bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Drivers of differentiation between EU Member‐states in the UN General Assembly
Authors: BLAVOUKOS SPYROS , GALARIOTIS IOANNIS 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe European Union (EU) has laboured hard to gain the right to make oral interventions in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in pursuit of a more active international role. At the same time, though, EU member‐states continue to take the floor to make their own interventions, thus differentiating – but not necessarily distancing – their stance from the officially expressed EU position. In that respect, it is important to examine the drivers behind the differentiating activity of EU member‐states and their engagement in UNGA deliberations. We identify structural, institutional, political and thematic drivers. They relate to resources, the EU system of external representation in the form of the EU rotating Council Presidency and the opportunities that it provides during each country's period in office, national political aspirations for greater influence, as well as issue‐specific assertiveness. We operationalize and control for these drivers by looking at the size and economic resources of EU member‐states, their individual statements while holding the EU rotating Council Presidency, their membership in the UN Security Council (UNSC) or candidacy for it, and the issue specificity of each UNGA Main Committee. Our analysis is based on a three‐level longitudinal multilevel random intercept model and relies upon a new dataset that compiles the oral interventions made by representatives of EU member‐states and by EU officials in UNGA through an automated content analysis of the verbatim records of the UNGA meetings from 1998 to 2017.
Herbicide‐resistant weed management with robots: A weed ecological–economic model
Authors: Yu Chengzheng , Khanna Madhu , Atallah Shady S. , Kar Saurajyoti , Bagavathiannan Muthukumar , Chowdhary Girish 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe heavy reliance on herbicides for weed control has led to an increase in resistant weeds in the United States. Robotic weed control is emerging as an alternative technology for removing weeds mechanically using artificial intelligence. We develop an integrated weed ecological and economic dynamic (I‐WEED) model to examine the biophysical and economic drivers of adopting robotic weed management and simulate the optimal timing and intensity of robotic adoption within and across growing seasons. We specify a cohort‐based weed growth model that relates yield damages to effective weed density and treats the susceptibility of weeds to herbicides as a renewable resource that can be regenerated by using mechanical weeding robots, due to a fitness cost that makes resistant weeds less prolific. Compared to myopic weed management which ignores resistance development, forward‐looking management leads to earlier adoption of robots and treating robots as complements instead of substitutes to herbicides. This weed management results in adopting fewer robots, deploying robots on a smaller portion of the land, higher profitability, and lower yield loss in the long run, relative to myopic management. Counterintuitively, myopic management leads to a lower resistance level through its higher robot adoption intensity. We also find that a lower level of initial weed seed resistance and/or a higher fitness cost result in a higher level of resistance because they create incentives for farmers to delay the adoption of robotic weed control. Our analysis shows the importance of jointly considering the interactions between weed ecology and economics in analyzing the incentives and effects of robotic weed management on weed resistance.
Routine vaginal examination to assess labor progress at 8 compared to 4 h after early amniotomy following Foley balloon ripening in the labor induction of nulliparas: A randomized trial
Authors: Nashreen C. M. , Hamdan Mukhri , Hong Jesrine , Kamarudin Maherah , Saaid Rahmah , Tan Peng Chiong 
Published: October 2024

AbstractIntroductionOur objective was to compare the performance of the first vaginal examination at 8 vs 4 h after amniotomy following Foley ripening in nulliparous labor induction.Material and MethodsA randomized controlled trial was conducted from June 2021 to January 2022. 210 nulliparas at term for labor induction were randomized: 105 each to first vaginal examination at 8 or 4 h after Foley balloon ripening and amniotomy. Titrated oxytocin infusion was routinely commenced after amniotomy to expedite labor. Primary outcomes were the amniotomy‐to‐delivery interval (non‐inferiority hypothesis) and maternal satisfaction with their allocated labor care (superiority hypothesis) within 24 h after delivery. Analyses performed using t‐test, Mann–Whitney U test, and Chi‐squared test as appropriate.ResultsThe amniotomy‐to‐delivery interval was mean ± standard deviation 8.7 ± 3.4 vs 8.4 ± 3.7, mean difference 0.4 (97.5% CI: −0.7 to 1.5) hours, p = 0.442 within the pre‐specified 2‐hour non‐inferiority margin, and maternal satisfaction score with allocated labor care was median [interquartile range] 8[7.5–10] vs 8[7.0–10], p = 0.248 for 8 vs 4 h arms, respectively. The amniotomy to first vaginal examination intervals was 5.9 ± 2.3 vs 3.6 ± 1.0 h, p < 0.001, and the number of vaginal examinations was 2[1–2.5] vs 3 [2, 3], p < 0.001 for 8 vs 4 h, respectively. The first vaginal examination was less likely to have been performed as scheduled, more likely to be indicated by the urge to bear down, and non‐reassuring cardiotocography for the 8 h arm (p < 0.001). Spontaneous vaginal delivery was significantly more likely and instrumental vaginal delivery less likely, but cesarean rate was not significantly different for the 8 h arm (p = 0.017).ConclusionsA routine first vaginal examination at 8 h compared to 4 h is non‐inferior for the time to birth but does not increase maternal satisfaction although the number of vaginal examinations is fewer. The increase in spontaneous vaginal delivery and reduction in instrumental vaginal delivery rates warrant further powered primary evaluation.
A full‐factorial test of motivational and volitional intervention strategies for promoting exercise habit formation and exercise maintenance among new users of an online exercise class platform
Authors: Phillips L. Alison , More Kimberly R. , Lamoureux Nicholas R. , Dixon Philip M. , Meyer Jacob D. , Ellingson Laura , Welk Greg , Hastings Bryce 
Published: October 2024

AbstractInterventions often fail to achieve long‐term behavioral maintenance. Utilizing motivational and volitional strategies to promote behavioral maintenance factors may improve this. Using a full‐factorial experiment, we tested the effects of three intervention components (focused on intrinsic motivation and identity, exercise preparation habit, and exercise instigation habit) on exercise participation over a year, among new users (N = 751; 91% identifying as female, 54% identifying as White race) of a global, online exercise class platform, run by Les Mills International Ltd, called LM+. We also tested the intervention components' theoretical mechanisms of action—habit formation, intrinsic motivation, identity, and self‐efficacy. Multi‐level models found some support for a main effect of the exercise preparation habit intervention component in promoting self‐reported and objective exercise participation (behavioral outcomes measured via monthly surveys and the LM+ platform; mechanisms measured via monthly surveys)—in particular online exercise class frequency (fixed effect estimate = 0.84, p < 0.05, and = 0.12, p < 0.05, respectively). The preparation habit component also significantly increased preparation habit strength (0.30, p < 0.05) and instigation habit strength (0.33, p < 0.05). Other expected effects were nonsignificant. Helping individuals form an exercise preparation habit may facilitate initiating and maintaining exercise over time, in particular for attending online exercise classes, potentially through promoting greater preparation and exercise instigation habit strength.
Individual preferences in multiple goal pursuit: Reconsidering the conceptualization and dimensionality of polychronicity
Authors: Yang Zhixu (Rick) , Kung Franki Y. H. , Schneider Darryl W. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractWith increasing demands in work and life, successful self‐regulation of multiple goals becomes critical to the well‐being and performance of individuals and organizations. When pursuing multiple goals, individuals may use different strategies and have divergent preferences toward these strategies. Polychronicity, or the preference for multitasking over sequential tasking, has long been considered a unidimensional construct with two opposing ends. To empirically test this assumption, we reconstructed existing polychronicity items to explore a new scale that measures preferences separately and synthesizes different operationalizations of multitasking (i.e., concurrent tasking and task switching) (study 1). We found that multitasking and sequential preferences, while related, have distinct components and can co‐occur within individuals, challenging the traditional bipolar assumption (study 2). Finally, we used a behavioral task‐switching paradigm to simulate a multitasking environment. We found that consistent with past research, the preferences were not associated with behavioral performance but were associated with subjective experience (study 3). Our findings suggest that assuming multitasking and sequential preferences are completely antithetical can be an oversimplification. This research opens opportunities for future research on multiple goals.
The effect of daily leader secure‐base support on employees' daily performance: An attachment theory perspective
Authors: Dong Niannian , Xing Lu (Lucy) , Zhang Yejun (John) , Sheldon Oliver J. , Yin Kui , Hu Xiaoran , Zhang Long 
Published: October 2024

AbstractDrawing on attachment theory, the present study develops a theoretical model to explore whether, how, and when daily leader secure‐base support impacts employees' daily in‐role and extra‐role performance. To test this model, we employed an experience‐sampling method and collected daily diary data over 3 weeks. Results of multilevel path analysis indicated that daily leader secure‐base support was positively related to both employees' daily in‐role and extra‐role performance. Moreover, we found that daily leader secure‐base support indirectly influenced employees' in‐role performance via their self‐esteem, whereas it indirectly influenced employees' extra‐role performance via their gratitude. Finally, attachment anxiety moderated the within‐person relationship between daily leader secure‐base support and employees' self‐esteem as well as the indirect effect of daily leader secure‐base support on employees' subsequent in‐role performance via their self‐esteem. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings, as well as future research directions.
Matrix stiffness regulates mitochondria‐lysosome contacts to modulate the mitochondrial network, alleviate the senescence of MSCs
Authors: Wang Kang , Ho Chingchun , Li Xiangyu , Hou Jianfeng , Luo Qipei , Wu Jiahong , Yang Yuxin , Zhang Xinchun 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe extracellular microenvironment encompasses the extracellular matrix, neighbouring cells, cytokines, and fluid components. Anomalies in the microenvironment can trigger aging and a decreased differentiation capacity in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs can perceive variations in the firmness of the extracellular matrix and respond by regulating mitochondrial function. Diminished mitochondrial function is intricately linked to cellular aging, and studies have shown that mitochondria‐lysosome contacts (M‐L contacts) can regulate mitochondrial function to sustain cellular equilibrium. Nonetheless, the influence of M‐L contacts on MSC aging under varying matrix stiffness remains unclear. In this study, utilizing single‐cell RNA sequencing and atomic force microscopy, we further demonstrate that reduced matrix stiffness in older individuals leads to MSC aging and subsequent decline in osteogenic ability. Mechanistically, augmented M‐L contacts under low matrix stiffness exacerbate MSC aging by escalating mitochondrial oxidative stress and peripheral division. Moreover, under soft matrix stiffness, cytoskeleton reorganization facilitates rapid movement of lysosomes. The M‐L contacts inhibitor ML282 ameliorates MSC aging by reinstating mitochondrial network and function. Overall, our findings confirm that MSC aging is instigated by disruption of the mitochondrial network and function induced by matrix stiffness, while also elucidating the potential mechanism by which M‐L Contact regulates mitochondrial homeostasis. Crucially, this presents promise for cellular anti‐aging strategies centred on mitochondria, particularly in the realm of stem cell therapy.
Investigating the impact of postponement and stock‐sharing strategies on prepositioned relief stocks
Authors: Kasap‐Şimşek Lamia Gülnur , Balcik Burcu , Chané Florent 
Published: October 2024

AbstractPrepositioning is a critical disaster preparedness mechanism for humanitarian organizations (HOs) but requires significant investment. Improving the efficiency of prepositioned stocks is a primary concern within the humanitarian community. This study, conducted in collaboration with the Emergency Supply Prepositioning Strategy (ESUPS) Working Group, examines the impact of implementing postponement and stock‐sharing strategies in a regional humanitarian warehouse. We focus on a setting where multiple HOs preposition supplies within the same warehouse to serve disaster‐affected countries. Traditionally, these prepositioned supplies are branded with the respective HOs' logos, hindering the sharing of surplus stock during disaster response. Our system defers the branding process for a portion of the stockpile until after a disaster, facilitating the sharing of unbranded stock among HOs. To evaluate the benefits of postponement in this humanitarian context, we develop a two‐phase inventory allocation framework for distributing branded and unbranded stocks to disaster‐affected countries and for sharing unbranded stocks among HOs. We then incorporate our inventory allocation models into a Monte Carlo simulation algorithm that accounts for uncertainties regarding the occurrence and impact of disasters. Using a case study based on data from ESUPS members in the Caribbean region, we demonstrate that the proposed strategy can significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of prepositioning. Remarkably, we observe a U‐shaped relationship in response time as the postponement rate increases, while the fill rate and inventory utilization consistently improve. Our numerical study provides valuable insights for decision making in humanitarian logistics.
Plant–Soil Moisture Positive Feedback Maintaining Alternative Stable States in the Alpine Marsh Ecosystem
Authors: Hu Guorui , Bai Haonan , Zhao Yunpeng , Chen Ning , Li Honglin , Mao He , Guo Zengpeng , Sheng Xiongjie , Zhang Hui , An Hang , Zhang Panhong , Zhang Zhengkuan , Sun Yinguang , Ma Miaojun 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTA self‐reinforcing positive feedback is regarded as a critical process for maintaining alternative stable states (ASS); however, identification of ASS and quantification of positive feedbacks remain elusive in natural ecosystems. Here, we used large‐scale field surveys to search for ASS and a positive feedback mechanism under a wide range of habitats on the Tibetan Plateau. Using multiple methods, we proved that three stable states exist that accompany alpine marsh degradation. Positive feedbacks between changing soil moisture and plant community composition forced the ecosystem into another stable state, and the alteration of water use efficiency (WUE) of the component species contributed to this shift. This study provides the first empirical evidence that positive feedback loops maintain ASS in the alpine marsh ecosystem on the Tibetan Plateau. Our research revealed the powerful driving role of plants in transitions between states, which may support the conservation and restoration of global alpine marsh ecosystems.
Asymmetric Biotic Interactions Cannot Be Inferred Without Accounting for Priority Effects
Authors: Powell‐Romero Francisca , Wells Konstans , Clark Nicholas J. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTUnderstanding biotic interactions is a crucial goal in community ecology and species distribution modelling, and large strides have been made towards improving multivariate computational methods with the aim of quantifying biotic interactions and improving predictions of species occurrence. Yet, while considerable attention has been given to computational approaches and the interpretation of these quantitative tools, the importance of sampling design to reveal these biotic interactions has received little consideration. This study explores the influential role of priority effects, that is, the order of habitat colonisation, in shaping our ability to detect biotic interactions. Using a simple set of simulations, we demonstrate that commonly used cross‐sectional co‐occurrence data alone cannot be used to make reliable inferences on asymmetric biotic interactions, even if they perform well in predicting the occurrence of species. We then show how sampling designs that consider priority effects can recover the asymmetric effects that are lost when priority effects are ignored. Based on these findings, we urge for caution when drawing inferences on biotic interactions from cross‐sectional binary co‐occurrence data, and provide guidance on sampling designs that may provide the necessary data to tackle this longstanding challenge.
Deep‐Pelagic Fishes Are Anything But Similar: A Global Synthesis
Authors: Eduardo Leandro Nolé , Mincarone Michael Maia , Sutton Tracey , Bertrand Arnaud 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTDeep‐pelagic fishes are among the most abundant vertebrates on Earth. They play a critical role in sequestering carbon, providing prey for harvestable fishing stocks and linking oceanic layers and trophic levels. However, knowledge of these fishes is scarce and fragmented, hampering the ability of both the scientific community and stakeholders to address them effectively. While modelling approaches incorporating these organisms have advanced, they often oversimplify their functional and ecological diversity, potentially leading to misconceptions. To address these gaps, this synthesis examines the biodiversity and ecology of global deep‐pelagic fishes. We review pelagic ecosystem classifications and propose a new semantic framework for deep‐pelagic fishes. We evaluate different sampling methods, detailing their strengths, limitations and complementarities. We provide an assessment of the world's deep‐pelagic fishes comprising 1554 species, highlighting major groups and discussing regional variability. By describing their morphological, behavioural and ecological diversity, we show that these organisms are far from homogeneous. Building on this, we call for a more realistic approach to the ecology of deep‐pelagic fishes transitioning between very different ecological niches during diel vertical migrations. To facilitate this, we introduce the concept of ‘diel‐modulated realised niche’ and propose a conceptual model synthesising the multiple drivers responsible for such transitions.
Pre‐Copulatory Sexual Selection Predicts Sexual Size Dimorphism: A Meta‐Analysis of Comparative Studies
Authors: Winkler Lennart , Freckleton Robert P. , Székely Tamás , Janicke Tim 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTSize differences between males and females are common across the tree of life (termed sexual size dimorphism; SSD), and have fundamental implications for ecology, life history and behaviour of both sexes. Conventionally, SSD is thought to evolve in response to sex‐specific sexual selection but more recent work suggests that ecological processes can also promote sex‐differences in size. Here, we provide a global test for the role of sexual selection in the evolution of sexual size dimorphism using data from 77 comparative studies spanning the major classes of the animal kingdom. We show that intense sexual selection typically correlates with male‐biased SSD across species. Importantly, pre‐copulatory but not post‐copulatory sexual selection predicts SSD, suggesting a pervasive role of premating male–male competition and female choice to drive sex differences in body size. Collectively, our findings suggest that pre‐copulatory sexual selection plays a major role in the evolution of male‐biased SSD.
Decoding Information Flow and Sensory Pollution: A Systematic Framework for Understanding Species Interactions
Authors: Li Jingyi , Brose Ulrich , Rosenbaum Benjamin , Ryser Remo , Berti Emilio 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTInformation transmission among species is a fundamental aspect of natural ecosystems that faces significant disruption from rapidly growing anthropogenic sensory pollution. Understanding the constraints of information flow on species' trophic interactions is often overlooked due to a limited comprehension of the mechanisms of information transmission and the absence of adequate analytical tools. To fill this gap, we developed a sensory information‐constrained functional response (IFR) framework, which accounts for the information transmission between predator and prey. Through empirical evaluation, the IFR provided a biologically grounded explanation for the systematic variation of functional responses. Specifically, it posits that the variation of different functional‐response shapes, associated with community stability, is attributable to limitations in sensory information transmission among species. This not only deepens our mechanistic understanding of species interactions but also elucidates how anthropogenic activities are reshaping species interactions and community dynamics by disrupting information exchange through sensory pollution.
Wind Shapes the Growth Strategies of Trees in a Tropical Forest
Authors: Jackson Toby D. , Bittencourt Paulo , Poffley Jakob , Anderson Juliet , Muller‐Landau Helene C. , Ramos Pablo A. R. , Rowland Lucy , Coomes David 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTIn tropical forests, trees strategically balance growth patterns to optimise fitness amid multiple environmental stressors. Wind poses the primary risk to a tree's mechanical stability, prompting developments such as thicker trunks to withstand the bending forces. Therefore, a trade‐off in resource allocation exists between diameter growth and vertical growth to compete for light. We explore this trade‐off by measuring the relative wind mortality risk for 95 trees in a tropical forest in Panama and testing how it varies with tree size, species and wind exposure. Surprisingly, local wind exposure and tree size had minimal impact on wind mortality risk; instead, species wood density emerged as the crucial factor. Low wood density species exhibited a significantly greater wind mortality risk, suggesting a prioritisation of competition for light over biomechanical stability. Our study highlights the pivotal role of wind safety in shaping the life‐history strategy of trees and structuring diverse tropical forests.