bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biofilm of Cutibacterium acnes: a target of different active substances
Authors: Ruffier d'Epenoux Louise , Fayoux Erwan , Veziers Joëlle , Dagnelie Marie‐Ange , Khammari Amir , Dréno Brigitte , Corvec Stéphane 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundAcne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis. Cutibacterium acnes plays a crucial role in the acne pathophysiology. Recent works present evidence of C. acnes growing as a biofilm in cutaneous follicles. This development is currently considered one of the leading causes of C. acnes in vivo persistence and resistance to antimicrobials used to treat acne.ObjectiveOur objective was to evaluate the effects of various active compounds (clindamycin, erythromycin, doxycycline, and myrtle extract) on eight distinct, well‐characterized strains of C. acnes following their growth in biofilm mode.Methods/ResultsCutibacterium acnes isolates from phylotypes IA1 and IA2 produce more biofilm than other phylotypes. No antibiotic effect was observed either during the curative test or preventive test. Myrtle extract at 0.01% (w/v) showed significant efficacy on the biofilm for C. acnes strains (curative assays). Furthermore, it appear that myrtle extract and doxycycline together reduce the overall biomass of the biofilm. A significant dose‐dependent effect was observed during the preventive test, greater than the one observed under curative conditions, with an important loss of activity of the myrtle extract observed from 0.001% (w/v) concentration onwards. Transmission electron microscopy showed that bacteria treated with myrtle extract grew biofilms much less frequently than untreated bacteria. Additionally, when the quantity of myrtle extract grew, the overall number of bacteria dropped, indicating an additional antibacterial action.ConclusionThese findings support the hypothesis that the different C. acnes phylotypes have various aptitudes in forming biofilms. They also suggest that myrtle extract is a promising alternative as an anti‐biofilm and antibacterial agent in fighting diseases caused by planktonic and biofilm C. acnes.
High energy storage density achieved in BNT‐based ferroelectric translucent ceramics under low electric fields
Authors: Yang Jian , Guan Pengfei , Zhang Yixiao , Zhu Xiaolong , Wang Haotian , Yang Chang , Zheng Ming 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe development of ceramics with superior energy storage performance and transparency holds the potential to broaden their applications in various fields, including optoelectronics, energy storage devices, and transparent displays. However, designing a material that can achieve high energy density under low electric fields remains a challenge. In this work, (1−x)Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3−xBaZr0.3Ti0.7O3:0.6mol%Er3+ (abbreviated as (1−x)BNT−xBZT:0.6%Er3+) ferroelectric translucent ceramics were prepared by the conventional solid‐state reaction method. The energy storage properties of (1−x)BNT−xBZT:0.6%Er3+ are systematically investigated under low electric fields by modulating the coupling between coexisting phase structures of polar nano regions. Especially, 0.9BNT–0.1BZT:0.6%Er3+ ceramic exhibits an ultra‐high maximum polarization (Pmax = 66.3 µC/cm2), large recoverable energy storage density (Wrec = 2.95 J/cm3), total energy storage density (W = 5.75 J/cm3), and energy storage efficiency (η = 51.3%) under 190 kV/cm. The sample also exhibits excellent thermal stability (30‐150°C) and transmittance (∼28%). This work could facilitate the advancement of energy storage systems that are more efficient and cost‐effective, and also provide opportunities for the design and manufacture of novel devices.
Oxidation of SiC fibers in water vapor
Authors: Christensen Victoria L. , Ericks Andrew R. , Silverstein Ravit , Duan Isaac N. , Zok Frank W. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe current study focuses on the role of composition in the oxidation behavior of three commercial SiC fibers (Hi‐Nicalon Type S (HNS), Tyranno ZMI, and Tyranno SA) in a steam‐containing environment at 1000°C. Oxide scales that form on each of the three fiber types differ in morphology, microstructure, and composition. Differences are attributed to O and C contents, crystallinity, and minor alloying elements. Oxidation kinetics of the HNS fibers follow linear/parabolic (Deal–Grove) predictions over the entire range of exposure times (to 96 h). In the other fibers, deviations from the initial linear/parabolic trend occur when either the scale crystallizes in situ during oxidation (as on the ZMI fibers) or when structural changes internal to the fiber alter the chemical environment at the scale/fiber interface (on the SA fibers). Adaptations of the linear/parabolic oxidation model are used to rationalize the growth kinetics in the latter two cases. Collectively, the data and analyses indicate a two‐fold difference in permeabilities of crystalline and amorphous silica scales. Inferred interface reaction rates further suggest faster oxidation for fibers with greater amounts of amorphous Si–O–C. Moreover, crystalline scales are more prone to cracking, because of their higher viscosity at elevated temperatures and a deleterious phase transformation upon cooling.
The role of neuroestrogens in the estrogen‐induced gonadotropin surge in male monkeys
Authors: Biswas Mohammad S. , Gelman Erica M. , Alexopoulos Daniel J. , Keen Kim L. , Adam Ryan J. , Terasawa Ei 
Published: May 2024

AbstractNeuroestrogens locally synthesized in the brain are known to play a role in sexual behaviors. However, the question of whether neuroestrogens are involved in the regulation of the gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) release is just emerging. Because previous studies in this lab indicate that neuroestradiol is also important for the pulsatile release as well as the surge release of GnRH in female rhesus monkeys, in the present study, we examined whether neuroestradiol plays a role in the estrogen‐induced LH surge in orchidectomized (ORX) male rhesus monkeys. Unlike in rodents, it is known that a high dose of estrogen treatment can result in the LH surge in ORX male rhesus monkeys. Results that the administration of the aromatase inhibitor, letrozole, failed to attenuate the estrogen‐induced LH surge, suggest that unlike in ovariectomized females, neuroestrogens do not play a role in the LH surge experimentally induced by the exogenous estrogen treatment in ORX male monkeys.
Reassessing the association: Evaluation of a polyalanine deletion variant of RUNX2 in non‐syndromic sagittal and metopic craniosynostosis
Authors: Walton Isaac S. , McCann Emma , Weber Astrid , Morton Jenny E. V. , Noons Peter , Wilson Louise C. , Ching Rosanna C. , Cilliers Deirdre , Johnson David , Phipps Julie M. , Shears Deborah J. , Thomas Gregory P. L. , Wall Steven A. , Twigg Stephen R. F. , Wilkie Andrew O. M. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe RUNT‐related transcription factor RUNX2 plays a critical role in osteoblast differentiation, and alterations to gene dosage cause distinct craniofacial anomalies. Uniquely amongst the RUNT‐related family, vertebrate RUNX2 encodes a polyglutamine/polyalanine repeat (Gln23‐Glu‐Ala17 in humans), with the length of the polyalanine component completely conserved in great apes. Surprisingly, a frequent 6‐amino acid deletion polymorphism, p.(Ala84_Ala89)del, occurs in humans (termed 11A allele), and a previous association study (Cuellar et al. Bone 137:115395;2020) reported that the 11A variant was significantly more frequent in non‐syndromic sagittal craniosynostosis (nsSag; allele frequency [AF] = 0.156; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.126–0.189) compared to non‐syndromic metopic craniosynostosis (nsMet; AF = 0.068; 95% CI 0.045–0.098). However, the gnomAD v.2.1.1 control population used by Cuellar et al. did not display Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, hampering interpretation. To re‐examine this association, we genotyped the RUNX2 11A polymorphism in 225 individuals with sporadic nsSag as parent–child trios and 164 singletons with sporadic nsMet, restricting our analysis to individuals of European ancestry. We compared observed allele frequencies to the non‐transmitted alleles in the parent–child trios, and to the genome sequencing data from gnomAD v.4, which display Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Observed AFs (and 95% CI) were 0.076 (0.053–0.104) in nsSag and 0.082 (0.055–0.118) in nsMet, compared with 0.062 (0.042–0.089) in non‐transmitted parental alleles and 0.065 (0.063–0.067) in gnomAD v.4.0.0 non‐Finnish European control genomes. In summary, we observed a non‐significant excess, compared to gnomAD data, of 11A alleles in both nsSag (relative risk 1.18, 95% CI 0.83–1.67) and nsMet (relative risk 1.29, 95% CI 0.87–1.92), but we did not replicate the much higher excess of RUNX2 11A alleles in nsSag previously reported (p = 0.0001).
BounTI (boundary‐preserving threshold iteration): A user‐friendly tool for automatic hard tissue segmentation
Authors: Didziokas Marius , Pauws Erwin , Kölby Lars , Khonsari Roman H. , Moazen Mehran 
Published: May 2024

AbstractX‐ray Computed Tomography (CT) images are widely used in various fields of natural, physical, and biological sciences. 3D reconstruction of the images involves segmentation of the structures of interest. Manual segmentation has been widely used in the field of biological sciences for complex structures composed of several sub‐parts and can be a time‐consuming process. Many tools have been developed to automate the segmentation process, all with various limitations and advantages, however, multipart segmentation remains a largely manual process. The aim of this study was to develop an open‐access and user‐friendly tool for the automatic segmentation of calcified tissues, specifically focusing on craniofacial bones. Here we describe BounTI, a novel segmentation algorithm which preserves boundaries between separate segments through iterative thresholding. This study outlines the working principles behind this algorithm, investigates the effect of several input parameters on its outcome, and then tests its versatility on CT images of the craniofacial system from different species (e.g. a snake, a lizard, an amphibian, a mouse and a human skull) with various scan qualities. The case studies demonstrate that this algorithm can be effectively used to segment the craniofacial system of a range of species automatically. High‐resolution microCT images resulted in more accurate boundary‐preserved segmentation, nonetheless significantly lower‐quality clinical images could still be segmented using the proposed algorithm. Methods for manual intervention are included in this tool when the scan quality is insufficient to achieve the desired segmentation results. While the focus here was on the craniofacial system, BounTI can be used to automatically segment any hard tissue. The tool presented here is available as an Avizo/Amira add‐on, a stand‐alone Windows executable, and a Python library. We believe this accessible and user‐friendly segmentation tool can benefit the wider anatomical community.
Shaping the Professionality of Secondary Teacher Candidates with Diverse Backgrounds during the Great Depression
Authors: Garai Imre 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis paper addresses the social transformation of the Hungarian secondary teacher candidates brought about by the combination of the effects of the Great Depression and the standardisation endeavours of the teacher training institution between 1930 and 1935. The reconfiguration of the social composition of candidates is revealed by making use of archival sources and statistical reports. Document analysis of archival sources, descriptive statistical analysis and secondary literature review are employed as the main methods. Notions related to the critical approach of professionalisation theories are applied in the interpretation process. Results suggest that the professional institution did not only prevent less affluent social strata from dropping out of training but contributed to their disappearance by introducing standardisation initiatives when the crisis was imminent. It contributed to the worsening of the teacher shortage and the abandonment of uniformization that set the whole profession on a deprofessionalisation course.
Metaphysics and Theology: A Summa “For” the Gentiles
Authors: Falque Emmanuel 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThomas Aquinas did not simply write a Summa “against” the Gentiles (contra Gentiles), but rather first and foremost a Summa “for” the Gentiles (pro Gentilibus). As the sole recourse for Muslims and pagans for whom there was no Scripture in common, natural reason is not only a vertical site for access to God; it designates the horizontal topos for a human community capable of gathering us together. Yesterday's “reason” (Thomas Aquinas) plays the role of “finitude” today (Heidegger) – to know what forms us “in common.” Such is the unique perspective of an apologetics that no longer holds itself up with a kind of “looming transcendence” (Merleau‐Ponty), as if the absolute were immediately given. We will cease opposing metaphysics and theology with a discourse that is supposedly pure yet wrongly sought. The lesson of the Council of Nicaea (325 CE) guides us to transform tradition rather than overcome it. The Council's “that is” regarding the same substance (homooúsion) of the Father translates the biblical into the Hellenic, rather than endeavoring to depart from the Hellenic as such. In this respect, the famous “that which everyone calls God” (et omnes dicunt Deum) at the end of each of Aquinas’ Five Ways indicates less the idol of a conceptual God to be overcome, and instead signals the icon of a rational God, who in its kenosis takes up our proper nature in order to transform it. From a theo‐logy where “only God speaks well of God” (subjective genitive), we shall pass over to a theo‐logy where “humans can also speak of God, at least in part” (objective genitive). A new connection between metaphysics and theology is established here, one capable of initiating a different relation between the believer and the world.
Suitability of multifunction devices Myah and Myopia Master for monitoring myopia progression in children and adults
Authors: Chow Amy H. Y. , Mungalsingh Melanie A. , Thai Danny , Selimos Zoe , Yan Sarah Kathryn , Xu Hellen , Jones Deborah A. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractPurposeTo assess the feasibility of using multifunction instruments to measure axial length for monitoring myopia progression in children and adults.MethodsAxial length was measured in 60 children (aged 6–18 years) and 60 adults (aged 19–50 years) with multifunction instruments (Myah and Myopia Master) and stand‐alone biometers (Lenstar LS900 and IOLMaster 700). Repeatability (measurements by the same examiner) and reproducibility (measurements by different examiners) were computed as the within‐subject standard deviation (Sw) and 95% limits of agreement (LoA). Inter‐instrument agreement was computed as intraclass correlation coefficients. The threshold for detecting myopic progression was taken as 0.1 mm. Measures were repeated only in children following the administration of 1% tropicamide to determine the impact of cycloplegia on axial length.ResultsOverall, the IOLMaster 700 had the best repeatability in children (0.014 mm) and adults (0.009 mm). Repeatability Sw values for all devices ranged from 0.005 to 0.021 mm (children) and 0.003 to 0.016 mm (adults). In children, reproducibility fell within 0.1 mm 95% of the time for the Myah, Myopia Master and IOLMaster 700. Agreement among all devices was classified as excellent (ICC 0.999; 95% CI 0.998–0.999), but the 95% LoA among the Myah, Myopia Master and Lenstar LS900 was ≥0.1 mm. Cycloplegia had no statistically significant effect on axial length (all p > 0.13).ConclusionsThe Myah and Myopia Master multifunction instruments demonstrated good repeatability and reproducibility, and their accuracy was comparable to stand‐alone biometers. Axial length measurements using different instruments can be considered interchangeable but should be compared with some caution. Accurate axial length measurements can be obtained without cycloplegia. The multifunction instruments Myah and Myopia Master are as well suited for monitoring myopia progression in children as the stand‐alone biometers IOLMaster 700 and Lenstar LS900.
Monopoly pricing with unknown demand
Authors: Weber Thomas A. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe optimal pricing of goods, especially when they are new and the innovating firm is a monopolist, must proceed without precise knowledge of the demand curve. This paper provides a pricing method with a relative robustness guarantee by maximizing a performance index which amounts to a worst‐case ratio of the obtained payoff to the best possible payoff. Assuming monotonicity and complementarity of demand in price and the unknown demand parameter, the performance index is fully determined by its behavior at the boundary of the parameter space. This allows for an efficient computation of an optimal robust price. In the linear case, which can also be used for nonlinear demand with bounded slope, the method provides a simple closed‐form solution. A comparison with the standard worst‐case payoff criterion reveals substantial improvements in both absolute and relative performance, at only a small cost relative to the maximized expected profit.
The making and unmaking of opportunity: educational mobility in 20th‐century Denmark
Authors: Karlson Kristian B. , Landersø Rasmus 
Published: May 2024

AbstractWe examine trends in intergenerational educational mobility throughout the 20th century in Denmark. We demonstrate that major reforms in compulsory schooling substantially increased not only the levels of education but also intergenerational mobility in education for children born in the 1940s through to the 1960s. However, even as college education has expanded significantly for children born in the 1970s and 1980s, educational mobility has been declining. We empirically test different mechanisms that could account for this decline in educational mobility.
Privatisation and government spending efficiency: An empirical analysis in Europe
Authors: Cuadrado‐Ballesteros Beatriz , Peña‐Miguel Noemí 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAcademic literature has made an effort to demonstrate the positive effects of privatisation reforms on government performance and economic growth. However, there is no sufficient evidence to support the benefits of privatisation in terms of government spending efficiency. This study analyses the correlation between privatisation and government spending efficiency. Our empirical results do not support a positive effect of privatisation on government spending efficiency. These findings are relevant because they suggest that, although privatisation has been usually seen as a tool to balance public finances, it does not mean that government spending efficiency will be higher after privatising State‐owned enterprises.
Overuse injury and affects in competitive sport: A prospective longitudinal study
Authors: Martin Simon , Edouard Pascal , Sanchez Xavier , Ivarsson Andreas 
Published: May 2024

AbstractOveruse injuries, which have a high prevalence in sport, are suggested to result in different affective responses in comparison to traumatic injuries. Affects may also reciprocally act as risk factors for overuse injury. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between overuse injury and affects within a longitudinal follow‐up design. Competitive athletes (N = 149) of various sports and levels of competition completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Overuse injury questionnaire (OSTRC‐O) once a week over 10 consecutive weeks. Bivariate unconditional latent curve model analyses with structured residuals were performed to evaluate the associations within and across weeks between OSTRC‐O severity score and affects. Results indicated that OSTRC‐O severity score and positive affects (PA) had a statistically significant negative within‐week relation (r = −24.51, 95% CI = [−33.9, −15.1], p < 0.001). Higher scores of overuse injury were significantly related to lower levels of PA across weeks (ß = −0.02, 95% CI = [−0.04, −0.001], p = 0.044), while the reciprocal effect of PA on overuse injury was not significant (ß = −0.13, 95% CI = [−0.52, 0.26], p = 0.51). No statistically significant association was observed between OSTRC‐O severity score and negative affects, neither within nor across weeks. Our findings suggest that overuse injury may have adverse psychological consequences on the long run through lessened PA and address the need for providing sustainable psychological support focusing upon such PA when working with athletes experiencing overuse injury.
Limitations of provenance diagnoses and maximum‐depositional‐age constraints based on detrital‐zircon geochronology: the fertility bias
Authors: Wei Xiaochun , Chen Hanlin , Garzanti Eduardo , Webb A. Alexander G. , McKenzie N. Ryan , Wang Ping 
Published: May 2024

AbstractDetrital zircon U–Pb geochronology (DZG) is widely used in the provenance analysis and calculating maximum depositional ages (MDAs) of strata. To assess the geologic limitations of this approach, we conducted DZG coupled with bulk‐petrology and heavy‐mineral analyses of Miocene volcaniclastic and non‐volcanic siliciclastic sandstones from the SW Tarim Basin. Although these two sandstone types display greatly different bulk‐petrography and heavy‐mineral signatures, they exhibit similar detrital‐zircon‐age spectra, and thus represent a less common case in which interpretations based on DZG alone may misalign with bulk‐sediment provenance. Most zircon‐based MDAs of volcaniclastic sandstones range from 12.3 to 14.8 Ma, deviating from their ca. 11 Ma true depositional age constrained previously. The similarity of zircon‐age spectra in volcaniclastic and siliciclastic sandstones and the 1–4 M.y. error of the zircon‐based MDAs is ascribed to the low zircon fertility of coeval alkaline magmatic sources. This study emphasizes the importance of an integrated approach to provenance analysis and chronostratigraphy.
A combined lipidomic and proteomic profiling of Arabidopsis thaliana plasma membrane
Authors: Bahammou Delphine , Recorbet Ghislaine , Mamode Cassim Adiilah , Robert Franck , Balliau Thierry , Van Delft Pierre , Haddad Youcef , Mongrand Sébastien , Fouillen Laetitia , Simon‐Plas Françoise 
Published: May 2024

SUMMARYThe plant plasma membrane (PM) plays a key role in perception of environmental signals, and set‐up of adaptive responses. An exhaustive and quantitative description of the whole set of lipids and proteins constituting the PM is necessary to understand how these components allow to fulfill such essential physiological functions. Here we provide by state‐of‐the‐art approaches the first combined reference of the plant PM lipidome and proteome from Arabidopsis thaliana suspension cell culture. We identified and quantified a reproducible core set of 2165 proteins, which is by far the largest set of available data concerning this plant PM proteome. Using the same samples, combined lipidomic approaches, allowing the identification and quantification of an unprecedented repertoire of 414 molecular species of lipids showed that sterols, phospholipids, and sphingolipids are present in similar proportions in the plant PM. Within each lipid class, the precise amount of each lipid family and the relative proportion of each molecular species were further determined, allowing to establish the complete lipidome of Arabidopsis PM, and highlighting specific characteristics of the different molecular species of lipids. Results obtained point to a finely tuned adjustment of the molecular characteristics of lipids and proteins. More than a hundred proteins related to lipid metabolism, transport, or signaling have been identified and put in perspective of the lipids with which they are associated. This set of data represents an innovative resource to guide further research relative to the organization and functions of the plant PM.