bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Validation of the 2024 European Association for the Study of Obesity diagnostic criteria: A comprehensive assessment of obesity‐related mortality risks
Authors: Liu Xiao‐Yue , Ge San‐Yu , Liu Chen‐An , Yin Bing , Bu Zhao‐Ting , Zheng Xin , Chen Yue , Li Xiang‐Rui , Shi Han‐Ping 
Published: February 2025

AbstractAimsObesity is a global public health challenge, and the traditional WHO‐proposed diagnostic criteria based on body mass index (BMI) often fail to fully assess related health risks. The European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) has proposed new criteria that combine BMI, waist‐to‐height ratio (WtHR) and complications to more accurately evaluate obesity‐related health risks.Materials and MethodsThis study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database, covering the years 1999–2018. The study validated the new EASO criteria for diagnosing obesity, defined as BMI ≥25 kg/m2, WtHR ≥0.5 and the presence of 12 obesity‐related complications. The associations between obesity and mortality were assessed using Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. Mediation analysis was conducted to explore potential mechanisms by which obesity impacts patient prognosis.ResultsA total of 39 066 participants were included, with a mean age of 43.6 years; 51.3% were male. Over a median follow‐up period of 141 months, 3708 deaths were recorded. The prevalence of obesity was 63.04% according to the new EASO criteria. The obesity rate based on BMI ≥30 is only 35.55%. The EASO criteria achieved a C‐index of 0.5549, which surpasses the predictive accuracy of the traditional BMI ≥30 kg/m2 criterion, with a C‐index of 0.5265. Cox regression analysis indicated that when using the traditional BMI ≥30 criterion to diagnose obesity, it was associated with all‐cause mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD)‐related mortality, but it did not predict cancer‐related mortality. Obesity diagnosed by EASO criteria was significantly associated with an increased risk of all‐cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] and 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13 [1.02, 1.24]), CVD mortality (HR and 95% CI: 1.48 [1.20, 1.83]) and cancer mortality (HR and 95% CI: 1.26 [1.03, 1.54]). When using simplified BMI ≥25 kg/m2, WtHR ≥0.5 and any of the top five complications (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, CVD, metabolic syndrome and ageing) as diagnostic criteria, which had the highest C‐index (0.612), obesity remained an independent prognostic factor for poor overall survival (HR and 95% CI for all‐cause mortality: 1.41 [1.26, 1.58], HR for CVD mortality: 2.08 [1.61, 2.68] and HR for cancer mortality: 1.32 [1.06, 1.65]).ConclusionsThis study confirms the prognostic value of the new obesity diagnostic criteria proposed by EASO, suggesting that these criteria offer a more accurate assessment of obesity‐related health risks.
Ketamine in insulin resistance: Pharmacokinetics, cardiovascular implications and cellular effects on cardiomyocytes
Authors: Ramirez Ariana , Howes Stephanie , Chilton Robert 
Published: February 2025

AbstractKetamine, a dissociative anaesthetic, has expanded its clinical use beyond anaesthesia to pain management and treatment‐resistant depression. As an N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor antagonist, ketamine disrupts the excitatory neurotransmission via interaction with the opioid, alpha‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isooxazole‐propionic acid receptor and serotonin pathways, contributing to its broad therapeutic potential. However, its use is not without risks. In patients with insulin resistance, ketamine's effect on glucose metabolism, mitochondrial function and oxidative stress are exacerbated. This paper explores ketamine's pharmacokinetics, cardiovascular impact and its cellular effects on cardiomyocytes, particularly in insulin‐resistant individuals. The findings discussed emphasize the importance of careful administration and monitoring in these vulnerable populations to balance ketamine's therapeutic benefits against its potential risks in patients with underlying metabolic or cardiovascular conditions.
Promoting Gender Equality in Preservice Teachers Through Creative Drama Activities Integrated With Children's Picture Books: A Mixed‐Methods Research
Authors: Şeren Nurbanu , Çetinkaya Fatih Çetin , Yıldırım Kasım 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTThe current research investigated the effect of creative drama activities combined with children's picture books on preservice teachers' attitudes towards gender equality. The study employed an explanatory sequential mixed methods research design. While the quantitative stage used a quasiexperimental pretest–posttest control group research design, the qualitative stage involved a focus group interview. The quantitative data were analysed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and the participants' pretest scores were assigned as the covariate variable. The qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. The quantitative data showed that the treatment group had significantly higher estimated marginal mean posttest gender role attitudes (GRAS) scores compared to the control group. The qualitative data indicated that the intervention made the participants more active and helped them identify and resolve problems associated with traditional gender role stereotypes. The intervention allowed the participants to develop positive attitudes towards eliminating inequalities caused by gender role stereotypes.
The Evolving Classification of Acid Sulfate Soils
Authors: Rabenhorst Martin C. , Fitzpatrick Rob , Boman Anton 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTThe process of classification helps us organize knowledge and it helps us to better appreciate relationships and connections. Classification also facilitates communication, and good classification systems will be (to some degree) practical and utilitarian. While the problematic nature of acid sulfate (AS) soils has been recognized (by some) at least since the 18th century, much of what we understand about AS soils only began to be recognized around the time of the 1st International AS Soils Conference in 1972. As our modern soil classification systems emerged during the last half century, many of their architects knew to incorporate these challenging and unique soils. Thus, as our experience and understanding of these soils has expanded, we have also seen corresponding changes or adaptations in the classification systems to accommodate the new knowledge. In this paper we examine revised principles, perspectives and structures for the classification of AS soils through three systems used broadly around the world: US Soil Taxonomy, the World Reference Base for Soil Resources and the Australian Soil Classification. All of these classification systems have accommodated AS soils throughout their history and each has demonstrated distinctive changes during particular periods. As our concepts and understanding of AS soils have developed, these have become encoded (quickly or slowly) in our classifications. This paper will explore how various AS soil concepts have been addressed within these three classification systems, how these concepts have changed through time, and how changes in each system have preceded, followed or paralleled the other systems. We highlight differences between systems that have existed and that may remain, and offer perspectives on the rationale for these distinctives. We will also demonstrate the ways in which collaborations and shared knowledge have drawn parts of these systems more closely together.
Current Problems Leading to Soil Degradation in Africa: Raising Awareness and Finding Potential Solutions
Authors: Mesele Samuel A. , Mechri Mouna , Okon Michael A. , Isimikalu Theophilus O. , Wassif Omnia M. , Asamoah Eric , Ahmad Hadiza A. , Moepi Polao I. , Gabasawa Alhassan I. , Bello Suleiman K. , Ayamba Benedicta E. , Owonubi Ayodele , Olayiwola Victor A. , Soremi Paul A. S. , Khurshid Chrow 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTPromoting food security, fostering economic growth, and building resilience to climate change are crucial priorities in Africa, where the health and fertility of soils play a key role. Raising awareness about soil‐related issues and finding potential solutions are vital for addressing the complex interplay of factors affecting soils across the African continent. This paper is written in three parts. The first part highlights and discusses the current problems which include soil erosion, desertification, nutrient imbalances, acidity, salinization, deforestation, and soil compaction. The second part highlights the effects of the identified causes on soil and agricultural productivity, and human health, which included but was not limited to loss of fertile land and biodiversity, increased carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, nutrient depletion, loss of ecosystem services, malnutrition, and other human health issues. The third part proffers potential solutions to tackle soil degradation in Africa. Some of the suggested solutions include afforestation of degraded land, integrated landscape management that involves innovative soil fertility and rangeland management, and effective soil conservation measures to combat erosion. Strengthening policy implementation at regional and country levels, such as awareness creation, education, and community engagement on soils as the basis of human existence, is also crucial. We concluded that no single solution fits all while addressing soil degradation in Africa, but integrated approaches that promote sustainable soil management, such as conservation agriculture, crop rotation, agroforestry, afforestation, organic farming, and community engagement, would have a significant impact in resolving the menace of soil degradation.
Prolonged diapause and its possible adaptive significance in the gall wasp Synergus itoensis (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae)
Authors: Wu Yajao , Abe Yoshihisa 
Published: February 2025

AbstractHere, we report the bimodal adult emergence in a synergine gall‐inducing wasp. On December 29, 2019, 150 Quercus glauca acorns containing Synergus itoensis galls were obtained from the Ito Campus of Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. The galls were kept in a test tube for each acorn in the shade under field conditions until October 24, 2022. The emergence of adult wasps from the galls was recorded. More adults emerged in 2020 (151 females and 181 males) than in 2021 (120 females and 93 males); however, no emergence occurred in 2022. The sex ratio was not significantly different from 1:1 in either 2020 or 2021. The 50% emergence date was early September in both years. Acorn production in Q. glauca fluctuates greatly from year to year. Hence, oviposition resources for adult female S. itoensis are abundant in years with high acorn production, but scarce in years with low acorn production. The bimodal emergence of adult S. itoensis wasps may have evolved to adapt to the fluctuations in acorn production in Q. glauca.
Establishing Historical Baselines of Arthropod Assemblages Using Rodent Paleomiddens
Authors: Braasch Joseph , Betancourt Julio , Dézerald Olivier , Peiris Udari , Tapia‐Rozas Maura , Villagra Cristian , Latorre Claudio , González Angélica L. 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTAimArthropods are under‐represented in paleoecological studies but are critical agents in ecological processes. Despite rigorous documentation of diverse arthropod assemblages from ancient rodent (or paleo) middens worldwide, their use for studying ancient arthropod diversity has stalled in recent decades. Here, we review published studies to identify how paleomidden arthropods can be leveraged to address significant questions in ecology and synthesise spatiotemporal trends in ancient arthropod diversity.LocationGlobal with a focus on the Americas.Time PeriodFrom ~40,000 to 100 years before present.Major Taxa StudiedFossil arthropods preserved in rodent paleomiddens.MethodsWe identified four primary objectives in ecology that can be advanced using paleomidden arthropod fossils: the reconstruction of ancient biodiversity, the elucidation of mechanisms and processes driving arthropod range shifts, the incorporation of arthropods into ancient trophic webs, and the assessment of adaptive responses to changing environments.ResultsWe identified 20 papers reporting arthropod remains, of which 14 provided data suitable for quantitative analyses. Although no significant differences in arthropod community diversity were found across broad geographic regions, substantial differences in community structure were observed. In North America, we also detected a decline in arthropod diversity from 10 to 5 ka BP, driven primarily by the absence of high‐diversity assemblages during this period.Main ConclusionsPaleomidden arthropods remain an underutilised ecological resource that can be leveraged to improve the inferential scope of arthropod research across spatiotemporal gradients. Collaboration between paleo‐ and neoecologists could help expand the sampling of ancient and modern arthropod communities, particularly those associated with paleomiddens, to create high‐resolution datasets spanning important periods in biogeographical history. Paleomidden arthropods will remain a fundamental component for understanding arthropod biodiversity changes in the past, present, and future.
Policy and Research Engagement in UK Higher Education. Policymaker and Expert Perspectives and Priorities
Authors: Mihut Georgiana , Ozsezer‐Kurnuc Sevda , Morris Rebecca , Perry Tom , Smith Emma 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTPolicy and research engagement is a timely topic for researchers, decision‐makers, and higher education institutions that aim to promote engagement and impact. Examination of the complex research‐policy relationship in the higher education sector has been largely overlooked. This paper addresses this issue by presenting findings from in‐depth interviews with 11 UK higher education policymakers and experts on how higher education researchers can engage with the policy process in the UK context. It also highlights the views of interviewees about policy priorities for UK higher education that may shape higher education research agendas. With relevance across fields of expertise, the paper also discusses the role of independent research in shaping policy. The paper discusses barriers to engagement, research generation and use, and the role of independent research in the broader policy evidence landscape. To conclude, we suggest possible pathways for more productive engagement between researchers and policymakers.
Language Attitudes in the Global South
Authors: Brdarević‐Čeljo Amna , Dubravac Vildana , Selimović Sedina 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTResearch on attitudes toward English varieties has been identified as a crucial contextual issue that is relevant to the implementation of the Teaching English as an International Language approach. Thus, the current study explores the attitudes of 400 Bosnian respondents toward different English varieties, employing a verbal guise technique for attitude elicitation. It also examines the respondents’ perceived intelligibility of these varieties and their conative responses and recognition rates. The results consistently showed that inner‐circle varieties, Standardised British in particular, were rated more favourably than expanding‐circle varieties and were perceived as more desirable and better understood. Their correct recognition rates were also much higher than those for expanding‐circle varieties. Expanding‐circle varieties were rated much less favourably, with the exception of moderately accented Bosnian English. All the other expanding‐circle varieties, heavily accented Bosnian English, Arabic and Turkish English, were not perceived as desirable. They were also considered less easily understood, and their recognition rates were low.
Functional Signatures of Surface Pollen and Vegetation Are Broadly Similar: Good News for Past Reconstructions of Vegetation
Authors: Dugerdil Lucas , Peyron Odile , Violle Cyrille , Joannin Sébastien , Ménot Guillemette , Denelle Pierre , Bruelheide Helge , Chytrý Milan , Field Richard , Hatim Mohamed Z. , Gholizadeh Hamid , Dolezal Jiri , Pillar Valério D. , Shaltout Kamal H. , Schrodt Franziska , Garnier Eric 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTAimPollen assemblages are widely used to infer paleoenvironment features, aiming at reconstructing both past climates and biomes. However, the functional link between environmental conditions and pollen assemblages is not straightforward and requires thorough testing to be used confidently. Here, we use a trait‐based approach to assess the consistency of functional signatures between pollen and plant assemblages.LocationArid Central Asia (ACA).TaxonSpermatophytes (pollen‐producing plants).MethodsWe assess whether trait values and trait distributions are consistent for surface pollen samples and extant vegetation in the Arid Central Asia biogeographic region. A working plant checklist was compiled for ACA in order to assign trait values to pollen types and vegetation taxa. This was done for two widely used methods of pollen aggregation schemes (coarse and fine pollen type depend on the level of pollen identification). The functional signatures of pollen and vegetation samples were compared both at the taxon and community levels, using large‐scale trait and vegetation databases, for the six traits of the global spectrum of plant form and function (i.e., plant height, seed mass, leaf area, specific leaf area, nitrogen content per leaf mass, and stem‐specific density).ResultsTrait distributions and bivariate trait relationships were broadly similar for pollen types and vegetation taxa, which is also the case for the multivariate spaces of the global spectrum of plant form and function. At the community scale, the trait values weighted by taxon abundance significantly differed among biomes, and these differences were consistent for both pollen aggregation schemes and extant.Main ConclusionsThe pollen aggregation scheme does not impact the organisation of the functional space of the global spectrum of plant form and function, which compares well with that based on species actually present in the vegetation plots. This is also true at the community scale. These findings are very promising for improving climate and biome reconstructions from pollen assemblages and pave the way to a “pollen functional biogeography”.
Diagnostic Yield of a Novel 11‐Fr Digital Cholangioscope for Indeterminate Biliary Disease Using Macroscopic‐On‐Site Evaluation: Prospective Comparative Study
Authors: Ogura Takeshi , Ueno Saori , Hakoda Akitoshi , Aboelezz Ahmad F. , Okuda Atsushi , Nishioka Nobu , Sakamoto Jun , Matsuno Jun , Uba Yuki , Tomita Mitsuki , Hattori Nobuhiro , Nakamura Junichi , Bessho Kimi , Nishikawa Hiroki 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTBackground and AimA novel 11‐Fr digital cholangioscope (eyeMAX) has recently become available. However, a prospective comparative study of the diagnostic yield of the eyeMAX and of a conventional cholangioscope (SpyGlass DS II) has not been reported. Therefore, the aim of this study was to prospectively compare the diagnostic yield of the eyeMAX and of the SpyGlass DS II for indeterminate biliary disease.Patients and MethodForceps biopsy was repeated until visible core tissue was obtained. The primary outcome of this study was the diagnostic accuracy of the biopsy specimens obtained by the eyeMAX. The secondary outcomes were comparisons of the diagnostic yield of visual findings, tissue size, number of forceps biopsies until MOSE positivity, and adverse events.ResultsFifty patients were prospectively enrolled in the eyeMAX group. And 47 patients in the SpyGlass DS II group were enrolled as a historical control. The number of biopsies was significantly fewer in the eyeMAX group than in the SpyGlass DS II group (p = 0.001). Tissue size was larger in the eyeMAX group (2.96 ± 0.69 mm2) than in the SpyGlass DS II group (1.80 ± 1.61 mm2). The diagnostic accuracy was also higher in the eyeMAX group (96.0%, 48/50) than in the SpyGlass DS II group (80.9%, 38/47). The diagnostic accuracy for the final diagnosis was slightly higher in the eyeMAX group (93.5%, 47/50) than in the SpyGlass DS II group (89.3%, 42/47).ConclusionsThe eyeMAX has a favorable diagnostic yield in terms of visual findings and the forceps biopsy specimen.Trial registration: 000049465
Inspiring Undergraduate Student Training in Alzheimer's Research (USTAR): Training the Next Generation of Aging Scientists
Authors: Casten Robin , Kelley Megan , Lawal Hakeem , Lopez Bernard L. , Parks Susan , Perchiniak Erin , Rovner Barry 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTInspiring Undergraduate Student Training in Alzheimer's Research (USTAR) aims to provide Underrepresented Minority (URM) undergraduate students with mentored didactic, clinical, and research experiences to stimulate interest in research related to Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). USTAR specifically focuses on social determinants of health (SDOH) as risk factors for ADRD minoritized populations. USTAR's scientific rationale is that URM undergraduates are less likely to enter the biomedical workforce. Addressing this disparity is important since minorities are disproportionally affected by ADRD, and URM scientists may deeply appreciate the sociocultural forces that create racial health disparities. USTAR unites faculty expertise from Thomas Jefferson University (TJU) and Delaware State University (DSU), a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). The faculty's work spans the full spectrum of ADRD research and care, including neuroscience, biology, gerontology, geriatrics, neurology, and geriatric psychiatry. The 20‐month USTAR program will train two cohorts of 10 students. Across all USTAR activities, we emphasize the relationship between SDOH and cognition. USTAR's goals are to: (1) provide interdisciplinary ADRD‐related research, educational, clinical, and community experiences; (2) enhance research skills via group research projects; (3) facilitate transition from undergraduate to graduate studies in science; and (4) evaluate USTAR's effectiveness. USTAR has the potential to increase diversity in the national workforce that conducts health disparities research pertaining to ADRD. This goal aligns with the National Institute on Aging's (NIA) mission to meet the nation's biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs and to ensure health equity for all Americans.