bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of crystalline domains on long‐term stability and mechanical performance of anisotropic silk fibroin sponges
Authors: Aikman Elizabeth L. , Rao Asha P. , Jia Yinhao , Fussell Emily E. , Trumbull Kayleigh E. , Sampath Janani , Stoppel Whitney L. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractSponge‐like materials made from regenerated silk fibroin biopolymers are a tunable and advantageous platform for in vitro engineered tissue culture and in vivo tissue regeneration. Anisotropic, three‐dimensional (3D) silk fibroin sponge‐like scaffolds can mimic the architecture of contractile muscle. Herein, we use silk fibroin solution isolated from the cocoons of Bombyx mori silkworms to form aligned sponges via directional ice templating in a custom mold with a slurry of dry ice and ethanol. Hydrated tensile mechanical properties of these aligned sponges were evaluated as a function of silk polymer concentration (3% or 5%), freezing time (50% or 100% ethanol), and post‐lyophilization method for inducing crystallinity (autoclaving, water annealing). Hydrated static tensile tests were used to determine Young's modulus and ultimate tensile strength across sponge formulations at two strain rates to evaluate rate dependence in the calculated parameters. Results aligned with previous reports in the literature for isotropic silk fibroin sponge‐like scaffolds, where the method by which beta‐sheets were formed and level of beta‐sheet content (crystallinity) had the greatest impact on static parameters, while polymer concentration and freezing rate did not significantly impact static mechanical properties. We estimated the crystalline organization using molecular dynamics simulations to show that larger crystalline regions may be responsible for strength at low strain amplitudes and brittleness at high strain amplitudes in the autoclaved sponges. Within the parameters evaluated, extensional Young's modulus is tunable in the range of 600–2800 kPa. Dynamic tensile testing revealed the linear viscoelastic region to be between 0% and 10% strain amplitude and 0.2–2 Hz frequencies. Long‐term stability was evaluated by hysteresis and fatigue tests. Fatigue tests showed minimal change in the storage and loss modulus of 5% silk fibroin sponges for more than 6000 min of continuous mechanical stimulation in the linear regime at 10% strain amplitude and 1 Hz frequency. Furthermore, we confirmed that these mechanical properties hold when decellularized extracellular matrix is added to the sponges and when the mechanical property assessments were performed in cell culture media. We also used nano‐computed tomography (nano‐CT) and simulations to explore pore interconnectivity and tortuosity. Overall, these results highlight the potential of anisotropic, sponge‐like silk fibroin scaffolds for long‐term (>6 weeks) contractile muscle culture with an in vitro bioreactor system that provides routine mechanical stimulation.
Influence of incubation temperature, maternal effects, and paternity on quality of olive ridley hatchlings (Lepidochelys olivacea) from a mass‐nesting beach in the Mexican Pacific
Authors: Labastida‐Estrada Elizabeth , González‐Cortés Liliana , Karam‐Martínez Samantha G. , Montoya‐Márquez José Alberto , Zúñiga‐Marroquín Tania , Becerril‐Morales Felipe , Islas‐Villanueva Valentina 
Published: March 2024

AbstractFuture climate change scenarios project that the increase in surface temperatures will affect ocean temperatures, inducing shifts in marine biodiversity. Sea turtles are species that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change because temperature is a factor that influences embryonic development. We collected clutches of olive ridley turtles from a mass‐nesting beach in the Mexican Pacific, which were incubated in ex situ conditions. When the hatchlings emerged, we measured the body condition index—which evaluates the weight‐length relationship—and swim thrust, both were considered traits associated with fitness, termed “fitness proxies,” and evaluated the effects of incubation temperature, maternal effects, and paternity on these fitness proxies. The body condition index was correlated positively and significantly with the arribada month and temperature during the last third of the incubation period but showed an inverse relationship with the maternal effect. While swim thrust was positively correlated with the maternal effect and the arribada month, there was an inverse relationship with incubation temperature during the first third of the period. Paternity, whether single or multiple, did not have a significant effect on either fitness proxies; however, it may have effects on the average fitness of a population of hatchlings. These results underscore the need to expand research on the sublethal effects of high incubation temperatures on the adaptation and survival of sea turtles, particularly in scenarios of rapid climate change.
Respiratory syncytial virus incidence and typing in the last six seasons in the north of Spain (Asturias). Genetic characterization during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic
Authors: Rojo‐Alba Susana , Martínez Zulema Pérez , González‐Alba José María , Boga José Antonio , Varela Cristina Ochoa , Álvarez Maria Agustina Alonso , Fonseca Carmen Pérez , Clemente Marta María García , Rodriguez José Gutierrez , García Estibaliz Garrido , Pérez Mercedes Rodríguez , García Santiago Melón , Álvarez‐Argüelles Marta Elena 
Published: March 2024

AbstractRespiratory syncytial virus is associated with lower respiratory tract infections. As several types and genotypes can circulate at the same time, genomic characterization is important for timely epidemiological control and treatment measures. In the last 6 seasons (2017–2023), 191 236 nasopharyngeal swabs were processed for respiratory viruses to determine the etiology of acute respiratory infections, describe the incidence and distribution of RSV types and enrich the data of epidemiological molecular studies on RSV in Spain. The incidence of RSV reached 7% in the pre‐pandemic season. RSV was most frequent in children under 5 years of age (12.6%), but was also significant in those over 70 years of age (5.63%). The measures taken to control SARS‐CoV‐2 infection were useful for RSV control and the incidence decreased to 1.8%, but caused a change in the types. Pre‐pandemic, the majority circulating types were RSV‐B/RSV‐B/RSV‐A and in the pandemic it was RSV‐B/RSV‐B. In the last season, RSV‐B and RSV‐A were detected in the same proportion. Genetic characterization showed three new clades. This has been taken into account to understand the epidemiology as well as the development of therapeutic and preventive strategies.
Repeated finasteride administration promotes synaptic plasticity and produces antidepressant‐ and anxiolytic‐like effects in female rats
Authors: Nayana Jose , Shankaranarayana Rao Byrathnahalli S. , Srikumar Bettadapura N. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractFinasteride is used in female‐pattern hair loss, hirsutism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. It inhibits 5α‐reductase, which is an important enzyme in the biosynthesis of neurosteroids. The effects of finasteride treatment on mental health in female patients as well as the effects of repeated/chronic finasteride administration in female rodents are still unknown. Accordingly, in our study, we administered finasteride (10, 30, or 100 mg/Kg, s.c.) for 6 days in female rats and evaluated behavior, plasma steroid levels, and synaptic plasticity. Depression‐like behavior was evaluated using forced swim test (FST) and splash test. Anxiety‐like behavior was evaluated using novelty‐suppressed feeding task (NSFT), elevated plus maze (EPM), open field test (OFT), and light–dark test (LDT). Plasma steroid levels were assessed using ELISA and synaptic plasticity by field potential recordings. We observed that finasteride decreased total immobility duration in FST, indicating antidepressant‐like effect and decreased the latency to first bite in NSFT, showing anxiolytic‐like effect. We also found a significant increase in plasma estradiol and a significant decrease in plasma corticosterone level. Furthermore, field potential recordings showed that finasteride increased hippocampal long‐term potentiation. These results indicate that repeated finasteride administration in female rats may have antidepressant‐ and anxiolytic‐like effect, which might be mediated by enhanced estradiol levels or decreased corticosterone levels. Further studies are required to validate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of finasteride in female rats. Understanding the mechanisms will help us in developing novel neurosteroid‐based therapeutics in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders in women.
Simultaneous MPFL reconstruction and guided growth result in low rates of recurrent patellofemoral instability
Authors: Bram Joshua T. , Tracey Olivia C. , Lijesen Emilie , Li Don T. , Chipman Danielle E. , Retzky Julia S. , Fabricant Peter D. , Green Daniel W. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPurposeImplant‐mediated guided growth (IMGG) is used to address coronal plane deformity in skeletally immature patients. Few studies have reported on IMGG and simultaneous medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction for paediatric patients with concurrent genu valgum and patellofemoral instability (PFI). This study aimed to report on the outcomes of these simultaneous procedures.Materials and MethodsThis was a retrospective review of paediatric patients undergoing simultaneous MPFL reconstruction and IMGG between 2016 and 2023. Mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA), hip–knee–ankle angle (HKA) and mechanical axis deviation (MAD) were measured on full‐length hip‐to‐ankle plain radiographs. Measurements were taken preoperatively, prior to implant removal and/or at final follow‐up with minimum 1‐year clinical follow‐up.ResultsA total of 25 extremities in 22 patients (10 female) underwent simultaneous IMGG and MPFL reconstruction. The mean age at surgery was 12.6 ± 1.7 years. The mean duration of implant retention was 18.6 ± 11.3 months. Nineteen extremities (76%) underwent implant removal by final follow‐up. Preoperative HKA corrected from a mean of 5.8 ± 2.3° to −0.8 ± 4.5° at implant removal or final follow‐up (p < 0.001), with mLDFA and MAD similarly improving (both p < 0.001). HKA corrected a mean of 0.7 ± 0.9° per month, while mLDFA and MAD corrected a mean of 0.5 ± 0.6°/month and 2 ± 3 mm/month, respectively. At the time of implant removal or final follow‐up, 88% of patients demonstrated alignment within 5° of neutral. Only one extremity experienced subsequent PFI (4%). For 14 patients who underwent implant removal with further imaging at a mean of 7.8 ± 4.9 months, only one patient (7%) had a valgus rebound to an HKA > 5°.ConclusionSimultaneous MPFL reconstruction and IMGG provided successful correction of lower extremity malalignment with only one recurrence of PFI. This approach is a reliable surgical option for skeletally immature patients with genu valgum and PFI.Level of EvidenceLevel 4 case series.
Ecosystem function associated with soil organic carbon declines with tropical dry forest degradation
Authors: de Sosa Laura L. , Carmona Inmaculada , Panettieri Marco , Griffith Daniel M. , Espinosa Carlos I. , Jara‐Guerrero Andrea , Plaza César , Madejón Engracia 
Published: March 2024

AbstractForest degradation is increasingly recognized as a major threat to global biodiversity and the multiple ecosystem services forests provide. This study examined the impacts of forest degradation on soil quality and function in a seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) of Ecuador. Previous studies of SDTFs have focused on the impacts of land‐use conversion on soils, while this study assessed the less visible but pervasive effects of degradation. We compared soil physical–chemical properties, enzymatic activity, particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral‐associated organic carbon (MAOC) along a gradient of SDTF degradation in both the dry and rainy season. Our findings showed a consistent and steady reduction in soil quality (total C and N) and function (dehydrogenase and β‐glucosidase activity) that paralleled the loss of vegetative structure and diversity along the degradation gradient. Soil physical–chemical properties were less variable and enzymatic activity was generally higher in the dry season compared to the rainy season. We also showed for the first time a significant and uniform decrease in POC and MAOC with degradation in SDTF. The relative proportion of these two components was constant along the gradient except in the most degraded state (arid land), where POC was higher in proportion to MAOC, suggesting that extreme forest degradation may cause this ecosystem to cross a functional tipping point. These findings address an important knowledge gap for SDTFs by showing a consistent loss of soil quality and functionality with degradation, and suggest that extreme degradation can result in an alternate state with compromised resilience.
Soil organic carbon enrichment in the particulate matter emitted by rural soils: A laboratory assessment
Authors: Ramirez Haberkon Nancy B. , Mendez Mariano J. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe aim of this study was to assess the organic carbon (OC) content in the PM10 emitted by agricultural soils and rural roads under controlled conditions. Samples were collected from agricultural soils and rural roads. The PM10 was generated and collected using an electrostatic precipitator coupled with the Easy Dust Generator (EDG). This procedure ensures that the PM10 collected come specifically from soil. OC contents were measured in both the soil and PM10. The enrichment ratio (ER) was calculated as the ratio between OC content in the PM10 and OC content in the soil. The results showed that OC content in the PM10 ranged from 2.7% to 3.5% in agricultural soils and from 1.4% to 2.9% in rural roads. These values were comparable with the OC contents observed in fine particles transported by the wind, but lower than OC contents observed in PM10 samples collected in rural areas using active samplers and filters. A quadratic function described the association between OC in PM10 and OC in the soil. A negative potential function described the association between ERs and OC in the soil. Both associations suggested a saturation of OC in PM10 when the OC content in the soil was high. This information is crucial for a better comprehending of the dust emission role in the redistribution of OC within terrestrial ecosystems and to the atmosphere and oceans.
Characteristics and hotspots of forest litter decomposition research: A bibliometric analysis
Authors: Liu Qi , Li Jianxing , Ye Shaoming , Guo Yili , Wang Shengqiang 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe decomposition of forest litter is essential for maintaining forest ecosystem productivity and improving soil fertility. Interdisciplinary collaboration plays a pivotal role in the study of litter decomposition. Nevertheless, existing literature reviews often concentrate on specific hot topics, lacking a more comprehensive and systematic overview of this field. This study was based on the Web of Science core collection of literature. CiteSpace and VOSviewer bibliometric tools were employed to systematically analyze the literature associated with forest litter decomposition from multiple perspectives, published from 1996 to 2023. Publishing trends, literature exchanges, development trends, influential countries, institutions, authors, and journals were identified and discussed. We arrived at the following conclusions that research in this field exhibited a clear trend of rapid growth, particularly after 2016. On one hand, this phenomenon may have been due to the United Nations climate agreement signed in late 2015, while in contrast it was also related to technological and theoretical advances. The United States, China, and Germany are prominent in this field and collaborative research is steadily increasing. Frequently cited articles reveal that advances in theory and technology are of great significance toward the development of the field. The keywords and investigative hotspots in this research domain show a staged development; however, nutrient cycling, carbon dynamics, soil, and root systems are stable hot topics. Future research should strengthen international cooperation, broaden the scope of research, consider a wider range of ecological processes, and delve into fundamental topics such as nutrient cycling, carbon dynamics, soil biology, and litter quality.
K3 surfaces with a symplectic automorphism of order 4
Authors: Piroddi Benedetta 
Published: March 2024

AbstractGiven , a K3 surface admitting a symplectic automorphism of order 4, we describe the isometry on . Having called and , respectively, the minimal resolutions of the quotient surfaces and , we also describe the maps induced in cohomology by the rational quotient maps and : With this knowledge, we are able to give a lattice‐theoretic characterization of , and find the relation between the Néron–Severi lattices of and in the projective case. We also produce three different projective models for and , each associated to a different polarization of degree 4 on .
Nonisocyanate Polyurethane Segmented Copolymers from Bis‐Carbonylimidazolides
Authors: Sintas Jose I. , Bean Ren H. , Zhang Rui , Long Timothy E. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBis‐carbonylimidazolide (BCI) functionalization enables an efficient synthetic strategy to generate high molecular weight segmented nonisocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs). Melt phase polymerization of ED‐2003 Jeffamine, 4,4′‐methylenebis(cyclohexylamine), and a BCI monomer that mimics a 1,4‐butanediol chain extender enables polyether NIPUs that contain varying concentrations of hard segments ranging from 40 to 80 wt. %. Dynamic mechanical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry reveal thermal transitions for soft, hard, and mixed phases. Hard segment incorporations between 40 and 60 wt. % display up to three distinct phases pertaining to the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) soft segment Tg, melting transition, and hard segment Tg, while higher hard segment concentrations prohibit soft segment crystallization, presumably due to restricted molecular mobility from the hard segment. Atomic force microscopy allows for visualization and size determination of nanophase‐separated regimes, revealing a nanoscale rod‐like assembly of HS. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering confirms nanophase separation within the NIPU, characterizing both nanoscale amorphous domains and varying degrees of crystallinity. These NIPUs, which are synthesized with BCI monomers, display expected phase separation that is comparable to isocyanate‐derived analogues. This work demonstrates nanophase separation in BCI‐derived NIPUs and the feasibility of this nonisocyanate synthetic pathway for the preparation of segmented PU copolymers.
How Do I Report Genes in a Paper?
Authors: Gabbert Carolin , Klein Christine , Trinh Joanne 
Published: March 2024

AbstractGenetic testing, including whole genome, whole exome, and other next‐generation sequencing technologies, has evolved vastly in the past decade. With this, the number of identified genes and genetic variants is constantly increasing. Although a variety of databases and online tools exist that summarize, categorize, and classify genes, a clear guideline of which information is needed when reporting a gene and what to do when identifying a new gene is lacking. This includes the correct nomenclature, descriptive information about genetic loci and genetic variation, aliases, and correlated phenotypes. This tutorial is meant to serve as an introduction to reporting genes in a paper and provides an overview of available databases and tools to obtain all necessary information on the genes of interest.
Assessment on interoceptive awareness on alcohol use and gambling disorders reveals dissociable interoceptive abilities linked to external and internal dependencies: Practical use of Body Perception Questionnaire Very Short Form (BPQ‐VSF) in clinical settings
Authors: London Giselle , Hida Hiroko , Kagaya Ariyuki , Yamawaki Shigeto , Machizawa Maro G. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractInteroception is one of the pivotal cognitive functions for mechanisms of our body awareness, and malfunction of the interoceptive network is thought to be associated with mental illness, including addiction. Within addictive disorders, substance‐based and non‐substance‐based addictions are known to hold dissociable reward systems. However, little is known about how interoceptive awareness between these addiction sub‐types would differ. Subjective interoceptive awareness was assessed among patients with alcohol use disorder (n = 50) who were subsequently hospitalized or remained out‐patient and gambling addiction (n = 41) by the Body Awareness component of the Japanese version of the Body Perception Questionnaire (BPQ‐VSFBA‐J) and compared them against healthy control (n = 809). Both addiction groups showed significantly lower BPQ than the control, with no substantial differences between inpatients and outpatients for alcohol samples. Notably, BPQ scores for gambling patients were significantly lower than those for the alcohol group. This evidence may suggest a putative role of interoceptive ability on the severity of behavioral addiction over substance‐based addiction.
Transcriptomic analysis and fusion gene identifications of midbody remnants released from colorectal cancer cells reveals they are molecularly distinct from exosomes and microparticles
Authors: Suwakulsiri Wittaya , Xu Rong , Rai Alin , Chen Maoshan , Shafiq Adnan , Greening David W. , Simpson Richard J. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPreviously, we reported that human primary (SW480) and metastatic (SW620) colorectal (CRC) cells release three classes of membrane‐encapsulated extracellular vesicles (EVs); midbody remnants (MBRs), exosomes (Exos), and microparticles (MPs). We reported that MBRs were molecularly distinct at the protein level. To gain further biochemical insights into MBRs, Exos, and MPs and their emerging role in CRC, we performed, and report here, for the first time, a comprehensive transcriptome and long noncoding RNA sequencing analysis and fusion gene identification of these three EV classes using the next‐generation RNA sequencing technique. Differential transcript expression analysis revealed that MBRs have a distinct transcriptomic profile compared to Exos and MPs with a high enrichment of mitochondrial transcripts lncRNA/pseudogene transcripts that are predicted to bind to ribonucleoprotein complexes, spliceosome, and RNA/stress granule proteins. A salient finding from this study is a high enrichment of several fusion genes in MBRs compared to Exos, MPs, and cell lysates from their parental cells such as MSH2 (gene encoded DNA mismatch repair protein MSH2). This suggests potential EV‐liquid biopsy targets for cancer detection. Importantly, the expression of cancer progression‐related transcripts found in EV classes derived from SW480 (EGFR) and SW620 (MET and MACCA1) cell lines reflects their parental cell types. Our study is the report of RNA and fusion gene compositions within MBRs (including Exos and MPs) that could have an impact on EV functionality in cancer progression and detection using EV‐based RNA/ fusion gene candidates for cancer biomarkers.