bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Functional compensation in a savanna scavenger community
Authors: Walker Alice E. L. , Robertson Mark P. , Eggleton Paul , Fisher Adam M. , Parr Catherine L. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Functional redundancy, the potential for the functional role of one species to be fulfilled by another, is a key determinant of ecosystem viability. Scavenging transfers huge amount of energy through ecosystems and is, therefore, crucial for ecosystem viability and healthy ecosystem functioning. Despite this, relatively few studies have examined functional redundancy in scavenger communities. Moreover, the results of these studies are mixed and confined to a very limited range of habitat types and taxonomic groups.

This study attempts to address this knowledge gap by conducting a field experiment in an undisturbed natural environment assessing functional roles and redundancy in vertebrate and invertebrate scavenging communities in a South African savanna.

We used a large‐scale field experiment to suppress ants in four 1 ha plots in a South African savanna and paired each with a control plot. We distributed three types of small food bait: carbohydrate, protein and seed, across the plots and excluded vertebrates from half the baits using cages. Using this combination of ant suppression and vertebrate exclusion, allowed us explore the contribution of non‐ant invertebrates, ants and vertebrates in scavenging and also to determine whether either ants or vertebrates were able to compensate for the loss of one another.

In this study, we found the invertebrate community carried out a larger proportion of overall scavenging services than vertebrates. Moreover, although scavenging was reduced when either invertebrates or vertebrates were absent, the presence of invertebrates better mitigated the functional loss of vertebrates than did the presence of vertebrates against the functional loss of invertebrates. There is a commonly held assumption that the functional role of vertebrate scavengers exceeds that of invertebrate scavengers; our results suggest that this is not true for small scavenging resources.

Our study highlights the importance of invertebrates for securing healthy ecosystem functioning both now and into the future. We also build upon many previous studies which show that ants can have particularly large effects on ecosystem functioning. Importantly, our study suggests that scavenging in some ecosystems may be partly resilient to changes in the scavenging community, due to the potential for functional compensation by vertebrates and ants.
Expertise, policy advice, and policy advisory systems in an open, participatory, and populist era: New challenges to research and practice
Authors: Craft Jonathan , Head Brian , Howlett Michael 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis article examines the themes of policy advice, expertise, and policy advisory systems. It argues that persistent challenges and more emergent trends involving their intersection can be effectively understood through the lenses of instrumentality, authority, and adaptability. In the wake of renewed questions about the continued viability of longstanding public administration advisory arrangements, these themes help locate new pressures on those arrangement such as those linked to technological developments, shifting conceptions of expertise, and growing recognition of the challenges of managing systems of advice. These themes help facilitate continued engagement with persistent challenges linked to adequate policy capacity, the role of the public service advice, and question of rigour, legitimacy, and the democratic contexts of policy advising.Points for practitioners
Technological innovations and turbulent governance arrangements have renewed debates around technocracy, democratic control and participation, the role of evidence, and normative and ethical considerations inherent in the generation and use of policy advice.
Policy capacity remains important for well‐functioning policy advisory systems. It has itself become multifaceted reflecting not only important differences in types of expertise and policy advice, but also concerns around its management and deployment in varying governance contexts.
The competencies required for policy workers inside and outside of government should reflect changes in the role of expertise and evolving systems of policy advice.
Oral delivery of probiotics using single‐cell encapsulation
Authors: Han Jiaqi , McClements David Julian , Liu Xuebo , Liu Fuguo 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAdequate intake of live probiotics is beneficial to human health and wellbeing because they can help treat or prevent a variety of health conditions. However, the viability of probiotics is reduced by the harsh environments they experience during passage through the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Consequently, the oral delivery of viable probiotics is a significant challenge. Probiotic encapsulation provides a potential solution to this problem. However, the production methods used to create conventional encapsulation technologies often damage probiotics. Moreover, the delivery systems produced often do not have the required physicochemical attributes or robustness for food applications. Single‐cell encapsulation is based on forming a protective coating around a single probiotic cell. These coatings may be biofilms or biopolymer layers designed to protect the probiotic from the harsh gastrointestinal environment, enhance their colonization, and introduce additional beneficial functions. This article reviews the factors affecting the oral delivery of probiotics, analyses the shortcomings of existing encapsulation technologies, and highlights the potential advantages of single‐cell encapsulation. It also reviews the various approaches available for single‐cell encapsulation of probiotics, including their implementation and the characteristics of the delivery systems they produce. In addition, the mechanisms by which single‐cell encapsulation can improve the oral bioavailability and health benefits of probiotics are described. Moreover, the benefits, limitations, and safety issues of probiotic single‐cell encapsulation technology for applications in food and beverages are analyzed. Finally, future directions and potential challenges to the widespread adoption of single‐cell encapsulation of probiotics are highlighted.
Provenance Analysis of the Cenozoic Sedimentary Successions in the Ningnan Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau: Constraints on Sedimentological and Tectonomorphological Evolution
Authors: ZHAO Xiaochen , ZHAO Shaowei , LIU Chiyang , WANG Jianqiang , HUANG Lei , NIU Yazhuo , CHEN Yingtao , DU Fangpeng , PENG Heng , FENG Zeyi , DONG Yingchun 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe evolution and reforming history of the Cenozoic basins in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau (NETP) are significant for understanding the northeastward growth of the Tibetan Plateau. The sediments in these basins archived the spatial‐temporal patterns of the surface uplift and deformation processes in response to remote effects of growth of the NETP. Here, we present an integrated provenance analysis of the Ningnan basin in the NETP to provide direct insights into the basin evolution and further constraints of the Tibetan Plateau's northeastward growth. In this study, the Cenozoic strata (Sikouzi, Qingshuiying, Zhang'enpu and Ganhegou formations) in the Ningnan basin yield complex detrital zircon age distributions featured by predominant age populations at 200–360 Ma and 360–540 Ma with minor Precambrian ages. Detrital zircon U‐Pb ages indicate that the southwestern Ordos Block, the western Qinling orogenic belt, and the eastern Qilian orogenic belt are primary source areas. Additionally, adjacent local paleo‐uplifts (e.g., Xihua, Nanhua, Xiangshan, Liupan Mts.) also provided minor volumes of sediment. In addition, conglomerates and paleocurrent directions of the Sikouzi–Ganhegou formations exhibit an apparent change since the late Miocene, revealing an obvious provenance shift. The quantitatively determined mixing proportions of the surrounding source areas also reveals that the early source‐to‐sink system was replaced during the deposition of the Ganhegou Formation. Combined with previous studies, we suggest that the formation of the Ningnan basin was controlled by normal faults in extension setting and experienced continued sediment accumulation during the Qingshuiying–Zhang'enpu period; since the late Miocene, the significant provenance shift reflects the obvious northeastward growth of the NETP and led to the extinction of the Ningnan basin.
Peace as a hypothetical imperative: Brazil's foreign policy standpoint on the war in Ukraine
Authors: Belém Lopes Dawisson , Vázquez Karin Costa 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe text traces Brazil's pacifist stance back to the early 20th century, rooted in a pragmatic approach to conserve resources and foster economic growth. It discusses the role of public opinion in shaping Brazil's response to the conflict, highlighting a pro‐neutrality tendency within the populace. The article also analyses the continuity of Brazil's stance under two different presidents, emphasising that despite a change in leadership, there has been no structural shift in foreign policy concerning this matter. We then reflect on Brazil's evolving role on the global stage, considering its historical alignment with the West and the changing dynamics driven by factors such as China's rising influence and the BRICS grouping. The continuing conflict in Ukraine is portrayed as an illustrative case, providing insights on the prospective foreign policy conduct of Global South actors.
The benefits of neutrality: Saudi foreign policy in the wake of the Ukraine war
Authors: Heibach Jens 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis article assesses Saudi Arabia's ambivalent response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. On the one hand, the Kingdom has publicly condemned Russia's military aggression as contravening international law. Yet, on the other, it has also failed to take serious measures against Moscow, notably by refusing to join in Western attempts to prevent Russia from earning hydrocarbon revenues on the international market. Saudi Arabia has adopted a neutral position instead, offering to mediate between the warring parties while simultaneously repeatedly rebuffing its longtime ally the United States. By reviewing the Kingdom's foreign policy moves and narratives since the war's onset, it is argued Saudi officials are acting perfectly rationally in that they strive to achieve the optimum outcome as per their definition of Saudi national interests in this conflict, thereby pressing ahead with the diversification of Saudi foreign policy initiated roughly one decade earlier. In concluding, the implications of the Kingdom's stance on the war for future global order‐making are discussed.
Identification of candidate genes associated with milk production and mastitis based on transcriptome‐wide association study
Authors: Hosseinzadeh Sevda , Rafat Seyed Abbas , Javanmard Arash , Fang Lingzhao 
Published: April 2024

AbstractGenetic research for the assessment of mastitis and milk production traits simultaneously has a long history. The main issue that arises in this context is the known existence of a positive correlation between the risk of mastitis and lactation performance due to selection. The transcriptome‐wide association study (TWAS) approach endeavors to combine the expression quantitative trait loci and genome‐wide association study summary statistics to decode complex traits or diseases. Accordingly, we used the farmgtex project results as a complete bovine database for mastitis and milk production. The results of colocalization and TWAS approaches were used for the detection of functional associated candidate genes with milk production and mastitis traits on multiple tissue‐based transcriptome records. Also, we used the david database for gene ontology to identify significant terms and associated genes. For the identification of interaction networks, the genemania and string databases were used. Also, the available z‐scores in TWAS results were used for the calculation of the correlation between tissues. Therefore, the present results confirm that LYNX1, DGAT1, C14H8orf33, and LY6E were identified as significant genes associated with milk production in eight, six, five, and five tissues, respectively. Also, FBXL6 was detected as a significant gene associated with mastitis trait. CLN3 and ZNF34 genes emerged via both the colocalization and TWAS approaches as significant genes for milk production trait. It is expected that TWAS and colocalization can improve our perception of the potential health status control mechanism in high‐yielding dairy cows.
Adverse impacts in residential aged care facilities: The resident perspective
Authors: St Clair Bella , Nguyen Amy , Jorgensen Mikaela , Georgiou Andrew 
Published: April 2024

AbstractObjectivesInclusion of consumer perspectives is a key component to person‐centred health‐care approaches. While current residential aged care systems focus on recording adverse events to meet the requirements of regulatory reporting, little is known about the views of residents. The aim of this research was to explore residents' responses on the types of incidents that have an adverse impact on them and how they are affected by these incidents.MethodsThe study used a qualitative, inductive approach to derive themes from interviews with 20 permanent residents of aged care facilities in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.ResultsFour main themes surrounding adverse incidents emerged: (i) social relationships and the adverse impacts of lack of meaningful interactions, (ii) adjustment to life in the residential aged care facility and the loss of residents' former life and self‐determination, (iii) the impact of COVID‐19 lockdowns which meant that residents were not able to go out or interact with others and (iv) acceptance, resignation and resilience in coping with adverse incidents.ConclusionsThis research highlights the difference between health‐care definition, used for incident management reporting and quality indicators, and the way residents respond when asked to describe an incident that has affected them. Resident responses discuss situations having an adverse effect on them in contrast to the way adverse events and incidents are reported and monitored. The findings suggest that within adverse event and incident management systems and resident governance systems, there is scope for incorporating periods of transitions and well‐being measures that capture elements that matter to older people.
Brodalumab for moderate–severe hidradenitis suppurativa: An open‐label multicentric cohort study in real clinical practice
Authors: Osorio‐Gómez Guiovana Fernanda , Ortiz‐Álvarez Juan , Diaz‐Ceca Delia , Guijarro‐Sánchez Cesar , Conejo‐Mir Sánchez Julián , Fernández Crehuet Pablo 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIntroductionThe use of biological therapy is becoming increasingly common in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Levels of serum TNF‐alfa and IL17 support the role of an immune system dysregulation in the pathogenesis of HS. Brodalumab targets the receptor A of IL‐17, thus having a promising role in the treatment of HS.Material and methodsA multicenter retrospective observational open‐label study was conducted in two tertiary hospitals. Adults with moderate to severe HS under treatment with brodalumab 210 mg at week 0, 1, 2 and then every 2 weeks were included and assessed at weeks 0 and 16 which was the median follow‐up time. Demographic and disease‐related variables as well as response parameters (HiSCR and IHS4) and safety data were recorded and analysed.ResultsA total of 16 patients (75% males) were included in our study. 50% of patients presented an inflammatory phenotype and mean BMI was 28.37. HiSCR was achieved in 50% of patients and mean IHS4 decreased from 24.13 to 16.81 (p = 0.002). No differences were found between those who achieved HiSCR and those who did not. Grade 2 adverse events were reported in three patients with no fatal outcomes and treatment discontinuation was advised in four patients.ConclusionsBrodalumab seems to be effective and safe in patients with moderate to severe HS, even in those that did not respond to adalimumab, which, at the moment, is the only widely approved biologic for this indication. Thus, it stands as an interesting option for the treatment of HS.
The Australian health workforce: Disproportionate shortfalls in small rural towns
Authors: Cortie Colin H. , Garne David , Parker‐Newlyn Lyndal , Ivers Rowena G. , Mullan Judy , Mansfield Kylie J. , Bonney Andrew 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIntroductionThe distribution of health care workers differs greatly across Australia, which is likely to impact health delivery.ObjectiveTo examine demographic and workplace setting factors of doctors, nurses and midwives, and allied health professionals across Modified Monash Model (MMM) regions and identify factors associated with shortfalls in the health care workforce.DesignDescriptive cross‐sectional analysis. The study included all health professionals who were registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency in 2021, and who were working in Australia in their registered profession. The study examined number of registrations and full‐timed equivalent (FTE) registrations per MMM region classification, adjusted for population. Associated variables included age, gender, origin of qualification, Indigenous status and participation in the private or public (including government, non‐government organisation and not‐for‐profit organisations) sectors.FindingsData were available for 31 221 general practitioners, 77 277 other doctors, 366 696 nurses and midwives, and 195 218 allied health professionals. The lowest FTE per 1000 people was seen in MM5 regions for general practitioners, other doctors, nurses and midwives, and allied health professionals. Demographic factors were mostly consistent across MM regions, although MM5 regions had a higher percentage of nurses and midwives and allied health professionals aged 55 and over. In the private sector, FTE per 1000 people was lowest in MM5‐7 regions. In the public sector, FTE per 1000 people was lowest in MM5 regions.DiscussionA disproportionate shortfall of health workers was seen in MM5 regions. This shortfall appears to be primarily due to low FTE per capita of private sector workers compared with MM1‐4 regions and a low FTE per capita of public sector workers compared with MM6‐7 regions.ConclusionIn Australia, small rural towns have the lowest number of health care workers per capita which is likely to lead to poor health outcomes for those regions.
High‐risk neighbourhoods and behaviour outcomes in children born extremely preterm
Authors: Nwanne Ogochukwu Y. , Rogers Michelle L. , McGowan Elisabeth C. , Tucker Richard , Vivier Patrick M. , Vohr Betty R. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAimStudy the association between neighbourhood risk and behaviour in extreme preterm (EPT) children. We hypothesised that EPT children living in high‐risk neighbourhoods have increased risk of clinical range behaviour problems at age 30–36 months.MethodsRetrospective analyses of Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)scores for 739 EPTs born 2005–2016. Addresses were geocoded to identify census block groups and create high versus low‐risk groups. Regression analyses assessed the impact of neighbourhood risk on behaviour.ResultsChildren from high‐risk (N = 272, 39%) and low‐risk (N = 417, 61%) neighbourhoods were compared. In adjusted analyses, odds of clinical range scores remained greater in high‐risk neighbourhoods for Emotionally Reactive (OR: 4.32, CI: 1.13, 16.51), Somatic Complaints (2.30, CI 1.11,4.79), Withdrawn (OR: 2.56, CI: 1.21, 5,42), Aggressive Behaviour (OR: 4.12, CI: 1.45, 11.68), Internalising (OR: 1.96, CI: 1.17, 3.28), and Total score (OR: 1.86, OR: CI: 1.13, 3.07). Cognitive delay was higher in high‐risk neighbourhoods and a risk factor for Attention Problems (2.10,1.08, 4.09). Breast milk was protective for Emotionally Reactive (OR: 0.22, CI: 0.06, 0.85) and Sleep Problems (OR: 0.47, CI:0.24, 0.94).ConclusionNeighbourhood risk provided an independent contribution to preterm adverse behaviour outcomes with cognitive delay an additional independent risk factor. Breast milk at discharge was protective.
To sleep or to breastfeed: Associations between feeding method and sleep in infants and children
Authors: Hershon Malka , Kiafar Anita , Laganière Christine , Pokhvisneva Irina , Gaudreau Hélène , Pennestri Marie‐Hélène 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAimThis study aimed to understand the association between feeding method, specifically breastfeeding versus non‐breastfeeding, at 6 and 12 months and infant sleep over the first 3 years of life.MethodsA sample of 444 mother‐infant dyads from the Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment cohort were analysed. Based on retrospective maternal reports between 3–24 months, infants' breastfeeding status was determined at 6 and 12 months. Nocturnal sleep duration, longest period of consecutive sleep, and total sleep over 24 h were measured by maternal reports at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months.ResultsGeneralized Estimating Equations revealed no significant association between feeding status, both at 6 and 12 months, and nocturnal sleep duration or total sleep over 24 h between 6–36 months (p > 0.05). However, breastfeeding at both 6 and 12 months was associated with shorter periods of consecutive sleep, at 6 and 12 months (p < 0.05) but not at 24 and 36 months (p > 0.05).ConclusionOur findings suggest that breastfeeding seems to be associated with more infant sleep fragmentation but not with total sleep duration in early infancy. However, this sleep fragmentation does not persist into later infancy and early toddlerhood.
Paediatric‐onset immune‐mediated inflammatory disease is associated with an increased mortality risk—A nationwide study
Authors: Malham Mikkel , Jansson Sabine , Ingels Helene , Jørgensen Marianne Hørby , Rod Naja Hulvej , Wewer Vibeke , Fox Matthew P. 
Published: April 2024

SummaryBackgroundPaediatric‐onset immune‐mediated inflammatory diseases (pIMID) show more aggressive phenotypes than when diagnosed in adults. However, data on mortality are often extrapolated from adult studies.AimTo estimate the effect of pIMID on mortality.MethodsIn a population‐based cohort study using the nationwide Danish healthcare registers, we included all patients diagnosed with pIMID in Denmark from 1980 to 2018. PIMID were defined as ICD codes indicative of autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, lupus erythematosus, or vasculitis registered before age 18 years. All‐cause mortality was the primary outcome; cause‐specific mortality was the secondary outcome. We used Cox survival analysis to estimate hazard ratios (HR), and Aalen survival analysis to estimate rate differences.ResultsWe included 11,581 individuals diagnosed with pIMID and 99,665 reference individuals, accounting for 1,371,994 person‐years of follow‐up. Median and interquartile (IQR) age at diagnosis was 12.6 (7.9–15.9) years. During follow‐up, 152 patients with pIMID and 316 reference individuals died; adjusted HR (aHR) was 3.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.1–4.7). This corresponded to 6.9 (95% CI: 5.3–8.5) additional deaths per 10,000 person‐years. The strongest associations were found for gastrointestinal diseases (aHR 22.8; 95% CI 9.6–64.1), gastrointestinal cancers (aHR 19.2; 95% CI 5.0–74.2) and lymphoproliferative disorders (aHR 6.8; 95% CI 2.8–16.8).ConclusionPatients diagnosed with pIMID have a fourfold higher risk of mortality when followed into early adulthood compared with reference individuals. This underlines the severe disease course of pIMID and highlights the need for multidisciplinary care.