bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impacts of changes to Canada's Plant Breeders' Rights Act
Authors: Smyth Stuart J. , Phillips Peter W. B. , Macall Diego M. , Castle David 
Published: May 2024

AbstractOn February 27, 2015, as part of the Agricultural Growth Act, amendments to the Canada's Plant Breeders' Rights (PBRs) Act came into force, making Canada compliant with Union for the Protection of the New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) 91. One objective of adopting UPOV 91 was that it would encourage increased investment in plant breeding, giving Canadian farmers greater access to new and innovative plant varieties that enable them to be more globally competitive. To assess whether the adoption of UPOV 91 impacted crop variety investments, a survey of Canadian public and private plant breeders was undertaken in 2021–2022. Results indicate that the length of research grants play a significant role in plant breeders' perspectives. Previous research indicated that the adoption of UPOV 91 provided minimal incentives to increase investments. Results of this survey indicate that 52% of respondents, either agree or strongly agree, that the amendments to the PBR Act have provided an incentive to increase plant breeding investments.
Shared xerophytic genes and their re‐use in local adaptation to aridity in the desert plant Gymnocarpos przewalskii
Authors: Fu Ruirui , Zhu Yuxiang , Liu Ying , Yang Zhaoping , Lu Ruisen , Qiu Yingxiong , Lascoux Martin , Li Pan , Chen Jun 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIn order to thrive and survive, plant species need to combine stability in the long term and rapid response to environmental challenges in the short term. The former would be reflected by parallel or convergent adaptation across species, and the latter by pronounced local adaptation among populations of the same species. In the present study, we generated a high‐quality genome and re‐sequenced 177 individuals for Gymnocarpos przewalskii, an important desert plant species from North‐West China, to detect local adaptation. We first focus on ancient adaptation to aridity at the molecular level by comparing the genomic data of 15 species that vary in their ability to withstand aridity. We found that a total of 118 genes were shared across xerophytic species but absent from non‐xerophytic species. Of the 65 found in G. przewalskii, 63 were under purifying selection and two under positive selection. We then focused on local adaptation. Up to 20% of the G. przewalskii genome showed signatures of local adaptation to aridity during population divergence. Thirteen of the selected shared xerophytic genes were reused in local adaptation after population differentiation. Hence, only about 20% of the genes shared and specific to xerophytic species and associated with adaptation to aridity were later recruited for local adaptation in G. przewalskii.
The testimony challenge against the possibility of philosophical knowledge
Authors: García Octavio 
Published: May 2024

AbstractWe access most of our most cherished beliefs via testimony. Philosophy is no exception. We treat spoken and written philosophical testimony as evidence for philosophical claims. Nonetheless, this paper argues that philosophical testimony is unable to justify philosophical beliefs. If testimony is the only evidence we have to justify philosophical beliefs, this entails skepticism about philosophy. Call this the testimony challenge. First, the paper argues that philosophical testimony does not meet the conditions under which evidence can justify our beliefs. Second, it shows that philosophical testimony cannot provide preemptive epistemic reasons as science and mathematics do. Finally, it answers the self‐defeat objection and a set of objections aiming to block the thesis that philosophical testimony does not justify philosophical beliefs. The paper aims to rethink the role of philosophical testimony in philosophy and reinforce the skeptical worries raised by methodological and disagreement challenges.
Three‐dimensional video recordings: Accuracy, reliability, clinical and research guidelines – Reliability assessment of a 4D camera
Authors: Coppola Gabriella , Hänggi Dominik , Cassina Gianluca , Verna Carlalberta , Gkantidis Nikolaos , Kanavakis Georgios 
Published: May 2024

AbstractObjectivesIn addition to studying facial anatomy, stereophotogrammetry is an efficient diagnostic tool for assessing facial expressions through 3D video recordings. Current technology produces high‐quality recordings but also generates extremely excessive data. Here, we compare various recording speeds for three standardized movements using the 3dMDface camera system, to assess its accuracy and reliability.Materials and MethodsA linear and two circular movements were performed using a 3D‐printed cube mounted on a robotic arm. All movements were recorded initially at 60 fps (frames/second) and then at 30 and 15 fps. Recording accuracy was tested with best‐fit superimpositions of consecutive frames of the 3D cube and calculation of the Mean Absolute Distance (MAD). The reliability of the recordings were tested with evaluation of the inter‐ and intra‐examiner error.ResultsThe accuracy of movement recordings was excellent at all speeds (60, 30 and 15 fps), with variability in MAD values consistently being less than 1 mm. The reliability of the camera recordings was excellent at all recording speeds.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that 3D recordings of facial expressions can be performed at 30 or even at 15 fps without significant loss of information. This considerably reduces the amount of produced data facilitating further processing and analyses.
Arthroscopic Capsular Release Versus Manipulation under Anesthesia for Refractory Frozen Shoulder: A Systematic Review with Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Zhao Yanmin , Yang Ting , Feng Chenchen , Li Lang , Pang Long , Zhao Shuzhen 
Published: May 2024

ObjectiveFrozen shoulder (FS) is a painful and debilitating condition affecting the shoulder joint. When patients fail to improve after conservative treatments, operative treatments including arthroscopic capsular release (ACR) and manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) are recommended. However, the comparison between these two interventions remains controversial. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of ACR and MUA for refractory FS.MethodsA systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched for eligible studies until December 10, 2023. Meta‐analyses were conducted using Manager V.5.3.3. Pooled effect sizes were expressed as the weighted mean difference (WMD) or odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsA total of eight comparative studies with 768 patients were included. Compared with MUA, ACR had statistically better Δ VAS (WMD, −0.44; 95% CI, −0.71 to −0.18; I2 = 6%; p = 0.001) at over 12‐month follow‐up, which did not reach the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Other outcomes regarding pain relief, function, and range of motion (ROM) improvements were not statistically different between the two groups at different follow‐up timepoints. Compared with the MUA group, the ACR group had a significantly higher rate of severe complications (OR, 4.14; 95% CI, 1.01 to 16.94; I2 = 0%; p = 0.05), but comparable rates of mild complications and additional intervention.ConclusionsIn treating refractory FS, ACR demonstrated comparable pain relief, functional and ROM improvements, rates of mild complications and additional intervention but a higher risk of severe complications to MUA during short‐term follow‐up periods. Notably, ACR exhibited statistically superior improvement in the long‐term pain relief compared to the MUA group, although it did not reach the MCID.
T‐cell receptor diversity and allergen sensitivity in childhood asthma and atopic dermatitis
Authors: Chen Pei‐Ling , Hung Shuen‐Iu , Chung Wen‐Hung , Chen Chun‐Bing , Kuo Chieh‐Ni , Lin Yin‐Ku , Chiu Chih‐Yung 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundChildhood allergies of asthma and atopic dermatitis (AD) involve an overactive T‐cell immune response triggered by allergens. However, the impact of T‐cell receptor (TCR) repertoires on allergen sensitization and their role in mediating different phenotypes of asthma and AD in early childhood remains unclear.MethodsA total of 78 children, comprising 26 with asthma alone, 26 with AD alone, and 26 healthy controls (HC), were enrolled. TCR repertoire profiles were determined using a unique molecular identifier system for next‐generation sequencing. Integrative analyses of their associations with allergen‐specific IgE levels and allergies were performed.ResultsThe diversity in TCR alpha variable region (TRAV) genes of TCR repertoires and complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) clonality in TRAV/TRBV (beta) genes were significantly higher in children with AD compared with those with asthma and HC (p < .05). Compared with HC, the expression of TRAV13‐1 and TRAV4 genes was significantly higher in both asthma and AD (p < .05), with a significant positive correlation with mite‐specific IgE levels (p < .01). In contrast, TRBV7‐9 gene expression was significantly lower in both asthma and AD (p < .01), with this gene showing a significant negative correlation with mite‐specific IgE levels (p < .01). Furthermore, significantly higher TRAV8‐3 gene expression, positively correlated with food‐specific IgE levels, was found in children with AD compared with those with asthma (p < .05).ConclusionIntegrated TCR repertoires analysis provides clinical insights into the diverse TCR genes linked to antigen specificity, offering potential for precision immunotherapy in childhood allergies.
Pediatric anesthesia outreach in low and middle‐income countries: Models, motives, and moral misalignments
Authors: Runnels Sean T. , Nizeyimana Francoise , O’Flaherty Jennifer E. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundA lack of anesthesia and surgical capacity leaves approximately 1.7 billion children per annum without access to surgical and anesthetic care.ReviewOver the past 50 years, the predominant strategy to address this lack of access has been to provide surgical capacity primarily from high‐income countries (HICs) to low and middle‐income countries (LMICs) in the form of short‐term surgical missions. More recently, the international medical community has recognized the need to build sustainable surgical capacity in resource‐constrained settings. This article reviews three models of surgical aid: the vertical model (short‐term surgical missions); the horizontal model (system‐wide capacity building); and the diagonal model, which is a hybrid of the first two. At their core, medical aid interventions exist on a spectrum ranging from providing surgical capacity to building surgical capacity.DiscussionThe skills, attitudes, and behaviors that drive success in providing medical capacity are fundamentally different from those that drive success in building medical capacity. The root cause of this difference is a shift in the moral duty of the visiting physician from a duty solely to the patient in front of them (based on the primacy of the doctor–patient relationship) to include a duty to the local physicians and the local medical system, and by extension to the next 10 000 patients in need of care.ConclusionFailure to address the conflicts engendered by this fundamental moral shift risks undermining capacity‐building efforts in all models of medical aid.
Expression of cytokines at baseline correlate/predict in the disc the outcome of surgery after disc degeneration: A 12‐month follow‐up study
Authors: Aripaka Sanjay S. , Chughtai Sajjad Ahmad , Jørgensen Louise M. , Bech‐Azeddine Rachid , Mikkelsen Jens D. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundLow back pain (LBP) is a highly prevalent condition that comprise a large portion of outpatient practice, challenging the diagnosis and treatment. However, the diagnostic tools are limited to clinical history, physical examination and imaging. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a significant cause of LBP, and emerging literature confirms the elevated levels of biomarkers in the discs. These biomarkers may serve as a tool for diagnosis, but may also be useful in predicting the treatment outcome. Here, we examine the expression of various cytokines on 1‐year recovery from patients with LBP.MethodsPatient‐reported outcome (PRO) in terms of pain intensity (VAS), disability (ODI), and quality of life (Eq‐5D) is collected from 44 patients at baseline and 12 months after surgery to study the influence of baseline TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 mRNA expression in both annulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP).ResultsBetween baseline and follow‐up, our cohort showed improvement in VAS back pain (p < 0.001), VAS leg pain (p < 0.001), ODI (p = 0.02), and Eq‐5D (p = 0.01). Baseline levels of IL‐1 β was positively correlated with VAS back pain scores in AF (p = 0.05) and NP (p = 0.01) at 1‐year follow‐up. TNF‐α expression at baseline was also positively correlated to ODI scores (p = 0.01) at follow‐up and inversely correlated to improvements in ODI score between baseline and follow‐up, suggesting that high TNF‐α expression at baseline is associated with poor outcomes from surgery.ConclusionThe results from our study support that TNF‐α expression at baseline can serve as a very important predictor of treatment response from lumbar fusion surgery.
Bioprospecting of citrus (Citrus L.) germplasms against citrus canker pathogenesis in Assam, North‐East India
Authors: Kausik Snata , Nath Bharat Chandra , Bhattacharyya Pranaba Nanda , Kaman Pranjal Kr , Kashyap Anurag , Saikia Swagata , Chetia Rajashree , Bora Popy , Sarma Bhaskar , Borah Pradip Kumar 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe current investigation assessed the effectiveness of 30 citrus germplasms in combating citrus canker pathogenesis in Assam, North‐East India. Significant differences were observed among the examined citrus germplasms in terms of per cent disease severity and disease reduction against Xanthomonas citri pv. citri. Among the 30 different germplasms, eight germplasms, namely, Jora tenga (14.67%), Bonjora (15.58%), Holong tenga (15.75%), Latipes (17.34%), Patijora (17.75%), Birajora (18.50%), Cleopatra mandarin (20.00%) and Ada jamir (20.18%), exhibited highest disease resistance potential. The study recorded that the germplasm Latipes, which are resistant, had the highest total phenol content (21.26 mg/g dry weight), while the susceptible one, Grapefruit (7.85 mg/g dry weight), had the lowest total phenol content. Jora tenga exhibited the highest flavonoid content, measuring at 6.48 mg/g dry weight, whereas White pummelo had the lowest flavonoid content, measuring at 1.88 mg/g dry weight. Similarly, the highest alkaloid percentage was recorded in resistant germplasm, Adajamir (10.52%), while the lowest was in susceptible germplasm, Volkameriana (2.30%). The levels of total phenol, alkaloid and flavonoid contents exhibited a significant negative correlation with the per cent disease severity of citrus canker disease in both Pearson correlation and Spearmen correlation analysis. The current research on bioprospecting of citrus germplasms in relation to citrus canker pathogenesis has the potential to offer valuable insights into mitigating the transmission of bacterial pathogens and eliminating sources of infection by employing resistant cultivars and implementing approved doses of plant protection formulations.
Asthma policy in Illinois: A survey of school nursing and staff knowledge and implementation patterns
Authors: Hardy Paige , Gonzalez Michael , Volerman Anna , Salem Erica , Amerson Nancy , Woolverton Nikki , Geiger Sarah Dee , Pappalardo Andrea A. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractObjectiveOur goal is to examine gaps in self‐carry, asthma emergency protocol, and stock inhaler policy knowledge in Illinois schools.DesignA 30‐item REDCap cross‐sectional survey developed by a team of stakeholders was disseminated. Questions assessed policy knowledge, awareness, and practices regarding asthma emergency protocols, self‐carry, and stock inhalers.SampleParticipants were Illinois school nurses belonging to a governmental organization listserv.MeasurementsAnalysis utilized Chi‐square tests, descriptive statistics, and t‐tests.ResultsNurses reported 36% of students on average self‐carried asthma medication. Thirty percent of nurses were not aware of their emergency asthma policy and only 60% reported having an emergency asthma protocol in their school(s). Fifty‐four percent of nurses were aware of stock inhaler programming. Of the 10.3% who reported a stock inhaler program, a lower frequency reported calling 911 for asthma emergencies. Perceived school asthma prevalence varied from 0%–87%.ConclusionsOur survey demonstrates large variation in knowledge and implementation of school‐based asthma health policy. This is likely due to variations in health policy education dissemination. Future efforts should focus on the dissemination and implementation of school‐based asthma health policies to improve their more universal adoption and better support school‐based asthma management.
The value‐for money of preventing and managing periodontitis: Opportunities and challenges
Authors: Pattamatta Madhuri , Chapple Iain , Listl Stefan 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis article gives an overview of the societal and economic aspects of periodontitis and periodontal care. Despite its largely preventable nature, periodontitis is highly prevalent worldwide and imposes a substantial health and economic burden on individuals and society as a whole. The worldwide estimated direct treatment costs and productivity losses due to periodontitis (including for periodontitis‐related tooth loss) amounted to US$ 186 billion and US$ 142 billion in 2019, respectively. The burden of periodontitis is particularly evident in low and disadvantaged populations. Smoking, dietary habits, and presence of systemic diseases along with social and commercial determinants are considered as risk factors for the periodontal diseases. The cost‐effectiveness of preventing and managing periodontitis has been explored in several studies but it has been highlighted that there is scope for improvement in defining the methodology and quality of reporting of such studies. A recent report by The Economist Intelligence Unit examined the cost‐effectiveness of interventions to prevent and manage periodontal diseases, suggesting that prevention of periodontitis through prevention of gingivitis by means of individual home care would be more cost‐efficient than four other examined approaches. Future research in this field is recommended to further decipher the economic burden of periodontitis to society and to assess the value for money of alternative approaches to address periodontitis with particular emphasis on public health preventive strategies and intersectoral care approaches that address the common risk factors of periodontitis and other non‐communicable diseases simultaneously.
Brief of Amici Curiae economists in support of respondents in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization
Authors: Myers Caitlin , Srinivasan Anjali 
Published: May 2024

AbstractA pillar of Mississippi's argument in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health was that there is no evidence of “societal reliance” on abortion, meaning no reason to believe that access to abortion impacts the ability of women to participate in the economic and social life of the nation. Led by economist Caitlin Myers and attorney Anjali Srinivasan, more than 150 economists filed an amicus brief seeking to assist the Court in understanding that this assertion is erroneous. The economists describe developments in causal inference methodologies over the last three decades, and the ways in which these tools have been used to isolate the measure of the effects of abortion legalization in the 1970s and of abortion policies and access over the ensuing decades. The economists argue that there is a substantial body of well‐developed and credible research that shows that abortion access has had and continues to have a significant effect on birth rates as well as broad downstream social and economic effects, including on women's educational attainment and job opportunities. What follows is a reprint of this brief.
Isolation, culture, characterization and the functional study of testicular Leydig cells from Hezuo pig
Authors: Du Hong , Yan Zunqiang , Shi Haixia , Yang Qiaoli , Huang Xiaoyu , Wang Pengfei , Gao Xiaoli , Yang Jiaojiao , Gun Shuangbao 
Published: May 2024

AbstractTestosterone, an important sex hormone, regulates sexual maturation, testicular development, spermatogenesis and the maintenance of secondary sexual characteristics in males. Testicular Leydig cells are the primary source of testosterone production in the body. Hezuo pigs, native to the southern part of Gansu, China, are characterized by early sexual maturity, strong disease resistance and roughage tolerance. This study employed type IV collagenase digestion combined with cell sieve filtration to isolate and purify Leydig cells from the testicular tissue of 1‐month‐old Hezuo pigs. We also preliminarily investigated the functions of these cells. The results indicated that the purity of the isolated and purified Leydig cells was as high as 95%. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that the isolated cells specifically expressed the 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase antibody. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay results showed that the testosterone secretion of the Leydig cells cultured in vitro (generations 5–9) ranged between 1.29–1.67 ng/mL. Additionally, the content of the cellular autophagy signature protein microtubule‐associated protein 1 light chain 3 was measured at 230–280 pg/mL. Through this study, we established an in vitro system for the isolation, purification and characterization of testicular Leydig cells from 1‐month‐old Hezuo pigs, providing a reference for exploring the molecular mechanism behind precocious puberty in Hezuo pigs.
Multiscale 3D displacement field measurement using stereo digital image correlation on a fractal speckle pattern
Authors: Serra J. , Lalanne R. , Dufour J.‐E. , Périé J.‐N. , Passieux J.‐C. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractEven though the simulations used to predict failure are becoming increasingly predictive, complex multiaxial loading tests are still required to validate the design of structural components in a wide range of industries. Large specimen testing often requires two different scales. A global Far Field to obtain boundary conditions and a local Near Field to evaluate strain gradients around discontinuities such as bolts, notches… The main goal of this study is to provide a continuous displacement over the whole specimen surface integrating data from multiple cameras. In this paper, we propose a new methodology that generates 3D displacements determined by finite‐element stereo digital image correlation in the Near Field and in the Far Field using a unique fractal speckle pattern and an off‐line determined texture. The displacements are obtained in the same coordinate system and on the same mesh. Satisfactory data fusion from both Near Field and Far Field images of a biaxial test on a notched laminate composite was obtained with a refined mesh at the notch tip. This methodology can be applied to any tests requiring multiple camera systems and will support the use of the finite‐element digital image correlation framework as an experimental‐numerical efficient technique.