bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reduced seed viability in exchange for transgenerational plant protection in an endophyte-symbiotic grass: does the defensive mutualism concept pass the fitness test?
Authors: Fuchs Benjamin , Damerau Annelie , Yang Baoru , Muola Anne 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background and Aims
Epichloë endophytes are vertically transmitted via grass seeds and chemically defend their hosts against herbivory. Endophyte-conferred plant defence via alkaloid biosynthesis might occur independently of costs for host plant growth. However, fitness consequences of endophyte-conferred defence and transgenerational effects on herbivore resistance of progeny plants are rarely studied. The aim of this study was to test whether severe defoliation in mother plants affects their seed production, seed germination rate and the endophyte-conferred resistance of progeny plants.

Methods
In a field study, we tested the effects of defoliation and endophyte symbiosis (Epichloë uncinata) on host plant (Festuca pratensis) performance, loline alkaloid concentrations in leaves and seeds, seed biomass and seed germination rates. In a subsequent greenhouse study, we challenged the progeny of the plants from the field study to aphid herbivory and tested whether defoliation of mother plants affects endophyte-conferred resistance against aphids in progeny plants.

Key Results
Defoliation of the mother plants resulted in a reduction of alkaloid concentrations in leaves and elevated the alkaloid concentrations in seeds when compared with non-defoliated endophyte-symbiotic plants. Viability and germination rate of seeds of defoliated endophyte-symbiotic plants were significantly lower compared with those of non-defoliated endophyte-symbiotic plants and endophyte-free (defoliated and non-defoliated) plants. During 6 weeks of growth, seedlings of defoliated endophyte-symbiotic mother plants had elevated alkaloid concentrations, which was negatively correlated with aphid performance.

Conclusions
Endophyte-conferred investment in higher alkaloid levels in seeds, elicited by defoliation, provided protection from herbivores in progenies during the first weeks of plant establishment. Better protection of seeds via high alkaloid concentrations was negatively correlated with seed germination, indicating a trade-off between protection and viability.
Olfactory receptor neurons are sensitive to stimulus onset asynchrony: implications for odor source discrimination
Authors: Raiser Georg , Galizia C Giovanni , Szyszka Paul 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
In insects, olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) are localized in sensilla. Within a sensillum, different ORN types are typically co-localized and exhibit nonsynaptic reciprocal inhibition through ephaptic coupling. This inhibition is hypothesized to aid odor source discrimination in environments where odor molecules (odorants) are dispersed by wind, resulting in turbulent plumes. Under these conditions, odorants from a single source arrive at the ORNs synchronously, while those from separate sources arrive asynchronously. Ephaptic inhibition is expected to be weaker for asynchronous arriving odorants from separate sources, thereby enhancing their discrimination. Previous studies have focused on ephaptic inhibition of sustained ORN responses to constant odor stimuli. This begs the question of whether ephaptic inhibition also affects transient ORN responses and if this inhibition is modulated by the temporal arrival patterns of different odorants. To address this, we recorded co-localized ORNs in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and exposed them to dynamic odorant mixtures. We found reciprocal inhibition, strongly suggesting the presence of ephaptic coupling. This reciprocal inhibition does indeed modulate transient ORN responses and is sensitive to the relative timing of odor stimuli. Notably, the strength of inhibition decreases as the synchrony and correlation between arriving odorants decrease. These results support the hypothesis that ephaptic inhibition aids odor source discrimination.
‘Let’s brew a new Brussels’: imaginaries of the circular economy
Authors: Lambert Deborah 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
In this paper, I mobilise the notion of imaginaries to analyse a case of the circular economy (CE) in the region of Brussels, Belgium, where bread surplus from mass retail is upcycled to produce a local and more sustainable beer. I examine circular imaginaries and how they are translated into urban practices and materialised in the city. My analysis shows that the craft and post-industrial narratives of new circular products may find a positive echo at the urban level when re-development strategies to attract new productive activities mobilise similar narratives of creativity, innovation and craft skills. It concludes that CE risks becoming a rallying signifier helping to support a discourse coalition on the productive and circular city.
How low can we go with the dialysate flow? A retrospective study on the safety and adequacy of a water-saving dialysis prescription
Authors: Rydzewska-Rosołowska Alicja , Głowińska Irena , Kakareko Katarzyna , Pietruczuk Adam , Hryszko Tomasz 
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACT

Background
Green nephrology encompasses all initiatives in kidney care that have a positive impact on climate and environment. To prepare the dialysate, at least 120 L of water are needed for one 4-h session with a dialysate flow (Qd) set at 500 mL/min. A lower dialysate flow rate is associated with a significant reduction in the amount of water used. The aim of this study was to check whether change of Qd from 500 mL/min to 300 mL/min has a significant impact on dialysis adequacy.

Methods
The study was a retrospective analysis. Due to administrative issues, a satellite dialysis center reduced their dialysate flow to 300 mL/min for a month. The center then increased Qd to 500 mL/min again. We analyzed laboratory data from 3 months before dialysate flow reduction, in the month with Qd reduced to 300 mL/min, and from 3 months thereafter with Qd set at 500 mL/min.

Results
Twenty-four people were included in the final analysis. There were no significant changes in urea reduction ratio caused by lower rate of Qd [64.50 (61.75–71.00) vs 67.00 (63.00–72.25) vs 69.00 (63.75–72.25), analysis of variance F(2,46) = 0.71, P = .50]. Similarly, hemodialysis adequacy expressed by Kt/V did not differ at any Qd [1.23 (1.12–1.41) vs 1.25 (1.18–1.40) vs 1.35 (1.19–1.48), ANOVA F(2,46) = 2.51, P = .09]. There was a small but statistically significant increase in mean predialysis potassium with lower Qd [potassium = 5.18 (95% confidence interval, 95% CI, 4.96–5.44) vs 5.46 (95% CI 5.23–5.69) vs 5.23 (95% CI 4.99–5.47) mmol/L at Qd = 500, 300 and 500 mL/min, respectively, P = .039].

Conclusion
Reduction in dialysate flow rate to 300 mL/min seems safe and does not cause any short-term negative effects in this small study. Thus, we might be able to achieve a similar therapeutic effect while saving water consumption. Larger, long-term studies incorporating patient-reported outcome measures are needed to confirm the efficacy of this approach.
DHCL-BR: Dual Hypergraph Contrastive Learning for Bundle Recommendation
Authors: Zhang Peng , Niu Zhendong , Ma Ru , Zhang Fuzhi 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
As an extension of conventional top-K item recommendation solution, bundle recommendation has aroused increasingly attention. However, because of the extreme sparsity of user-bundle (UB) interactions, the existing top-K item recommendation methods suffer from poor performance when applied to bundle recommendation. While some graph-based approaches have been proposed for bundle recommendation, these approaches primarily leverage the bipartite graph to model the UB interactions, resulting in suboptimal performance. In this paper, a dual hypergraph contrastive learning model is proposed for bundle recommendation. First, we model the direct and indirect UB interactions as hypergraphs to represent the higher-order UB relations. Second, we utilize the hypergraph convolution networks to learn the user and bundle embeddings from the hypergraphs, and improve the learned embeddings through a bidirectional contrastive learning strategy. Finally, we adopt a joint loss that combines the InfoBPR loss supporting multiple negative samples and the contrastive losses to optimize model parameters for prediction. Experiments on the real-world datasets indicate that our model performs better than the state-of-the-art baseline methods.
Burden of Bowel Urgency in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease: A Real-World Global Study
Authors: Atreya Raja , Redondo Isabel , Streit Petra , Protic Marijana , Hartz Susanne , Gurses Gamze , Knight Hannah , Barlow Sophie , Harvey Niamh , Hunter Gibble Theresa 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background
Bowel urgency is a highly disruptive and bothersome symptom experienced by patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), (ulcerative colitis [UC], and Crohn’s disease [CD]). However, the burden of bowel urgency among patients with varying experiences in targeted treatment has not been consistently assessed. This real-world study explored the clinical and health-related quality of life burden of bowel urgency among patients with IBD with differing treatment experiences.

Methods
This cross-sectional survey included gastroenterologists and their patients with IBD across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States treated for over 3 months. Physicians provided patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and treatment history. Patients reported their health-related quality of life and work productivity. Patients with UC and CD were analyzed separately and stratified into 3 groups: Targeted therapy naïve, those receiving their first-line targeted therapy, and targeted therapy experienced.

Results
This study found that 17%-26% of UC and 13%-17% of CD patients experienced persistent bowel urgency, irrespective of receiving conventional or targeted therapy. Moreover, patients with bowel urgency experienced an increased clinical and health-related quality of life burden compared to patients without bowel urgency, which physicians most commonly regarded as one of the most difficult symptoms to treat, with the burden remaining substantial irrespective of their treatment experience.

Conclusions
Despite several current treatment options, new therapeutic strategies are necessary to provide relief from bowel urgency, one of the most challenging symptoms for people living with IBD.
Dietary oxyclozanide influences antioxidant enzyme activities and damages DNA in Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
Authors: Çelik Cihat , Stanley David , Büyükgüzel Ender 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Oxyclozanide (OXY) is an anthelmintic widely used in the treatment of flatworm infection and fasciolosis. It also has antiadenovirus, antibiofilm, antifungal, and antibacterial activities. Various chemicals have been suggested as alternative chemicals in insect pest management. Here, the oxidative and genotoxic effects of OXY on 7th instars, pupae and adults of the model organism Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were examined. First-instar larvae were reared on 0.003, 0.03, 0.3, and 1.5 g OXY per 100 g artificial diets. Compared with all tested OXY concentrations and controls without OXY, dietary OXY led to increased antioxidant capacity and genotoxic effects. Concentrations of malondialdehyde, an oxidative stress marker, were significantly increased in adults of larvae reared on OXY-charged diets at 0.3 and 1.5 g/100 g compared to the adult control group. We also recorded a significant increase in the genotoxic test data (Tail length, Tail DNA %, Tail moment) at the same stages and concentrations. We recorded significant increases in glutathione-S-transferase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase activities in larvae fed high OXY concentrations. SOD and catalase activities were also significantly increased at the concentration of 0.03 g/100 g of OXY in the pupal and adult stages. Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase activity was significantly increased at the highest concentration of OXY in the larval and pupal stages. Also, our regression analysis indicates a correlation between the markers of oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes and comet parameters. These data indicate that OXY induces oxidative stress and antioxidative enzyme response.
Predicting early-stage coronary artery disease using machine learning and routine clinical biomarkers improved by augmented virtual data
Authors: Koloi Angela , Loukas Vasileios S , Hourican Cillian , Sakellarios Antonis I , Quax Rick , Mishra Pashupati P , Lehtimäki Terho , Raitakari Olli T , Papaloukas Costas , Bosch Jos A , März Winfried , Fotiadis Dimitrios I 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Aims
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a highly prevalent disease with modifiable risk factors. In patients with suspected obstructive CAD, evaluating the pre-test probability model is crucial for diagnosis, although its accuracy remains controversial. Machine learning (ML) predictive models can help clinicians detect CAD early and improve outcomes. This study aimed to identify early-stage CAD using ML in conjunction with a panel of clinical and laboratory tests.

Methods and results
The study sample included 3316 patients enrolled in the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health (LURIC) study. A comprehensive array of attributes was considered, and an ML pipeline was developed. Subsequently, we utilized five approaches to generating high-quality virtual patient data to improve the performance of the artificial intelligence models. An extension study was carried out using data from the Young Finns Study (YFS) to assess the results’ generalizability. Upon applying virtual augmented data, accuracy increased by approximately 5%, from 0.75 to –0.79 for random forests (RFs), and from 0.76 to –0.80 for Gradient Boosting (GB). Sensitivity showed a significant boost for RFs, rising by about 9.4% (0.81–0.89), while GB exhibited a 4.8% increase (0.83–0.87). Specificity showed a significant boost for RFs, rising by ∼24% (from 0.55 to 0.70), while GB exhibited a 37% increase (from 0.51 to 0.74). The extension analysis aligned with the initial study.

Conclusion
Accurate predictions of angiographic CAD can be obtained using a set of routine laboratory markers, age, sex, and smoking status, holding the potential to limit the need for invasive diagnostic techniques. The extension analysis in the YFS demonstrated the potential of these findings in a younger population, and it confirmed applicability to atherosclerotic vascular disease.
Colchicine in acutely decompensated heart failure: the COLICA trial
Authors: Pascual-Figal Domingo , Núñez Julio , Pérez-Martínez Maria T , González-Juanatey José Ramón , Taibo-Urquia Mikel , Llàcer-Iborra Pau , Delgado Juan , Villar Sandra , Mirabet Sonia , Aimo Alberto , Riquelme-Pérez Alejandro , Anguita-Sánchez Manuel , Martínez-Sellés Manuel , Noguera-Velasco Jose A , Ibáñez Borja , Bayés-Genís Antoni 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background and Aims
Acute heart failure (AHF) promotes inflammatory activation, which is associated with worse outcomes. Colchicine has proven effective in other cardiovascular conditions characterized by inflammatory activation, but has never been evaluated in the setting of AHF.

Methods
This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial included patients with AHF, requiring ≥40 mg of intravenous furosemide, regardless of their left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and inpatient or outpatient setting. Patients were randomized within the first 24 h of presentation to receive either colchicine or placebo, with loading dose of 2 mg, followed by 0.5 mg every 12 h for 8 weeks.

Results
A total of 278 patients [median age 75 years, LVEF 40%, baseline N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) 4262 pg/mL] were randomized to colchicine (n = 141) or placebo (n = 137). The primary endpoint, the time-averaged reduction in NT-proBNP levels at 8 weeks, did not differ between the colchicine group [−62.2%, 95% confidence interval (CI) −68.9% to −54.2%] and the placebo group (−62.1%, 95% CI −68.6% to −54.3%) (ratio of change 1.0). The reduction in inflammatory markers was significantly greater with colchicine: ratio of change 0.60 (P &lt; .001) for C-reactive protein and 0.72 (P = .019) for interleukin-6. No differences were found in new worsening heart failure episodes (14.9% with colchicine vs. 16.8% with placebo, P = .698); however, the need for intravenous furosemide during follow-up was lower with colchicine (P = .043). Diarrhea was slightly more common with colchicine, but it did not result in differences in medication withdrawal (8.5% vs. 8.8%).

Conclusions
Colchicine was safe and effective in reducing inflammation in patients with AHF; however, colchicine and placebo exhibited comparable effects on reducing NT-proBNP and preventing new worsening heart failure events.
Challenges of accreditation in forensic fields concerned with human identification: a survey of European facial examiners
Authors: Obertová Zuzana , Siebke Inga , Schüler Grit 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Forensic anthropology and forensic facial image identification are areas with two aspects in common: (i) the use of anthropological knowledge concerning human variation in their analyses and (ii) low numbers of accredited forensic units. While the low numbers are often explained by the uniqueness of human identification cases, given the high level of scrutiny in the forensic sciences, interest in and efforts to achieve accreditation have become increasingly prominent. Therefore, this study aimed to obtain accreditation-relevant information about the working environment in facial image comparison units by surveying facial examiners across Europe. Two surveys were distributed: One was given to participants of a European Commission-funded training course for technical assessors in facial image comparison, and the second, more comprehensive survey, was distributed to members of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes Digital Imaging Working Group. Thirty-four responses from facial examiners from 16 countries were received. All respondents worked for a governmental organization, nine (26.5%) in accredited units, and 12 (35.3%) had worked as facial examiners for more than 11 years. More than 80% of respondents had an academic background. All examiners from accredited units reported having standard operating procedures, annual Digital Imaging Working Group proficiency testing, and using a standard methodology (compared with 72%, 92%, and 84% from nonaccredited units, respectively). The survey found that working conditions in forensic facial image identification vary among European countries. Some respondents from nonaccredited units reported that their unit had no standard operating procedures, with proficiency tests and intralaboratory validations not performed regularly, and an inconsistently used standard methodology. As these conditions are typically required for successful accreditation, a better understanding of best practice and accreditation requirements in the field is needed. Facilitating interactions between forensic practitioners and quality managers may prove beneficial for future accreditation efforts.

Key points
A large-scale in vivo screen to investigate the roles of human genes in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Avila Ashley , Paculis Lily , Tascon Roxana Gonzalez , Ramos Belen , Jia Dongyu 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Understanding the signaling pathways in which genes participate is essential for discovering the etiology of diseases in humans. The model organism, Drosophila melanogaster, has been crucial in understanding the signaling pathways in humans, given the evolutionary conservation of a significant number of genes between the two species. Genetic screens using Drosophila are a useful way of testing large number of genes to study their function and roles within signaling pathways. We conducted a large-scale genetic screen to identify which human genes cause an alteration in the morphology of the Drosophila eye. The GMR-Gal4 was employed to activate a single UAS-human gene in the eye tissue. In total, we screened 802 UAS-human gene stocks, corresponding to 787 human protein-coding genes, for the ability to influence eye development. We found that overexpression of 64 human genes were capable of disrupting eye development, as determined by phenotypic changes in eye texture, size, shape, bristle morphology, and ommatidia organization. Subsequent analysis revealed that the fly genome encodes proteins that are homologous to a majority of the 64 human genes, raising the possibility that overexpression of these transgenes altered eye development by altering the activity of evolutionarily conserved developmental signaling pathways. Consistent with this hypothesis, a secondary screen demonstrated that overexpression of fly homologs produced phenotypes that mimicked those produced by overexpression of the human gene. Our screening has identified 64 human genes capable of inducing phenotypes in the fly, offering a foundation for ongoing research aimed at understanding functionally conserved pathways across species.
Subsurface stress assessment from cross-coupled borehole acoustic eigenmodes
Authors: Jørgensen Ole , Burns Dan 
Published: August 2024

SUMMARY
We present an approach, based on cross-coupling of quadrupole and monopole borehole acoustic modes caused by anisotropy, to investigate the in situ stress state, a critical parameter for effective CO2 sequestration and for determining subsurface injection bounds in general. We focus on in situ stress states where the vertical direction is a principal stress direction, and we aim at determining the minimum and maximum horizontal stresses. Because of non-linear elastic effects, three unequal principal stresses in an otherwise isotropic rock may create three orthogonal planes of symmetry, which characterize an orthorhombic elastic medium. Near a wellbore, where the stress field is perturbed, a stress sensitive material causes material axes and moduli to form a spatial distribution to which sonic logging is sensitive. We present a method for differentiating between stress induced and intrinsic anisotropy. Using finite element modelling, we demonstrate that in either case the quadrupole fundamental mode includes an axis-symmetric (monopole) component. We demonstrate that the acoustic amplitude at the borehole centre divided by the maximum acoustic amplitude at the wellbore periphery (dominated by the acoustic profile $\cos(2\theta )$) is an indicator of elastic anisotropy. We denote this ratio $I_A$ and argue that $I_A\gt 0$ when the elastic anisotropy is of entirely intrinsic origin (meaning the elastic moduli are in-sensitive to stress), and further that $I_A$ increases for decreasing frequency for such cases. We demonstrate that $I_A$ attains negative values for increasing frequency in stress-sensitive formations where a cross-over (from negative to positive values) is attributed to the perturbed velocity/moduli/stress fields near the wellbore. In synthetic data, we show that the ratio $I_A$, in combination with the phase velocity dispersion, uniquely determines the state of stress in stress-sensitive formations. In stress in-sensitive formations, we argue that $I_A$ at lower frequencies, that is at frequencies slightly above the cut-off frequency, is very sensitive to elastic anisotropy. We argue that in quadrupole eigenmodes, evidence of intrinsic anisotropy is present at low frequencies whereas stress induced anisotropy is better gauged at moderate to high frequencies. Finally, we discuss the practical implications of these findings.