bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rapid and large changes in coastal wetland structure in China's four major river deltas
Authors: Wang Xinxin , Xiao Xiangming , Zhang Xi , Wu Jihua , Li Bo 
Published: January 2023

AbstractCoastal wetlands provide essential ecosystem goods and services but are extremely vulnerable to sea‐level rise, extreme climate, and human activities, especially the coastal wetlands in large river deltas, which are regarded as “natural recorders” of changes in estuarine environments. In addition to the area (loss or gain) and quality (degradation or improvement) of coastal wetlands, the information on coastal wetland structure (e.g., patch size and number) are also major metrics for coastal restoration and biodiversity protection, but remain very limited in China's four major river deltas. In this study, we quantified the spatial–temporal dynamics of total area (TA) and patch number (PN) of coastal wetlands with different sizes in the four deltas and the protected areas (PAs) and assessed the effects of major driving factors during 1984–2020. We also investigated the effectiveness of PAs through the comparison of TA and PN of coastal wetlands before and after the years in which PAs were listed as Ramsar Sites. We found both TA and PN experienced substantial losses in the Liaohe River Delta and Yellow River Delta but recent recoveries in the Yangtze River Delta. The coastal wetlands had a relatively stable and variable trend in TA but had a continually increasing trend in PN in the Pearl River Delta. Furthermore, reduced coastal reclamation, ecological restoration projects, and rapid expansion of invasive plants had great impacts on the coastal wetland structure in various ways. We also found that PAs were effective in halting the decreasing trends in coastal wetland areas and slowing the expansion of reclamation, but the success of PAs is being counteracted by soaring exotic plant invasions. Our findings provide vital information for the government and the public to address increasing challenges of coastal restoration, management, and sustainability in large river deltas.
Cryptophytes: An emerging algal group in the rapidly changing Antarctic Peninsula marine environments
Authors: Mendes Carlos Rafael Borges , Costa Raul Rodrigo , Ferreira Afonso , Jesus Bruno , Tavano Virginia Maria , Dotto Tiago Segabinazzi , Leal Miguel Costa , Kerr Rodrigo , Islabão Carolina Antuarte , Franco Andréa de Oliveira da Rocha , Mata Mauricio M. , Garcia Carlos Alberto Eiras , Secchi Eduardo Resende 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) is a climatically sensitive region where foundational changes at the basis of the food web have been recorded; cryptophytes are gradually outgrowing diatoms together with a decreased size spectrum of the phytoplankton community. Based on a 11‐year (2008–2018) in‐situ dataset, we demonstrate a strong coupling between biomass accumulation of cryptophytes, summer upper ocean stability, and the mixed layer depth. Our results shed light on the environmental conditions favoring the cryptophyte success in coastal regions of the WAP, especially during situations of shallower mixed layers associated with lower diatom biomass, which evidences a clear competition or niche segregation between diatoms and cryptophytes. We also unravel the cryptophyte photo‐physiological niche by exploring its capacity to thrive under high light stress normally found in confined stratified upper layers. Such conditions are becoming more frequent in the Antarctic coastal waters and will likely have significant future implications at various levels of the marine food web. The competitive advantage of cryptophytes in environments with significant light level fluctuations was supported by laboratory experiments that revealed a high flexibility of cryptophytes to grow in different light conditions driven by a fast photo‐regulating response. All tested physiological parameters support the hypothesis that cryptophytes are highly flexible regarding their growing light conditions and extremely efficient in rapidly photo‐regulating changes to environmental light levels. This plasticity would give them a competitive advantage in exploiting an ecological niche where light levels fluctuate quickly. These findings provide new insights on niche separation between diatoms and cryptophytes, which is vital for a thorough understanding of the WAP marine ecosystem.
Aridity‐dependent sequence of water potentials for stomatal closure and hydraulic dysfunctions in woody plants
Authors: Jin Ying , Hao Guangyou , Hammond William M. , Yu Kailiang , Liu Xiaorong , Ye Qing , Zhou Zhenghu , Wang Chuankuan 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe sequence of physiological events during drought strongly impacts plants' overall performance. Here, we synthesized the global data of stomatal and hydraulic traits in leaves and stems of 202 woody species to evaluate variations in the water potentials for key physiological events and their sequence along the climatic gradient. We found that the seasonal minimum water potential, turgor loss point, stomatal closure point, and leaf and stem xylem vulnerability to embolism were intercorrelated and decreased with aridity, indicating that water stress drives trait co‐selection. In xeric regions, the seasonal minimum water potential occurred at lower water potential than turgor loss point, and the subsequent stomatal closure delayed embolism formation. In mesic regions, however, the seasonal minimum water potential did not pose a threat to the physiological functions, and stomatal closure occurred even at slightly more negative water potential than embolism. Our study demonstrates that the sequence of water potentials for physiological dysfunctions of woody plants varies with aridity, that is, xeric species adopt a more conservative sequence to prevent severe tissue damage through tighter stomatal regulation (isohydric strategy) and higher embolism resistance, while mesic species adopt a riskier sequence via looser stomatal regulation (anisohydric strategy) to maximize carbon uptake at the cost of hydraulic safety. Integrating both aridity‐dependent sequence of water potentials for physiological dysfunctions and gap between these key traits into the hydraulic framework of process‐based vegetation models would improve the prediction of woody plants' responses to drought under global climate change.
Cross‐sectional and longitudinal study of the relationship between phase angle and physical function in older adults
Authors: Asano Yujiro , Tsuji Taishi , Kim Mijin , Nagata Koki , Shibuya Kyohei , Tateoka Korin , Okura Tomohiro 
Published: January 2023

AimAlthough the validity of the assessment in older adults has been supported by several studies, cross‐sectional and longitudinal relationships between phase angle (PhA) and physical function by sex have not been clarified. This study aimed to examine (i) cross‐sectional relationships and (ii) longitudinal relationships between PhA and physical function in older adults.MethodsA total of 816 and 445 community‐dwelling older adults were included in cross‐sectional and longitudinal analyses, respectively. We evaluated their physical function using grip strength, 5‐repetition sit‐to‐stand test (5‐STS), 5‐meter habitual walk, Timed Up and Go test (TUG), single‐leg balance with eyes open, and sit‐and‐reach test. A multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyzer was used to determine the PhA at 50 kHz as well as the participants' body composition.ResultsIn the cross‐sectional analysis, a higher PhA was significantly associated with higher grip strength, sit‐and‐reach, single‐leg balance with eyes open, 5‐STS and lower TUG in women, as well as higher grip strength, single‐leg balance with eyes open, lower 5‐STS and TUG in men, adjusting for age, body mass index and muscle mass. In the longitudinal analysis, there was a significant interaction between PhA and year in the TUG test (B = −0.08; 95% CI, −0.136 to −0.025; P = 0.005) in men. There was no significant interaction between the PhA value and year for the other physical functions.ConclusionsThe PhA is a useful indicator for assessing physical function in both older men and women. Furthermore, the PhA may be able to predict mobility limitation in older men. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 141–147.
Cognitive frailty increases the risk of long‐term care dependency in community‐dwelling older adults: A nationwide cohort study in South Korea
Authors: Yi Jinseon , Yoon Ju Young 
Published: January 2023

AimTo investigate whether cognitive frailty, compared with physical frailty or cognitive impairment alone, substantially increased the risk of long‐term care (LTC) initiation in community‐dwelling older adults.MethodsSubjects comprised a total of 39 148 participants aged 66 years from the Korean National Health Insurance–Senior cohort database. Cognitive frailty was defined as the coexistence of physical frailty and cognitive impairment, which was measured by the Timed Up and Go test and the Korean Dementia Screening Questionnaire–Prescreening, respectively. A stratified Cox model was estimated to explore the association of frailty status with LTC initiation.ResultsThe baseline prevalence of cognitive frailty was 8.7%. During a mean follow‐up of 5.3 years, 646 older adults started receiving LTC services. Compared with the robust group, older adults with cognitive frailty showed the highest risk of LTC initiation (hazard ratio [HR], 2.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.08–3.35), followed by those with cognitive impairment (HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.26–2.07) and physical frailty (HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.25–1.81). Furthermore, cognitive frailty in depressed older adults (HR, 3.16; 95% CI, 2.31–4.33) showed a higher risk of LTC initiation than in nondepressed older adults (HR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.46–3.04).ConclusionsCognitive frailty was a significant predictor of LTC initiation among community‐dwelling older adults, particularly if they are depressed. Early detection and timely intervention may help to delay LTC initiation in older adults with concurrent cognitive frailty and depression. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 117–123.
Successful pediatric liver transplantation case with a positive SARS‐CoV‐2 test at the time of transplant
Authors: Shimizu Seiichi , Sakamoto Seisuke , Yamada Masaki , Funaki Takanori , Fukuda Akinari , Uchida Hajime , Okada Noriki , Nakao Toshimasa , Kodama Tasuku , Komine Ryuji , Shoji Kensuke , Baba Chiaki , Suzuki Yasuyuki , Nakagawa Satoshi , Ogimi Chikara , Kasahara Mureo 
Published: January 2023

AbstractAimWe report a successful liver transplantation (LT) in a child with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection.Case PresentationA 3‐year‐old female patient with decompensated cirrhosis due to Alagille syndrome underwent a split LT with a left lateral segment graft. She had a history of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection 4 months before LT. She was exposed to SARS‐CoV‐2 after the decision for organ acceptance. We repeatedly confirmed the negative SARS‐CoV‐2 test by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) before LT. Liver transplantation was carried out in the negative pressure operational theater with full airborne, droplet, and contact precautions as the patient was considered to be within the incubation period of SARS‐CoV‐2. The SARS‐CoV‐2 PCR test became positive in the nasopharyngeal swab specimen at the operation. Remdesivir, the antiviral treatment, was held off due to potential hepatotoxicity and no exacerbation of COVID‐19. She received tacrolimus and low‐dose steroids per protocol. She remained SARS‐CoV‐2 positive on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 2, and 5. The presence of antibodies for SARS‐CoV‐2 at LT was confirmed later. On POD 53, she was discharged without any symptomatic infection.ConclusionThis case demonstrated that a positive SARS‐CoV‐2 result was not an absolute contraindication for a life‐saving LT. Liver transplantation could be safely performed in a pediatric patient with asymptomatic COVID‐19 and S‐immunoglobulin G antibodies for SARS‐CoV‐2.
Pyroptosis in neutrophils: Multimodal integration of inflammasome and regulated cell death signaling pathways
Authors: Dubyak George R. , Miller Brandon A. , Pearlman Eric 
Published: January 2023

SummaryPyroptosis is a proinflammatory mode of lytic cell death mediated by accumulation of plasma membrane (PM) macropores composed of gasdermin‐family (GSDM) proteins. It facilitates two major functions in innate immunity: (i) elimination of intracellular replicative niches for pathogenic bacteria; and (ii) non‐classical secretion of IL‐1 family cytokines that amplify host‐beneficial inflammatory responses to microbial infection or tissue damage. Physiological roles for gasdermin D (GSDMD) in pyroptosis and IL‐1β release during inflammasome signaling have been extensively characterized in macrophages. This involves cleavage of GSDMD by caspase‐1 to generate GSDMD macropores that mediate IL‐1β efflux and progression to pyroptotic lysis. Neutrophils, which rapidly accumulate in large numbers at sites of tissue infection or damage, become the predominant local source of IL‐1β in coordination with their potent microbiocidal capacity. Similar to macrophages, neutrophils express GSDMD and utilize the same spectrum of diverse inflammasome platforms for caspase‐1‐mediated cleavage of GSDMD. Distinct from macrophages, neutrophils possess a remarkable capacity to resist progression to GSDMD‐dependent pyroptotic lysis to preserve their viability for efficient microbial killing while maintaining GSDMD‐dependent mechanisms for export of bioactive IL‐1β. Rather, neutrophils employ cell‐specific mechanisms to conditionally engage GSDMD‐mediated pyroptosis in response to bacterial pathogens that use neutrophils as replicative niches. GSDMD and pyroptosis have also been mechanistically linked to induction of NETosis, a signature neutrophil pathway that expels decondensed nuclear DNA into extracellular compartments for immobilization and killing of microbial pathogens. This review summarizes a rapidly growing number of recent studies that have produced new insights, unexpected mechanistic nuances, and some controversies regarding the regulation of, and roles for, neutrophil inflammasomes, pyroptosis, and GSDMs in diverse innate immune responses.
Midwifery Students’ Traumatic Childbirth Experiences, Traumatic Childbirth Perceptions, and Levels of Fear of Childbirth
Authors: Yilmaz Sezer Neslihan , Aker Menekşe Nazlı , Öz Beyza , Eren Dilara 
Published: January 2023

IntroductionAlthough childbirth is generally seen as a positive phenomenon, negative childbirth events can be experienced as well. Midwifery students are at risk of encountering traumatic events throughout their education. The primary aim of this research was to reveal midwifery students’ experiences of witnessing traumatic events at childbirth. The secondary aim was to determine the effects of traumatic childbirth experiences witnessed by midwifery students on their traumatic childbirth perceptions and levels of fear of childbirth.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study was conducted between January 1 and June 30, 2021. The study sample consisted of 517 midwifery students in Turkey. Data were collected using a descriptive information form, the Traumatic Childbirth Perception Scale (TCPS), and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for measuring fear of childbirth.ResultsThe majority (88%) of students witnessed a traumatic event at childbirth. The mean (SD) TCPS score was 59.7 (26.1), and the level of fear of childbirth measured with VAS was 5.1 (2.7). A moderate positive correlation was found between the VAS score and TCPS scores (r = .63; P < .001). Although the mean TCPS scores of students who witnessed a traumatic event were not signficiantly different from those who did not, their mean VAS score was higher than those who did not (P = .001). Among students who experiences traumatic events at childbirth, 35.8% stated that the traumatic events negatively affected their education, and 65.6% reported that they thought it would negatively affect their future professional life.DiscussionWitnessing traumatic events at childbirth is associated with increased perception of childbirth as traumatic and fear of childbirth in midwifery students. Traumatic experiences can affect midwifery students’ educational and professional lives. Educators in the field of midwifery should support students in coping with traumas.
Perspectives of family‐centred care at the end of life during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A qualitative descriptive study
Authors: Bloomer Melissa J. , Yuen Eva , Williams Ruth , Bouchoucha Stephane , Poon Peter , Runacres Fiona , Mooney Christine , Hutchinson Alison M. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractAimTo explore nurses' and family members' perspectives of family care at the end of life, during restricted visitation associated with the COVID‐19 pandemic.BackgroundTo minimise the transmission of COVID‐19, stringent infection prevention and control measures resulted in restricted hospital access for non‐essential workers and visitors, creating challenges for the provision of family‐centred care at the end of life.DesignQualitative descriptive approach based on naturalistic inquiry.MethodsAt a large public hospital in Melbourne, Australia, individual semi‐structured interviews were undertaken with 15 registered nurses who cared for patients who died during restricted visitation associated with the COVID‐19 pandemic, and 21 bereaved family members. COREQ guidelines informed analysis and reporting.ResultsFive themes developed from the data: (i) impact of visitor restrictions, which describes uncertain, ambiguous and arbitrary rules, onerous and inconsistent requirements; (ii) nurse‐family communication; (iii) family‐centred care and interrupted connections; (iv) well‐being and negative emotions; and (v) suggestions for a better way, such as moving away from the black and whiteness of the rules, prioritising communication, compassion and advocacy.ConclusionsNegative consequences for communication and the patient‐family connection at the end of life were felt deeply. The evolving COVID‐19 rules that were frequently revised and applied at short notice, and the subsequent consequences for clinical practices and care were felt deeply.Relevance to Clinical PracticeTechnology‐facilitated communication, innovation and increased resources must be prioritised to overcome the challenges described in this study. A family‐centred approach to care and emphasising the patient‐family connection at the end of life is fundamental to minimising trauma and distress associated with future public health emergencies.Patient or Public ContributionBereaved family members contributed their first‐hand experience. Members of the health service's patient experience team ensured the research was conducted in accordance with health service guidelines for patient and public contribution.
A brief report on the COVID‐19 pandemic and ideal family size in the United States
Authors: Behrman Julia 
Published: January 2023

AbstractObjectiveThis brief report explores whether the COVID‐19 Pandemic impacted ideal family size in the United States.BackgroundAlthough COVID‐19 negatively impacted short‐term fertility expectations, preferences, and behaviors in the United States, it remains unknown whether the pandemic contributed to changes in family size ideals more broadly.MethodThe sample consists of 1823 respondents from the General Social Survey (GSS) who were originally interviewed before the COVID‐19 pandemic (in 2016 and 2018) and were re‐interviewed in the first 6 months of the COVID‐19 pandemic (in August/September 2020), a period when pandemic‐related stress and uncertainty was particularly pronounced. A within‐person fixed effects approach is utilized.ResultsFindings from within‐person fixed effects analyses suggested that the pandemic had no impact on the quantum of ideal family size responses. These findings were robust to alternative specifications and were similar to what was observed in a parallel analysis of how the Great Recession impacted ideal family size.ConclusionFindings pointed to stability in ideal family size in the first 6 months of the COVID‐19 pandemic in the US.ImplicationsFuture work should explore the disjuncture between short‐term fertility intentions and behaviors and longer‐term family size ideals.
Diarrhoea‐associated haemolytic uraemic syndrome and Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli infections in New Zealand children: Clinical features and short‐term complications from a 23‐year cohort study
Authors: Wong William , Prestidge Chanel , Dickens Amanda , Ronaldson Jane 
Published: January 2023

BackgroundDiarrhoea‐associated haemolytic uraemic syndrome (D+HUS) is an important cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in young children and it is most commonly associated with Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Gastrointestinal infections caused by STEC have been increasing in New Zealand over the past two decades, but little is known regarding the acute and short‐term outcomes of New Zealand children who develop D+HUS.AimTo describe the clinical characteristics, complications and short‐term outcomes of New Zealand children with D+HUS identified between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2020.MethodsThe New Zealand Paediatric Surveillance Unit sends out a monthly survey to all practising paediatricians regarding conditions under active surveillance. Paediatricians caring for a child aged 0–15 years of age with D+HUS over the prior month were requested to report their patient. Reporting clinicians were then contacted by the principal investigator and sent a questionnaire requesting patient clinical and laboratory information.ResultsTwo hundred and twenty‐six children had D+HUS; median age 2.8 years (interquartile range 1.7–4.9). Acute dialysis was required in 128/226 (56.2%) of children for a median of 9 days (range 1–38). Children with shorter diarrhoeal prodrome, higher neutrophil count and haemoglobin had a longer duration of dialysis. Seizures occurred in 31/226 (13.7%) and were not associated with a greater HUS severity score. Acute mortality was 1.3%, all resulting from thrombotic microangiopathic cerebral injury.ConclusionD+HUS is a major cause of AKI in previously healthy young children. Earlier recognition of STEC infections in young children may reduce the need for dialysis and other extra‐renal complications. The New Zealand incidence of acute dialysis, other major complications and mortality are consistent with other reported studies.