bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A genome‐wide association study reveals candidate genes and regulatory regions associated with birth weight in pigs
Authors: Deng Dadong , Wang Hongtao , Han Kun , Tang Zhenshuang , Li Xiaoping , Liu Xiangdong , Liu Xiaolei , Li Xinyun , Yu Mei 
Published: August 2024

AbstractPiglet birth weight is associated with preweaning survival, and its related traits have been included in the breeding program. Thus, understanding its genetic basis is essential. This study identified four birth weight‐associated genomic regions on chromosomes 2, 4, 5, and 7 through genome‐wide association study analysis in 7286 pigs from three different pure breeds using the FarmCPU model. The genetic and phenotypic variance explained by the four candidate regions is 8.42% and 1.85%, respectively. Twenty‐eight candidate genes were detected, of which APPL2, TGFBI, MACROH2A1, and SEC22B have been reported to affect body growth or development. In addition, 21 H3K4me3‐enriched peaks overlapped with the birth weight‐associated genomic regions were identified by integrating the genome‐wide association study results with our previous ChIP‐seq and RNA‐seq data generated in the pig placenta, a fetal organ relevant to birth weight, and three of the regulatory regions influence TGFBI, MACROH2A1, and SEC22B expression. This study provides new insights into understanding the mechanisms for birth weight. Further investigating the variants in the regulatory regions would help identify the functional variants for birth weight in pigs.
The effects of testicular stromal stem cells on surgically injured testicular tissue in rats
Authors: Altinbasak Faruk , Unal Murat Serkant , Tan Semih , Yildirim Gul 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThis study investigated the effects of transplanted testicular stromal stem cells (tSSCs) on surgically damaged testis tissue. Ten‐week‐old male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: control (n = 6), damage (DG) (n = 6) and testicular stromal stem cell (TSSC) (n = 6) groups. Surgically induced damage was inflicted on the left testes of both the DG and TSSC groups, with no intervention on the right testes. In the TSSC group, damaged testes were treated with transplanted tSSCs, followed by orchiectomy after 15 days. Testes tissues were stained with haematoxylin–eosin (H&E), and recovery rates of functional structures were assessed by modified Johnsen scoring. The effects of tSSCs on testicular tissue were demonstrated by immunohistochemistry using BAX, BCL‐2 and caspase 3. Serum testosterone levels were analysed using the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Surgical damage caused germ cell degeneration in some seminiferous tubules and a decrease in interstitial areas. With tSSC treatment, improvements in testicular architecture were identified through spermatogenesis in the seminiferous tubules and normal histological structures in the interstitial areas. Correspondingly, in the modified Johnsen score, the DG group showed a significant difference compared to the other groups (p = 0.001). High expressions of BAX, BCL‐2 and caspase‐3 in the DG group revealed prominent features of apoptosis. With the injection of tSSCs, these expressions significantly normalized according to H score analysis (all p = 0.004). Although serum testosterone levels in the tSSC group were higher compared to the control and DG groups, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.119). This study suggests transplanting tSSCs could accelerate tissue healing after testicular sperm extraction (TESE) surgery for azoospermia patients, potentially paving the way for a new and important clinical treatment.
External costs of water pollution in the drinking water supply sector
Authors: Cullmann Astrid , Rechlitz Julia , Sundermann Greta , Wägner Nicole 
Published: August 2024

AbstractNitrate pollution from agricultural production is a major threat to water resources worldwide. This study quantifies the consequences of groundwater nitrate pollution for the drinking water supply sector by estimating the effect of groundwater nitrate pollution on the costs of water utilities. In doing so, we contribute to the estimation of the external costs of agricultural nonpoint pollution associated with drinking water supply. Empirical evidence is based on fixed effects regressions using large panel data sets on water supply companies and groundwater sampling sites in Germany. Local nitrate pollution at the abstraction plant is approximated using spatial interpolation. Our findings reveal that water suppliers incur substantial costs through groundwater nitrate pollution in terms of increased treatment and total costs. The estimated cost elasticities range from 0.048 to 0.052 for treatment costs and up to 0.019 for total costs. For an average firm, these estimates imply annual increases in treatment and total costs of €39,000 and €116,000, respectively, for a 10 milligrams per liter increase in groundwater nitrate concentrations.
Changes in indicators of well‐being on moving from home to long‐term care for Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Hikaka Joanna , Abey‐Nesbit Rebecca , Wu Zhenqiang , Jamieson Hamish A. , Parsons Matthew , Kerse Ngaire , Gibson Rosemary 
Published: August 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate changes in well‐being measures for older Māori after moving from community to long‐term care (LTC).MethodsWe undertook a retrospective cohort study of older Māori in New Zealand (NZ) who had received assessments for their health needs whilst living at home (interRAI‐HC assessment) as well as a subsequent assessment after moving into a care facility (interRAI‐LTCF). All interRAI‐HC assessments from 01 July 2013 to 21 December 2018 were identified and matched to LTCF assessments that were undertaken at least 6 months later. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to determine the difference in proportion of variables of interest (indicative of movement, socialising, sleep and nutrition, alongside general physical and mental health status) between participants' HC and subsequent LTCF assessments.ResultsChanges in well‐being measures were investigated among 1531 Māori (mean age 76.2 years, 61% female). Odds of having a fall (OR: 0.40 [95% CI 0.34, 0.48]), being lonely (OR: 0.13 [95% CI 0.09, 0.18]), sleeping difficulty (OR: 0.74 [95% CI 0.60, 0.91]) and fatigue (OR: 0.18 [95% CI 0.14, 0.23]) reduced on moving to LTC. However, the presence of depression (OR 3.96 [95% CI 2.58, 6.09]) and dependence with locomotion (OR 1.56 [95% CI 1.23, 1.97]) significantly increased when moving from home to LTC.ConclusionDespite some indicators of functional and health‐related decline, significant improvements are also apparent across multiple domains of well‐being. Further investigation of resident and family perceptions of well‐being in association with a move to LTC is warranted.
Taking the temperature of time: The influence of temperature on people's metaphorical perspectives on time through emotion
Authors: Qin Yutian 
Published: August 2024

AbstractSpace provides the conceptual scaffolding for the understanding of time. Customarily, the movement of events in time is metaphorically conceptualized from two spatial perspectives: the ego‐moving perspective that envisions an observer moving towards a stationary future and the time‐moving perspective that envisages the future moving towards a stationary observer. Extensive work has shown that emotions of opposite valence can yield contrary temporal perspective preferences. Relatedly, much evidence suggests that physical warmth and coldness prompt antithetical emotional evaluations. Threading together these two strands of insights, the current research explored whether ambient temperatures would influence people's metaphorical perspectives on time through a common link to emotion. Study 1 suggested that when deciphering two temporally ambiguous statements, people in warmer spring preferred the ego‐moving perspective, whilst those in colder winter favoured the time‐moving perspective. To determine a causal effect and test the hypothesized underlying mechanism of emotion, Study 2 examined the priming effect of temperature on temporal perspective preferences and emotional states. The results showed that differential temperatures induced opposite emotional responses, which in turn prompted diametric perspectives on time. These findings were replicated in Study 3 using an alternative measure of perspectives on time. Study 4 further validated the mediating role of emotion in the temperature–time relationship. Taken together, the current findings evince a unidirectional relationship between the incidental environmental factor of temperature and the metaphorical representation of time and accentuate the roles of sensory perception and emotional experience in temporal cognition.
Not all heroes wear shells: New data on the spicules' morphology in acochlidimorph mollusc
Authors: Mikhlina Anna L. , Nikitenko Ekaterina D. , Vortsepneva Elena V. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractCalcareous skeletal structures are common among different invertebrate groups, including Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Mollusca, and Echinodermata. They appear externally as shells, plates, or scales, or internally as subepidermal spicules. Although typically formed outside of the cells, in one class of gastropod molluscs, the Heterobranchia, subepidermal and intracellular spicules are found—a rare case, at least for the molluscs. This type of spicules is present in several phylogenetically distant groups of heterobranch molluscs (Rhodopemorpha, Acochlidimorpha, and Nudibranchia), each different in terms of morphology and autecology. This raises questions about the origin and homology of subepidermal spicules in heterobranch molluscs. To answer these questions, understanding the process of spicule formation is crucial. This is impeded by insufficient data on the fine structure of the subepidermal spicules and adjacent epithelia. To address this problem, we carried out a comprehensive morphological study of subepidermal spicules and the body wall in one species of Acochlidimorpha. We revealed variations in the cellular composition of the epidermis, musculature organization, and spicules' arrangement, which most likely reflect the different functional roles of the spicule complex within Heterobranchia representatives. However, the obtained data are insufficient to answer the question of the origin of spicules and their homology within Heterobranchia.
Molecular monitoring of myelodysplastic neoplasm: Don't just watch this space, consider the patient's ancestry
Authors: Ribeiro Júnior Howard Lopes 
Published: August 2024

The heterogeneity of Myelodysplastic Neoplasm (MDS) extends beyond mutational diversity to include significant ethnic variability, a factor that has been underexplored. While the development of the IPSS‐M prognostic tool has advanced our understanding of MDS, its reliance on data primarily from European cohorts limits its applicability to non‐European populations. Duployez et al.'s review highlighted the importance of molecular markers in MDS for personalized treatment and disease monitoring yet did not address the impact of genetic ancestry. This commentary critiques the IPSS‐M's limited sample of 110 Brazilian patients, questioning its adequacy in reflecting the influence of patient ancestry on prognostic accuracy. Given the potential for differing mutation profiles and prognostic implications across diverse ethnic groups, robust genomic ancestry studies are urgently needed. These studies should stratify MDS patients by ethnic background to investigate mutation incidence and impacts, thereby validating IPSS‐M and potentially identifying new prognostic markers. Incorporating ethnic diversity into prognostic models is essential for ensuring they are truly universal and inclusive, thereby improving personalized treatment and care for all MDS patients.Commentary on: Duployez and Preudhomme. Monitoring molecular changes in the management of myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol 2024; 205:772‐779.
Tracing emotional experiences and the well‐being during the pandemic through drawings by Spanish children
Authors: Rodríguez‐Pascual Iván , Berasategui‐Sancho Naiara , Eiguren‐Munitis Amaia , Picaza‐Gorrotxategi Maitane , Serrano‐Díaz Noemí , González‐Gómez Teresa , Palasí‐Luna Eva 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe changes in emotions experienced during the pandemic and their effects on children's well‐being remain a significant issue. This study analyses 86 drawings created by children aged 5–13, collected in fieldwork conducted through workshops across various regions of Spain. The main objective was to describe how children portray their emotional changes and the resulting impact on their lives within the context of the pandemic. We employed qualitative bottom‐up logic to code the drawings using CAQDAS. Findings revealed a discernible emotional impact, expressed more explicitly by girls, as well as lasting elements concerning the pandemic and the enduring restrictions on social interactions, even beyond the widespread lockdowns of 2020.
Assessment of the application of a novel three‐dimension printing individualized titanium mesh in alveolar bone augmentation: A retrospective study
Authors: Liu Chang , Li Jinmeng , Zhang Shuo , Xiao Hanyu , Wang Yanying , Zhang Jian 
Published: August 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the clinical and radiographic outcomes of alveolar ridge augmentation using a novel three‐dimensional printed individualized titanium mesh (3D‐PITM) for guided bone regeneration (GBR).Materials and methodsPreoperative cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) was used to evaluate alveolar ridge defects, followed by augmentation with high‐porosity 3D‐PITM featuring circular and spindle‐shaped pores. Postoperative CBCT scans were taken immediately and after 6 months of healing. These scans were compared with preoperative scans to calculate changes in bone volume, height, and width, along with the corresponding resorption rates. A statistical analysis of the results was then conducted.ResultsA total of 21 patients participated in the study, involving alveolar ridge augmentation at 38 implant sites. After 6 months of healing, the average bone augmentation volume of 21 patients remained at 489.71 ± 252.53 mm3, with a resorption rate of 16.05% ± 8.07%. For 38 implant sites, the average vertical bone increment was 3.63 ± 2.29 mm, with a resorption rate of 17.55% ± 15.10%. The horizontal bone increment at the designed implant platform was 4.43 ± 1.85 mm, with a resorption rate of 25.26% ± 15.73%. The horizontal bone increment 2 mm below the platform was 5.50 ± 2.48 mm, with a resorption rate of 16.03% ± 9.57%. The main complication was exposure to 3D‐PITM, which occurred at a rate of 15.79%.ConclusionThe novel 3D‐PITM used in GBR resulted in predictable bone augmentation. Moderate over‐augmentation in the design, proper soft tissue management, and rigorous follow‐ups are beneficial for reducing the graft resorption and the incidence of exposure.
Impact of CBCT acquisition protocols and artifact reduction filters on diagnosing vertical root fractures
Authors: Hilgert Eduarda Adams , Liedke Gabriela Salatino , da Silveira Tiecher Priscila Fernanda , Arus Nádia Assein , de Oliveira Gamba Thiago , da Silveira Heraldo Luis Dias , Vizzotto Mariana Boessio 
Published: August 2024

AbstractAimTo evaluate the impact of acquisition protocols and artifact reduction filters in cone beam computed tomography on diagnosing vertical root fractures in endodontically treated teeth with and without intraradicular posts.Materials and MethodsWe analyzed 480 tomographic images acquired from two J. Morita scanners (0.125‐ and 0.08‐mm voxel sizes protocols), with application of a blooming artifact reduction filter. Three evaluators assessed these images for root fractures using a 5‐point Likert scale. Diagnostic accuracy between filters and protocols was determined using generalized linear models with binomial distribution for the outcome, considering protocol, filter, and dental status. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were also estimated for the filters and protocols.ResultsThe 0.08‐mm voxel size protocol demonstrated a significantly higher percentage of accurate diagnosis compared to the 0.125‐mm protocol (p = .001). No statistically significant differences (p ≥ .087) were observed for filter application, interaction between protocol and filter, or dental status. Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity values were respectively: .93, .87, 1.00 (protocol 1); .99, .99, .99 (protocol 2); .98, .96, .99 (no filter); .95, .90, 1.00 (with filter).ConclusionThe new findings found for the two J Morita scanners used in our study were that images acquired using the voxel size of 0.08 mm showed an improvement in the diagnosis of root fractures and the filters in these devices have no relevance significant for the diagnosis.
Warming summer temperatures are rapidly restructuring North American bumble bee communities
Authors: Hemberger Jeremy , Williams Neal M. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractA rapidly warming climate is driving changes in biodiversity worldwide, and its impact on insect communities is critical given their outsized role in ecosystem function and services. We use a long‐term dataset of North American bumble bee species occurrences to determine whether the community temperature index (CTI), a measure of the balance of warm‐ and cool‐adapted species in a community, has increased given warming temperatures. CTI has increased by an average of 0.99°C in strong association with warming maximum summer temperatures over the last 30 years with the areas exhibiting the largest increases including mid‐ to high latitudes as well as low and high elevations—areas relatively shielded from other intensive global changes. CTI shifts have been driven by the decline of cold‐adapted species and increases in warm‐adapted species within bumble bee communities. Our results show the pervasive impacts and ecological implications warming temperatures pose to insects.
Commentary: Perspectives of Early Career Professionals on Enhancing Cultural Responsiveness in Educational Measurement
Authors: Van Orman Dustin S. J. , Jackson Janine A. , Vo Thao T. , Taylor Darius D. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe “Foundational Competencies in Educational Measurement” framework aims to shape the field's future. However, the absence of emerging scholars and graduate students in the task force highlights a gap in representing those most familiar with current educational landscape. As early career scholars, we offer perspectives to enhance this framework by focusing on making educational measurement more inclusive, collaborative, and culturally responsive. Drawing on our diverse backgrounds and experiences, we propose expanding the framework to empower measurement professionals, diversify measurement practices, and integrate ethical considerations. We also advocate for a new visual representation of the framework as a budding plant, symbolizing the organic and evolving nature of foundational skills in educational measurement. This commentary aims to refine the foundational competencies to better prepare future professionals for meaningful, equitable educational contributions.
Self‐verification and social dominance in coworker dyads
Authors: Sajadi Pegah , Vandenberghe Christian , Ollier‐Malaterre Ariane 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThis article conceptualizes the bright and dark sides of self‐verification processes among dyads of coworkers from different social groups. We argue that these processes depend on coworkers' social dominance orientation (SDO), which determines whether they hold dominant, subordinate, or egalitarian social identities. The proposed typology identifies four types of dyads. In stormy dyads, the member of the dominant social group has a high SDO, the member of the subordinate social group has a low SDO, and self‐verification is associated with reciprocal covert (and occasionally overt) coworker antagonism. In conforming dyads, both members have high SDO, and self‐verification leads to covert antagonistic behaviors from the dominant member. In egalitarian dyads, both members have low SDO, and self‐verification leads to long‐term affective and instrumental coworker support. Finally, in compassionate dyads, the member of the dominant social group has a low SDO, the member of the subordinate social group has a high SDO, and coworker support is instrumental. We examine the implications of this typology for our understanding of self‐verification processes in the context of diversity among coworker relationships.
Estimating the fatigue limits for quenched and tempered steel rods treated with multifunction cavitation considering residual stress, hardness, and surface pits
Authors: Kikuchi Shoichi , Ono Keisuke , Yoshimura Toshihiko , Ijiri Masataka 
Published: August 2024

AbstractIn this study, multifunction cavitation (MFC) was performed on low‐alloy steel (AISI 4140 steel) rods with different hardnesses to increase their fatigue limit. It was found that a high compressive residual stress was generated on the surface of steel rods by MFC and that the magnitude of the compressive residual stress tended to increase with increasing specimen hardness, which resulted in a higher fatigue limit. However, fatigue cracks are known to be initiated from the pits and red rust that form on the surface during MFC treatment in water. Furthermore, relaxation of the compressive residual stress was also investigated during the fatigue test to elucidate the mechanism for improving the fatigue properties. The results showed that the fatigue limit for MFC‐treated steel rods was accurately estimated by considering residual stress relaxation, hardness, and pit formation. Validation of the fatigue limit estimation was also conducted through comparison with Murakami's equation.
Population genetic structure of the endemic sponge Lubomirskia baikalensis in Lake Baikal in the light of mass disease and mortality events
Authors: Yakhnenko Alena , Bukin Yurij , Bondar Evgeniya , Khanaev Igor , Kirilchik Sergei , Kondratov Ilya , Itskovich Valeria 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

The study of the state of Baikal endemic sponge populations is of great interest because of the occurrence of mass mortalities and disease in recent decades. To identify possible signs of species vulnerability to extinction, it is crucial to develop appropriate genetic markers that help developing measures for conservation.

In this paper, we describe the population genetic structure of the Baikal endemic sponge Lubomirskia baikalensis examined with the set of microsatellite markers we developed. We analysed 251 samples from eight locations that cover all three basins of Lake Baikal.

A genetic subdivision into three clusters was revealed. Such a structure can be explained mainly by the low ability of larvae to disperse.

Despite the presence of dead and diseased individuals in all studied locations, all populations were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and no bottleneck effect was found at all.

This is the first time that a genetic connectivity study has been performed for L. baikalensis, a species endemic of Lake Baikal.

Reconstruction of the changes in the effective population size agrees with the results obtained during drill sample analysis and it demonstrates that the effective population size was 55.5 times lower about 24,000 years ago, which indicates that apparently there is no threat of extinction of the Baikal endemic sponges at present.