bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mutation of Ugp1 Leads to Impaired Sucrose Synthesis, Retarded Growth and Altered Phosphate Accumulation
Authors: Zhang Wenqi , Wang Tingting , Wei Cuilan , Qin Pinzhu , Xu Guohua 
Published: February 2025

AbstractIn response to phosphate (Pi) starvation stress, plants exhibit diverse adaptive strategies, including carbohydrate accumulation and transport to roots, which are critical for Pi deficiency signaling. However, the functional characterization of sugar metabolic genes is often hindered by the infertility of null mutants, and the role of carbohydrate biosynthetic genes in phosphorus (P) homeostasis remains unclear. Here, we functionally characterized Ugp1, a highly expressed gene in rice (Oryza sativa) that encodes UDP‐glucose pyrophosphorylase. Ugp1 was expressed throughout the rice plant and was transcriptionally induced by Pi starvation in shoot tissues. Localized to the cytosol, Ugp1 was found to be responsible for the biosynthesis of the major sugar sucrose. Homozygous mutation of Ugp1 resulted in an infertile phenotype, decreased sucrose content, retarded growth and increased Pi accumulation, while heterozygous Ugp1 plants exhibited intermediate phenotypes. The increased Pi accumulation in osugp1 mutants was accompanied by the upregulation of Pi starvation‐responsive genes. Notably, in vivo 31P‐nuclear magnetic resonance analysis revealed an increase in vacuolar and a decrease in cytoplasmic Pi concentration in osugp1 mutants. These findings indicate that Ugp1 plays a critical role in sucrose biosynthesis and is essential for sustaining normal growth and P homeostasis in rice. Its mutation will lead to impaired sucrose synthesis, retarded growth, and altered phosphorus accumulation and distribution. These results highlight the close relationship between carbon metabolism and P homeostasis, offering new perspectives for understanding the molecular mechanisms of plant responses to Pi starvation and providing a theoretical basis for future research on plant nutrient regulation.
The place of social cohesion in policy design: Lessons from the evolution of pension policy instruments mix in OECD countries
Authors: Kim Jiwon 
Published: February 2025

AbstractOECD countries are grappling with a policy design dilemma, as they strive to balance fiscal sustainability with the increasing demands on the welfare state. This study introduces a new perspective on policy design that integrates the two elements of “social cohesion,” comprising government trust and civic engagement. The study aims to find empirical evidence on how social cohesion has influenced the policy instruments mix in social and pension policy design across 30 OECD member countries from 2010 to 2020. The System Generalized Method of Moments was employed to address endogeneity issues at the country level and to account for policy dynamics. At the macro policy level, social cohesion appears to intensify the social policy dilemma between government fiscal austerity and public popularity. However, the findings indicate that at the meso level of pension policy, the two elements of social cohesion exhibit dual roles both counteractive and complementary roles in the policy instruments mix. This involves identifying the intersection of state‐citizen dynamics in social policy and pension design. The art of the policy instruments mixed within the framework of social cohesion provides valuable insights into resolving policy design dilemmas by achieving a balance and harmony between government and citizens.
The Role of Medication Abortion Provision in US States Without Total Abortion Bans, 2023
Authors: DoCampo Isabel , Jones Rachel K. , Maddow‐Zimet Isaac 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTBackgroundMedication abortion has accounted for an increasing share of abortions in the United States (US) since the Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone in 2000. This study offers updated estimates of medication abortions provided within the formal healthcare system in 2023 in US states without total abortion bans as well as a discussion of recent trends in medication abortion provision.MethodsThe Guttmacher Institute's Monthly Abortion Provision Study employs data from monthly samples of providers in a Bayesian hierarchical model to produce estimates of abortions provided within the formal healthcare system. We estimate the number and share of medication abortions provided in 2023 in states without total abortion bans and the share of abortions provided through telemedicine‐only clinics.ResultsClinicians provided 648,500 medication abortions within the formal healthcare system in 2023 in states without total bans (90% uncertainty interval: 640,720–657,860), representing 63% of all abortions. Ten percent of all abortions were provided by telemedicine‐only clinics. The number of medication abortions provided in US states without total abortion bans increased by 19% between 2019 and 2020, and by 32% between 2020 and 2023.DiscussionMedication abortion plays a critical role in the US abortion access landscape. Medication abortion provision has accelerated since 2019, likely due to COVID‐era policies that facilitated the expansion of telemedicine medication abortion provision. This shift has created essential access for individuals navigating abortion bans and other barriers to care since the removal of federal abortion protections.
Treatments of psychosomatic symptoms in Alzheimer's disease: a scoping review of the potential therapeutic effects of essential oils
Authors: Abdulghani Mohammed Faris , Barzegari Reyhaneh , Almagharbeh Wesam Taher , Yazdani Zahra , Amandadi Ghotbabadi Azam , Seyed Bagheri Seyed Hamid , Alnaiem Mohamed , Dehghan Mahlagha 
Published: February 2025

AbstractAlzheimer's disease, a type of dementia, poses serious challenges to patients, especially older people, and no definitive treatment is available for this disease, with drug treatments having many side effects. As essential oils of plants deserve particular attention in the treatment of diseases, this study aimed to review the potential therapeutic effects of essential oils on treatment of psychosomatic aspects of Alzheimer's disease. To collect information, we searched different databases, including MagIran, SID, IranDoc and IranMedex, Embase, Science Direct, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus and Web of Science using the keywords of essential oil, Alzheimer, acetylcholinesterase, memory, forgetfulness, aromatherapy, medicinal plant, herbal drugs, and their Persian equivalents from January 2010 to June 2022; the search included both single and multiple keywords. We retrieved 233 articles, reviewed the titles, abstracts, and full texts of the articles, and then included 25 related articles in this review (11 in vitro studies and 14 in vivo studies). The study results of in vitro and in vivo studies showed the effectiveness of different essential oils such as salvia family, tangerine and lemon oils, Juniperus communis, Anthriscus nemorosa, olibanum, inhaled coriander, Schisandra chinensis, lavender, rose essential oil, Nepeta cataria, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Lippia origanoides, on memory and learning, enzymes, oxidative stress and inflammation, behavioural and cognitive symptoms in Alzheimer's disease. These findings suggest that essential oils can serve as complementary therapies for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and for addressing memory impairments, although further research, especially human clinical trials, is needed to validate these findings, determine optimal dosages, and explore the long‐term safety of essential oils in clinical settings.
An uncertainty‐based risk perspective on risk perception and communication: Opportunities for new empirical‐based research
Authors: Aven Terje 
Published: February 2025

AbstractRisk perception and communication research has to a large extent discussed risk issues on the basis of an understanding of risk as probabilities and expected values. The present article aims at providing some reflections on this research when adopting an uncertainty‐based risk perspective, in line with contemporary conceptualizations of risk. This type of perspective sees uncertainty, rather than probability, as a main component of risk, in addition to the consequences and the severity of these consequences. The article shows that this perspective provides opportunities for new research in the field, which can have important impacts on how risk is understood, communicated, and handled in society. Some main challenges for the research are identified and discussed.
The Earth Is Not Flat: Bilateral Elevation as a Component of Trade Costs
Authors: Sun Weizhao 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTThis paper quantifies the trade effects of effective bilateral elevation (EBE), representing the transportation cost incurred when trucks go uphill and downhill between countries. Introducing an instrumental variable for EBE, the paper reveals that a one‐percent rise in EBE leads to a 0.046% reduction in trade. This impact varies across regions and industries, with landlocked countries experiencing effects more than nine‐fold. The impact is more pronounced in industries with higher weight‐to‐value ratios. Employing a multi‐sector Armington model, the paper estimates that removing bilateral elevations could lead to an average 1% increase in real wages.
Has Macroprudential Regulation Affected Marginal Borrowers? Evidence From South Africa
Authors: Merrino Serena , Lesame Keagile , Chondrogiannis Ilias 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTBank regulation aimed at strengthening the resilience of the financial system can also prompt adjustments in lending and borrowing decisions. This paper examines how South Africa's credit market has responded to macroprudential policy measures to evaluate whether financial stability objectives are achieved at the expense of an equitable credit allocation. Using firm‐level tax data, banking sector time series and a comprehensive regulatory index, we find that Basel III reforms reduced lending to households, especially if poor, to the benefit of firms, especially if large. We also document that regulation triggers lenders' adverse selection by penalising more creditworthy enterprises.
Detecting (the Absence of) Species Interactions in Microbial Ecological Systems
Authors: Beardsley Thomas , Behringer Megan , Komarova Natalia L. 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTMicrobial communities are complex ecological systems of organisms that evolve in time, with new variants created, while others disappear. Understanding how species interact within communities can help us shed light into the mechanisms that drive ecosystem processes. We studied systems with serial propagation, where the community is kept alive by taking a subsample at regular intervals and replating it in fresh medium. The data that are usually collected consist of the % of the population for each of the species, at several time points. In order to utilize this type of data, we formulated a system of equations (based on the generalized Lotka–Volterra model) and derived conditions of species noninteraction. This was possible to achieve by reformulating the problem as a problem of finding feasibility domains, which can be solved by a number of efficient algorithms. This methodology provides a cost‐effective way to investigate interactions in microbial communities.
Effectiveness Index of Mechanical Energy Utilization in Male 400‐m Sprinters and the Relation Between Muscle Cross‐Sectional Area of the Trunk and the Lower Limb
Authors: Muratomi Kotaro , Tarumi Takashi , Furuhashi Yuki , Ushirooka Naoki , Hoshi Daisuke , Fukuie Marina , Hasegawa Takahiro , Sugawara Jun , Tanigawa Satoru , Takahashi Hideyuki , Maemura Hirohiko 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to identify the morphological characteristics of trunk and lower limb muscles associated with 400‐m sprint performance and “effectiveness index of mechanical energy utilization (EI).” Twelve male 400‐m sprinters (age: 21.4 ± 1.7 years, 400‐m best time: 48.38 ± 1.80 s) participated in this study. Using a 3‐T magnetic resonance imaging system, we measured muscle cross‐sectional area (CSA) of the key trunk and lower limb muscles, including the rectus abdominis, lateral abdominal wall, erector spinae, psoas major, adductors, quadriceps femoris, hamstrings, dorsiflexors, and plantar flexors. The CSA of the trunk muscles was summed bilaterally, while the CSA of the lower limb muscles was assessed on the right leg. In addition to absolute CSA, relative CSA, normalized by the two‐thirds power of lean body mass, was used in the analysis to account for individual body size differences. Participants completed a 400‐m sprint on an official outdoor track, with running motion in early phase (around the 160‐m point) analyzed using high‐speed video cameras. Our findings indicate that the specific muscle groups' relative CSA, particularly the lateral abdominal wall and adductors, were significantly correlated with 400‐m sprint time (r = −0.604 to −0.748, p = 0.005–0.038) and EI (r = 0.598–0.599, p = 0.040). Additionally, the thigh‐to‐lower leg CSA ratio was significantly correlated with 400‐m sprint time (r = −0.643, p = 0.024) and EI (r = 0.577, p = 0.049). These results suggest that the relative size of proximal muscles plays a crucial role in economical sprinting in 400‐m sprinters. Thus, optimizing the development of proximal muscles relative to distal muscles may enhance 400‐m sprint economy, providing a valuable reference for designing training programs focused on economical running techniques.
A Multiscale Pyramid Model of Cardinal Directions for Different Scenarios
Authors: Tang Xuehua , Kwan Mei‐Po , Yu Yang , Xie Linxuan , Qin Kun , Zhang Tong 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTAs a crucial spatial constraint, directional relationships play an essential role in advanced spatial queries, spatial reasoning, image analysis, spatial indexing, and a variety of other applications. This paper concentrates on spatial cognitive tendencies and multiscale formal frameworks of directional associations within diverse contexts. We develop a multiscale pyramid cardinal direction model to fulfill the expression requirements in various application scenarios. The pyramid model integrates and extends existing models, thereby constructing a multiscale directional model that is suitable for spatial objects of different geometric types and varying expression accuracy demands. Firstly, it extends the direction‐relation model of reference point by increasing the division from the basic directional tiles to segmentation directional tiles, thus enhancing the accuracy of qualitative directional description. Based on the reference point model, two layers of models for extended objects are further constructed, namely the nontopological overall matrix model and the topological local matrix model. The overall matrix model evolves the directional relations matrix to the segmentation directional matrix. It regards the reference line/polygon as a whole and constructs directional tiles with two levels of expressiveness. The local matrix model, based on topological references, conducts topological partitioning and directional tile partition for the minimum bounding rectangle region, addressing the expression of directional relations under complex topological relations. Simultaneously, the pyramid model constructs two types of models: qualitative and statistical matrices, catering to the needs of spatial similarity evaluation. Notably, the new model establishes flexible conversion channels between different scale models, enabling the model to enhance expression precision while ensuring computational speed and efficiency. The experimental results validate the higher accuracy of the new model and its feasibility across various scale application scenarios.
Defining the heterogeneous composition of Arabidopsis thylakoid membrane
Authors: Trotta Andrea , Gunell Sanna , Bajwa Azfar Ali , Paakkarinen Virpi , Fujii Hiroaki , Aro Eva‐Mari 
Published: February 2025

SUMMARYThylakoid membrane (TM) of land plants is organized into an appressed domain (grana), enriched in photosystem (PS) II and a non‐appressed domain (stroma lamellae) enriched in PSI. This ultrastructure controls the exciton spillover from PSII to PSI. The bulky machinery required for the biogenesis and repair of TM protein complexes is located in the non‐appressed membranes. Thus, the connecting domain (CD) between grana and stroma lamellae is the key player in both the structural and functional integrity of the photosynthetic machinery. In addition, both the grana domain and the stroma lamellae are highly curved at their edges due to the action of the CURVATURE1 (CURT1) proteins, forming a domain distinct from the CD, called the curvature. Here we elucidate the biochemical properties and proteome composition of different thylakoid domains. To this end, the TM of Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), isolated both in the natural stacked configuration and in an artificially unstacked configuration to induce a homogeneous protein composition, was solubilized and fractionated, using the mild detergent digitonin (DIG). Using mass spectrometry‐based proteomics, we characterize composition, distribution and interaction of proteins involved in TM function in grana, CD and stroma lamellae domains. We find that a subset of thylakoid protein complexes are readily solubilized into small vesicles by DIG and accumulate in a loose pellet (LP) together with CURT1. By combining an extensive biochemical and proteome characterization of the TM fractions we provide an optimized protocol and proteome maps that can be used as a basis for experimental design in photosynthesis research.
Genetic background of anti‐CD99 producers in Japan and analysis of hemolytic transfusion reactions due to anti‐CD99
Authors: Watanabe‐Okochi Naoko , Tsuneyama Hatsue , Kumamoto Makoto , Tanaka Sho , Nakazono Tomoko , Ichinomiya Kuninori , Suzuki Yumi , Ogasawara Kenichi , Uchikawa Makoto , Naganuma Shinichi , Hayashi Sumie , Igarashi Hiroyuki , Tsuno Nelson‐Hirokazu , Muroi Kazuo 
Published: February 2025

AbstractBackgroundThe XG blood group system comprises two antigens, Xga and CD99. CD99 is known to be carried on both the X and Y chromosomes in pseudoautosomal region 1. We identified five unrelated Japanese individuals with anti‐CD99 and investigated their genomic background as well as the clinical significance of anti‐CD99.Study Design and MethodsAnalysis of CD99 expression on RBCs and a modified monocyte monolayer assay was performed using flow cytometry. Genomic DNA was obtained from the five anti‐CD99 producers to identify the deleted region responsible for the lack of CD99, and we conducted a long polymerase chain reaction using primer pairs specific for CD99 and GYG2.ResultsCD99 expression from the Y chromosome was higher than that from the X chromosome. The five anti‐CD99 plasma samples gave varied agglutination strengths with the red blood cells (RBCs) expressing high and low CD99 levels, in the antiglobulin test. The phagocytosis rate of anti‐CD99‐sensitized RBCs was 76.6% in one case indicating a risk of hemolytic transfusion reactions (HTR), and it correlated with the level of CD99 expression. The deleted region spanned 115 kb, from CD99 exon 3 to GYG2 exon 1. All five anti‐CD99 producers were homozygous for the large deletion allele.DiscussionAll five anti‐CD99 producers were females with a history of pregnancy in Kyushu, Japan, and this deletion allele may thus be endemic. Our results indicated the possibility of HTR due to anti‐CD99, and the risk is low when transfusing RBC products from Xg(a‐) females with a low expression of CD99.
Fork in the road: therapeutic and pathological actions for fibro‐adipogenic progenitors following musculoskeletal injury
Authors: Owen Allison M. , Gonzalez‐Velez Sara , Keeble Alexander R. , Thomas Nicholas T. , Fry Christopher S. 
Published: February 2025

AbstractMusculoskeletal injuries are a substantial source of global disability through weakness and loss of function, which can be attributable, in part, to deficits in skeletal muscle quality. Poor muscle quality, resulting from fibrotic pathology or fatty infiltration, strongly predicts lower rates of patient recovery following injury and higher rates of re‐injury. The cellular sources of fibrosis and fatty infiltration within skeletal muscle are mesenchymal fibro‐adipogenic progenitors (FAPs), which are central effectors to support muscle homeostasis, regeneration and growth. However, following acute or chronic musculoskeletal injury, FAPs can promote fibro/fatty pathology within muscle that is likely to limit recovery and repair. Given their indispensable role within skeletal muscle, FAPs have emerged as a compelling cellular target to promote tissue recovery following acute and chronic injury. This review provides insight into the aetiology of FAP activity following various musculoskeletal injuries, in addition to signalling components that effect FAP differentiation. Contrasting pathology with therapeutic potential, insight into disease‐ and injury‐specific FAP activation further cements their role as crucial effectors to improve muscle function and enhance patient outcomes.
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Using image analysis techniques for dust detection over photovoltaic panels
Authors: Funes Gustavo , Peters Eduardo , Delpiano José 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
It is widely known that photovoltaic technology has been massively distributed over the last decade, despite its low efficiency ratio. Dust deposition reduces this efficiency even more lowering the energy production and reducing module performance. In this work, we developed an artificial vision algorithm based on CIELAB color space to identify dust over panels in an automatic way. The proposed algorithm uses a series of images of soiled panels, and creates a simulation with known soiling coefficient to compare with the real ones. The results prove satisfactory with a maximum error of approximately 4.14% with respect to visual inspection and a resolution of 4.4%. The algorithm is independent of training and uses the soiling over the panel to create the simulation for that reason it could be valid at any location.