AHPCC models implemented within a metropolitan health service in Queensland, Australia.MethodA convergent mixed methods approach was used. Data were collected in 2022 using a quantitative presurvey, followed by a qualitative descriptive interview with AHPCC lead clinicians. Thirty AHPCCs were eligible, and all potential participants who provided consent were included. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used for quantitative and qualitative data respectively, then merged and reported jointly.ResultsTwenty‐three clinicians representing 22 different AHPCCs participated. AHPCC models were found to be complex and varied. Evaluation practices were variable across AHPCCs, although more than half collected most of the Moretto framework measures. Quality of life and resource use measures were least commonly collected. Themes regarding participants' experience of AHPCCs evaluation were that: Evaluation is complex and challenging; Evaluation is important; and Evaluation needs to be enabled.ConclusionFor health services to fully understand the value of their AHPCC services and direct their limited resources appropriately, evaluation activity needs to be better valued and enabled at a local, statewide and national level. Strategies should include protected time, funding, administrative support, leadership support, access to mentorship, development of structures which enable collaborative evaluation at a state‐wide (or broader) level, and a shared understanding of value and core areas for measurement across stakeholders.
Biased career choices? It depends what you believe: Trainee teachers’ aversions to working in low‐income schools are moderated by beliefs about inequality, meritocracy, and growth mindsets
Authors: Doyle Lewis , Easterbrook Matthew J. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractSchools serving diverse and low‐income communities tend to have disproportionately high numbers of low‐quality or inexperienced teachers, thereby creating an inequality of access to high‐quality teaching. Across two pre‐registered experiments and one exploratory survey (Ntotal = 956), we investigated the factors associated with trainee teachers’ bias in school choices, and the role of teacher education in mitigating this issue. In Studies 1 and 3, trainee teachers demonstrated a preference for working in a school with average (vs. diverse/low‐income) demographics, even though all other aspects of the school were equal. These disparities were most pronounced when trainees more strongly believed that (a) educational inequality can be attributed to external factors; (b) intelligence is fixed, and (c) schooling is truly meritocratic. Study 2 revealed that levels of equity‐related input during initial teacher education vary hugely, but that, where implemented, it may better prepare trainees for the challenges associated with teaching in diverse and low‐income communities. Finally, Study 3 revealed tentative evidence to suggest that a brief intervention that challenges teachers to think beyond the internal causes of inequality could reduce some of these troubling disparities.
Mellowing down the rigour of the concept of ‘trans‐border reputation’ to accommodate bona fide domestic use: The Indian and Sri Lankan perspectives
Authors: Samaranayake Wathsala Ravihari 
Published: October 2024

AbstractIn this era of global trade and digital communication, where geographical borders between states have become virtually redundant, the ‘aura’ of well‐known trademarks easily transgresses national borders. As an upshot of this, the reputation and goodwill attached to well‐known trademarks have become less and less commensurate with the territorial boundaries of individual states. This raises the question of whether strict adherence to the bedrock principle of ‘territoriality’ is both apt and justifiable in the backdrop of modern commerce—not only from a trademark holder's perspective but also from a consumer‐centric viewpoint. Although the judicially crafted concept of ‘trans‐border reputation’ is often hailed as a promising solution to this problem; sometimes it postulates a too‐liberal approach to protecting the interests of the foreign trademark owners. Most significantly, the concern has been raised that the application of an unbridled doctrine of ‘trans‐border reputation’ may unduly thwart the interests of local entrepreneurs. Thus, the argument that the ‘priority of innocent use’ by a local trader should not be superseded by the trans‐border reputation of a foreign well‐known trademark cannot be easily ignored. This paper aims to critically evaluate the application of the trans‐border reputation concept within the Indian and Sri Lankan legal landscapes, discussing in detail the implications of the landmark cases determined by the Indian and Sri Lankan judiciaries. Most importantly, it seeks to introduce a mechanism for minimizing prejudice to the bona fide domestic users of marks, by employing ‘bad faith’ as a balancing tool.