bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Treatment with Alcaligenes faecalis A12C Improves Host Resistance to Pathogens in Septic Rats: Possible Contribution of Curdlan-Like Immune Trainer
Authors: Martel-Benítez C. J. , Alayón-Afonso R. , Castillo D. Padilla , Chamizo-López F. J. , García-Laorden M. Isabel , de los Monteros y Zayas A. Espinosa , Rivero-Vera J. C. , Salgueiro P. Nogueira , Real F. , Bordes-Benítez A. , Quintana A. Martel , Peña C. Almeida , Cabrera C. Domínguez , González-Martín J. M. , Caballero J. Martín , Beneyto R. Frías , Villar Jesús , Martín-Barrasa J. L. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractCurdlan, a β-1,3/1,6-glucan found in Alcaligenes faecalis (A. faecalis) wall, activates innate and humoral immunity. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether pretreated rats with A. faecalis A12C could prevent sepsis disturbances and identify the immunomodulatory mechanisms involved. Experiments occurred in two stages: a survival study with 16 rats randomly divided into septic (SC) (n = 8) and septic pretreated (SA) (n = 8) groups and 45 rats divided into four groups: healthy (AGUSAN) (n = 9), septic (AGUIC) (n = 13), septic pretreated (AGUIA) (n = 14), and healthy pretreated (AGUSTO) (n = 9). Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture after 30 days of A. faecalis A12C pretreatment or without. SA group had a higher survival rate of 58% vs. 16% for SC group (P < 0.05). Overall, AGUIA showed better status than AGUIC (P < 0.01). Higher monocytosis was found in AGUIA and AGUSTO vs. AGUIC and AGUSAN, respectively (P < 0.05). A gradual increase in curdlan fecal concentration was observed in AGUIA during pretreatment. Fecal concentrations of Escherichia coli significantly decreased in AGUIA and AGUSTO. Bacterial load in urine, peritoneal lavage fluid (PLF), and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) decreased (P < 0.05) in AGUIA vs. AGUIC. Finally, lower inflammation was observed in serum, BALF, and PLF, with reduced IL-6, IL-10, IL-1β, and TNF-α, along with less damage in lungs and peritoneum in AGUIA vs. AGUIC. These findings suggest the connection between curdlan—produced by A. faecalis A12C—with the immune system and the reduction in severity of experimental sepsis.
Words and Roots – Polysemy and Allosemy – Communication and Language
Authors: Carston Robyn 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Most substantive (content-bearing) words are polysemous, but polysemy is cross-categorial; for instance, the lexical forms ‘stone’ and ‘front’ are associated with families of interrelated senses and these senses are spread across their manifestations as three words, noun, verb and adjective. So, the ultimate unit underpinning polysemy is not a word but the categoryless root of the related words, which must, in some sense, track the interrelated families of senses. The main topic of this paper is the vexed question of the meaning of roots and the backdrop is a view of words as delineated syntactic domains which allow assignment of atomic content (non-compositional meaning), and whose actual meanings are, in the first instance, pragmatically inferred in the throes of communication, some of them subsequently becoming established, so stored in a lexicon and directly retrieved in comprehension. Three different positions on the meanings of roots are outlined, and their merits and shortcomings are discussed: (a) inherent underspecified meanings; (b) meanings conditioned by grammatical context (allosemy); (c) meaninglessness. I argue that, overall, the current state of the evidence favours the third position: roots are categoryless, meaningless (perhaps phonological) indices.
Improving Decision Support Tools for Quantifying GHG Emissions from Organic Production Systems
Authors: Schipanski Meagan E. , McClelland Shelby C. , Hughes Helen M. , Jabbour Randa , Malin Daniella , Hillier Jonathan , Paustian Keith , Reaves Elizabeth 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAs food companies have adopted sustainability metrics to quantify the environmental impacts of supply chains, we need data-driven decision support tools that represent organic management practices. Decision support tools such as COMET-Farm and the Cool Farm Tool have been developed to estimate management practice impacts on soil carbon and greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural systems, but these tools have primarily been developed and used to evaluate conventional management systems. We provide an overview of the research, outreach, and educational activities used to improve these tools to better integrate organic management practices with a focus on cover crops. We summarize our previously published findings from a meta-analysis of the average potential soil carbon benefits of cover crops in temperate climates that identified planting window, biomass production, and soil texture as important predictors of cover crop soil carbon outcomes. We demonstrate how these findings were applied to improvements in process-based models and the parameterization of empirical models. In addition, we solicited feedback from organic community members on the utility of these tools and identified barriers to adoption. Finally, we evaluated both tools as resources for teaching undergraduate students about organic management systems and their impacts on greenhouse gas emissions. While both tools contain a range of customizable, organic amendment options, grazing management options still need further improvement. These improved decision support systems can help identify opportunities for enhancing the sustainability of organic systems.
Comprehensible Extraction of Knowledge Bases for Learning Agents in Games
Authors: Apeldoorn Daan 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis dissertation abstract summarizes results of the thesis “Comprehensible Knowledge Base Extraction for Learning Agents - Practical Challenges and Applications in Games” (accepted as dissertation at the Department of Computer Science of TU Dortmund University, Germany). The thesis presents approaches that allow for the automated creation of knowledge bases from agent behavior learned in the context of games. The aims are twofold: (1) The creation of human-readable knowledge that can provide insights into what an agent learned, and (2) the investigation of how learning agents themselves can benefit from incorporating these approaches into their learning processes. Applications are presented, e.g., in the context of general video game playing. Moreover, an outlook on the InteKRator toolbox is provided which implements the most essential approaches in a more general context for the potential use in other domains (e.g. in medical informatics).
A Predictive Machine Learning-Based Analysis for In-Tube Co-current Steam Condensation Heat Transfer in the Presence of Non-condensable Gases
Authors: Albdour Samah A. , Addad Yacine , Afgan Imran 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe primary objective of this study is to develop a predictive model that accurately estimates the condensation heat transfer coefficient (HTC) in the context of in-tube co-current flow condensation, with specific consideration given to the influence of non-condensable gases (NCGs). The need to find useful models and/or correlations that can accurately predict how well a passive condenser in the Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor will transfer heat during condensation is greatly warranted. This innovative cooling system utilizes gravity to condense water vapor, effectively dissipating heat from the containment vessel in the event of an accident and transferring the heat into the secondary cooling system. For the development of the forecasting model, we employed Multi-Gens Genetic Programming implemented in MATLAB. This approach possesses the capability of enabling visualization and articulating a transparent mathematical expression that directly establishes the connection between inputs and outputs. This model was specifically developed for forecasting the HTC during the condensation process, considering two distinct types of NCG: air, helium, and a mixture of air and helium, in addition to data for pure steam. The model was trained using a dataset comprising 2913 data points gathered from five experimental references. The model's input comprises a varied range of parameters, including local location ($$z$$
z
), temperature of the steam/NCG mixture ($${T}_{mix}$$

T

mix

), condenser wall temperature ($${T}_{wall}$$

T

wall

), coolant flow rate ($$\beta_{c}$$

β
c

), total pressure ($${P}_{tot}$$

P

tot

), condenser inner diameter ($${D}_{1}$$

D
1

), condenser outer diameter ($${D}_{2}$$

D
2

), molecular weight (MM), NCG mass fraction ($${w}_{NCG}$$

w

NCG

), and mixture Reynolds number ($${Re}_{mix}$$

Re

mix

). The output of our model corresponds to the condensation HTC ($$h$$
h
). Four specific correlations were examined with the third correlation attaining the highest anticipated values within a deviation range of ± 30, reaching 90.9%, exhibiting good performance in terms of both performance index and coefficient of determination. This correlation was validated, and its accuracy assessed by employing an unused training dataset that included nitrogen as a NCG. The outcomes showed that 92.94% of the predicted data fell within a deviation range of ± 30%. The findings of this study signify a notable advancement in the analysis of datasets obtained from experiments. Particularly, it delves into the impact of NCGs by considering their molecular weight and mass fraction.
Valorisation of bread wastes via the bacterial cellulose production
Authors: Güzel Melih 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
The short shelf life of bread can be attributed to changes in its textural and sensory properties, a process termed staling, and large amounts of bread residue and waste are generated daily. Because the main component of bread is starch, the use of bread wastes as a substrate for bacterial cellulose (BC) production can significantly contribute to valorisation and reuse of wastes. This study aimed to investigate the BC production potential of various stale breads, convert these wastes into usable forms for food and other industries, and increase their economic value. Stale breads were hydrolyzed with dilute acid, and BC-producing bacteria from Kombucha tea were isolated and identified as Gluconobacter oxydans MG2021 (GO). BCs were produced from bread hydrolysates with GO and Komagataeibacter hansenii GA2016 (KH), and their properties were examined. The results indicated that stale breads represented a good source for BC production, as high BC yields were obtained using GO (8.81%–25.02%) and all BCs had superior properties such as high crystallinity (75.96%–91.39%), thermal stability, liquid holding capacity, and fine fibers (40.16–85.39 nm). This study demonstrated that bread wastes could be used as a low-cost substrate for large-scale BC production, and the abundance of bread wastes demonstrated their potential as a resource for commercial BC producers.
Targeting Dectin-1 and or VISTA enhances anti-tumor immunity in melanoma but not colorectal cancer model
Authors: Mashhouri Siavash , Rahmati Amirhossein , Azimi Ako , Fava Roy A. , Ismail Ismail Hassan , Walker John , Elahi Shokrollah 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Acquired resistance to immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) is a major barrier in cancer treatment, emphasizing the need for innovative strategies. Dectin-1 (gene Clec7a) is a C-type lectin receptor best known for its ability to recognize β-glucan-rich structures in fungal cell walls. While Dectin-1 is expressed in myeloid cells and tumor cells, its significance in cancer remains the subject of controversy.

Methods
Using Celc7a-/- mice and curdlan administration to stimulate Dectin-1 signaling, we explored its impact. VISTA KO mice were employed to assess VISTA’s role, and bulk RNAseq analyzed curdlan effects on neutrophils.

Results
Our findings reveal myeloid cells as primary Dectin-1 expressing cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), displaying an activated phenotype. Strong Dectin-1 co-expression/co-localization with VISTA and PD-L1 in TME myeloid cells was observed. While Dectin-1 deletion lacked protective effects, curdlan stimulation significantly curtailed B16-F10 tumor progression. RNAseq and pathway analyses supported curdlan’s role in triggering a cascade of events leading to increased production of pro-inflammatory mediators, potentially resulting in the recruitment and activation of immune cells. Moreover, we identified a heterogeneous subset of Dectin-1+ effector T cells in the TME. Similar to mice, human myeloid cells are the prominent cells expressing Dectin-1 in cancer patients.

Conclusion
Our study proposes Dectin-1 as a potential adjunctive target with ICBs, orchestrating a comprehensive engagement of innate and adaptive immune responses in melanoma. This innovative approach holds promise for overcoming acquired resistance to ICBs in cancer treatment, offering avenues for further exploration and development.
Renin-angiotensin system inhibitor use and risk of Parkinson’s disease: a meta-analysis
Authors: Xu Tian-xiang , Jiang Hai-yin , Yang Zeng-yan 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Background
Hypertension is a recognized risk factor for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors are widely used to treat hypertension. However, the association of RAS inhibitor use with PD has still been an area of controversy.

Methods
Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between RAS inhibitor use and PD. PUBMED and EMBASE databases were searched for articles published up to Oct 2023. All studies that examined the relationship between RAS inhibitor use and the incidence of PD were included.

Results
Seven studies with total 3,495,218 individuals met our inclusion criteria for this meta-analysis. Overall, RAS inhibitor use was associated with a reduction in PD risk (OR = 0.88, 95%CI = 0.79–0.98) compared with the controls. When restricted the analysis to individuals with RAS inhibitor use indication, RAS inhibitor exposure was also associated with a decreased risk of PD (OR = 0.76, 95%CI = 0.62–0.92). Pooled results of cohort studies also did support a protective role of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) (OR = 0.97, 95%CI = 0.89–1.07) users and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) (OR = 0.8, 95%CI = 0.63–1.02) in PD.

Conclusion
Overall, RAS inhibitor use as a class is associated with a reduction in PD risk. However, the findings of ACEIs and ARBs may be limited by small sample size. Future well-designed studies considering the classification by inhibitor type, duration, dose, or property of BBB penetration of RAS inhibitors are needed to clarify the contribution of these exposure parameters on the risk of PD.
A “watered-down” solution? Deconstructing the ecosystem approach in Swedish policy affecting fisheries management
Authors: Bennett Juliana 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis study seeks to deconstruct an ecosystem approach in Swedish national policy pertaining to fisheries management, not least because fisheries are integral to the global agenda of improved marine environmental status. The ’ecosystem approach’ is identified across European Union (EU) policy as the pathway for sustainable management of natural resources, due to its ambition to balance a diversity of interests and account for social and ecological interdependencies within and across ecosystems. Yet an ambiguous and inconsistent representation of the ecosystem approach in policy makes it difficult to implement. In EU policy and many other contexts, the ecosystem approach is largely uncontested as the solution for sustainably managing resources yet can lead to unintended material consequences based on how it is implemented. It therefore becomes pertinent to critically analyze what the ‘ecosystem approach’ solution is represented to be across policy calling for its implementation. Using a poststructuralist approach to analyze three of Sweden’s national policy documents pertaining to fisheries, my study finds that the ecosystem approach in these policy documents is ‘watered-down’ in terms of its use as a solution for making fisheries management more sustainable. At a minimum, implementing an ecosystem approach in fisheries requires a consistent definition of what this entails. Yet differences between the documents in terms of whether they assume a systemic approach that accounts for intersectoral impacts, and the extent to which they prioritize industry, people, or nature, makes the implementation of an ecosystem approach in Swedish fisheries management improbable. Should policy pertaining to fisheries in Sweden wish to manage ecosystems sustainably, I suggest it needs to better account for land-sea interactions to incorporate the social and ecological impacts of the fishing sector more strategically.
Association of serotonin receptor gene polymorphisms with anorexia nervosa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Bevilacqua Arturo , Santini Francesca , La Porta Daniela , Cimino Silvia 
Published: April 2024

AbstractPurposeSeveral studies have investigated the association between anorexia nervosa and polymorphisms of genes regulating serotonin neurotransmission, with a focus on the rs6311 polymorphism of5-HTR2A. However, inconsistent results of these studies and conflicting conclusions of existing meta-analyses complicate the understanding of a possible association. We have updated these results and evaluated the involvement of other serotonin receptor gene polymorphisms in anorexia nervosa.MethodsAdhering to PRISMA guidelines, we have searched studies on anorexia nervosa and serotonin-regulating genes published from 1997 to 2022, selected those concerning receptor genes and meta-analyzed the results from twenty candidate gene studies on the5-HTR2Ars6311 polymorphism and the5-HTR2Crs6318 polymorphism.ResultsPresent analyses reveal an association for the5-HTR2Ars6311 polymorphism, with G and A alleles, across eighteen studies (2049 patients, 2877 controls; A vs. G allele, Odds Ratio = 1.24; 95% Confidence Interval = 1.06–1.47; p = 0.009). However, after geographic subgrouping, an association emerged only in a Southern European area, involving five studies (722 patients, 773 controls; A vs. G allele, Odds Ratio = 1.82; 95% Confidence Interval = 1.41–2.37; p < 0.00001). No association was observed for the5-HTR2Crs6318 polymorphism across three studies.ConclusionsTo date, the involvement in the pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa of the5-HTR2Ars6311 polymorphism appears limited to a specific genetic and/or environmental context, while that of the5-HTR2Crs6318 polymorphism seems excluded. Genome-wide association studies and epigenetic studies will likely offer deeper insights of genetic and environmental factors possibly contributing to the disorder.Level of evidenceIII Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case–control analytic studies.Clinical trial registrationPROSPERO registration number: CRD42021246122.
Assessing the Psychometric Properties of the Functional Analytic Psychotherapy Intimacy Scale (FAPIS) in a Spanish-Speaking Population
Authors: Muñoz-Martínez Amanda M. , Márquez-Barraquer Verónica , Jiménez-Leal William , Carmona-Díaz Gino M. , Acuña-Rojas Diana 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIntimacy is an interpersonal repertoire related to physical and behavioral health indicators. Functional analytic psychotherapy (FAP) is a behavioral intervention that has demonstrated utility in improving intimacy repertoires, particularly in experimental single-case designs. The FAP Intimacy Scale (FAPIS) was developed with the aim of using a theoretically sound measure to evaluate FAP effects on a large scale. This study sought to culturally adapt and validate the FAPIS for Spanish-speaking populations. A total sample of 509 Spanish-speaking participants completed the survey. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to examine FAPIS psychometric properties. A network analysis was also performed to assess the relation among scale factors. As expected, the FAPIS Spanish version demonstrated a good fit, meeting the same three-factor structure as the original version. Network loading along three factors was also found, and item 3 was identified as the most central item in the scale. Low and negative correlations among FAPIS, experiential avoidance, emotional sensitivity, and social impact were found. Findings showed that FAPIS is a valid and reliable measure for assessing intimacy in Spanish-speaking populations.
12.6 μm-Thick Asymmetric Composite Electrolyte with Superior Interfacial Stability for Solid-State Lithium-Metal Batteries
Authors: Zhang Zheng , Gou Jingren , Cui Kaixuan , Zhang Xin , Yao Yujian , Wang Suqing , Wang Haihui 
Published: April 2024

AbstractSolid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs) show great promise in terms of high-energy–density and high-safety performance. However, there is an urgent need to address the compatibility of electrolytes with high-voltage cathodes/Li anodes, and to minimize the electrolyte thickness to achieve high-energy–density of SSLMBs. Herein, we develop an ultrathin (12.6 µm) asymmetric composite solid-state electrolyte with ultralight areal density (1.69 mg cm−2) for SSLMBs. The electrolyte combining a garnet (LLZO) layer and a metal organic framework (MOF) layer, which are fabricated on both sides of the polyethylene (PE) separator separately by tape casting. The PE separator endows the electrolyte with flexibility and excellent mechanical properties. The LLZO layer on the cathode side ensures high chemical stability at high voltage. The MOF layer on the anode side achieves a stable electric field and uniform Li flux, thus promoting uniform Li+ deposition. Thanks to the well-designed structure, the Li symmetric battery exhibits an ultralong cycle life (5000 h), and high-voltage SSLMBs achieve stable cycle performance. The assembled pouch cells provided a gravimetric/volume energy density of 344.0 Wh kg−1/773.1 Wh L−1. This simple operation allows for large-scale preparation, and the design concept of ultrathin asymmetric structure also reveals the future development direction of SSLMBs.
Metal-Halide Perovskite Submicrometer-Thick Films for Ultra-Stable Self-Powered Direct X-Ray Detectors
Authors: Girolami Marco , Matteocci Fabio , Pettinato Sara , Serpente Valerio , Bolli Eleonora , Paci Barbara , Generosi Amanda , Salvatori Stefano , Di Carlo Aldo , Trucchi Daniele M. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractMetal-halide perovskites are revolutionizing the world of X-ray detectors, due to the development of sensitive, fast, and cost-effective devices. Self-powered operation, ensuring portability and low power consumption, has also been recently demonstrated in both bulk materials and thin films. However, the signal stability and repeatability under continuous X-ray exposure has only been tested up to a few hours, often reporting degradation of the detection performance. Here it is shown that self-powered direct X-ray detectors, fabricated starting from a FAPbBr3 submicrometer-thick film deposition onto a mesoporous TiO2 scaffold, can withstand a 26-day uninterrupted X-ray exposure with negligible signal loss, demonstrating ultra-high operational stability and excellent repeatability. No structural modification is observed after irradiation with a total ionizing dose of almost 200 Gy, revealing an unexpectedly high radiation hardness for a metal-halide perovskite thin film. In addition, trap-assisted photoconductive gain enabled the device to achieve a record bulk sensitivity of 7.28 C Gy−1 cm−3 at 0 V, an unprecedented value in the field of thin-film-based photoconductors and photodiodes for “hard” X-rays. Finally, prototypal validation under the X-ray beam produced by a medical linear accelerator for cancer treatment is also introduced.