bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Unveiling above‐ and below‐ground ecological strategies that underlie woody plant encroachment in grasslands
Authors: Jardim Raissa I. L. , Marques Márcia C. M. , do Carmo Marta R. B. , Cavalin Pedro O. , de Oliveira Ricardo A. C. , Carlucci Marcos B. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Forests and grasslands often occur side by side in the landscape, forming a complex mosaic system with contrasting environmental conditions, maintained by different fire‐vegetation stabilising feedbacks. Woody species that occur along this sharp gradient must adopt viable ecological strategies to deal with the contrasting environments of these ecosystems. For this, plants are challenged to efficiently coordinate the functioning of ecological strategy dimensions above‐ and below‐ground.

We tested hypotheses related to structural changes in vegetation and associated shifts in community‐level trait patterns and ecological strategies during woody plant encroachment. We surveyed 60 permanent plots in forest‐grassland mosaics at two different times (2012–2022) to obtain data on changes in vegetation structure, species composition, abundance and ecological strategies after 10 years without disturbance, capturing a gradient from open and woody plant‐encroached grasslands to closed forests. An integrated functional approach was used to assess the different dimensions of plant trait variation, including 10 above‐ and below‐ground traits, representing whole‐plant, leaf, stem and root strategies.

Woody plant encroachment led to a substantial increase in woody plant density in former grasslands, transforming their structure to resemble that of young forests. Interestingly, we found clear trade‐offs between above‐ and below‐ground traits among woody species. On the one hand, the species occurring in grassland had conservative leaves, a strategy for protection against high solar incidence, physical damage and drought, and had roots with a ‘do‐it‐yourself’ strategy, which ensures efficiency in the acquisition of nutrients and water in nutrient‐limited soils, and had thick bark related to fire resistance. On the other hand, forest species were usually taller and had acquisitive leaves, indicating highly competitive ability in light‐limited forests, whereas their roots had an ‘outsourcing’ strategy of resource uptake to mycorrhizal fungi in the nutrient‐rich soils of forests.

Synthesis: We advanced the current understanding of woody plant encroachment in grasslands by showing the underlying trait‐based trade‐offs that enable woody species to occur along the transition between forest and grassland through space and time. Importantly, we have shown how below‐ground traits are important in explaining the species strategies, with a negative covariance between above‐ and below‐ground. Our integrative trait‐based approach will be helpful in better understanding and managing forest‐grassland mosaics in southern Brazil and analogous patchy ecosystems around the world.
The afterlife effects of leaf and root litter traits on soil N cycling
Authors: Wambsganss Janna , Huys Raoul , Stephan Hättenschwiler , Poirier Vincent , Munson Alison D. , Freschet Grégoire T. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Litter nitrogen (N) release during decomposition crucially influences ecosystem N cycling and the amount of N available to plants and other soil organisms. However, the role of initial litter traits in affecting patterns of temporal N release from litters and determining the fate of N in the soil is still poorly understood.

Here, we measured litter N release during the 12‐month decomposition of 15N‐labelled leaf and root litters of 12 common Mediterranean herbaceous species. We further traced the fate of N during decomposition of the litters into the soil and measured the inorganic N content in the soil solution as well as total N in the particulate (POM) and mineral‐associated organic matter (MAOM) fractions at the end of the incubation.

While most litters exhibited a very rapid initial N release, they were also quite variable in their N dynamics. As such they differed in the quantity and temporal patterns of N release, the accumulation of inorganic N in the soil solution, as well as in the incorporation of N in stable soil organic matter (SOM) fractions during decomposition. This variability was driven by differences in initial litter chemistry, particularly N, but also P and Mn, and litter C leachate concentrations. These and other traits (including water‐soluble compounds and lignin concentrations) explained up to 81% of the variance in N release rate, 48% for N accumulation in the soil solution, 57% for N entering the soil POM and 55% for MAOM fraction.

Synthesis. We identified litter traits and litter types (root versus leaf) with afterlife effects on N cycling in soils and important implications for ecosystem functioning. Highly decomposable litters (typically high N; including most leaf litters) generally support a fast N release through mineralization, thereby the immediate supply of N to plants, but also potentially higher losses from the system, and long‐term storage as MAOM‐N, likely within microbial resynthesis products. In contrast, poorly decomposable litters (typically low N; including most root litters) promote longer and weaker N release and foster N retention via lower N losses and increased POM‐N formation.
Advancing occupational therapy scoping reviews: Recommendations to enhance quality and methodological rigour
Authors: Brown Ted , Gustafsson Louise , McKinstry Carol , Robinson Luke 
Published: February 2025

AbstractIntroductionScoping reviews are an increasingly popular methodological approach to collate evidence and synthesise knowledge in many fields including occupational therapy. However, many are published with potential methodological weaknesses. To address this issue, nine methodological recommendations that authors could adopt to improve the quality and rigour of published scoping reviews are proposed based on the authors' opinions and the published evidence.OverviewIt is suggested that when authors are completing a scoping review, they can consider completing one or more of the following methodological guidelines: (1) refer to the Levac et al.'s (2010) scoping review recommendations, the JBI Scoping Review Protocol, and the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA‐ScR) Checklist as methodological guides; (2) include grey literature as a standard component search strategy approach; (3) include thesis and dissertations as recognised sources of evidence; (4) apply a recognised research methodology critical appraisal/quality assessment tools and scales to evidence selected for inclusion in scoping reviews; (5) assign a level of evidence (LoE) framework to the selected evidence; (6) apply a recognised qualitative knowledge syntheses approach to the data extracted; (7) report the steps taken to ensure the trustworthiness of the qualitative knowledge synthesis approach used; (8) include consumer, stakeholder and community consultation; and (9) apply a scoping review‐specific critical appraisal/quality assessment tool as a quality assurance activity. The authors are not proposing that the nine recommendations are mandatory, but instead they are methodological guidelines that scoping review authors can incorporate if they choose.Consumer and Community InvolvementConsumers and community members were not involved in the writing of the manuscript.ConclusionAdopting the suggested methodological recommendations as a regular part of completing occupational therapy‐related scoping reviews will increase their quality, precision, and rigour.
Development and preliminary validation of the C‐SCORE: A brief scale for use in systemic couple therapy
Authors: Carr Alan , Kieran Aideen , Sherbersky Hannah , Shepherd Melanie , Galbraith Michael , Whittinger Naureen , Pomini Valeria , Kunsang Yang Yang  , Nearchou Finiki , Stratton Peter 
Published: February 2025

AbstractA new version of the Systemic Clinical Outcome Routine Evaluation (C‐SCORE) was developed for use with couples to assess, plan and monitor progress in therapy. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of C‐SCORE in an international community sample of 300 participants. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis showed that a twenty‐two‐item, five‐factor version of C‐SCORE best fit the data. The scale and its factor sub‐scales had good internal consistency and test–retest reliability over a 1‐month period. C‐SCORE showed good concurrent and construct validity as evidenced by significant associations with other measures of couple relational functioning, mental health and wellbeing and self‐rated couple issues. These promising findings require further validation with a clinical sample.
Governance Quality Under Economic Uncertainty: Global Insights
Authors: Woahid Murad S M , Rahman Arifur 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTThis study examines the impact of economic uncertainty on governance quality using a cross‐country panel data set from 1993 to 2022. Governance quality is measured through control of corruption, regulatory quality, government effectiveness and political stability. Results show that economic uncertainty significantly weakens governance, with pronounced effects on political stability and government effectiveness, particularly in higher‐income countries. Robustness checks, including inverse probability weighting and alternative uncertainty measures, confirm these findings. The study underscores the critical role of economic stability in mitigating corruption, reducing political instability and supporting Sustainable Development Goal 16 by fostering stronger governance globally.
Prompt payment enforcement on framework agreements for public hospitals: evidence from Chile
Authors: Jordán Felipe 
Published: February 2025

AbstractDemand aggregation through Framework Agreements (FAs) has emerged as a promising tool to support the efficient expansion of affordable healthcare in developing countries. However, the effectiveness of FAs in achieving lower costs may be hindered if prompt payment is not enforced. This paper estimates the impacts of a reform implemented in Chile in 2014, which introduced a prompt payment enforcement procedure in the FAs that supplied public hospitals. Under this reform, firms were allowed to suspend dispatches until overdue bills were paid. The results from a difference‐in‐differences estimation indicate that hospitals with greater exposure to the reform, measured by their larger share of late bill payments, reduced their payment delays after 2013 compared with less‐exposed hospitals, without compromising health‐care quality. The resulting decrease in the average financial cost of FAs led to lower prices, highlighting the importance of prompt payment enforcement for realising savings through FAs.
Navigating Past Oceans: Comparing Metabarcoding and Metagenomics of Marine Ancient Sediment Environmental DNA
Authors: Holman Luke E. , Zampirolo Giulia , Gyllencreutz Richard , Scourse James , Frøslev Tobias , Carøe Christian , Gopalakrishnan Shyam , Pedersen Mikkel Winther , Bohmann Kristine 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTThe condition of ancient marine ecosystems provides context for contemporary biodiversity changes in human‐impacted oceans. Sequencing sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) is an emerging method for generating high‐resolution biodiversity time‐series data, offering insights into past ecosystems. However, few studies directly compare the two predominant sedaDNA sequencing approaches: metabarcoding and shotgun‐metagenomics, and it remains unclear if these methodological differences affect diversity metrics. We compared these methods using sedaDNA from an archived marine sediment record sampled in the Skagerrak, North Sea, spanning almost 8000 years. We performed metabarcoding of a eukaryotic 18S rRNA region (V9) and sequenced 153–229 million metagenomic reads per sample. Our results show limited overlap between metabarcoding and metagenomics, with only three metazoan genera detected by both methods. For overlapping taxa, metabarcoding detections became inconsistent for samples older than 2000 years, while metagenomics detected taxa throughout the time series. We observed divergent patterns of alpha diversity, with metagenomics indicating decreased richness towards the present and metabarcoding showing an increase. However, beta diversity patterns were similar between methods, with discrepancies only in metazoan data comparisons. Our findings demonstrate that the choice of sequencing method significantly impacts detected biodiversity in an ancient marine sediment record. While we stress that studies with limited variation in DNA degradation among samples may not be strongly affected, researchers should exonerate methodological explanations for observed biodiversity changes in marine sediment cores, particularly when considering alpha diversity, before making ecological interpretations.
Relation Between Brain Morphological Features and Psychiatric Hospitalization Risk in Major Depressive and Bipolar Disorders
Authors: Miskowiak Kamilla W. , Macoveanu Julian , Ozenne Brice , Beaman Emily E. , Dam Vibeke H. , Fisher Patrick M. , Knudsen Gitte M. , Kessing Lars V. , Jørgensen Martin B. , Frokjaer Vibe G. , Sankar Anjali 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTIntroductionPatients with mood disorders, especially, major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD), are at heightened risk of relapse and psychiatric rehospitalizations. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify modifiable biomarkers to inform personalized and intensified prevention strategies for those at the greatest risk of relapse and hospital readmissions. Brain structural measures subserving cognitive function hold particular promise among potential predictive biomarkers.MethodsIn the present study, structural magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained from 319 patients with MDD (n = 241) or BD (n = 78). Longitudinal data on psychiatric hospitalization for up to 10 years were available from the Danish National population‐based registers. Interhemispheric hippocampal asymmetry, a putative marker of cognitive function and brain reserve, was calculated for each patient. The association between hippocampal asymmetry and future psychiatric hospitalization was assessed using a cause‐specific Cox regression model. Exploratory analyses, also using a cause‐specific Cox model, assessed the association of prefrontal and hippocampal gray matter volume and whole‐brain white matter volume with hospitalizations.ResultsThe results indicated a negative association between rightward hippocampal asymmetry (i.e., left<right) and risk of future hospitalizations (HR = 0.90, corresponding to a 10‐year risk reduction of 0.018 for a 1% increase in asymmetry, p = 0.040). Exploratory analysis indicated that a larger right hippocampus volume was associated with a reduced risk of hospitalization (HR = 0.18, p = 0.004) while a larger bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal volume (HR = 1.06, p = 0.01) was associated with an increased risk of hospitalization.ConclusionThe findings suggest a role for hippocampal and, additionally, prefrontal morphological features in the risk of future psychiatric hospitalizations in mood disorders.
Discrepancies in Beta‐Lactam Antibiotics Cross‐Reactivity: Implications for Clinical Practice
Authors: Hutten Evelien Maria , Bulatović Ćalasan Maja , Trubiano Jason Anthony , Pleijhuis Rick Gert‐Jan , Terreehorst Ingrid 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTBackgroundIn patients with a beta‐lactam antibiotic (BA) allergy label, avoidance of the whole group of BAs leads to displacement of first‐line therapies potentially influencing patient outcomes and antimicrobial resistance. Studies previously published on BA cross‐reactivity use different sets of BA and seem to contain conflicting recommendations on safe BA alternatives in case of (suspected) BA allergy.MethodsThe objectives were (i) to identify discrepancies between studies regarding cross‐allergy in BA and (ii) to identify research gaps. The tables and errata of 4 studies (Romano et al., Trubiano et al., Zagursky et al., SWAB‐guideline by Wijnakker et al.) were evaluated and compared head‐to‐head.ResultsA total of 51 antibiotics were covered by the four authors, theoretically leading to 2550 potential recommendations regarding alternatives in case of specific allergies. Internal discrepancies existed in 2 tables. Since none of the tables included all 51 BAs, in 356 situations data were lacking regarding specific alternatives. In 1104 situations, only one author gave advice about a specific alternative. Harmony and disharmony between authors could be evaluated in 1090 cases. The advice regarding alternative BAs was 696 times in harmony (482 safe, 214 unsafe), while discrepancies were found in 394 cases. This led to a different advice (safe vs. unsafe) in 272 cases or 69%.ConclusionDisharmony between authors was identified in 36% of the cases. In 69%, this led to a clinically relevant, different advice. This indicates the need for synchronisation of cross‐reactivity tables and answering remaining research gaps.
Text in R graphics
Authors: Murrell Paul 
Published: February 2025

SummaryR graphics has provided the ability to draw simple text labels on plots since R version 1.0.0. However, these basic text‐drawing facilities are quite limited. Over the past 25 years, more sophisticated text‐drawing features have been added: support for the Unicode character set; access to system fonts; text paths; support for text markup; and rendering of typeset text. This article charts the development of text‐drawing support in R and provides demonstrations of some of the more sophisticated features.
Risk of Incident Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes in Patients With Direct Acting Antiviral‐Induced Cure of Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Authors: Chang Yu‐Ping , Lee Ji‐Yuh , Chen Chi‐Yi , Kao Wei‐Yu , Lin Chih‐Lin , Yang Sheng‐Shun , Shih Yu‐Lueng , Peng Cheng‐Yuan , Lee Fu‐Jen , Tsai Ming‐Chang , Huang Shang‐Chin , Su Tung‐Hung , Tseng Tai‐Chung , Liu Chun‐Jen , Chen Pei‐Jer , Kao Jia‐Horng , Liu Chen‐Hua 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTBackgroundData regarding the risk of incident type 2 diabetes (T2D) and prediabetes among patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) achieving direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs)‐induced sustained virologic response (SVR12) remains limited.MethodsA total of 1079 patients, including 589 with normoglycemia and 490 with prediabetes, who underwent biannual fasting glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) assessment for a median post‐SVR12 follow‐up of 5.5 years, were enrolled. We reported the crude (cIRs) and age‐standardised incidence rates (ASIRs) of T2D and prediabetes. Factors associated with incident T2D and prediabetes were assessed using the Cox proportional hazards models.ResultsThe cIRs of T2D and prediabetes were 1.18 and 8.99 per 100 person‐years of follow‐up (PYFU), respectively. Additionally, the ASIRs of T2D and prediabetes were 1.09 (95% CI: 0.76–1.53) and 8.47 (95% CI: 7.23–9.90) per 100 PYFU. Prediabetes (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 4.71; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.55–8.70, p < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) per kg/m2 increase (aHR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.09–1.26, p < 0.001) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) per kPa increase (aHR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.02–1.09, p = 0.001) were associated with a higher risk of incident T2D. Age per year increase (aHR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01–1.03, p < 0.001) was associated with a higher risk of incident prediabetes.ConclusionThe incidence rates of T2D and prediabetes remain substantial among patients after HCV eradication. Lifestyle modification, drug therapy and regular monitoring of glycemic status are crucial for patients at risk of developing T2D and prediabetes following HCV clearance.
Outcomes of daratumumab–bortezomib–thalidomide–dexamethasone in treatment‐naive systemic AL amyloidosis
Authors: Khwaja Jahanzaib , Ravichandran Sriram , Cohen Oliver , Foard Darren , Low May , Martinez‐Naharro Ana , Venneri Lucia , Fontana Marianna , Hawkins Philip N. , Gillmore Julian , Lachmann Helen J. , Whelan Carol , Mahmood Shameem , Wechalekar Ashutosh 
Published: February 2025

SummarySystemic light chain (AL) amyloidosis is an incurable disorder caused by extra‐cellular deposition of light‐chain aggregates in critical organs. An immunomodulatory agent‐based quadruplet including anti‐CD38 therapy has not been investigated as a first‐line treatment in AL amyloidosis. We report the UK experience of daratumumab–bortezomib–thalidomide–dexamethasone for the first‐line treatment of AL amyloidosis. Consecutive patients with a new diagnosis of systemic AL between 2021 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed from the UK National Amyloidosis Centre database. One hundred and two patients were included; median age was 61 years, involved free light‐chain concentration 234 mg/L, 65% had cardiac and 63% renal involvement with modified Mayo stage I/II/IIIa/IIIb in 24%/36%/21% and 19% respectively. A median of 6 cycles was delivered. By intention‐to‐treat analysis, best haematological overall response rate was 97%: complete response at 65%, very good partial response at 22%, partial response at 11% and no response at 3%. At 6‐ and 12‐month time points from treatment initiation, best cardiac response rates were 39% and 45%, respectively, for evaluable patients. At a median duration of 18 months follow‐up, the estimated 1‐year overall survival was 89% (95% confidence interval [CI] 81–94) and treatment‐free survival/death was 82% (95% CI 73–89). We demonstrate efficacy in this real‐world population with comparable results to the gold standard, daratumumab–bortezomib–cyclophosphamide–dexamethasone.
Case Series of Eight Congenital Tufting Enteropathy Patients and Literature Review
Authors: Fang Youhong , Luo Youyou , Xu Luojia , Yu Jindan , Chen Jie 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTCongenital tufting enteropathy (CTE) is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disorder caused by mutations in the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) gene, characterized by severe diarrhea and growth failure. Between December 2017 and December 2023, eight patients diagnosed with CTE at our hospital were retrospectively analyzed for their clinical and genetic features, alongside a comprehensive literature review. All patients presented with severe malnutrition and growth failure upon admission. Parenteral nutrition (PN) with high caloric intake was required for all patients to achieve growth catch‐up. A total of 142 patients with EpCAM mutations were reviewed, including 137 previously reported cases and five newly identified patients described in this study. Among the 114 CTE patients with detailed treatment information, 108 patients received PN therapy, with six patients successfully weaned off PN. Additionally, 19 patients underwent intestinal transplantation (IT). Outcome analysis revealed that 30 patients (27.3%) died, including five post‐IT deaths. A total of 68 EpCAM mutations were identified, with most located in exon 3. The most frequently reported variant was c.499dup C. In this study, four novel mutations were detected in our patients. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical and genetic characteristics of CTE, enhancing the understanding of its phenotype and genotype, particularly in Asian patients.