bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spatial sensorimotor mismatch between the motor command and somatosensory feedback decreases motor cortical excitability. A transcranial magnetic stimulation‐virtual reality study
Authors: Girondini Matteo , Montanaro Massimo , Lega Carlotta , Gallace Alberto 
Published: August 2024

AbstractEffective control of movement predominantly depends on the exchange and integration between sensory feedback received by our body and motor command. However, the precise mechanisms governing the adaptation of the motor system's response to altered somatosensory signals (i.e., discrepancies between an action performed and feedback received) following movement execution remain largely unclear. In order to address these questions, we developed a unique paradigm using virtual reality (VR) technology. This paradigm can induce spatial incongruence between the motor commands executed by a body district (i.e., moving the right hand) and the resulting somatosensory feedback received (i.e., feeling touch on the left ankle). We measured functional sensorimotor plasticity in 17 participants by assessing the effector's motor cortical excitability (right hand) before and after a 10‐min VR task. The results revealed a decrease in motor cortical excitability of the movement effector following exposure to a 10‐min conflict between the motor output and the somatosensory input, in comparison to the control condition where spatial congruence between the moved body part and the area of the body that received the feedback was maintained. This finding provides valuable insights into the functional plasticity resulting from spatial sensorimotor conflict arising from the discrepancy between the anticipated and received somatosensory feedback following movement execution. The cortical reorganization observed can be attributed to functional plasticity mechanisms within the sensorimotor cortex that are related to establishing a new connection between somatosensory input and motor output, guided by temporal binding and the Hebbian plasticity rule.
Ant impacts on global patterns of bird elevational diversity
Authors: Srinivasan Umesh , Shanker Kartik , Price Trevor D. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractUsing data on bird species elevational distributions from the world's mountain ranges, bird diets, and the distribution of the ant genus Oecophylla, we report that global patterns in bird elevational diversity show signals of competition with ants. Oecophylla is an abundant and effective predator of invertebrates, preying on the same species that invertivorous birds feed on. In mountain ranges with Oecophylla present in the foothills, the maximum species richness of invertivorous birds (but not other trophic guilds) occurs, on average, at 960 m, ca. 450 m higher than in mountain ranges without Oecophylla, resulting in a mid‐elevation peak in bird species richness. Where Oecophylla is absent, bird species richness for all guilds generally show monotonic declines with increasing elevation. We argue that Oecophylla reduces prey density for invertivorous birds and that low prey abundance reduces invertivorous bird density, which in turn is correlated with lower bird species richness. These findngs suggest that competition between distantly related taxa can set range limits, leading to emergent diversity patterns over large scales.
Deciphering the Genetic Landscape: Insights Into the Genomic Signatures of Changle Goose
Authors: Chen Hao , Wu Yan , Zhu Yihao , Luo Keyi , Zheng Sumei , Tang Hongbo , Xuan Rui , Huang Yuxuan , Li Jiawei , Xiong Rui , Fang Xinyan , Wang Lei , Gong Yujie , Miao Junjie , Zhou Jing , Tan Hongli , Wang Yanan , Wu Liping , Ouyang Jing , Huang Min , Yan Xueming 
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACTThe Changle goose (CLG), a Chinese indigenous breed, is celebrated for its adaptability, rapid growth, and premium meat quality. Despite its agricultural value, the exploration of its genomic attributes has been scant. Our study entailed whole‐genome resequencing of 303 geese across CLG and five other Chinese breeds, revealing distinct genetic diversity metrics. We discovered significant migration events from Xingguo gray goose to CLG and minor gene flow between them. We identified genomic regions through selective sweep analysis, correlating with CLG's unique traits. An elevated inbreeding coefficient in CLG, alongside reduced heterozygosity and rare single nucleotide polymorphisms (RSNPs), suggests a narrowed genetic diversity. Genomic regions related to reproduction, meat quality, and growth were identified, with the GATA3 gene showing strong selection signals for meat quality. A non‐synonymous mutation in the Sloc2a1 gene, which is associated with reproductive traits in the CLG, exhibited significant differences in allelic frequency. The roles of CD82, CDH8, and PRKAB1 in growth and development, alongside FABP4, FAF1, ESR1, and AKAP12 in reproduction, were highlighted. Additionally, Cdkal1 and Mfsd14a may influence meat quality. This comprehensive genetic analysis underpins the unique genetic makeup of CLG, providing a basis for its conservation and informed breeding strategies.
Farm size and biosecurity measures associated with Strongylus vulgaris infection in horses
Authors: Hedberg Alm Ylva , Tydén Eva , Martin Frida , Lernå Jessica , Halvarsson Peter 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBackgroundSelective anthelmintic treatment, advocated due to evolving anthelmintic resistance, has been associated with an increase in Strongylus vulgaris prevalence. Reverting to routine interval anthelmintic treatments is not viable and therefore, identifying other management factors correlated with S. vulgaris infection is vital.ObjectivesTo investigate possible risk factors associated with the presence of S. vulgaris infection in resident horses on Swedish horse establishments.Study designInternet‐based questionnaire survey.MethodsA questionnaire, created using the internet‐based survey platform Netigate, was distributed to owners of equine establishments throughout Sweden via established equine platforms and social media channels. The survey was available for response from 21 May until 1 September 2022. Questions were closed ended with branching logic paths.ResultsFour factors were significantly associated with S. vulgaris infection, with an increased odds of infection seen in livery yards (odds ratio [OR] 1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18–2.36, p = 0.004) and premises with more than 10 resident horses (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.64–3.56, p < 0.001). A lower odds of infection were seen in establishments using quarantine routines (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.50–0.96, p = 0.03) and anthelmintic treatment of new horses prior to arrival at the premise (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.18–0.74, p = 0.005).Main limitationDue to the presence of S. vulgaris infection in the present study being based on S. vulgaris diagnostics performed at the farm level, any association between faecal diagnostic use and risk of infection could not be investigated.ConclusionsAlthough the use of diagnostics for S. vulgaris can keep infection rates low, large farms or livery yards with many different horse owners, and those with low use of biosecurity measures as regards to new horses arriving at the premise, are associated with a higher risk of infection.
Disagreement exploitation and the cross‐section of hedge fund performance
Authors: Jacoby Gady , Li Shi , Lin Nanying , Yang Yan 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThis study examines the role of market disagreement in explaining the cross‐section of hedge fund performance. In a market where disagreement fluctuates, skilled arbitrageurs may employ trading strategies to exploit the mispricing caused by disagreement and short‐sale constraints. Skilled hedge funds with high sensitivity to disagreement can take advantage of mispricing in high‐disagreement periods to improve their performance. We show that hedge funds with a high disagreement beta tend to possess skill in exploiting disagreement and, as such, they can earn higher cross‐sectional returns compared to other hedge funds lacking this skill. Existing risk factors and a tradable disagreement factor do not fully explain the difference in hedge fund performance between those with high and low disagreement betas. Further evidence shows that experienced hedge funds and hedge funds that charge a high incentive fee are likely to have high disagreement betas. Our empirical findings are robust in using various disagreement measures and methodologies to estimate disagreement beta.
Transcriptomics analysis reveals potential regulatory role of nSMase2 (Smpd3) in nervous system development and function of middle‐aged mouse brains
Authors: Zhu Zhihui , McClintock Timothy S. , Bieberich Erhard 
Published: August 2024

AbstractNeutral sphingomyelinase‐2 (nSMase2), gene name sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase‐3 (Smpd3), is a key regulatory enzyme responsible for generating the sphingolipid ceramide. The function of nSMase2 in the brain is still controversial. To better understand the functional roles of nSMase2 in the aging mouse brain, we applied RNA‐seq analysis, which identified a total of 1462 differentially abundant mRNAs between +/fro and fro/fro, of which 891 were increased and 571 were decreased in nSMase2‐deficient mouse brains. The most strongly enriched GO and KEGG annotation terms among transcripts increased in fro/fro mice included synaptogenesis, synapse development, synaptic signaling, axon development, and axonogenesis. Among decreased transcripts, enriched annotations included ribosome assembly and mitochondrial protein complex functions. KEGG analysis of decreased transcripts also revealed overrepresentation of annotations for Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington disease (HD). Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) tools predicted lower susceptibility to these neurodegenerative disorders, as well as predictions agreeing with stronger synaptic function, learning, and memory in fro/fro mice. The IPA tools identified signaling proteins, epigenetic regulators, and microRNAs as likely upstream regulators of the broader set of genes encoding the affected transcripts. It also revealed 16 gene networks, each linked to biological processes identified as overrepresented annotations among the affected transcripts by multiple analysis methods. Therefore, the analysis of these RNA‐seq data indicates that nSMase2 impacts synaptic function and neural development, and may contribute to the onset and development of neurodegenerative diseases in middle‐aged mice.
Infectious disease responses to human climate change adaptations
Authors: Titcomb Georgia , Uelmen Johnny , Janko Mark , Nunn Charles 
Published: August 2024

AbstractMany recent studies have examined the impact of predicted changes in temperature and precipitation patterns on infectious diseases under different greenhouse gas emissions scenarios. But these emissions scenarios symbolize more than altered temperature and precipitation regimes; they also represent differing levels of change in energy, transportation, and food production at a global scale to reduce the effects of climate change. The ways humans respond to climate change, either through adaptation or mitigation, have underappreciated, yet hugely impactful effects on infectious disease transmission, often in complex and sometimes nonintuitive ways. Thus, in addition to investigating the direct effects of climate changes on infectious diseases, it is critical to consider how human preventative measures and adaptations to climate change will alter the environments and hosts that support pathogens. Here, we consider the ways that human responses to climate change will likely impact disease risk in both positive and negative ways. We evaluate the evidence for these impacts based on the available data, and identify research directions needed to address climate change while minimizing externalities associated with infectious disease, especially for vulnerable communities. We identify several different human adaptations to climate change that are likely to affect infectious disease risk independently of the effects of climate change itself. We categorize these changes into adaptation strategies to secure access to water, food, and shelter, and mitigation strategies to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. We recognize that adaptation strategies are more likely to have infectious disease consequences for under‐resourced communities, and call attention to the need for socio‐ecological studies to connect human behavioral responses to climate change and their impacts on infectious disease. Understanding these effects is crucial as climate change intensifies and the global community builds momentum to slow these changes and reduce their impacts on human health, economic productivity, and political stability.
Temporal asynchrony of plant and soil biota determines ecosystem multifunctional stability
Authors: Wang Bing , Wang Shuaifei , Wu Liji , Wu Ying , Wang Shaopeng , Bai Yongfei , Chen Dima 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe role of plant biodiversity in stabilizing ecosystem multifunctionality has been extensively studied; however, the impact of soil biota biodiversity on ecosystem multifunctional stability, particularly under multiple environmental changes, remains unexplored. By conducting an experiment with environmental changes (adding water and nitrogen to a long‐term grazing experiment) and an experiment without environmental changes (an undisturbed site) in semi‐arid grasslands, our research revealed that environmental changes‐induced changes in temporal stability of both above‐ and belowground multifunctionality were mainly impacted by plant and soil biota asynchrony, rather than by species diversity. Furthermore, changes in temporal stability of above‐ and belowground multifunctionality, under both experiments with and without environmental changes, were mainly associated with plant and soil biota asynchrony, respectively, suggesting that the temporal asynchrony of plant and soil biota has independent and non‐substitutable effects on multifunctional stability. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering both above‐ and belowground biodiversity or functions when evaluating the stabilizing effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functions.
Patients' and Therapists' Views of Integrated Online CBT for Depression
Authors: Fox Fiona , Wiles Nicola , Kessler David , Tallon Debbie , Thomas Laura , Williams Christopher , Shafran Roz , Lanham Paul , Turner Katrina 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBackgroundCBT is an effective treatment for depression, but access varies across the United Kingdom. Online CBT increases access. The INTERACT platform was designed to support patient engagement in CBT, enabling therapists to deliver high‐intensity CBT via typed instant messaging and allowing patients and therapists access to an integrated online library of resources during and between sessions.MethodsThe INTERACT trial aimed to evaluate this integrated approach to delivering CBT for primary care patients with depression. A nested qualitative study was conducted within the trial. Interviews were conducted with 20 patients who received the intervention, 9 therapists who delivered it and 3 therapist supervisors. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsThe combination of receiving support from a therapist and having access to integrated online CBT resources enabled patients to better manage their depression. Platform benefits included the opportunity to review transcripts to clarify how to complete homework tasks and track progress in managing their depression. The typing process allowed reflection and a focused discussion. However, less could be covered than during an in‐person session, which reduced therapists’ expectations around goal setting. Patients who did not complete therapy struggled with the typing and found the CBT approach too demanding.ConclusionFindings highlight the importance of establishing patient and therapist goals and expectations about what can be achieved in CBT mediated by typing. Some patients are comfortable communicating via typing and are motivated to utilise online resources in between sessions. Exploring the benefits and challenges of typed CBT with patients will enable them to make an informed choice about referral for this novel approach to therapy.Patient or Public ContributionPatients, service users and members of the public were involved in the study design and management. Substantial pilot work gathered stakeholder feedback and informed the design of the intervention, before undertaking the RCT. Coauthor P.L. is a service user representative co‐applicant and member of the management group responsible for developing the intervention and the trial. Two PPI members sit on the Independent Steering Committee. PPI members provided valuable feedback on the study resources and documents.
Revisiting the validity of the vocabulary learning strategies questionnaire using the confirmatory composite analysis (CCA): Setting new directions for the field
Authors: Alamer Abdullah , Sonbul Suhad , El‐Dakhs Dina Abdel Salam 
Published: August 2024

AbstractVocabulary learning strategies (VLSs) are one of the key variables that allow researchers to understand learners’ success in second language (L2) learning. Different questionnaires are available to examine L2 learners' use of VLSs, but most of them suffered from problems while gathering sufficient statistical evidence. The present study sought to replicate the construct validity of the VLS questionnaire from a different statistical perspective. Particularly, we conceive of the nine constructs of VLSs as emergent variables (composite) rather than latent variables (common factor). In contrast to latent variables, emergent variables are constructs that are formed by their items. To test this proposition, we make use of the confirmatory composite analysis (CCA), which is akin to confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), that was developed for assessing emergent variables. To evaluate the CCA model of VLSs, 216 Saudi university students of English completed an online questionnaire. The results indicated that CCA better fitted our data while CFA appeared to provide a less than acceptable fit. Moreover, we examined the criterion‐related validity of the VLSs through the composite model and showed that two constructs, inferencing and self‐initiation positively related to self‐perception of English proficiency. Overall, the findings seem to suggest that the VLSs are better seen as made of emergent variables, with the items defining the constructs. The findings hold methodological and empirical implications for the L2 research.
A sex‐specific homologue of waprin is essential for embryonic development in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum
Authors: Choudhary Chhavi , Kishore Divyanshu , Meghwanshi Keshav Kumar , Verma Vivek , Shukla Jayendra Nath 
Published: August 2024

AbstractWaprin, a WAP (Whey acidic protein) domain‐containing extracellular secretory protein, is widely known for its antibacterial properties. In this study, a waprin homologue (Tc_wapF) expressing in a female‐specific manner was identified in Tribolium castaneum, through the analysis of sex‐specific transcriptomes. Developmental‐ and tissue‐specific profiling revealed the widespread expression of Tc_wapF in adult female tissues, particularly in the ovary, gut and fatbody. This female‐specific expression of Tc_wapF is not regulated by the classical sex‐determination cascade of T. castaneum, as we fail to get any attenuation in Tc_wapF transcript levels in Tcdsx and Tctra (key players of sex determination cascade of T. castaneum) knockdown females. RNA interference‐mediated knockdown of Tc_wapF in females led to the non‐hatching of eggs laid by these females, suggesting the crucial role of Tc_wapF in the embryonic development in T. castaneum. This is the first report on the identification of a sex‐specific waprin homologue in an insect and its involvement in embryonic development. Future investigations on the functional conservation of insect waprins and their mechanistic role in embryonic development can be exploited for improving pest management strategies.
Safety in spinal surgery—Empowering clinicians to report concerns in motor function
Authors: Burrows Jennifer , Dada Eniola , Betzler Brjan , Strickland Louise , Mawhinney Gerard 
Published: August 2024

AbstractAimsTimely identification of neurological deterioration in patients with spinal disorders, through spinal motor assessment, is paramount in achieving early intervention to reduce the risk of permanent deficits. This project was initiated to meet the requirement for safe, timely spinal motor assessment through establishing and addressing clinician's educational needs.DesignMixed methods study conducted through online survey and concurrent focus groups June 2022–April 2023.MethodsPre‐intervention online survey and focus groups identified insufficient provision of education targeted at identifying changes in motor function and as a result, clinicians lacked confidence and competence in completing assessments and caring for patients with spinal disorders. An e‐learning package was created and shared widely along with additional interventions to support assessment completion. To establish the success of the project a post‐intervention online survey was distributed.ResultsSurvey respondents reported that the e‐learning package has influenced their practice to either some extent or to a great extent with 91% reporting increased confidence in completing a spinal motor assessment. Post‐intervention results also demonstrated an increase in confidence in caring for spinal surgery patients.ConclusionThrough engaging with clinicians to establish and address educational needs, this quality improvement project has successfully increased competence and confidence in this area of spinal care.Implications for the Profession and/or Patient CareThis study highlights the importance of targeted education to ensure that clinicians are appropriately skilled to identify neurological deterioration and demonstrates the effectiveness of digital education in providing this.ImpactThis study addressed concerns around timely identification of deterioration of spinal patients. Study findings were the success in utilizing digital education to increase clinician's confidence and competence and thus enhance patient safety. This research will have an impact on clinical areas caring for patients with spinal disorders.Reporting MethodSQUIRE guidelines.Patient or Public ContributionNo patient or public contribution.