bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The predicted benefits of genomic selection on pig breeding objectives
Authors: Sharif‐Islam Md , van der Werf Julius H. J. , Wood Benjamin J. , Hermesch Susanne 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe premise was tested that the additional genetic gain was achieved in the overall breeding objective in a pig breeding program using genomic selection (GS) compared to a conventional breeding program, however, some traits achieved larger gain than other traits. GS scenarios based on different reference population sizes were evaluated. The scenarios were compared using a deterministic simulation model to predict genetic gain in scenarios with and without using genomic information as an additional information source. All scenarios were compared based on selection accuracy and predicted genetic gain per round of selection for objective traits in both sire and dam lines. The results showed that GS scenarios increased overall response in the breeding objectives by 9% to 56% and 3.5% to 27% in the dam and sire lines, respectively. The difference in response resulted from differences in the size of the reference population. Although all traits achieved higher selection accuracy in GS, traits with limited phenotypic information at the time of selection or with low heritability, such as sow longevity, number of piglets born alive, pre‐ and post‐weaning survival, as well as meat and carcass quality traits achieved the largest additional response. This additional response came at the expense of smaller responses for traits that are easy to measure, such as back fat and average daily gain in GS compared to the conventional breeding program. Sow longevity and drip loss percentage did not change in a favourable direction in GS with a reference population of 500 pigs. With a reference population of 1000 pigs or onwards, sow longevity and drip loss percentage began to change in a favourable direction. Despite the smaller responses for average daily gain and back fat thickness in GS, the overall breeding objective achieved additional gain in GS.
Inhibition of STAT3 by S3I‐201 suppress peritoneal fibroblast phenotype conversion and alleviate peritoneal fibrosis
Authors: Song Qianhui , Li Han , Yan Hao , Yu Zanzhe , Li Zhenyuan , Yuan Jiangzi , Jiang Na , Ni Zhaohui , Gu Leyi , Fang Wei 
Published: May 2024

AbstractPeritoneal fibrosis is a common pathological response to long‐term peritoneal dialysis (PD) and a major cause for PD discontinuation. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the induction and progression of peritoneal fibrosis is of great interest. In our study, in vitro study revealed that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a key factor in fibroblast activation and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis. Furthermore, STAT3 induced by IL‐6 trans‐signalling pathway mediate the fibroblasts of the peritoneal stroma contributed to peritoneal fibrosis. Inhibition of STAT3 exerts an antifibrotic effect by attenuating fibroblast activation and ECM production with an in vitro co‐culture model. Moreover, STAT3 plays an important role in the peritoneal fibrosis in an animal model of peritoneal fibrosis developed in mice. Blocking STAT3 can reduce the peritoneal morphological changes induced by chlorhexidine gluconate. In conclusion, our findings suggested STAT3 signalling played an important role in peritoneal fibrosis. Therefore, blocking STAT3 might become a potential treatment strategy in peritoneal fibrosis.
Targeted PLK1 suppression through RNA interference mediated by high‐fidelity Cas13d mitigates osteosarcoma progression via TGF‐β/Smad3 signalling
Authors: Yuan Yi , Cao Daigui , Zhang Anwei , Liu Zhiwei , Deng Zhongliang , Zhang Shengli 
Published: May 2024

AbstractOsteosarcoma is the most common primary bone malignancy in children and adolescents. Overexpression of polo‐like kinase 1 (PLK1) is frequent in osteosarcoma and drives disease progression and metastasis, making it a promising therapeutic target. In this study, we explored PLK1 knockdown in osteosarcoma cells using RNA interference mediated by high‐fidelity Cas13d (hfCas13d). PLK1 was found to be significantly upregulated in osteosarcoma tumour tissues compared to normal bone. sgRNA‐mediated PLK1 suppression via hfCas13d transfection inhibited osteosarcoma cell proliferation, induced G2/M cell cycle arrest, promoted apoptosis, reduced cell invasion and increased expression of the epithelial marker E‐cadherin. Proximity labelling by TurboID coupled with co‐immunoprecipitation identified novel PLK1 interactions with Smad3, a key intracellular transducer of TGF‐β signalling. PLK1 knockdown impaired Smad2/3 phosphorylation and modulated TGF‐β/Smad3 pathway inactivation. Finally, in vivo delivery of hfCas13d vectors targeting PLK1 substantially attenuated osteosarcoma xenograft growth in nude mice. Taken together, this study highlights PLK1 as a potential therapeutic target and driver of disease progression in osteosarcoma. It also demonstrates the utility of hfCas13d‐mediated gene knockdown as a strategy for targeted therapy. Further optimization of PLK1 suppression approaches may ultimately improve clinical outcomes for osteosarcoma patients.
The role of interleukin‐36 in health and disease states
Authors: Sugiura Kazumitsu , Fujita Hideki , Komine Mayumi , Yamanaka Keiichi , Akiyama Masashi 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe interleukin (IL)‐1 superfamily upregulates immune responses and maintains homeostasis between the innate and adaptive immune systems. Within the IL‐1 superfamily, IL‐36 plays a pivotal role in both innate and adaptive immune responses. Of the four IL‐36 isoforms, three have agonist activity (IL‐36α, IL‐36β, IL‐36γ) and the fourth has antagonist activity (IL‐36 receptor antagonist [IL‐36Ra]). All IL‐36 isoforms bind to the IL‐36 receptor (IL‐36R). Binding of IL‐36α/β/γ to the IL‐36R recruits the IL‐1 receptor accessory protein (IL‐1RAcP) and activates downstream signalling pathways mediated by nuclear transcription factor kappa B and mitogen‐activated protein kinase signalling pathways. Antagonist binding of IL‐36Ra to IL‐36R inhibits recruitment of IL‐1RAcP, blocking downstream signalling pathways. Changes in the balance within the IL‐36 cytokine family can lead to uncontrolled inflammatory responses throughout the body. As such, IL‐36 has been implicated in numerous inflammatory diseases, notably a type of pustular psoriasis called generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP), a chronic, rare, potentially life‐threatening, multisystemic skin disease characterised by recurrent fever and extensive sterile pustules. In GPP, IL‐36 is central to disease pathogenesis, and the prevention of IL‐36‐mediated signalling can improve clinical outcomes. In this review, we summarize the literature describing the biological functions of the IL‐36 pathway. We also consider the evidence for uncontrolled activation of the IL‐36 pathway in a wide range of skin (e.g., plaque psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, acne, Netherton syndrome, atopic dermatitis and pyoderma gangrenosum), lung (e.g., idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis), gut (e.g., intestinal fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease and Hirschsprung's disease), kidney (e.g., renal tubulointerstitial lesions) and infectious diseases caused by a variety of pathogens (e.g., COVID‐19; Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae infections), as well as in cancer. We also consider how targeting the IL‐36 signalling pathway could be used in treating inflammatory disease states.
An exploration of the experiences and attitudes of healthcare professionals towards enteral tube feeding for adults living in the community following stroke
Authors: Eleftheriadis Konstantinos , Madden Angela M. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundGuidelines recommend enteral feeding via gastrostomy should be considered for adult survivors of stroke with dysphagia who cannot eat or drink sufficiently for >4 weeks. Many people continue long‐term tube‐feeding via this route in the community where healthcare professionals contribute to their care and nutritional management, although little is known about their experiences of or attitudes towards enteral feeding in this situation. The present study aimed to explore the experiences and attitudes of healthcare professionals working with this patient group.MethodsHealthcare professionals were invited to complete a questionnaire devised for the study which comprised closed and open questions about tube‐feeding including their patients' participation in feeding processes and mealtimes and how these might be improved. Responses to closed questions were analysed descriptively and free‐text responses analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsFifty‐seven participants met the inclusion criteria. They identified patients' quality of life (77% of respondents) and nutritional support (75%) as the most important aspects of tube‐feeding. Good communication and training with healthcare teams and carers were considered important. Their patients' participation in tube‐feed administration and mealtime involvement were described as variable and potentially beneficial, but both were related to patients' choice and health impairment. Blended tube‐feeding was considered an option by 89% provided practical and safety conditions were met.ConclusionsParticipants' experiences of and attitudes towards tube feeding in adults living with stroke in the community in the sample in the present study are varied and focussed on individual patients' needs, safety and professional standards.
Structural adjustment, economic performance, and electoral volatility in presidential elections in Latin America
Authors: Tuman John P. , Kuenzi Michelle , Erlingsson Hafthor B. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractDrawing upon the Latin American Presidential and Legislative Elections database and our own original data set, we assess the effects of structural adjustment and other economic factors on presidential electoral volatility in 24 Latin American countries in 1982–2016. The results of our study indicate that both structural adjustment and inflation have a positive association with Type B presidential electoral volatility (the volatility generated from changes in the vote shares of established parties). Economic growth appears to have only a weak negative association with overall presidential electoral volatility. Type A presidential electoral volatility (the volatility associated with the rise of new parties) is mostly determined by demographic factors and the electoral system for the presidency. As with legislative volatility in Latin America, Africa, and postcommunist Europe, explaining stable party presidential volatility appears more challenging than explaining party replacement presidential volatility. Overall, several of the findings about legislative volatility are echoed in this study, but presidential electoral volatility is notably higher than legislative volatility in Latin America.
Gender inequalities during a global pandemic: The link between female solo self‐employment, informality, caregiving responsibilities, and quality of life 1 year after the Covid‐19 pandemic
Authors: Correa María Alejandra Inostroza , Velásquez Jorge Sepúlveda 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to see if informal, solo self‐employed women in Chile had a greater drop in their quality of life than their formal counterparts during the first year of the Covid‐19 pandemic. The article investigates the correlation between different types of employment arrangements (informal solo self‐employment and formal solo self‐employment) and the well‐being of these women during the pandemic. The instrument employed is the COV19‐Impact on Quality of Life questionnaire, consisting of six items presented in a 5‐point Likert scale format. The survey was conducted online as a self‐administered questionnaire to 854 female solo self‐employed participants, ranging in age from 19 to 75 years, who had received support from a social aid foundation in December 2020 and early 2021. The main finding suggests there is a correlation between the type of solo self‐employment and the quality of life experienced by women during the pandemic. Specifically, women engaged in informal solo self‐employment encountered a substantial decline in their quality of life over the initial year of the pandemic, reflecting a decrease of 14.97 points on the Quality of Life scale, in contrast to their formal counterparts. In conclusion, there is a strong correlation between the quality of life experienced during the pandemic and employment status. Even though employment arrangements were utilized as proxies for socioeconomic factors not directly assessed in the questionnaire, this tool proved invaluable in capturing diverse facets of socioeconomic conditions, encompassing income levels, access to governmental support, social protection, and working conditions.
Amartya Sen's social justice
Authors: Duran Jane 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis paper uses lines of argument drawn from Amartya Sen's Idea of Justice to support the notion that NGO efforts, far from being oppressive, are helpful and progressive. It cites the work of Lairap‐Fonderson and Chen, and alludes to specific projects. Contrast is made with Rawls, and the paper suggests that more formal theories of justice may not enable us to grapple with our intuitive sense that justice for the poverty stricken involves, at a minimum, both financial progress and forward movement with respect to internal growth. Examples of work done by NGOs in Bangladesh and other places help us to realize that women in these areas often have their own sense of what a more just situation would require—and NGOs and others can work from these conceptions as a point of departure. Part of the conclusion here is that Sen's concept of the just is a step in the right direction.
Elucidation of the role of microglia‐macrophage‐based neuroinflammation in neurological diseases
Authors: Yamasaki Ryo 
Published: May 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo elucidate the roles of microglia and macrophages in neuroinflammation and their dual impact on the progression of neurological diseases.BackgroundMicroglia and macrophages are integral components of the central and peripheral nervous systems, where they play important roles in maintaining homeostasis, influencing disease progression, and facilitating repair mechanisms.MethodsThe review integrates recent advancements in single‐cell RNA sequencing that highlight the extensive heterogeneity of microglia and macrophages, which helps in understanding their wide‐ranging roles in different neurological conditions.ResultsThe analysis reveals that microglia and macrophages have a dual nature, capable of both exacerbating and mitigating disease processes across various conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, peripheral nerve disorders, and brain tumors.ConclusionModulating the activity of microglia and macrophages offers a promising avenue for therapeutic interventions in neurological disorders. There is a critical need for further research to fully leverage their therapeutic potential in targeting neuroinflammation to enhance patient outcomes.
Defining the target population of environments for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding in Italy based on historical data
Authors: Vitale Paolo , Crossa José , Vaccino Patrizia , De Vita Pasquale 
Published: May 2024

AbstractGrain yield plateau is a serious concern in many countries, including Italy. A specific‐adaptative strategy might apply to contrast this unfavourable condition. This study aimed to investigate the gain in grain yield and yield‐related traits of bread wheat in Italy over a 16‐year period. A historical dataset concerning 105 sites across Italy and observations on grain yield, heading date, plant height and thousand kernel weight was used. The target population of environments (TPEs) were defined using several environmental parameters. The results showed that while there was a general increase in thousand kernel weight over the 16 years, there was no significant improvement in grain yield and heading date. By contrast, plant height showed a slight decrease over the years. The study also identified five TPEs presenting different climate scenarios in Italy. The TPEs showed varying levels of performance for the traits of interest, with the Po valley (TPE4) showing the highest values for grain yield and thousand kernel weight. The study also identified the best‐performing genotypes for each TPE, providing valuable insights for future wheat breeding programmes in Italy.
Kidney transplantation in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex
Authors: Goedken Amber M. , Ismail Wesam W. , Barrett Lucas D. G. , Harshman Lyndsay A. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundTuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a disorder of the mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway associated with the development of multisystem tumors, including renal angiomyolipoma (AML). These renal tumors are benign by nature but locally invasive and carry a risk for the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) to end stage kidney disease (ESKD). The frequency of subsequent renal transplantation in this population is largely uncharacterized, although single‐center data suggests that 5%–15% of adult TSC patients are kidney transplant recipients.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study utilized United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) data. We included candidates waitlisted between 1987 and 2020 for a first kidney transplant with TSC‐associated kidney failure. We utilized descriptive statistics to characterize the frequency of first‐time kidney transplant waitlisting and transplantation among persons with TSC and the Fine‐Gray subdistribution hazard model to evaluate characteristics associated with progression from waitlist.ResultsWe identified 200 TSC‐associated kidney failure patients within the waitlist cohort. Of these, 12 were pediatric patients. Two‐thirds (N = 134) of waitlisted persons were female. One hundred forty patients received a transplant with a median waitlist time of 2 years. Younger age at waitlisting was associated with a greater probability of progressing to transplant (HR 0.98 [95% CI: 0.96–0.99]). 91.8% of kidney transplant recipients survived 1‐year post‐transplant with a functioning allograft.ConclusionsThe majority of patients with TSC who are waitlisted for a kidney transplant progress onto transplantation with excellent 1‐year post transplant patient and allograft survival.
Comparison of cystatin C‐based estimated glomerular filtration rate with measured glomerular filtration rate in a pediatric cohort of patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Lindvig Tilde Ostendorf , Simonsen Jane Angel , Gerke Oke , Thiesson Helle Charlotte 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundIt is essential to have an accurate assessment of the renal function of patients with chronic kidney disease to monitor, treat, and predict further development of the condition. Measurement of renal function in terms of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) requires either urine or blood sampling, but especially in children, more simple methods of measurement are preferable. The main objective of this study was to examine if the estimated GFR (eGFR) calculated with different cystatin‐C‐based equations was comparable to the GFR measured by a radiotracer (mGFR) in pediatric patients.MethodsIn this retrospective study, 28 pediatric patients contributed with 73 pairs of measurements collected within 5 years. Bland–Altman Limits of Agreement were used to evaluate the performance and accuracy of two different cystatin‐C‐based estimates, the CKiDCrea‐CysC and the CKiDU25 respectively, compared to an mGFR based on plasma clearance of technetium‐99m‐diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid or chromium‐51‐ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.ResultsUsing the CKiDCrea‐CysC equation, 58.9% of the datasets were within P10 and 87.7% were within P30. The mean difference was 4.8 mL/min/1.73m2 (standard deviation: 8.5 mL/min/1.73m2) and tended to overestimate GFR and thereby overrate the kidney function within the entire GFR range. Using the CKiDU25 equation, 53.4% were within P10 and 93.2% within P30. The mean difference was −2.9 mL/min/1.73m2 (standard deviation: 8.4 mL/min/1.73m2), but the difference varied with the GFR value.ConclusionsA cystatin‐C‐based eGFR provides a viable substitute for monitoring renal function in pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease. However, it has a lower accuracy than mGFR and can therefore not replace mGFR in clinical use.
Embedding technology at the grassroots: Strategies for localising technology transfer under the UNFCCC technology mechanism
Authors: Owens Katherine , James Hannah 
Published: May 2024

AbstractTechnology transfer to the Global South involves not only technical solutions, but also ‘localising’ or adapting those solutions to place through multiparty learning and problem solving. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Technology Mechanism have largely overlooked the importance of localisation and have created a governance environment that neither reflects the ‘messiness’ of this process, nor the need for flexibility and long‐term collaboration for effective search and discovery, implementation and knowledge creation. This article focuses on the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), the Technology Mechanism's implementation arm, and the challenges it faces in orchestrating the transfer of technology to the Global South. Drawing on recent empirical research and theories of innovation and experimentalism, the article examines how the CTCN and its associated institutions could be governed in ways that better enable localisation. It argues that successful transfer is more likely to be facilitated through systemic linkages between the CTCN and associated technology processes such as Technology Needs Assessments, and by creating more active processes of technological search, learning, peer review and knowledge exchange.
Perceptual Clauses as Units of Production in Visual Descriptions
Authors: Ferreira Fernanda , Barker Madison 
Published: May 2024

AbstractDescribing our visual environments is challenging because although an enormous amount of information is simultaneously available to the visual system, the language channel must impose a linear order on that information. Moreover, the production system is at least moderately incremental, meaning that it interleaves planning and speaking processes. Here, we address how the operations of these two cognitive systems are coordinated given their different characteristics. We propose the concept of aperceptual clause, defined as an interface representation that allows the visual and linguistic systems to exchange information. The perceptual clause serves as the input to the language formulator, which translates the representation into a linguistic sequence. Perceptual clauses capture speakers’ ability to describe visual scenes coherently while at the same time taking advantage of the incremental abilities of the language production system.