bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Post‐fire recovery of sagebrush‐steppe communities is better explained by elevation than climate‐derived indicators of resistance and resilience
Authors: Applestein Cara V. , Germino Matthew J. 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

More landscapes require restoration than can feasibly be treated, and so decision‐support tools to prioritize areas for treatment are needed. Moreover, restoration is complicated by the threat of biological invasion in disturbed areas, and so indicators of ecosystem resistance to invasion and resilience to disturbance (hereafter R&R) are important candidate criteria for prioritizing sites for restoration.

We asked how climate‐based R&R indicators that differed in being either categorical or continuous compared in their ability to explain plant‐community recovery after six wildfires that collectively encompassed >750,000 ha and 7803 plot‐year observations in sagebrush steppe of the western USA. Unique associations of species that most frequently co‐occurred were identified using structural topic modelling. Mixed effect random forests were used to identify the relative importance of various R&R indicators in explaining post‐fire plant associations compared with weather, landscape characteristics and treatment history.

Simple metrics (elevation, latitude, longitude and year of monitoring) were more informative predictors of post‐fire recovery than climate‐based R&R indicators. However, small differences in the abundances of perennial grass and especially annual grass associations were predicted by the spring modified Thornthwaite Moisture Index (difference between precipitation and potential evapotranspiration).

Synthesis and applications: The convenience of categorical resistance and resilience indicators has led to their widespread adoption for large‐scale planning of restoration. Our results reveal that none of the resistance and resilience indicators assessed effectively explained post‐fire restoration better than elevation, although a simple continuous resistance and resilience indicator describing water balance performed better than categorical indicators for explaining small but critical differences in cheatgrass association abundances.
Learning to Stand on its own Two Feet: The Office for Students and the Crisis in Higher Education in England
Authors: Oliver Timothy J. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractIn order to address an ever‐growing crisis in higher education in England, policy makers need tools capable of meeting the challenge. Yet the Office for Students has been roundly criticised for its shortcomings as a regulator for the sector, weakening the response to its plethora of problems. This article argues that a combination of unclear goals and a lack of independence are two key problems that must be addressed if the Office for Students is to rise to the challenges facing the sector.
The Level of Green Development in China and Influencing Factors—A Case Study of the Huai River Ecological Economic Belt
Authors: Liu Yu , Yuan Hongjun , Zhao Xin 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTEnvironmental issues are significant challenges for China's growth, with green development being crucial. The Huai He River Ecological and Economic Belt (EEB), a vital north–south economic corridor, plays a key role in demonstrating ecological civilization and regional coordinated development, essential for China's eco‐progress. This study uses the super‐SBM‐DEA model to measure the green development efficiency (GDE) of the EEB from 2005 to 2020, introducing innovative input–output indicators like technological innovation, industrial, environmental, and social gains. It analyzes the GDE from multiple angles using the Malmquist index, Moran index, and Durbin model, examining the temporal and spatial evolution and influencing factors of the EEB. Four key findings emerge: (1) The EEB's green development level trends upward, with western urban areas showing superior sustainable growth and environmental efficiency compared with the east. (2) Technological progress is the primary driver for improving the green level in the EEB. (3) The spatial agglomeration of green development levels is increasing. (4) Technological innovation significantly influences the EEB's GDE, while the digital economy level and environmental regulation promote it. Conversely, a single energy structure, urbanization, and foreign investment negatively impact the GDE, whereas economic growth and industrial structure enhancement positively affect the region's GDE but may adversely affect neighboring areas. The study recommends strategies to advance the premium quality evolution of the EEB, tailored to its regional characteristics.
‘In or Out’ or ‘In‐And‐Out’: The Social Identity Transition of Female Academics During the Perinatal Period
Authors: Lai Yi‐Ling , Thorpe Andy 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTThe career trajectories of working mothers in academia could be adversely impacted by maternity breaks given the professional demand for consistent research performance. This study employs the postmodernist perspective of identity which addresses social context to unpack in‐depth accounts of female academics' social identity transition throughout their perinatal period (pregnancy till 1‐year post‐birth). We collected 93 critical incidents via interviews from 23 academics who completed their perinatal period between 2019 and 2022. We found the identity transition was more dynamic than linear. This enabled us to develop a multi‐dimensional identity grid matrix to illustrate the varied transitional statuses these mothers encountered as a consequence of the ongoing (re)negotiation between self and social structures (in‐and‐out of salient social identities). Hence, the social identities of academic mothers can be betwixt among multiple identities. The findings can help HR practitioners in forming a more supportive and consensual working culture, thereby and facilitating working mothers' ability to develop positive resources for a better social‐self.
Quality deterioration mechanism of freeze‐thawed sweet potato oat dough: In terms of ice crystals and protein changes
Authors: Wei Xinyu , Duan Xu , Liu Wenchao , Ren Guangyue , Li Linlin , Cao Weiwei , Chen Junliang , Sun Xiaofei , Zhao Linlin 
Published: January 2025

AbstractSweet potato–oat composite dough is a nutritious, functional dough with promising market potential. This study investigates its quality changes during freeze‐thaw cycles from the perspectives of ice crystals and protein alterations to provide theoretical support for its processing and production. After freeze‐thaw cycles, both the storage modulus and loss modulus of the dough decrease, resulting in increased hardness, reduced resilience and chewiness, lower sensory scores, decreased specific volume, and darker color. From the perspective of ice crystals, the formation and melting of ice crystals caused significant changes in water status: strongly bound water increased then decreased, weakly bound and free water decreased then increased, and freezable water content rose significantly (p < 0.05). These changes disrupted the dough's structure, leading to pore enlargement and collapse. From the protein perspective, freeze‐thaw treatment significantly reduced β‐folds and α‐helices, causing the protein structure to become loose and disordered, further affecting elasticity and viscosity. Results showed that after more than three freeze‐thaw cycles, the dough's processing properties and product quality deteriorated, making it unsuitable for further use.Practical ApplicationSweet potato oatmeal composite dough is a new type of functional composite dough, which is rich in nutrients and has a promising market prospect. This study reveals the mechanism of the influence of ice crystal formation and protein structure changes on the quality of sweet potato oat dough during freezing, which can provide a reference for the study of frozen dough of other miscellaneous grains. By exploring the changes in dough quality during freezing storage and transport, reasonable freezing storage and transport times and conditions were developed to reduce the effects of freezing and thawing on dough quality, and to ensure the taste and value of the product, thus providing consumers with better frozen pasta choices.
Supercritical fluid extrusion of pea flour and pea protein concentrate: Effects on off‐flavor removal and sensory improvement
Authors: Iqbal Aamir , Hosseini Abdul Fateh , Rizvi Syed S. H. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThis study was intended to provide a novel process that fills a knowledge gap in relation to the enhancement of pulses utilization. The primary goal was to develop an experimental framework for using a high‐pressure supercritical fluid extruder (SCFX) as a continuous bioreactor to produce off‐flavor reduced and functionally superior pulse flours and protein concentrates in a single step. The current study focused on using SCFX processing to remove off‐flavor from pulse flour and protein concentrates, enhancing the quality, acceptability, and marketability of pulse‐based products. Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC‐CO2), a well‐known green solvent, was employed in combination with an extrusion system to achieve off‐flavor reduction at larger scale. Using various methods such as headspace solid‐phase microextraction‐gas chromatography mass‐spectroscopy (HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS) and sensory evaluation, this study demonstrated that SCFX significantly reduced the off‐flavor in pea flour (PF) and pea protein concentrate (PPC). HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS analyses identified major off‐flavor compounds in unextruded PF and PPC, including 1‐hexanol, 1‐octanol, 1‐nonanol, nonanal, and 2‐alkyl methoxypyrazines. Following SCFX treatment, all these compounds except nonanal were removed. Total off‐flavor compound concentration dropped from 923 to 126.5 ng/g in PF, and from 571.7 to 65.9 ng/g in pea protein concentrate PPC after SCFX treatment. Sensory evaluation corroborated these HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS findings, showing that over 80% of the participants could accurately distinguish the extruded samples from the unextruded ones, perceiving the treated samples as having the least beany flavor. These findings highlight the efficacy of SCFX processing in enhancing the sensory profile of pulse‐based products by removing off‐flavor compounds.
Genomic and Methylomic Signatures Associated With the Maintenance of Genome Stability and Adaptive Evolution in Two Closely Allied Wolf Spiders
Authors: Zuo Qing , Wu Run‐Biao , Sun Li‐Na , Ren Tian‐Yu , Fan Zheng , Wang Lu‐Yu , Tan Bing , Luo Bin , Irfan Muhammad , Huang Qian , Shen Yan‐Jun , Zhang Zhi‐Sheng 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTPardosa spiders, belonging to the wolf spider family Lycosidae, play a vital role in maintaining the health of forest and agricultural ecosystems due to their function in pest control. This study presents chromosome‐level genome assemblies for two allied Pardosa species, P. laura and P. agraria. Both species' genomes show a notable expansion of helitron transposable elements, which contributes to their large genome sizes. Methylome analysis indicates that P. laura has higher overall DNA methylation levels compared to P. agraria. DNA methylation may not only aids in transposable element‐driven genome expansion but also positively affects the three‐dimensional organisation of P. laura after transposon amplification, thereby potentially enhancing genome stability. Genes associated with hyper‐differentially methylated regions in P. laura (compared to P. agraria) are enriched in functions related to mRNA processing and energy production. Furthermore, combined transcriptome and methylome profiling has uncovered a complex regulatory interplay between DNA methylation and gene expression, emphasising the important role of gene body methylation in the regulation of gene expression. Comparative genomic analysis shows a significant expansion of cuticle protein and detoxification‐related gene families in P. laura, which may improve its adaptability to various habitats. This study provides essential genomic and methylomic insights, offering a deeper understanding of the relationship between transposable elements and genome stability, and illuminating the adaptive evolution and species differentiation among allied spiders.
Inquiry letter types, accountants' responses, and audit fees: Evidence from China
Authors: Zhang Weidong , Zheng Hongrui , Wang Jenny Jing , Chen Zihuang , Luo Zhenghan 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThis study examines the impact of various types of inquiry letters on audit pricing using samples from Shenzhen and Shanghai listed companies during the 2015–2020 period. We found that the audit fees for receiving financial report inquiry letters were higher than those for receiving non‐financial ones. In particular, when the entity being audited received annual report inquiry letters concerning internal control and requested the accounting firm to verify and respond, the audit fees for that company for the following year were higher. This study identified the mechanisms by which inquiry letters affect certified public accountant (CPA) charges.
Outcomes of a fledgling public dermatology clinic in rural Australia
Authors: Li Grace Xiaoying , Wong Xin Lin , Sebaratnam Deshan Frank 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThere is paucity of research available regarding the epidemiological characteristics of patients attending dermatology outpatient services in rural Australia. We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients attending a public dermatology clinic established at Dubbo Base Hospital in rural New South Wales. The broad range of dermatological presentations encountered, coupled with the brisk uptake of services by remote patients, highlights the ongoing need for specialist dermatology services in underserved rural communities.
Towards personalized medicine in uveal melanoma
Authors: Kiilgaard Jens 
Published: January 2025

The melanocyte in the human uvea undergoes in rare cases malignant transformation and becomes one of the deadliest types of melanomas in humans. The incidence varies between 3 and 12 per million people and the highest incidence is found in Denmark. The uveal melanoma differs in many aspects from the melanoma in the skin, but the lack of UV induced mutations and failure of immunotherapies seems to be the most prominent.The genetic alterations in uveal melanoma have provided new tools in the management of this patient group. We can today stratify the patients according to metastatic risk into a high‐risk group and a low‐risk group. This allows for better use of resources in the follow‐up program for these patients. The mapping of the mutations involved in the tumor formation have also opened for specialized treatments and better inclusion criteria for randomized studies. The mutational burden in uveal melanoma is very low, which makes uveal melanoma an excellent model to investigate the evolution of the tumor and investigate the mechanisms of metastatic disease progression.
Corneal ectatic disorders – clinical appearance and differential diagnosis
Authors: Modis Laszlo 
Published: January 2025

The prevalence and incidence of ectatic corneal disease (ECD) vary greatly in different populations and geographic areas and its presence is reaching nearly 5% according to recent data.Ectasia of the cornea refers to diseases in which the radius of curvature and in parallel its refractive power changes and the cornea thins corresponding to the ectatic part. Ectasias are differentiated according to the form and the area of the cornea where the process occurs. The etiology of the disease is not known, and it used to be classified on clinical appearance. ECD is a heterogeneous disease, genetic and environmental factors may contribute to its pathogenesis. Ectasias are bilateral, progressive, non‐inflammatory, rather sporadic, and familial occurrence has been found in only 6‐20% of cases. The mode of inheritance can be autosomal dominant or recessive.Most common form is keratoconus, a progressive, non‐inflammatory, usually bilateral, asymmetric disease, characterized by epithelial and stromal thinning and weakening. Its special iatrogenic form occurs as a complication of LASIK surgery.In contrast, keratoglobus and keratotorus are very rare. It is characterized by the anterior bulging of the entire cornea in the shape of a sphere or a pear. For this reason, the astigmatism is not great as compared to advanced keratoconus and often remains regular even during the progression. However, if refraction increases, may reach up to 60 Ds or even more. The cornea is very thin, but there is no Fleischer ring, which is an important differential diagnostic sign.Pellucid marginal degeneration is characterized by thinning and protrusion of the cornea in the lower one‐third. There are no signs of inflammation and no vascularization. It usually begins between 20 and 40 years of age. The cause of visual impairment is irregular astigmatism. Scarring occurs in the stroma near the posterior surface, but very rarely spontaneous perforation may occur.Terrien's marginal degeneration is a bilateral disease usually affecting men in their forties. However, significant asymmetry can also occur. In the upper part of the cornea, yellowish‐white stromal opacities are visible 1‐2 mm from the limbus, following its curve. Between the lesion and the limbus, the cornea has a normal structure. As the disease progresses, astigmatism and vascularization develop.The diagnosis of ECD is usually based on patient history and characteristic findings on topography and tomography, slit lamp signs often appear later, as the disease progresses. Typical signs on imaging include inferior steepening, skewing of radial axes, abnormal islands and elevations on anterior and posterior maps and abnormal corneal thinning. The diagnostic focus has shifted from the anterior to the posterior corneal surface.ECDs should be distinguished from senile lesions, infections, pseudopterygium, immunological diseases, dellen.
Ectasia screening with the pentacam scheimpflug tomographer: the belin ambrosio module
Authors: Belin Michael W. 
Published: January 2025

Screening for ectatic disease falls into two general categories; 1) refractive surgery screening, where the goal is to identify patients at potential risk for post‐refractive ectasia, and 2) identifying patients with true ectatic disease (keratoconus) at the earliest possible point in the disease process to intervene to limit and/or prevent sequalae. Tomographic imaging (either Scheimpflug or OCT) allows for the earliest detection of disease by its ability to image all anterior segment surfaces.The Belin/Ambrosio Display (BAD) utilizes 9 different tomographic parameters in a proprietary regression formula and was designed to fulfill both functions (screening & diagnosis). The differences, however, are important. The overall reading of the BAD is done by the final “D”. The final “D” represents variance from normal, but not necessarily keratoconus. The BAD display will show an elevated final “D” in any corneal condition that varies from normal. Conditions such as corneal edema or post refractive surgery will produce an elevated final “D” as these conditions differ from the normal cornea.Diagnosing keratoconus requires identifying those parameters that are specific for keratoconus that in addition to the final “D”, raises the specificity for keratoconus. A current FDA Phase 3 protocol looks at posterior elevation at the thinnest point, and a Percent Thickness Increase (PTI) graph with the tracing below midline. These parameters added to a specified final “D” would increase disease specificity. The BAD display has been shown to have both high sensitivity and specificity, but screening values can be adjusted to suit the clinical or study situation.
Cancer‐associated retinopathy in microcitic lung cancer treated with atezolizumab: Potential exacerbation of retinal immune damage
Authors: Gonzalez‐Lopez Julio J. 
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Cancer‐associated retinopathy (CAR) represents a paraneoplastic syndrome characterized by profound visual impairment associated with autoantibodies targeting retinal antigens.Case report: Herein, we present a clinical case of CAR in a 66‐year‐old male tobacco user diagnosed with microcytic lung cancer, concurrently exhibiting very high titers of antirecoverin antibodies. The patient's ocular symptoms manifested as bilateral vision loss and photopsias, prompting comprehensive ophthalmological evaluation. The patient's medical history revealed treatment with atezolizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1), as part of his anticancer regimen. Notably, atezolizumab is known for its immunomodulatory effects, which have shown efficacy in various malignancies. However, recent literature suggests a potential association between immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and the exacerbation of autoimmune phenomena, including CAR. Ophthalmologic examination revealed loss of extrafoveal ellipsoid layer in OCT, bilateral diffuse retinal pigmentary changes with attenuated arterioles and electroretinogram (ERG) findings consistent with severe dysfunction of both rod and cone photoreceptors, indicative of advanced retinal degeneration. Vitamin A levels were within normal limits. Furthermore, the presence of markedly elevated antirecoverin antibody titers supported the diagnosis of CAR.Discussion: While the exact pathophysiological mechanisms linking atezolizumab to CAR exacerbation remain speculative, it is postulated that the drug's ability to unleash antitumor immune responses may inadvertently trigger or amplify autoimmune reactions against retinal antigens. Indeed, the upregulation of immune checkpoints such as PD‐L1 in retinal tissues has been implicated in the maintenance of immune privilege, and disruption of this balance by ICIs could predispose to immune‐mediated retinal damage. This case highlights the importance of heightened vigilance for ocular adverse events in patients receiving ICIs, particularly those with pre‐existing autoimmune tendencies. Prompt recognition and management of CAR are paramount to mitigating irreversible visual impairment and improving patient outcomes. Future studies elucidating the interplay between ICIs and retinal autoimmunity are warranted to optimize therapeutic strategies and minimize iatrogenic complications.Conclusions: In conclusion, we present a compelling case of CAR in a patient with microcytic lung cancer treated with atezolizumab, suggesting a potential association between ICI therapy and exacerbation of immune‐mediated retinal damage. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for ocular complications in patients receiving ICIs, and further research is needed to delineate the underlying mechanisms and optimize management strategies in this population.