bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the potential of bryophytes to support seedlings development on waste rocks: a mesocosm study
Authors: Malo Samuel , Lamothe Carolane , Laforest-Lapointe Isabelle , Roy Sébastien , Bellenger Jean-Philippe 
Published: December 2024

Revegetating waste rocks is essential for re-establishing a functional ecosystem, but it poses significant challenges. Nutrient-poor soil and high exposure to elements cause high seedling mortality in the first year. Survival can be increased by amending soil with organic matter before plantation to improve water retention and nutrient availability. However, this method comes with high environmental and economic costs. Using mesocosms, we tested the use of bryophytes as an alternative to improve seedling survival due to their ability to create a beneficial microclimate with improved soil humidity and increased nutrient availability, especially through biological nitrogen fixation. Two bryophyte species ( Racomitrium canescens (Hedw.) Brid., an early succession, and Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt., a late succession species) were evaluated with three higher plant species ( Pinus banksiana, Rhododendron groenlandicum, and Populus balsamifera) planted in waste rocks. We further evaluated two distinct techniques for the application of bryophytes on waste rocks: evenly spreading fragments on the soil surface and regrouping the fragments around the higher plant stem. Results showed that Racomitrium canescens fixed significantly more nitrogen than Pleurozium schreberi on waste rock. On the contrary, Pleurozium schreberi released more nitrogen into the soil than Racomitrium canescens, likely due to higher mortality and nutrient loss during drying/rewetting cycles. While the short-term impact of bryophytes on seedlings was limited in this 6-month experiment, results suggest that bryophytes have the potential to support higher plants in the challenging conditions of waste rock revegetation by increasing nitrogen supply to seedlings. Implications for practice Strategies for restoring waste rock piles using local plant species and limiting the use of exogenous material, such as organic matter amendment, are essential for responsible management of disturbed sites Including bryophytes in revegetation practices can improve seedlings survival after plantation on waste rocks by increasing the availability of essential nutrients such as nitrogen. Methods for applying bryophyte stems tested here in mesocosms provide a benchmark for future tests on real waste rocks.
In Vivo Mapping of Human Ventricular Fibrillation in Brugada Syndrome: The Role of Repolarization Heterogeneity
Authors: Pannone Luigi , Della Rocca Domenico Giovanni , Vergara Pasquale , Sorgente Antonio , Del Monte Alvise , Vetta Giampaolo , Cespon Fernandez Maria , Talevi Giacomo , Eltsov Ivan , Calburean Paul-Adrian , Overeinder Ingrid , Bala Gezim , Almorad Alexandre , Ströker Erwin , Pappaert Gudrun , Sieira Juan , de Ravel Thomy , Van Dooren Sonia , Gharaviri Ali , La Meir Mark , Brugada Pedro , Chierchia Gian Battista , Sarkozy Andrea , de Asmundis Carlo 
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND:
Brugada syndrome (BrS) is associated with ventricular fibrillation (VF). Different VF mechanisms have been described, and repolarization gradients were associated with VF in a BrS model. The aim of this study is to map VF in BrS with ECG imaging. Furthermore, spatial correlation between sinus rhythm maps and VF maps was evaluated.

METHODS:
Inclusion criteria were (1) BrS diagnosis and (2) VF mapped with ECG imaging during right ventricle outflow tract ablation. VF mechanism was classified into (1) rotational, (2) focal, and (3) irregular. For comparison, 6 controls were enrolled. The following sinus rhythm maps were performed: activation, recovery time, and activation-recovery interval time. Spatial overlap between steep repolarization gradients (cliffs) at recovery time and activation-recovery interval time maps and initiating VF rotational activity was evaluated with photogrammetry.

RESULTS:
A total of 28 VF maps in 21 patients with BrS were analyzed. In the first ≈7 seconds of VF, rotational, focal, and irregular mechanisms were found. In 19 patients with BrS (90.5%) and none of the controls, a right ventricle outflow tract repolarization cliff only was found. In all these patients, the singularity point of the first initiating rotational VF activity spatially overlapped with the right ventricle outflow tract cliff. Abolition of right ventricle outflow tract repolarization cliffs was confirmed in all but 2 patients (94.3%). In one patient with recurrence, VF was mapped on the anterior right ventricle over a cliff that was not targeted at the first ablation procedure.

CONCLUSIONS:
In patients with BrS, repolarization heterogeneity has a critical role in VF. Repolarization cliffs might be a therapeutic target in VF ablation.
Long Noncoding RNA TRIBAL Links the 8q24.13 Locus to Hepatic Lipid Metabolism and Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Soubeyrand Sébastien , Lau Paulina , Nikpay Majid , Ma Lijiang , Bjorkegren Johan L.M. , McPherson Ruth 
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND:

Genome-wide association studies identified a 20-Kb region of chromosome 8 (8q24.13) associated with plasma lipids, hepatic steatosis, and risk for coronary artery disease. The region is proximal to
TRIB1
,

and given its well-established role in lipid regulation in animal models, TRIB1 has been proposed to mediate the contribution of the 8q24.13 locus to these traits. This region overlaps a gene encoding the primate-specific long noncoding RNA transcript
TRIBAL
/
TRIB1AL
(
TRIB1
-associated locus), but the contribution of TRIBAL to coronary artery disease risk remains untested.

METHODS:
Using recently available expression quantitative trait loci data and hepatocyte models, we further investigated this locus by Mendelian randomization analysis. Following antisense oligonucleotide targeting of TRIBAL, transcription array, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and enrichment analyses were performed and effects on apoB and triglyceride secretion were determined.

RESULTS:

Mendelian randomization analysis supports a causal relationship between genetically determined hepatic
TRIBAL
expression and markers of hepatic steatosis and coronary artery disease risk. By contrast, expression data sets did not support expression quantitative trait loci relationships between coronary artery disease–associated variants and
TRIB1
.
TRIBAL
suppression reduced the expression of key regulators of triglyceride metabolism and bile acid synthesis. Enrichment analyses identified patterns consistent with impaired metabolic functions, including reduced triglyceride and cholesterol handling ability. Furthermore,
TRIBAL
suppression was associated with reduced hepatocyte secretion of triglycerides.

CONCLUSIONS:

This work identifies
TRIBAL
as a gene bridging the genotype-phenotype relationship at the 8q24.13 locus with effects on genes regulating hepatocyte lipid metabolism and triglyceride secretion.
Identification of Circulating Proteins Associated With Blood Pressure
Authors: Xu Siqi , Wen Simin , Zong Xizeng , Wen Shifeng , Zhu Jianwei , Zheng Weipeng , Wang Zhiqiang , Cao Peihua , Liang Zhijiang , Ding Changhai , Zhang Yan , Ruan Guangfeng 
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND:
Circulating proteins in blood are involved in various physiological processes, but their contributions to blood pressure regulation remain partially understood. In traditional observational studies, identifying circulating proteins causally associated with blood pressure is challenging because of potentially unmeasured confounding and possible reverse causality.

METHODS:
Two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses were conducted to estimate the causal effects of 2270 circulating proteins (data sourced from 8 genome-wide association studies) on diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, and pulse pressure. Colocalization analyses were then used to investigate whether the circulating proteins and blood pressure traits shared causal genetic variants. To further verify the findings, we subsequently performed Steiger filtering analyses, annotation of protein-altering variants, assessment of overlap between protein quantitative trait loci and expression quantitative trait loci, protein-protein interaction and functional enrichment analyses, and drug target evaluation. To provide more potential biomarkers, we further evaluated the epidemiological associations of 2923 circulating proteins with blood pressure and hypertension by cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses using individual data in the UK Biobank.

RESULTS:
Mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses identified 121 circulating proteins with putative causal effects on at least 1 blood pressure trait. Many of the identified proteins are enriched in the pathways relevant to blood pressure regulation, and a majority of these proteins are either known drug targets or druggable candidates.

CONCLUSIONS:
This study has uncovered numerous circulating proteins potentially causally associated with blood pressure, providing insights into the regulatory mechanisms of blood pressure and potential therapeutic targets to facilitate blood pressure management.
Enhancing MR vascular Fingerprinting with realistic microvascular geometries
Authors: Delphin Aurélien , Boux Fabien , Brossard Clément , Coudert Thomas , Warnking Jan M. , Lemasson Benjamin , Barbier Emmanuel L. , Christen Thomas 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Magnetic resonance (MR) vascular Fingerprinting proposes to use the MR Fingerprinting framework to quantitatively and simultaneously map several characteristics that emerge from vascular structure much smaller than voxel size. The initial implementation assessed the local blood oxygenation saturation (SO2), blood volume fraction (BVf), and vessel averaged radius (R) in humans and rodent brains using simple 2D representations of the vascular network during dictionary generation. In order to improve the results and possibly extend the approach to pathological environments and other biomarkers, we propose in this study to use 3D realistic vascular geometries in the numerical simulations. 28,000 different synthetic voxels containing vascular networks segmented from whole-brain healthy mice microscopy images were created. A Bayesian-based regression model was used for map reconstruction. We show in 8 healthy and 9 tumor-bearing rats that realistic vascular representations yield microvascular estimates in better agreement with the literature than 2D or 3D cylindrical models. Furthermore, tumoral blood oxygenation variations observed with the proposed approach are the only ones correlating with in vivo optic-fiber measurements performed in the same animals.
Bridging Huntington’s disease research with big data science: Harmonized neuroimaging datasets from multiple studies
Authors: Pustina Dorian , Das Sandhitsu , Rozelle Dan , Johnson Hans J. , Scahill Rachael I. , Tabrizi Sarah J. , Georgiou-Karistianis Nellie , Sampaio Cristina , Wood Andrew 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Multiple neuroimaging datasets from Huntington’s disease (HD) studies are publicly available, but these datasets are in various formats, omit imaging metadata, and sometimes contain corrupt scans. We have created a platform to curate, harmonize, and distribute neuroimaging datasets from eight different studies: TRACK-HD, TRACKOn-HD, PREDICT-HD, IMAGE-HD, HD-YAS, SHIELD-HD, PEARL-HD, and LONGPDE10. The platform is organized into three conceptual levels to serve the research community with both raw and processed data. Raw data are converted into Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS) format, while processed data are obtained from pipelines such as Freesurfer and fmriprep. Studies that had followed the same participants were combined. After combining studies, the final six BIDS datasets include a total of 2,216 participants and 7,073 sessions. We outline tools, principles, and recommendations for future data management in HD research.
Age- and sex-related differences in human α4β2* nicotinic acetylcholine receptor binding evaluated with [18F]nifene PET
Authors: McVea Andrew , Choi Jihoon , DiFilippo Alexandra , McLachlan Max , Bettcher Brecca , Zammit Matthew , Stone Charles K. , Tudorascu Dana , Mukherjee Jogeshwar , Christian Bradley T. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Neuronal α4β2* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are stimulated by nicotine and are associated with tobacco dependence. [18F]Nifene is a PET radiotracer with high specificity for α4β2* nAChRs that can be used to investigate nAChR distribution in the human brain in vivo. In this study, we investigate the dependence of sex and age on the binding of [18F]nifene in nonsmoking healthy human participants. Cognitively normal participants (n = 31) were recruited into older versus younger and male versus female cohorts to investigate sex and age differences in [18F]nifene binding. Distribution volume ratios (DVRs) were calculated for brain regions with known nAChR expression and compared using a multiparameter linear regression model. There was a significant association between age and decreasing thalamic DVR (p = 0.01), with the most notable difference coming from the anterior nucleus of the thalamus (p &lt; 0.001). Outside of the thalamus, a higher [18F]nifene DVR was observed with increasing age in the cerebellar grey matter (p = 0.01). No significant sex differences were observed using our linear model after multi-comparison correction. These results support including age in the experimental design and analysis of the α4β2* nAChR system in research and clinical applications.
Healthy aging is associated with altered visual gamma band onset and offset responses
Authors: Springer Seth D. , Schantell Mikki , Okelberry Hannah J. , Willett Madelyn P. , Johnson Hallie J. , Wilson Tony W. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Gamma oscillations have been shown to be critical for basic sensory processing, as well as visual attention and several other higher-order cognitive functions. Aberrant gamma oscillations have also been shown in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Despite the possible clinical implications of altered gamma activity and emerging stimulation-based interventions targeting gamma, research into age-related changes in gamma oscillatory activity in healthy adults remains sparse. In the current study, we examined the neural oscillations underlying basic visual processing in 87 healthy aging adults using magnetoencephalography (MEG) and a visual grating stimulus. Neural activity elicited by the visual stimulus was imaged using a time-frequency resolved beamformer, and peak voxel time series were computed to characterize the visual oscillatory dynamics underlying these responses. We found significant age-related changes in visual gamma oscillations, but not in visual theta, alpha, or beta oscillations. Specifically, we found age-related increases in gamma band amplitude and inter-trial phase-locking (ITPL) immediately following stimulus presentation (i.e., gamma onset response). Conversely, gamma band amplitude and ITPL following stimulus removal (i.e., gamma offset response) were found to be decreased as a function of healthy aging. Critically, we demonstrated that the decreases in the gamma offset response predicted slower overall processing speed across all participants. Taken together, these findings indicate that healthy aging is uniquely associated with alterations in visual gamma oscillations and that these changes predict participant processing speed.
Test–retest performance of [18F]MK-6240 tau burden
and relative delivery indices in cognitively normal older subjects using
PET/MRI
Authors: Lois Cristina , Fu Jessie Fanglu , Salvatore Andrew N. , Garimella Arun H. , Huell Derek , Sari Hasan , Garcia David Izquierdo , Mercaldo Nathaniel D. , Dickerson Bradford , Johnson Keith A. , Catana Ciprian , Price Julie C. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Accurate interpretation of quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) outcomes hinges on understanding the test–retest variability (T-RT). Previous studies of the tau-PET ligand [18F]MK-6240 reported adequate T-RT performance of tau burden estimates over a short-term 21-day and over a longer-term 6-month T-RT period, primarily involving Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cognitively normal (CN) subjects, respectively. However, several T-RT characteristics have not yet been reported, particularly in older CN (oCN) subjects. Here, we investigate the short-term T-RT performance of dynamic [18F]MK-6240 outcomes in a group largely consisting of oCN. We report T-RT for uptake in potential reference regions, for extracerebral off-target signal, and for estimates of tau burden and relative delivery indices in tau-bearing target regions. Eight participants (7 oCN, 1 AD) underwent baseline dynamic [18F]MK-6240 PET/MRI (Biograph mMR) and a retest follow-up PET/MRI scan within approximately 3 weeks. T-RT was evaluated using absolute percentage differences and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) in three groups of regions: (1) potential reference regions using standardized-uptake values 90–110 minutes post-injection (SUV90–110); (2) target regions using SUV ratios (SUVR90–110), distribution volume ratios (DVR), and relative delivery (R1); and (3) extracerebral region using SUVR90–110. A voxel-based partial volume correction (PVC) was applied. T-RT was evaluated with and without PVC. In oCN subjects, the SUV90–110 T-RT in the evaluated reference regions ranged from 6 to 11% (ICC &gt; 0.9); target region T-RT was similar for SUVR90–110 (4–9%, ICC: 0.62–0.97), DVR (3–10%, ICC: 0.66–0.92), and R1 (3–14%, ICC: 0.52–0.97). PVC had minimal impact on reference region SUV90–110 T-RT, but increased target region T-RT variability (SUVR90–110: 10–26%; DVR: 6–22%; R1: 4–20%). Extracerebral SUVR90–110 exhibited higher T-RT variability (~12%, ICC: 0.85) than other target regions (average 6%) and increased to ~15% after PVC. Our findings are consistent with previous reports and provide further evidence of acceptable [18F]MK-6240 T-RT in low-signal oCN subjects. Our results suggest [18F]MK-6240 is suitable for detecting early tau deposition and longitudinal changes over time, and further support the viability of [18F]MK-6240 R1 to evaluate longitudinal changes in perfusion. PVC increased T-RT variability in tau burden and R1 outcomes. Notably, the extracerebral signal exhibited higher T-RT variability than other target and reference regions and may affect their signal.
Resting-state functional network segregation of the default mode network predicts valence bias across the lifespan
Authors: Pierce Jordan E. , Wig Gagan S. , Harp Nicholas R. , Neta Maital 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
The brain is organized into intrinsically connected functional networks that can be reliably identified during resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Healthy aging is marked by decreased network segregation, which is linked to worse cognitive functioning, but aging-related changes in emotion are less well characterized. Valence bias, which represents the tendency to interpret emotionally ambiguous information as positive or negative, is more positive in older than younger adults and is associated with differences in task-based fMRI activation in the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and a cingulo-opercular (CO) network. Here, we examined valence bias, age, and resting-state network segregation of 12 brain networks in a sample of 221 healthy individuals from 6 to 80 years old. Resting-state network segregation decreased linearly with increasing age, extending prior reports of de-differentiation across the lifespan. Critically, a more positive valence bias was related to lower segregation of the default mode network (DMN), due to stronger functional connectivity of the DMN with CO and, to a lesser extent, the ventral attention network (VAN) in all participants. In contrast to this overall segregation effect, in participants over 39 years old (who tend to show a positive valence bias), bias was also related to weaker connectivity between the DMN and Reward networks. The present findings indicate that specific interactions between the DMN, a task control network (CO), an emotion processing network (Reward), and, to a weaker extent, an attention network (VAN), support a more positive valence bias, perhaps through regulatory control of self-referential processing and reduced emotional reactivity in aging. The current work offers further insight into the functional brain network alterations that may contribute to affective well-being and dysfunction across the lifespan.
Somewhere over the Rainbow
Authors: Baird Sophy 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
This research pertains to the rights of intersex children in the Global South. Kenya presents an interesting comparison as there has been litigation concerning intersex children. The 2014 case of Baby ‘A’ presents a wealth of knowledge. The jurisprudence developed in this regard touches on some of the provisions in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child i.e. the four important general principles identified therein. These general principles are crucial in protecting the rights of vulnerable children and issues of gender, gender identity and sex – in particular, intersex children. In Uganda, the situation is quite dire. There are interesting questions regarding the right to health care, bodily autonomy, possible over-reach of medical professionals and legislative over-reach amongst many other issues. A comparison is made with India. In 2019 the state of Tamil Nadu, a court banned such unnecessary gender-normalising surgeries. While not an African country, it provides a comparative nuance in understanding sogiesc issues in the Global South.
Scopogonalia Young, 1977 (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae): description of thirteen new species and phylogenetic analysis based on morphological data
Authors: Domahovski Alexandre Cruz , Alasmar Luísa , Cavichioli Rodney Ramiro 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
This work aims to expand the knowledge of the South American genus of sharpshooters Scopogonalia by describing 13 new species, beyond the 17 currently described, and by providing a morphology-based phylogenetic analysis. Twelve species are described from Brazil: S. gibba sp. nov., S. hama sp. nov., S. fenix sp. nov., S. nigrofasciata sp. nov., S. laticera sp. nov. and S. leali sp. nov. from Paraná State; S. personata sp. nov. and S. altomontana sp. nov. from Rio de Janeiro State; S. helenae sp. nov. from Piauí State; S. mejdalanii sp. nov. from Paraná and Piauí states; S. minima sp. nov. from Paraná and São Paulo states; and S. antonioi sp. nov. from Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais and Paraná states. The last species, S. dissimulata sp. nov. is described from Peru, Cusco District. A previous phylogenetic analysis recovered the clades named Early Green, Late Green and Yellow-Brown and the present analysis corroborated these clades, but some of the new species resulted in a new clade named Brown Clade. Images for all studied species and a new key to males are provided along with taxonomic notes for the genus and species. Additionally, the first records of parasitism by Hexacladia (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae) and Strepsiptera are reported for Scopogonalia.