bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genome‐wide characterization of cytochrome P450 genes reveals the potential roles in fruit ripening and response to cold stress in tomato
Authors: Tang Mingjia , Zhang Wenjing , Lin Rui , Li Lan , He Liqun , Yu Jingquan , Zhou Yanhong 
Published: May 2024

AbstractPlant cytochrome P450 (CYP) superfamily, the largest enzyme metabolism family, has been identified in many species and plays a vital role in plant development and stress response via secondary metabolite biosynthesis. A comprehensive identification and functional investigation of CYPs in tomato plants would contribute to deeper understanding of their biological significance. In this study, 268 tomato CYP genes were identified and found to be unevenly located on 12 chromosomes. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, these 268 SlCYPs were classed into two distinct clades (A‐type and non‐A‐type) and nine clans, including 48 families. Moreover, 67 tandem and 22 WGD (whole genome duplication)/segmental duplication events were detected, of which 12 SlCYP genes experienced both WGD/segmental and tandem duplication events, indicating that tandem duplication plays a major role in the expansion of the SlCYP family. Besides, 48 pairs containing 41 SlCYP and 44 AtCYP genes were orthologous, while 216 orthologous pairs were obtained between tomato and potato. The expression level of all SlCYP genes in tomato tissues at different development stages was analyzed, and most expressed SlCYPs showed a tissue‐specific pattern. Meanwhile, 143 differentially expressed SlCYPs were identified under cold stress. Furthermore, the RT‐qPCR results indicated that SlCYPs may be involved in fruit ripening and cold tolerance in tomato seedlings. These findings provide valuable insights into the evolutionary relationships and functional characteristics of SlCYPs, which can be utilized for further investigation of fruit metabolic pathways and cold tolerance in tomato.
A genome‐wide genetic association study reveals SNPs significantly associated with environmental variables and specific leaf area in European beech
Authors: Müller Markus , Leuschner Christoph , Weithmann Greta , Weigel Robert , Banzragch Bat‐Enerel , Steiner Wilfried , Gailing Oliver 
Published: May 2024

AbstractEuropean beech is negatively affected by climate change and a further growth decline is predicted for large parts of its distribution range. Despite the importance of this species, little is known about its genetic adaptation and especially the genetic basis of its physiological traits. Here, we used genotyping by sequencing to identify SNPs in 43 German European beech populations growing under different environmental conditions. In total, 28 of these populations were located along a precipitation and temperature gradient in northern Germany, and single tree‐based hydraulic and morphological traits were available. We obtained a set of 13,493 high‐quality SNPs that were used for environmental and SNP‐trait association analysis. In total, 22 SNPs were identified that were significantly associated with environmental variables or specific leaf area (SLA). Several SNPs were located in genes related to stress response. The majority of the significant SNPs were located in non‐coding (intergenic and intronic) regions. These may be in linkage disequilibrium with the causative coding or regulatory regions. Our study gives insights into the genetic basis of abiotic adaptation in European beech, and provides genetic resources that can be used in future studies on this species. Besides clear patterns of local adaptation to environmental conditions of the investigated populations, the analyzed morphological and hydraulic traits explained most of the explainable genetic variation. Thus, they could successfully be altered in tree breeding programs, which may help to increase the adaptation of European beech to changing environmental conditions in the future.
The tax revenue implication of trade liberalisation in sub‐Saharan Africa: Some new evidence
Authors: Kassim Olanrewaju 
Published: May 2024

AbstractDespite the advent of trade liberalisation, trade taxes still remain a key source of tax revenues in sub‐Saharan Africa. Further trade reforms in the form of the African Continental Free Trade Area could, however, hinder output growth in the region if these reforms lead to a decline in total tax revenues. Motivated by this conundrum, this paper investigates the impact of trade liberalisation on tax revenues across a panel of sub‐Saharan African countries. The results indicate that trade liberalisation is associated with an increase in total tax revenues. Also, the reduction of import and export duties significantly increases and decreases domestic and trade tax revenues, respectively. In addition, greater urbanisation is associated with an increase in total tax revenues, while inflation decreases tax revenues.
Novel MRI and histopathological findings in a young Bullmastiff cross dog with mitochondrial fission encephalopathy
Authors: Suiter Emma , Baiker Kerstin , Kaczmarska Adriana , Christen Matthias , Leeb Tosso , Ororbia Alejandro , Anselmi Carlo , Minguez Juan , Gutierrez‐Quintana Rodrigo 
Published: May 2024

AbstractA 9‐month‐old male Bullmastiff cross dog was presented with a history of progressive proprioceptive ataxia and behavior changes. Neuroanatomical localization was multifocal with forebrain and vestibulo‐cerebellum involvement. MRI identified moderate diffuse cerebral sulci widening, dilation of the ventricular system, and rounded, well‐defined, bilaterally symmetrical T2W, FLAIR, and T2* hyperintense intra‐axial lesions affecting the olivary nuclei. Histopathological examination was indicative of a primary mitochondrial disorder. This was confirmed following genetic analysis which identified mitochondrial fission encephalopathy with a homozygous frameshift variant in the MFF gene. This case report documents diagnostic imaging and histopathological findings not previously reported in dogs affected with mitochondrial fission encephalopathy, suggesting a different selective regional vulnerability of the neurons.
Effect of Fuel Injection Strategies on Performance, Regulated and Unregulated Emissions of a Gasoline Compression Ignition Engine
Authors: Krishnamoorthi M. , Singh Harsimran , Agarwal Avinash Kumar 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Gasoline compression ignition (GCI) mode engines are characterized by partially premixed charge combustion, leading to significant and simultaneous reductions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter emissions. However, gasoline compression ignition engine operation suffers from a limited operating window. Air preheating and low-research octane number fuels are required to improve the engine performance. This experimental study used a blend of 70% (v/v) gasoline and 30% diesel as test fuel in a direct injection medium-duty compression ignition engine. Experiments were carried out at 5- and 10-bar brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) engine loads at 1500–2500 rpm engine speeds using a triple injection strategy (two pilots and one main injection) for all test conditions. The combustion phasing was kept constant with respect to crank angle to produce a high power output. The investigations examined engine performance and regulated and unregulated emissions. The test engine was initially operated in conventional diesel combustion mode with diesel for baseline data generation. Gasoline compression ignition mode operation demonstrated a remarkable 16% increase in the brake thermal efficiency and a substantial reduction of 65% in nitrogen oxide emissions compared to the baseline conventional diesel combustion mode. The GCI engine exhaust showed higher concentrations of regulated emissions, namely hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide, and unregulated trace emissions, such as methane, acetylene, toluene, inorganic gaseous species, and unsaturated hydrocarbons.
Uncertainty Quantification of Process-Property-Structure Linkage for Fused Filament Fabrication Parts
Authors: Zhang Yongjie , Moon Seung Ki 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Due to the nature of additive manufacturing (AM), design and manufacturing are deeply coupled. Toolpaths are defined based on the part geometry, and in turn, these toolpaths can influence the bonding between adjacent toolpaths, especially for fused filament fabrication (FFF) process. In FFF, bonding between adjacent rasters is critical to the FFF part mechanical strength. The bonding is driven by factors such as thermal history and a deposition strategy, which are dictated by the geometry of a part and process parameters. In this research, a data-driven physics-based methodology is proposed to predict the mechanical properties of FFF parts using Bayesian inference. In the proposed methodology, geometry and variance in process parameters are used to quantify uncertainties in the mechanical properties. Empirical data derived from the mesostructure of specimens are utilized to generate priors of predictors. Hamilton Monte Carlo is then used to sample the posterior distribution. Subsequently, random draw from posterior predictive distribution is performed, and the results are validated against empirical data to establish the accuracy of the proposed methodology. The proposed methodology can provide more accurate prediction of the mechanical properties by considering the influence of geometry, process parameters and uncertainty in AM process.
Estimation of Multiple Contact Conductances in a Silicon-Indium-Silicon Stack
Authors: Woodbury Keith A. , Cutler Grant , Najafi Hamidreza , Kota Maya 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis report documents evaluation of simultaneous estimation of multiple interfacial heat transfer coefficients (HTCs) using transient measurements from an experiment designed for steady-state operation. The design of a mirror system for directing X-rays under cryogenic conditions requires knowledge of the interfacial HTC (contact conductance) between silicon and indium. An experimental apparatus was constructed to measure temperatures in a stack of five 7.62-mm thick pucks of silicon separated by 0.1-mm thick sheets of indium, which is operated under cryogenic temperatures in vacuum. Multiple pucks and interfaces are incorporated into the apparatus to allow evaluation of HTCs for surfaces of different roughness from a single experiment. Analysis of the sensitivity of each of the measured temperatures to each of the unknown HTCs reveals lack of linear independence of these sensitivities and suggests the recovery of the HTCs will be challenging. Artificially noised “data” were created from two different computational models by solving for temperatures and adding random Gaussian noise with a specified standard deviation. These data are subsequently analyzed using two different iterative parameter estimation methods: a Levenberg scheme and a Tikhonov iterative scheme. The required sensitivity matrix is computed using forward finite difference approximations. The results for the heat transfer coefficients for this model problem suggest that coefficients cannot be estimated independently, but the ratios relative to one of the unknowns can be recovered.
Machine Learning-Based Resilience Modeling and Assessment of High Consequence Systems Under Uncertainty
Authors: Liu Cong , Wang Fengjun , Xie Chaoyang 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
This study proposes a theoretical model and assessment method for the resilience of high consequence system (HCS), addressing the risk assessment and decision-making needs in critical system engineering activities. By analyzing various resilience theories in different domains and considering the characteristics of risk decision-making for HCS, a comprehensive theoretical model for the resilience of HCS is developed. This model considers the operational capability under normal environment (consisting of reliability and maintainability) and the safety capability under abnormal environment (consisting of resistance and emergence response ability). A case study is conducted on a spent fuel transportation packaging system, where the sealing performance after sealing ring aging is regarded as the reliability of the system and calculated using reliability methods, and impact resistance after impact is regard as resistance the impact safety of the packaging system is assessed using finite element analysis and surrogate modeling methods. The surrogate model fits the deformation output results of finite elements. Maintainability and emergency response ability are also essential elements of the resilience model for HCS facing exceptional events. The resilience variation of the spent fuel transportation packaging system is computed under the uncertainty of yielding stress of buffer material. The resilience of the packaging system is evaluated for different buffer thicknesses. The system's resilience decreases with higher uncertainty in the yielding stress of the buffer material, while it increases with thicker buffer materials. The improvement of emergency rescue ability will also lead to the improvement of system resilience.
Effects of Impact Energy and Aspect Ratio on the Motion of Particle Clouds in Stagnant Water
Authors: Sabershahraki Maliheh , Azimi Amir H. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
A series of laboratory experiments was conducted to investigate the effects of impact energy and other initial controlling parameters on the motion of particle clouds in stagnant water. Experiments were performed for two median sand diameters of D50 = 0.52 mm and 0.74 mm and nozzle diameters of do = 6 mm and 8 mm. Sand masses were converted to an equivalent pipe length with the same diameter as the nozzle, Lo, and a wide range of aspect ratios, Lo/do, between 2 and 93 was tested. The impact energy of sand particles was controlled by the release height of sand particles, and it was quantified by the nondimensional release height, η, ranging from 1 to 21.5. It was found that particle clouds with higher impact energy had smaller concentration and velocity decay rates. This indicated that by increasing the release height, the momentum transfer between sand particles and the ambient water decreases. The time-series of instantaneous sand velocity were used to determine velocity fluctuations and turbulence intensity of sand particles, and a direct correlation was found between sand velocity fluctuations and aspect ratio in particle clouds. The effects of impact energy on the anatomy of the resulted particle clouds were examined in this study. It was found that the cloud width increased dramatically when the impact energy of sand particles with high aspect ratios (i.e., Lo/do &gt; 39) increased. Furthermore, the dispersion of sand particle began earlier as the kinetic energy of sand particles increased at the water surface.
Augmented Basking in Reflected Glory? A Case Study of Psychological Mechanisms Underlying Sport Fans’ Augmented Reality Filters
Authors: Tao Jingyue , Brown-Devlin Natalie , Forbes Ali 
Published: May 2024

Among all the innovative applications of immersive technologies in the sport industry, augmented reality (AR) has demanded more scholarly attention. Particularly, using AR face filters that layer computer-generated visual effects over the physical world on mobile devices became a valued marketing tactic that brands employed to attract fans. Yet, limited empirical evidence has explored the effect of AR on sport fans’ digital fandom. Through an online quasi-experiment (N = 250) following a 2022 FIFA World Cup match between the U.S. and U.K. soccer (e.g., association football) teams, data suggest an important role of BIRGing (basking in reflected glory) in influencing fans’ AR filter use. Specifically, fans with a stronger tendency to bask in reflected glory elicited a higher perception of affiliation and enjoyment, which tended to be more likely to use AR. These effects were heightened when fans’ team identification was higher and they believed their team performed better. Theoretical and practical implications were addressed accordingly.
Could ceftriaxone be a viable alternative to penicillin for the treatment of ocular syphilis?
Authors: Gu Xin , Lu Haikong , Yang Yilan , Zhu Lin , Shi Mei , Guan Zhifang , Ni Liyan , Peng Ruirui , Zhao Wei , Wu Juan , Qi Tengfei , Zhou Pingyu 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of ceftriaxone with that of aqueous crystalline penicillin G in treating ocular syphilis. We conducted a retrospective study from 2010 to 2021. Syphilis patients were administered either ceftriaxone (2 g intravenously daily for 14 days) or aqueous crystalline penicillin G [4 million units (MU) intravenously every 4 h for 14 days] as therapeutic interventions. Subsequently, we utilized these two groups to assess the serological results, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and visual acuity at time intervals spanning 3 to 6 months post-treatment. A total of 205 patients were included, with 34 assigned to the ceftriaxone group and 171 to the penicillin group. The median age of patients was 56 years, with an interquartile range of 49–62 years, and 137 of them (66.8%) were male. Between 3 and 6 months after treatment, 13 patients (38.2%) in the ceftriaxone group and 82 patients (48.0%) in the penicillin group demonstrated effective treatment based on the clinical and laboratory parameters. The crude odds ratio (OR) was 0.672 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.316–1.428,
P
= 0.301), indicating no significant difference in effectiveness between the two groups. Thirty patients (17.5%) in the penicillin group and six patients (17.6%) in the ceftriaxone group did not experience successful outcomes. Notably, no serious adverse effects were reported in both the groups. There was no significant difference in the effectiveness of ceftriaxone and aqueous crystalline penicillin G in treating ocular syphilis. The administration of ceftriaxone without requiring hospitalization presents a convenient and safe alternative treatment option for ocular syphilis.
Semi-rational design of nitroarene dioxygenase for catalytic ability toward 2,4-dichloronitrobenzene
Authors: Xu Jia , Li Tao , Huang Wei E. , Zhou Ning-Yi 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

Rieske non-heme dioxygenase family enzymes play an important role in the aerobic biodegradation of nitroaromatic pollutants, but no active dioxygenases are available in nature for initial reactions in the degradation of many refractory pollutants like 2,4-dichloronitrobenzene (24DCNB). Here, we report the engineering of hotspots in 2,3-dichloronitrobenzene dioxygenase from
Diaphorobacter
sp. strain JS3051, achieved through molecular dynamic simulation analysis and site-directed mutagenesis, with the aim of enhancing its catalytic activity toward 24DCNB. The computationally predicted activity scores were largely consistent with the detected activities in wet experiments. Among them, the two most beneficial mutations (E204M and M248I) were obtained, and the combined mutant reached up to a 62-fold increase in activity toward 24DCNB, generating a single product, 3,5-dichlorocatechol, which is a naturally occurring compound.
In silico
analysis confirmed that residue 204 affected the substrate preference for
meta
-substituted nitroarenes, while residue 248 may influence substrate preference by interaction with residue 295. Overall, this study provides a framework for manipulating nitroarene dioxygenases using computational methods to address various nitroarene contamination problems.

IMPORTANCE
As a result of human activities, various nitroaromatic pollutants continue to enter the biosphere with poor degradability, and dioxygenation is an important kickoff step to remove toxic nitro-groups and convert them into degradable products. The biodegradation of many nitroarenes has been reported over the decades; however, many others still lack corresponding enzymes to initiate their degradation. Although rieske non-heme dioxygenase family enzymes play extraordinarily important roles in the aerobic biodegradation of various nitroaromatic pollutants, prediction of their substrate specificity is difficult. This work greatly improved the catalytic activity of dioxygenase against 2,4-dichloronitrobenzene by computer-aided semi-rational design, paving a new way for the evolution strategy of nitroarene dioxygenase. This study highlights the potential for using enzyme structure-function information with computational pre-screening methods to rapidly tailor the catalytic functions of enzymes toward poorly biodegradable contaminants.
Identification of a hemorrhagic determinant in
Clostridioides difficile
TcdA and
Paeniclostridium sordellii
TcsH
Authors: Zheng Yangling , Yang Qi , Luo Jianhua , Zhang Yuanyuan , Li Xingxing , He Liuqing , Ma Chao , Tao Liang 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

Paeniclostridium sordellii
hemorrhagic toxin (TcsH) and
Clostridioides difficile
toxin A (TcdA) are two major members of the large clostridial toxin (LCT) family. These two toxins share ~87% similarity and are known to cause severe hemorrhagic pathology in animals. Yet, the pathogenesis of their hemorrhagic toxicity has been mysterious for decades. Here, we examined the liver injury after systemic exposure to different LCTs and found that only TcsH and TcdA induce overt hepatic hemorrhage. By investigating the chimeric and truncated toxins, we demonstrated that the enzymatic domain of TcsH alone is not sufficient to determine its potent hepatic hemorrhagic toxicity in mice. Likewise, the combined repetitive oligopeptide (CROP) domain of TcsH/TcdA alone also failed to explain their strong hemorrhagic activity in mice. Lastly, we showed that disrupting the first two short repeats of CROPs in TcsH and TcdA impaired hemorrhagic toxicity without causing overt changes in cytotoxicity and lethality. These findings lead to a deeper understanding of toxin-induced hemorrhage and the pathogenesis of LCTs and could be insightful in developing therapeutic avenues against clostridial infections.

IMPORTANCE

Paeniclostridium sordellii
and
Clostridioides difficile
infections often cause hemorrhage in the affected tissues and organs, which is mainly attributed to their hemorrhagic toxins, TcsH and TcdA. In this study, we demonstrate that TcsH and TcdA, but not other related toxins. including
Clostridioides difficile
toxin B and TcsL, induce severe hepatic hemorrhage in mice. We further determine that a small region in TcsH and TcdA is critical for the hemorrhagic toxicity but not cytotoxicity or lethality of these toxins. Based on these results, we propose that the hemorrhagic toxicity of TcsH and TcdA is due to an uncharacterized mechanism, such as the presence of an unknown receptor, and future studies to identify the interactive host factors are warranted.