bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
GH secretagogue receptor gene polymorphisms are associated with stature throughout childhood
Authors: Riedl Stefan , Hughes Ian , Harris Mark , Leong Gary M , Beilby John , Sly Peter , Choong Catherine S 
Published: March 2012

ContextGhrelin plays a major role in GH physiology and energy metabolism. Polymorphisms of its receptor (GH secretagogue receptor (GHSR)) may influence childhood growth and weight regulation.ObjectiveTo correlate GHSR polymorphisms with auxological parameters throughout childhood in a healthy cohort.Study designLongitudinal retrospective population-based genetic association study.Subjects and methodsGHSR genotypes were evaluated in 1362 children and compared with height/length, weight, and body mass index (BMI) data across an observation span of 10 years (0, 1, 3, 5, 8, and 10 years). Five different GHSR SNPs (rs2922126, rs2981464, rs482204, rs562416, and rs572169), minor allele frequency >0.1, were genotyped. Identification of potential genetic associations with height, weight, and BMI, using additive and dominant/recessive models, was optimized by comparing allele or genotype frequencies between the tallest and the shortest 27% of subjects for each auxological variable. Significance of association was evaluated by χ2 test.ResultsThe rs482204 TT genotype, vs TC/CC, was associated with greater stature across the entire observation period (P<0.05). Similarly, the rs562416 TT genotype, vs TG/GG, correlated positively with tall stature at 3, 8, and 10 years. Other SNPs and genotypes showed no association with height at any age. No association was found between any tested SNPs and weight or BMI.ConclusionsLongitudinal investigation between birth and 10 years in a population-based cohort revealed a significant association of the rs482204 and rs562416 GHSR polymorphisms on height, whereas no association between GHSR polymorphisms and weight or BMI was ascertainable.
Prototypes for Content-Based Image Retrieval in Clinical Practice
Authors: Depeursinge Adrien , Fischer Benedikt , Müller Henning , Deserno Thomas M 
Published: March 2012

Content-based image retrieval (CBIR) has been proposed as key technology for computer-aided diagnostics (CAD). This paper reviews the state of the art and future challenges in CBIR for CAD applied to clinical practice.We define applicability to clinical practice by having recently demonstrated the CBIR system on one of the CAD demonstration workshops held at international conferences, such as SPIE Medical Imaging, CARS, SIIM, RSNA, and IEEE ISBI. From 2009 to 2011, the programs of CADdemo@CARS and the CAD Demonstration Workshop at SPIE Medical Imaging were sought for the key word “retrieval” in the title. The systems identified were analyzed and compared according to the hierarchy of gaps for CBIR systems.In total, 70 software demonstrations were analyzed. 5 systems were identified meeting the criterions. The fields of application are (i) bone age assessment, (ii) bone fractures, (iii) interstitial lung diseases, and (iv) mammography. Bridging the particular gaps of semantics, feature extraction, feature structure, and evaluation have been addressed most frequently.In specific application domains, CBIR technology is available for clinical practice. While system development has mainly focused on bridging content and feature gaps, performance and usability have become increasingly important. The evaluation must be based on a larger set of reference data, and workflow integration must be achieved before CBIR-CAD is really established in clinical practice.
Consistency of Book-Tax Differences and the Information Content of Earnings
Authors: Chen Linda H. , Dhaliwal Dan S. , Trombley Mark A. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT
This paper examines the effect of tax planning and earnings management on the informativeness of book income and taxable income. We conduct two sets of tests documenting (1) the incremental effect of tax planning and earnings management on the informativeness of book and taxable income, and (2) the relation between the consistency of the book-tax difference and the informativeness of book and taxable income. The consistency of the book-tax difference depends on firm decisions regarding incremental earnings management and tax planning. Consistency of the book-tax difference is measured as the standard deviation of the discretionary component of the difference between book income and taxable income. Our results show that consistency of the book-tax difference, as a measure of the joint effect of earnings management and tax planning, is related to persistence of both book and tax income and has an incremental effect on information content of both book income and taxable income.
JEL Classifications: G12; G32; H24; H25.
Morphological response to competition for light in the clonal Trifolium repens (Fabaceae)
Authors: Bittebiere Anne‐Kristel , Renaud Nolwenn , Clément Bernard , Mony Cendrine 
Published: March 2012

• Premise of the study: Plant communities in temperate zones are dominated by clonal plants that can plastically modify their growth characteristics in response to competition. Given that plants compete with one another, and the implications this has for species coexistence, we conducted a study to assess how clonal species morphologically respond to competition for light depending on its intensity and heterogeneity, which are determined by the competitor species.• Methods: We assessed the morphological response to competition for light of the clonal species Trifolium repens L. by measuring its growth performance, and vertical and horizontal growth traits. We used five competitive environments, i.e., one without competitor and four differing by their competitor species creating different conditions of competition intensity and heterogeneity.• Key results: The morphological response of Trifolium repens to competition for light depended on the competitor identity. Competition intensity and heterogeneity, determined by competitor identity, had an interactive effect on most traits. The increase in petiole elongation and specific leaf area due to increased competition intensity was observed only at low to intermediate competition heterogeneity. Competition heterogeneity promoted the elongation of clone connections allowing space exploration.• Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that the intensity and heterogeneity of competition, which depended on competitor identity, are of primary importance in determining the plastic response of Trifolium repens. This emphasizes that it is important to consider the fine‐scale spatial distribution of individuals when studying their interactions within plant communities.
Therapeutic and Research Potential of Human Stem Cells – The GE Healthcare Perspective
Authors: Minger Stephen 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThere has been significant interest in the therapeutic and scientific potential of stem cells since reconstitution of the haematopoietic system was first realized by bone marrow transplantation in the 1960s. The isolation of tissue-specific, multipotent stem cells from adult organs and the derivation of pluripotent human embryonic stem cells offer the potential for regeneration of a number of different tissues and organs susceptible to age-related degenerative conditions and traumatic injury. In the not-too-distant future, it will be possible to repair heart tissue damaged by myocardial infarction, to replace neuronal cells lost in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, to transplant new insulin-producing cells for diabetics and myelinating cells for individuals afflicted with multiple sclerosis, and to replace bone and cartilage lost through aging and inflammatory disease. In addition, the generation of specific populations of defined subtypes of human cells has tremendous potential to revolutionize the fields of drug discovery and investigation into the cellular bases of human disease. The newly emerging field of regenerative medicine will fundamentally alter clinical medicine and significantly influence our perceptions of aging, health and disease, with a myriad of consequences for society at large.
Policy Paradoxes: The Commercialization of Stem Cell Research
Authors: Caulfield Timothy 
Published: March 2012

AbstractOver the past several years the funding of stem cell research has often been justified on the grounds that it could serve as an engine of regional economic growth. To some degree, this is part of a larger trend, one that has placed biomedical research as a central component of many jurisdictions’ economic strategies. This has led to increasing pressure on researchers to build links with industry, to rapidly move their work to the clinic and to develop commercializable products. While there are undeniable benefits with this approach, it has also created some interesting policy challenges. In this presentation I will both review the nature and extent of the commercialization pressure and explore the related legal, ethical and social issues, including the possible adverse impact commercialization pressure may have on the research environment and the promotion of inappropriate 'hype'.
Beekeeping improves shea pollination and fruit set in West African agroforestry parklands
Authors: Nasare Latif Iddrisu , Stout Jane C. , Kwapong Peter Kofi 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Shea (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn) is a fruit tree of domestic and industrial importance in arid and semi‐arid regions of Sub‐Saharan Africa. Fruit set is largely dependent on insect pollination but recent studies have revealed a pollen deficit. The introduction of managed bees into orchards is an effective approach for enhanced pollination services in temperate climates. However, there is limited information to guide the adoption of this practice in agroforestry parklands.

This study investigated the effect of managed honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera) on fruit yield of shea in six parklands across three regions of Ghana.

Tree proximity to the apiary had a detectable effect on fruit set within a 500 m range of the apiary. Proximity of shea trees to apiary was significantly related to number of immature fruit set but not number of mature fruits. Fruit weight and size were not significantly related to distance from apiary or pollination treatment.

This implies that the introduction of beekeeping has the potential to address shea pollination deficit at least within a 500 m range of the apiary. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal hive density per acreage of shea parkland to maximise pollination services.
Restoring landscape burning is compatible with conservation and livestock production in a southeast Australian grassland fragment
Authors: French Ben J. , Prior Lynda D. , Johnson Christopher N. , Leonard Steven W. J. , Bowman David M. J. S. 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Lowland grassland fragments in southeast Australia are valued for both sheep grazing and conservation. Many fragments are now rarely burnt, despite being shaped by millennia of Aboriginal fire‐use. Restoring fire could potentially reduce fuels, control exotic plant species, promote native species and renew Aboriginal cultural burning. However, this requires understanding of how fire and large herbivores, both native and exotic, are coupled and influence vegetation.

We implemented a single round of low‐intensity experimental burns in an area of remnant grassland and patchy eucalypt woodlands in Tasmania that is managed for conservation, albeit intermittently grazed by sheep, as well as by native and exotic wild herbivores. We compared herbivore activity between burnt and unburnt areas over 2 years using cameras and scat transects, and assessed how fire and herbivory influenced herbaceous biomass and the cover of broad vegetation classes with and without herbivore exclusion.

Contrary to expectations, burnt areas did not disproportionately attract the main herbivores: domestic sheep, introduced deer and native wallabies. In the predominant grassy sward, grazing and fire both reduced herbaceous biomass but we found no support for our hypothesis that grazing reduces biomass more strongly after burning. This contrasts with isolated patches of Poa tussock grassland, where fire reduced biomass much more strongly than grazing, and grazing effects on biomass were more pronounced following burning. The cover of broad vegetation classes was little affected by burning, but excluding herbivores increased exotic grass cover in both burnt and unburnt plots.

Practical implication. In degraded fragments of lowland native grassland, burning and grazing do not necessarily act as strongly synergistic disturbances. Grazing by sheep and wild herbivores can help to control exotic grasses and reduce herbaceous biomass, although burning is much more effective than grazing for reducing biomass of unpalatable Poa tussock grassland. Our results suggest that returning occasional low‐intensity fires to our study system, and other degraded grassland‐woodland fragments, can be compatible with livestock production and conservation goals, but this requires caution and adaptive management.
Characterizing mortality in patients with AQP4‐Ab+ neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder
Authors: Francis Anna , Gibbons Emily , Yu Jeffrey , Johnston Karissa , Rochon Hannah , Powell Lauren , Leite Maria Isabel , Huda Saif , Kielhorn Adrian , Palace Jacqueline 
Published: June 2024

AbstractNeuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder is an autoimmune disease, causing severe disability due to relapses, but recent mortality data are limited. Among 396 patients seropositive for anti‐aquaporin‐4 antibody from 2014 to 2020 in the United Kingdom, 39 deaths occurred: 19 (48.7%) were unrelated to disease; 14 (35.9%) were severe disability‐ or relapse‐related; and 4 (10.3%) were attributed to malignancy/infection. Mean annual mortality was 1.92% versus 0.63% in the matched population. The standardized mortality ratio was 3.04 (95% confidence interval 1.67–5.30) with 1.29% excess mortality per year in patients. Median Expanded Disability Status Scale before death was 7.0. Results highlight the importance of preventing relapses that drive disability.
Manipulation of Cooper‐Pair Tunneling via Domain Structure in a van der Waals Ferromagnetic Josephson Junction
Authors: Huang Junwei , Li Zeya , Bi Xiangyu , Tang Ming , Qiu Caiyu , Qin Feng , Yuan Hongtao 
Published: June 2024

AbstractFerromagnetic Josephson junctions play a key role in understanding the interplay between superconductivity and ferromagnetism in condensed matter physics. The magnetic domain structures of the ferromagnet in such junctions can significantly affect the tunneling of the superconducting Cooper pairs due to the strong interactions between Cooper pairs and local magnetic moments in the ferromagnetic tunnel barrier. However, the underlying microscopic mechanism of relevant quasiparticle tunneling processes with magnetic domain structures remains largely unexplored. Here, the manipulation of Cooper‐pair tunneling in the NbSe2/Cr2Ge2Te6/NbSe2 ferromagnetic Josephson junction is demonstrated by using a multidomain ferromagnetic barrier with anisotropic magnetic moments. The evolution of up‐, down‐magnetized domain and Bloch domain structures in Cr2Ge2Te6 barrier under external magnetic fields leads to the enhancement of the critical tunneling supercurrent and an unconventional dual‐peak feature with two local maxima in the field‐dependent critical current curve. The phenomenon of magnetic‐field‐modulated critical tunneling supercurrent can be well explained by the competition between the coherence length of tunneling Cooper pairs and the size of magnetic domain walls in Cr2Ge2Te6 barrier. This kind of ferromagnetic Josephson junction provides an intriguing material system for manipulating Cooper‐pair tunneling by tuning the local magnetic moments within magnetic Josephson junction devices.
Humidity‐Responsive Liquid Metal Core–Shell Materials for Enduring Heat Retention and Insulation
Authors: Chen Xuanhan , Sun Mingyuan , Cao Lu , Rong Huarui , Lin Hao , Chen Yue , Zhang Mingkui , Zhang Ling , Xiao Bing , Li Weihua , Fang Jian , Sun Lining , Zhang Shiwu , Tang Shi‐Yang , Li Xiangpeng 
Published: June 2024

AbstractHigh humidity in extremely cold weather can undermine the insulation capability of the clothing, imposing serious life risks. Current clothing insulation technologies have inherent deficiencies in terms of insulation efficiency and humidity adaptability. Here, humidity‐stimulated self‐heating clothing using aluminum core–liquid metal shell microparticles (Al@LM‐MPs) as the filler is reported. Al@LM‐MPs exhibit a distinctive capability to react to water molecules in the air to generate heat, exhibiting remarkable sensitivity across a broad temperature range. This ability leads to the creation of intelligent clothing capable of autonomously responding to extreme cold and wet weather conditions, providing both enduring heat retention and insulation capabilities.
Lateral Confinement in 2D Nanoplatelets: A Strategy to Expand the Colloidal Quantum Engineering Toolbox
Authors: Curti Leonardo , Dabard Corentin , Makké Lina , Fu Ningyuan , Lehouelleur Henri , Hua Muchuan , Bossavit Erwan , Cavallo Mariarosa , Xu Xiang Zhen , Pierucci Debora , Silly Mathieu G. , Guzelturk Burak , Lhuillier Emmanuel , Climente Juan I. , Diroll Benjamin T. , Ithurria Sandrine 
Published: June 2024

AbstractAmong colloidal nanocrystals, 2D nanoplatelets offer a unique set of properties with exceptionally narrow luminescence and low lasing thresholds. Furthermore, their anisotropic shape expands the playground for the complex design of heterostructures where spectra but also scattering rates can be engineered. A challenge that still remains is to combine shell growth which makes NPLs stable, with spectral tunability. Indeed, most reported shelled nanoplatelets end up being red emitters due to a loss of quantum confinement. Here, the combination of both lateral and in‐plane confinements within a single heterostructure is explored. A CdS/CdSe/CdS/CdZnS core–crown–crown shell structure that enables yellow emission is grown and that is responsive to a large range of excitation including visible photons, X‐ray photons, electron beams, and electrical excitations. k.p simulations predict that emission tunability of up to several 100 s of meV can be obtained in ideal structures. This material also displays stimulated emission resulting from bi‐exciton emission with a low threshold. Once integrated into an LED stack, this material is compatible with sub‐bandgap excitation and exhibits high luminance. Scaling of the electroluminescence properties by downsizing the pixel size is also investigated.
Photoinduced Multimodal Motions and Reversible Fluorescence Switching in an Elasto‐Plastic Crystal
Authors: Zhu Jiaxuan , Wu Wenbo , Qi Haoqiang , Yu Hui , Liang Weidong , Wang Ting , Huang Xin , Wang Na , Zhou Lina , Hao Hongxun 
Published: June 2024

AbstractMulti‐stimuli‐responsive materials have received widespread attention in the field of adaptive materials due to their ability to adapt to changes in the environment. However, fabricating multiple stimuli into a single component crystal still remains challenging. In this study, a polymorphic elasto‐plastic Schiff‐based crystal displaying morphology‐dependent photomechanical motions is designed and investigated. Both Form I and Form II of it exhibit dual plasticity and elasto‐plasticity along different facets, which is attributed to the slidable separating layers. Moreover, Form I retains its elastic bending ability even after being plastically twisted, owing to the well‐maintained strong π–π interactions, whereas Form II can not twist without fractures. In addition, the photomechanical motions of Form I including jumping, twisting to bending are realized by adjusting the crystal morphologies, while Form II is lacking in response to ultraviolet light irradiation. Theoretical calculation analysis reveals that lattice deformation induced by photoisomerization of Form I is the driving forces for crystal motions. Furthermore, reversible luminescence switching behaviors are realized in Form I and Form II upon acid‐base fumigation as well as heating. The synergistic multi‐stimuli‐responsive mode based on heat, acid, and solvent stimuli provides an alternative path for multi‐mode information encryption.
Utilizing Polarization and Multidimensional Spatial Angle‐Resolved Spectroscopy to Reveal the Optical Anisotropy of Few‐Layer Bi2O2Se
Authors: Zhang Xudong , Lou Qi , He Shaodan , Xin Duqiang , Chen Lina , Wu Zipeng , Cheng Zhaofang , Xia Minggang 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe novel ternary 2D material Bi2O2Se exhibits numerous unique properties in the optical discipline due to its distinctive structure, rendering it of significant research importance and application potential in the domains of new‐generation microelectronics, optoelectronic sensors, and multidimensional optical recognition. However, the optical anisotropy and multidimensional angular resolution of Bi2O2Se have yet to be investigated under the condition of 3D spatial variation of incidence angle. Herein, the spatial optical sensing of the few‐layer Bi2O2Se is investigated under 3D spatially varying incidence conditions using a combination of polarized Raman spectroscopy and multidimensional angle‐resolved spectroscopy. By manipulating the incident angle conditions and adjusting the sample placement angle, a comprehensive optical characterization of materials from diverse spatial orientations is conducted. It is observed that few‐layer Bi2O2Se exhibits a systematically transformed multidimensional spatial photoresponse within visible and near‐infrared wavelengths. This demonstrates the capability of Bi2O2Se as photosensitive semiconductors for 3D stereo optical detection. Furthermore, finite difference time domain simulations reveal that the spatial optical anisotropy of few‐layer Bi2O2Se can be manifested under 3D variable‐angle incidence conditions. The work serves as a crucial guide for the future of Bi2O2Se in anisotropic integrated optics applications, based on polarization‐based chiral recognition.
Surface Engineering on Palladium and Zinc Nanowires for Hydrogen Sensing Working at ≈190–388 K Temperature Range
Authors: Li Zhenxu , Du Lingling , Xing Xiaxia , Zhao Xinhua , Chen Xiaoyu , Huang Xiaohu , Yang Dachi 
Published: June 2024

AbstractReliable detection of hydrogen (H2) leakage at low temperatures (e.g., < 273 K) is highly desired in those critical environments that may cause failure in detection, which needs further development. Herein, H2 sensing that can work at ≈190–388 K temperature range has been developed by integrating palladium and zinc nanowires enwrapped with nanosheets (PdZn NWs) as the sensing materials, which have been prepared via combined anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template‐confined electrodeposition and surface engineering. Typically, as‐synthesized PdZn NWs with a diameter of ≈50 nm present rough surfaces, along which abundant pores and fractures have been observed. Beneficially, the PdZn NWs show a lower critical temperature (≈190 K) of the “reverse sensing behavior” than that of pure Pd NWs (287 K), indicating the PdZn NWs are able to work at ≈190–388 K temperature range. Theoretically, such stable H2 sensing can be attributed to the rough surfaces and chemical composition of PdZn NWs, which facilitates H atoms diffusion and accommodates the expansion of PdHx intermediates. The surface engineering of PdZn NWs may contribute to stable H2 sensing at low temperatures, which can be applied to other gas‐sensing materials working at low temperatures.