bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prognostic serum biomarkers of synaptic, neuronal and glial injury in patients with acute ischemic stroke of the anterior circulation
Authors: Barba Lorenzo , Vollmuth Christoph , Halbgebauer Steffen , Ungethüm Kathrin , Hametner Christian , Essig Fabian , Kollikowski Alexander M. , Pham Mirko , Schuhmann Michael K. , Heuschmann Peter U. , Oeckl Patrick , Steinacker Petra , Romoli Michele , D'Anna Lucio , Abu‐Rumeileh Samir , Haeusler Karl Georg , Stoll Guido , Neugebauer Hermann , Otto Markus 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundWe aimed to investigate the prognostic role of β‐synuclein in comparison to that of neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) for predicting functional outcome after acute ischemic stroke (AIS).MethodsWe measured serum concentrations of β‐synuclein, NfL and GFAP 24 h after hospital admission in 213 consecutive patients with moderate‐to‐severe AIS. We investigated the association between serum biomarkers and radiological/clinical characteristics, 3‐months mortality and functional outcome on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS).ResultsIn 213 patients with AIS [mean age: 76.1 (±12.5) years, 53.1% males, median NIHSS score on admission: 13 (IQR: 9–17)], higher levels of β‐synuclein, NfL and GFAP were associated with higher NIHSS scores and with lower Alberta Stroke Program CT Score (ASPECTS) points on admission. Serum β‐synuclein levels was significantly correlated with NfL (rho = 0.715, p < 0.001) and GFAP concentrations (rho = 0.684, p < 0.001). The inclusion of serum β‐synuclein significantly improved the accuracy of prediction models without biomarkers for overall mortality (AUC: 0.836 vs. 0.752, p < 0.001) and mRS 3–6 vs. 0–2 (AUC: 0.812 vs. 0.624, p < 0.001). Combination models with NfL and/or GFAP showed a similar accuracy.ConclusionsSerum β‐synuclein may be used to assess synaptic damage/dysfunction and to predict 3‐months clinical outcomes in patients with AIS.
Anti‐Snake Behavior and Snake Discrimination in Vervet Monkeys
Authors: Schad Lukas , van de Waal Erica , Fischer Julia 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTAnti‐predator behavior can inform how animals classify potential threats and which cognitive mechanisms might be involved in risk assessment. Snakes are common predators for many primate species, yet most of our knowledge on primate anti‐snake behavior stems from predator model experiments. Only some studies could investigate natural predator–prey interactions. Here, we combine an observational study on anti‐snake behavior in free‐ranging vervet monkeys, Chlorocebus pygerythrus, with an experimental test of snake classification to achieve an integrated understanding of the monkeys' responses to and classification of snakes. Over 25 months, we gathered data from over 200 individuals in five groups and recorded natural encounters between vervet monkeys and five different species of snakes. We assessed whether the time that monkeys spent in close proximity (≤ 10 m) to snakes varied with the encountered species and whether age and sex classes differed in their propensity to approach snakes (≤ 10 m) or produce alarm calls. Encounters with pythons lasted longer, and monkeys were likelier to approach them than other species. While adult males were less likely to approach snakes, we found no effect of age or sex class on alarm‐calling probability. Alarm calling was restricted to individuals close to snakes, apparently facilitating the recruitment of nearby group members to a snake's position. In experiments, we tested whether vervet monkeys discriminated snake models by length or diameter, but found no effect of model size. While the experimental data showed the same trends as data from natural encounters, the model pythons were approached by a much larger proportion of subjects than real pythons. This contrast between responses in natural predator encounters and simulated events stresses how assessing the variation in natural encounters can provide valuable context when evaluating experimental data.
Genomic Evidence for the Purging of Deleterious Genetic Variation in the Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale
Authors: Orton Richard W. , Hamilton Philip K. , Frasier Timothy R. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThe reduced genetic diversity and frequent inbreeding associated with small population size may underpin the accumulation and expression of deleterious mutations (mutation load) in some declining populations. However, demographic perturbations and inbreeding coupled with purifying selection can also purge declining populations of deleterious mutations, leading to intriguing recoveries. To better understand the links between deleterious genetic variation and population status, we assess patterns of genetic diversity, inbreeding, and mutation load across the genomes of three species of Balaenidae whale with different demographic histories and recoveries following the end of commercial whaling in the 1980s. Unlike bowhead (BH) and Southern right whales (SRW), which show signs of recent recovery, reproductive rates of the endangered North Atlantic right whale (NARW) remain lower than expected. We show that the NARW is currently marked by low genetic diversity, historical inbreeding, and a high mutation load. Still, we reveal evidence that genetic purging has reduced the frequency of highly deleterious alleles in NARW, which could increase chances of future population recovery. We also identify a suite of mutations putatively linked to congenital defects that occur at high frequencies in nulliparous NARW females but are rare in NARW with high reproductive success. These same mutations are nearly absent in BH and SRW in this study, suggesting that the purging of key variants may shape the probability of population recovery. As anthropogenic disturbances continue to reduce the sizes of many populations in nature, resolving the links between population dynamics and mutation load could become increasingly important.
The impact of different types of exercises on echocardiographic parameters and plasma BNP concentrations in working and sports horses
Authors: Isović J. , Čamo D. , Mutevelić T. , Ćutuk R. , Zahirović A. 
Published: December 2024

SummaryBackgroundBrain natriuretic peptide (BNP) serves as a crucial cardiac biomarker in human and small animal veterinary medicine, yet its role in equine cardiology remains underexplored.ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the influence of different exercise types on BNP concentrations and single brief echocardiographic parameters in two distinct horse populations, while also examining potential correlations between BNP concentrations and echocardiographic variables.Study designForty clinically healthy horses, categorised into working and sports groups, underwent exercise testing exercise to their purposes. BNP concentrations were measured using a horse‐specific ELISA kit, and brief echocardiographic examinations were conducted 24 h post‐exercise.MethodsBlood samples were collected before, after exercises, and at rest to determine plasma BNP concentrations. The brief echocardiographic examinations looked only at M‐mode imaging from the right parasternal window, and assessed cardiac chambers and ventricular diameters. BNP concentrations and echocardiographic variables were compared between the two groups.ResultsExercise did not significantly increase BNP concentrations in either group, with sports horses exhibiting higher basal BNP values (18.0–1973.0 pg/mL) compared to work horses (14.4–1074.5 pg/mL). No significant differences in BNP concentrations were observed between breeds, sexes, or pregnancy statuses. Brief echocardiographic examinations using M‐mode imaging from the right parasternal window revealed significant differences in right ventricular dimensions in diastole and relative wall thickness between the groups. A low negative correlation (r = −0.329, p = 0.038) was observed between BNP concentration and fractional shortening.Main limitationsSingle pre‐exercise blood sampling, brief M‐mode echocardiography, and lack of exercise standardisation in the endurance horse group limited assessing high biological variability on BNP concentration and echocardiographic parameters in the tested horses.ConclusionsAssessing BNP concentrations and echocardiographic parameters during different exercises can be helpful in examining the functional status of the equine cardiovascular system, guiding tailored exercise regimens for optimal equine well‐being.
Investigation of the Thickness Effects on Three‐Dimensional Fracture Toughness in Metallic Materials via the Phase‐Field Model
Authors: Hou Junling , Zhang Yinghao , Tan Jiatong , Peng Xingming , Li Qun , Wang Chunguang 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTWith the wide application of large wall‐thickness metallic structures in engineering, there has been a growing focus on the three‐dimensional fracture issues associated with these materials. This article uses the phase‐field model to investigate the impact of thickness on elastic–plastic metallic materials. Initially, the fracture toughness of metallic materials in three dimensions is calculated under elastic deformation. The findings reveal that the outcomes obtained from the phase‐field model remain consistent regardless of thickness, thus confirming its effectiveness. Subsequently, the study delves into the three‐dimensional fracture behavior of metallic materials during plastic deformation. It illustrates how the phase–field model approach enables a thorough simulation of crack propagation within these materials, offering a comprehensive understanding of their fracture behavior. By analyzing the phase‐field contour, the thickness effects of three‐point bending specimens during crack growth are effectively captured. In addition, the dimensionless fracture toughness ratio trends with thickness are compared between phase‐field modeling and experimental results in the open literature, showing good agreement.
Genetic Population Structure of Jumbo Squid (Dosidicus gigas) in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean and Its Implication for Fisheries Management
Authors: Pardo‐Gandarillas M. Cecilia , Morales Pamela , Catalán Jennifer , Carrasco Sergio A. , Hernández Sebastián , Oyarzún Pablo A. , Wiff Rodrigo , Ibáñez Christian M. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTSpecies with high connectivity usually lack genetic differentiation. We tested for the presence of multiple populations of jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) on the Southeastern Pacific Ocean. Samples were collected from Ecuador to southern Chile (1.5° S–38° S). Two mitochondrial genes were sequenced (COI and ND2). Jumbo squids from all sampled locations in Ecuador, Peru, and Chile, as a whole, were characterized by low genetic diversity and an absence of spatial genetic structure, which suggest the presence of a population genetic unit in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean. Absence of spatial genetic structure was associated with high vagility of adults, eggs, and paralarvae of jumbo squid. We conclude that jumbo squid should be managed as a single biological stock along the Southeastern Pacific Ocean.
Blocking Deoxycytidine Kinase in Activated Lymphocytes Depletes Deoxycytidine Triphosphate Pools and Alters Cell Cycle Kinetics to Yield Less Disease in a Mouse Multiple Sclerosis Model
Authors: Salas Jessica R. , Ryan K. M. , Trias Alyssa O. , Chen Bao Ying , Guemes Miriam , Galic Zoran , Schultz Kenneth A. , Clark Peter M. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTAutoreactive, aberrantly activated lymphocytes that target myelin antigens in the central nervous system (CNS) are primary drivers of the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis (MS). Proliferating cells including activated lymphocytes require deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs) for DNA replication. dNTPs can be synthesised via the de novo pathway from precursors such as glucose and amino acids or the deoxyribonucleoside salvage pathway from extracellular deoxyribonucleosides. Deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) is the rate‐limiting enzyme in the salvage pathway. In prior work, we showed that targeting dCK with the small molecule inhibitor TRE‐515 limits clinical symptoms in two myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)‐induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse models of MS and decreases the levels of activated CD4 T and B lymphocytes in vivo. However, whether targeting dCK limits disease in additional EAE models and how targeting dCK directly impacts activated and proliferating CD4 T and B cells has yet to be determined. Here, we show that dCK is activated in the lymph nodes and spleen in an EAE model induced by amino acids 139–151 of the proteolipid protein (PLP139‐151) that is driven by CD4 T and B cells and is characterised by acute disease followed by disease remission. Treating this model with TRE‐515 limits clinical symptoms and decreases the levels of activated CD4 T and B cells. In culture, CD4 T and B cells induce deoxyribonucleoside salvage following activation, and TRE‐515 directly blocks CD4 T and B cell activation‐induced proliferation and activation marker expression. TRE‐515 decreases deoxycytidine triphosphate (dCTP) and deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP) pools and increases the length of time cells spend in S phase of the cell cycle without inducing a replication stress response in B cells. Our results suggest that dCK activity is required to supply needed dNTPs and to enable rapid cell division following lymphocyte activation against autoantigens in EAE mouse models.
Has Family Engagement Finally Gained Foothold in Forensic Mental Healthcare?
Authors: Rowaert Sara , Tingleff Ellen Boldrup , Hörberg Ulrica , Vandevelde Stijn , Lemmens Gilbert 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTDespite advancements in promoting family engagement in mental health settings, limited involvement of family members persists in forensic mental healthcare. Forensic mental healthcare professionals face various barriers in engaging families, including a patient‐centered approach and resource constraints. However, limited understanding exists of professionals' experiences with family engagement, which is crucial for improving care practices in this setting. Consequently, this study investigates the evolution of professionals' experiences with family engagement from 2015 to 2021 in Flanders, Belgium. Qualitative methods were employed, including focus group interviews in 2015 and individual interviews in 2021 with 23 forensic mental healthcare professionals. Thematic analysis is employed to identify patterns and changes over time. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist was utilised to report the study. The analysis revealed that while initial steps towards family engagement in forensic mental healthcare have been taken, full integration in organisational structures is still lacking. Future efforts should focus on involving family organisations and caregivers, addressing barriers like time and resource constraints, and fostering a cultural shift towards family engagement. Further research involving a broader range of stakeholders is needed to enhance family engagement initiatives in forensic mental healthcare settings.
The Relationship Between Resilience and Mental Health Status Among Nurses With Workplace Violence Experiences: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Pien Li‐Chung , Wang Chia‐Hui , Cheng Wan‐Ju , Lin Yu‐Huei , Chou Kuei‐Ru , Hsu Chia‐Yueh 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTNurses encounter many stressors and challenges at work, which can negatively affect their mental and physical health. Modern theories of resilience suggest that resilience is a dynamic process of positive adaptation to adversity. This process involves personal growth through adversity, developing effective coping strategies and inculcating the ability to cope with stress. The resilience process involves individual characteristics, social support and environmental factors, including workplace culture. Strengthening nurses' resilience can help them cope with adversity, maintain their mental health and well‐being and support their provision of care. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between workplace characteristics, resilience and mental health status among nurses with experiences of workplace violence. The study objectives were to analyse the relationships between workplace characteristics, resilience and mental health status among nurses with experiences of workplace violence and to investigate the effects of resilience on nurses' mental health outcomes. In this cross‐sectional study, full‐time nurses at a medical centre in Taiwan completed a questionnaire survey. Of 600 distributed questionnaires, 334 nurses were identified to have experienced workplace violence. The questionnaires included items on workplace violence, resilience, metal health status (burnout and mental distress), sleep quality, work characteristics (job control, psychological job demands and workplace justice) and demographic characteristics. Data were analysed through chi‐square tests and multivariate logistic regression. Nurses with low resilience tended to be younger, work more rotating/night shifts and perceive lower levels of job control and workplace justice. They also reported higher risks of burnout and mental distress and lower sleep quality. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that psychological job demands, workplace justice and resilience significantly influenced nurses' mental health status. Nurses with high resilience exhibited a lower risk of mental distress and higher sleep quality. However, resilience was not associated with burnout. The findings revealed how workplace factors and resilience influence nurses' mental health. The findings help nurse managers and policymakers develop strategies to promote nurses' resilience and mental health and mitigate the adverse effects of negative workplace events.
Self‐Deception in Human–AI Emotional Relations
Authors: Kaczmarek Emilia 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTImagine a man chatting with his AI girlfriend app. He looks at his smartphone and says, ‘Finally, I'm being understood’. Is he deceiving himself? Is there anything morally wrong with it? The human tendency to anthropomorphize AI is well established, and the popularity of AI companions is growing. This article answers three questions: (1) How can being charmed by AI's simulated emotions be considered self‐deception? (2) Why might we have an obligation to avoid harmless self‐deception? (3) When is self‐deception in emotional relationships with AI morally questionable, and can it be blameworthy? Regarding question 1, I describe being seduced by AI's simulated emotions as self‐deception, where desires bias beliefs. In response to question 2, I outline two ways to justify a prima facie obligation to avoid harmless self‐deception – instrumental and autotelic. For question 3, I highlight crucial factors to consider in assessing the blameworthiness of harmless self‐deception, such as the emotional and cognitive competences of the self‐deceiver, reasons for self‐deception, and its consequences for one's predispositions, self‐image, and other people. Moreover, I argue that the ethical requirement to avoid self‐deception does not easily translate into attributing blame to others for being self‐deceived.
Effects of pre‐experimental fasting and sheltering on the swimming performance and oxygen consumption of juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)
Authors: Ali Malik Haris , Huang Ying‐ping , Johnson David , Li Wei‐ming , Yuan Xi 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThis study investigated the effects of pre‐experimental fasting for 2, 7, and 14 days under both unsheltered (12 h dark–12 h light) and sheltered conditions on the critical swimming speed (Ucrit) and oxygen consumption (MO2) of juvenile grass carp, using a modified swim respirometer. Key findings include (1) the Ucrit of test fish decreased significantly, by 28%, after fasting for 14 days and sheltering intensified the impact to a 43% decrease, and (2) fish anaerobic capacity decreased after 7 days but increased after 14 days, and was enhanced by sheltering conditions. These findings are important as they indicate that fasting and sheltering can impair grass carp survival and disrupt river ecosystem balance, highlighting the need for habitat conservation.
Dual regulation of stomatal development by brassinosteroid in Arabidopsis hypocotyls
Authors: Park Tae‐Ki , Lee Se‐Hwa , Kim So‐Hee , Ko Yeong‐Woo , Oh Eunkyoo , Kim Yun Ju , Kim Tae‐Wuk 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTStomata are epidermal pores that are essential for water evaporation and gas exchange in plants. Stomatal development is orchestrated by intrinsic developmental programs, hormonal controls, and environmental cues. The steroid hormone brassinosteroid (BR) inhibits stomatal lineage progression by regulating BIN2 and BSL proteins in leaves. Notably, BR is known to promote stomatal development in hypocotyls as opposed to leaves; however, its molecular mechanism remains elusive. Here, we show that BR signaling has a dual regulatory role in controlling stomatal development in Arabidopsis hypocotyls. We found that brassinolide (BL; the most active BR) regulates stomatal development differently in a concentration‐dependent manner. At low and moderate concentrations, BL promoted stomatal formation by upregulating the expression of SPEECHLESS (SPCH) and its target genes independently of BIN2 regulation. In contrast, high concentrations of BL and bikinin, which is a specific inhibitor of BIN2 and its homologs, significantly reduced stomatal formation. Genetic analyses revealed that BIN2 regulates stomatal development in hypocotyls through molecular mechanisms distinct from the regulatory mechanism of the cotyledons. In hypocotyls, BIN2 promoted stomatal development by inactivating BZR1, which suppresses the expression of SPCH and its target genes. Taken together, our results suggest that BR precisely coordinates the stomatal development of hypocotyls using an antagonistic control of SPCH expression via BZR1‐dependent and BZR1‐independent transcriptional regulation.
A Prograde Dual‐Segmented Geotherm for (Retro‐) Eclogite From Western Dabie and Implications for Maximum Decoupling Depths During Continental Subduction
Authors: Xia Bin , Chen Chunhao , Wu Yuanbao , Wang Wei 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTRobust quantification of the prograde P–T trajectories of eclogite exhumed from subduction zones is fundamental for deciphering the thermal structure evolution and understanding the geodynamic processes during continental subduction. In this study, we investigate four metabasites located in Hong'an within the western Dabie HP/UHP metamorphic belt. Based on detailed petrographic observations and mineral chemistry analyses, combined with phase equilibrium modelling, average‐T calculation and conventional thermobarometry, we quantify the prograde to peak P–T paths for each of the four metabasites and the retrograde P–T conditions for two samples. The results show that three of the four metabasites have similar prograde P–T paths evolving from 15.5–18.5 kbar, 440–485 °C (M0 stage) to 18.5–20.5 kbar, 500–525 °C (M1 stage). On the other hand, although the fourth sample shares a similar P–T evolution for a segment of the late prograde stage from 18.0–19.0 kbar, ~500 °C to 20.0–22.0 kbar, ~550 °C, it attains Pmax at a notably higher pressure of ~26.0 kbar at 550–560 °C (M2 stage). During exhumation, we identify an early retrograde stage occurring at 9.0–12.5 kbar, 545–580 °C (M3 stage), followed by a later retrograde stage at 3.5–8.0 kbar, 540–580 °C (M4 stage). In combination with previous studies, we propose a common dual‐segmented P–T path for the late prograde evolution of the HP/UHP rocks in western Dabie. The initial segment exhibits a gentle slope with apparent geotherms of 7–8 °C/km, whereas the subsequent segment displays a steeper slope with apparent geotherms of 5–6 °C/km. We interpret the turning point at 20.0–23.0 kbar (corresponding to depths of 70–80 km) as marking the maximum decoupling depths (MDD) between the subducting slab and the overlying mantle wedge. Notably, this prograde dual‐segmented geotherm for eclogite in western Dabie and the corresponding MDD are similar to computational geodynamic models.