bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of bioaccumulation factors of trace metals for Upper Gangetic fish
Authors: Saxena Vyom 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
The River Ganga basin is home to over 520 million people and 2500 species of flora and fauna, including several fish species. This study determines the bioaccumulation factors of fish for five trace metals, namely Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cr, in a stretch of the River Ganga in the upper Gangetic alluvial plain with limited industrial activities. The abundance of different trace metals in the water follows the order Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Cr. The concentrations in fish show a slightly different pattern and follow the relative quantitative order as Zn >≈ Fe >Mn > Cu >Cr. The trace metal levels in fish are well below the permissible limits set by various regulatory agencies. The bioaccumulation factor values are in order Zn>Cr>Mn>Cu>Fe. This stretch of the Ganga has not been extensively investigated for bioaccumulation by aquatic organisms. These values, therefore, represent site-specific baseline data for future anthropogenic activities that may affect the trace metal profile in this part of the Gangetic aquatic system. The study is also significant due to the presence of the Narora nuclear power plants, as the bioaccumulation factors of stable elements help predict the behavior of their radioactive counterparts and homologous elements in the environment.
Investigation of diodic behavior in p-NiO/n-SnO2 bilayer heterojunctions fabricated via DC magnetron reactive sputtering
Authors: Adline Shermin , Bhat Prashant , Kekuda Dhananjaya 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Tin oxide (SnOx) thin films at varying oxygen flow rates and Nickel oxide (NiO) thin films were deposited by reactive dc magnetron sputtering on glass substrates. Structural, chemical, morphological, optical and electrical properties of the deposited films were studied. XRD studies confirmed that the deposited films were polycrystalline in nature. SnOx thin films have shown two phases such as SnO and SnO2. AFM and SEM were used to analyse the morphology of the films and EDS confirmed the presence of Sn and Ni in the respective films. The examination of the x-ray photoelectron spectrum showed that the sputtered SnOx films contain both Sn2+ and Sn4+ oxidation states and NiO films contain Ni+2 and Ni+3 oxidation states. Photoluminescence study shows strong violet and weak red emission peaks for SnOx films and NiO showed strong emission peaks in the orange-red region. The optical results demonstrate that the films were transparent. The bandgap of SnOx and NiO samples were ∼3.3 eV and − 3.42 eV, respectively. Further we constructed a p-NiO/n-SnO2 heterojunction diode and its electrical characteristics were thoroughly assessed. Using dark current–voltage measurements, electrical characteristics such saturation current, ideality factor and barrier height were determined. The increase in oxygen flow rate led to reduction in the rectification of the devices. Our findings support the creation of high-performance metal oxide heterojunction for optoelectronic devices.
Microfluidics-derived microfibers in flexible bioelectronics
Authors: Yang Chaoyu , Hou Xingyu , Zhang Li 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Flexible electronics have attracted extensive attention across a wide range of fields due to their potential for preventive medicine and early disease detection. Microfiber-based textiles, encountered in everyday life, have emerged as promising platforms with integrated sensing capabilities. Microfluidic technology has been recognized as a promising avenue for the development of flexible conductive microfibers and has made significant achievements. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art advancements in microfiber-based flexible electronics fabricated using microfluidic platforms. Firstly, the fundamental strategies of the microfluidic fabrication of conductive microfibers with different structures and morphologies are introduced. Subsequently, attention is then directed towards the diverse applications of these microfibers in bioelectronics. Finally, we offer a forward-looking perspective on the future challenges about microfluidic-derived microfibers in flexible bioelectronics.
Introduction
Authors: Drevon Jerome 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
The introductory chapter lays the groundwork for the analysis of how two prominent Jihadi groups, Ahrar al-Sham and Jabhat al-Nusra, emerged as the most formidable players within the Syrian armed opposition before politicising. This chapter presents the theoretical framework of the book, positing that the key difference between Jihadis is how they institutionalise internally and externally, more than any ideological commitment. Additionally, the introductory chapter delves into the distinct characteristics of Jihadis, emphasizing the Jihadi paradox: the features that empower them also prevent them from achieving strategic victories. The book contends that the politicisation of Ahrar al-Sham and then Jabhat al-Nusra was their strategic response to this paradox.
Expanding the Rebellion
Authors: Drevon Jerome 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Chapter 3 examines the expansion of the armed opposition throughout Syria, focusing on the challenges that armed opposition groups faced when attempting to institutionalise internally and externally to survive after the opposition seized large parts of Syrian territory. While most groups existed in only one of Syria’s distinctive armed opposition-held areas, without developing a presence throughout the country, Ahrar al-Sham and Jabhat al-Nusra were among the few groups that managed to spread in more than one region. Ahrar al-Sham’s development was unique in that it formed in a bottom-up alliance system of many factions that institutionalised their ties to each other before institutionalising internally as a single organisational entity. This unique pattern of development also explains the group’s local embeddedness in Syrian communities, particularly in the northwest.
Uniting the Armed Opposition
Authors: Drevon Jerome 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Chapter 4 delves into the various efforts to unite and institutionalise the armed opposition (internally as well as externally, with other states) against the backdrop of increased international intervention in the conflict. The need to unify the armed opposition became critical to protect the areas under its control and bolster its credibility. However, most unification attempts were driven primarily by military necessity, leading to further polarisation around the two main contenders for leadership: Jabhat al-Nusra and Ahrar al-Sham. The chapter argues that the outcome of their conflict was largely determined by their diverging internal institutionalisation processes. Jabhat al-Nusra’s emphasis on centralisation and discipline allowed it to maintain a stronger grip on power, ultimately leading to its consolidation as the dominant group in the last remaining Syrian province under opposition control, despite Ahrar al-Sham’s significant strength.
Politicising Jihad
Authors: Drevon Jerome 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
The final chapter explores how the institutionalisation of the armed opposition informed its politicisation. It traces Jihadi ideological revisionism from pre-2011 prisoner debates to the impact of the configuration of the conflict—including the domestic nature of the uprising and factional competition—to explain how new ideas emerged and consolidated in the armed opposition, especially in Ahrar al-Sham. The chapter then focuses on Ahrar al-Sham’s institutional trajectory, examining the group’s struggle to fully embrace the Syrian armed opposition’s revolutionary agenda. Despite being one of the most successful armed groups in Syria, Ahrar al-Sham faced numerous institutional impediments that hindered its ability to fully realise its political aspirations. The final part of the chapter analyses the challenges posed by the rise of Jabhat al-Nusra (as it transformed into HTS), as well as the external subjugation of the armed opposition by Russia and Turkey.
Compliance with European Consumer Law
Authors: Pflücke Felix 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
European consumer law has adapted and evolved in response to the rapid growth of e-commerce in the last two decades. This monograph examines the evolving legal framework at the EU and national levels—from mandatory disclosures to unfair contract terms—and analyses the extent to which scientifically grounded evidence or theories underpin these legislative choices. It depicts the increasing use of evidence in EU consumer law and policy but highlights the lack of scientific rigour and evidence in enforcement. At the heart of the book lies an original empirical inquiry assessing compliance among e-commerce traders with consumer protection rules. The empirical analysis investigates whether 300 traders from four jurisdictions comply with their legal duties and identifies reasons for non-compliance. It translates the evidence of previously undiscovered non-compliance patterns into precise and actionable policy recommendations. The underlying objective of this monograph is to advocate for a more evidence-driven approach within European consumer law aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of the rules and fostering trader compliance. Ultimately, it serves as a foundational step, setting the stage for future empirical research in this dynamic domain.
Conclusion
Authors: Pflücke Felix 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
The book explored how the European Union and four selected European jurisdictions regulate e-commerce business-to-consumer transactions and whether the legislative choices have been evidence-based. For this purpose, a hand-collected dataset helped assess whether traders complied with the underlying rules, which has been unexplored to date. This chapter concludes the monograph. It summarizes the main findings, outlines some of the book’s implications, addresses unanswered questions, and offers some concluding remarks.
Rabindranath Tagore
Authors: Roy Sumana 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Rabindranath Tagore’s understanding of his own culture is mediated through a belief in the Indian subcontinent as being a ‘vast land of forests’, or even a large forest. Understanding cultures through the elements, through the opposition of land and water, and through the indulgence of plant life and its related accessories of thinking and living allows Rabindranath to see cultures and collectives without vilifying them. India’s culture of leisure, of the necessity of rest, of optimism, of a natural cosmopolitanism that comes from the accommodativeness of the forest, where there is room for everyone, where no one is rejected, and of ananda, a spirit that Rabindranath understands as genetic to this place and its people, is a gift of forest living. Then there are the trees of Santiniketan, those that he carried from his visits or requested to be sent to him from various parts of the country, those he valued and asked about in his letters when he was away. These were also the trees that would turn Santiniketan into the living laboratory where he could carry out his pedagogical experiments. And there are the plants and flowers and fruits of his songs and poems, stories and novels—how they hold in them his philosophy and politics, his moral universe, and his understanding of language.
Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay
Authors: Roy Sumana 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay gives us a revolutionary formulation of history in his novel Ichhamati—the history of plant life, records of its settlement on land as well as its death and evacuation from these spaces, a census of plants and trees, all these constitute our national history, not only the life of kings, queens, and the famous. Returning to his philosophy of ananda, particularly in Pather Panchali, he notes the difference between the plant and human worlds—in doing so he allows us to understand concepts like poverty and miserliness, abundance and riches, in an unexpected register. The active remnants of an Upanishadic thought system, the effect of colonial education and practice on the plant world in Bengal, the meaning and implication of a taste such as ‘sweetness’, the meaning of the forest and how man has been destroying it for millennia—these are among the many things we discover in this chapter.
Association between the incidence of functional disability and frequency of eating together among older adults living alone: a 6-year follow-up study from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study
Authors: Shimizu Akio , Ikeda Takaaki , Miyaguni Yasuhiro , Takeda Sho , Tamada Yudai , Aida Jun 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Objective
This study aimed to determine whether the frequency of eating together is associated with the incidence of functional disability in older adults who live alone.

Methods
This 6-year observational prospective cohort study utilised self-reported questionnaires. Data were drawn from the participants of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study project between 2016 and 2022. The participants were independent older adults aged ≥65 years living alone in Japan. The primary outcome was the incidence of functional disability during the follow-up period, with the self-reported frequency of eating together serving as the explanatory variable. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models after adjusting for confounders associated with incident functional disability.

Results
Among the 7167 participants, the mean age at baseline was 75.3 ± 6.5 years and 69.2% were female. About, 12.8% of participants (n = 917) developed functional disabilities during the observation period. The incidence rates were 11.7% for ‘every day’, 11.3% for ‘several times a week’, 11.5% for ‘several times a month’, 12.7% for ‘several times a year’ and 19.0% for ‘seldom’. The frequency of eating together ‘seldom’ was significantly associated with an increased incidence of functional disability (HR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.10–2.18).

Conclusion
Among older adults living alone, infrequent eating together (‘seldom’) was identified as a risk factor for developing functional disability.
Joint association of cardiovascular health and frailty with all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a prospective study
Authors: Ning Ning , Fan Xiaoting , Zhang Yuan , Wang Yingxin , Liu Yang , Li Yumeng , Zhao Hua , Jin Lina , Ma Yanan 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background
Poor cardiovascular health (CVH) and physical frailty were reported to increase mortality risk, but their joint effects have not been fully elucidated.

Objectives
We aimed to explore the separate and joint effects of CVH and frailty on mortality based on two perspectives of Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) and Framingham Risk Score (FRS).

Methods
21 062 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007 to 2018 were involved in this study. CVH was evaluated by the LE8 and FRS, and categorized into low, moderate and high CVH groups. Cox proportional hazard models were applied to estimate the separate and joint associations of CVH and frailty index (FI) with all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer mortality.

Results
Over a median follow-up period of 87 months (95% CI: 86.0–88.0), 2036 deaths occurred. The separate linear dose–response relationships between CVH, frailty and mortality were observed (nonlinear P &gt; .05). The combination of low CVH/frailty was negatively associated with all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) and 95%CI: low LE8*FI, 5.30 (3.74, 7.52); high FRS*FI, 4.34 (3.20, 5.88)], CVD mortality [low LE8*FI, 6.57 (3.54, 12.22); high FRS*FI, 7.29 (3.92, 13.55)] and cancer mortality [low LE8*FI, 1.99 (1.14, 3.25); high FRS*FI, 2.32 (1.30, 4.15)], with high CVH/fit group as reference. Further stratified analyses showed that the combined burden of mortality from frailty and low CVH was greater among the young and females.

Conclusions
Low CVH and frailty were independently and jointly correlated with greater risk of all-cause, CVD and cancer deaths, especially among the young and females.
CCPA: cloud-based, self-learning modules for consensus pathway analysis using GO, KEGG and Reactome
Authors: Nguyen Ha , Pham Van-Dung , Nguyen Hung , Tran Bang , Petereit Juli , Nguyen Tin 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
This manuscript describes the development of a resource module that is part of a learning platform named ‘NIGMS Sandbox for Cloud-based Learning’ (https://github.com/NIGMS/NIGMS-Sandbox). The module delivers learning materials on Cloud-based Consensus Pathway Analysis in an interactive format that uses appropriate cloud resources for data access and analyses. Pathway analysis is important because it allows us to gain insights into biological mechanisms underlying conditions. But the availability of many pathway analysis methods, the requirement of coding skills, and the focus of current tools on only a few species all make it very difficult for biomedical researchers to self-learn and perform pathway analysis efficiently. Furthermore, there is a lack of tools that allow researchers to compare analysis results obtained from different experiments and different analysis methods to find consensus results. To address these challenges, we have designed a cloud-based, self-learning module that provides consensus results among established, state-of-the-art pathway analysis techniques to provide students and researchers with necessary training and example materials. The training module consists of five Jupyter Notebooks that provide complete tutorials for the following tasks: (i) process expression data, (ii) perform differential analysis, visualize and compare the results obtained from four differential analysis methods (limma, t-test, edgeR, DESeq2), (iii) process three pathway databases (GO, KEGG and Reactome), (iv) perform pathway analysis using eight methods (ORA, CAMERA, KS test, Wilcoxon test, FGSEA, GSA, SAFE and PADOG) and (v) combine results of multiple analyses. We also provide examples, source code, explanations and instructional videos for trainees to complete each Jupyter Notebook. The module supports the analysis for many model (e.g. human, mouse, fruit fly, zebra fish) and non-model species. The module is publicly available at https://github.com/NIGMS/Consensus-Pathway-Analysis-in-the-Cloud.
This manuscript describes the development of a resource module that is part of a learning platform named ``NIGMS Sandbox for Cloud-based Learning'' https://github.com/NIGMS/NIGMS-Sandbox. The overall genesis of the Sandbox is described in the editorial NIGMS Sandbox [1] at the beginning of this Supplement. This module delivers learning materials on the analysis of bulk and single-cell ATAC-seq data in an interactive format that uses appropriate cloud resources for data access and analyses.
A large-scale assessment of sequence database search tools for homology-based protein function prediction
Authors: Zhang Chengxin , Freddolino Lydia 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Sequence database searches followed by homology-based function transfer form one of the oldest and most popular approaches for predicting protein functions, such as Gene Ontology (GO) terms. These searches are also a critical component in most state-of-the-art machine learning and deep learning-based protein function predictors. Although sequence search tools are the basis of homology-based protein function prediction, previous studies have scarcely explored how to select the optimal sequence search tools and configure their parameters to achieve the best function prediction. In this paper, we evaluate the effect of using different options from among popular search tools, as well as the impacts of search parameters, on protein function prediction. When predicting GO terms on a large benchmark dataset, we found that BLASTp and MMseqs2 consistently exceed the performance of other tools, including DIAMOND—one of the most popular tools for function prediction—under default search parameters. However, with the correct parameter settings, DIAMOND can perform comparably to BLASTp and MMseqs2 in function prediction. Additionally, we developed a new scoring function to derive GO prediction from homologous hits that consistently outperform previously proposed scoring functions. These findings enable the improvement of almost all protein function prediction algorithms with a few easily implementable changes in their sequence homolog-based component. This study emphasizes the critical role of search parameter settings in homology-based function transfer and should have an important contribution to the development of future protein function prediction algorithms.
Cholinergic modulation of interhemispheric inhibition in the mouse motor cortex
Authors: Handa Takashi , Zhang Qing , Aizawa Hidenori 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Interhemispheric inhibition of the homotopic motor cortex is believed to be effective for accurate unilateral motor function. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying interhemispheric inhibition during unilateral motor behavior remain unclear. Furthermore, the impact of the neuromodulator acetylcholine on interhemispheric inhibition and the associated cellular mechanisms are not well understood. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted recordings of neuronal activity from the bilateral motor cortex of mice during the paw-reaching task. Subsequently, we analyzed interhemispheric spike correlation at the cell-pair level, classifying putative cell types to explore the underlying cellular circuitry mechanisms of interhemispheric inhibition. We found a cell-type pair-specific enhancement of the interhemispheric spike correlation when the mice were engaged in the reaching task. We also found that the interhemispheric spike correlation was modulated by pharmacological acetylcholine manipulation. The local field responses to contralateral excitation differed along the cortical depths, and muscarinic receptor antagonism enhanced the inhibitory component of the field response in deep layers. The muscarinic subtype M2 receptor is predominantly expressed in deep cortical neurons, including GABAergic interneurons. These results suggest that GABAergic interneurons expressing muscarinic receptors in deep layers mediate the neuromodulation of interhemispheric inhibition in the homotopic motor cortex.