bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Forest composition shapes seed‐rodent interactions in a gradient of broadleaves and conifers
Authors: Mittelman Pedro , Appleby Scott M. , Balkenhol Niko 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Non‐native tree species and mixed forests have been increasingly employed in forestry practice as a safeguard against climate change and as a tool to foster biodiversity while providing economic benefits. Though these changes in forest composition may affect animal communities and ecosystem processes, they are seldom studied through a plant–animal interaction perspective.

Here we investigated how forests with varying proportions of a native broadleaf (Fagus sylvatica) and two conifers (introduced Pseudotsuga menziesii and native Picea abies) affect rodents and their interactions with seeds. We surveyed terrestrial small mammal communities, estimated species' densities, assessed seed preference by rodents, collected data on environmental variables (understory density and tree basal area), measured Fagus sylvatica seed production and tracked 1200 seeds of Fagus sylvatica in 20 different forest plots in northern Germany in a mast and non‐mast year for Fagus sylvatica.

Forest composition influenced the interactions between rodents and seeds. In forests with a lower proportion of broadleaves, beech seeds were harvested faster and in greater quantities, had diminished survival and were less often cached. These results are in agreement with three other findings: (a) seed fate responded to the proportion of broadleaves and conifers irrespective of conifer tree identity, (b) rodents preferred nutritious beech seeds over small conifer seeds, and (c) higher proportions of seeds were harvested during the period when beech seeds were scarce (non‐mast year).

Synthesis and applications: This work provides evidence of how forest composition can affect plant–animal interactions without necessarily altering animal communities or population densities. Specifically, we found no differences between forests with native and non‐native conifer trees regarding small mammal community, seed‐rodent interactions or seed fate. Furthermore, rodents may provide a service in mixed forests by primarily preying upon seeds of Fagus sylvatica, a superior‐competitive species, and thus mitigate beech dominance over conifer species.
Female‐biased population sex ratios caused by genetic rather than ecological mechanisms in dwarf willow (Salix herbacea L.)
Authors: Mao Xiaomeng , Cortés Andrés J. , Rixen Christian , Karrenberg Sophie 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Biased sex ratios among reproductive individuals are common in plants, but the underlying mechanisms, as well as the evolutionary consequences, are not well understood. The classical theory of Düsing and Fisher predicts an equal primary sex ratio at seed production, based on the selective advantage of the rare sex. Biased sex ratios among reproductive plants can arise from sexual dimorphism in survival and flowering. Sex ratio biases can also be present from the seed stage; in these cases, assumptions of Düsing's and Fisher's theory, for example, random mating or demographic equilibrium, are thought to be violated.

We investigated mechanisms leading to female‐biased sex ratios in the arctic‐alpine dwarf willow Salix herbacea L. We studied sex ratios in three natural populations over 3 years as well as in 29 crosses (full‐sib families) under controlled conditions over four growth periods. We tested whether sex ratio was associated with habitat parameters (elevation and snowmelt time), or with germination, survival or flowering, and whether females and males differed in size or flowering that may cause observation bias.

We detected a strong and consistent female bias, both in natural populations (sex ratio [proportion of females]: 0.71–0.82) and in our controlled experiment (overall sex ratio: 0.70–0‐72). Female bias became more pronounced with increasing elevation. Our data did not support sexual dimorphism in size or flowering. Family sex ratios varied largely (from 0.25 to 1), including many female‐biased families, unbiased families and two male‐biased families. Families with lower germination, seedling establishment, survival or flowering did not have stronger female bias, indicating that intrinsically higher survival or flowering in females does not explain overall female bias.

Synthesis. Our results suggest that sex ratio bias in S. herbacea is already present in seeds and does not arise through intrinsic differences between sexes. Candidate mechanisms that can lead to both overall female bias and variation in sex ratio among families are meiotic drive or cyto‐nuclear interactions. The pioneer habit of Salix may lead to non‐equilibrium population dynamics that allow for the long‐term persistence of variable genetic sex ratio distortion systems that arise from genetic conflict.
Reconstructive surgery for women with female genital mutilation: A scoping review
Authors: Almadori Aurora , Palmieri Stefania , Coho Christie , Evans Catrin , Elneil Soheir , Albert Juliet 
Published: June 2024

AbstractBackgroundFemale genital mutilation (FGM) is a global public health concern. However, reconstructive surgery remains unavailable in many countries.ObjectivesThis scoping review, guided by Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) principles, explores indications, referral routes, eligibility, care pathways and clinical outcomes of reconstructive surgery for FGM.Search strategyMedical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and subject headings were searched in EMBASE, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Web of Science and publicly available trial registers.Selection criteriaAny primary experimental and quasi‐experimental study addressing reconstructive surgery for FGM, and its impact on women, published before June 2023.Data collection and analysisAfter removing duplicates from the search results, titles and abstracts were screened and data were extracted. Disagreements were resolved through panel discussion. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) flow diagram depicts the search results and inclusion process.Main resultsA total of 40 studies were included. Multidisciplinary teams were involved in 40% (16/40) of the studies, and psychosexual counselling was offered in 37.5% (15/40) of studies. Clitoral reconstruction using Foldes’ technique was predominant (95%, 38/40). A total of 7274 women underwent some form of reconstruction. Post‐surgery improvement was reported in 94% of the cases (6858/7274). The complication rate was 3% (207/7722 women with reconstruction).ConclusionsFurther research and clinical trials are needed. Although the outcomes suggest improved sexual function and quality of life post‐surgery, the evidence remains limited. Advocating surgical reconstruction for survivors of FGM is vital for addressing health disparities and potential cost‐effectiveness.
The immune microenvironment of lung adenocarcinoma featured with ground‐glass nodules
Authors: Zhao Changtai , Xiao Rongxin , Jin Hongming , Li Xiao 
Published: June 2024

AbstractEarly‐stage lung cancer is now more commonly identified in the form of ground‐glass nodules (GGNs). Presently, the treatment of lung cancer with GGNs mainly depends on surgery; however, issues still exist such as overtreatment and delayed treatment due to the nonuniform standard of follow‐up. Therefore, the discovery of a noninvasive treatment could expand the treatment repertoire of ground‐glass nodular lung cancer and benefit the prognosis of patients. Immunotherapy has recently emerged as a new promising approach in the field of lung cancer treatment. Thus, this study presents a comprehensive review of the immune microenvironment of lung cancer with GGNs and describes the functions and characteristics of various immune cells involved, aiming to provide guidance for the clinical identification of novel immunotherapeutic targets.
Quantifying the utilisation of blue, green and brown resources by riparian predators: A combined use of amino acid isotopes and fatty acids
Authors: Saboret Grégoire , Drost Bastiaan J. W. , Kowarik Carmen , Schubert Carsten J. , Gossner Martin M. , Ilić Maja 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Global change drives multiple facets of biodiversity including interaction diversity, which is fundamental for ecosystem functioning. However, studying trophic interactions is challenging in meta‐ecosystems, that is ecosystems connected by spatial flows of energy, materials and organisms across ecosystem boundaries. While analytical methods based on abundances of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and stable isotopes of amino acids (AAs) are being increasingly used, it has never been explored if both approaches could be: (i) combined in mixing models to enhance precision in dietary inference (ii) compared to disentangle transfers of various PUFAs and proteins in food webs in the wild.

We explore the utility of analytical approaches based on PUFA abundances and AA isotopes to resolve resource transfers in a natural riparian food web. We focus on spiders and their potential prey from blue, green and brown sources to address three important and persisting methodological issues in food‐web ecology, namely whether (i) essential AA carbon isotopes can resolve protein origin from blue, green and brown resources, (ii) PUFA relative abundance and AA isotopes can be combined in a mixing model to provide higher precision estimates (i.e. narrower intervals) and (iii) combining the two approaches can unveil the coupling of protein and PUFA transfers in food webs.

Our research demonstrates the power of AA isotopes and PUFAs to distinguish blue, green, and brown sources and their transfer up to consumers. We show that combining PUFA relative abundance and AA isotopes in a mixing model provides overall estimates similar to the individual estimates but significantly increases precision. In addition, we showcase how combining approaches unveil the coupling of protein and PUFA transfers. For instance, we show that most PUFAs are less concentrated from prey to predators, relative to proteins, highlighting uncoupling of PUFAs and protein transfer along food chains.

We show for the first time the effectiveness of combining AA isotopes and PUFA abundances, particularly relevant for complex trophic interactions in a meta‐ecosystem context. Our study illustrates the trophic uncoupling of proteins and PUFAs, highlighting the necessity in combining both approaches.
Predictability of buprenorphine‐naloxone treatment retention: A multi‐site analysis combining electronic health records and machine learning
Authors: Nateghi Haredasht Fateme , Fouladvand Sajjad , Tate Steven , Chan Min Min , Yeow Joannas Jie Lin , Griffiths Kira , Lopez Ivan , Bertz Jeremiah W. , Miner Adam S. , Hernandez‐Boussard Tina , Chen Chwen‐Yuen Angie , Deng Huiqiong , Humphreys Keith , Lembke Anna , Vance L. Alexander , Chen Jonathan H. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractBackground and aimsOpioid use disorder (OUD) and opioid dependence lead to significant morbidity and mortality, yet treatment retention, crucial for the effectiveness of medications like buprenorphine‐naloxone, remains unpredictable. Our objective was to determine the predictability of 6‐month retention in buprenorphine‐naloxone treatment using electronic health record (EHR) data from diverse clinical settings and to identify key predictors.DesignThis retrospective observational study developed and validated machine learning‐based clinical risk prediction models using EHR data.Setting and casesData were sourced from Stanford University's healthcare system and Holmusk's NeuroBlu database, reflecting a wide range of healthcare settings. The study analyzed 1800 Stanford and 7957 NeuroBlu treatment encounters from 2008 to 2023 and from 2003 to 2023, respectively.MeasurementsPredict continuous prescription of buprenorphine‐naloxone for at least 6 months, without a gap of more than 30 days. The performance of machine learning prediction models was assessed by area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC‐AUC) analysis as well as precision, recall and calibration. To further validate our approach's clinical applicability, we conducted two secondary analyses: a time‐to‐event analysis on a single site to estimate the duration of buprenorphine‐naloxone treatment continuity evaluated by the C‐index and a comparative evaluation against predictions made by three human clinical experts.FindingsAttrition rates at 6 months were 58% (NeuroBlu) and 61% (Stanford). Prediction models trained and internally validated on NeuroBlu data achieved ROC‐AUCs up to 75.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 73.6–78.0). Addiction medicine specialists' predictions show a ROC‐AUC of 67.8 (95% CI = 50.4–85.2). Time‐to‐event analysis on Stanford data indicated a median treatment retention time of 65 days, with random survival forest model achieving an average C‐index of 65.9. The top predictor of treatment retention identified included the diagnosis of opioid dependence.ConclusionsUS patients with opioid use disorder or opioid dependence treated with buprenorphine‐naloxone prescriptions appear to have a high (∼60%) treatment attrition by 6 months. Machine learning models trained on diverse electronic health record datasets appear to be able to predict treatment continuity with accuracy comparable to that of clinical experts.
Estimating potential palliative care needs for residential aged care: A population‐based retrospective cohort study
Authors: Humphrey Greer B. , Inacio Maria C. , Lang Catherine , Churches Owen F. , Sluggett Janet K. , Williams Helena , Morgan Deidre D. , To Timothy H. M. , Kellie Andrew , Wesselingh Steve , Caughey Gillian E. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractObjectivePopulation‐based data on the required needs for palliative care in residential aged care have been highlighted as a key information gap. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive estimate of palliative care needs among Australia's residential aged care population using a validated algorithm based on causes of death.MethodsA population‐based retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the Registry of Senior Australians of non‐Indigenous residents of residential aged care services in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia aged older than 65 years, who died between 2016 and 2017 (n = 71,677). An internationally validated algorithm was used to estimate and characterise potential palliative care needs based on causes of death. This estimate was compared to palliative care needs identified from funding‐based care needs assessment data.ResultsNinety two per cent (n = 65,949) were estimated to have had potential palliative care needs prior to their death. Of these, 19% (n = 12,467) were assigned an end‐of‐life trajectory related to cancer, 61% (n = 40,511) to organ failure and 20% (n = 12,971) to frailty and dementia. By comparison, only 6% (n = 4430) of residents were assessed as needing palliative care by the funding‐based care needs assessment.ConclusionsOver 90% of individuals dying in residential aged care may have benefited from a palliative approach to care. This need is substantially underestimated by the funding‐based care needs assessment, which utilises a narrow definition of palliative care when death is imminent. There is a clear imperative to distinguish between palliative and end‐of‐life care needs within residential aged care to ensure appropriate and equitable access to palliative care.
Vision Verbs Emerge First in English Acquisition but Touch, not Audition, Follows Second
Authors: San Roque Lila , Norcliffe Elisabeth , Majid Asifa 
Published: June 2024

AbstractWords that describe sensory perception give insight into how language mediates human experience, and the acquisition of these words is one way to examine how we learn to categorize and communicate sensation. We examine the differential predictions of the typological prevalence hypothesis and embodiment hypothesis regarding the acquisition of perception verbs. Studies 1 and 2 examine the acquisition trajectories of perception verbs across 12 languages using parent questionnaire responses, while Study 3 examines their relative frequencies in English corpus data. We find the vision verbs see and look are acquired first, consistent with the typological prevalence hypothesis. However, for children at 12–23 months, touch—not audition—verbs take precedence in terms of their age of acquisition, frequency in child‐produced speech, and frequency in child‐directed speech, consistent with the embodiment hypothesis. Later at 24–35 months old, frequency rates are observably different and audition begins to align with what has previously been reported in adult English data. It seems the initial orientation to verbalizing touch over audition in child–caregiver interaction is especially related to the control of physically and socially appropriate behaviors. Taken together, the results indicate children's acquisition of perception verbs arises from the complex interplay of embodiment, language‐specific input, and child‐directed socialization routines.
Aspectual Processing Shifts Visual Event Apprehension
Authors: Vurgun Uğurcan , Ji Yue , Papafragou Anna 
Published: June 2024

AbstractWhat is the relationship between language and event cognition? Past work has suggested that linguistic/aspectual distinctions encoding the internal temporal profile of events map onto nonlinguistic event representations. Here, we use a novel visual detection task to directly test the hypothesis that processing telic versus atelic sentences (e.g., “Ebony folded a napkin in 10 seconds” vs. “Ebony did some folding for 10 seconds”) can influence whether the very same visual event is processed as containing distinct temporal stages including a well‐defined endpoint or lacking such structure, respectively. In two experiments, we show that processing (a)telicity in language shifts how people later construe the temporal structure of identical visual stimuli. We conclude that event construals are malleable representations that can align with the linguistic framing of events.
Did COVID‐19 induce a reallocation wave?
Authors: Consolo Agostino , Petroulakis Filippos 
Published: June 2024

AbstractWe critically examine the hypothesis that COVID‐19 has ushered in a large reallocation shock in the USA, beyond typical business cycle patterns. We take a broad perspective, and first consider data from the CPS and JOLTS; there is no noticeable uptick in occupation or sector switches, either at the aggregate level or in the cross‐section. The dispersion of sectoral growth rates over the three years before the pandemic was similar to the previous period. The recovery from the initial shock was characterized by very high quits and low layoffs, patterns indicative of a strong labour market, not excessively high reallocation relative to previous business cycles. High growth of small employers in the recovery, and larger ones once the labour market tightened, is also a common cyclical pattern. We then examine whether mismatch unemployment rose as a result of the pandemic; using an off‐the‐shelf multisector search and matching model, there is little evidence for an important role for mismatch in driving the unemployment rate during the pandemic. Finally, we employ a novel Bayesian Structural Vector Autoregression framework with sign restrictions to identify a reallocation shock; we find that it has played a relatively minor role in explaining labour market patterns in the pandemic, at least relative to earlier episodes.
Adversarial attack vulnerability for multi‐biometric authentication system
Authors: Lee MyeongHoe , Yoon JunHo , Choi Chang 
Published: June 2024

AbstractResearch on multi‐biometric authentication systems using multiple biometric modalities to defend against adversarial attacks is actively being pursued. These systems authenticate users by combining two or more biometric modalities using score or feature‐level fusion. However, research on adversarial attacks and defences against each biometric modality within these authentication systems has not been actively conducted. In this study, we constructed a multi‐biometric authentication system using fingerprint, palmprint, and iris information from CASIA‐BIT by employing score and feature‐level fusion. We verified the system's vulnerability by deploying adversarial attacks on single and multiple biometric modalities based on the FGSM, with epsilon values ranging from 0 to 0.5. The experimental results show that when the epsilon value is 0.5, the accuracy of the multi‐biometric authentication system against adversarial attacks on the palmprint and iris information decreases from 0.995 to 0.018 and 0.003, respectively, and the f1‐score decreases from 0.995 to 0.007 and 0.000, respectively, demonstrating susceptibility to adversarial attacks. In the case of fingerprint data, however, the accuracy and f1‐score decreased from 0.995 to 0.731 and from 0.995 to 0.741, respectively, indicating resilience against adversarial attacks.
The Seal of Biliteracy as a recruitment tool in postsecondary language study
Authors: Eckerson Janet , Jacobs Christopher 
Published: June 2024

AbstractAs state‐level Seals of Biliteracy for high school graduates become more common, postsecondary language programs face questions about how to recognize this credential. While scholarship has examined the implementation of state Seals in secondary education, less attention has been paid to the role of postsecondary language programs in this new policy milieu. This study examined how receiving a Seal of Biliteracy might motivate students to study language(s) in college and the impact of awarding advanced placement and retroactive credit for the Seal. A survey of Seal of Biliteracy recipients (n = 61) in Nebraska and interviews with undergraduate students who received the award (n = 8) suggest that postsecondary language departments could leverage the Seal of Biliteracy to recruit students to language programs and likewise lend support to state implementation efforts. Findings point to the critical role academic credit policies play in making language study more attractive to Seal of Biliteracy recipients.
Promoter characterization of relZ‐bifunctional (pp)pGpp synthetase in mycobacteria
Authors: RS Neethu , Sinha Shubham Kumar , Batra Sakshi , Regatti Pavan Reddy , Syal Kirtimaan 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe second messenger guanosine 3',5'‐bis(diphosphate)/guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp) and guanosine 3'‐diphosphate 5'‐triphosphate/guanosine pentaphosphate (pppGpp) ((p)ppGpp) has been shown to be crucial for the survival of mycobacteria under hostile conditions. Unexpectedly, deletion of primary (p)ppGpp synthetase‐Rel did not completely diminish (p)ppGpp levels leading to the discovery of novel bifunctional enzyme‐RelZ, which displayed guanosine 5'‐monophosphate,3'‐diphosphate (pGpp), ppGpp, and pppGpp ((pp)pGpp) synthesis and RNAseHII activity. What conditions does it express itself under, and does it work in concert with Rel? The regulation of its transcription and whether the Rel enzyme plays a role in such regulation remain unclear. In this article, we have studied relZ promoter and compared its activity with rel promoter in different growth conditions. We observed that the promoter activity of relZ was constitutive; it is weaker than rel promoter, lies within 200 bp upstream of translation‐start site, and it increased under carbon starvation. Furthermore, the promoter activity of relZ was compromised in the rel‐knockout strain in the stationary phase. Our study unveils the dynamic regulation of relZ promoter activity by SigA and SigB sigma factors in different growth phases in mycobacteria. Importantly, elucidating the regulatory network of RelZ would enable the development of the targeted interventions for treating mycobacterial infections.