bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Applying 3D Models of Giant Salamanders to Explore Form–Function Relationships in Early Digit-Bearing Tetrapods
Authors: Kawano Sandy M , Martin Johnson , Medina Joshua , Doherty Conor , Zheng Gary , Hsiao Emma , Evans Matthew J , de Queiroz Kevin , Pyron R Alexander , Huie Jonathan M , Lima Riley , Langan Esther M , Peters Alan , Irschick Duncan J 
Published: August 2024

Synopsis
Extant salamanders are used as modern analogs of early digit-bearing tetrapods due to general similarities in morphology and ecology, but the study species have been primarily terrestrial and relatively smaller when the earliest digit-bearing tetrapods were aquatic and an order of magnitude larger. Thus, we created a 3D computational model of underwater walking in extant Japanese giant salamanders (Andrias japonicus) using 3D photogrammetry and open-access graphics software (Blender) to broaden the range of testable hypotheses about the incipient stages of terrestrial locomotion. Our 3D model and software protocol represent the initial stages of an open-access pipeline that could serve as a “one-stop-shop” for studying locomotor function, from creating 3D models to analyzing the mechanics of locomotor gaits. While other pipelines generally require multiple software programs to accomplish the different steps in creating and analyzing computational models of locomotion, our protocol is built entirely within Blender and fully customizable with its Python scripting so users can devote more time to creating and analyzing models instead of navigating the learning curves of several software programs. The main value of our approach is that key kinematic variables (e.g. speed, stride length, and elbow flexion) can be easily altered on the 3D model, allowing scientists to test hypotheses about locomotor function and conduct manipulative experiments (e.g. lengthening bones) that are difficult to perform in vivo. The accurate 3D meshes (and animations) generated through photogrammetry also provide exciting opportunities to expand the abundance and diversity of 3D digital animals available for researchers, educators, artists, conservation biologists, etc. to maximize societal impacts.
No higher law: The Uruguayan plebiscite of 1980 as a failed constituent moment
Authors: Katz Andrea Scoseria 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
On November 30, 1980, the people of Uruguay were called on to vote on a new constitution whose objective was to legalize the military dictatorship that had ruled Uruguay since 1973. The proposed constitution would reestablish elections, political parties, and an independent judiciary, but all subject to overrule by the National Security Council (COSENA), the junta of military leaders that acted as the nation’s de facto ruling body. Despite the highly repressive political environment in which the plebiscite was held, the citizenry rejected the draft in resounding fashion by a vote of 57% to 43%. Although the Plebiscite of 1980 was certainly a “failure” from the regime’s point of view, it is considered a founding moment in Uruguayan history during which the dictatorship was delegitimized and the process of redemocratization triggered, culminating in a democratic transition in 1985. This case illustrates that constitutional failures can be successes in the long term when they launch deeper processes of democratization or constitutionalism.
COVID-19 infections in English schools and the households of students and staff 2020–21: a self-controlled case-series analysis
Authors: McClenaghan Elliot , Nguipdop-Djomo Patrick , Lewin Alexandra , Warren-Gash Charlotte , Cook Sarah , Mangtani Punam 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background
The role of children and staff in SARS-CoV-2 transmission outside and within households is still not fully understood when large numbers are in regular, frequent contact in schools.

Methods
We used the self-controlled case-series method during the alpha- and delta-dominant periods to explore the incidence of infection in periods around a household member infection, relative to periods without household infection, in a cohort of primary and secondary English schoolchildren and staff from November 2020 to July 2021.

Results
We found the relative incidence of infection in students and staff was highest in the 1–7 days following household infection, remaining high up to 14 days after, with risk also elevated in the 6–-12 days before household infection. Younger students had a higher relative incidence following household infection, suggesting household transmission may play a more prominent role compared with older students. The relative incidence was also higher among students in the alpha variant dominant period.

Conclusions
This analysis suggests SARS-CoV2 infection in children, young people and staff at English schools were more likely to be associated with within-household transmission than from outside the household, but that a small increased risk of seeding from outside is observed.
Assessing antimicrobial stewardship governance in Northeast Brazilian hospitals: a survey-based analysis
Authors: Hinrichsen Sylvia Lemos , de Lemos Marcela Coelho , Bernardino Juliana Magalhães , Lima Juliana Andrade , Carrazone Genaro , Vilella Tatiana , Trova Gabriel , Moura Libia , de Lima-Neto Reginaldo Gonçalves , Brink Adrian John 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background
Effective governance of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and infection prevention control (IPC) in healthcare facilities is crucial for safeguarding patients against healthcare-associated infections and enhancing patient outcomes by optimizing antibiotic use and curbing the spread of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) pathogens.

Objectives
To assess the current AMS governance in two public hospitals in Northeast of Brazil, specifically focusing on identifying institutional antibiotic policies and operational practices.

Methods
A survey was conducted by team leaders of both hospitals from 2020 to 2022 using a questionnaire adapted from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recommendations for implementing AMS programmes (ASP) in Latin America and the Caribbean, alongside criteria from the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) and CDC.

Results
Fifty leaders, from senior management to coordinators, answered the questionnaire. Results indicate a lack of AMS process measures, specialist support, systematic antimicrobial utilization analysis and structured IPC programmes, especially in one hospital where patient records remain in paper format.

Conclusions
The empirical use of antimicrobials without local epidemiological or susceptibility data underscores the absence of logistical support for microbiological cultures in the region. These findings emphasize the urgent need for systematic AMS processes and multiprofessional teams to drive AMS and IPC practices, essential for patient care and safety.
Addressing emerging issues in entomology: 2023 student debates
Authors: Pickens Victoria , Maille Jacqueline , Pitt William Jacob , Twombly Ellis Jordan , Salgado Sara , Tims Kelly M , Edwards Carla-Cristina , Peavy Malcolm , Williamson Zia Valerie , Musgrove Tyler R T , Doherty Ethan , Khadka Arjun , Martin Ewert Allyson , Sparks Tanner C , Shrestha Bandana , Scribner Hazel , Balthazor Navi , Johnson Rachel L , Markwardt Chip , Singh Rupinder , Constancio Natalie , Hauri Kayleigh C , Ternest John J , Gula Scott W , Dillard DeShae 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
The Entomological Society of America (ESA) Student Debates is an annual student competition at the ESA Annual Meeting organized by Student Debates Subcommittee (SDS) members of the ESA Student Affairs Committee. In conjunction with the 2023 ESA Annual Meeting theme, ‘Insects and influence: Advancing entomology’s impact on people and policy’, the theme of this year’s student debate was ‘Addressing emerging issues in entomology’. With the aid of ESA membership, the SDS selected the following debate topics: (1) Should disclosure of artificial intelligence large language models in scientific writing always be required? and (2) Is it more important to prioritize honey bee or native pollinator health for long-term food security within North America? Four student teams from across the nation, composed of 3–5 student members and a professional advisor, were assigned a topic and stance. Over the course of 5 months, all team members researched and prepared for their assigned topic before debating live with an opposing team at the 2023 ESA Annual Meeting in National Harbor, Maryland. SDS members additionally prepared and presented introductions for each debate topic to provide unbiased backgrounds to the judges and audience for context in assessing teams’ arguments. The result was an engaging discussion between our teams, judges, and audience members on emerging issues facing entomology and its impact on people and policy, such as scientific communication and food security, that brought attention to the complexities involved when debating topics concerning insects and influence.
Discarded vehicle tires and their association with mosquito vector abundance across socioenvironmental gradients in New Orleans, LA
Authors: de Jesús Crespo Rebeca , Pavlakis Alexandros , Breaux Jennifer , Riegel Claudia 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Discarded vehicle tires serve as habitat for mosquito vectors. In New Orleans, Louisiana, discarded tires are an increasingly important public concern, especially considering that the city is home to many medically important mosquito species. Discarded tires are known to be associated with mosquito abundance, but how their presence interacts with other socioenvironmental gradients to influence mosquito ecology is poorly understood. Here, we ask whether discarded tire distribution could be explained by social factors, particularly median income, home vacancy and human population density, and whether these factors interact with urban heat islands (UHI) to drive mosquito vector assemblages. We surveyed tire piles across the city and adult mosquitoes in 12 sites, between May and October of 2020. We compared this data with the social indicators selected and UHI estimates. Our results show that median income and human population density were inversely related to tire abundance. Tire abundance was positively associated with Aedes albopictus abundance in places of low heat (LS) severity. Heat was the only predictor for the other monitored species, where high heat corresponded to higher abundance of Aedes aegypti, and LS to higher abundance of Culex quinquefasciatus. Our results suggest that low-income, sparsely populated neighborhoods of New Orleans may be hotspots for discarded vehicle tires, and are associated with higher abundances of at least one medically important mosquito (Ae. albopictus). These findings suggest potential locations for prioritizing source reduction efforts to control mosquito vectors and highlight discarded tires as a potential exposure pathway to unequal disease risk for low-income residents.
Surveillance of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and tick-borne pathogens in Eastern Central Alabama
Authors: Wang Xiaodi , Mathias Derrick K 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Similar to other states in the southeastern United States, human cases of tick-borne diseases in Alabama have risen steadily over the last 2 decades. Nevertheless, limited data have been published on ticks or tick-borne pathogen (TBP) distributions since the 1990s. To better understand the risk of tick and TBP exposure in eastern central Alabama, ticks were sampled repeatedly across 8 sites associated with recreational use during May and June of 2015 to characterize tick density and diversity. Although habitats were similar across sites, tick density varied among locations. Seven species were collected, but 97.7% of 1,310 samples were the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.), the primary vector of ehrlichial agents and the tick species most commonly linked to alpha-gal syndrome and southern tick-associated rash illness. To investigate pathogen prevalence among sites, we tested A. americanum by a multiplex qPCR assay for 5 bacterial species, including 3 Ehrlichia spp. and 2 Rickettsia spp. None of the specimens tested positive for Panola Mountain Ehrlichia or Rickettsia parkeri. However, causative agents of human ehrlichiosis, Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii, occurred at half of the locations with, respectively, 0.27% and 0.45% of A. americanum infected on average. In contrast, Rickettsia amblyommatis, a tick endosymbiont suspected to be nonpathogenic, was found in 54.5% of the 1119 A. americanum tested. Despite low infection rates of Ehrlichia spp. in A. americanum, high encounter rates with this species in recreational deciduous woodlands suggest a moderate risk of tick bite and a low-to-moderate risk of TBP exposure in late spring.
Interventions in the workplace to reduce risk factors for noncommunicable diseases: an umbrella review of systematic reviews of effectiveness
Authors: Turon Heidi , Bezzina Aaron , Lamont Hannah , Barnes Courtney , Lum Melanie , Hodder Rebecca K , Leung Gloria K W , Peeters Anna , Wolfenden Luke , Yoong Serene 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Background: Workplaces are an important setting to deliver programs to reduce risk factors for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). To help decision makers understand the most current and relevant evidence regarding effectiveness of workplace programs, we conducted an umbrella review to present a comprehensive synthesis of the large volume of literature.
Methods: Systematic reviews of workplace interventions targeting primary risk factors for NCDs—unhealthy diet, insufficient physical activity, overweight/obesity, tobacco use, and/or excessive alcohol use—published since 2010 were sourced. For each risk factor, reviews were categorized by intervention type and quality. The most recent, high-quality review was included for each intervention type. Evidence for the effectiveness of each intervention type was then broadly classified based on the review summary findings.
Results: Twenty-one reviews were included. Most reviews focused on diet (n = 5), physical activity (n = 7), or obesity (n = 9) interventions, with fewer targeting alcohol (n = 2) or tobacco (n = 2) use. Reviews of interventions focusing on individual behavior (such as education or counseling) were most common. Across diet, obesity, physical activity, and tobacco use, multicomponent interventions were consistently likely to be classified as “likely effective.” Motivational interviewing and broad health promotion interventions were identified as “promising” for alcohol use.
Conclusion: This umbrella review identified that multicomponent workplace interventions were effective to reduce NCD risk factors. There is a gap around interventions targeting alcohol use as most syntheses lacked enough studies to draw conclusions about effectiveness. Exploring the impact of interventions that utilize policy and/or environmental strategies is a critical gap for future research.
The roles played by hsa-miR-223-5p and mutations in the S gene of SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19
Authors: Sabbar Zeyad Sadeg , Kariminik Ashraf , Ghane Maryam 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background
Increased proinflammatory molecules are a main reason for severe symptoms in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. This study evaluated mutations in the S gene of SARS-CoV-2 and the expression of hsa-miR-223-5p, interleukin 2 receptor α (IL-2Rα), and CCL16 chemokine in hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

Design
This is a cross-sectional study.

Methods
This study included 75 SARS-CoV-2-infected patients with severe symptoms and 75 age-sex-matched healthy controls. Real-time polymerase chain reaction techniques were used to evaluate the expression levels of hsa-miR-223-5p, IL-2Rα, and CCL16 chemokine. The Sanger technique was used to sequence the S gene of SARS-CoV-2 from positions 23,274 to 23,641.

Results
The relative expression of hsa-miR-223-5p was significantly increased whereas that of IL-2Rα was significantly decreased in the SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. Two mutations were found in the S gene of SARS-CoV-2 at positions 23,403 (p.Asp23403Gly) and 23,525 (p.His23525Tyr) of the S gene of SARS-CoV-2.

Conclusion
Increased hsa-miR-223-5p may be a main cause for the downregulation of IL-2Rα, which is a main developer of T-regulatory lymphocytes. The mutations in the S gene of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients may affect immune responses to the molecule and alter the avidity of virus–human cell interactions.
Time Bias and Altruism
Authors: Sung Leora Urim 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
We are typically near-future biased, prioritising our present and near-future interests over our own distant-future interests. This bias can be directed at others as well, prioritising their present and near-future interests over their distant-future interests. I argue that, given these biases, and given a plausible limit on the extent to which we can permissibly prioritise our present interests over the present interests of strangers, we are morally required to prioritise the present interests of strangers over our distant-future interests. I also argue that a similar conclusion holds even if we are near biased only towards ourselves, and regardless of whether this bias is rational. And I show that my conclusions have interesting implications for the ethics of charitable giving, because they generate moral pressure to donate to charity those funds that would otherwise have gone into our long-term savings.
Where is the supervirial hot gas? I: a pilot study with sightlines to Galactic X-ray binaries
Authors: Lara-DI Armando , Krongold Yair , Mathur Smita , Roy Manami , McClain Rebecca L , Das Sanskriti , Gupta Anjali 
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACT
Hot, $\log (T/\mathrm{K})$$\sim$ 7.5, gas was recently discovered in the Milky Way in extragalactic sightlines. In order to determine its location, here we present sightlines to Galactic X-ray binaries (XRBs) passing through the Interstellar Medium (ISM). In this pilot study, we investigate absorption features of S$_{\mathrm{XVI}}$, Si$_{\mathrm{XIV}}$, and Ne$_{\mathrm{X}}$ in the spectra of three XRBs, namely 4U 1735–44, 4U 1820–30, and Cyg X-2, using Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating archival observations. We do not detect any of these lines. We determine the 2$\sigma$ upper limit for the equivalent widths of the undetected absorption lines and the column densities of the corresponding ions. We note that the 2$\sigma$ upper limits for S$_{\mathrm{XVI}}$ K$\alpha$ and Si$_{\mathrm{XIV}}$ K$\alpha$ are an order of magnitude smaller than those previously detected in the extragalactic sightlines. Our finding suggests that if any gas at $\log (T/\mathrm{K})$$\gt\ 7$ is present in the Galactic ISM, it is unlikely to be ubiquitous. This is an important result because it implies that S$_{\mathrm{XVI}}$, Si$_{\mathrm{XIV}}$, and Ne$_{\mathrm{X}}$ absorption detected in extragalactic sightlines is not from the ISM, but is likely from a hot gas phase in the extraplanar region beyond the ISM or in the extended Circumgalactic Medium.
Radio observations of the 2022 outburst of the transitional Z-Atoll source XTE J1701−462
Authors: Gasealahwe K V S , Monageng I M , Fender R P , Woudt P A , Hughes A K , Motta S E , van den Eijnden J , Saikia P , Tremou E 
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACT
XTE J1701−462 is a neutron star low-mass X-ray binary (NS LMXB) discovered in 2006 as the first system to demonstrate unambiguously that the ‘Atoll’ and ‘Z’ classes of accreting neutron stars are separated by accretion rate. Radio observations during the 2006/7 outburst provided evidence for the formation of a relativistic jet, as now expected for all accreting neutron star and black hole X-ray binaries at high-accretion rates. The source entered a new outburst in 2022, and we report 29 observations made with the MeerKAT radio telescope. The first radio detection was on the 16th September 2022, we continued detecting the source until mid-December 2022. Thereafter, establishing radio upper limits till 25 March 2023. We present the radio analysis alongside analysis of contemporaneous X-ray observations from MAXI. The radio light curve shows evidence for at least three flare-like events over the first hundred days, the most luminous of which has an associated minimum energy of $1\times 10^{38}$ erg. We provide a detailed comparison with the 2006/7 outburst, and demonstrate that we detected radio emission from the source for considerably longer in the more recent outburst, although this is probably a function of sampling. We further constrain the radio emission from the source to have a polarization of less than 9 per cent at the time of 2022 IXPE detection of X-ray polarization. Finally, we place the source in the radio–X-ray plane, demonstrating that when detected in radio it sits in a comparable region of parameter space to the other Z-sources.
Crossing walls and windows: the curious escape of Lyman-α photons through ionized channels
Authors: Almada Monter Silvia , Gronke Max 
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACT
The diverse Lyman-alpha (Ly $\alpha$) line profiles are essential probes of gas in and around galaxies. While isotropic models can successfully reproduce a range of  Ly $\alpha$ observables, the correspondence between the model and actual physical parameters remains uncertain. We investigate the effect of anisotropies on Ly $\alpha$ escape using a simplified setup: an empty hole (fractional size $\tilde{s}$) within a semi-infinite slab with constant column density. Due to the slab’s high line-centre optical depth ($\tau _0\gtrsim 10^{5-6}$), most photons should escape through the empty channel. However, our numerical findings indicate that only a fraction ${\sim} \tilde{s}$ of photons exit through this channel. To explain this puzzle, we developed an analytical model describing the scattering and transmission behaviour of  Ly $\alpha$ photons in an externally illuminated slab. Our findings show that the number of scatterings per reflection follows a Lévy distribution (${\propto} N^{-3/2}$). This means that the mean number of scatterings is orders of magnitude greater than expectations, facilitating a shift in frequency and the subsequent photon escape. Our results imply that  Ly $\alpha$ photons are more prone to traverse high-density gas and are surprisingly less biased to the ‘path of least resistance’. Hence,  Ly $\alpha$ can trace an average hydrogen distribution rather than only low-column density channels.