bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Artisanal and small-scale mining effects on freshwater resources: a case study of the Oda River in the Ashanti Region of Ghana
Authors: Anoyege Raymond , Alatinga Kennedy A. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) have rendered freshwater resources across the globe unsafe for consumption, posing health risks. The study assessed 15 water quality parameters using standardised water examination protocols. Twenty-four water samples were analysed from the upstream, midstream, and downstream of the Oda River, and the results were compared with the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) water quality benchmarks. The concentrations of electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), fluoride (F), copper (Cu), and cyanide (CN) were within permissible limits. However, the turbidity concentrations are 694, 1755, and 1658 NTU (> 5.0), the total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations are 438, 1380, and 1360 mg/L (> 0), iron (Fe) concentrations are 9.0, 34.0, and 20.0 mg/L (> 0.3 mg/L), faecal coliform concentrations are 180, 145, and 180 MPN/100 mL, and Escherichia coli (E. coli) concentrations are 83, 125, and 235 MPN/100 mL (> 0 MPN/100 mL) exceeding the recommended standards. The Principal Component Analysis (CPA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) suggest low ASM impact in the upstream compared to the midstream and downstream. The Comprehensive Pollution Index (CPI) values of 172.62 in the upstream, 468.68 in the midstream, and 401.31 in the downstream (> 2.0) indicate severe pollution of the Oda River. The study provides invaluable information on the effects of ASM activities on freshwater quality, ecosystems, and public health. The study concludes that ASM activities in freshwater basins obstruct SDG-6 attainment in Ghana and should be banned or properly regulated.
Wearable self-powered devices based on polymer thermoelectric materials
Authors: Yang Yi , Li Hui , Xu Zhen , Luo Siyi , Chen Lidong 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Driven by rapid advances in the thermoelectric (TE) performance of organic materials, conjugated polymer thermoelectric (PTE) materials are considered ideal candidates for flexible self-powered devices because of their intrinsic flexibility, tailored molecular structure, large-area solution processability, and low thermal conductivity. One promising application is the flexible and wearable TE devices used on the human body to convert human energy (human motion or body heat) into electricity. The self-powered character with extended functions allows PTE devices to monitor human activity or health status. In this review, we first introduce existing high-performance PTE materials and the architectures of PTE devices. Then, we focus on the progress of research on flexible self-powered devices based on PTE materials, including TE generators, TE sensors, and Peltier coolers. Finally, possible challenges in the development of PTE devices are discussed.
Avances en el estudio de abrigos rocosos en la depresión central de Chiapas, México
Authors: Macías Quintero Juan Ignacio , Bravo Roberto López , Pérez-Martínez Patricia , Weihmüller María Paula , Ibelles Stephanie Elizabeth Reyes 
Published: February 2025

Resumen
Presentamos avances en la exploración del abrigo rocoso Las Columnas situado en la Depresión Central de Chiapas, México. Un fechamiento obtenido por espectrometría de masas con aceleradores (AMS) muestra indicios de actividades humanas entre el 790 aC y 517 aC, período que corresponde con el desarrollo de sistemas políticos complejos mesoamericanos. Las excavaciones arrojaron también restos de talla, alisadores de piedra, caracoles, semillas y cerámica que indican actividades humanas recurrentes. Una muestra de artefactos líticos se analizó con microscopía para determinar su función. Los resultados preliminares indican que el abrigo Las Columnas fue utilizado para actividades domésticas y el procesamiento de huesos y pieles durante el Preclásico medio.
Breaking the Impasse of Appointing Members of the WTO Appellate Body: A Perspective from International Institutional Law
Authors: Pan Kaijun 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
At the 13th Ministerial Conference, WTO members reaffirmed their commitment to restoring a fully functioning dispute settlement system by 2024. By the end of the year, some progress had been made, but an agreement remains elusive. The re-election of Donald Trump as US President adds further uncertainty to these efforts. Against this background, this article re-examines the proposal for the General Council to appoint Appellate Body members through majority voting. It argues that customary rules of interpretation applicable to the constituent instruments of international organizations justify the legality of a vote in the General Council to support the effective functioning of the WTO. To address WTO members' concerns about the negative impact on consensus-based decision-making and the loss of leverage for reforms, this article suggests a General Council decision to appoint fewer than seven Appellate Body members. While not addressing all challenges facing the dispute settlement system, the proposal would bring more certainty to the early recovery of the system.
The History and Legacy of Anthony Comstock and the Comstock Laws
Authors: Hamlin Kimberly A. , Cahill Cathleen D. , Cohen Andrew Wender , Lange Allison K. , Thompson Lauren MacIvor , Syrett Nicholas L. , Zier Magdalene 
Published: February 2025

AbstractThe figure of Anthony Comstock may seem like an odd historical relic: a repressed, puritanical, anti-sex reformer from a bygone past. And yet, because his namesake act has been revived as a potential strategy for limiting access to reproductive healthcare, Comstock is no joke. Today, some Americans see the Comstock Act, passed by Congress in 1873, as a pathway to banning abortion and other reproductive care, effectively jettisoning any need for new Supreme Court abortion rulings or congressional legislation. As scholars of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, we are uniquely situated to intervene in this dialogue and ensure that contemporary conversations are grounded in historical context. We present this forum not as an exhaustive account of the Comstock Act and its architect, but as aopportunity to highlight the context in which this law, which holds so much potential relevance for our present, was created, enacted, enforced, and challenged. We hope this forum will stimulate further scholarly and public conversations around the nation’s long history of regulating reproductive rights and how that history became entangled with other social anxieties.
Row spacing and layered residual herbicides influence weed control and profitability in herbicide-resistant soybean
Authors: Lammers Chad , Roozeboom Kraig , Ibendahl Gregory , Lancaster Sarah 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Narrow row spacing and layered residual herbicides are recommended for season-long control of herbicide-resistant weeds, but limited research is available to describe interactions between the two practices. The integration of narrow row spacing with layered residual herbicides in herbicide-resistant soybean was evaluated in four site-years. A split-split plot treatment arrangement where the whole plot was soybean trait (LLGT27 or EnlistE3), the subplot was row spacing (38 or 76 cm), and the sub-subplot factor was herbicide program with five treatments: nontreated, preemergence herbicide only (PRE), PRE followed by postemergence (PRE fb POST), PRE fb POST with overlapping residual herbicide (POR), and weed free. Weed control was evaluated through R7 soybean, and weed biomass was collected before POST applications and at R7 soybean. Soybean yield was recorded. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means separation (α = 0.05). Row spacing had minimal effects on weed control and mixed effects on yield. Waterhemp and Venice mallow control ranged from 83% to 100% 4 weeks after treatment (WAT). POST and POR treatments provided ≥ 94% control of Palmer amaranth 4 WAT; however, PRE resulted in 33% Palmer amaranth control. All treatments resulted in ≥ 95% Palmer amaranth and yellow foxtail control at Scandia during 2021. The greatest income in rainfed site-years was Enlist soybean planted in 76-cm rows with PRE herbicide treatment. The greatest income in the irrigated site-year was with Enlist soybean planted in 38-cm rows with PRE herbicide treatment. Both POST and POR increase weed control compared to PRE, regardless of row spacing in the soybean varieties evaluated, although POR resulted in less income than POST treatments. However, this research did not evaluate weed seed production, which is crucial for long-term weed management and profitability.
A MEMS traveling-wave micromotor-based miniature gyrocompass
Authors: Xie Jinxuan , Zhou Tong , Chen Yu , Zhou Yi , Jiang Bo , Zhang Jing , Wang Zhenjun , Li Wentao , Sun Han , Zhu Xuyang , Li Xiaoshi , Yang Tianyu , Su Yan 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Traditional gyrocompasses, while capable of providing autonomous directional guidance and path correction, face limitations in widespread applications due to their large size, making them unsuitable for compact devices. Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) gyrocompasses offer a promising alternative for miniaturization. However, current MEMS gyrocompasses require the integration of motor rotation modulation technology to achieve high-precision north-finding, whereas conventional motors in previous research introduce large volume and residual magnetism, thus undermining their size advantage. Here, we innovatively propose a miniature MEMS gyrocompass based on a MEMS traveling-wave micromotor, featuring the first integration of a chip-scale rotational actuator and combined with a precise multi-position braking control system, enabling high accuracy and fast north-finding. The proposed gyrocompass made significant advancements, reducing its size to 50 × 42.5 × 24.5 mm³ and achieving an azimuth accuracy of 0.199° within 2 min, which is half the volume of the smallest existing similar devices while offering twice the performance. These improvements indicate that the proposed gyrocompass is suitable for applications in indoor industrial robotics, autonomous driving, and other related fields requiring precise directional guidance.
Energy metabolism in health and diseases
Authors: Liu Hui , Wang Shuo , Wang Jianhua , Guo Xin , Song Yujing , Fu Kun , Gao Zhenjie , Liu Danfeng , He Wei , Yang Lei-Lei 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Energy metabolism is indispensable for sustaining physiological functions in living organisms and assumes a pivotal role across physiological and pathological conditions. This review provides an extensive overview of advancements in energy metabolism research, elucidating critical pathways such as glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism, along with their intricate regulatory mechanisms. The homeostatic balance of these processes is crucial; however, in pathological states such as neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune disorders, and cancer, extensive metabolic reprogramming occurs, resulting in impaired glucose metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction, which accelerate disease progression. Recent investigations into key regulatory pathways, including mechanistic target of rapamycin, sirtuins, and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, have considerably deepened our understanding of metabolic dysregulation and opened new avenues for therapeutic innovation. Emerging technologies, such as fluorescent probes, nano-biomaterials, and metabolomic analyses, promise substantial improvements in diagnostic precision. This review critically examines recent advancements and ongoing challenges in metabolism research, emphasizing its potential for precision diagnostics and personalized therapeutic interventions. Future studies should prioritize unraveling the regulatory mechanisms of energy metabolism and the dynamics of intercellular energy interactions. Integrating cutting-edge gene-editing technologies and multi-omics approaches, the development of multi-target pharmaceuticals in synergy with existing therapies such as immunotherapy and dietary interventions could enhance therapeutic efficacy. Personalized metabolic analysis is indispensable for crafting tailored treatment protocols, ultimately providing more accurate medical solutions for patients. This review aims to deepen the understanding and improve the application of energy metabolism to drive innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Attractiveness and determinants of maxillary midline diastemas in a West African smile
Authors: Ahiaku Sefaakor , Millar Brian J. , Cronin Michael 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Introduction
This cross-sectional study examines whether the assumption that diastemas of 1 mm or greater are un-attractive is true in a Black West-African population, and identifies the determinants of attractiveness.

Methods
A structured questionnaire was self-administered to adult participants, who rated digitally altered full-face colour photographs of a male and female model with diastema widths of 0–6 mm on a 5-point Likert scale. Quantitative data was analysed using SAS® (version 9.4) and SPSS® (version 26). Qualitative data was analysed with thematic analysis.

Results
375 participants completed the questionnaire (51% female, 48% male, 1% preferred not to disclose) with a modal age of 25–34. 65% of participants found maxillary midline diastema esthetic and/or desirable, with 63% of those with diastemas choosing to have no treatment, and the desire to have treatment decreasing with increasing age (p = 0.012). No smile was perceived to be unattractive, however female smiles were rated more favourably (p < 0.001) and increasing diastema width correlated with a decreasing attractiveness especially for diastemas wider than 3 mm in females and 2 mm in males. Diastema width, the gender of the model, and whether or not the participant had a diastema themselves was shown to impact perceptions of attractiveness in a multi-variable analysis.

Conclusion
There is limited evidence to support the position that MMDs over 1 mm are not attractive in this population. Diastemas of ≤3 mm in females and ≤2 mm in males are considered attractive. In addition gender, diastema width, and an individual’s own diastema (or absence thereof) impact perceived attractiveness.
Associations of mucinous differentiation and mucin expression with immune cell infiltration and prognosis in colorectal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Elomaa Hanna , Tarkiainen Vilma , Äijälä Ville K. , Sirniö Päivi , Ahtiainen Maarit , Sirkiä Onni , Karjalainen Henna , Kastinen Meeri , Tapiainen Vilja V. , Rintala Jukka , Meriläinen Sanna , Saarnio Juha , Rautio Tero , Tuomisto Anne , Helminen Olli , Wirta Erkki-Ville , Seppälä Toni T. , Böhm Jan , Mäkinen Markus J. , Mecklin Jukka-Pekka , Väyrynen Juha P. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Background
The production of extracellular mucus and expression of mucins are commonly aberrant in colorectal cancer, yet their roles in tumour progression remain unclear.

Methods
To investigate the potential influence of mucus on immune response and prognosis, we analysed mucinous differentiation (non-mucinous, 0%; mucinous component, 1–50%; mucinous, >50%) and its associations with immune cell densities (determined with three multiplex immunohistochemistry assays or conventional immunohistochemistry) and survival in 1049 colorectal cancer patients and a validation cohort of 771 patients. We also assessed expression patterns of transmembrane (MUC1, MUC4) and secreted (MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC6) mucins using immunohistochemistry.

Results
Mucinous differentiation was associated with higher densities of CD14+HLADR– immature monocytic cells and M2-like macrophages in mismatch repair (MMR) proficient tumours, and lower T-cell densities in MMR-deficient tumours. Mucinous differentiation was not associated with cancer-specific survival in multivariable Cox regression models. Higher cytoplasmic MUC1 expression independently predicted worse cancer-specific survival (multivariable HR for high vs. negative to low expression, 2.14; 95% CI: 1.26–3.64). It was also associated with increased myeloid cell infiltration in MMR-proficient tumours.

Conclusions
Although mucinous differentiation did not independently predict survival, extracellular mucus and MUC1 expression could promote tumour progression through immunosuppression.
The LINC01315-encoded small protein YAPer-ORF competes with PRP4k to hijack YAP signaling to aberrantly promote cell growth
Authors: Xie Zhu , Li Chao , Huang Rui , Wu Bo , Huang Qian , Zhang Zhe , Zhao Tongjin , Wu Lingqian , Li Chengtao , Shen Jianfeng , Wang Hongyan 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The dysregulation of YAP activity is implicated in abnormal organ size and the pathogenesis of diverse diseases, including cancer. However, the functional regulation of YAP activity by lncRNA-encoded peptides remains elusive. In this study, we report the identification of a small protein (93 aa) encoded by the lncRNA LINC01315. This small protein, termed YAPer-ORF, preferentially interacted with GNAQ/11 mutants to augment YAP activity. Mechanistically, YAPer-ORF was located in the nucleus and competed with YAP to bind the nuclear kinase PRP4K to hinder YAP phosphorylation. This decreased phosphorylation of YAP by YAPer-ORF promoted YAP retention in the nucleus and facilitated the expression of downstream target genes such as CCND1. In both cancerous and noncancerous models, YAPer-ORF prominently drove cell proliferation in a CCND1-dependent manner. Notably, cardiac-specific genetic knock-in of the human YAPer-ORF in mice significantly increased heart size through increased cardiomyocyte proliferation, underscoring the role of YAPer-ORF in cell proliferation. Moreover, treatment with an anti-YAPer-ORF neutralizing antibody effectively suppressed uveal melanoma growth, highlighting the therapeutic potential of targeting YAPer-ORF. These findings collectively establish YAPer-ORF as a critical regulator of YAP activity, further highlighting the disruption of YAPer-ORF activity as a potential therapeutic strategy against YAP-driven human cancers and developmental diseases.
Validation of physical activity recall questionnaire and log using doubly-labelled water in Sri Lankan children
Authors: Dabare Prasangi , Wickramasinghe Pujitha , Waidyatilaka Indu , Devi Sarita , de Lanerolle Dias Maduka , Wickremasinghe Rajitha , Samaranayake Dulani , Jayawardena Ranil , Hills Andrew P. , Lanerolle Pulani 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Background and objective
Valid and cost-effective approaches are essential to assess physical activity and sedentary behaviours in individuals of all ages. This study aimed to validate a physical activity recall questionnaire (PAR-Q) and a physical activity log against the doubly labelled water (DLW) technique in 11-13-year-old Sri Lankan children.

Method
Total energy expenditure (TEE) was determined using the criterion DLW technique (TEEDLW) and physical activity energy expenditure (PAEEDLW) was estimated. Subsequently, physical activity assessment methods were validated in a group of children (n = 79). PAR-Q was adapted from the adolescent physical activity questionnaire and the physical activity log from the Bouchard activity diary. The youth physical activity compendium was used to calculate PAEE from both PAR-Q (PAEEPAR-Q) and activity log (PAEEPALog). Statistical analysis included Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analyses.

Results
Mean age of the study sample was 12.0 ± 0.8 years where the greater proportion were males (51.9%, n = 41). PAEEPAR-Q and PAEEPALog were significantly correlated with the PAEEDLW (r = 0.69 and r = 0.49, p < 0.05). PAR-Q underestimated PAEE by 230.1 ± 1071.1 kJ/day. Physical activity log overestimated PAEE by 14.6 ± 1283.2 kJ/day; for unit increase in the mean of the two measurements, the difference between the measurements increased by 0.48 (R2 = 0.16, p < 0.001).

Conclusion
PAR-Q is a valid tool for predicting PAEE in Sri Lankan children whereas the physical activity log was not. Researchers and practitioners can confidently use the PAR-Q to assess physical activity in this population, with potential applications in various research and intervention settings.
Rhodamine6G and Hœchst33342 narrow BmrA conformational spectrum for a more efficient use of ATP
Authors: Gobet A. , Moissonnier L. , Zarkadas E. , Magnard S. , Bettler E. , Martin J. , Terreux R. , Schoehn G. , Orelle C. , Jault JM , Falson P. , Chaptal V. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Multidrug ABC transporters harness the energy of ATP binding and hydrolysis to translocate substrates out of the cell and detoxify them. While this involves a well-accepted alternating access mechanism, molecular details of this interplay are still elusive. Rhodamine6G binding on a catalytic inactive mutant of the homodimeric multidrug ABC transporter BmrA triggers a cooperative binding of ATP on the two identical nucleotide-binding-sites, otherwise michaelian. Here, we investigate this asymmetric behavior via a structural-enzymology approach, solving cryoEM structures of BmrA at defined ATP ratios, highlighting the plasticity of BmrA as it undergoes the transition from inward to outward facing conformations. Analysis of continuous heterogeneity within cryoEM data and structural dynamics, reveals that Rhodamine6G narrows the conformational spectrum explored by the nucleotide-binding domains. We observe the same behavior for the other drug Hœchst33342. Following on these findings, the effect of drug-binding showed an ATPase stimulation and a maximal transport activity of the wild-type protein at the concentration-range where the cooperative transition occurs. Altogether, these findings provide a description of the influence of drug binding on the ATP-binding sites through a change in conformational dynamics.
Phase transformation in lead titanate based relaxor ferroelectrics with ultra-high strain
Authors: Zhang Hangfeng , Li Zilong , Wang Yichen , Fortes A. Dominic , Saunders Theo Graves , Hao Yang , Abrahams Isaac , Yan Haixue , Su Lei 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The reverse piezoelectric effect allows for the conversion of an electrical input signal into mechanical displacement and forms the basis for the operation of positioners and actuators. Addressing the practical need for cost-effective sensitive materials, we introduce erbium-doped lead magnesium niobium titanate ceramics which exhibit exceptionally high strain (3.19% bipolar and 0.8% unipolar) under a very low applied field of 2 kV mm−1, resulting in record-breaking piezoelectric coefficients (d
33* values of 15,950 and 4014 pm V−1, respectively). These exceptional properties stem from a combination of factors including the sensitivity of polar nanoregions to the applied field in this relaxor ferroelectric system, the thickness of the sample, and the energetic availability of polymorphs with different polar structures where a change in polarisation direction occurs at the field induced phase transition. Surpassing the performance of single crystal materials, our findings establish a benchmark in piezoelectric performance with implications for many diverse applications.