bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
When EU Agencies Set Up Advisory Committees: All About Autonomy?
Authors: Jevnaker Torbjørg 
Published: May 2024

AbstractEuropean Union (EU) agencies' relations with interest groups have received scarce research attention despite their relevance to bureaucratic autonomy and functioning. Such relations may be organised via advisory committees, which are durable organisational structures for regularised contact between an agency and those societal actors given membership by the agency. Advisory committees may be imposed by the legislator to control an agency or harnessed by the latter to build autonomy. The EU legislator leaves significant discretion to EU agencies regarding advisory committees. However, EU agencies' late emergence in already densely populated regulatory fields begs the question of whether the use of agency discretion is fully autonomous. A case in point is the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), whose establishment and design of three European Stakeholder Committees are examined here. Advisory committees were needed by, but also imposed on, ACER, reflecting agency preferences to improve task performance as much as prior institutionalisation within the organisational field. Hence, factors beyond legal requirements can constrain agency discretion on how to organise the organisation of agency–interest group relations.
Effect of dietary vitamin E supplement on the reproductive performance and gene expression profiling in Ompok bimaculatus during breeding period
Authors: Mandal Sagar Chandra , Devi Ningthoujam Chaoba , Biswas Pradyut , Patel Arun Bhai , Sundaray Jitendra Kumar , Parhi Janmejay 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin E on the reproductive responses and the expression of reproductive genes in butter catfish (Ompok bimaculatus). Diets with different levels of vitamin E supplementation (0, 100, and 150 mg/kg) were provided to groups of fish for 60 days. After rearing for 60 days fish were induced with synthetic hormone, that is, Ovatide to study the breeding performance. Ovatide was administrated intramuscularly at the rate of 0.5 and 0.25 mL/kg of body weight for females and males, respectively, in all the treatments. Breeding performance result shows that supplements of vitamin E positively influenced the GSI%, fertilization rate, fecundity, and hatching rate. To understand the relationship between vitamin E and the breeding performance of the fish at the molecular level, a gene expression study was conducted. This study employed real‐time PCR for the selected genes critical for reproductive function. In the brain, testis, and ovary dietary vitamin E supplementation of 100 mg/kg significantly enhanced the mRNA transcription of FSHR, Brdt, ESR1, 17beta2, and LHR. Hence, it can be said that 100 mg/kg of vitamin E supplementation in the diet during the reproductive period of O. bimaculatus could improve breeding performance and the mRNA expression of reproductive hormone receptor genes in both males and females of O. bimaculatus.
Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) social calls in southern British Columbia
Authors: Molder Zoe A. , Halliday William D. , Reidy Rhonda , Kraemer Chloe N. , Juanes Francis 
Published: May 2024

AbstractHumpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) nonsong vocalizations, or social calls, are much more poorly understood than humpback song. We examined humpback whale social calls from a foraging ground in southern British Columbia (BC) and developed a catalog for humpback social calls in BC. We tagged four humpback whales on the eastern edge of Swiftsure Bank, BC, in early September 2020, with a passive acoustic and movement tag. We manually classified 32 call types in our data set based on comparisons with published classifications of humpback social calls. Many of the calls identified in our data set had similar characteristics to calls from other locations. We also used two statistical classification methods, a cluster analysis and a random forest. The cluster analysis grouped 20 of these call types into four categories, and the random forest classifier was able to accurately classify all 20 call types 87.6% of the time. This study fills a geographical gap of humpback whale social calls on foraging grounds and is a first step towards categorizing the social calls of humpback whales in BC.
Third molar agenesis in individuals with supernumerary teeth
Authors: Friedli Luca , Henninger Eva , Makrygiannakis Miltiadis A , Zymperdikas Vasileios F , Papadopoulos Moschos A , Kanavakis Georgios , Gkantidis Nikolaos 
Published: May 2024

AbstractObjectivesTo explore the association between third molar agenesis and supernumerary tooth formation in a white‐European population.Materials and MethodsA record review in various orthodontic clinics identified 380 eligible white‐European individuals, half of whom had non‐syndromic permanent supernumerary teeth (122 males and 68 females, totalling 244 supernumerary teeth; median age: 13.1, iqr: 1.5 years), and the other half were age‐ and sex‐matched controls with full dentition, excluding the third molars. Tooth sequences were identified in panoramic radiographs.ResultsIn the supernumerary group, approximately 80% of the individuals had a single supernumerary tooth, followed by those having two additional teeth. In both groups, there was no sexual dimorphism in third molar agenesis severity. The prevalence of third molar agenesis in the supernumerary group was similar to that of the control group (28/190 = 14.7% in both groups; p = 1.0). In total, 53 third molars were missing in the supernumerary group (n = 190) compared to 67 in the control group (n = 190; p = .862). The ratio of bilateral to unilateral third molar agenesis was significantly lower in the supernumerary group than in the control group (1.0 vs. 3.7, respectively; p = .026).ConclusionThe presence of supernumerary teeth did not significantly alter the likelihood of third molar agenesis or its severity. Bilateral third molar agenesis was considerably less prevalent in individuals with supernumerary teeth compared to controls. The present novel findings have important clinical and developmental implications.
Prevotella melaninogenica disrupted oral epithelial barrier function via myosin light chain kinase
Authors: Guo Yiting , Han Wenhao , He Yuan 
Published: May 2024

AbstractObjectiveOur previous studies have found that the composition ratio of Prevotella melaninogenica (Pm) on buccal mucosa surface of oral lichen planus (OLP) patients increased significantly compared with control. Furthermore, Pm could invade the epithelium of OLP patients. This study aimed to further explore the impact of Pm on oral keratinocytes.Materials and MethodsThe Pm–human oral keratinocyte (HOK) co‐culture model was established to detect monolayer permeability, zona occludens‐1 (ZO‐1) expression, and intracellular survival of Pm. We performed RNA‐seq followed by identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, with a particular focus on myosin light chain kinase (MLCK). An MLCK inhibitor ML‐7 was utilized in Pm‐HOK co‐culture model to assess its effects on monolayer permeability and ZO‐1 expression.ResultsHOK monolayer permeability was increased, and ZO‐1 expression was decreased after co‐culture (p < 0.05). Pm could survive in HOK cells. RNA‐seq revealed MLCK was an upregulated common DEG. The expression of MLCK in the Pm‐HOK co‐culture model was upregulated. Inhibition of MLCK rescued the increased epithelial permeability, and ZO‐1 expression was upregulated (p < 0.05).ConclusionMLCK may be involved in disrupting epithelial barrier function by Pm.
Exploring phosphorus starvation tolerance in aus (Oryza sativa L.) rice: An analysis of stress tolerance attributes and understanding the effect of PSTOL1 gene
Authors: Sar Puranjoy , Aiswarya Vilangapurathu S. , Basha Firos T. M. , Deo Rachna , Verma Bibhash Chandra , Bhaduri Debarati , Chakraborty Koushik , Ngangkham Umakanta , Banerjee Amrita , Kumar Jitendra , Mandal Nimai Prasad , Roy Somnath 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe limited availability of Phosphorus (P) in the soil poses a significant challenge to of rice productivity in rainfed tropical regions. There has been a constant demand of diverse donors for enhancing tolerance to P‐deficient soils. In this study, we evaluated 181 aus rice accessions of the 3000 Rice Genome Project (3 K‐RGP) for grain yield and six other agronomical traits under control (~20 mg kg−1 available P) and low‐P (8–10 mg kg−1 available P) field trials. The objectives were to assess the level of low‐P tolerance in the aus germplasm and select stable high‐yielding accessions using stress tolerance attributes. We also surveyed the presence of PSTOL1 gene and Pup1 polymorphisms to find the effect of PSTOL1 as well as t Pup1 haplotypes on low‐P tolerance. Principal component analysis (PCA) using five stress tolerance attributes revealed that attributes like mean productivity (MP) and stress tolerance index (STI) are useful for selecting high‐yielding accessions with stable yield under stress and control conditions. Notably, accessions like Kalabokari, Devarasi, ARC 12021, Jasure Aus, ARC 7336 and ARC 12101 had higher level of tolerance than the check varieties Vandana and Sahbhagi Dhan. Majority of aus accessions carried the PSTOL1 gene (73%) and had the tolerant haplotype of Pup1 (65%) like the tolerant checks. Although, at large, the PSTOL1‐positive accessions were more vigorous, and high yielding under low‐P, there were a few PSTOL1‐negative aus accessions showing higher level of tolerance. The findings suggest that non‐PSTOL1 type tolerance exists in aus rice which needs to be substantiated through further studies.
Integrated physiological, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the mechanism of peanut kernel weight reduction under waterlogging stress
Authors: Zeng Ruier , Chen Tingting , Li Xi , Cao Jing , Li Jie , Xu Xueyu , Zhang Lei , Chen Yong 
Published: May 2024

AbstractWaterlogging stress (WS) hinders kernel development and directly reduces peanut yield; however, the mechanism of kernel filling in response to WS remains unknown. The waterlogging‐sensitive variety Huayu 39 was subjected to WS for 3 days at 7 days after the gynophores touched the ground (DAG). We found that WS affected kernel filling at 14, 21, and 28 DAG. WS decreased the average filling rate and kernel dry weight, while transcriptome sequencing and widely targeted metabolomic analysis revealed that WS inhibited the gene expression in starch and sucrose metabolism, which reduced sucrose input and transformation ability. Additionally, genes related to ethylene and melatonin synthesis and the accumulation of tryptophan and methionine were upregulated in response to WS. WS upregulated the expression of the gene encoding tryptophan decarboxylase (AhTDC), and overexpression of AhTDC in Arabidopsis significantly reduced the seed length, width, and weight. Therefore, WS reduced the kernel‐filling rate, leading to a reduction in the 100‐kernel weight. This survey informs the development of measures that alleviate the negative impact of WS on peanut yield and quality and provides a basis for exploring high‐yield and high‐quality cultivation, molecular‐assisted breeding, and waterlogging prevention in peanut farming.
Genotypic spectrum of albinism in Mali
Authors: Diallo Modibo , Sylla Ousmane , Sidibé Mohamed Kole , Plaisant Claudio , Mercier Elina , Sequeira Angèle , Javerzat Sophie , Hadid Abdelaziz , Lasseaux Eulalie , Michaud Vincent , Arveiler Benoit 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAlbinism is a phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous condition characterized by a variable degree of hypopigmentation and by ocular features leading to reduced visual acuity. Whereas numerous genotypic studies have been conducted throughout the world, very little is known about the genotypic spectrum of albinism in Africa and especially in sub‐Saharan Western Africa. Here we report the analysis of all known albinism genes in a series a 23 patients originating from Mali. Four were diagnosed with OCA 1 (oculocutaneous albinism type 1), 17 with OCA 2, and two with OCA 4. OCA2 variant NM_000275.3:c.819_822delinsGGTC was most frequently encountered. Four novel variants were identified (two in TYR, two in OCA2). A deep intronic variant was found to alter splicing of the OCA2 RNA by inclusion of a pseudo exon. Of note, the OCA2 exon 7 deletion commonly found in eastern, central, and southern Africa was absent from this series. African patients with OCA 1 and OCA 4 had only been reported twice and once, respectively, in previous publications. This study constitutes the first report of the genotypic spectrum of albinism in a western sub‐Saharan country.
Apolipoprotein E Is Upregulated in Blood and Circulating Monocytes of Indian Patients With Visceral Leishmaniasis
Authors: Kausar Gulafsha , Chauhan Shashi B. , Roy Ritirupa , Kumar Shashi , Engwerda Christian , Nylen Susanne , Kumar Rajiv , Wilson Mary E. , Sundar Shyam 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACTApolipoprotein E (ApoE) has been associated with several diseases including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis. ApoE also has documented immunomodulatory functions. We investigated gene expression in circulating monocytes and in bone marrows of patients with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) living in an endemic area in Bihar, India, and contrasted these with control healthy subjects or other diagnostic bone marrows from individuals in the same region. Samples from VL patients were obtained prior to initiating treatment. Our study revealed significant upregulated expression of the apoE transcript in patients with VL. Furthermore, the levels of ApoE protein were elevated in serum samples of subjects with VL compared with healthy endemic controls. These observations may provide clues regarding the complex interactions between lipid metabolism and immunoregulation of infectious and inflammatory diseases.
Predictors of lung function in early adulthood: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Zhang Xian , Gray Andrew R. , Hancox Robert J. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackground and ObjectiveLung function reaches a peak/plateau in early adulthood before declining with age. Lower early adult lung function may increase the risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in mid‐late adult life. Understanding the effects of multiple childhood/adolescent exposures and their potential interactions on plateau lung function would provide insights into the natural history of COPD.MethodsLongitudinal spirometry data from 688 participants with complete data from a population‐based birth cohort (original n = 1037) were used to investigate associations between a wide range of childhood/adolescent exposures and repeated measures of FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC during the early‐adult plateau phase. Generalized estimating equations were used to accommodate the multiple timepoints per participant.ResultsFEV1 reached a peak/plateau between ages 18 and 26 and FVC from 21 to 32 years, whereas FEV1/FVC declined throughout early adulthood. Childhood asthma and airway hyperresponsiveness were associated with lower early adult FEV1 and FEV1/FVC. Smoking by age 18 was associated with lower FEV1/FVC. Higher BMI during early adulthood was associated with lower FEV1 and FVC and lower FEV1/FVC. Physical activity during adolescence was positively associated with FEV1 and FEV1/FVC but this was only statistically significant in men. There was no convincing evidence of interactions between exposures.ConclusionChildhood asthma and airway hyperresponsiveness are associated with lower lung function in early adulthood. Interventions targeting these may reduce the risk of COPD in mid‐late adult life. Promotion of physical activity during adolescence, prevention of cigarette smoking and maintenance of a healthy body weight in early adulthood are also priorities.
The effects of local economic development on female obesity (overweight) in sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Afesorgbor Sylvanus Kwaku , Martey Edward , Aheto Justice Moses 
Published: May 2024

AbstractObesity (overweight) is a widespread concern not only in high‐income nations but also in low‐income countries across sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). Although many studies attribute this trend to economic development triggering a shift in nutrition patterns within SSA, they tend overlook a critical factor: the level at which these determinants are measured. Assessing them nationally while drawing comparisons with individual‐level obesity data introduces a statistical challenge known as the ecological fallacy. To address this, we utilize local‐level night light data as a proxy for local economic development. Analyzing demographic and health surveys from 44 SSA countries spanning the period 1992–2019, we find that local development is associated with a 0.002% increase in the body mass index of women. In addition, we find that night light intensity is associated with 0.2%–0.3% increases in probabilities of a woman being overweight and obese. Our results remain robust when we employ an instrumental variable approach by using a control function based on peer effect. In terms of policy implication, our research highlights that local development may entail potential health costs, emphasizing the need for African governments to invest in healthcare and also build physical infrastructure that can promote active lifestyles.
Embodied collaborations: Using virtual reality and spatialized sound to share sensible experience
Authors: Montero Hugo 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis article proposes to plunge into reactivated experience: a methodology designed to locate and use new paths of mediation to share an embodied and sensorial experiences and discourses. This way of doing collaborative research involves an immersive apparatus which produces images and sounds broadcasted through a virtual reality headset. It plays on the trouble created by these mediations and their in‐motion constitution in order to produce a reflexive discussion about mundane experiences. It is part of a broader research project about how inhabitants of Lyon and Madrid's districts endure heat waves in urban context.
Effect of Direct Aging Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Laser Powder Bed Fused Maraging Steel 300-Grade Alloy
Authors: Subba Rao Bheemavarapu , Rao Thella Babu , Rama Karthik Mondi 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
This paper investigates the effects of a 6-hour direct aging heat treatment at 490 °C on the mechanical, tribological, and microstructure characteristics of laser powder bed fused maraging 300 steels, which is produced at various laser energy densities. After direct aging heat treatment, the grain boundaries become irregular and vague due to the residual stress releasing, squeezing of precipitates into the grain boundaries, and phase transformations. The XRD analysis reveals the reverted austenite (γ′) phase forms during aging treatment due to the inevitable reversion of metastable martensite to the stable reverted γ′ phase. The heat-treated samples' microhardness rises with rising the laser energy density (LED) from 61.41 to 92.10 J/mm3 due to a decrease in the reversed austenite phase and a further rise in LED decreases the microhardness of heat-treated samples due to a rise in the reversed austenite phase after heat treatment. The heat-treated sample produced at LED of 92.10 J/mm3 shows maximum yield, ultimate tensile strengths, and minimum elongation percentage due to its high microhardness, and the fractography results show the failure mode as a mixed brittle and ductile fracture. The wear-rate of the heat-treated additively manufactured maraging 300 steel decreases as the LED increases from 61.41 to 92.1 J/mm3 and a further rise in LED from 92.10 J/mm3 to 166.66 J/mm3, the wear-rate increases. The wear-rate rises with a rise in sliding velocity from 1.5–3.5 m/s. The dominant wear mechanism was observed as abrasion with small grooves and saplings.
Criterion Validity of Commonly Used Sedentary Behavior Questionnaires to Measure Total Sedentary Time in Adults
Authors: Shivgulam Madeline E. , Kimmerly Derek S. , O’Brien Myles W. 
Published: May 2024

Background: Self-report questionnaires are a fast and cost-efficient method to determine habitual sedentary time (sitting/lying time while awake), but their accuracy versus thigh-worn accelerometry (criterion), which can distinguish between sitting and standing postures, is unclear. While the validity of sedentary questionnaires has previously been evaluated, they have not been investigated simultaneously in the same sample population. We tested the hypothesis that common sedentary questionnaires underpredict habitual sedentary time compared with an objective, monitor-based assessment. Methods: Ninety-three participants (30 ± 18 years, 59 females) wore the activPAL inclinometer on the midthigh 24 hr per day for 6.9 ± 0.4 days and completed the SIT-Q, Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire (PASB-Q). Results: In comparison to the activPAL (9.9 ± 1.9 hr/day), the SIT-Q measured more time (12.9 ± 5.4 hr/day), but the SBQ (7.5 ± 3.3 hr/day), IPAQ (7.4 ± 3.0 hr/day), and PASB-Q (6.6 ± 3.0 hr/day) measured less time (all p < .001). The SIT-Q was positively and weakly correlated (ρ = .230 [95% confidence interval: .020, .422], p = .028) with the activPAL, but the SBQ, IPAQ, and PASB-Q were not (all ps > .760). Equivalence testing demonstrated poor equivalence for the SIT-Q (±40%), SBQ (±31%), IPAQ (±36%), and PASB-Q (±29%). The SIT-Q (β = −1.36), SBQ (β = −0.97), and IPAQ (β = −0.78) exhibited a negative proportional bias (all ps < .002). Conclusions: In summary, the SIT-Q, SBQ, IPAQ, and PASB-Q demonstrated poor validity. Researchers and health promoters should be cautious when implementing these self-report sedentary time questionnaires, as they may not reflect the true sedentary activity and negatively impact study results.