bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparative histology of abscission zones reveals the extent of convergence and divergence in seed shattering in weedy and cultivated rice
Authors: Li Xiang , Lowey Daniel , Lessard Jessica , Caicedo Ana L 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
The modification of seed shattering has been a recurring theme in rice evolution. The wild ancestor of cultivated rice disperses its seeds, but reduced shattering was selected during multiple domestication events to facilitate harvesting. Conversely, selection for increased shattering occurred during the evolution of weedy rice, a weed invading cultivated rice fields that has originated multiple times from domesticated ancestors. Shattering requires formation of a tissue known as the abscission zone (AZ), but how the AZ has been modified throughout rice evolution is unclear. We quantitatively characterized the AZ characteristics of relative length, discontinuity, and intensity in 86 cultivated and weedy rice accessions. We reconstructed AZ evolutionary trajectories and determined the degree of convergence among different cultivated varieties and among independent weedy rice populations. AZ relative length emerged as the best feature to distinguish high and low shattering rice. Cultivated varieties differed in average AZ morphology, revealing lack of convergence in how shattering reduction was achieved during domestication. In contrast, weedy rice populations typically converged on complete AZs, irrespective of origin. By examining AZ population-level morphology, our study reveals its evolutionary plasticity, and suggests that the genetic potential to modify the ecologically and agronomically important trait of shattering is plentiful in rice lineages.
Safety and efficacy of selumetinib in pediatric and adult patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 and plexiform neurofibroma
Authors: Kim Hyery , Yoon Hee Mang , Kim Eun Key , Ra Young Shin , Kim Hyo-Won , Yum Mi-Sun , Kim Min-Jee , Baek Jae Suk , Sung Yu Sub , Lee Sang Min , Lim Hyeong-Seok , Lee Byung Joo , Lim Hyun Taek , Kim Dohyung , Yoon Jihee , Bae Hyunwoo , Hwang Soojin , Choi Yun-Ha , Kim Kyung Ah , Choi In Hee , Lee Seung Won , Park Su-Jung , Lee Beom Hee 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background
The MEK inhibitor, selumetinib, reduces plexiform neurofibroma (PN) in pediatric patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Its safety and efficacy in adults with PN and effectiveness in other NF1 manifestations (eg, neurocognitive function, growth reduction, and café-au-lait spots) are unknown.

Methods
This open-label, phase II trial enrolled 90 pediatric or adult NF1 patients with inoperable, symptomatic, or potentially morbid, measurable PN (≥3 cm). Selumetinib was administered at doses of 20 or 25 mg/m2 or 50 mg q 12 hours for 2 years. Pharmacokinetics, PN volume, growth parameters, neurocognitive function, café-au-lait spots, and quality of life (QoL) were evaluated.

Results
Fifty-nine children and 30 adults (median age, 16 years; range, 3–47) received an average of 22 ± 5 (4–26) cycles of selumetinib. Eighty-eight (98.9%) out of 89 per-protocol patients showed volume reduction in the target PN (median, 40.8%; 4.2%–92.2%), and 81 (91%) patients showed partial response (≥20% volume reduction). The response lasted until cycle 26. Scores of neurocognitive functions (verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, processing speed, and full-scale IQ) significantly improved in both pediatric and adult patients (P &lt; .05). Prepubertal patients showed increases in height score and growth velocity (P &lt; .05). Café-au-lait spot intensity decreased significantly (P &lt; .05). Improvements in QoL and pain scores were observed in both children and adults. All adverse events were CTCAE grade 1 or 2 and were successfully managed without drug discontinuation.

Conclusions
Selumetinib decreases PN volume in the majority of pediatric and adult NF1 patients while also showing efficacy in nonmalignant diverse NF1 manifestations.

Trial Registration
Cris.nih.go.kr Identifier (KCT0003700).
The H1/H5 domain contributes to OsTRBF2 phase separation and gene repression during rice development
Authors: Xuan Hua , Li Yanzhuo , Liu Yue , Zhao Jingze , Chen Jianhao , Shi Nan , Zhou Yulu , Pi Limin , Li Shaoqing , Xu Guoyong , Yang Hongchun 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) tightly control plant development by regulating gene expression. The phase separation of TFs plays a vital role in gene regulation. Many plant TFs have the potential to form phase-separated protein condensates; however, little is known about which TFs are regulated by phase separation and how it affects their roles in plant development. Here, we report that the rice (Oryza sativa) single Myb TF TELOMERE REPEAT-BINDING FACTOR 2 (TRBF2) is highly expressed in fast-growing tissues at the seedling stage. TRBF2 is a transcriptional repressor that binds to the transcriptional start site of thousands of genes. Mutation of TRBF2 leads to pleiotropic developmental defects and misexpression of many genes. TRBF2 displays characteristics consistent with phase separation in vivo and forms phase-separated condensates in vitro. The H1/H5 domain of TRBF2 plays a crucial role in phase separation, chromatin targeting, and gene repression. Replacing the H1/H5 domain by a phase-separated intrinsically disordered region from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) AtSERRATE partially recovers the function of TRBF2 in gene repression in vitro and in transgenic plants. We also found that TRBF2 is required for trimethylation of histone H3 Lys27 (H3K27me3) deposition at specific genes and genome wide. Our findings reveal that phase separation of TRBF2 facilitates gene repression in rice development.
GLUTAMYL-tRNA SYNTHETASE 1 deficiency confers thermosensitive male sterility in rice by affecting reactive oxygen species homeostasis
Authors: Liu Huixin , You Hanli , Liu Changzhen , Zhao Yangzi , Chen Jiawei , Chen Zhuoran , Li Yafei , Tang Ding , Shen Yi , Cheng Zhukuan 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Temperature is one of the key environmental factors influencing crop fertility and yield. Understanding how plants sense and respond to temperature changes is, therefore, crucial for improving agricultural production. In this study, we characterized a temperature-sensitive male sterile mutant in rice (Oryza sativa), glutamyl-tRNA synthetase 1-2 (ers1-2), that shows reduced fertility at high temperatures and restored fertility at low temperatures. Mutation of ERS1 resulted in severely delayed pollen development and meiotic progression at high temperatures, eventually leading to male sterility. Moreover, meiosis-specific events, including synapsis and crossover formation, were also delayed in ers1-2 compared with the wild type. However, these defects were all mitigated by growing ers1-2 at low temperatures. Transcriptome analysis and measurement of ascorbate, glutathione, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents revealed that the delayed meiotic progression and male sterility in ers1-2 were strongly associated with changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis. At high temperatures, ers1-2 exhibited decreased accumulation of ROS scavengers and overaccumulation of ROS. In contrast, at low temperatures, the antioxidant system of ROS was more active, and ROS contents were lower. These data suggest that ROS homeostasis in ers1-2 is disrupted at high temperatures but restored at low temperatures. We speculate that ERS1 dysfunction leads to changes in ROS homeostasis under different conditions, resulting in delayed or rescued meiotic progression and thermosensitive male fertility. ers1-2 may hold great potential as a thermosensitive material for crop heterosis breeding.
Light-responsive transcription factors VvHYH and VvGATA24 mediate wax terpenoid biosynthesis in Vitis vinifera
Authors: Yang Mingyi , Xiang Yizhou , Luo Zisheng , Gao Yizhou , Wang Lei , Hu Qiannan , Dong Yingying , Qi Ming , Li Dong , Liu Lingling , Kačániová Miroslava , Ban Zhaojun , Li Li 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
The cuticular wax that covers the surfaces of plants is the first barrier against environmental stresses and increasingly accumulates with light exposure. However, the molecular basis of light-responsive wax biosynthesis remains elusive. In grape (Vitis vinifera), light exposure resulted in higher wax terpenoid content and lower decay and abscission rates than controls kept in darkness. Assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing and RNA-seq data were integrated to draw the chromatin accessibility and cis-elements regulatory map to identify the potential action sites. Terpenoid synthase 12 (VvTPS12) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase 2 (VvHMGR2) were identified as grape wax biosynthesis targets, while VvHYH and VvGATA24 were identified as terpenoid biosynthesis activators, as more abundant wax crystals and higher wax terpenoid content were observed in transiently overexpressed grape berries and Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. The interaction between VvHYH and the open chromatin of VvTPS12 was confirmed qualitatively using a dual luciferase assay and quantitatively using surface plasma resonance, with an equilibrium dissociation constant of 2.81 nm identified via the latter approach. Molecular docking simulation implied the structural nature of this interaction, indicating that 24 amino acid residues of VvHYH, including Arg106A, could bind to the VvTPS12 G-box cis-element. VvGATA24 directly bound to the open chromatin of VvHMGR2, with an equilibrium dissociation constant of 8.59 nm. Twelve amino acid residues of VvGATA24, including Pro218B, interacted with the VvHMGR2 GATA-box cis-element. Our work characterizes the mechanism underlying light-mediated wax terpenoid biosynthesis and provides gene targets for future molecular breeding.
Law enforcement training on child trafficking: Engaging all stakeholders
Authors: Harmon-Darrow Caroline , Aggarwal Nikita , Finigan-Carr Nadine 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Since the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act in 2000, there have been rapid changes in the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems’ ability to identify, investigate, and prosecute cases of human trafficking and work effectively with survivors. Law enforcement officers are often the first to encounter victims, and their training in this area is critical. While trainings have expanded, they are still missing in many jurisdictions and are understudied. The impact of a 2-day, interdisciplinary, skill-based, and victim-centred child trafficking in-service training is evaluated via regression analysis of pre–post surveys with 187 participants. Results indicate that the training significantly improved both perceived trafficking-related knowledge and self-efficacy. Implications for policing and research include expanding and deepening skill-focussed interdisciplinary child sex trafficking training for law enforcement personnel that engages multiple stakeholders, including trafficking survivors.
CT features associated with contralateral recurrence of spontaneous pneumothorax
Authors: Burn L A , Wetscherek M T , Pharoah P D , Marciniak S J 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Introduction
Spontaneous pneumothorax recurs in 30–54% of patients without surgery. Identifying individuals likely to suffer a recurrence, who might benefit from pre-emptive surgery, is challenging. Previous meta-analysis suggested a relationship between contralateral recurrence and specific CT findings.

Methods
We analysed CT images and recurrence rates of 243 patients seen by our tertiary referral pneumothorax service.

Results
We validated the meta-analysis observation that contralateral lung cysts are associated with a higher risk of contralateral recurrence in younger individuals. Furthermore, we observed that the size of contralateral cysts to be associated with increased contralateral recurrence in younger patients.

Conclusion
The detection of contralateral lung cysts might therefore help identify younger patients more likely to benefit from pre-emptive surgery.
The limits of co-production: linking regulatory capacity to co-production of authoritative knowledge for environmental policy
Authors: Large Daniel 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
This paper introduces a novel perspective on co-production of authoritative knowledge in environmental policy, shifting focus from perceived flaws in knowledge production to structural and governance challenges impeding knowledge uptake. It argues that these challenges, including diminishing support for public authority and widespread enthusiasm for collaboration, contribute to regulatory capacity deficits, which undermine knowledge claims’ authority. This account is tested through case study analysis of policy stakeholders in Colorado, USA, who sought to co-produce a scientific assessment for biodiversity offsetting. Despite repeated efforts, industry stakeholders disengaged twice, leading to abandonment of the policy initiative. Analysis demonstrates regulatory capacity’s crucial role in fostering co-production and integration of authoritative scientific knowledge in policymaking. By analyzing the failure to sustain stakeholder engagement in terms of interplay between regulatory capacity and co-production, this study contributes a critique of mainstream co-production and demonstrates the value of analyzing how institutional arrangements shape knowledge and policy integration.
Italy: The updated provisions on the taxation of income distributions from foreign trusts and similar entities residing in ‘privileged tax jurisdictions’
Authors: Maisto Guglielmo 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
The article provides an in-depth analysis of Italy’s updated provisions, effective late 2019, on the taxation of income distributions from foreign trusts and similar entities residing in ‘privileged tax jurisdictions’. It highlights the Italian Revenue Agency’s efforts to clarify the tax treatment of these distributions, as well as the challenges posed by the deemed-income-characterization provision whereby any distribution made by such trusts and entities is presumed to be income unless the recipient may document the contrary (ie the characterisation as capital). The article provides a thorough overview of the regulatory landscape, highlighting critical areas and addressing interpretative challenges.
Estimation of phloem conductance at tree level in young, middle-aged and old-aged Scots pine trees growing in different climatic conditions in boreal forests
Authors: Tarelkina Tatiana V , Serkova Aleksandra A , Galibina Natalia A , Novichonok Elena V , Moshnikov Sergei A , Ivanova Diana S , Semenova Ludmila I 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
In forests, a significant proportion of the carbon fixed by trees during photosynthesis is transported belowground along the conducting phloem, so variations in phloem anatomy can lead to variations in transport capacity. Phloem conductance at tree level (Ktree) is also affected by tree height. Both the phloem anatomy and the tree size change during ontogeny, and also differ under different environmental conditions. The goal of our work was to identify the main drivers of variation in Ktree in Scots pine trees growing in natural boreal forests. We conducted a phloem anatomical study and calculated Ktree in trees of three age groups growing in different climatic conditions along a latitudinal gradient from south to north. We found that Ktree was maintained at the same level in actively growing pine trees (25–80-years-old) but increased in old-aged trees (180–190-years-old), possibly reflecting the shift in source-sink relationships of aboveground and belowground parts of trees. Trees of the same age group growing in different climatic conditions demonstrated similar values of Ktree due to coordinated changes in the phloem anatomy and the tree height. In general, the negative influence of tree height on Ktree is offset by the positive influence of phloem width (or trunk diameter) and sieve cell diameter. The exception was young trees growing in the transition zone of the northern taiga subzone to the tundra, where Ktree was the highest in its age group and even exceeded Ktree of middle-aged trees.
The multifaceted role of beta‐blockers in overcoming cancer progression and drug resistance: Extending beyond cardiovascular disorders
Authors: Cavalu Simona , Saber Sameh , Amer Ahmed E. , Hamad Rabab S. , Abdel‐Reheim Mustafa Ahmed , Elmorsy Elsayed A. , Abdelhamid Amir Mohamed 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBeta‐blockers are commonly used medications that antagonize β‐adrenoceptors, reducing sympathetic nervous system activity. Emerging evidence suggests that beta‐blockers may also have anticancer effects and help overcome drug resistance in cancer treatment. This review summarizes the contribution of different isoforms of beta‐adrenoceptors in cancer progression, the current preclinical and clinical data on associations between beta‐blockers use and cancer outcomes, as well as their ability to enhance responses to chemotherapy and other standard therapies. We discuss proposed mechanisms, including effects on angiogenesis, metastasis, cancer stem cells, and apoptotic pathways. Overall, results from epidemiological studies and small clinical trials largely indicate the beneficial effects of beta‐blockers on cancer progression and drug resistance. However, larger randomized controlled trials are needed to firmly establish their clinical efficacy and optimal utilization as adjuvant agents in cancer therapy.
Assessing Practice Variation of Anesthetic Management for Endovascular Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Comprehensive Multicenter Survey
Authors: Sharma Sonal , Dube Surya Kumar , Esmail Tariq , Hoefnagel Amie L. , Jangra Kiran , Mejia-Mantilla Jorge , Shiferaw Ananya Abate , De Sloovere Veerle , Wright David , Lele Abhijit Vijay , Blacker Samuel Neal 
Published: July 2024

Objective:This study explored the current global landscape of periprocedural care of acute ischemic stroke patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).Methods:An anonymous, 54-question electronic survey was sent to 354 recipients in hospitals worldwide. The responses were stratified by World Bank country income level into high-income (HICs) and low/middle-income (LMICs) countries.Results:A total of 354 survey invitations were issued. Two hundred twenty-three respondents started the survey, and 87 fully completed surveys were obtained from centers in which anesthesiologists were routinely involved in EVT care (38 in HICs; 49 in LMICs). Respondents from 35 (92.1%) HICs and 14 (28.6%) LMICs reported that their centers performed >50 EVTs annually. Respondents from both HICs and LMICs reported low rates of anesthesiologist involvement in pre-EVT care, though a communication system was in place in 100% of HIC centers and 85.7% of LMIC centers to inform anesthesiologists about potential EVTs. Respondents from 71.1% of HIC centers and 51% of LMIC centers reported following a published guideline during EVT management, though the use of cognitive aids was low in both (28.9% and 24.5% in HICs and LMICs, respectively). Variability in multiple areas of practice, including choice of anesthetic techniques, monitoring and management of physiological variables during EVT, and monitoring during intrahospital transport, were reported. Quality metrics were rarely tracked or reported to the anesthesiology teams.Conclusions:This study demonstrated variability in anesthesiology involvement and in clinical care during and after EVT. Centers may consider routinely involving anesthesiologists in pre-EVT care, using evidence-based recommendations for EVT management, and tracking adherence to published guidelines and other quality metrics.
Molecular and therapeutic landscape of ferroptosis in skin diseases
Authors: Le Jiayuan , Meng Yu , Wang Ying , Li Daishi , Zeng Furong , Xiong Yixiao , Chen Xiang , Deng Guangtong 
Published: July 2024

AbstractRegulated cell death (RCD) is a critical physiological process essential in maintaining skin homeostasis. Among the various forms of RCD, ferroptosis stands out due to its distinct features of iron accumulation, lipid peroxidation, and involvement of various inhibitory antioxidant systems. In recent years, an expanding body of research has solidly linked ferroptosis to the emergence of skin disorders. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying ferroptosis in skin diseases is crucial for advancing therapy and prevention strategies. This review commences with a succinct elucidation of the mechanisms that underpin ferroptosis, embarks on a thorough exploration of ferroptosis’s role across a spectrum of skin conditions, encompassing melanoma, psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), vitiligo, and dermatological ailments precipitated by ultraviolet (UV) exposure, and scrutinizes the potential therapeutic benefits of pharmacological interventions aimed at modulating ferroptosis for the amelioration of skin diseases.
Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B4 (LILRB4) in acute myeloid leukemia: From prognostic biomarker to immunotherapeutic target
Authors: Li Muzi , Zhao Xiangyu 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor (LILR) B4 (also known as ILT3/CD85k) is an immune checkpoint protein that is highly expressed in solid tumors and hematological malignancies and plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of cancer. LILRB4 is highly expressed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and this phenotype is associated with adverse patient outcomes. Its differential expression in tumors compared to normal tissues, its presence in tumor stem cells, and its multifaceted roles in tumorigenesis position it as a promising therapeutic target in AML. Currently, several immunotherapies targeting LILRB4 are undergoing clinical trials. This review summarizes advancements made in the study of LILRB4 in AML, focusing on its structure, ligands, expression, and significance in normal tissues and AML; its protumorigenic effects and mechanisms in AML; and the application of LILRB4-targeted therapies in AML. These insights highlight the potential advantages of LILRB4 as an immunotherapeutic target in the context of AML.
Salbutamol, a Short Acting Beta-2 Agonist, Reduces Risk and Improves Prognosis of Prostate Cancer
Authors: Lehrer Steven , Rheinstein Peter H. 
Published: July 2024

Objectives:
Beta-blockers, a class of drugs commonly used to manage blood pressure, have been the subject of research regarding their relationship to prostate cancer (PC) risk, prognosis, and treatment. Beta-blockers reduce risk and improve the prognosis of PC. Perioperative use of a nonselective beta-blocker improves outcomes after radical prostatectomy. However, a related class of drugs, beta-2 adrenergic agonists, has received little attention in PC.

Methods:
We studied the relationship of the beta-2 adrenergic agonist salbutamol to PC risk and survival. We analyzed Food and Drug Administration MedWatch data to determine whether salbutamol could influence the risk of PC. We used UK Biobank data to assess the effect of salbutamol on PC survival.

Results:
Salbutamol significantly reduces PC risk, proportional reporting ratio, and 95% CI (lower bound; upper bound): 0.131 (0.11; 0.155) and improves prognosis. Mean survival was 7.35 years for subjects not taking salbutamol, and 10.5 years for subjects taking salbutamol (P = 0.041, log-rank test. To adjust for the effect of age, we performed proportional hazards regression, survival time-dependent variable, age, and salbutamol use independent variables. Salbutamol use was significantly related to survival time (P = 0.016) and independent of the significant effect of age (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:
We found a lower proportion of PCs in salbutamol-treated people, but we have not demonstrated that PC risk is reduced (there is no proof of causality). There is no causality relationship between salbutamol and the survival of patients with PC treated with salbutamol versus those not treated with the drug. Yet, there is a trend in favor of salbutamol-treated patient survival. Therefore, salbutamol and other beta-adrenergic agonists might represent a new class of drugs for the treatment of PC.