bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The performance of general practice in the English National Health Service (NHS): an analysis using Starfield's framework for primary care
Authors: Fisher Rebecca , Alderwick Hugh 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
General practice in the English National Health Service (NHS) is in crisis. In response, politicians are proposing fundamental reform to the way general practice is organized. But ideas for reform are contested, and there are conflicting interpretations of the problems to be addressed. We use Barbara Starfield's “4Cs” framework for high-performing primary care to provide an overall assessment of the current role and performance of general practice in England. We first assessed theoretical alignment between Starfield's framework and the role of general practice in England. We then assessed actual performance using publicly available national data and targeted literature searches. We found close theoretical alignment between Starfield's framework and the model of NHS general practice in England. But, in practice, its model of universal comprehensive care risks being undermined by worsening and inequitable access, while continuity of care is declining. Underlying causes of current challenges in general practice in England appear more closely linked to under-resourcing than the fundamental design of the system. General practice in England must evolve, but wholesale re-organization is likely to damage and distract. Instead, policymakers should focus on adequately resourcing general practice while supporting general practice teams to improve the quality and coordination of local services.
Defensive alteration of root exudate composition by grafting Prunus sp. onto resistant rootstock contributes to reducing crown gall disease
Authors: Chen Lin , Bian Lusen , Ma Qinghua , Li Ying , Wang Xinghong , Liu Yunpeng 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Grafting is a traditional and significant strategy to suppress soil-borne diseases, such as the crown gall disease caused by tumorigenic Agrobacterium and Rhizobium. Root exudates and the rhizosphere microbiome play critical roles in controlling crown gall disease, but their roles in suppressing crown gall disease in grafted plants remain unclear. Here, disease-susceptible cherry rootstock ‘Gisela 6’ and disease-resistant cherry rootstock ‘Haiying 1’ were grafted onto each other or self-grafted. The effect of their root exudates on the soil microbiome composition and the abundance of pathogenic Agrobacterium were studied. Grafting onto the disease-resistant rootstock helped to reduce the abundance of pathogenic Agrobacterium, accompanied by altering root exudation, enriching potential beneficial bacteria, and changing soil function. Then, the composition of the root exudates from grafted plants was analyzed and the potential compounds responsible for decreasing pathogenic Agrobacterium abundance were identified. Based on quantitative measurement of the concentrations of the compounds and testing the impacts of supplied pure chemicals on abundance and chemotaxis of pathogenic Agrobacterium and potential beneficial bacteria, the decreased valine in root exudates of the plant grafted onto resistant rootstock was found to contribute to decreasing Agrobacterium abundance, enriching some potential beneficial bacteria and suppressing crown gall disease. This study provides insights into the mechanism whereby grafted plants suppress soil-borne disease.
Banana MabHLH28 positively regulates the expression of softening-related genes to mediate fruit ripening independently or via cooperating with MaWRKY49/111
Authors: Wu Chaojie , Cai Danling , Li Jun , Lin Zengxiang , Wei Wei , Shan Wei , Chen Jianye , Lu Wangjin , Su Xinguo , Kuang Jianfei 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Texture softening is a physiological indicator of fruit ripening, which eventually contributes to fruit quality and the consumer’s acceptance. Despite great progress having been made in identification of the genes related to fruit softening, the upstream transcriptional regulatory pathways of these softening-related genes are not fully elucidated. Here, a novel bHLH gene, designated as MabHLH28, was identified because of its significant upregulation in banana fruit ripening. DAP-Seq analysis revealed that MabHLH28 bound to the core sequence of ‘CAYGTG’ presented in promoter regions of fruit softening-associated genes, such as the genes related to cell wall modification (MaPG3, MaPE1, MaPL5, MaPL8, MaEXP1, MaEXP2, MaEXPA2, and MaEXPA15) and starch degradation (MaGWD1 and MaLSF2), and these bindings were validated by EMSA and DLR assays. Transient overexpression and knockdown of MabHLH28 in banana fruit resulted in up- and down-regulation of softening-related genes, thereby hastening and postponing fruit ripening. Furthermore, overexpression of MabHLH28 in tomato accelerated the ripening process by elevating the accumulation of softening-associated genes. In addition, MabHLH28 showed interaction withMaWRKY49/111 and itself to form protein complexes, which could combinatorically strengthen the transcription of softening-associated genes. Taken together, our findings suggest that MabHLH28 mediates fruit softening by upregulating the expression of softening-related genes either alone or in combination with MaWRKY49/111.
Genome-wide methylation, transcriptome and characteristic metabolites reveal the balance between diosgenin and brassinosteroids in Dioscorea zingiberensis
Authors: Li Zihao , Li Yi , Geng Luyu , Wang Jiachen , Ouyang Yidan , Li Jiaru 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Diosgenin (DG) is a bioactive metabolite isolated from Dioscorea species, renowned for its medicinal properties. Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a class of crucial plant steroidal hormones. Cholesterol and campesterol are important intermediates of DG and BR biosynthesis, respectively. DG and BRs are structurally similar components; however, the regulatory network and metabolic interplays have not been fully elucidated. In an effort to decode these complex networks, we conducted a comprehensive study integrating genome-wide methylation, transcriptome and characteristic metabolite data from Dioscorea zingiberensis. Leveraging these data, we were able to construct a comprehensive regulatory network linking DG and BRs. Mass spectrometry results enabled us to clarify the alterations in cholesterol, campesterol, diosgenin, and castasterone (one of the major active BRs). The DG content decreased by 27.72% at 6 h after brassinolide treatment, whereas the content increased by 85.34% at 6 h after brassinazole treatment. Moreover, we pinpointed DG/BR-related genes, such as CASs, CYP90s, and B3-ARFs, implicated in the metabolic pathways of DG and BRs. Moreover, CASs and CYP90s exhibit hypomethylation, which is closely related to their high transcription. These findings provide robust evidence for the homeostasis between DG and BRs. In conclusion, our research revealed the existence of a balance between DG and BRs in D. zingiberensis. Furthermore, our work not only provides new insights into the relationship between the two pathways but also offers a fresh perspective on the functions of secondary metabolites.
The impact of energy consumption on carbon emissions intensity in China: evidence from a dynamic panel quantile regression model
Authors: Hou Jian , Yang Shenyang , Fan Guoliang , Xu Hongxia 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
China, being the largest global emitter of carbon, faces significant challenges in mitigating carbon emissions from energy consumption. The empirical findings reveal that the impact of energy consumption intensity and energy consumption structure on carbon emissions intensity is positively correlated with quantile levels and shows heterogeneous effects in different regions. Employing an energy consumption structure as a threshold variable to examine the impact of energy consumption intensity on carbon emissions intensity, we identify a significant single threshold effect in both the full sample and the western sample. Based on empirical research findings, this paper proposes specific policy recommendations.
Metabolomic Characteristics of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Kim Jungeun , Chae Woori , Kim Joong-Yub , Yim Jae-Joon , Cho Joo-Youn , Kwak Nakwon 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Background
The therapeutic challenges posed by nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) contribute to an unmet medical need. In this study, we aimed to investigate NTM-PD–specific metabolic pathways using serum metabolomics to understand disease pathogenesis.

Methods
Mass spectrometry–based untargeted metabolomic profiling of serum from patients with NTM-PD (n = 50), patients with bronchiectasis (n = 50), and healthy controls (n = 60) was performed. Selected metabolites were validated by an independent cohort and subjected to pathway analysis and classification modeling.

Results
Leucine, tyrosine, inosine, proline, 5-oxoproline, and hypoxanthine levels increased in the NTM-PD group compared with the healthy control group. Furthermore, levels of antioxidant metabolites (ferulic acid, α-lipoic acid, biotin, and 2,8-phenazinediamine) decreased in patients with NTM-PD. These changes were associated with arginine- and proline-related metabolism, leading to generation of reactive oxygen species. Interestingly, the observed metabolic changes in the NTM-PD group overlapped with those in the bronchiectasis group.

Conclusions
In NTM-PD, 11 metabolites linked to increased oxidative stress were significantly altered from those in healthy controls. Our findings enhance a comprehensive understanding of NTM-PD pathogenesis and provide insights for novel treatment approaches.
Nonsurgical Treatment of Postburn Hypopigmentation: A Literature Review
Authors: Lupon Elise , Berkane Yanis , Bertheuil Nicolas , Cetrulo Curtis L , Vaillant Camille , Chaput Benoît , Camuzard Olivier , Lellouch Alexandre G 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
The treatment of postburn hypopigmentation was primarily surgical before the advent of new technologies. Medical devices and therapies are emerging to manage scar sequelae that can be disfiguring and associated with severe psychosocial impact. These innovations have been poorly investigated for hypopigmentation, but they represent a real hope. We reviewed all articles published on Pubmed up to June 2022. Included studies had to specifically focus on treating postburn hypopigmented scars. All articles evaluating transient solutions such as make-up, and articles describing inflammation-linked hypopigmentation with no etiological details or no burn injury history were excluded. Through this review, we have highlighted 6 different types of nonsurgical treatments reported in postburn leukoderma potentially allowing definitive results. Electrophoto-biomodulation or E light (combining intensive pulsed light, radiofrequency, and cooling), topical daylight psoralen UVA therapy, and lasers (fractional lasers using pulse energies or CO2FL devices, lasers-assisted drug delivery as local bimatoprost and tretinoin or pimecrolimus) have been explored with encouraging results in hypopigmented burns. Finally, other promising medical strategies include using FK506, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, to induce melanogenesis or using melanocyte-stimulating hormones with fractional laser-assisted drug deliveries, which are expected to emerge soon.
Revolutionizing the latent heat storage: Boosting discharge performance with innovative undulated phase change material containers in a vertical shell-and-tube system
Authors: Sultan Hakim S , Mohammed Hayder I , Biswas Nirmalendu , Togun Hussein , Ibrahem Raed Khalid , Mahdi Jasim M , Yaïci Wahiba , Keshmiri Amir , Talebizadehsardari Pouyan 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
This paper examines the impact of various parameters, including frames, zigzag number, and enclosure shape, on the solidification process and thermal energy storage rate of a vertical phase change material (PCM) container. The study also assesses the effects of the flow rate of the heat transfer fluid as well as changing the materials of the PCM between RT35 and RT35HC. In addition, the study compares the framed versus unframed systems and, subsequently, the best case was tested with various zigzag pitch numbers before changing the zigzag-shaped structure to arc and reversed-arc. The findings are examined by contrasting the different scenarios’ liquid fractions, temperature distributions, solidification rates, and heat storage rates. The results show that the framed geometry is 66% faster to reach the target temperature compared with the unframed geometry and employing a zigzag enclosure in a PCM can significantly improve the solidification time and heat recovery rate. As the number of pitches in the zigzag enclosure increases, the improvement rate decreases but still improves the solidification time and heat recovery rate. The reversed-arc-shaped structure has the best performance compared with the other undulated surfaces. For the system with RT35HC, the discharge time is 55% higher compared with that of the system with RT35, while the discharge rate is 8.2% higher for the former during the first 3000 s of the discharging process.
Border carbon adjustment compliance and the WTO: the interactional evolution of law
Authors: Durel Laurie 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
International law and its understanding can evolve outside of treaties, but little is known about the elements that can explain these changes. This paper looks at the debate on border carbon adjustment (BCA) compatibility with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and argues that international law depends on the actors’ perceptions, which can change over time. It applies an interactional international law framework to explain how a policy that was once deemed incompatible with WTO rules is now considered ‘WTO-compliant’ by the European Union. A discourse network analysis is conducted based on debates from the WTO and the literature over 24 years. Results show that since 2012, the legal literature has increasingly been more confident that BCA could be WTO-compatible, despite the absence of significant changes in WTO case law during the same period. This increase in support was sustained by an expanded practice of legality and a perceived lack of legality of applicable WTO rules. This research offers new insights into the dynamics of international law. It provides new methodological avenues for scholars seeking to trace the evolution of law and legal understanding through formal and informal processes.
The ZmNF-YC1–ZmAPRG pathway modulates low phosphorus tolerance in maize
Authors: Bai Yang , Yang Qiuyue , Gan Yuling , Li Mei , Zhao Zikun , Dong Erfei , Li Chaofeng , He Di , Mei Xiupeng , Cai Yilin 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for plant growth and yield. Low phosphate use efficiency makes it important to clarify the molecular mechanism of low P stress. In our previous studies, a P efficiency gene ZmAPRG was identified. Here, we further screened the upstream regulator ZmNF-YC1 of ZmAPRG by yeast one hybrid (Y1H) assay, and found it was a low inorganic phosphorus (Pi)-inducible gene. The results of dual luciferase assays, expression analysis, and ChIP-qPCR assays showed that ZmNF-YC1 is a positive regulator of ZmAPRG. Overexpression of ZmNF-YC1 improved low P tolerance, whereas knockout of ZmNF-YC1 decreased low P tolerance in maize. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC), yeast two hybrid (Y2H) assay, and yeast three hybrid (Y3H) assay further showed that ZmNF-YC1 can interact with ZmNF-YB14, and recruit ZmNF-YA4/10 to form NF-Y complexes. Transcriptional activation assay confirmed that the NF-Y complexes can activate the promoters of ZmAPRG. Meanwhile, transcriptome and metabolome analyses indicated that overexpression of ZmAPRG improves low P tolerance by regulating lipid composition and photosynthetic capacity, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters provided evidence in support of this hypothesis. Furthermore, overexpression of ZmAPRG increased grain yield in inbred and hybrid maize under low P conditions. Taken together, our research revealed a low P tolerance mechanism of the ZmNF-YC1–ZmAPRG pathway.
Topological bias: how haloes trace structural patterns in the cosmic web
Authors: Bermejo Raul , Wilding Georg , van de Weygaert Rien , Jones Bernard J T , Vegter Gert , Efstathiou Konstantinos 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT
We trace the connectivity of the cosmic web as defined by haloes in the Planck-Millennium simulation using a persistence and Betti curve analysis. We normalize clustering up to the second-order correlation function and use our systematic topological analysis to correlate local information and properties of haloes with their multiscale geometrical environment of the cosmic web (elongated filamentary bridges and sheetlike walls). We capture the multiscale topology traced by the halo distribution through filtrations of the corresponding Delaunay tessellation. The resulting nested alpha shapes are sensitive to the local density, perfectly outline the local geometry, and contain the complete information on the multiscale topology. We find a remarkable linear relationship between halo masses and topology: haloes of different mass trace environments with different topological signature. This is a topological bias, an environmental structure bias independent of the halo clustering bias associated with the two-point correlation function. This mass-dependent linear scaling relation allows us to take clustering into account and determine the overall connectivity from a limited sample of galaxies. The presence of topological bias has major implications for the study of voids and filaments in the observed distribution of galaxies. The (infra)structure and shape of these key cosmic web components will strongly depend on the underlying galaxy sample. Their use as cosmological probes, with their properties influenced by cosmological parameters, will have to account for the subtleties of topological bias. This is of particular relevance with the large upcoming galaxy surveys such as DESI, Euclid, and the Vera Rubin telescope surveys.
A multiband look at ultraluminous X-ray sources in NGC 7424
Authors: Soria Roberto , Cheng Siying , Pakull Manfred W , Motch Christian , Russell Thomas D 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT
We studied the multiband properties of two ultraluminous X-ray sources (2CXO J225728.9−410211 = X-1 and 2CXO J225724.7−410343 = X-2) and their surroundings, in the spiral galaxy NGC 7424. Both sources have approached X-ray luminosities LX ∼ 1040 erg s−1 at some epochs. Thanks to a more accurate astrometric solution (based on Australia Telescope Compact Array and Gaia data), we identified the point-like optical counterpart of X-1, which looks like an isolated B8 supergiant (M ≈ 9M⊙, age ≈30 Myr). Instead, X-2 is in a star-forming region (size of about 100 pc × 150 pc), near young clusters and ionized gas. Very large telescope long-slit spectra show a spatially extended region of He ii λ4686 emission around the X-ray position, displaced by about 50 pc from the brightest star cluster, which corresponds to the peak of lower ionization line emission. We interpret the He ii λ4686 emission as a signature of X-ray photoionization from the ULX, while the other optical lines are consistent with UV ionization in an ordinary He ii region. The luminosity of this He++ nebula puts it in the same class as other classical photoionized ULX nebulae such as those around Holmberg II X-1 and NGC 5408 X-1. We locate a strong (5.5 GHz luminosity $\nu \, L_{\nu } \approx 10^{35}$ erg s−1), steep-spectrum, unresolved radio source at the peak of the low-ionization lines, and discuss alternative physical scenarios for the radio emission. Finally, we use WISE data to obtain an independent estimate of the reddening of the star-forming clump around X-2.
Cool and data-driven: an exploration of optical cool dwarf chemistry with both data-driven and physical models
Authors: Rains Adam D , Nordlander Thomas , Monty Stephanie , Casey Andrew R , Rojas-Ayala Bárbara , Žerjal Maruša , Ireland Michael J , Casagrande Luca , McKenzie Madeleine 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT
Detailed chemical studies of F/G/K – or solar-type – stars have long been routine in stellar astrophysics, enabling studies in both Galactic chemodynamics and exoplanet demographics. However, similar understanding of the chemistry of M and late-K dwarfs – the most common stars in the Galaxy – has been greatly hampered both observationally and theoretically by the complex molecular chemistry of their atmospheres. Here, we present a new implementation of the data-driven Cannon model, modelling Teff, log g, [Fe/H], and [Ti/Fe] trained on low–medium resolution optical spectra (4000–7000  Å) from 103 cool dwarf benchmarks. Alongside this, we also investigate the sensitivity of optical wavelengths to various atomic and molecular species using both data-driven and theoretical means via a custom grid of MARCS synthetic spectra, and make recommendations for where MARCS struggles to reproduce cool dwarf fluxes. Under leave-one-out cross-validation, our Cannon model is capable of recovering Teff, log g, [Fe/H], and [Ti/Fe] with precisions of 1.4 per cent, $\pm 0.04\,$ dex, $\pm 0.10\,$ dex, and $\pm 0.06\,$ dex respectively, with the recovery of [Ti/Fe] pointing to the as-yet mostly untapped potential of exploiting the abundant – but complex – chemical information within optical spectra of cool stars.
Semi-analytic modelling of Pop. III star formation and metallicity evolution – I. Impact on the UV luminosity functions at z = 9–16
Authors: Ventura Emanuele M , Qin Yuxiang , Balu Sreedhar , Wyithe J Stuart B 
Published: February 2024

ABSTRACT
We implemented Population III (Pop. III) star formation in mini-haloes within the Meraxes semi-analytic galaxy formation and reionization model, run on top of a N-body simulation with L = 10 h−1 cMpc with 20483 particles resolving all dark matter haloes down to the mini-haloes (∼105 M⊙). Our modelling includes the chemical evolution of the IGM, with metals released through supernova-driven bubbles that expand according to the Sedov–Taylor model. We found that SN-driven metal bubbles are generally small, with radii typically of 150 ckpc at z = 6. Hence, the majority of the first galaxies are likely enriched by their own star formation. However, as reionization progresses, the feedback effects from the UV background become more pronounced, leading to a halt in star formation in low-mass galaxies, after which external chemical enrichment becomes more relevant. We explore the sensitivity of the star formation rate density and stellar mass functions to the unknown values of free parameters. We also discuss the observability of Pop. III dominated systems with JWST, finding that the inclusion of Pop. III galaxies can have a significant effect on the total UV luminosity function at z = 12–16. Our results support the idea that the excess of bright galaxies detected with JWST might be explained by the presence of bright top-heavy Pop. III dominated galaxies without requiring an increased star formation efficiency.