bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plant Protection by Tannins Depends on Defence-Related Phytohormones
Authors: Iqbal Nadeem , Poór Péter 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Plants produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites to sustain and protect themselves against a wide range of stresses. Among these metabolites, tannins are one of the most abundant polyphenolic compounds, accounting for 25% of the dry weight of leaves, roots and bark of woody plants, but are also abundant in flowering and seed-producing plants. The presence of tannins in these organs serves to protect plants against herbivorous and pathogenic attack through their antidigestive and antimicrobial properties. In addition, tannins play a role in regulating plant growth and development by inhibiting the consumption of unripe fruits due to their astringency. In addition, several studies have also revealed various roles of them under environmental stresses. Tannins can be classified into condensed tannins (CTs), hydrolysable tannins (HTs) and phlorotannins. They are synthesised in plants via the acetate–malonate and shikimic acid pathways. Their accumulation is regulated by several transcription factors during normal development and under different stress conditions. Despite their multiple roles in plant life, information on the regulation of tannin metabolism by defence-related phytohormones is very limited. To cope with biotic and abiotic stresses, plant responses are regulated by defence-related phytohormones such as salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), ethylene (ET) and abscisic acid (ABA), which act as regulators of tannin production under adverse conditions. This review focuses on tannin production, moreover its occurrence, defence potential and regulation by phytohormones under different environmental and biotic stresses, based on the most recent and relevant data.

Graphical Abstract
Prediction of slowdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation in coupled model simulations
Authors: Yamazaki Kuniko , Jackson Laura C. , Sexton David M. H. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn coupled perturbed parameter ensemble (PPE) experiments or for development of a single coupled global climate model (GCM) in general, models can exhibit a slowdown in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) that can result in unrealistically reduced transport of heat and other tracers. Here we propose a method that researchers running PPE experiments can apply to their own PPE to diagnose what controls the AMOC strength in their model and make predictions thereof. As an example, using data from a 25-member coupled PPE experiment performed with HadGEM3-GC3.05, we found four predictors based on surface heat and freshwater fluxes in four critical regions from the initial decade of the spinup phase that could accurately predict the AMOC transport in the later stage of the experiment. The method, to our knowledge, is novel in that it separates the effects of the drivers of AMOC change from the effects of the changed AMOC. The identified drivers are shown to be physically credible in that the PPE members exhibiting AMOC weakening possess some combination of the following characteristics: warmer ocean in the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre, fresher Arctic and Tropical North Atlantic Oceans and larger runoff from the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers. These characteristics were further traced to regional responses in atmosphere-only experiments. This study suggests promising potential for early stopping rules for parameter perturbations that could end up with an unrealistically weak AMOC, saving valuable computational resources. Some of the four drivers are likely to be relevant to other climate models so this study is of interest to model developers who do not have a PPE.
Oxygen levels affect oviduct epithelium functions in air–liquid interface culture
Authors: Huo Jianchao , Mówińska Aleksandra Maria , Eren Ali Necmi , Schoen Jennifer , Chen Shuai 
Published: March 2024

AbstractKey reproductive events such as fertilization and early embryonic development occur in the lumen of the oviduct. Since investigating these processes in vivo is both technically challenging and ethically sensitive, cell culture models have been established to reproduce the oviductal microenvironment. Compartmentalized culture systems, particularly air–liquid interface cultures (ALI; cells access the culture medium only from the basolateral cell side), result in highly differentiated oviduct epithelial cell cultures. The oxygen (O2) tension within the oviduct is 4–10% across species, and its reduced O2 content is presumed to be important for early reproductive processes. However, cell culture models of the oviduct are typically cultivated without O2 regulation and therefore at about 18% O2. To investigate the impact of O2 levels on oviduct epithelium functions in vitro, we cultured porcine oviduct epithelial cells (POEC) at the ALI using both physiological (5%) and supraphysiological (18%) O2 levels and two different media regimes. Epithelium architecture, barrier function, secretion of oviduct fluid surrogate (OFS), and marker gene expression were comparatively assessed. Under all culture conditions, ALI-POEC formed polarized, ciliated monolayers with appropriate barrier function. Exposure to 18% O2 accelerated epithelial differentiation and significantly increased the apical OFS volume and total protein content. Expression of oviduct genes and the abundance of OVGP1 (oviduct-specific glycoprotein 1) in the OFS were influenced by both O2 tension and medium choice. In conclusion, oviduct epithelial cells can adapt to a supraphysiological O2 environment. This adaptation, however, may alter their capability to replicate in vivo tissue characteristics.
Precarious employment and mental health in the Belgian service voucher system: the role of working conditions and perceived financial strain
Authors: Vanroelen Christophe , Padrosa Sayeras Eva , Gevaert Jessie , Huegaerts Kelly , Vos Mattias , Bosmans Kim 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Introduction
Jobs in domestic cleaning are often conceived as ‘precarious employment’ (PE)—i.e. a multidimensional concept referring to accumulated adverse characteristics of employment due to workers’ weak bargaining position. Against this background, the Belgian service voucher system (SVS) was implemented aimed at creating formal and stable, subsidized domestic services jobs.

Purpose
The current study assesses the relationship between PE and mental health (WHO5) in the Belgian SVS, accounting for the potential mediating role of working conditions and perceived financial strain at the household level.

Methods
We analysed a cross-sectional sample of 1,115 Belgian SVS domestic cleaners, collected in 2019 through an online survey. A mediation model was estimated.

Results
The crude effect of PE on adverse mental health was strong (ß 0.545—S.E. 0.063). However, 50% of the association between PE and mental well-being was mediated by work task characteristics (quantitative demands, physical demands, task variation and autonomy) and 25% by household-level perceived financial strain. The remaining direct effect of PE on adverse mental well-being is ß 0.066 (S.E. 0.032—25% of the total effect).

Conclusion
These findings are the first based on the Belgian Employment Precariousness Scale (EPRES-BE) and are consistent with earlier-made—but seldom simultaneously tested—assumptions on the mechanisms relating PE to adverse mental health—i.e. involving direct associations and indirect associations via adverse working conditions and material deprivation. Based on the results, we recommend more democratic and higher-quality management practices in the SVS, in addition to higher wages and working time reduction.
Extending Partial Representations of Circle Graphs in Near-Linear Time
Authors: Brückner Guido , Rutter Ignaz , Stumpf Peter 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe partial representation extension problem generalizes the recognition problem for geometric intersection graphs. The input consists of a graph G, a subgraph $$H \subseteq G$$

H
⊆
G

and a representation $$\mathcal R'$$

R
′

of H. The question is whether G admits a representation $$\mathcal R$$
R
whose restriction to H is $$\mathcal R'$$

R
′

. We study this question for circle graphs, which are intersection graphs of chords of a circle. Their representations are called chord diagrams. We show that for a graph with n vertices and m edges the partial representation extension problem can be solved in $$O((n + m) \alpha (n + m))$$

O
(
(
n
+
m
)
α
(
n
+
m
)
)

time, thereby improving over an $$O(n^3)$$

O
(

n
3

)

-time algorithm by Chaplick et al. (J Graph Theory 91(4), 365–394, 2019). The main technical contributions are a canonical way of orienting chord diagrams and a novel compact representation of the set of all canonically oriented chord diagrams that represent a given circle graph G, which is of independent interest.
Lifestyle changes after cancer treatment in patients and their partners: a qualitative study
Authors: Tuinman Marrit Annika , Nuver Janine , de Boer Anke , Looijmans Anne , Hagedoorn Mariët 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Oncologists nowadays promote healthy lifestyle choices more often, focusing on diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and sleep, but the question is whether this is enough to establish actual change. As patients will have to achieve a healthy lifestyle at home in daily life, it is important to understand barriers and facilitators for lifestyle change for both patients and their partners.

Methods
A qualitative interview study was done among patients who received chemotherapy for testicular (n = 10) or breast cancer (n = 7) and their partners (n = 17). The interview focused on how much they remembered the lifestyle advice given in hospital, whether and what they had adapted since diagnosis, and what they deemed as facilitators and barriers in maintaining lifestyle change.

Results
Results showed that many patients and partners recalled that some advice was given in hospital but experienced this as too general and only at the start of treatment. Social contacts and the entire cancer experience helped facilitate change but were also seen as barriers. Other barriers were not considering healthy behaviors a priority or experiencing unhealthy choices as something nice after a trying time.

Conclusions
Oncologists and hospitals that provide lifestyle advice should provide cancer- and person-specific lifestyle advice, should offer this advice repeatedly into survivorship, and include the partner, as they are dedicated to improving lifestyle as well.

Implication for cancer survivors
Staying healthy after cancer is important to both patients and their partners, and both experience their own facilitators and barriers to achieving this. Seeing a healthy lifestyle as a joint goal might facilitate change.
Nonmetallic tension band fixation is a viable and low-complication surgical technique in patellar fractures: a five-year retrospective study
Authors: Giuseppe Rovere , Michele Romeo , Luca Farinelli , Michele Giancani , Giuseppe Gangi , Valentina Manuri , Giustra Fortunato , Bosco Francesco , Camarda Lawrence 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Traditionally, patellar fractures (PFs) have been managed using metallic tension band fixation, a method often associated with a notable rate of complications. Considering these challenges, this study explores the potential of nonmetallic fixation as a treatment option for PFs. This research aims to provide robust evidence supporting the use of the nonmetallic tension band fixation technique as an effective alternative to conventional metallic tension band fixation, thereby advancing the standard of care in treating these fractures.

Methods
This retrospective study analyzed a consecutive patient series presenting with PFs from 2008 to 2021, treated with a nonmetallic tension band fixation technique. Inclusion criteria were strictly defined to include individuals over 18 years of age with isolated PFs requiring surgical intervention. The study focused on evaluating postoperative complications and clinical outcomes, as measured by standardized scoring systems, at the final follow-up point to assess the efficacy and safety of the employed surgical technique.

Results
In this study, with a mean follow-up of 64 ± 7 months, a total of 64 patients who received open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for PFs were enrolled. Among these, five cases required additional surgical interventions. Specifically, two cases were due to knee stiffness, while the remaining three involved complications such as superficial infection, skin irritation, or delayed wound healing. The mean postoperative values recorded for the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score, Oxford knee score (OKS), and visual analog scale (VAS) were 20.4 ± 2.3, 35.5 ± 5.3, and 1.6 ± 0.4, respectively. There were no complications related to the nonmetallic fixation technique or instances of loss of reduction.

Conclusion
This study substantiates that nonmetallic tension band fixation is a safe and effective alternative to traditional metallic tension band fixation for patellar fractures. The study's low-complication rate and reoperation frequency underscore the value of nonmetallic implants in mitigating adverse effects and enhancing clinical outcomes.
Level of evidence: IV.
Multicenter randomized controlled trial of intensive uric acid lowering therapy for CKD patients with hyperuricemia: TARGET-UA
Authors: Yamamoto Tetsuya , Kasahara Masato , Ueshima Kenji , Uemura Shiro , Kashihara Naoki , Kimura Kenjiro , Konta Tsuneo , Shoji Tetsuo , Mima Akira , Mukoyama Masashi , Saito Yoshihiko 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
We investigate whether Intensive uric acid (UA)-lowering therapy (ULT) provides increased renal protection compared with standard therapy in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.

Methods
This was a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Only CKD patients with hyperuricemia were included in this study. The participants were randomly assigned to either the Intensive therapy group (target serum UA level ≥ 4.0 mg/dL and < 5.0 mg/dL) or the standard therapy group (serum UA level ≥ 6.0 mg/dL and < 7.0 mg/dL). ULT was performed using topiroxostat, a non-purine-type selective xanthine oxidase inhibitor. The primary endpoint was change in the logarithmic value of urine albumin to the creatinine ratio (ACR) between baseline and week 52 of the treatment.

Results
Three hundred fifty-two patients were included in the full analysis set. In the Standard therapy group, mean serum UA was 8.23 mg/dL at baseline and 6.13 mg/dL at 52 weeks. In the Intensive therapy group, mean serum UA was 8.15 mg/dL at baseline and 5.25 mg/dL at 52 weeks. There was no significant difference in changes in log ACR at 52 weeks between the Intensive therapy and the Standard therapy groups.

Conclusion
This study did not reveal the benefit of Intensive ULT to improve albuminuria levels.
(UMIN000026741 and jRCTs051180146).
Tinnitus: Clinical Insights in Its Pathophysiology-A Perspective
Authors: Langguth Berthold , de Ridder Dirk , Schlee Winfried , Kleinjung Tobias 
Published: March 2024

AbstractTinnitus, the perception of sound without a corresponding external sound source, and tinnitus disorder, which is tinnitus with associated suffering, present a multifaceted clinical challenge due to its heterogeneity and its incompletely understood pathophysiology and especially due to the limited therapeutic options. In this narrative review, we give an overview on various clinical aspects of tinnitus including its heterogeneity, contributing factors, comorbidities and therapeutic pathways with a specific emphasis on the implications for its pathophysiology and future research directions. Tinnitus exhibits high perceptual variability between affected individuals (heterogeneity) and within affected individuals (temporal variability). Hearing loss emerges as predominant risk factor and the perceived pitch corresponds to areas of hearing loss, supporting the compensatory response theory. Whereas most people who have tinnitus can live a normal life, in 10–20% tinnitus interferes severely with quality of life. These patients suffer frequently from comorbidities such as anxiety, depression or insomnia, acting as both risk factors and consequences. Accordingly, neuroimaging studies demonstrate shared brain networks between tinnitus and stress-related disorders shedding light on the intricate interplay of mental health and tinnitus. The challenge lies in deciphering causative relationships and shared pathophysiological mechanisms. Stress, external sounds, time of day, head movements, distraction, and sleep quality can impact tinnitus perception. Understanding these factors provides insights into the interplay with autonomic, sensory, motor, and cognitive processes. Counselling and cognitive-behavioural therapy demonstrate efficacy in reducing suffering, supporting the involvement of stress and anxiety-related networks. Hearing improvement, especially through cochlear implants, reduces tinnitus and thus indirectly validates the compensatory nature of tinnitus. Brain stimulation techniques can modulate the suffering of tinnitus, presumably by alteration of stress-related brain networks. Continued research is crucial for unravelling the complexities of tinnitus. Progress in management hinges on decoding diverse manifestations, identifying treatment-responsive subtypes, and advancing targeted therapeutic approaches.
Poverty, work intensity, and disability: evidence from European countries
Authors: Mussida Chiara , Sciulli Dario 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWe use 2015–2018 European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions longitudinal data for four European countries (the UK, Germany, France, and Italy) and a dynamic trivariate panel data model to analyze the complex relationship between poverty, work intensity, and disability. We find evidence of genuine state dependence in the three processes and feedback effects from past poverty to work intensity in all countries and from past poverty to disability in the UK, Germany, and Italy. Disability is detrimental to poverty, despite the mitigating role played by disability cash benefits. The magnitude of this effect seems to be associated with the average expenditure on social protection benefits and its distribution across functions. We stress the importance of accounting for the extra costs of disability and the key role work intensity plays in the disability–poverty connection. Finally, adopting a joint estimation strategy appears crucial to consistently estimating the relationship between the three processes.
Optimizing inland container shipping through reinforcement learning
Authors: Tomljenovic Vid , Merzifonluoglu Yasemin , Spigler Giacomo 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn this study, we investigate the container delivery problem and explore ways to optimize the complex and nuanced system of inland container shipping. Our aim is to fulfill customer demand while maximizing customer service and minimizing logistics costs. To address the challenges posed by an unpredictable and rapidly-evolving environment, we examine the potential of leveraging reinforcement learning (RL) to automate the decision-making process and craft agile, efficient delivery schedules. Through a rigorous and comprehensive numerical study, we evaluate the efficacy of this approach by comparing the performance of several high-performance heuristic policies with that of agents trained using reinforcement learning, under various problem settings. Our results demonstrate that a reinforcement learning approach is robust and particularly useful for decision makers who must match logistics demand with capacity dynamically and have multiple objectives.
Mediating effects of NLP-based parameters on the readability of crowdsourced wikipedia articles
Authors: Setia Simran , Chhabra Anamika , Arjun Verma Amit , Saxena Akrati 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn this era of information and communication technology, a large population relies on the Internet to gather information. One of the most popular information sources on the Internet is Wikipedia. Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that provides a wide range of information to its users. However, there have been concerns about the readability of information on Wikipedia time and again. The readability of the text is defined as the ease of understanding the underlying text. Past studies have analyzed the readability of Wikipedia articles with the help of conventional readability metrics, such as the Flesch-Kincaid readability score and the Automatic Readability Index (ARI). Such metrics only consider the surface-level parameters, such as the number of words, sentences, and paragraphs in the text, to quantify the readability. However, the readability of the text must also take into account the quality of the text. In this study, we consider many new NLP-based parameters capturing the quality of the text, such as lexical diversity, semantic diversity, lexical complexity, and semantic complexity and analyze their impact on the readability of Wikipedia articles using artificial neural networks. Besides NLP parameters, the crowdsourced parameters also affect the readability, and therefore, we also analyze the impact of crowdsourced parameters and observe that the crowdsourced parameters not only influence the readability scores but also affect the NLP parameters of the text. Additionally, we investigate the mediating effect of NLP parameters that connect the crowdsourced parameters to the readability of the text. The results show that the impact of crowdsourced parameters on readability is partially due to the profound effect of NLP-based parameters.
Emergentism in the biological framework: the case of fitness
Authors: Triviño Vanesa 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn this paper, I aim to explore whether fitness, understood as a causal disposition, can be characterized as an emergent property of organisms, or if it is reducible to the anatomical, physiological, and environmentally relative properties that characterize them. In doing so, I refer to Jessica Wilson’s characterization of ontological emergence and examine if fitness meets her criteria for ontological emergent properties (dependence and autonomy); and, if so, to what degree (weak or strong).
Establishment and characterization of cytochrome P450 1A1 CRISPR/Cas9 Knockout Bovine Foetal Hepatocyte Cell Line (BFH12)
Authors: Iori Silvia , D’Onofrio Caterina , Laham-Karam Nihay , Mushimiyimana Isidore , Lucatello Lorena , Lopparelli Rosa Maria , Gelain Maria Elena , Capolongo Francesca , Pauletto Marianna , Dacasto Mauro , Giantin Mery 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) subfamily of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes (XMEs) consists of two different isoforms, namely CYP1A1 and CYP1A2, which are highly conserved among species. These two isoenzymes are involved in the biotransformation of many endogenous compounds as well as in the bioactivation of several xenobiotics into carcinogenic derivatives, thereby increasing the risk of tumour development. Cattle (Bos taurus) are one of the most important food-producing animal species, being a significant source of nutrition worldwide. Despite daily exposure to xenobiotics, data on the contribution of CYP1A to bovine hepatic metabolism are still scarce. The CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout (KO) is a useful method for generating in vivo and in vitro models for studying xenobiotic biotransformations. In this study, we applied the ribonucleoprotein (RNP)-complex approach to successfully obtain the KO of CYP1A1 in a bovine foetal hepatocyte cell line (BFH12). After clonal expansion and selection, CYP1A1 excision was confirmed at the DNA, mRNA and protein level. Therefore, RNA-seq analysis revealed significant transcriptomic changes associated with cell cycle regulation, proliferation, and detoxification processes as well as on iron, lipid and mitochondrial homeostasis. Altogether, this study successfully generates a new bovine CYP1A1 KO in vitro model, representing a valuable resource for xenobiotic metabolism studies in this important farm animal species.
Graphical Abstract