bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
State of knowledge on ammonia handling by the kidney
Authors: Bourgeois Soline , Houillier Pascal 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe disposal of ammonia, the main proton buffer in the urine, is important for acid–base homeostasis. Renal ammonia excretion is the predominant contributor to renal net acid excretion, both under basal condition and in response to acidosis. New insights into the mechanisms of renal ammonia production and transport have been gained in the past decades. Ammonia is the only urinary solute known to be produced in the kidney and selectively transported through the different parts of the nephron. Both molecular forms of total ammonia, NH3 and NH4+, are transported by specific proteins. Proximal tubular ammoniagenesis and the activity of these transport processes determine the eventual fate of total ammonia produced and excreted by the kidney. In this review, we summarized the state of the art of ammonia handling by the kidney and highlighted the newest processes described in the last decade.
A differential impact of action–effect temporal contiguity on different measures of response inhibition in the Go\No-Go and Stop-signal paradigms
Authors: Karsh Noam , Soker-Mijalevich Eden , Horovitz Omer 
Published: March 2024

AbstractResponse inhibition refers to suppressing a prepotent motor response and is often studied and discussed as an act of cognitive control. Much less attention was given to the potential contribution of motor control processes to response inhibition. Accumulated empirical findings show that a perceptual effect temporally contiguous with a response improves motor control performance. In the current study, we followed this work by manipulating action–effect temporal contiguity to enhance motor performance and investigated its impact on response selection and inhibition. In two experiments, we integrated a Go/No-Go (GNGT; Experiment 1) and a Stop-signal (SST; Experiment 2) task with the Effect–Motivation task, previously used to capture the facilitating impact of action–effect temporal contiguity on response times (RTs). Replicating previous findings, RTs were shorter following temporally contiguous compared to Lagged action–effect in Go trials in both the GNGT (Experiment 1) and SST (Experiment 2). Notably, an Immediate action–effect improved response inhibition in the GNGT (Experiment 1) but did not modulate Stop-signal reaction time (SSRT) in the SST (Experiment 2). Unexpectedly, the error rate on Go trials was higher in the Immediate effect condition in Experiment 2. We interpret the findings to suggest that an action’s (Immediate) perceptual effect may promote response inhibition performance by enhancing selective association between the Go stimuli and the Go response and not by improving cognitive control ability. The findings also imply that an Immediate action–effect may hamper action control (e.g., by increasing general readiness to respond), at least when action control does not benefit from automatic stimulus–response association.
Immunologic burden links periodontitis to acute coronary syndrome: levels of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in gingival granulation tissue
Authors: Kayar Nezahat Arzu , Çelik İlhami , Gözlü Muammer , Üstün Kemal , Gürsel Mihtikar , Alptekin Nilgün Özlem 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Objective
To investigate the proportional variation of macrophage and T-lymphocytes subpopulations in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, its association with periodontitis (P), and to compare with control individuals.

Subjects and methods
Three groups of subjects participated: one group consisted of 17 ACS patients with P (ACS + P), another group consisted of 22 no ACS + P patients, and a control group consisted of 23 participants with gingivitis (no ACS + G). Macrophage, CD4 + , and CD8 + T-lymphocytes and CD4 + /CD8 + ratio values in gingival tissue were determined histometrically.

Results
Significant differences were found among three groups regarding the mean number of macrophage (no ACS + P > ACS + P > no ACS + G; p < 0.05) and CD8 + T-lymphocytes (no ACS + P > ACS + P > no ACS + G; p < 0.05). Significant variations were observed between the groups both CD4 + T-lymphocytes densities (ACS + P > no ACS + P and ACS + P > no ACS + G; p < 0.05) and CD4 + / CD8 + ratio (no ACS + P < no ACS + G and ACS + P < no ACS + G; p < 0.05).

Conclusions
The increased number of CD8 + T-lymphocytes in both group ACS + P and group no ACS + P resulted in a reduction of the CD4 + /CD8 + ratio in gingival tissue when compared with no ACS + G group.

Clinical relevance
The decrease of CD4 + /CD8 + ratio in gingival tissue reflects periodontitis and may be associated with severe adverse outcomes in people with ACS.
Natural and engineered enzymes for polyester degradation: a review
Authors: Guo Rey-Ting , Li Xian , Yang Yu , Huang Jian-Wen , Shen Panpan , Liew Rock Keey , Chen Chun-Chi 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPlastic pollution is becoming a major health issue due to the recent discovery of microplastics and nanoplastics in living organisms and the environment, calling for advanced technologies to remove plastic waste. Here we review enzymes that degrade plastics with focus on plastic properties, protein engineering and polymers such as poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate), poly(lactic acid), polyamide and polyurethane. The mechanism of action of natural and engineered enzymes has been probed by experimental and computation approaches. The performance of polyester-degrading enzymes has been improved via directed evolution, structure-guided rational design and machine learning-aided strategies. The improved enzymes display higher stability at elevated temperatures, and tailored substrate-binding sites.
Density and abundance estimation of unmarked ungulates using camera traps in the Mudumu National Park, Namibia
Authors: Nauyoma LineekelaOmwene T. , Warbington Camille H. , Azevedo Fernanda C. , Lemos Frederico G. , Sequeira Fernando , Fabiano Ezequiel C. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractDensity and abundance estimates are critical to effective wildlife management and are essential for monitoring population trends and setting effective quotas for harvesting. Management of roan (Hippotragus equinus) and sable (H. niger) antelopes in Mudumu National Park (MNP), Namibia, is challenging because they are elusive, naturally unmarked, and believed to occur at low densities. The species are threatened by habitat fragmentation, human population growth, and illegal hunting, and reliable density and abundance estimates have not been quantified, hampering management and conservation plans. Our objective was to estimate roan and sable densities and abundances using the time in front of the camera model (TIFC) and the Poisson-binomial N-mixture model (PB), respectively. We also evaluated the effects of environmental and ecological variables on roan and sable abundance. We used data from two camera trap surveys conducted between March and September 2021 in the MNP. Results showed that the TIFC model provided low-density estimates of 1.62 (95% CI 1.61–1.64) roans/km2and 2.46 (95% CI 2.42–2.50) sables/km2, consistent with trends reported in Africa where these species occur at low densities. In addition, the total abundance of roans and sables in the MNP from the PB model were 57 and 242, respectively. Higher roan abundance occurred in sites with higher grass cover. This study provides the first accurate camera trap-derived density and abundance estimates for roan and sable in the MNP, which will be critical for developing comprehensive conservation programs and strategies that are likely to reduce the risk of extinction for both species.
Exploring the potential of sustainable natural cellulosic fiber from Sorghum bicolor (Sorghum vulgare var. technicus) stem for textile and composite applications
Authors: Ovalı Sabih , Eryılmaz Oguz , Uyanık Seval 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn the present research, the usability of cellulosic-based fibers obtained from the Sorghum bicolor plant stem as reinforcing fibers in composites and textiles was investigated. The fibers were obtained from a Sorghum bicolor plant growing wild in the Adana region in the South of Turkey. Density, chemical structure analysis, FTIR, XRD, TGA, XPS SEM, and single fiber tensile tests characterized Sorghum bicolor fiber (SBF). SBF contains cellulose (73.6%), hemicellulose (13.3%), and lignin (12.1%). The oxygen/carbon ratio of 0.43 found as a result of XPS analysis indicates that fibers have a hydrophilic character. SBF has a 59.34% crystallinity index, 284.6 MPa tensile strength, 4.71% GPa tensile modulus, and 21.44% elongation at break. The maximum degradation temperature of the fibers was determined as 364.22 °C. Sorghum bicolor fiber, through detailed characterization, emerges as potential promising reinforcement for the composite industry with relatively good strength and high cellulose content for the textile industry.
Effects of livestock ownership typology on household food security in rural Lesotho
Authors: Danso-Abbeam Gideon , Ogundeji Abiodun A. , Asale Maxwell A. , Baiyegunhi L. J. S. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis study examines how various livestock ownership typologies affect household food security in rural Lesotho, a developing nation marked with poverty and food insecurity. Despite the significance of livestock to food security, little study has been done in this area. The study divides households into four typologies of livestock ownership, ranging from none to varied animal herds, using data from 2,014 rural households. The study uses analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a mixed effect ordered probit model to examine the connections between these typologies and food security. In comparison to typology I (no livestock ownership), the results show that ownership typologies III (moderate small ruminants and poultry) and IV (big mixed poultry, small, and large animals) have a beneficial impact on household food security. The study advances our understanding of how different livestock species and herd sizes affect food security. It emphasizes the importance of nuanced and context-specific approaches when employing livestock to improve household food security, advising development and intervention programs to take into account the delicate interplay between livestock ownership and food security among the target population. Thus, intervention programs must carefully consider the complex and context-specific relationship between livestock ownership and food security.
Genome-wide characterization of the GPAT gene family in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and expression analysis under abiotic stress and melatonin
Authors: Kasapoğlu Ayşe Gül , Muslu Selman , Aygören Ahmed Sidar , Öner Burak Muhammed , Güneş Ebru , İlhan Emre , Yiğider Esma , Aydin Murat 
Published: March 2024

AbstractGPAT (sn-Glycerol-3-phosphate-1-O-acyltransferase) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of membrane lipids. Two kinds of GPATs are involved in the production of glycerolipids. While sn-1-GPATs are responsible for creating lysophosphatidic acid, sn-2-GPATs generate monoacylglycerol. GPAT genes of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) have never been investigated before. This study aimed to assess the expression profiles of GPAT genes in common bean leaves under drought and salt stress and apply bioinformatics tools to the genome-wide analysis of GPAT gene family members. In the P. vulgaris genome, PvGPAT genes with molecular weights ranging from 50.2 to 60.4 kDa, amino acid counts ranging from 376 to 539, theoretical isoelectric points ranging from 8.41 to 9.46, and instability indices ranging from 31.84 to 51.38 were found. Based on the gene structure analysis, the expected number of exons and introns was between 2 and 12. The GPAT proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana, Glycine max, Vitis vinifera, Cicer arietinum, Lens culinaris, and P. vulgaris were analyzed phylogenetically. GPAT proteins of G. max and A. thaliana are evolutionarily related to those of beans. The PvGPAT4/PvGPAT10 and PvGPAT7/PvGPAT12 gene pairs were detected to be segmentally duplicated. In this work, qRT-PCR was performed on six PvGPAT genes, and the effects of salt, drought, and melatonin treatments on bean GPAT genes were studied. The role of melatonin in the response to salt and drought stress was investigated at the gene expression level. The findings of the present study will shed light on GPAT gene family members in beans and provide insight for future functional research.
Do professional staff in universities really challenge academic norms? A perspective from the Netherlands
Authors: de Jong Stefan , Kantimm Wiebke 
Published: March 2024

AbstractTraditionally, universities stand for independent, high-quality, and curiosity-driven research and education. Yet, since neoliberal reforms in the 1980s, they have been increasingly exposed to external pressures towards more efficiency and economic value orientation. To manage the tasks corresponding to these market-based values, a new and fast-growing group of professional staff has emerged. Some authors argue that they challenge academic norms, or academic professional logics, while importing market norms, or market logics, through previous employment in and current relationships with the private sector. We empirically test this assumption based on original survey data of three groups of professional staff of universities and associated medical centers in the Netherlands: business developers, grant advisers, and research policy officers. We asked them about their ideas about universities to capture their institutional logics. Respondents also indicated previous employment and the strength of their professional relationships. Using multiple linear regression models, we find that professional staff with private sector experience indeed have stronger market logics. We find the same for those with stronger relationships with private sector companies. Yet, on average, the academic professional logic of professional staff is considerably higher than their market logic. Additionally, the effect of private sector experience and stronger relationships with private sector companies on the market logic is moderate. Thus, our data suggests that professional staff do not challenge academic norms. Therefore, there seems to be little need for meeting them with skepticism regarding their role in unwanted organizational change.
Better to be a Pig Dissatisfied than a Plant Satisfied
Authors: Terrill Ethan C. , Veit Walter 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn the last two decades, there has been a blossoming literature aiming to counter the neglect of plant capacities. In their recent paper, Miguel Segundo-Ortin and Paco Calvo begin by providing an overview of the literature to then question the mistaken assumptions that led to plants being immediately rejected as candidates for sentience. However, it appears that many responses to their arguments are based on the implicit conviction that because animals have far more sophisticated cognition and agency than plants, and that plants should not have the same moral status as animals, plants should not have any moral status. Put in simpler terms: it is not as bad to eat plants than to eat, say, pigs. While there are still uncertainties around comparative moral and policy implications between animals and plants, given a gradualist account of quasi-sentience and partial moral status, both of which we claim are a matter of degree, we may not have to abolish our convictions by declaring that plants have no sentience or moral status at all. Indeed, we can hold two things at the same time: that animals and plants have moral status, but animals have prima facie more moral status than plants.
Identifying the key sources of metal (loid) deposition to remote Tasmanian lakes: is legacy mining a problem?
Authors: Stevens Harrison , Barmuta Leon A. , Chase Zanna , Saunders Krystyna M. , Zawadzki Atun , Gadd Patricia , Proemse Bernadette C. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractReports have shown that even remote lakes have been negatively affected by anthropogenic activities. This study used metal concentrations and enrichment factors to comprehensively determine key metal sources and identify potential impacts of recent anthropogenic activity in remote Central Highland Tasmanian (Australia) lakes. Metal concentrations (Al, As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn) in these lakes remain below Australian interim sediment quality guidelines but have been slowly increasing since the start of the twentieth century. This increase is likely related to increasing organic matter content, rather than any direct, increased input of metals. The largest anthropogenic impact to these systems was damming, which typically led to an increase in organic matter content either directly, by the trapping of particles and nutrients, or indirectly, by stimulating primary production in the lake. This increased organic matter content, in turn, increased the retention of metals, manifesting as an increase to measured metal concentrations. Minor impacts are the historical use of lead shot, leaded petrol, and industrial processes, which may have contributed to the higher Pb enrichment, compared to the other studied metals, in these lakes. Despite recent concerns of metal contamination in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area from distant mining activities, there is no strong evidence in this study indicating that lakes in the Central Highlands (a similar distance away) have been impacted by long-distance atmospheric deposition. This is likely related to the decreased rainfall, and thus decreased rates of wet deposition of aerosols in the east of Tasmania, compared to that of the west and in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
The Perceived Complexity of Learning Tasks Influences Students’ Collaborative Interactions in Immersive Virtual Reality
Authors: Matovu Henry , Won Mihye , Hernandez-Alvarado Ricardo Bruno , Ungu Dewi Ayu Kencana , Treagust David F. , Tsai Chin-Chung , Mocerino Mauro , Tasker Roy 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis study investigated how different learning tasks influence students’ collaborative interactions in immersive Virtual Reality (iVR). A set of chemistry learning activities was designed with iVR, and 35 pairs of undergraduate students went through the activities. Videos of students’ interactions were analysed to identify patterns in students’ physical, conceptual, and social interactions. When students were manipulating conceptually familiar virtual objects (several water molecules), they perceived the tasks as a simple extension of prior knowledge and did not attempt to explore the 3D visualisation much. They did not move around to take different perspectives, and conceptual discussions were brief. Their prior power relations (leader–follower) carried over in iVR environments. In contrast, when conceptually unfamiliar chemical structures (protein enzyme) were displayed, students perceived the tasks as complex, demanding a new mode of learning. They spontaneously moved around to explore and appreciate the 3D visualisation of iVR. Walking to different positions to observe the virtual objects from multiple angles, students engaged in more collaborative, exploratory conceptual discussions. As the perceived complexity of learning tasks or virtual objects triggers different collaborative interactions amongst students, careful considerations need to be placed on the design of iVR tasks to encourage productive collaborative learning.
In the nuclear explosion monitoring context, what is an anomaly?
Authors: Miley Harry S. , Eslinger Paul W. , Bowyer Ted W. , Burnett Jonathan L. , Cooper Matthew W. , Foxe Michael P. , Haas Derek A. , Hayes James C. , Kalinowski Martin B. , Lowrey Justin D. , McIntyre Justin I. , Saey Paul R. J. , Schrom Brian T. , Ungar R. Kurt 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn the early years of nuclear explosion monitoring, experts used downwind detections with meaningful ratios of radioactive species to identify an explosion. Today’s reality is sparse networks of radionuclide monitoring stations looking for weak signals. Analysts need to discriminate between industrial background radioactivity and nuclear explosion signals, even using the detection of one isotope. Aerosol and xenon measurements potentially related to nuclear tests in 2006 and 2013 announced by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and from worldwide civilian background radioactivity are considered when defining radionuclide detection anomalies to objectively guide the use of limited analyst resources and reduce the possibility of not detecting nuclear explosions.
Anomalous heat transport and universality in macroscopic diffusion models
Authors: Bernardi Sara , Pizzi Marco , Rondoni Lamberto 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAnomalous diffusion is ubiquitous in nature and relevant for a wide range of applications, including energy transport, especially in bio- and nano-technologies. Numerous approaches have been developed to describe it from a microscopic point of view, and recently, it has been framed within universality classes, characterized by the behaviour of the moments and auto-correlation functions of the transported quantities. It is important to investigate whether such universality applies to macroscopic models. Here, the spectrum of the moments of the solutions of the transport equations is investigated for three continuous PDE models featuring anomalous diffusion. In particular, we consider the transport described by: (i) a generalized diffusion equation with time-dependent diffusion coefficient; (ii) the Porous Medium Equation and (iii) the Telegrapher Equation. For each model, the key features of the source-type solution as well as the analytical results for the moment analysis are revisited and extended via both analytical and numerical approaches. Equivalence of the asymptotic behaviour of the corresponding heat transport is confirmed within the realm of weak anomalous diffusion.
A mechanistic approach to weighting edge-effects in landscape connectivity assessments
Authors: Dennis M. , Huck J. J. , Holt C. D. , McHenry E. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Context
Understanding landscape functional connectivity is critical for nature conservation in fragmented landscapes. Spatially explicit graph-theoretical approaches to assessing landscape connectivity have provided a promising framework for capturing functional components driving connectivity at the landscape scale. However, existing weighting schemes used to parameterise functional connectivity in graph theory-based methods are limited with respect to their ability to capture patch-level characteristics relevant to habitat use such as edge-effects.

Objectives
We set out to develop a new approach to weighting habitat connectivity as a function of edge-effects exerted by non-habitat patches through better delineation of edge-interior habitat transitions at the patch-level and parameterization of intra-patch movement cost at the landscape scale.

Methods
We leverage the use of raster surfaces and area-weighted exponential kernels to operationalize a mechanistic approach to computing spatially explicit edge surfaces. We integrate map algebra, graph theory and landscape resistance methods to capture connectivity for a range of species specialisms on the edge-interior spectrum. We implement our method through a set of functions in the R statistical environment.

Result
Through a real-world case study, we demonstrate that our approach, drawing on these behaviours, outperforms competing metrics when evaluating potential functional connectivity in a typically fragmented agricultural landscape. We highlight options for the optimal parameterization of graph-theoretical models.

Conclusion
Our method offers increased flexibility, being tuneable for interior-edge habitat transitions. This therefore represents a key opportunity that can help to re-align the fields of landscape ecology and conservation biology by reconciling patch-versus-landscape methodological stances.