bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The relevance of intestinal barrier dysfunction, antimicrobial proteins and bacterial endotoxin in metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease
Authors: Bergheim Ina , Moreno‐Navarrete José María 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundMetabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a leading cause of end‐stage liver disease associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular disease. Obesity and diabetes are the most important risk factors of MASLD. It is well‐established that obesity‐associated insulin resistance leads to a situation of tissue lipotoxicity characterized by an accumulation of excess fat in non‐fat tissues such as the liver, promoting the development of MASLD, and its progression into metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatohepatitis.MethodsHere, we aimed to review the impact of disrupted intestinal permeability, antimicrobial proteins and bacterial endotoxin in the development and progression of MASLD.Results and ConclusionRecent studies demonstrated that obesity‐ and obesogenic diets‐associated alterations of intestinal microbiota along with the disruption of intestinal barrier integrity, the alteration in antimicrobial proteins and, in consequence, an enhanced translocation of bacterial endotoxin into bloodstream might contribute to this pathological process through to impacting liver metabolism and inflammation.
Exploration of the mode of death and potential death mechanisms of nucleus pulposus cells
Authors: Zhou Daqian , Mei Yongliang , Song Chao , Cheng Kang , Cai Weiye , Guo Daru , Gao Silong , Lv Jiale , Liu Tao , Zhou Yang , Wang Liquan , Liu Bing , Liu Zongchao 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIntervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a common chronic orthopaedic disease in orthopaedics that imposes a heavy economic burden on people and society. Although it is well established that IVDD is associated with genetic susceptibility, ageing and obesity, its pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Previously, IVDD was thought to occur because of excessive mechanical loading leading to destruction of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs), but studies have shown that IVDD is a much more complex process associated with inflammation, metabolic factors and NPCs death and can involve all parts of the disc, characterized by causing NPCs death and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. The damage pattern of NPCs in IVDD is like that of some programmed cell death, suggesting that IVDD is associated with programmed cell death. Although apoptosis and pyroptosis of NPCs have been studied in IVDD, the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration can still not be fully elucidated by using only traditional cell death modalities. With increasing research, some new modes of cell death, PANoptosis, ferroptosis and senescence have been found to be closely related to intervertebral disc degeneration. Among these, PANoptosis combines essential elements of pyroptosis, apoptosis and necroptosis to form a highly coordinated and dynamically balanced programmed inflammatory cell death process. Furthermore, we believe that PANoptosis may also crosstalk with pyroptosis and senescence. Therefore, we review the progress of research on multiple deaths of NPCs in IVDD to provide guidance for clinical treatment.
Universities’ internal governance and their efficiency: empirical evidence from Russia
Authors: Agasisti Tommaso , Egorov Aleksei , Platonova Daria , Serebrennikov Pavel 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis paper aims to assess the relationship between governance practices and the efficiency of universities. We use the conditional efficiency approach and a partial frontier approach (order‐m estimator) for measuring universities’ efficiency and consider three important clusters of practices: centralisation, the growth of management teams at the administrative level and incentives for staff. The specific governance practices of universities are positively associated with their efficiency, the results differ for research‐oriented and teaching‐oriented universities. The optimal strategy for research‐intensive universities would be to provide a reasonable level of autonomy and optimal investment in administrative support (administrative staff salaries), while possible recommendations for teaching‐oriented universities include centralising some functions that reduce the administrative burden on the department.
Insights into the issues during hot‐pressing and vacuum sintering of 10 mol.% CaO doped zirconia ceramics
Authors: Reddy Jejitti Aravind , Lakshya Annu Kumar , Chowdhury Anirban 
Published: April 2024

AbstractA vacuum environment is usually preferred for reducing the dwell time and sintering temperature for doped zirconia ceramics. However, for the present work with 10 mol.% CaO‐doped ZrO2 (10CaSZ) ceramics, both hot‐pressing and vacuum sintering techniques yielded ceramics with open pores (ρ ∼ 93%) and significant amounts of the deleterious monoclinic phase (50%). This is in stark contrast with the conventionally sintered highly dense (>99%) 10CaSZ ceramics, where only tetragonal and cubic phases were noted. Probing via electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) depicted the trapping of oxygen vacancies by vacancies generated in vacuum at high temperature. A possible change in the local coordination (of ions) and the subsequent chemical environment was confirmed by the observed asymmetric signal shape and broader linewidth of the EPR signals. Potential loss of oxygen and deviation from stoichiometry (for dopant) was confirmed via EPR analysis along with the support of energy dispersive spectra analysis. Despite no noticeable shift in the XRD pattern for Ca2+ depletion, the observed compositional gradient differences in the calcium elemental mapping suggested dopant segregation at the grain boundaries. The conclusions from the present work point toward specificity of a given materials system for its beneficial densification under hot pressing or vacuum sintering.
Anatomy of the olfactory system and potential role for chemical communication in the sound‐producing Lusitanian toadfish, Halobatrachus didactylus
Authors: Modesto Teresa , Neves Gregório Beatriz , Marcelino Gonçalo , Marquet Nathalie , Costa Rita A. , Guerreiro Pedro M. , Velez Zélia , Hubbard Peter C. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe current study investigated the structure and function of the olfactory system of the Lusitanian toadfish, Halobatrachus didactylus, using histology and electrophysiology (electro‐olfactogram [EOG]), respectively. The olfactory system consists of a digitated anterior peduncle, of unknown function, containing the inhalant nostril. This then leads to a U‐shaped olfactory chamber with the olfactory epithelium—identified by Gαolf‐immunoreactivity—on the ventral surface. A large lacrimal sac is connected to this tube and is likely involved in generating water movement through the olfactory chamber (this species is largely sedentary). The exhalent nostril lies by the eye and is preceded by a bicuspid valve to ensure one‐way flow of water. As do other teleosts, H. didactylus had olfactory sensitivity to amino acids and bile acids. Large‐amplitude EOG responses were evoked by fluid from the anterior and posterior testicular accessory glands, and bile and intestinal fluids. Anterior gland and intestinal fluids from reproductive males were significantly more potent than those from non‐reproductive males. Male urine and skin mucus proved to be the least potent body fluids tested. These results suggest that chemical communication—as well as acoustic communication—may be important in the reproduction of this species and that this may be mediated by the accessory glands and intestinal fluid.
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and application for cleaning of food‐contact surfaces: A review
Authors: Chai Jing , Su Hong , Li Xiang , Zhang Yanling , Xiao Douxin , Kang Jing , Dong Alideertu 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn the food industry, ensuring clean production equipment is essential for maintaining product quality and safeguarding consumer health. For optimal geometric cleaning, it is crucial to consider the specific interactions between flow, dirt, and cleaning fluids. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a powerful tool for simulating fluid flow behavior, especially in terms of momentum, mass, and energy transfer. It has been widely used to model elimination processes in food sanitation. The construction of CFD model and the cleaning of food contact surface were explored. Additionally, an overview of existing CFD studies on fouling and cleaning mechanisms was provided in this manuscript. The goal of this review is to discuss the present state of CFD modeling in cleaning soil from surfaces and to offer a valuable reference for food cleaning process.
The early‐stage clinical course of anti‐pituitary‐specific transcription factor‐1 hypophysitis diagnosed post‐immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment: A case with review of literature
Authors: Urai Shin , Tomofuji Seiji , Bando Hironori , Kanzawa Maki , Yamamoto Masaaki , Fukuoka Hidenori , Tsuda Masahiro , Iguchi Genzo , Ogawa Wataru 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAnti‐pituitary‐specific transcription factor‐1 (PIT‐1) hypophysitis, a paraneoplastic syndrome resulting from an autoimmune response against PIT‐1, typically manifests with undetectable levels of growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL), and significantly low levels of serum thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) at diagnosis. These hormonal levels are highly specific to this disease and serve as key diagnostic indicators. Herein, we present a detailed clinical course of a 69‐year‐old male with a history of gastric cancer and lymph node metastases who developed anti‐PIT‐1 hypophysitis after the initiation of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, specifically nivolumab, oxaliplatin, and capecitabine. The patient was referred to our department owing to decreased TSH, free triiodothyronine (T3), and free thyroxine (T4) levels after two doses of nivolumab. Initially suspected as central hypothyroidism due to ICI‐related hypophysitis, further assessment confirmed the diagnosis of anti‐PIT‐1 hypophysitis. Notably, GH, PRL, and TSH levels markedly declined, leading to complete deficiencies 2 months after the first nivolumab dose—a pattern consistent with that of previous cases of anti‐PIT‐1 hypophysitis. Therefore, this report not only presents an atypical subset of ICI‐related hypophysitis but also delineates the process of hormone impairment leading to complete deficiencies in anti‐PIT‐1 hypophysitis. This case highlights the importance of vigilant monitoring for endocrine issues in patients undergoing ICI therapy, given the escalating incidence of immune‐related adverse events associated with the extensive use of ICI therapy for various cancers.
Deep neural network uncertainty estimation for early oral cancer diagnosis
Authors: Lin Huiping , Chen Hanshen , Lin Jun 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundEarly diagnosis in oral cancer is essential to reduce both morbidity and mortality. This study explores the use of uncertainty estimation in deep learning for early oral cancer diagnosis.MethodsWe develop a Bayesian deep learning model termed ‘Probabilistic HRNet’, which utilizes the ensemble MC dropout method on HRNet. Additionally, two oral lesion datasets with distinct distributions are created. We conduct a retrospective study to assess the predictive performance and uncertainty of Probabilistic HRNet across these datasets.ResultsProbabilistic HRNet performs optimally on the In‐domain test set, achieving an F1 score of 95.3% and an AUC of 96.9% by excluding the top 30% high‐uncertainty samples. For evaluations on the Domain‐shift test set, the results show an F1 score of 64.9% and an AUC of 80.3%. After excluding 30% of the high‐uncertainty samples, these metrics improve to an F1 score of 74.4% and an AUC of 85.6%.ConclusionRedirecting samples with high uncertainty to experts for subsequent diagnosis significantly decreases the rates of misdiagnosis, which highlights that uncertainty estimation is vital to ensure safe decision making for computer‐aided early oral cancer diagnosis.
Traumatic and iatrogenic sciatic nerve injury in 38 dogs and 10 cats: Clinical and electrodiagnostic findings
Authors: Dell'Apa Diletta , Auletta Luigi , Okonji Samuel , Cauduro Alberto , Dondi Maurizio , Opreni Mauro , Gandini Gualtiero , Bianchi Ezio 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundReports describing sciatic nerve injuries (SNI) and their outcome are scarce in veterinary medicine.HypothesisDescribe the causes of traumatic and iatrogenic SNI and evaluate which clinical and electrodiagnostic findings predict outcome.AnimalsThirty‐eight dogs and 10 cats with confirmed SNI referred for neurologic and electrodiagnostic evaluation.MethodsClinical and electrodiagnostic examination results, including electromyography (EMG), motor nerve conduction studies, muscle‐evoked potential (MEP), F‐waves, sensory nerve conduction studies, and cord dorsum potential (CDP), were retrospectively evaluated. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed based on owner interviews.ResultsSurgery (42%) and trauma (33%) were the most common causes of SNI; in dogs, 24% were caused by bites from wild boars. Ability to flex and extend the tarsus was significantly associated with positive outcome in dogs. Mean time from onset of clinical signs until electrodiagnostic evaluation was 67 ± 65 (range, 7‐300) days and 65 ± 108 (range, 7‐365) days for dogs and cats, respectively. A cut‐off amplitude of 1.45 mV for compound motor action potentials (CMAP) was predictive of positive outcome in dogs (P = .01), with sensitivity of 58% and specificity of 100%.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceClinical motor function predicts recovery better than sensory function. Electrodiagnostic findings also may play a role in predicting the outcome of SNI. Application of the proposed CMAP cut‐off amplitude may assist clinicians in shortening the time to reassessment or for earlier suggestion of salvage procedures. Owners perceived a good quality of life (QoL), even in cases of hindlimb amputation.
Changes in taxonomic and functional composition of subalpine plant communities in response to climate change under contrasting conditions of bedrock and snow cover duration
Authors: Michalet Richard , Touzard Blaise , Billard Gilbert , Choler Philippe , Loucougaray Grégory 
Published: April 2024

AbstractQuestionsWe assessed interactions between climate change, bedrock types and snow cover duration on the trajectories of taxonomic and functional composition of subalpine plant communities. We predict (i) an increase in species richness on siliceous bedrock due to a reduced competition and a decrease in richness on calcareous bedrock due to increasing drought stress; (ii) decreasing snow cover duration should induce a higher shrub encroachment in hollows as compared to ridges; and (iii) increasing growing season temperature should induce taller sizes and more conservative growth traits, in particular in hollows.LocationSubalpine belt of the Grandes Rousses mountain range, southwestern Alps (France).Methods189 vegetation plots were sampled in 1997 and 2017–2018. The duration of snow cover was assessed during two years in 1995–1997 and five functional traits were measured on 108 species in 2021. We performed multivariate analyses, quantified community‐weighted means (CWM) of traits and used ANOVAs to detect responses to local‐scale factors and changes in snow cover, temperature and precipitation since 1997 according to a nearby meteorological station.ResultsOverall, taxonomic composition weakly changed and changes were more dependent on the position of communities along the snow cover duration gradient than on their bedrock type. The abundance of drought‐tolerant species increased at the border of hollows and there was, over all communities, a slight increase in the abundance of dwarf shrubs and tall herbaceous species, a strong decrease in short herbaceous species and, thus, an overall decrease in species richness. There were important overall changes in CWM of size traits, in particular leaf area which increased the most in hollows irrespective of bedrock types.ConclusionIn this subalpine site the effects of decreasing snow cover duration overwhelmed the effects of bedrocks, which may explain the overall increase in competitive species and decrease in species richness.
Associations of dietary sugars with liver stiffness in Latino adolescents with obesity differ on PNPLA3 and liver disease severity
Authors: Schenker Rachel B. , Machle Christopher J. , Schmidt Kelsey A. , Allayee Hooman , Kohli Rohit , Goran Michael I. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractMetabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common paediatric liver disease. Latinos have high MASLD risk due to 50% prevalence of GG genotype of PNPLA3. Our primary aim was to evaluate associations between dietary carbohydrates/sugars and liver stiffness in Latino adolescents with obesity. Our secondary aim was to examine effect modification by (a) PNPLA3 genotype or (b) liver disease severity. Data were obtained from 114 Latino adolescents with obesity involved in two prior studies. No associations were seen between dietary carbohydrates/sugars and liver stiffness in the group as a whole. In subjects with GG genotype of PNPLA3, total sugar, fructose, sucrose, and glucose were associated with liver stiffness. Positive relationships between carbohydrate, total sugar, and sucrose and liver stiffness were stronger in those with MASLD and fibrosis compared to those with healthy livers and MASLD without fibrosis.
How admixed captive breeding populations could be rescued using local ancestry information
Authors: Lawson Daniel J. , Howard‐McCombe Jo , Beaumont Mark , Senn Helen 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis paper asks the question: can genomic information be used to recover a species that is already on the pathway to extinction due to genetic swamping from a related and more numerous population? We show that a breeding strategy in a captive breeding program can use whole genome sequencing to identify and remove segments of DNA introgressed through hybridisation. The proposed policy uses a generalized measure of kinship or heterozygosity accounting for local ancestry, that is, whether a specific genetic location was inherited from the target of conservation. We then show that optimizing these measures would minimize undesired ancestry while also controlling kinship and/or heterozygosity, in a simulated breeding population. The process is applied to real data representing the hybridized Scottish wildcat breeding population, with the result that it should be possible to breed out domestic cat ancestry. The ability to reverse introgression is a powerful tool brought about through the combination of sequencing with computational advances in ancestry estimation. Since it works best when applied early in the process, important decisions need to be made about which genetically distinct populations should benefit from it and which should be left to reform into a single population.
Harnessing photosynthetic C18O16O discrimination dynamics under leaf water nonsteady state to estimate mesophyll conductance: a new, regression‐based method
Authors: Rao Sen , Liu Tao , Cernusak Lucas A. , Song Xin 
Published: April 2024

Summary

Mesophyll conductance (gm) is a crucial plant trait that can significantly limit photosynthesis. Measurement of photosynthetic C18O16O discrimination (Δ18O) has proved to be the only viable means of resolving gm in both C3 and C4 plants. However, the currently available methods to exploit Δ18O for gm estimation are error prone due to their inadequacy in constraining the degree of oxygen isotope exchange (θ) during mesophyll CO2 hydration.

Here, we capitalized on experimental manipulation of leaf water isotopic dynamics to establish a novel, nonsteady state, regression‐based approach for simultaneous determination of gm and θ from online Δ18O measurements.

We demonstrated the methodological and theoretical robustness of this new Δ18O‐gm estimation approach and showed through measurements on several C3 and C4 species that this approach can serve as a benchmark method against which to identify previously‐unrecognized biases of the existing Δ18O‐gm methods.

Our results highlight the unique value of this nonsteady state‐based approach for contributing to ongoing efforts toward quantitative understanding of mesophyll conductance for crop yield improvement and carbon cycle modeling.
OsALKBH9‐mediated m6A demethylation regulates tapetal PCD and pollen exine accumulation in rice
Authors: Tang Jun , Lei Dekun , Yang Junbo , Chen Shuyan , Wang Xueping , Huang Xiaoxin , Zhang Shasha , Cai Zhihe , Zhu Shanshan , Wan Jianmin , Jia Guifang 
Published: April 2024

SummaryThe N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) mRNA modification is crucial for plant development and stress responses. In rice, the male sterility resulting from the deficiency of OsFIP37, a core component of m6A methyltransferase complex, emphasizes the significant role of m6A in male fertility. m6A is reversible and can be removed by m6A demethylases. However, whether mRNA m6A demethylase regulates male fertility in rice has remained unknown. Here, we identify the mRNA m6A demethylase OsALKBH9 and demonstrate its involvement in male fertility regulation. Knockout of OsALKBH9 causes male sterility, dependent on its m6A demethylation activity. Cytological analysis reveals defective tapetal programmed cell death (PCD) and excessive accumulation of microspores exine in Osalkbh9‐1. Transcriptome analysis of anthers shows up‐regulation of genes involved in tapetum development, sporopollenin synthesis, and transport pathways in Osalkbh9‐1. Additionally, we demonstrate that OsALKBH9 demethylates the m6A modification in TDR and GAMYB transcripts, which affects the stability of these mRNAs and ultimately leads to excessive accumulation of pollen exine. Our findings highlight the precise control of mRNA m6A modification and reveal the pivotal roles played by OsALKBH9‐mediated m6A demethylation in tapetal PCD and pollen exine accumulation in rice.
AtMYB41 acts as a dual‐function transcription factor that regulates the formation of lipids in an organ‐ and development‐dependent manner
Authors: Keyl A. , Kwas V. , Lewandowska M. , Herrfurth C. , Kunst L. , Feussner I. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

The plant cuticle controls non‐stomatal water loss and can serve as a barrier against biotic agents, whereas the heteropolymer suberin and its associated waxes are deposited constitutively at specific cell wall locations. While several transcription factors controlling cuticle formation have been identified, those involved in the transcriptional regulation of suberin biosynthesis remain poorly characterized. The major goal of this study was to further analyse the function of the R2R3‐Myeloblastosis (MYB) transcription factor AtMYB41 in formation of the cuticle, suberin, and suberin‐associated waxes throughout plant development.

For functional analysis, the organ‐specific expression pattern of AtMYB41 was analysed and Atmyb41ge alleles were generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. These were investigated for root growth and water permeability upon stress. In addition, the fatty acid, wax, cutin, and suberin monomer composition of different organs was evaluated by gas chromatography.

The characterization of Atmyb41ge mutants revealed that AtMYB41 negatively regulates the production of cuticular lipids and fatty acid biosynthesis in leaves and seeds, respectively. Remarkably, biochemical analyses indicate that AtMYB41 also positively regulates the formation of cuticular waxes in stems of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Overall, these results suggest that the AtMYB41 acts as a negative regulator of cuticle and fatty acid biosynthesis in leaves and seeds, respectively, but also as a positive regulator of wax production in A. thaliana stems.