bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Decay of Skin-Specific Gene Modules in Pangolins
Authors: Pinto Bernardo , Valente Raul , Caramelo Filipe , Ruivo Raquel , Castro L. Filipe C. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe mammalian skin exhibits a rich spectrum of evolutionary adaptations. The pilosebaceous unit, composed of the hair shaft, follicle, and the sebaceous gland, is the most striking synapomorphy. The evolutionary diversification of mammals across different ecological niches was paralleled by the appearance of an ample variety of skin modifications. Pangolins, order Pholidota, exhibit keratin-derived scales, one of the most iconic skin appendages. This formidable armor is intended to serve as a deterrent against predators. Surprisingly, while pangolins have hair on their abdomens, the occurrence of sebaceous and sweat glands is contentious. Here, we explore various molecular modules of skin physiology in four pangolin genomes, including that of sebum production. We show that genes driving wax monoester formation, Awat1/2, show patterns of inactivation in the stem pangolin branch, while the triacylglycerol synthesis gene Dgat2l6 seems independently eroded in the African and Asian clades. In contrast, Elovl3 implicated in the formation of specific neutral lipids required for skin barrier function is intact and expressed in the pangolin skin. An extended comparative analysis shows that genes involved in skin pathogen defense and structural integrity of keratinocyte layers also show inactivating mutations: associated with both ancestral and independent pseudogenization events. Finally, we deduce that the suggested absence of sweat glands is not paralleled by the inactivation of the ATP-binding cassette transporter Abcc11, as previously described in Cetacea. Our findings reveal the sophisticated and complex history of gene retention and loss as key mechanisms in the evolution of the highly modified mammalian skin phenotypes.
Caution: shortcomings of traditional segmentation methods from magnetic resonance imaging brain scans intended for 3-dimensional surface modelling in children with pathology
Authors: Chacko Anith , Schoeman Sean , Venkatakrishna Shyam Sunder B. , Bolton Samuel , Shearn Andrew I. U. , Andronikou Savvas 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThis technical innovation assesses the adaptability of some common automated segmentation tools on abnormal pediatric magnetic resonance (MR) brain scans. We categorized 35 MR scans by pathologic features: (1) “normal”; (2) “atrophy”; (3) “cavity”; (4) “other.” The following three tools, (1) Computational Anatomy Toolbox version 12 (CAT12); (2) Statistical Parametic Mapping version 12 (SPM12); and (3) MRTool, were tested on each scan—with default and adjusted settings. Success was determined by radiologist consensus on the surface accuracy. Automated segmentation failed in scans demonstrating severe surface brain pathology. Segmentation of the “cavity” group was ineffective, with success rates of 23.1% (CAT12), 69.2% (SPM12) and 46.2% (MRTool), even with refined settings and manual edits. Further investigation is required to improve this workflow and automated segmentation methodology for complex surface pathology.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Plastic Surgery Residents Across the World: A Country-, Region-, and Income-level Analysis
Authors: Karamitros Georgios , Kontoes Paraskevas , Wiedner Maria , Goulas Sofoklis 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended graduate medical education globally. We investigated the COVID-19 impact on learning inputs and expected learning outputs of plastic surgery residents across the world.

Methods
We administered an online survey capturing training inputs before and during the pandemic and retrieved residents’ expected learning outputs compared with residents who completed their training before COVID. The questionnaire reached residents across the world through the mobilization of national and international societies of plastic surgeons.

Results
The analysis included 412 plastic surgery residents from 47 countries. The results revealed a 44% decline (ranging from − 79 to 10% across countries) and an 18% decline (ranging from − 76 to across 151% countries) in surgeries and seminars, respectively, per week. Moreover, 74% (ranging from 0 to 100% across countries) and 43% (ranging from 0 to 100% across countries) of residents expected a negative COVID-19 impact on their surgical skill and scientific knowledge, respectively. We found strong correlations only between corresponding input and output: surgeries scrubbed in with surgical skill (ρ = −0.511 with p < 0.001) and seminars attended with scientific knowledge (ρ = − 0.274 with p = 0.006).

Conclusions
Our ranking of countries based on their COVID-19 impacts provides benchmarks for national strategies of learning recovery. Remedial measures that target surgical skill may be more needed than those targeting scientific knowledge. Our finding of limited substitutability of inputs in training suggests that it may be challenging to make up for lost operating room time with more seminars. Our results support the need for flexible training models and competency-based advancement.

Level of evidence V
This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors http://www.springer.com/00266.
First observations of Weddell seals foraging in sponges in Erebus Bay, Antarctica
Authors: Foster-Dyer Rose T. N. , Goetz Kimberly T. , Pinkerton Matthew H. , Iwata Takashi , Holser Rachel R. , Michael Sarah A. , Pritchard Craig , Childerhouse Simon , Rotella Jay , Federwisch Luisa , Costa Daniel P. , LaRue Michelle A. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractAttaching cameras to marine mammals allows for first-hand observation of underwater behaviours that may otherwise go unseen. While studying the foraging behaviour of 26 lactating Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) in Erebus Bay during the austral spring of 2018 and 2019, we witnessed three adults and one pup investigating the cavities of Rossellidae glass sponges, with one seal visibly chewing when she removed her head from the sponge. To our knowledge, this is the first report of such behaviour. While the prey item was not identifiable, some Trematomus fish (a known Weddell seal prey) use glass sponges for shelter and in which to lay their eggs. Three of the four sponge foraging observations occurred around 13:00 (NZDT). Two of the three sponge foraging adults had higher-than-average reproductive rates, and the greatest number of previous pups of any seal in our study population, each having ten pups in 12 years. This is far higher than the study population average of three previous pups (± 2.6 SD). This novel foraging strategy may have evolved in response to changes in prey availability, and could offer an evolutionary advantage to some individuals that exploit prey resources that others may not. Our observations offer new insight into the foraging behaviours of one of the world’s most studied marine mammals. Further research on the social aspects of Weddell seal behaviour may increase our understanding of the extent and mechanisms of behavioural transfer between conspecifics. Research into the specific foraging behaviour of especially successful or experienced breeders is also warranted.
An MDS-based unifying approach to time series K-means clustering: application in the dynamic time warping framework
Authors: Vera J. Fernando , Angulo José M. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractPartitioning algorithms, and in particular K-means clustering, are widely used in time series analysis. K-means clustering is intrinsically related to the use of the Euclidean distance as a measure of dissimilarity. When other dissimilarity measures, such as dynamic time warping, are involved, K-means clustering is usually replaced by the optimisation of a sums-of-the-stars clustering criterion, giving rise to an algorithm other than that of K-means, such as K-medoids. Another common restriction in the implementation of K-means concerns the need to estimate the average as the cluster prototype, which may represent a drawback for this method in time series when elastic measures such as dynamic time warping are used. In this paper, we propose a multidimensional scaling based K-means clustering algorithm that enables the use of K-means clustering together with any dissimilarity measure, and in particular with dynamic time warping, without requiring us to estimate cluster prototypes for the time series. This procedure is a true K-means clustering algorithm that searches for the partition in an equivalent auxiliary configuration, usually in a dimension lower than the time series length. The approach proposed is of particular interest when dynamic time warping is used in the analysis of series of unequal length and/or when some data are missing, and hence Euclidean distances cannot be used. The performance of our procedure is tested by conducting an extensive Monte Carlo experiment, comparing the results with those obtained by K-medoids. The procedure is also illustrated with the analysis of carbon dioxide emissions from 133 countries.
Forest GUMP: a tool for verification and explanation
Authors: Murtovi Alnis , Bainczyk Alexander , Nolte Gerrit , Schlüter Maximilian , Steffen Bernhard 
Published: May 2023

AbstractIn this paper, we present Forest GUMP (for Generalized, Unifying Merge Process) a tool for verification and precise explanation of Random forests. Besides pre/post-condition-based verification and equivalence checking, Forest GUMP also supports three concepts of explanation, the well-known model explanation and outcome explanation, as well as class characterization, i.e., the precise characterization of all samples that are equally classified. Key technology to achieve these results is algebraic aggregation, i.e., the transformation of a Random Forest into a semantically equivalent, concise white-box representation in terms of Algebraic Decision Diagrams (ADDs). The paper sketches the method and demonstrates the use of Forest GUMP along illustrative examples. This way readers should acquire an intuition about the tool, and the way how it should be used to increase the understanding not only of the considered dataset, but also of the character of Random Forests and the ADD technology, here enriched to comprise infeasible path elimination. As Forest GUMP is publicly available all experiments can be reproduced, modified, and complemented using any dataset that is available in the ARFF format.
First three years of the international verification of neural networks competition (VNN-COMP)
Authors: Brix Christopher , Müller Mark Niklas , Bak Stanley , Johnson Taylor T. , Liu Changliu 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThis paper presents a summary and meta-analysis of the first three iterations of the annual International Verification of Neural Networks Competition (VNN-COMP), held in 2020, 2021, and 2022. In the VNN-COMP, participants submit software tools that analyze whether given neural networks satisfy specifications describing their input-output behavior. These neural networks and specifications cover a variety of problem classes and tasks, corresponding to safety and robustness properties in image classification, neural control, reinforcement learning, and autonomous systems. We summarize the key processes, rules, and results, present trends observed over the last three years, and provide an outlook into possible future developments.
Field Testing the “Avoid the Needle” Intervention for Persons at Risk for Transitioning to Injecting Drug Use in Tallinn, Estonia and New York City, USA
Authors: Jarlais Don C Des , McKnight Courtney , Weng Chenziheng Allen , Feelemyer Jonathan , Tross Susan , Raag Mait , Org Greete , Talu Ave , Uuskula Anneli 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThis study aimed to field tested the “Avoid the Needle” (AtN) intervention to reduce transitions from non-injecting to injecting drug use in two different epidemiological settings. Respondent driven sampling was used to recruit current non-injecting drug users (NIDUs) in Tallinn, Estonia in 2018-19 and in New York City (NYC) in 2019-20. Both persons who had never injected and persons who had previously injected but not in the last 6 months were eligible; a structured interview was administered, a blood sample collected, and the intervention administered by trained interventionists. We recruited 19 non-injectors from Tallinn and 140 from NYC. Participants in Tallinn were younger and had begun using drugs at earlier ages than participants in NYC. The primary drugs used in Tallinn were amphetamine, fentanyl, and opioid analgesics, while in NYC they were heroin, cocaine, speedball, and fentanyl. Six-month follow-up data were obtained from 95% of participants in Tallinn. The study was interrupted by COVID-19 lockdown in NYC, but follow-up data were obtained from 59% of participants. There were minimal transitions to injecting: 1/18 in Tallinn and 0/83 in NYC. There were significant declines in the frequencies of using readily injectable drugs (fentanyl, amphetamine, heroin, cocaine) from baseline to follow-up in both sites (Cochran-Armitage tests for trend, χ2 = 21.3, p < 0.001 for New York City; and χ2 = 3.9, p = 0.048 for Tallinn). Reducing transitions into injecting is a potentially very important method for reducing HIV transmission and other harms of drug use. Further investigation and implementation of AtN type interventions is warranted.
Optimal selection and investment-allocation decisions for sustainable supplier development practices
Authors: Bai Chunguang , Govindan Kannan , Dhavale Dileep 
Published: May 2023

AbstractOrganization’s sustainability performance is influenced by its suppliers’ sustainability performance. This relationship makes sustainable supplier development a strategic competitive option for a buyer or focal organization. When considering sustainable supplier development practices (SSDPs) adoption, organizations have to balance and consider their limited financial resources and operational constraints. It becomes necessary to both select the best SSDPs set and investment allocation among the selected SSDP set such that the organization can maximize overall sustainability performance level. In this paper, an integrated formal modeling methodology using DEMATEL, the NK model, and multi-objective linear programming model is used support this objective. The proposed methodology is evaluated in a practical sustainable supply chain field study of an equipment manufacturing company in China. Through case study, we found that the interdependency among SSDPs must be considered in SSDPs selection and investment allocation problem. Theoretical, managerial and methodology implications, conclusions, and directions for future research are also presented.
Frequency Analysis of EEG Microstate Sequences in Wakefulness and NREM Sleep
Authors: Wiemers Milena C. , Laufs Helmut , von Wegner Frederic 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe majority of EEG microstate analyses concern wakefulness, and the existing sleep studies have focused on changes in spatial microstate properties and on microstate transitions between adjacent time points, the shortest available time scale. We present a more extensive time series analysis of unsmoothed EEG microstate sequences in wakefulness and non-REM sleep stages across many time scales. Very short time scales are assessed with Markov tests, intermediate time scales by the entropy rate and long time scales by a spectral analysis which identifies characteristic microstate frequencies. During the descent from wakefulness to sleep stage N3, we find that the increasing mean microstate duration is a gradual phenomenon explained by a continuous slowing of microstate dynamics as described by the relaxation time of the transition probability matrix. The finite entropy rate, which considers longer microstate histories, shows that microstate sequences become more predictable (less random) with decreasing vigilance level. Accordingly, the Markov property is absent in wakefulness but in sleep stage N3, 10/19 subjects have microstate sequences compatible with a second-order Markov process. A spectral microstate analysis is performed by comparing the time-lagged mutual information coefficients of microstate sequences with the autocorrelation function of the underlying EEG. We find periodic microstate behavior in all vigilance states, linked to alpha frequencies in wakefulness, theta activity in N1, sleep spindle frequencies in N2, and in the delta frequency band in N3. In summary, we show that EEG microstates are a dynamic phenomenon with oscillatory properties that slow down in sleep and are coupled to specific EEG frequencies across several sleep stages.
“Do Something Simple for the Climate”: How Collective Counter-Conduct Reproduces Consumer Responsibilization
Authors: Döbbe Friederike , Cederberg Emilia 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThis paper studies consumers’ reactions and resistance to being responsibilized for making climate-friendly food choices. While resistance to consumer responsibilization has been studied from an individual experiential perspective, we examine its collective characteristics. We do this by tracing the controversial marketing campaign of a Swedish poultry producer, encouraging consumers to “do something simple for the climate” by eating chicken rather than beef. In our analysis of social media comments and formal complaints to the consumer protection authority, we mobilize Foucault’s notion of counter-conduct to analyse subtle forms of resistance to consumer responsibilization. We identified four interrelated yet distinct forms of consumer counter-conduct: challenging truth claims, demanding ‘more,’ constructing ‘the misled consumer,’ and rejecting vilification. By theorizing these counter-conducts, we demonstrate how consumers collectively contested both the means and ends of responsibilization—but not the underlying premise of individualized responsibility. Thus, our study helps to explain how consumers’ resistance reproduces, rather than undermines, responsibilization.
Fidelity and Clinical Competence in Providing Illness Management and Recovery: An Explorative Study
Authors: Roosenschoon Bert-Jan , van Weeghel Jaap , Deen Mathijs L. , van Esveld Emmie W. , Kamperman Astrid M. , Mulder Cornelis L. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractIllness Management and Recovery (IMR) is a psychosocial intervention supporting people with serious mental illnesses. In this study, 15 IMR groups were assessed for fidelity and clinician competency to establish the implementation level of all IMR elements and explore complementarity of the IMR Treatment Integrity Scale (IT-IS) to the standard IMR Fidelity Scale. Use of the IT-IS was adapted, similar to the IMR Fidelity Scale. Descriptive statistics were applied. Implementation success of IMR elements varied widely on the IMR Fidelity Scale and IT-IS (M = 3.94, SD = 1.13, and M = 3.29, SD = 1.05, respectively). Twelve IMR elements (60%) were well-implemented, whereas eight (40%) were implemented insufficiently, including some critical cognitive-behavioral techniques (e.g., role-playing). The scales appeared largely complementary, though strongly correlated (r (13) = 0.74, p = 0.002). Providing all IMR elements adequately requires a variety of clinical skills. Specific additional training and supervision may be necessary.
A Gibbs sampler for multi-species occupancy models
Authors: Clark Allan Ernest , Altwegg Res 
Published: May 2023

AbstractMulti-species occupancy (MSO) models use detection-nondetection data from species observed at different locations to estimate the probability that a particular species occupies a particular geographical region. The models are particularly useful for estimating the occupancy probabilities associated with rare species since they are seldom observed when undertaking field surveys. In this paper, we develop Gibbs sampling algorithms that can be used to fit various Bayesian MSO models to detection-nondetection data. Bayesian analysis of these models can be undertaken using statistical packages such as JAGS, Stan, and NIMBLE. However, since these packages were not developed specifically to fit occupancy models, one often experiences long run-times when undertaking analysis. However, we find that these packages that were not developed specifically to fit MSO models are less efficient than our special-purpose Gibbs sampling algorithms.
Residential proximity to petrol stations and risk of childhood leukemia
Authors: Malavolti Marcella , Malagoli Carlotta , Filippini Tommaso , Wise Lauren A , Bellelli Alessio , Palazzi Giovanni , Cellini Monica , Costanzini Sofia , Teggi Sergio , Vinceti Marco 
Published: May 2023

AbstractPetrol stations emit benzene and other contaminants that have been associated with an increased risk of childhood leukemia. We carried out a population-based case-control study in two provinces in Northern Italy. We enrolled 182 cases of childhood leukemia diagnosed during 1998–2019 and 726 age- and sex-matched population controls. We geocoded the addresses of child residences and 790 petrol stations located in the study area. We estimated leukemia risk according to distance from petrol stations within a 1000 m buffer and amount of supplied fuel within a buffer of 250 m from the child’s residence. We used conditional logistic regression models to approximate risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations of interest, adjusted for potential confounders. We also modeled non-linear associations using restricted cubic splines. In secondary analyses, we restricted to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases and stratifed by age (<5 and ≥5 years). Compared with children who lived≥1000 m from a petrol station, the RR was 2.2 (95% CI 0.5–9.4) for children living<50 m from nearest petrol station. Associations were stronger for the ALL subtype (RR=2.9, 95% CI 0.6–13.4) and among older children (age≥5 years: RR=4.4, 95% CI 0.6–34.1; age<5 years: RR=1.6, 95% CI 0.1–19.4). Risk of leukemia was also greater (RR=1.6, 95% CI 0.7–3.3) among the most exposed participants when assigning exposure categories based on petrol stations located within 250 m of the child’s residence and total amount of gasoline delivered by the stations. Overall, residence within close proximity to a petrol station, especially one with more intense refueling activity, was associated with an increased risk of childhood leukemia, though associations were imprecise.