bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Power law in species–area relationship overestimates bacterial diversity in grassland soils at larger scales
Authors: Zhang Biao , Xue Kai , Liu Wenjing , Zhou Shutong , Nie Shipeng , Rui Yichao , Tang Li , Pang Zhe , Li Linfeng , Dong Junfu , Xu Cong , Jiang Lili , Wang Shaopeng , Hao Yanbin , Cui Xiaoyong , Wang Yanfen 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAimSpecies–area relationships (SAR) are widely utilized for estimating the species richness and its spatial turnover across various scales. Despite the prevalent characterization of SAR using the power law in many microbial community studies, its efficacy remains unvalidated. This study aims to characterize the microbial SAR and its mechanisms in alpine grassland soils on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP).LocationQinghai‐Tibet Plateau, China.Time PeriodAugust 2014.Major Taxa StudiedSoil bacteria.MethodsSoil samples were collected from five alpine grassland sites on the QTP. Employing a nested sampling strategy at each site, soil samples were collected in plot sizes ranging from 0.5 × 0.5 m2 to 2048 × 2048 m2. Soil bacterial communities were analysed by sequencing 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicons using an Illumina MiSeq.ResultsThe bacterial SAR exhibited a logarithmic power law (R2: 0.952–0.999), outperforming the power law (R2: 0.701–0.852). Consequently, the most widely adopted power law led to an overestimation of species richness by up to 15.07% in areas >256 × 256 m2, and the regional maximum theoretical richness based on Chao1 by up to 9.88%. Mechanistically, the passive sampling hypothesis was refuted through the rarefied species richness analysis, and the disproportionate effect hypothesis was rejected based on analyses of the effective numbers of species number conversions for the probability of interspecific encounters (SPIE). Notably, Pearson and multiple linear regression analyses indicated that the spatial turnover of bacterial richness was determined by the environmental heterogeneity (R2: 0.855–0.999), rather or better than environmental variables themselves, supporting the ‘environment heterogeneity hypothesis’.Main ConclusionsSoil bacterial SAR in alpine grasslands exhibited a logarithmic power relationship. Spatial turnover was primarily governed by the environmental heterogeneity. In contrast, the traditional power law leads to an overestimation of soil bacterial diversity at the regional scale.
Network specificity decreases community stability and competition among avian haemosporidian parasites and their hosts
Authors: de Angeli Dutra Daniela , Poulin Robert 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAimParasites play a fundamental role in shaping ecological communities and influencing trophic interactions. Understanding the factors that drive parasite impacts on community structure and stability (i.e. resilience to disturbances) is crucial for predicting disease dynamics and implementing effective conservation strategies. In this study, using avian malaria and malaria‐like parasites as a model system, we investigated the relationship between specificity, community stability and parasite vulnerability and their association with host diversity and climate.LocationGlobal.Time period2009–2023.Major taxa studiedAvian malaria and malaria‐like parasites.MethodsBy compiling occurrence data from a global avian haemosporidian parasite database (MalAvi), we constructed a comprehensive dataset encompassing 60 communities. We utilized a phylogenetic model approach to predict missing host–parasite interactions, enhancing the accuracy of our analyses. Network analyses based on bipartite interactions provided measures of network specificity, stability, modularity, parasite competition and vulnerability to extinction.ResultsWe found that the high network specificity reduced community stability and decreased competition among parasites. Furthermore, we found that parasite vulnerability decreased with increasing community stability, highlighting the importance of community stability in host–parasite interactions for long‐term parasite persistence. When exploring the influence of local host diversity and climate conditions on host–parasite community stability, we demonstrated that increasing host biodiversity and precipitation reduces parasite competition. Conversely, higher temperature raises competition among parasites.ConclusionThese findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying parasite impacts on communities and the interplay between specificity, community stability and environmental factors. Further, we reveal the role of climate in shaping host–parasite interactions. By unravelling the complexities of parasite‐mediated interactions, our research substantially improves the current knowledge of the importance of specificity as a modulator of interactions in bipartite networks.
Writing differently: Finding beauty in the broken
Authors: Ridgway Maranda , Edwards Michaela , Oldridge Louise 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis article presents our “multi‐vocal memory work” of collaborative researching and writing experiences as women academics in UK Business Schools. Set against the backdrop of the broken neoliberal academy, we use Daoism as an analytical lens to identify two emergent themes: 1) emotional contradictions and 2) institutional and social structures: micro‐creative and collective change. Examining ourselves and the academy as broken, we learn to find beauty in the flaws as they signify healing. Thus, sharing our emotions and vulnerability through collective research and writing enables us to “put ourselves back together.” Methodologically, we draw on memory work to explore different ways of researching and writing. We argue that there is emergent hope in identifying and raising the profile of growing spaces within the academy for alternative forms of writing.
Effect of complex nucleating agents on crystallization behavior of CaO–Al2O3–SiO2–ZnO–Na2O–K2O glass‐ceramics
Authors: Kim Dongchan , Kim Kangduk 
Published: March 2024

AbstractSingle (TiO2) and complex (TiO2 and ZrO2) nucleating agents were added in CaO–Al2O3–SiO2–ZnO–Na2O–K2O‐based multicomponent glass to investigate its crystallization behavior and physical properties according to the types and amounts of nucleating agents. Nonisothermal analysis revealed crystallization behavior with an activation energy (E) of 165.176–518.985 kJ/mol and Avrami constant (n) of .73–2.12 with the complex nucleating agent. X‐ray diffraction was used to observe the titanite and zircon crystalline phases in glass when using complex nucleating agents, and the crystallinity was found to be 43%–55%. Scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy were used to observe the plate‐shaped titanite and column‐shaped zircon crystalline phase in the glass matrix, and the glossiness was found to be decreased owing to the crystallization of the glass. The glass‐ceramic showed a higher hardness and fracture toughness value of 6.45–6.7 GPa and 1.54–3.35 MPa∙m1/2 when using the complex nucleating agent rather than when using the single nucleating agent.
Effect of a person‐centred goals‐of‐care form and clinical communication training on shared decision‐making and outcomes in an acute hospital: a prospective longitudinal interventional study
Authors: Tierney Andrew P. , Milnes Sharyn , Phillips Anita , Simpson Nicholas , Bailey Michael , Corke Charlie , Orford Neil R. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundPatients with a life‐limiting illness (LLI) requiring hospitalisation have a high likelihood of deterioration and 12‐month mortality. To avoid non‐aligned care, we need to understand our patients' goals and values.AimTo describe the association between the implementation of a shared decision‐making (SDM) programme and documentation of goals of care (GoC) for hospitalised patients with LLI.MethodsA prospective longitudinal interventional study of patients admitted to acute general medicine wards in an Australian tertiary hospital over 5 years was conducted. A SDM programme with a new GoC form, communication training and clinical support was implemented. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with a documented person‐centred GoC discussion (PCD). Clinical outcomes included hospital utilisation and 90‐day mortality.Results1343 patients were included. The proportion of patients with PCDs increased from 0% to 35.4% (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 2.38; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.01–2.82; P < 0.001). During this time, median hospital length of stay decreased from 8 days (interquartile range (IQR), 4–14) to 6 days (IQR, 3–11) (adjusted estimate effect, −0.38; 95% CI, −0.64 to −0.11; P = 0.005) and rapid response team activation from 28% to 13% (aOR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.78–0.97; P value = 0.01). Documented treatment preference of high‐dependency unit care decreased from 39.7% to 24.4% (aOR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.73–0.89; P value < 0.001), and ward‐based care increased from 31.9% to 55.1% (aOR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.14–1.36; P value < 0.001).ConclusionThe implementation of a SDM programme was associated with increased documentation of person‐centred GoC, changed patient treatment preference to lower intensity care and reduced hospital utilisation.
The multidepot drone general routing problem with duration and capacity constraints
Authors: Corberán Teresa , Plana Isaac , Sanchis José M. , Segura Paula 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis paper studies the multidepot drone general routing problem with duration and capacity constraints (MDdGRP), an extension of the classical general routing problem with several depots. A fleet of drones with limited flight time and payload, each one located in a different depot, must jointly perform the service. In this continuous optimization problem, a set of lines of a network has to be serviced and a set of nodes has to be visited to deliver a given commodity. The aim is to find a set of drone routes performing the complete service with the shortest total duration. Aerial drones can enter a line at any point, service a portion of that line, and exit through another point, without following the lines of the network. While this flexibility allows for potentially better solutions, it also adds complexity to the problem. To deal with this, we digitize the MDdGRP instances by approximating each line with a polygonal chain containing a finite number of points that can be used to enter and exit each line. Thus, an instance of a discrete multidepot general routing problem (MDGRP) is obtained. This paper proposes an integer formulation for the MDGRP, some families of valid inequalities, and a branch‐and‐cut algorithm based on the strengthened formulation. Two matheuristic algorithms are presented, focused on sequentially selecting (and adding) some promising intermediate points to enter and exit a line. Instances involving up to six depots, 22 delivery points, and 88 original lines have been generated to test the performance of the methods proposed.
The strength of Frontline Practice Leadership in Australian supported accommodation services: Challenges confronting service providers
Authors: Bigby Christine , Humphreys Lincoln 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe strength of practice leadership predicts the quality of Active Support but it can be compromised by other demands on frontline managers. The study aimed to identify and understand differences in practice leadership over time and between organisations.MethodData collected in 2022 in 96 services from 11 organisations using the Observed Measure of Practice Leadership were compared to similar data from 2013 and 2018. Qualitative fieldnotes were analysed thematically.FindingsPractice leadership scores increased significantly between 2013 and 2018 but declined significantly between 2018 and 2022. Scores were significantly higher in organisations that had implemented Active Support since 2013 compared to later adopters. Higher scoring organisations had structures that supported frontline managers with practice leadership and that countered increasing administrative demands.ConclusionsEstablishment of support structures for practice leadership by organisations warrants further investigation together with the relative importance of each task of practice leadership.
Genetic diversity, population structure and origin of the native goats in Central Laos
Authors: Le Sang V. , de las Heras‐Saldana Sara , Alexandri Panoraia , Olmo Luisa , Walkden‐Brown Stephen W. , van der Werf Julius H. J. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractMaintaining genetic diversity and variation in livestock populations is critical for natural and artificial selection promoting genetic improvement while avoiding problems due to inbreeding. In Laos, there are concerns that there has been a decline in genetic diversity and a rise in inbreeding among native goats in their village‐based smallholder system. In this study, we investigated the genetic diversity of Lao native goats in Phin, Songkhone and Sepon districts in Central Laos for the first time using Illumina's Goat SNP50 BeadChip. We also explored the genetic relationships between Lao goats with 163 global goat populations from 36 countries. Our results revealled a close genetic relationship between Lao native goats and Chinese, Mongolian and Pakistani goats, sharing ancestries with Guangfen, Jining Grey and Luoping Yellow breeds (China) and Teddi goats (Pakistan). The observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity were 0.292 and 0.303 (Laos), 0.288 and 0.288 (Sepon), 0.299 and 0.308 (Phin) and 0.289 and 0.305 (Songkhone), respectively. There was low to moderate genetic differentiation (FST: 0.011–0.043) and negligible inbreeding coefficients (FIS: −0.001 to 0.052) between goat districts. The runs of homozygosity (ROH) had an average length of 5.92–6.85 Mb, with short ROH segments (1–5 Mb length) being the most prevalent (66.34%). Longer ROH segments (20–40 and >40 Mb length categories) were less common, comprising only 4.81% and 1.01%, respectively. Lao goats exhibit moderate genetic diversity, low‐inbreeding levels and adequate effective population size. Some genetic distinctions between Lao goats may be explained by geographic and cultural features.
Targeting HOXA11‐AS to mitigate prostate cancer via the glycolytic metabolism: In vitro and in vivo
Authors: Zhang Jiankang , Li Sailian , Zhang Mengyu , Wang Zhenting , Xing Zengshu 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAs oncogenes or oncogene suppressors, long‐stranded non‐coding RNAs are essential for the formation and progression of human tumours. However, the mechanisms behind the regulatory role of RNA HOXA11‐AS in prostate cancer (PCa) are unclear. PCa is a common malignant tumour worldwide, and an increasing number of studies have focused on its metabolic profile. Studies have shown that the long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) HOXA11‐AS is aberrantly expressed in many tumours. However, the role of HOXA11‐AS in PCa is unclear. This work aimed to determine how HOXA11‐AS regulated PCa in vitro and in vivo. We first explored the clinical role of HOXA11‐AS in PCa using bioinformatics methods, including single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA), weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA), and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)‐logistics systematically. In this study, PCa cell lines were selected to assess the PCa regulatory role of HOXA11‐AS overexpression versus silencing in vitro, and tumour xenografts were performed in nude mice to assess tumour suppression by HOXA11‐AS silencing in vivo. HOXA11‐AS expression was significantly correlated with clinicopathological factors, epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and glycolysis. Moreover, key genes downstream of HOXA11‐AS exhibited good clinical diagnostic properties for PCa. Furthermore, we studied both in vitro and in vivo effects of HOXA11‐AS expression on PCa. Overexpression of HOXA11‐AS increased PCa cell proliferation, migration and EMT, while silencing HOXA11‐AS had the opposite effect on PCa cells. In addition, multiple metabolites were downregulated by silencing HOXA11‐AS via the glycolytic pathway. HOXA11‐AS silencing significantly inhibited tumour development in vivo. In summary, silencing HOXA11‐AS can inhibit PCa by regulating glucose metabolism and may provide a future guidance for the treatment of PCa.
TRIM52 knockdown inhibits proliferation, inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in IL‐1β‐induced synovial fibroblasts to alleviate temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis
Authors: Ma Tie , Wu Chuan‐bin , Shen Qing‐xia , Wang Qiang , Zhou Qing 
Published: March 2024

AbstractTo explore the mechanism of tripartite motif 52 (TRIM52) in the progression of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA). Gene and protein expression were tested by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction and western blot, respectively. The levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress factors were evaluated using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and biochemical kit, respectively. Cell counting kit‐8 and 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine assays were carried out to assess cell proliferation. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of CD68 and Vimentin in primary synovial fibroblasts (SFs). Haematoxylin and eosin staining and Safranin O/Fast green were used to evaluate the pathological damage of synovial and cartilage tissue in rats. TRIM52 was upregulated in the synovial tissue and SFs in patients with TMJOA. Interleukin (IL)‐1β treatment upregulated TRIM52 expression in TMJOA SFs and normal SF (NSF), promoting cell proliferation, inflammatory response and oxidative stress in NSF, SFs. Silence of TRIM52 relieved the cell proliferation, inflammatory response and oxidative stress induced by IL‐1β in SFs, while overexpression of TRIM52 enhanced IL‐1β induction. Meanwhile, IL‐1β induction activated toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor (NF)‐κB pathway, which was augmented by upregulation of TRIM52 in NSF, and was attenuated by TRIM52 knockdown in SFs. Besides, pyrrolidinedithiocarbamic acid ameliorated IL‐1β‐induced proliferation and inflammatory response by inhibiting TLR4/NF‐κB signalling. Meanwhile, TRIM52 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, oxidative stress and inflammatory response in IL‐1β‐induced SFs through downregulation of TLR4. TRIM52 promoted cell proliferation, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress in IL‐1β‐induced SFs. The above functions were mediated by the activation of TLR4/NF‐ κB signal pathway.
Histone modification‐linked prognostic model for ovarian cancer reveals LBX2 as a novel growth promoter
Authors: Xiong Jian , Liang Hongyuan , Sun Xiang , Gao Kefei 
Published: March 2024

AbstractOvarian cancer (OC) is a deadly disease with limited treatment options and poor overall survival rates. This study aimed to investigate the role of histone modification‐related genes in predicting the prognosis of OC patients. Transcriptome data from multiple cohorts, including bulk RNA‐Seq data and single‐cell scRNA‐Seq data, were collected. Gene set enrichment analysis was used to identify enriched gene sets in the histone modification pathway. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between histone modification‐high and histone modification‐low groups were identified using Lasso regression. A prognostic model was constructed using five selected prognostic genes from the DEGs in the TCGA‐OV cohort. The study found enrichment of gene sets in the histone modification pathway and identified five prognostic genes associated with OC prognosis. The constructed risk score model based on histone modification‐related genes was correlated with immune infiltration of T cells and M1 macrophages. Mutations are more prevalent in the high‐risk group compared to the low‐risk group. Several drugs were screened against the model genes. Through in vitro experiments, we confirmed the expression patterns of the model genes. LBX2 facilitates the proliferation of OC. Histone modification‐related genes have the potential to serve as biomarkers for predicting OC prognosis. Targeting these genes may lead to the development of more effective therapies for OC. Additionally, LBX2 represents a novel cell proliferation promoter in OC carcinogenesis.
Construction of a prognostic model with CAFs for predicting the prognosis and immunotherapeutic response of lung squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Xiang , Xiao Qingqing , Zhang Cong , Zhou Qinghua , Xu Tao 
Published: March 2024

AbstractLung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is one of the subtypes of lung cancer (LC) that contributes to approximately 25%–30% of its prevalence. Cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key cellular components of the TME, and the large number of CAFs in tumour tissues creates a favourable environment for tumour development. However, the function of CAFs in the LUSC is complex and uncertain. First, we processed the scRNA‐seq data and classified distinct types of CAFs. We also identified prognostic CAFRGs using univariate Cox analysis and conducted survival analysis. Additionally, we assessed immune cell infiltration in CAF clusters using ssGSEA. We developed a model with a significant prognostic correlation and verified the prognostic model. Furthermore, we explored the immune landscape of LUSC and further investigated the correlation between malignant features and LUSC. We identified CAFs and classified them into three categories: iCAFs, mCAFs and apCAFs. The survival analysis showed a significant correlation between apCAFs and iCAFs and LUSC patient prognosis. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that patients in CAF cluster C showed a better survival probability compared to clusters A and B. In addition, we identified nine significant prognostic CAFRGs (CLDN1, TMX4, ALPL, PTX3, BHLHE40, TNFRSF12A, VKORC1, CST3 and ADD3) and subsequently employed multivariate Cox analysis to develop a signature and validate the model. Lastly, the correlation between CAFRG and malignant features indicates the potential role of CAFRG in promoting tumour angiogenesis, EMT and cell cycle alterations. We constructed a CAF prognostic signature for identifying potential prognostic CAFRGs and predicting the prognosis and immunotherapeutic response for LUSC. Our study may provide a more accurate prognostic assessment and immunotherapy targeting strategies for LUSC.