bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dealing With Assumptions and Sampling Bias in the Estimation of Effective Population Size: A Case Study in an Amphibian Population
Authors: Cox Karen , Neyrinck Sabrina , Mergeay Joachim 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACTAccurately estimating effective population size (Ne) is essential for understanding evolutionary processes and guiding conservation efforts. This study investigates Ne estimation methods in spatially structured populations using a population of moor frog (Rana arvalis) as a case study. We assessed the behaviour of Ne estimates derived from the linkage disequilibrium (LD) method as we changed the spatial configuration of samples. Moor frog eggs were sampled from 25 breeding patches (i.e., separate vernal ponds, ditches or parts of larger fens) within a single population, revealing an isolation‐by‐distance pattern and a local spatial genetic structure. Varying buffer sizes around each patch were used to examine the impact of sampling window size on the estimation of effective number of breeders (Nb). Our results indicate a downward bias in LD Nb estimates with increasing buffer size, suggesting an underestimation of Nb. The observed bias is attributed to LD resulting from including genetically divergent individuals (mixture‐LD) confounding LD due to drift. This emphasises the significance of considering even subtle spatial genetic patterns. The implications of these findings are discussed, emphasising the need to account for spatial genetic structure to accurately assess population viability and inform conservation efforts. This study contributes to our understanding of the challenges associated with Ne estimation in spatially structured populations and underscores the importance of refining methodologies to address population‐specific spatial dynamics for effective conservation planning and management.
“I remember most of my family seeing it”: The presence of others during child physical abuse, as conveyed in forensic interviews with Israeli children
Authors: Klebanov Bella , Katz Carmit 
Published: September 2024

AbstractChild physical abuse is often perceived as a crime perpetrated within the family and out of sight. However, recent studies have indicated the presence of others during incidents of physical abuse. The current study was designed to examine the experiences and perceptions of children who were physically abused in their families concerning the presence of others, as conveyed during their forensic interviews. A thematic analysis of 26 forensic interviews was conducted with Israeli children aged 5–13. Three main themes were identified: (1) Patterns, roles, and coping mechanisms: The multifaceted spectrum of familial abuse; (2) The echoes of family reactions: Shaping children's abuse experiences; and (3) Navigating the storm together: Sibling bonds amidst familial abuse. The children's narratives highlighted their distress and pointed to the abusive and chaotic daily routine in which they lived. In spotlighting their encounters with physical abuse, the children focused on their need to be seen and gain certainty in their daily routines. The discussion highlights the unique and elusive dynamics of families in which child physical abuse occurs and challenges the social perception that physical abuse occurs secretly. The characteristics of such abuse highlight the urgent need for policymakers and professionals to treat the phenomenon of physical abuse within the family as a visible phenomenon.
The crack‐healing behavior and oxidation resistance of Al2O3–ZrO2–SiB6 ceramic at 600–1200°C
Authors: Cai Haopeng , Jiang Kun , Gao Lihua , Wei Yinglong 
Published: September 2024

AbstractIn this paper, we prepared Al2O3–ZrO2–SiB6 composite ceramics with excellent performance by introducing the second‐phase high‐strength healing agent SiB6 in zirconia‐toughened alumina system, artificially created cracks using Vickers hardness tester, investigated the effects of heat treatment temperature (600–1200°C) and time (0–300 min) on the microscopic morphology and bending strength of the ceramics, revealed the healing mechanism, and studied the oxidation resistance properties. It was found that the healing effect was better at heat treatment of 90 min at 700°C and 60 min at 800°C, and the flexural strength was restored to more than 95% of that of the smooth specimens in both cases. Crack repair was mainly achieved by the reaction of SiB6, ZrB2, and B4C with O2. Below 800°C, healing was mainly achieved by the reaction of SiB6 and B4C with O2, and the generated B2O3 and SiO2 migrated toward the crack to repair it. When the healing temperature is higher than 800°C, ZrB2 also reacts with oxygen to produce B2O3 and t‐ZrO2. It was found that the oxidation weight gain per unit area of the Al2O3–ZrO2–SiB6 ceramic composite at different temperatures was small, and it has excellent oxidation resistance.
Fabrication and characterization of silicon carbide ceramic filtration media via recycling of waste red mud
Authors: Santra Nilanjan , Ghosh Tamal , Kayal Nijhuma 
Published: September 2024

AbstractA porous silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic filter was prepared at 1000°C using waste red mud (RM), SiC, pore‐forming agent, and catalyst. The influence of sintering temperature, RM content, and pore former on the mechanical performance and the porosity of porous ceramics were investigated, and based on the result optimal processing parameters were selected. The air and water permeability tests were carried out at room temperature. The stability of the ceramic filter under thermal shock and chemical treatment was investigated and corroded samples were characterized. The ceramic was prepared using optimized processing parameters obtained with a flexural strength of 65.36 MPa at a porosity of 30.15 vol.% and demonstrated good performance in terms of pure water flux, oil, and turbidity removal efficiency from industrial wastewater. The filtration and permeation results indicated that the SiC filter prepared in this study is suitable for various applications, particularly in the remediation of oil‐polluted water.
A scalable, spin‐free approach to generate enhanced induced pluripotent stem cell–derived natural killer cells for cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Rossi Gustavo R , Sun Jane , Lin Cheng‐Yu , Wong Joshua KM , Alim Louisa , Lam Pui Yeng , Khosrotehrani Kiarash , Wolvetang Ernst , Cheetham Seth W , Derrick Emily B , Amoako Akwasi , Lehner Christoph , Brooks Andrew J , Beavis Paul A , Souza‐Fonseca‐Guimaraes Fernando 
Published: September 2024

AbstractNatural killer (NK) cells play a vital role in innate immunity and show great promise in cancer immunotherapy. Traditional sources of NK cells, such as the peripheral blood, are limited by availability and donor variability. In addition, in vitro expansion can lead to functional exhaustion and gene editing challenges. This study aimed to harness induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology to provide a consistent and scalable source of NK cells, overcoming the limitations of traditional sources and enhancing the potential for cancer immunotherapy applications. We developed human placental–derived iPSC lines using reprogramming techniques. Subsequently, an optimized two‐step differentiation protocol was introduced to generate high‐purity NK cells. Initially, iPSCs were differentiated into hematopoietic‐like stem cells using spin‐free embryoid bodies (EBs). Subsequently, the EBs were transferred to ultra‐low attachment plates to induce NK cell differentiation. iPSC‐derived NK (iNK) cells expressed common NK cell markers (NKp46, NKp30, NKp44, CD16 and eomesodermin) at both RNA and protein levels. iNK cells demonstrated significant resilience to cryopreservation and exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity. The incorporation of a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) construct further augmented their cytotoxic potential. This study exemplifies the feasibility of generating iNK cells with high purity and enhanced functional capabilities, their improved resilience to cryopreservation and the potential to have augmented cytotoxicity through CAR expression. Our findings offer a promising pathway for the development of potential cellular immunotherapies, highlighting the critical role of iPSC technology in overcoming challenges associated with traditional NK cell sources.
Clinical Validation of the Nursing Diagnosis ‘Inadequate Health Self‐Efficacy’ in People With Hypertension
Authors: Barreiro Reinaldo Gutiérrez , Lopes Marcos Venícios de Oliveira 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACTAimsTo test the clinical validity of clinical indicators and causal relationships of aetiological factors of the new nursing diagnosis of inadequate health self‐efficacy in people with hypertension.BackgroundThe diagnosis of inadequate health self‐efficacy has both theoretical and content validity. However, a clinical validation study is needed to establish an appropriate framework for distinguishing individuals who manifest this unique human response.DesignThe study adopts a cross‐sectional clinical validation approach, adhering strictly to the STROBE guidelines throughout its design and implementation.MethodsNaturalistic sampling was used to identify 302 adults diagnosed with hypertension. Their data were subjected to latent class analysis, which facilitated the identification of a comprehensive set of clinical indicators that demonstrated better diagnostic accuracy and established posterior probabilities to guide the inference of inadequate health self‐efficacy. In addition, logistic regression analysis was used to assess the magnitude of the impact of aetiological factors.ResultsThe prevalence of inadequate health self‐efficacy was 76.61%. Among the 13 indicators examined, seven demonstrated notable sensitivity: ‘risk‐prone health behaviour’, ‘failure to take action that prevents health problems’, ‘inadequate self‐control’, ‘avoidance behaviours’, ‘negative health self‐perception’, ‘inadequate health‐related quality of life’ and ‘difficulty feeling good about adopting a healthy lifestyle’. Additionally, two indicators showed high specificity: ‘difficulty feeling good about adopting a healthy lifestyle’ and ‘inadequate adherence to treatment regimen’. Notably, 15 aetiological factors were identified as significantly associated with an increased risk of inadequate health self‐efficacy.ConclusionsA clinical framework consisting of eight clinical indicators and 15 aetiological factors was developed to characterise inadequate health self‐efficacy in individuals with hypertension.Relevance to PracticeClinical validation provides insight into the precision of clinical indicators and the magnitude of the effect of putative causal elements, thereby facilitating identification and tailored intervention for individuals with hypertension and inadequate health self‐efficacy.
Unravelling the Complexity of Ginger Rhizome Rot Disease: A Focus on Pathogen Interactions
Authors: T.S Archana , Mesta R. K. , Basavarajappa M. P. , Kiran Kumar K. C. 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACTRhizome rot poses a significant threat to ginger cultivation, caused by a complex interaction of pathogens such as Pythium aphanidermatum, Fusarium oxysporum, Ralstonia solanacearum, Sclerotium rolfsii and Meloidogyne incognita. The pathogens were individually inoculated at 75, 105 and 135 days after planting (DAP), as well as in various combinations, to evaluate disease severity and symptom development. Results revealed that R. solanacearum exhibited the highest disease severity and fastest symptom development across all stages of inoculation, followed by P. aphanidermatum, F. oxysporum, S. rolfsii and M. incognita. The combined inoculation of pathogens significantly increased disease incidence and rhizome rot compared to individual inoculations, indicating synergistic interactions among the pathogens. Sequential inoculation experiments demonstrated that pre‐infection by M. incognita exacerbated disease severity, highlighting the role of nematodes in predisposing plants to secondary infections.
The electoral consequences of the political divide on climate change
Authors: Kim JunYun 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThis paper examines how climate change has become a polarizing and politicized issue in the United States and assesses the relationship between regional exposure to the green economy and voting in US elections over the course of a decade. After measuring the share of employment related to the green economy at county level, I estimate the impact of county‐level exposure to this economy on the share of votes cast for Democrats in elections for the House of Representatives and the Presidency. I find that US counties that have been more exposed to the green economy have increased their share of votes cast for Democrats in Congressional elections since the 2016 elections, based on both county‐level and constructed district‐level data. This is because Democratic politicians are considerably more likely to adopt pro‐green positions, making them an attractive choice for voters seeking representatives who will promote green policies. This paper also finds that a shift toward Democratic candidates has mostly occurred in Republican incumbent districts with a high proportion of green‐intensive employment that did not receive any support for green investment from the government after 2016. The results imply that climate change has become an important determinant of voting decisions and that this change in motivation on the part of voters has come about primarily with the aim of punishing Republican incumbents rather than rewarding Democratic incumbents or challengers.
Systematic synthesis and identification of monolignol pathway metabolites
Authors: Kao Chung‐Ting , Yang Fan‐Wei , Wu Meng‐Chen , Hung Tzu‐Huan , Hu Chen‐Wei , Chen Chiu‐Hua , Liou Pin‐Chien , Mai Te‐Lun , Chang Chia‐Chih , Lin Tung‐Yi , Chen Ying‐Lan , Lin Ying‐Chung Jimmy , Su Jung‐Chen 
Published: September 2024

SummaryMonolignol serves as the building blocks to constitute lignin, the second abundant polymer on Earth. Despite two decades of diligent efforts, complete identification of all metabolites in the currently proposed monolignol biosynthesis pathway has proven elusive. This limitation also hampers their potential application. One of the primary obstacles is the challenge of assembling a collection of all molecules, because many are commercially unavailable or prohibitively costly. In this study, we established systematic pipelines to synthesize all 24 molecules through the conversions between functional groups on a core structure followed by the application to other core structures. We successfully identified all of them in Populus trichocarpa and Eucalyptus grandis, two representative species respectively from malpighiales and myrtales in angiosperms. Knowledge about monolignol metabolite chemosynthesis and identification will form the foundation for future studies.
Putative epithelial–mesenchymal transitions during salamander limb regeneration: Current perspectives and future investigations
Authors: Kim Ryan T. , Whited Jessica L. 
Published: September 2024

AbstractPrevious studies have implicated epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in salamander limb regeneration. In this review, we describe putative roles for EMT during each stage of limb regeneration in axolotls and other salamanders. We hypothesize that EMT and EMT‐like gene expression programs may regulate three main cellular processes during limb regeneration: (1) keratinocyte migration during wound closure; (2) transient invasion of the stump by epithelial cells undergoing EMT; and (3) use of EMT‐like programs by non‐epithelial blastemal progenitor cells to escape the confines of their niches. Finally, we propose nontraditional roles for EMT during limb regeneration that warrant further investigation, including alternative EMT regulators, stem cell activation, and fibrosis induced by aberrant EMT.
‘Cheering on from the side‐lines’: The perceived impact of romantic partner's commentary and behaviour on maintaining women's appearance anxiety
Authors: Lumsdale Gemma Stephanie , Frith Hannah , Hale Lucy 
Published: September 2024

AbstractObjectivesAppearance anxiety (AA) is a probable risk factor for body dysmorphic disorder and a prevalent and debilitating concern. Extant literature suggests that romantic partners’ commentary and accommodation behaviour may contribute to women's appearance concerns. The aim of this study is to explore how women experience and make sense of romantic partner feedback about their appearance.DesignQualitative semi‐structured interview study.MethodsSemi‐structured interviews with 13 cis‐gender women explored how they make sense of appearance anxiety in the context of romantic relationships. Reflexive thematic analysis with a hybrid inductive‐deductive coding approach was utilised, drawing on cognitive behavioural theory (CBT) as a theoretical lens to interpret the data.ResultsFour themes were created from the data: (1) ‘Then he said to me … you could probably tone up a bit’: Maintaining cycles; (2) ‘I think those comments down the line do eventually help’: breaking out of maintenance cycles, (3) ‘It's like they're talking in a foreign language’; beliefs as a filter and (4) ‘Cheering me on from the side‐lines’; romantic partner a supportive coach. These themes highlight the perceived unhelpful (e.g. accommodation of behaviours) and helpful (e.g. affection) impact of romantic partners' behaviours and commentary on participants’ AA.ConclusionsRomantic partners are perceived by women to have a potent impact on their AA. Clinical practice implications include involving romantic partners in treatment, and clinicians using their formulation and CBT skills (e.g. Socratic questioning), to understand and target these possible maintenance processes within couples.
Chronotropic Response to Exercise is Decreased in Patients With Congenital Heart Disease Compared to Cardiomyopathy Following Pediatric Heart Transplantation
Authors: Otto‐Meyer Sebastian , Wang Alan P. , Griffith Garett J. , Gambetta Katheryn , Ward Kendra 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundTwo common indications for pediatric heart transplantation are congenital heart disease and cardiomyopathy. Prior studies suggest differences in chronotropy on cardiopulmonary exercise testing outcomes depending on indication for heart transplantation. We aimed to determine whether the number of pretransplant sternotomies is associated with differences in heart rate response during exercise testing.MethodsA retrospective analysis of our institutional pediatric heart transplant data between 2004 and 2022 was performed. Patients were categorized by indication for transplantation into a cardiomyopathy (CM) group if they had a congenital or acquired cardiomyopathy or a congenital heart disease (CHD) group including all other forms of congenital cardiac anatomic abnormalities.ResultsCHD patients (n = 40) differed from CM patients (n = 53) by mean number of sternotomies prior to transplant (2.4 ± 1.8 vs. 0.5 ± 0.9, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in echocardiographic function or catheterization hemodynamics. In cardiopulmonary exercise testing performance, the congenital heart disease group had a significantly higher resting heart rate (91.8 ± 11.2 vs. 86.4 ± 10.2 bpm, p = 0.019), lower percent predicted age‐predicted maximal heart rate achieved (78.3 ± 8.5% vs. 83.2 ± 11.4%, p = 0.032), and lower heart rate reserve (68.6 ± 19.8 vs. 84.4 ± 24.0 bpm, p = 0.001) despite a similar age and average time from transplantation. Regression analysis confirmed number of pretransplant sternotomies as a main predictor of heart rate metrics.ConclusionsThere is greater chronotropic incompetence in patients who underwent transplantation due to congenital heart disease compared to cardiomyopathy. The groups differ significantly by number of sternotomies, potentially supporting the hypothesis that prior surgical disruption of cardiac innervation may cause decreased chronotropic response to exercise following transplantation.
Acute stress‐induced reductions in neural response to reward are related to acute stress‐related increases in cortisol
Authors: Burani Kreshnik , Brush C. J. , Eckel Lisa A. , Hajcak Greg 
Published: September 2024

AbstractStressors and blunted reward processing are implicated in depression. The current study simultaneously examined the impact of an acute stressor on cortisol and reward processing, measured using the reward positivity (RewP) in 66 participants. Participants completed a reward task during a stressor and a control condition, counterbalanced, and separated by 1 week, while saliva samples were collected before, immediately following, and 25 min after the reward task. Participants reported that the stressor condition was more stressful than the control condition. Cortisol levels did not differ before the reward task; however, cortisol levels were higher both immediately and 25 min after the task. The RewP was blunted during the stressor compared to the control condition, and participants with a larger stress‐induced increase in cortisol had greater reductions in their RewP. The current study provides evidence that stress‐induced changes in HPA‐axis functioning relate to reductions in neural correlates of reward processing.
Low retention of restocked laboratory‐reared long‐spined sea urchins Diadema antillarum due to Spanish hogfish Bodianus rufus predation
Authors: Wijers Tom , Klokman Oliver , Murk Albertinka J. , Sijbrandij Jilles , Hylkema Alwin 
Published: September 2024

The die‐off of the long‐spined sea urchin Diadema antillarum in the 1980s highlighted its crucial role as a primary grazer in tropical western Atlantic coral reefs. However, natural recovery has been slow, exacerbated by a new die‐off in 2022. Interest in actively restoring D. antillarum populations has grown with the emergence of culture and rearing techniques. Restocking reefs with laboratory‐reared urchins shows potential for enhancing coral reef resilience by reducing algal cover and promoting coral settlement, but success rates vary. Predation and migration contribute to low retention rates, with distinguishing between them is challenging. In this study near Saba, Caribbean Netherlands, we released 200 laboratory‐reared D. antillarum on a reef and monitored for D. antillarum retention and potential D. antillarum predator presence and interaction for 35 days. Only 40% of the urchins were still present on the reef after day one. The Spanish hogfish Bodianus rufus was identified as the primary daytime predator, responsible for nine direct predation events. No nighttime predation was observed, but interaction with a batwing coral crab Carpilius corallinus was noted. These insights can help optimize future restocking attempts and emphasize the importance of assessing predator presence beforehand. Reefs with high abundances of predators such as Spanish hogfish should be avoided for D antillarum restocking. In addition, before being released, lab‐reared animals should be given time to acclimate to conditions in the wild by being placed in protected in situ cages. Here, they could also grow to larger sizes that are less vulnerable to predation.