bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Synaptotagmin-9 in mouse retina
Authors: Mesnard Chris S. , Hays Cassandra L. , Townsend Lou E. , Barta Cody L. , Gurumurthy Channabasavaiah B. , Thoreson Wallace B. 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Synaptotagmin-9 (Syt9) is a Ca2+ sensor mediating fast synaptic release expressed in various parts of the brain. The presence and role of Syt9 in retina is unknown. We found evidence for Syt9 expression throughout the retina and created mice to conditionally eliminate Syt9 in a cre-dependent manner. We crossed Syt9fl/fl mice with Rho-iCre, HRGP-Cre, and CMV-Cre mice to generate mice in which Syt9 was eliminated from rods (rodSyt9CKO), cones (coneSyt9CKO), or whole animals (CMVSyt9). CMVSyt9 mice showed an increase in scotopic electroretinogram (ERG) b-waves evoked by bright flashes with no change in a-waves. Cone-driven photopic ERG b-waves were not significantly different in CMVSyt9 knockout mice and selective elimination of Syt9 from cones had no effect on ERGs. However, selective elimination from rods decreased scotopic and photopic b-waves as well as oscillatory potentials. These changes occurred only with bright flashes where cone responses contribute. Synaptic release was measured in individual rods by recording anion currents activated by glutamate binding to presynaptic glutamate transporters. Loss of Syt9 from rods had no effect on spontaneous or depolarization-evoked release. Our data show that Syt9 acts at multiple sites in the retina and suggest that it may play a role in regulating transmission of cone signals by rods.
Dialect change and language attitudes in Albania
Authors: Riverin-Coutlée Josiane , Kapia Enkeleida , Gubian Michele 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThis study is concerned with attitudes of Albanian listeners toward the two main dialects spoken in Albania: Gheg and Tosk. The study seeks to establish a connection between attitudes and speech features which have been shown to be changing in Gheg, and other features found to be stable. Ratings of four speech features on visual analog scales (VASs) pertaining to dialect identification, status, and solidarity were collected from 125 Albanian listeners and modeled with Bayesian regressions. The results revealed lower status for variants of features found to be changing in Gheg, contrary to stable variants, suggesting a connection between attitudes and dialect change, and highlighting the relevance of both language-external and internal factors in understanding change. All stimuli were also rated as more friendly than unfriendly, which could be related to sociocultural specificities of Albania. The study finally identifies methodological challenges to do with modeling responses from VASs.
Stabilization in a chemotaxis system modelling T-cell dynamics with simultaneous production and consumption of signals
Authors: Tao Youshan , Winkler Michael 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
In a smoothly bounded domain

$\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^n$

,

$n\ge 1$

, this manuscript considers the homogeneous Neumann boundary problem for the chemotaxis system

\begin{eqnarray*} \left \{ \begin{array}{l} u_t = \Delta u - \nabla \cdot (u\nabla v), \\[5pt] v_t = \Delta v + u - \alpha uv, \end{array} \right . \end{eqnarray*}

with parameter

$\alpha \gt 0$

and with coincident production and uptake of attractants, as recently emphasized by Dallaston et al. as relevant for the understanding of T-cell dynamics.
It is shown that there exists

$\delta _\star =\delta _\star (n)\gt 0$

such that for any given

$\alpha \ge \frac{1}{\delta _\star }$

and for any suitably regular initial data satisfying

$v(\cdot, 0)\le \delta _\star$

, this problem admits a unique classical solution that stabilizes to the constant equilibrium

$(\frac{1}{|\Omega |}\int _\Omega u(\cdot, 0), \, \frac{1}{\alpha })$

in the large time limit.
Comparative analysis of calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) expression and function in normal and abnormal human sperm and spermatogenic cells
Authors: Qian Zhengli , Luo Keyan , Zhang Mingzhe , Yao Guanping 
Published: September 2024

SummaryThe calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a critical mediator of calcium homeostasis in various tissues. Its role in human reproduction, especially in sperm function and male fertility, remains not fully elucidated. This study investigates the expression patterns of CaSR in normal and abnormal sperm and spermatogenic cells and evaluates its potential effect on sperm motility and morphology. Using immunohistochemistry (IHC), quantitative PCR (qPCR), we assessed the expression levels of CaSR in normal sperm, spermatogonia, and cases of asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, and teratozoospermia. In vitro functional assays were performed to analyze the effects of CaSR modulation on sperm motility under varying conditions, including the presence of specific CaSR agonists and antagonists. Our study revealed distinct patterns of CaSR expression in normal sperm and spermatogonia compared with those in abnormal sperm samples, particularly in cases of asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, and teratozoospermia. A marked decrease in CaSR expression was evident in these abnormal samples, highlighting its significance in normal sperm functionality. Functional assays further elucidated the role of CaSR in sperm motility. Activation of CaSR through specific agonists enhanced sperm motility, while inhibition by antagonists led to reduced motility. Our findings suggest that CaSR plays a significant role in maintaining sperm functionality and that changes in its expression may be associated with male infertility. These insights into the molecular underpinnings of sperm physiology highlight CaSR as a potential therapeutic target for treating certain forms of male infertility.
Comparison of CellRox green fluorescence upon thawing on in vitro Bos taurus and Bos indicus embryos cryopreserved by slow freezing or vitrification
Authors: Osornio David , Contreras David Alejandro , Jimenez-Diaz Edgar , Fiordelisio Tatiana , López-Damian Patricia , Martínez José Francisco , Galina Carlos Salvador 
Published: September 2024

SummaryThe aim of this study was to compare the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Bos taurus and Bos indicus in vitro embryos cryopreserved using either slow freezing or vitrification. Embryos were divided into four groups based on subspecies and freezing method: Bos indicus slow freezing (BiSF; n = 8), Bos indicus vitrification (BiVT; n = 10), Bos taurus slow freezing (BtSF; n = 9), and Bos taurus vitrification (BtVT; n = 6). After thawing, the embryos were incubated with CellRox Green and images were obtained using a confocal microscope. The fluorescence intensity of each cell was measured and expressed as arbitrary units of fluorescence (auf) and compared using a multiple regression and unpaired t-test with α = 0.05. Results showed that subspecies and the freezing method significantly affected auf (P < 0.001; R2 = 0.1213). Bos indicus embryos had higher auf than Bos taurus embryos, whether frozen by slow freezing (67.05 ± 23.18 vs 51.30 ± 16.84, P < 0.001) or vitrification (64.44 ± 23.32 vs 47.86 ± 17.53, P < 0.001). Slow freezing induced higher auf than vitrification in both Bos taurus (51.30 ± 16.84 vs 47.86 ± 17.53, P < 0.001) and Bos indicus (67.05 ± 23.18 vs 64.44 ± 23.32, P < 0.014). In conclusion, Bos taurus embryos had lower ROS levels when frozen using vitrification, while Bos indicus embryos had consistent ROS patterns regardless of the freezing method. However, Bos indicus embryos frozen by slow freezing tended to have a higher number of cells with elevated ROS levels.
Unravelling the impact of epigenetic mechanisms on offspring growth, production, reproduction and disease susceptibility
Authors: Sindhu Pushpa , Magotra Ankit , Sindhu Vikas , Chaudhary Pradeep 
Published: September 2024

SummaryEpigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNA molecules, play a critical role in gene expression and regulation in livestock species, influencing development, reproduction and disease resistance. DNA methylation patterns silence gene expression by blocking transcription factor binding, while histone modifications alter chromatin structure and affect DNA accessibility. Livestock-specific histone modifications contribute to gene expression and genome stability. Non-coding RNAs, including miRNAs, piRNAs, siRNAs, snoRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs, regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance occurs in livestock, with environmental factors impacting epigenetic modifications and phenotypic traits across generations. Epigenetic regulation revealed significant effect on gene expression profiling that can be exploited for various targeted traits like muscle hypertrophy, puberty onset, growth, metabolism, disease resistance and milk production in livestock and poultry breeds. Epigenetic regulation of imprinted genes affects cattle growth and metabolism while epigenetic modifications play a role in disease resistance and mastitis in dairy cattle, as well as milk protein gene regulation during lactation. Nutri-epigenomics research also reveals the influence of maternal nutrition on offspring’s epigenetic regulation of metabolic homeostasis in cattle, sheep, goat and poultry. Integrating cyto-genomics approaches enhances understanding of epigenetic mechanisms in livestock breeding, providing insights into chromosomal structure, rearrangements and their impact on gene regulation and phenotypic traits. This review presents potential research areas to enhance production potential and deepen our understanding of epigenetic changes in livestock, offering opportunities for genetic improvement, reproductive management, disease control and milk production in diverse livestock species.
Prehospital Care Under Fire: Strategies for Evacuating Victims from the Mega Terrorist Attack in Israel on October 7, 2023
Authors: Jaffe Eli , Dadon Ziv , Alpert Evan Avraham 
Published: September 2024

AbstractOn October 7, 2023, somewhere around 1,500-3,000 terrorists invaded southern Israel killing 1,200 people, injuring 1,455, and taking 239 as hostages resulting in the largest mass-casualty event (MCE) in the country’s history. Most of the victims were civilians who suffered from complex injuries including high-velocity gunshot wounds, blast injuries from rocket-propelled grenades, and burns. Many would later require complex surgeries by all disciplines including general surgeons, vascular surgeons, orthopedists, neurosurgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, otolaryngologists, oral maxillofacial surgeons, and plastic surgeons. Magen David Adom (MDA) is Israel’s National Emergency Prehospital Medical Organization and a member of the International Red Cross. While there are also private and non-profit ambulance services in Israel, the Ministry of Health has mandated MDA with the charge of managing an MCE. For this event, MDA incorporated a five-part strategy in this mega MCE: (1) extricating victims from areas under fire by bulletproof ambulances, (2) establishing casualty treatment stations in safe areas, (3) ambulance transport from the casualty treatment stations to hospitals, (4) ambulance transport of casualties from safe areas to hospitals, and (5) helicopter transport of victims to hospitals. This is the first time that MDA has responded to a mega MCE of this magnitude and lessons are continually being learned.
Neuropsychological application of the International Test Commission Guidelines for Translation and Adapting of Tests
Authors: Nguyen Christopher Minh , Rampa Shathani , Staios Mathew , Nielsen T. Rune , Zapparoli Busisiwe , Zhou Xinyi Emily , Mbakile-Mahlanza Lingani , Colon Juliet , Hammond Alexandra , Hendriks Marc , Kgolo Tumelo , Serrano Yesenia , Marquine María J. , Dutt Aparna , Evans Jonathan , Judd Tedd 
Published: September 2024

AbstractObjective:The number of test translations and adaptations has risen exponentially over the last two decades, and these processes are now becoming a common practice. The International Test Commission (ITC) Guidelines for Translating and Adapting Tests (Second Edition, 2017) offer principles and practices to ensure the quality of translated and adapted tests. However, they are not specific to the cognitive processes examined with clinical neuropsychological measures. The aim of this publication is to provide a specialized set of recommendations for guiding neuropsychological test translation and adaptation procedures.Methods:The International Neuropsychological Society’s Cultural Neuropsychology Special Interest Group established a working group tasked with extending the ITC guidelines to offer specialized recommendations for translating/adapting neuropsychological tests. The neuropsychological application of the ITC guidelines was formulated by authors representing over ten nations, drawing upon literature concerning neuropsychological test translation, adaptation, and development, as well as their own expertise and consulting colleagues experienced in this field.Results:A summary of neuropsychological-specific commentary regarding the ITC test translation and adaptation guidelines is presented. Additionally, examples of applying these recommendations across a broad range of criteria are provided to aid test developers in attaining valid and reliable outcomes.Conclusions:Establishing specific neuropsychological test translation and adaptation guidelines is critical to ensure that such processes produce reliable and valid psychometric measures. Given the rapid global growth experienced in neuropsychology over the last two decades, the recommendations may assist researchers and practitioners in carrying out such endeavors.
The ruble lever: Soviet development knowledge and the political economy of the UN
Authors: Banks Elizabeth 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
From the early 1950s, the USSR was the second largest contributor to the UN. Following UN rules, it gave much of its contribution in rubles, an infamously unconvertible currency that generally limited Soviet actions overseas. In the hands of UN officials, however, these ‘weak’ rubles became a powerful lever that made UN development projects more Soviet. Seeking to extract value from the ruble, officials increased the amount of UN development training held in the USSR, prioritized the purchase of Soviet equipment, and incentivized agencies to distribute Soviet manuals. Exploring the ruble lever contributes to our knowledge of the Soviet presence at the UN while foregrounding political economy as a key mechanism shaping UN practices more widely. Following the money in forms other than the dollar can reveal how economies of power at the UN intersect with global economic history, as well as the conceptual and contemporary challenges of international cooperation among wildly unequal economies.
Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction: barriers to quantifying incidence and prevalence
Authors: Healy David , Mangin Dee 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
While sexual dysfunction is a well-known side effect of taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), in an undetermined number of patients, sexual function does not return to pre-drug baseline after stopping SSRIs. The condition is known as post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD) and is characterised most commonly by genital numbness, pleasureless or weak orgasm, loss of libido and erectile dysfunction. This article provides a commentary on the incidence and prevalence of PSSD based on a combination of academic literature as well as clinical and research experience. A number of obstacles to quantifying the occurrence of PSSD are outlined including difficulty in designing a suitable study method. Other contextual obstacles include patient embarrassment at raising sexual concerns, the response of healthcare professionals, inability to stop an antidepressant due to withdrawal issues in a proportion of patients and patient unawareness that their sexual difficulties are linked to prior medication compounded by variability of online information and a lack of information aimed at public education. A definition of PSSD with diagnostic criteria has been published. A MedDRA code for PSSD has also been introduced, but this is yet to be adopted by regulators.
Analysis of Agricultural Water Security Based on Network Invulnerability: A Case Study in China's Virtual Water Trade Networks
Authors: Liang X. , Long A. , Han X. , Lai X. , Meng Y. 
Published: September 2024

Abstract“Invulnerability” of complex network was firstly introduced to virtual water (VW) research, aiming to broaden the scope of studies on water use and management. Beginning with the construction of China's virtual water trade networks (VWTNs) of major grain crops, Node Degree (K) and Betweenness Centrality (B) are employed to evaluate and rank the importance of China's 31 regions. Regions with high values for both indicators are identified as playing pivotal roles in the VWTNs: Jiangsu (ranking 1st for both K and B), Hubei (2nd for K, 3rd for B), Henan (3rd for K, 6th for B), Hebei (4th for K, 4th for B), Hunan (4th for K, 5th for B). Using this ranking to simulate the invulnerability of VWTNs under random and intentional attacks. The results reveal a rapid decrease in both Network Efficiency (E) and Maximum Connectivity (C) under intentional attack. In comparison to seven random attacks, E falls below 0.1 and C drops below 0.5 after only three intentional attacks, and the network completely collapsed after 10 intentional attacks. This highlights the VWTN's vulnerability in maintaining food supply and agricultural water security when key regions are subjected to man‐made destruction, such as military blockades or occupations. Future work should include integrating climate change models, crops yield models, and water resource allocation models to protect the key areas. Furthermore, interdisciplinary approaches are crucial for overcoming the limitations of VW research and these findings will provide valuable insights to enhance the optimal regulation of VWTNs.
Prevalence and Propagation of Lightning‐Generated Whistlers in Van Allen Probes EFW Burst Data
Authors: Wold Alexandra M. , Marshall Robert A. , Malaspina David M. , Shane Alexander D. 
Published: September 2024

AbstractWe assess the prevalence of ducted and non‐ducted whistler propagation using burst mode data from the Van Allen Probes Electric Field and Waves instrument (EFW). We have identified burst periods containing lightning‐generated whistlers (LGWs), resulting in a data set available for future use. The entire burst data set is filtered through an analysis of the search coil magnetometer (SCM) noise, identifying signals in frequency space that exceed an adaptive noise threshold. We implement DBSCAN (Density‐Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise) to identify individual whistlers and clusters of whistlers. With magnetic spectral analysis, we calculate the mean wave normal angle (WNA) for each LGW group. We use ray tracing to estimate the expected WNA distributions for non‐ducted LGWs to compare to the data and determine methods for identifying potentially ducted LGWs. The ray‐tracing results provide a clear threshold in WNA for ducted whistlers. Using this threshold, we estimate that at least of LGWs in this data set are ducted. We find that the majority of potentially ducted whistlers are below and nearly half of LGWs below and within 9–18 MLT may be ducted.
Hysteresis in Water Content of Ultrafine Glassy Organic Aerosol Particles
Authors: Cheng Manqiu , Li Ying , Kuwata Mikinori 
Published: September 2024

AbstractWater content of aerosol particles is atmospherically important. Water content of organic aerosol (OA) particles has been estimated by assuming thermodynamic equilibrium. Here, we discovered that the hysteresis phenomenon occurred to water content of glassy ultrafine OA particles, demonstrating that thermodynamically non‐equilibrium states need to be considered. Hygroscopic growth for monodisperse ultrafine particles (sucrose and glucose) was investigated for the temperature range from 252 to 296 K. Hysteresis was not observable at 296 K, consistent with literature data. However, hysteresis in water content was observed at sub‐273 K. The lowest relative humidity (RH), at which hygroscopic growth of particles did not depend on exposure history to water vapor, was defined as threshold RH. Threshold RH for 100 nm particles was approximately the same as the glass transition points when hysteresis clearly happened, demonstrating that water diffusion in a highly viscous matrix of organic aerosols was the key to the phenomenon. Employment of a kinetic multi‐layer model quantitatively predicted threshold RH as a function of temperature, exposure time, and the particle size. Considering the temperature and RH range of Earth's atmosphere, we hypothesize that hysteresis in water content for organic aerosols ubiquitously occurs in the upper troposphere, impacting chemical aging and cloud formation processes.
Topography Controls Variability in Circumpolar Permafrost Thaw Pond Expansion
Authors: Abolt C. J. , Atchley A. L. , Harp D. R. , Jorgenson M. T. , Witharana C. , Bolton W. R. , Schwenk J. , Rettelbach T. , Grosse G. , Boike J. , Nitze I. , Liljedahl A. K. , Rumpca C. T. , Wilson C. J. , Bennett K. E. 
Published: September 2024

AbstractOne of the most conspicuous signals of climate change in high‐latitude tundra is the expansion of ice wedge thermokarst pools. These small but abundant water features form rapidly in depressions caused by the melting of ice wedges (i.e., meter‐scale bodies of ice embedded within the top of the permafrost). Pool expansion impacts subsequent thaw rates through a series of complex positive and negative feedbacks which play out over timescales of decades and may accelerate carbon release from the underlying sediments. Although many local observations of ice wedge thermokarst pool expansion have been documented, analyses at continental to pan‐Arctic scales have been rare, hindering efforts to project how strongly this process may impact the global carbon cycle. Here we present one of the most geographically extensive and temporally dense records yet compiled of recent pool expansion, in which changes to pool area from 2008 to 2020 were quantified through satellite‐image analysis at 27 survey areas (measuring 10–35 km2 each, or 400 km2 in total) dispersed throughout the circumpolar tundra. The results revealed instances of rapid expansion at 44% (15%) of survey areas. Considered alone, the extent of departures from historical mean air temperatures did not account for between site variation in rates of change to pool area. Pool growth was most clearly associated with upland (i.e., hilly) terrain and elevated silt content at soil depths greater than one meter. These findings suggest that, at short time scales, pedologic and geomorphologic conditions may exert greater control on pool dynamics in the warming Arctic than spatial variability in the rate of air temperature increases.