bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Elevated Overwinter Temperature on the Growth Strategies of Microcystis aeruginosa
Authors: Meng Han , Guo Yongqi , Zhang Lingping , Qi Yuan , Liu Jine , He Huan , Wang Guoxiang , Li Shiyin , Zhang Limin 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

Overwintering is a crucial stage in the seasonal cycle of Microcystis, which is often overlooked as a state of “suspended animation”. With global warming and increasing heatwaves, temperature rise during the overwintering phase causes earlier recruitment or blooms. However, the impact of elevated overwinter temperatures on the growth of toxic Microcystis aeruginosa remains poorly understood.

This study aimed to elucidate the physiological, metabolic and molecular mechanisms at different overwintering temperatures (4°C, 6°C, 4°C → 6°C → 8°C, 6°C → 8°C) by cellular growth, photosynthetic effect, metabolic products, enzyme activities and transcriptomic analysis.

Elevated overwinter temperatures (4°C → 6°C → 8°C, 6°C → 8°C) significantly promoted the growth of M. aeruginosa. Photosynthetic activity responded rapidly, reaching its peak at the 9°C–16°C temperature range.

Elevated overwinter temperatures also enhanced the secretion of microcystins and extracellular polymeric substances. These temperatures favoured the expression of rbcL and mcyB genes associated with photosynthetic and microcystin production, with significant activation of RuBisCO and FBA enzymes during recruitment. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis revealed 321 genes with significant differential expression under elevated overwinter temperatures, including 156 up‐regulated and 165 down‐regulated genes.

The interaction network highlighted proteins with the highest connectivity, comprising ribosomal proteins and RNA polymerase proteins, triggering processes related to oxidative phosphorylation and photosynthesis.

This study sheds light on the intricate interplay of temperatures with the physiological and molecular dynamics of M. aeruginosa during overwintering, offering valuable insights into the effects of global warming on algae growth in the future.
Recovery Following Recurrent Fires Across Mediterranean Ecosystems
Authors: Ermitão Tiago , Gouveia Célia M. , Bastos Ana , Russo Ana C. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTIn fire‐prone regions such as the Mediterranean biome, fire seasons are becoming longer, and fires are becoming more frequent and severe. Post‐fire recovery dynamics is a key component of ecosystem resilience and stability. Even though Mediterranean ecosystems can tolerate high exposure to extreme temperatures and recover from fire, changes in climate conditions and fire intensity or frequency might contribute to loss of ecosystem resilience and increase the potential for irreversible changes in vegetation communities. In this study, we assess the recovery rates of burned vegetation after recurrent fires across Mediterranean regions globally, based on remotely sensed Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) data, a proxy for vegetation status, from 2001 to 2022. Recovery rates are quantified through a statistical model of EVI time‐series. This approach allows resolving recovery dynamics in time and space, overcoming the limitations of space‐for‐time approaches typically used to study recovery dynamics through remote sensing. We focus on pixels burning repeatedly over the study period and evaluate how fire severity, pre‐fire vegetation greenness, and post‐fire climate conditions modulate vegetation recovery rates of different vegetation types. We detect large contrasts between recovery rates, mostly explained by regional differences in vegetation type. Particularly, needle‐leaved forests tend to recover faster following the second event, contrasting with shrublands that tend to recover faster from the first event. Our results also show that fire severity can promote a faster recovery across forested ecosystems. An important modulating role of pre‐fire fuel conditions on fire severity is also detected, with pixels with higher EVI before the fire resulting in stronger relative greenness loss. In addition, post‐fire climate conditions, particularly air temperature and precipitation, were found to modulate recovery speed across all regions, highlighting how direct impacts of fire can compound with impacts from climate anomalies in time and likely destabilise ecosystems under changing climate conditions.
Nitrogen Deposition Weakens Soil Carbon Control of Nitrogen Dynamics Across the Contiguous United States
Authors: Nieland Matthew A. , Lacy Piper , Allison Steven D. , Bhatnagar Jennifer M. , Doroski Danica A. , Frey Serita D. , Greaney Kristen , Hobbie Sarah E. , Kuebbing Sara E. , Lewis David B. , McDaniel Marshall D. , Perakis Steven S. , Raciti Steve M. , Shaw Alanna N. , Sprunger Christine D. , Strickland Michael S. , Templer Pamela H. , Vietorisz Corinne , Ward Elisabeth B. , Keiser Ashley D. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTAnthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition is unequally distributed across space and time, with inputs to terrestrial ecosystems impacted by industry regulations and variations in human activity. Soil carbon (C) content normally controls the fraction of mineralized N that is nitrified (ƒnitrified), affecting N bioavailability for plants and microbes. However, it is unknown whether N deposition has modified the relationships among soil C, net N mineralization, and net nitrification. To test whether N deposition alters the relationship between soil C and net N transformations, we collected soils from coniferous and deciduous forests, grasslands, and residential yards in 14 regions across the contiguous United States that vary in N deposition rates. We quantified rates of net nitrification and N mineralization, soil chemistry (soil C, N, and pH), and microbial biomass and function (as beta‐glucosidase (BG) and N‐acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) activity) across these regions. Following expectations, soil C was a driver of ƒnitrified across regions, whereby increasing soil C resulted in a decline in net nitrification and ƒnitrified. The ƒnitrified value increased with lower microbial enzymatic investment in N acquisition (increasing BG:NAG ratio) and lower active microbial biomass, providing some evidence that heterotrophic microbial N demand controls the ammonium pool for nitrifiers. However, higher total N deposition increased ƒnitrified, including for high soil C sites predicted to have low ƒnitrified, which decreased the role of soil C as a predictor of ƒnitrified. Notably, the drop in contemporary atmospheric N deposition rates during the 2020 COVID‐19 pandemic did not weaken the effect of N deposition on relationships between soil C and ƒnitrified. Our results suggest that N deposition can disrupt the relationship between soil C and net N transformations, with this change potentially explained by weaker microbial competition for N. Therefore, past N inputs and soil C should be used together to predict N dynamics across terrestrial ecosystems.
Genetic Basis of Non‐Photochemical Quenching and Photosystem II Efficiency Responses to Chilling in the Biomass Crop Miscanthus
Authors: Kumari Asha , Njuguna Joyce N. , Zheng Xuying , Kromdijk Johannes , Sacks Erik J. , Glowacka Katarzyna 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTMiscanthus holds a promise as a biocrop due to its high yield, perenniality and ability to grow on infertile soils. However, the current commercial biomass production of Miscanthus is mostly limited to a single sterile triploid clone of M. × giganteus. Nevertheless, parental species of M. × giganteus, Miscanthus sacchariflorus and Miscanthus sinensis contain vast genetic diversity for crop improvement. With M. sacchariflorus having a natural geographic distribution in cold‐temperate northeast China and eastern Russia, we hypothesised that it has substantial variation in physiological response to chilling. Using a semi‐high‐throughput method, we phenotyped 209 M. sacchariflorus genotypes belonging to six genetic groups for non‐photochemical quenching (NPQ) and photosystem II efficiency (ΦPSII) kinetics under warm and chilling treatments in three growing seasons. In response to the chilling treatment, all genetic groups exhibited an increase in NPQ induction rate indicating faster activation of NPQ in light. Notably, under chilling, the Korea/NE China/Russia 2x and N China 2x groups stood out for the highest NPQ rate in light and the highest steady‐state NPQ in light. This NPQ phenotype may contribute adaptation to chilling during bright, cold mornings of spring and early autumn in temperate climates, when faster NPQ would better protect from oxidative stress. Such enhanced adaptation could expand the growing season and thus productivity at a given location or expand the range of economically viable growing locations to higher latitudes and altitudes. A genome‐wide association study identified 126 unique SNPs associated with NPQ and ΦPSII traits. Among the identified candidate genes were enzymes involved in the ascorbate recycle and shikimate pathway, gamma‐aminobutyric acid and cation efflux transporters. Identifying natural variation and genes involved in NPQ and ΦPSII kinetics considerably enlarges the toolbox for breeding and/or engineering Miscanthus with optimised photosynthesis under warm and chilling conditions for sustainable feedstock production for bioenergy.Chilling affects the productivity and geographical distribution of most crops. Using a semi‐high‐throughput approach to investigate photosynthesis‐related traits, we characterised variation existing in the bioenergy crop Miscanthus under chilling and warm conditions and identified potential genes associated with it. Under chilling, two genetic groups from the northern edge of Miscanthus distribution stood out for faster activation of photoprotection. This trait may contribute adaptation to chilling in temperate climates, when faster photoprotection would better defend from oxidative stress. Enhanced chilling adaptation could expand the growing season and thus productivity or enlarge the range of growing locations.
Further confirmation of a highly prognostic grading scheme based upon tumour budding and cell cluster size in cervical squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Wenwen , Song Yiling , Shi Haiyan , Lu Bingjian 
Published: December 2024

AimsOur study aimed to further confirm the clinical significance of the tumour budding activity and cell nest size‐based (TBNS) grading scheme in cervical squamous cell carcinomas (SCC).Methods and resultsWe applied the TBNS system to assess the prognostic value in an institutional cohort of well‐annotated cervical SCC consisting of 312 consecutive cases with surgical resection, no neoadjuvant chemotherapy and higher than stage pT1a. We found that high budding activity, single cell and TBNS grade 3 were more frequently associated with a decreased overall survival (OS) time and disease‐free survival (DFS) time (P < 0.001) and several other clinicopathological factors, including lymphovascular space invasion, lymph node metastasis, advanced Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage and deep invasion of the cervical wall (> 2/3) (P < 0.05). On multivariate analysis, TBNS grade 3 was an adverse indicator for OS and DFS independently of age, invasion of the cervical wall and FIGO stage (P < 0.05). By comparison, the conventional three‐tiered grading system was not associated with OS and DFS in cervical SCC (P > 0.05).ConclusionsOur study further confirms that the TBNS grading scheme is robust in prognostic assessment in cervical SCC that outperforms the conventional three‐tiered grading system. It is applicable to add TBNS grade into routine diagnostic practice.
Financing provision strategies for third‐party logistics with consideration of supply chain resilience
Authors: Liu Lu , Zhang Wenhao , Wang Liukai , Sun Yuying 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThird‐party logistics (3PL) offers credit guarantee financing and direct financing to capital‐constrained small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), leveraging their informational advantages. However, SMEs’ default risk due to demand fluctuations poses a challenge for 3PL in providing the appropriate financing mode. This research investigates the financing strategies offered by 3PL with resilience considerations. We scrutinize the financing preferences of 3PL, the manufacturer, and the capital‐constrained retailer by comparing credit guarantee financing, 3PL direct financing, and trade credit. Furthermore, we analyze conflicts and coordination regarding equilibrium financing modes. Our findings reveal that 3PL's financing provision strategy depends on the manufacturer's cost and the retailer's initial capital. Besides, the financing equilibrium may be detrimental to supply chain members due to their inconsistencies in financing strategies. We propose a coordination mechanism to improve the overall profitability of supply network stakeholders. This study offers managerial insights for 3PL to provide financing modes while considering resilience rationally.
Integrating the structural, electro‐optical, dielectric, and magnetic features of Co–Mg–La ferrites/graphene composites
Authors: Hasan M. S. , Khan M. I. , Mandal G. , Awais M. , Farhat lamia Ben , Liu Jian 
Published: December 2024

AbstractGraphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) offer excellent support for a diverse array of composite applications. Herein, Co0.5Mg0.5Fe1.8La0.2O4 (CMFL) and its composites were prepared by the sol–gel autocombustion method. X‐ray diffraction confirmed the formation of a single‐phase structure, with both the average crystallite size (34.33–46.30 nm) and the lattice constant (8.292–8.411 Å) increasing with GNP insertion. The presence of graphene in the nanocomposites was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, which revealed a D band at 1376.38 cm−1. The Fourier transform infrared spectra indicated the existence of absorption bands corresponding to tetrahedral (534.46–525.94 cm−1) and octahedral (456.62–454.95 cm−1) structures. The optical bandgap energy (Eg) varied when the compositions of the samples were changed, with the lowest value of Eg being 2.58 eV for CMFL/2.5 wt.% GNPs. The DC electrical resistivity increased from 6.73 × 104 to 1.07 × 106 Ω cm, indicating that the composite materials might be appropriate for use in transformers and telecommunications devices. With increasing frequency, the dielectric constant and loss decreased, whereas the AC conductivity improved. The Cole–Cole behavior showed that the conduction mechanism had non‐Debye relaxation characteristics. The saturation magnetization increased from 25.86 to 42.75 emu/g for the synthesized samples, and the coercivity demonstrated a variable trend.
Transition and Aftercare Following a Child's Discharge From ICU to a General Ward: A Qualitative Meta‐Synthesis of Parental Experiences
Authors: Yang Hanlin , Ji Jianlin , Zeng Chengxi , Yang Liling , Tang Ping , Jiang Yan , Lu Qunfeng 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundTransitions from the intensive care unit (ICU) to the general ward cause great impairment of physical and psychosocial functioning in children and their parents. Better understanding of parental experiences during children's ICU‐to‐ward transitions is required to inform the development of ICU transitional care.AimTo examine the parental experiences during their children's ICU‐to‐ward transitions through the synthesis of original qualitative studies.DesignThis study follows the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses (PRISMA) and the enhancing transparency in reporting the synthesis of qualitative research (ENTREQ) statements, uses Thomas and Harden's thematic synthesis framework rooted in a critical realist philosophy to present qualitative meta‐synthesis.Data SourcesWe conducted a systematic review in June 2024 and searched nine electronic databases including Pubmed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Sinomed, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP. Eligible studies contained parents quotes about their children's ICU‐to‐ward transitions and published in either English or Chinese since 2005.MethodsSystematic searches yielded 2825 identified studies. Two reviewers screened titles, abstracts and full text and reached consensus through critical discussion with a third reviewer. Eighteen studies were finally agreed for inclusion. Data were extracted into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and synthesised through line‐by‐line coding of relevant quotes with the help of NVivo.ResultsThe qualitative synthesis resulted in four descriptive themes followed later by two analytical themes. Specifically, these were (1) the nature of the parental experience during ICU‐to‐ward transition (challenging but responded proactively) and (2) factors involved in the ICU‐to‐ward transition (both facilitators and barriers).ConclusionsThis study indicates the nature of parental experiences and factors involved during the critically ill child's ICU‐to‐ward transition. Healthcare providers serve as the primary support network for parents and should collaborate closely with them to facilitate a smooth transition by providing tailored support.No Patient or Public ContributionThis is a meta‐synthesis of previously published qualitative studies.Trial RegistrationWe have registered in the PROSPERO and the number is CRD42023422055
Estimation of Genetic Parameters and GWAS on Water Efficiency Traits in the Senepol Cattle
Authors: Souza Christhian B. , Menezes Gilberto R. O. , Gondo Andrea , Egito Andrea A. , Ramos Pedro V. B. , Gomes Rodrigo C. , Ribas Marcelo N. , Fernandes Júnior José Antônio , Guimarães Simone E. F. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThe need for producing in environmentally resilient system drives new research to achieve sustainable beef production. Water footprint of the beef supply chain is a concern that must be addressed, aiming to improve water use within the production chain. One approach is genetic selection of beef cattle for water efficiency. However, it is essential to understand the genetic architecture and mechanisms involved in the expression of this phenotype to choose the best selection criteria. Thus, our study aimed to estimate genetic parameters for water efficiency traits, conduct a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) and identify the genetic networks and biological processes involved. A population of 1762 purebred Senepol cattle was phenotyped for the following water efficiency traits: water intake (WI), gross water efficiency (GWE), water conversion ratio (WCR), residual water intake based on average daily gain (RWIADG) and residual water intake based on dry matter intake (RWIDMI). A subset of 1342 animals was genotyped using GGP Bovine 50 K SNP Chip with (734 animals) or 100 K (508 animals), and imputation from 50 K to 100 K was performed with Beagle software. The heritability estimates were 0.36 ± 0.06, 0.26 ± 0.05, 0.22 ± 0.05, 0.24 ± 0.05 and 0.20 ± 0.05 for WI, GWE, WCR, RWIADG and RWIDMI, respectively. Unlike the raw measures of WI, the phenotypic correlations between average daily gain (ADG) and the residuals (RWIDMI and RWIADG) were zero. All water efficiency traits were moderately to highly correlated with each other. GWAS were used to estimate the effect of 79,860 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and significant SNPs were only observed for WCR. Enrichment analysis of genes in the significant regions revealed the involvement of different biological processes, such as saliva production, water transport, renal system and immune system. Genetic selection of Senepol cattle for water efficiency traits is feasible and can reduce water requirements for meat production. Water efficiency measures are polygenic traits, and different biological processes act simultaneously on the expression of related phenotypes.
Different Esthetic Assessment of Anterior Restorations by Patient and Expert: A Prospective Clinical Study
Authors: Lorenz Jonas , Wilhelm Carolin , Urich Julia , Weigl Paul , Sader Robert 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundEsthetically pleasing, bright teeth and a symmetrical dental arch are of great importance. There are only a few scientific studies that compare the evaluation of anterior restorations by experts and patients. Additionally, there are hardly any studies that deal with the weighting of esthetic parameters.ObjectiveThe current study was performed to test the hypothesis that patients and experts evaluate anterior restorations differently and place their emphasis differently. Therefore, aim of this prospective study was to compare the evaluation of the red and white esthetics of anterior restorations by patients and an expert and to find out which parameters play an important role in the evaluation of the esthetic appearance of anterior restorations.Material and MethodsAnterior restorations of 21 patients were analyzed. All patients evaluated their own restorations using a questionnaire of ten defined parameters (pink esthetic score, PES and the white esthetic score, WES). Additionally, the questionnaire was used to determine how important the individual parameters are for them in relation to the assessment of the esthetic result. An expert also gave her assessment and weighting for all 21 patients.ResultsThe statistical analysis of the questionnaires shows that the expert assigned lower values, particularly in the evaluation of the PES. The expert weighted individual parameters of the PES to be more important than the patients. The type of abutment of the restoration (tooth or implant) had no influence on the evaluation of the restorations.Discussion/ConclusionThe study shows that patients and experts have different assessments of the esthetics and the weighting of the various parameters. Nevertheless, patients are sensitive to esthetic deviations and patient preferences should be taken into account in anterior restorations.
Histological analysis of retinal development and remodeling in the brown anole lizard (Anolis sagrei)
Authors: Rasys Ashley M. , Pau Shana H. , Irwin Katherine E. , Luo Sherry , Kim Hannah Q. , Wahle M. Austin , Menke Douglas B. , Lauderdale James D. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe fovea, a pit in the retina, is crucial for high‐acuity vision in humans and is found in the eyes of other vertebrates, including certain primates, birds, lizards, and fish. Despite its importance for vision, our understanding of the mechanisms involved in fovea development remains limited. Widely used ocular research models lack a foveated retina, and studies on fovea development are mostly limited to histological and molecular studies in primates. As a first step toward elucidating fovea development in nonprimate vertebrates, we present a detailed histological atlas of retina and fovea development in the bifoveated Anolis sagrei lizard, a novel reptile model for fovea research. We test the hypothesis that retinal remodeling, leading to fovea formation and photoreceptor cell packing, is related to asymmetric changes in eye shape. Our findings show that anole retina development follows the typical spatiotemporal patterning observed in most vertebrates: retinal neurogenesis starts in the central retina, progresses through the temporal retina, and finishes in the nasal retina. However, the areas destined to become the central or temporal fovea differentiate earlier than the rest of the retina. We observe dynamic changes in retinal thickness during ocular elongation and retraction—thinning during elongation and thickening during retraction. Additionally, a transient localized thickening of the ganglion cell layer occurs in the temporal fovea region just before pit formation. Our data indicate that anole retina development is similar to that of humans, including the onset and progression of retinal neurogenesis, followed by changes in ocular shape and retinal remodeling leading to pit formation. We propose that anoles are an excellent model system for fovea development research.