bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Covalent modification of chitosan surfaces with a sugar amino acid and lysine analogues
Authors: Dorn Tobias , Finšgar Matjaž , Stana Kleinschek Karin , Steindorfer Tobias , Thonhofer Martin , Wrodnigg Tanja M. , Kargl Rupert 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThis work explores the modification and characterization of chitosan thin films as a model for functionalized polysaccharide interfaces. The solid–liquid interface of oligo- and polysaccharides is crucial for various biological processes such as cell adhesion and recognition. By covalent surface modification of the chitosan via amide formation with different small molecules containing carboxylic acids, e.g. specially designed glycoside hydrolase inhibitors, interactions with biomolecules and living cells could potentially be controlled in the future. As a first step towards this aim, three fluorescent compounds were conjugated onto nanometric chitosan thin films. The layers were analysed by fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, and atomic force microscopy, to proof the covalent attachment of the target molecules. By this analysis, a uniform and chemically stable covalent attachment of the target molecules on the chitosan thin films could be demonstrated under various conditions. This publication serves as a proof-of-concept-study for further biofunctionalization, pattering, and interaction studies involving polysaccharide interfaces, glycosidase inhibitors, proteins, or living cells.
Graphical abstract
Critical climate-stress moments for semi-arid farming systems in India
Authors: Srinidhi Arjuna , Smolenaars Wouter , Werners Saskia E. , Hegde Sahana , Rajapure Ganesh , Meuwissen Miranda P. M. , Ludwig Fulco 
Published: August 2024

AbstractIn the face of the increasing frequency of climate stresses, climate change projections can help in adaptation planning and resilience-building. However, typical climate change projections, such as annual average rainfall and temperature increases, are not helpful for farmers in understanding specific climate risks, like crop loss, and making adaptation decisions. Our study aims to identify and characterise context- and time-specific climate stresses in terms of climate conditions of concern to improve the understanding of future climate risks and enhance the climate resilience of semi-arid farming systems in India. Utilising the concept of critical climate-stress moments, we employ an innovative bottom-up methodology integrating insights from focus group discussions with farmers, key informant interviews, and an ensemble of downscaled and bias-corrected Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP-6) models. Our case studies include (i) a mixed crop-livestock farming system, (ii) a horticulture-based farming system, (iii) a cash crop–dominant farming system, and (iv) a cereal-dominant farming system. The specific climate conditions of concern identified were (i) increasing volume of late-monsoon rainfall, (ii) rising winter temperatures, (iii) increase in the number of days with temperatures exceeding 40 °C, (iv) increase in days with heavy rainfall (> 25 mm), and (v) increasing rainfall during the dry season. Identifying these critical moments improves understanding of both the temporal and spatial variations in climate risks, providing valuable inputs for targeted and implementable climate resilience–building actions. We recommend revising national and state action plans on climate change by utilising such region-specific assessments of critical climate-stress moments.
Application of image recognition technology in pathological diagnosis of blood smears
Authors: Cheng Wangxinjun , Liu Jingshuang , Wang Chaofeng , Jiang Ruiyin , Jiang Mei , Kong Fancong 
Published: August 2024

AbstractTraditional manual blood smear diagnosis methods are time-consuming and prone to errors, often relying heavily on the experience of clinical laboratory analysts for accuracy. As breakthroughs in key technologies such as neural networks and deep learning continue to drive digital transformation in the medical field, image recognition technology is increasingly being leveraged to enhance existing medical processes. In recent years, advancements in computer technology have led to improved efficiency in the identification of blood cells in blood smears through the use of image recognition technology. This paper provides a comprehensive summary of the methods and steps involved in utilizing image recognition algorithms for diagnosing diseases in blood smears, with a focus on malaria and leukemia. Furthermore, it offers a forward-looking research direction for the development of a comprehensive blood cell pathological detection system.
The changes of coagulation profiles in Kawasaki disease and its associations with clinical classification, intravenous immunoglobulin responsiveness and coronary artery involvement
Authors: Li Dao Ting , Yang Qian , Xia Cai Yun , Zhang Yan Fang , Cai Ying , Wu Shu Qi , Jiang Qi , Hu Peng 
Published: August 2024

AbstractCoagulation disorders are common in Kawasaki disease (KD). The main objectives of the present study were to probe the associations of coagulation profiles with clinical classification, IVIG responsiveness, coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs) in the acute episode of KD. A total of 313 KD children were recruited and divided into six subgroups, including complete KD (n = 217), incomplete KD (n = 96), IVIG-responsive KD (n = 293), IVIG-nonresponsive KD (n = 20), coronary artery noninvolvement KD (n = 284) and coronary artery involvement KD (n = 29). Blood samples were collected within 24-h pre-IVIG therapy and 48-h post-IVIG therapy. Coagulation profiles, conventional inflammatory mediators and blood cell counts were detected. Echocardiography was performed during the period from 2- to 14-day post-IVIG infusion. In addition, 315 sex- and age-matched healthy children were enrolled as the controls. (1) Before IVIG therapy, coagulation disorders were more prone to appear in KD patients than in healthy controls, and could be overcome by IVIG therapy. FIB and DD significantly increased in the acute phase of KD, whereas reduced to normal levels after IVIG therapy. (2) PT and APTT were significantly longer in patients with complete KD when compared with their incomplete counterparts after IVIG therapy. (3) The larger δDD, δFDP and the smaller δPT, δINR predicted IVIG nonresponsiveness. (4) The higher δDD and δFDP correlated with a higher risk for CAAs (DD: r = −0.72, FDP: r = −0.54). Coagulation disorders are correlated with complete phenotype, IVIG nonresponsiveness and CAA occurrence in the acute episode of KD, and can be rectified by synergistic effects of IVIG and aspirin.
Functional description of fiber orientation in paperboard based on orientation tensors resulting from μ-CT scans
Authors: Kloppenburg Greta , Li Xiangfeng , Dinkelmann Albrecht , Finckh Hermann , Neumann Johannes , Simon Jaan-Willem 
Published: August 2024

AbstractModern $$\upmu$$
μ
-CT scans offer non-destructive three-dimensional microstructure analysis of various materials. Despite small density contrasts, this technology also accurately captures the complex network structure of paper and paperboard. It provides detailed insight into the fiber orientation distribution in paper, which was previously unattainable with existing measurement methods. The image analysis results are applicable for numerical fiber network models, and simulations based on these models can significantly improve our understanding of the microstructural influence on macrostructural paper properties, such as strength, stiffness, and curl tendency. This work presents a new method for investigating the microstructural fiber orientation in paperboard. Orientation tensors obtained from $$\upmu$$
μ
-CT scan image processing are extracted and evaluated. Based on the direction of the orientation tensor’s first eigenvector, the fiber orientation distribution is determined and then approximated by periodic and non-periodic probability density functions (PDFs). In this study, 40 commercial paperboard samples, each consisting of three plies, were analyzed. From a given set of commonly used PDFs, the best fitting ones have been identified based on their original location in the paper roll and on their ply. It was found that the von Mises PDF provided the most accurate representation of fiber orientation distribution in the middle ply, while the Elliptical PDF was the most suitable for the outer plies. Moreover, a more pronounced fiber orientation anisotropy was observed at the edges of the paper roll than in its center. The best PDFs and their function parameters are provided to allow for direct usage in numerical microstructure models of paperboard, thus enhancing their representativeness.
The Italian Constitutional Court and recentralization along the pendulum of regionalism
Authors: Filippetti Andrea , Rondinella Sandro , Tuzi Fabrizio 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThis paper employs a quantitative analysis of the disputes between central and regional government concerning the role of the Italian Constitutional Court, focusing on the context of decentralization initiated during the late 1990s. The econometric evidence demonstrates a significant decrease in favourable outcomes for regional governments following the process of recentralization, which was commenced by central government in 2011 in response to a major financial crisis. The results of this study support the perspective of a centralistic attitude of the courts in litigation concerning subnational governments and provide fresh insights into the role of the courts in the relationship between recentralization and major economic crises.
Academic community engagement on social networking sites, creative behaviour and work performance: The mediating mechanisms of knowledge sharing and relationship quality
Authors: Nguyen Ninh , Dang-Van Thac , Vo-Thanh Tan , Thai Trung Dam-Huy , Nguyen Hoang Viet 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Researchers have increasingly engaged in academic communities on social networking sites (SNSs). This study seeks to examine the impact of academic community engagement on Facebook (ACEF) on researchers’ creative behaviour and work performance, with the mediating mechanisms of relationship quality and knowledge sharing. Data were obtained from 213 researchers in an emerging country, i.e., Vietnam. Results of structural equation modelling demonstrate that ACEF indirectly influences researchers’ creative behaviour and work performance in dualistic approaches. In particular, the relationships between ACEF and work performance and between ACEF and creative behaviour are positively mediated by relationship quality. Furthermore, knowledge sharing positively mediates the ACEF-creative behaviour and relationship quality-creative behaviour links. This study is among the first to develop and validate a unique model explaining the mechanism through which ACEF impacts researchers’ work and behavioural outcomes. The findings have important implications for researchers and educational institutions in promoting academic community engagement on SNSs, which can enhance knowledge sharing, creative behaviour and work performance.
Collaborative Robotics: A Survey From Literature and Practitioners Perspectives
Authors: Montini Elias , Daniele Fabio , Agbomemewa Lorenzo , Confalonieri Matteo , Cutrona Vincenzo , Bettoni Andrea , Rocco Paolo , Ferrario Andrea 
Published: August 2024

AbstractCollaborative robotics possesses the potential to revolutionise industrial automation by offering affordable and accessible solutions with reasonable skill requirements. However, identifying the most valuable and appropriate applications for this technology remains a challenge. This study conducted a comprehensive literature review to analyse the existing collaborative robotics applications, and the results showed that only a limited number of applications can be considered true collaboration, with even fewer classified as intelligent collaboration. The study comprised a survey designed to offer valuable insights to not only enhance the state-of-the-art analysis in the identification of existing challenges in the field of collaborative robotics but also to provide motivation to guide future advancements. By leveraging the survey results, researchers and practitioners will be better equipped to navigate the complex landscape of collaborative robotics and develop innovative solutions to tackle the identified challenges. This study also informs on the latest research and development in the field.
Large Deviations of Invariant Measures of Stochastic Reaction–Diffusion Equations on Unbounded Domains
Authors: Wang Bixiang 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThis paper is concerned with the large deviation principle of invariant measures of the stochastic reaction–diffusion equation with polynomial drift driven by additive noise defined on the entire space $$\mathbb {R}^n$$

R

n

. Since the standard Sobolev embeddings on $$\mathbb {R}^n$$

R

n

are not compact and the spectrum of the Laplace operator on $$\mathbb {R}^n$$

R

n

are not discrete, there are many issues for proving the large deviations of invariant measures in the case of unbounded domains, including the difficulties for proving the compactness of the level sets of rate functions, the uniform Dembo–Zeitouni large deviations on compact sets as well as the exponential tightness on compact sets. Currently, there is no result available in the literature on the large deviations of invariant measures for stochastic PDEs on unbounded domains, and this paper is the first one to deal with this issue. The non-compactness of the standard Sobolev embeddings on $$\mathbb {R}^n$$

R

n

is circumvented by the idea of uniform tail-ends estimates together with the arguments of weighted spaces.
Half a century of citizen science tag-recapture data reveals stock delineation and cross-jurisdictional connectivity of an iconic pelagic fish
Authors: Goddard Belinda K. , Guillemin Tristan A. , Schilling Hayden T. , Hughes Julian M. , Brodie Stephanie , Green Corey P. , Harcourt Robert , Huveneers Charlie , Ierodiaconou Daniel , Suthers Iain M. , Taylor Matthew D. , Tracey Sean R. , Camilieri-Asch Victoria , Clarke Thomas M. , Dwyer Ross G. , Hilbert Clay , Holdsworth John , Mitchell Jonathan , Pepperell Julian , Simpson Emma , Udyawer Vinay , Jaine Fabrice R. A. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractTag-recapture programs to monitor the movements of fish populations are among some of the longest-running citizen-science datasets to date. Here, using half a century of yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi, Carangidae) tag-recapture data collected through citizen-science projects, we report novel insights into population connectivity in Australia and New Zealand (NZ). Despite the importance of kingfish in commercial and recreational fisheries, substantial knowledge gaps about their stock structure and connectivity between jurisdictions hinder current management efforts. Between 1974 and 2022, 63,432 releases and 4636 recaptures (7.3%) of tagged kingfish were collected in Australia and NZ. Most tagged individuals (51.4%) were recaptured within 10 km of their original release location up to 14 years post-release (mean: 225 days), indicating some degree of site fidelity. However, 656 (14.2%) kingfish were recaptured over 100 km from their release location, with one fish travelling at least 2834 km in 702 days. Seasonal variability was evident for releases and recaptures, with more releases occurring in summer and autumn in most jurisdictions. Network analysis of recaptures revealed no connectivity between tagged kingfish from western and eastern Australia, supporting genetic delineation. By contrast, extensive connectivity exists across eastern Australia and NZ, with 87 kingfish moving between five Australian state jurisdictions, 316 individuals travelling across 15 bioregions and six kingfish moving between Australia and NZ. Our findings provide important new insights into the structure and connectivity of the eastern Australia kingfish stock and suggest increased collaboration between state and international fisheries jurisdictions may support improved stock assessment and management.
De-novo assembly of a reference genome for a critically threatened Aotearoa New Zealand tree species, Syzygium maire (Myrtaceae)
Authors: Balkwill Colan G. , Deslippe Julie R. , Horton Paul , David Charles , Wu Chen , Koot Emily , Ritchie Peter , Blissett Wayne , Chagné David 
Published: August 2024

AbstractAotearoa New Zealand’s swamp forests have experienced significant habitat loss in fewer than two hundred years. Many of the country’s tree species are endemic with sparse to no genetic information available to underpin conservation strategies. Syzygium maire, Aotearoa’s only endemic Syzygium species, is a culturally and ecologically important component of swamp forest habitats. Unfortunately, populations of S. maire have been greatly reduced, heavily fragmented and are susceptible to the emergent pathogen Austropuccinia psidii (myrtle rust), posing eminent danger of a further decline of the species. We sought to develop genomic resources to inform conservation management of S. maire. To this end, we used long read, high accuracy sequencing technology to produce a highly complete reference quality genome for S. maire. The genome sequence was named ‘Ngā Hua o te Ia Whenua’ by the local Māori tribe where the tree used for genome sequencing grows. We assess whether genome-level divergence with other Myrtaceae may have followed geographic isolation of the species. We detect conservation of large scale synteny between three Syzygium species and Eucalyptus grandis, providing support for the stability of Syzygium genomes across evolutionary time. We annotate genes implicated in fungal pathogen defence, identifying several hundred putative NLR genes, including putative homologs of previously identified Austropuccinia psidii resistance genes. Finally, we evaluate the genetic relationships of individuals of a small, isolated population of trees. We find evidence of high levels of kinship and inbreeding within small and isolated S. maire populations, informing local-scale conservation strategies for the species. Our findings enable practical conservation actions and provide resources for larger scale studies of S. maire and other Syzygium species in the future.
The prognostic role of MRI-based radiomics in tongue carcinoma: a multicentric validation study
Authors: Tagliabue Marta , Ruju Francesca , Mossinelli Chiara , Gaeta Aurora , Raimondi Sara , Volpe Stefania , Zaffaroni Mattia , Isaksson Lars Johannes , Garibaldi Cristina , Cremonesi Marta , Rapino Anna , Chiocca Susanna , Pietrobon Giacomo , Alterio Daniela , Trisolini Giuseppe , Morbini Patrizia , Rampinelli Vittorio , Grammatica Alberto , Petralia Giuseppe , Jereczek-Fossa Barbara Alicja , Preda Lorenzo , Ravanelli Marco , Maroldi Roberto , Piazza Cesare , Benazzo Marco , Ansarin Mohssen 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Radiomics is an emerging field that utilizes quantitative features extracted from medical images to predict clinically meaningful outcomes. Validating findings is crucial to assess radiomics applicability. We aimed to validate previously published magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics models to predict oncological outcomes in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC).

Materials and methods
Retrospective multicentric study on OTSCC surgically treated from 2010 to 2019. All patients performed preoperative MRI, including contrast-enhanced T1-weighted (CE-T1), diffusion-weighted sequences and apparent diffusion coefficient map. We evaluated overall survival (OS), locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS), cause-specific mortality (CSM). We elaborated different models based on clinical and radiomic data. C-indexes assessed the prediction accuracy of the models.

Results
We collected 112 consecutive independent patients from three Italian Institutions to validate the previously published MRI radiomic models based on 79 different patients. The C-indexes for the hybrid clinical-radiomic models in the validation cohort were lower than those in the training cohort but remained > 0.5 in most cases. CE-T1 sequence provided the best fit to the models: the C-indexes obtained were 0.61, 0.59, 0.64 (pretreatment model) and 0.65, 0.69, 0.70 (posttreatment model) for OS, LRRFS and CSM, respectively.

Conclusion
Our clinical-radiomic models retain a potential to predict OS, LRRFS and CSM in heterogeneous cohorts across different centers. These findings encourage further research, aimed at overcoming current limitations, due to the variability of imaging acquisition, processing and tumor volume delineation.
The protective effects of antioxidants against endogenous and exogenous oxidative stress on bull sperm
Authors: Younus Ali MD , Yamanaka Takahiro , Shimada Masayuki 
Published: August 2024

AbstractOxidative stress, caused by both endogenous and exogenous factors, affects sperm function by damaging morphology and reducing metabolic activity, leading to reduced fertilization ability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of oxidative stress on bull sperm and to evaluate the efficacy of targeted antioxidants in mitigating these detrimental effects. Fresh bull semen samples were subjected to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and antimycin treatments to induce oxidative stress, and the antioxidants PQQ, ergothioneine, and vitamin C were applied to counteract the induced stress. Sperm motility, viability, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the cytoplasm and mitochondria of sperm were assessed using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and flow cytometry. The treatment with H2O2 rapidly decreased sperm viability, and antimycin-induced mitochondrial ROS mainly decreased sperm motility; PQQ and vitamin C effectively reduced mitochondrial ROS, while ergothioneine and vitamin C reduced cytosolic ROS. In frozen-thawed sperm, oxidative stress was elevated in both cytoplasm and mitochondria, and all three antioxidants improved sperm motility by inhibiting ROS production. Furthermore, the localization of oxidized lipids (4-hydroxynonenal) in sperm was detected using immunofluorescence, indicating that oxidative stress affects the head and midpiece of sperm. These findings highlight the potential of targeted antioxidants to mitigate the detrimental effects of oxidative stress on bull sperm and provide valuable insights to improve semen quality and optimize the use of antioxidants in artificial insemination.