bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of multiple mammalian herbivores and climate on grassland–shrubland transitions in the Chihuahuan Desert
Authors: Andreoni Kieran J. , Bestelmeyer Brandon T. , Lightfoot David C. , Schooley Robert L. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe replacement of grasses by shrubs or bare ground (xerification) is a primary form of landscape change in drylands globally with consequences for ecosystem services. The potential for wild herbivores to trigger or reinforce shrubland states may be underappreciated, however, and comparative analyses across herbivore taxa are sparse. We sought to clarify the relative effects of domestic cattle, native rodents, native lagomorphs, and exotic African oryx (Oryx gazella) on a Chihuahuan Desert grassland undergoing shrub encroachment. We then asked whether drought periods, wet season precipitation, or interspecific grass–shrub competition modified herbivore effects to alter plant cover, species diversity, or community composition. We established a long‐term experiment with hierarchical herbivore exclosure treatments and surveyed plant foliar cover over 25 years. Cover of honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) proliferated, responding primarily to climate, and was unaffected by herbivore treatments. Surprisingly, cattle and African oryx exclusion had only marginal effects on perennial grass cover at their current densities. Native lagomorphs interacted with climate to limit perennial grass cover during wet periods. Native rodents strongly decreased plant diversity, decreased evenness, and altered community composition. Overall, we found no evidence of mammalian herbivores facilitating or inhibiting shrub encroachment, but native small mammals interacting with climate drove dynamics of herbaceous plant communities. Ongoing monitoring will determine whether increased perennial grass cover from exclusion of native lagomorphs and rodents slows the transition to a dense shrubland.
Pressurized liquid extraction of sulfite for quantitation by capillary zone electrophoresis
Authors: Gonçalves Samantha , Molognoni Luciano , Daguer Heitor , Ribeiro Ana Paula Fabichak , Deolindo Carolina Turnes Pasini , Vitali Luciano , Hoff Rodrigo 
Published: October 2024

AbstractSulfite is an additive used in shrimp processing to prevent discoloration. However, sulfite can cause health issues for sensitive consumers, making its monitoring necessary. Determining sulfite concentrations is complex because the Monier‐Williams reference method is laborious and has low analytical throughput. Additionally, new techniques are needed to stabilize sulfite during the extraction process because this analyte undergoes rapid oxidation. A new method involving extraction and derivatization of sulfite with formaldehyde through automated pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), followed by quantitation by capillary zone electrophoresis with diode‐array detector in indirect mode, was developed and optimized using multivariate planning. The PLE procedure was compared to another solid–liquid extraction method. The new method successfully stabilized and extracted sulfite from shrimp in few steps with adequate precision (CV < 3.8%), producing extracts that were stable for 10 days. Recovery was satisfactory (97%–99%), and the limits of detection (4.6 mg kg−1) and quantitation (15.4 mg kg−1) were suitable for the intended purpose.
Care as survival and resistance for precarious lives
Authors: Roberts Michelle K. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractWidespread economic and social precarity has made care essential to sustain life while simultaneously unremarkable due to its ubiquity. Failure to attend to care inadvertently accepts associated inequalities and ignores the potential for resistance. I explore in this paper the potential for anthropological investigations of care to overturn assumptions of care as ordinary amid precarity. Drawing on transdisciplinary anthropological, feminist, and disability studies scholarship on care and my own ethnographic work with people with disabilities and their family caregivers in Appalachian Kentucky, I argue care is best characterized as an expansive conceptual frame to understand and contest conditions of protracted precarity. Moving beyond assumptions of care and caregiving as ordinary, I theorize care as a relational, moral, and practical act; situate care within the context of neoliberalism, inequality, and repression; and recognize the persistence of resistance enacted through care practices to center efforts for justice. Care as a focus of feminist scholarship and practice must move beyond oppression. Care is an everyday means for interdependent resistance amid the conditions of precarity, offering vital recognition of personhood and worth for precarious lives. Caring labor sustains life when industrial capitalism cannot. Care persists as a way to survive and thrive amid injustice.
Simulation of Transport Phenomena for Microwave Freeze‐Drying of Potato Slices Using Finite Element Analysis
Authors: Sujinda Narathip , Varith Jaturapatr 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTThis research intended to investigate the transport phenomena that occur during microwave freeze‐drying (MFD) of potato slices using drying kinetics and finite element analysis (FEA). The impacts of microwave power levels and potato slice thickness on drying rate constant (DR) and average moisture diffusion (DAVG) were analyzed using MFD kinetics and were then incorporated in the simulation. It was found that the DR and DAVG were in the range of 301.3 × 10−3–775.4 × 10−3 min−1 and 1.045 × 10−10–3.336 × 10−10 m2/s, respectively. In the sublimation phase, the DR and DAVG were higher than those in the desorption phase. The DR and DAVG increased as the microwave power level increased but decreased as the thickness increased. The FEA of temperature and moisture distribution within the potato slices demonstrated the outward transfer of heat and mass from the center to the exterior and closely matched the experimental data with an error margin of within 5%, leading to the proposed schematic shrinkage model corresponding to the MFD simulation.
Functional Brain Network of Trait Impulsivity: Whole‐Brain Functional Connectivity Predicts Self‐Reported Impulsivity
Authors: Hüpen Philippa , Kumar Himanshu , Müller Dario , Swaminathan Ramakrishnan , Habel Ute , Weidler Carmen 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTGiven impulsivity's multidimensional nature and its implications across various aspects of human behavior, a comprehensive understanding of functional brain circuits associated with this trait is warranted. In the current study, we utilized whole‐brain resting‐state functional connectivity data of healthy males (n = 156) to identify a network of connections predictive of an individual's impulsivity, as assessed by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS)‐11. Our participants were selected, in part, based on their self‐reported BIS‐11 impulsivity scores. Specifically, individuals who reported high or low trait impulsivity scores during screening were selected first, followed by those with intermediate impulsivity levels. This enabled us to include participants with rare, extreme scores and to cover the entire BIS‐11 impulsivity spectrum. We employed repeated K‐fold cross‐validation for feature‐selection and used stratified 10‐fold cross‐validation to train and test our models. Our findings revealed a widespread neural network associated with trait impulsivity and a notable correlation between predicted and observed scores. Feature importance and node degree were assessed to highlight specific nodes and edges within the impulsivity network, revealing previously overlooked key brain regions, such as the cerebellum, brainstem, and temporal lobe, while supporting previous findings on the basal ganglia‐thalamo‐prefrontal network and the prefrontal‐motor strip network in relation to impulsiveness. This deepened understanding establishes a foundation for identifying alterations in functional brain networks associated with dysfunctional impulsivity.
From photonic technologies to microfluidics—A review on the techniques which revolutionize liquid biopsy, opening a new era in cancer therapy
Authors: Sarkar Subham , Ghosh Soubhagya , Chakraborty Samraggi , Rajak Jenifer , Chowdhury Ekanansha R. , Mitra Arup K. , Kumer Ajoy , Dhara Bikram 
Published: October 2024

AbstractBackground and AimsCancer therapy is one of the most researched upon medical field in the world. Non invasive technologies such as liquid biopsy are gaining more importance in cancer therapy because of their manifold advantages over traditional invasive biopsy methods. Liquid biopsy is used to analyze nucleic acids such as ctDNA, cfDNA and RNA, cellular and subcellular components such as proteins, extracellular vesicles and circulating tumor cells in various biological fluids such as blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid and ascites fluid for diagnosis of cancer.MethodsLiquid biopsy has a wide range of applications such as assessment of residual diseases and tumors which cannot be biopsied easily and prediction of CAR‐T response and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. It can also be used to know the efficacy of cancer drugs in a patient by analyzing multiple samples. Liquid biopsy is becoming more popular as it allows biopsy of those samples in which solid tumor biopsies are challenging or impracticable.Techniques and ResultsTo achieve comprehensive insight on the status of cancer in a patient, various cutting edge liquid biopsy techniques have been developed. Microfluidics and photonic technologies, along with PCR, next generation sequencing, advanced and innovative molecular and cell biology approaches and imaging techniques have expanded the domain of liquid biopsy and elevated the accuracy of liquid biopsy results.ConclusionThis review discusses about the contributions of some widely used methods along with microfluidics and photonic technologies in detection of cancer biomarkers by liquid biopsy.
Synergistic Action of Rutin‐Coated Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Targeting Biofilm Formation Receptors of Dental Pathogens and Modulating Apoptosis Genes for Enhanced Oral Anticancer Activity
Authors: Shaik Mohammed Rafi , Ramasamy Mohankumar , Jain Divya , Muthu Kesavan , Marunganathan Vanitha , Manivannan Chandrakumar , Hussain Shaik Althaf , Deepak Paramasivam , Thiyagarajulu Nathiya , Guru Ajay , Venkatesan Dhivya 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTOral diseases are often associated with bacterial and fungal pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, and Candida albicans. This research explored a novel approach to addressing these pathogens by synthesizing zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) coated with rutin (RT), a plant‐derived compound. The synthesized ZnO‐RT NPs were comprehensively characterized using UV‐Vis spectrophotometer, SEM, and EDAX techniques to confirm their structural composition. The antioxidant potential was assessed through free radical scavenging assays. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity of ZnO‐RT NPs was evaluated using a zone of inhibition assay against oral pathogens. Molecular docking studies with the Autodock tool were performed to elucidate the interactions between RT and the receptors of oral pathogens. The findings demonstrated that ZnO‐RT NPs exhibited robust free radical scavenging activity. Furthermore, they showed significant antimicrobial activity with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 40 μg/mL against oral pathogens. ZnO‐RT NPs also displayed dose‐dependent anticancer effects on human oral cancer cells at concentrations of 10, 20, 40, and 80 μg/mL. Mechanistic insights into the anticancer activity on KB cells revealed the upregulation of apoptotic genes. This study underscores the promising potential of ZnO‐RT NPs for dental applications due to their strong antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial properties. These nanoparticles offer a hopeful prospect for addressing oral pathogen challenges and enhancing overall oral health.
Sesamol Alleviated Lipotoxicity‐Induced Dysfunction in MIN6 Cells via Facilitating Cellular Senescence Caused by Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
Authors: Xie Yan , Tang Yongyan , Yang Jinxin , Atta Mahnoor , Wang Nan , Qin Hong 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTObesity is found to be a significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), attributed to lipotoxicity‐induced β‐cell dysfunction. However, the specific mechanism involved in the process remains incompletely unclarified. The current study demonstrated lipotoxicity resulted in the activation of ER stress, which increased the protein level of TXNIP, thereby inducing senescence‐assiciated dysfunction in MIN6 cells under high fat environment. And we also found sesamol, a natural functional component extracted from sesame, was able to alleviate senescence‐associated β‐cell dysfunction induced by lipotoxicity by inhibiting ER stress and TXNIP. Our findings provided novel insights into senescence‐related T2DM and propose innovative therapeutic approaches for utilizing sesamol in the treatment of T2DM in the obese elderly population.
Synthesis, structural characterization, water ad‐/de‐sorption isotherm, and CO2 uptakes of a 2D Cu(I) metal organic framework with 1,3,5‐tris(4‐pyridylethynyl)benzene (L) and Tricyanomethanide (tcm−) ligands
Authors: Wang Chih‐Chieh , Wu Yu‐Ching , Chung Yu‐Chen , Yang En‐Che , Lee Gene‐Hsiang , Chien Su‐Ying , Chang Po‐Ya , Sheu Hwo‐Shuenn 
Published: October 2024

AbstractA d10 Cu(I) two‐dimensional (2D) metal–organic framework (MOF) with chemical formulas, {[Cd(L)(tcm)(H2O)]⋅2H2O}n (1) (L = 1,3,5‐tris(4‐pyridylethynyl)benzene; tcm−1 = tricyanomethanide) was synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X‐ray diffraction method. In 1, the coordination geometry of Cu(I) ion is distorted tetrahedral coordinated to four N atoms from three L and one tcm− ligands. A 2D puckered honeycomb‐like layer is formed via the bridges of Cu(I) ions and L ligands with tris‐monodentate coordination mode. Two 2D layers are mutually interpenetrated via the π–π stacking interaction between benzene ring of L ligand and pyridyl ring of neighboring L ligand to form a two‐fold interpenetrated 2D net and then arranged orderly to construct its 3D supramolecular network. Thermal stability and in‐situ temperature‐dependent structural variations of 1 are performed by TG analysis associated with temperature‐dependent PXRD measurement. The water vapor ad‐/de‐sorption isotherm and CO2 adsorption isotherm of 1 are measured and discussed.
Reducing emotion dysregulation online in nonclinical population with compassion focused therapy and emotional competencies program: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Paucsik Marine , Baeyens Céline , Tessier Damien , Shankland Rebecca 
Published: October 2024

AbstractObjectivesThe present randomized controlled study aimed to evaluate the effects of two interventions on emotional dysregulation as a primary outcome and on depression, anxiety, stress, well‐being, self‐compassion and emotional competencies as secondary outcomes. Finally, the mediating role of emotional dysregulation as a core process in the effect of interventions on anxiety‐depressive and stress symptoms was evaluated.MethodsOne hundred and seventy‐nine individuals aged 18–68 years (M = 39, SD = 12.4; 83.9% females) with emotion regulation difficulties were randomly assigned to one of the three 12‐weeks online programs: Compassion Focused Program (CFP), an Emotional Competencies Program (ECP) or a Waitlist control condition (WL). Participants completed pre‐, post‐ and 3 months follow‐up measures of each outcome. Mixed effect linear models compared groups on primary and secondary outcomes.ResultsResults showed that (1) perceived credibility and expectancy and satisfaction did not differ between the two interventions, (2) both interventions reduced emotion regulation difficulty, depression, anxiety and stress symptoms, and enhanced well‐being, self‐compassion, and emotional competencies; (3) ECP was more effective to enhance well‐being than CFP; (4) CFP was more effective to enhance emotional competencies than ECP, and (5) emotion regulation difficulty mediated the effect of the interventions on depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms.ConclusionsFindings offer preliminary support for the usefulness of online CFP and ECP to reduce emotion dysregulation, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress and to increase well‐being, self‐compassion and emotional competencies. These results are discussed regarding clinical practice and the transdiagnostic role of emotional dysregulation.
Biocatalytic Potential of Pseudomonas Species in the Degradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Authors: Sivasamy Sivabalan , Rajangam Shanmuganathan , Kanagasabai Thanigaivelan , Bisht Dakshina , Prabhakaran Rajkumar , Dhandayuthapani Sivanesan 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), one of the major environmental pollutants, produced from incomplete combustion of materials like coal, oil, gas, wood, and charbroiled meat, that contaminate the air, soil, and water, necessitating urgent remediation. Understanding the metabolic pathways for PAHs degradation is crucial to preventing environmental damage and health issues. Biological methods are gaining increasing interest due to their cost‐effectiveness and environmental friendliness. These methods are particularly suitable for remediating PAHs contamination and mitigating associated risks. The paper also outlines the processes for biodegrading PAHs, emphasizing the function of Pseudomonas spp., a kind of bacterium recognized for its capacity to degrade PAHs. To eliminate PAHs from the environment and reduce threats to human health and the environment, Pseudomonas spp. is essential. Understanding the mechanism of PAH breakdown by means of microbes could lead to effective clean‐up strategies. The review highlights the enzymatic capabilities, adaptability, and genetic versatility of the genes like nah and phn of Pseudomonas spp., which are involved in PAHs degradation pathways. Scientific evidence supports using Pseudomonas spp. as biocatalysts for PAHs clean‐up, offering cost‐effective and eco‐friendly solutions.
Holocene shoreline displacement, land‐cover change and human settlement distribution on the southeast coast of Sweden
Authors: Katrantsiotis Christos , Vinogradova Olena , Dahl Martin , Palm Veronica , Rönnby Johan , Gaillard Marie‐José , Andrén Thomas , Andrén Elinor 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTIn this study, we investigate the interplay between relative sea‐level changes, the development of human settlements and land‐cover changes in the Västervik–Gamlebyviken region on the southeast coast of Sweden, an important archaeological area from the Mesolithic until recent times. The reconstruction of shore displacement was based on diatom analysis of radiocarbon‐dated sediment cores from three lake basins combined with previously published lake isolation data. The resulting curve was used to construct palaeogeographical maps for selected time windows. Land‐cover changes were inferred from pollen data from three lakes using the Landscape Reconstruction Algorithm with its two models REVEALS and LOVE. Our data suggest that people took advantage of the land gained due to an overall fall in relative sea level from ~35 to ~3 metres above sea level (m a.s.l.) over the last 10 000 years, interrupted by periods of transgression and highstands. A sea‐level regression of ~16 m occurred between 10 000 and 8500 cal a bp followed by an ~3–4‐m sea‐level rise, reaching ~22 m a.s.l. at ~7500 cal a
bp, which corresponds to the maximum Littorina Sea shoreline in the area. The available archaeological findings for the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic (8950–5450 cal a
bp) agree well with the shore displacement curve showing that settlements and human activities were concentrated along or above the shorelines as defined from our study. During the transgression after 8500 cal a
bp, however, seasonal settlements were submerged (as shown by findings of polished stone tools and hearths buried in sand) and used again during the subsequent regression after 4600 cal a
bp. The Iron Age (2450–900 cal a
bp) corresponds partly to a highstand at ~11 m a.s.l. between 3600 and 2000 cal a
bp and partly to a rapid regression of ~8 m between 2000 and 1500 cal a
bp, and both periods coincide with known human activities along the contemporaneous shoreline. The rapid regression after 2000 cal a
bp corresponds to an increase of both regional and local landscape openness and the beginning of a continuous record of crop cultivation.
Study on the Synergistic Mechanism of Photodynamic Therapy Combined With Ferroptosis Inducer to Induce Ferroptosis in Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Dong Sifan , An Shiqi , Liu Qifan , Wang Xujia , Hu Yongmei , Jiang An 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundPhotodynamic therapy (PDT) induced lipid peroxidation reaction can lead to necrosis and apoptosis of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) cells, reducing the tumor load. However, the depth of action of PDT is shallow, and its therapy efficacy is weak, making it difficult to achieve eradication even with multiple treatments.ObjectivesThis study aims to investigate the mechanism and main pathways of ferroptosis in cholangiocarcinoma under Hematoporphyrin‐mediated photodynamic therapy, and to compare the effects of different ferroptosis inducers on photodynamic therapy‐induced ferroptosis in cholangiocarcinoma. To provide an experimental basis for selecting appropriate ferroptosis‐inducing agents and synergizing with photodynamic therapy during the clinical perioperative period.MethodsThe Cell Counting Kit‐8 (CCK‐8) was used to examine the cytotoxicity of cholangiocarcinoma cells following PDT. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptotic cell percentage and cell cycle changes to assess the enhanced photodynamic production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by different ferroptosis inducers, confocal imaging was used to de‐assay ROS content. Western blot analysis was employed to detect the expression of GPX4 、FSP1、ASCL4 and SLC7A11. Furthermore, a fluorescence spectrophotometric assay was used to quantify the alterations in lipid peroxides (MDA, LPO, GSH, and Fe2+).ResultsThe combination of PDT with Lenvatinib or Erastin resulted in increased ROS levels, and decreased GSH content, tumor cells were inhibited in the G2 phase, and the proportion of apoptotic cells increased. Additionally, GPX4, FSP1, and SLC7A11 protein expression decreased, whereas ASCL4 increased This was accompanied by heightened levels of Fe2+, LPO, and MDA. Induction of the ferroptosis pathway was observed to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of PDT.ConclusionOur findings suggest that Erastin or Lenvatinib can enhance the induction of ferroptosis in cholangiocarcinoma cells by photodynamic therapy by increasing intracellular ROS and inhibiting intracellular antioxidant pathways.