bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Challenging Greek Primary Students’ Knowledge of Ocean Acidification Using the Carbon Cycle Context
Authors: Boubonari Theodora , Papazoglou Despoina-Niovi , Mogias Athanasios , Kevrekidis Theodoros 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of an intervention on primary school students’ construction of knowledge on ocean acidification and the development of their systems thinking. Eighty-five 11 to 12-year-old students from five different classes of two public primary schools in Greece participated in the 8-h intervention. The intervention included inquiry-based and knowledge-integration activities, and students worked in groups during all activities. Rich pictures, made by the groups at the beginning and the end of the intervention, were used to evaluate their progress in their knowledge concerning the carbon cycle, as well as in their systems thinking. Our findings showed that the intervention contributed to primary students’ conceptual knowledge of the carbon cycle and the inclusion of ocean acidification in the carbon cycle. It also helped them improve their systems thinking, indicating that students’ systems thinking at this age could be developed through formal instruction with interventions which emphasize content knowledge and use an earth systems approach. Moreover, our findings indicate that the systems thinking perspective can serve as an effective approach to help children better understand and critically engage with complex environmental issues, such as ocean acidification.
Cell replacement therapy with stem cells in multiple sclerosis, a systematic review
Authors: Christodoulou Maria Veatriki , Petkou Ermioni , Atzemoglou Natalia , Gkorla Eleni , Karamitrou Aikaterini , Simos Yannis V. , Bellos Stefanos , Bekiari Chryssa , Kouklis Panos , Konitsiotis Spyridon , Vezyraki Patra , Peschos Dimitrios , Tsamis Konstantinos I. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS), characterized by demyelination and axonal loss. It is induced by attack of autoreactive lymphocytes on the myelin sheath and endogenous remyelination failure, eventually leading to accumulation of neurological disability. Disease-modifying agents can successfully address inflammatory relapses, but have low efficacy in progressive forms of MS, and cannot stop the progressive neurodegenerative process. Thus, the stem cell replacement therapy approach, which aims to overcome CNS cell loss and remyelination failure, is considered a promising alternative treatment. Although the mechanisms behind the beneficial effects of stem cell transplantation are not yet fully understood, neurotrophic support, immunomodulation, and cell replacement appear to play an important role, leading to a multifaceted fight against the pathology of the disease. The present systematic review is focusing on the efficacy of stem cells to migrate at the lesion sites of the CNS and develop functional oligodendrocytes remyelinating axons. While most studies confirm the improvement of neurological deficits after the administration of different stem cell types, many critical issues need to be clarified before they can be efficiently introduced into clinical practice.
Studying the effects of educational games on cultivating computational thinking skills to primary school students: a systematic literature review
Authors: Giannakoulas Andreas , Xinogalos Stelios 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThis article presents a systematic literature review (SLR) on the effects of serious games, or more specifically educational games that aim to teach Computational Thinking (CT) skills to primary school students. Sixty one studies from various data sources were evaluated based on the CT skills and programming concepts addressed, the evaluation instruments used, the target audience, the learning outcomes and their results. The findings of the studies on the efficiency or impact of educational games on the acquisition of the proposed topics were positive, indicating that educational programming games can help primary school students develop CT skills or understand fundamental programming concepts. Additionally, the results suggest a general positive attitude towards the use of an educational game for learning purposes, while students perceive games as a great motivator for engaging in CT activities. Finally, the research discusses research gaps and shortages, as well as methodological limitations and recommendations for future work in the relevant domain.
The cost of research: Lasting effects of capture, surgery and muscle biopsy on brown bear (Ursus arctos) movement and physiology
Authors: Thiel Alexandra , Hertel Anne G , Giroud Sylvain , Friebe Andrea , Fuchs Boris , Kindberg Jonas , Græsli Anne Randi , Arnemo Jon M , Evans Alina L 
Published: November 2023

AbstractAnimal models are a key component of translational medicine, helping transfer scientific findings into practical applications for human health. A fundamental principle of research ethics involves weighing the benefits of the research to society against the burden imposed on the animals used for scientific purposes. The utilisation of wild animals for research requires evaluation of the effects of capture and invasive sampling. Determining the severity and duration of these interventions on the animal’s physiology and behaviour allows for refining study methodology and for excluding or accounting for biased data. In this study, 39 Scandinavian brown bears (Ursus arctos) captured either while hibernating in winter or via helicopter in summer and that underwent surgery as part of a human health project had their movement, body temperature and timing of onset of hibernation compared with those of 14 control bears that had not been captured during the same period. Bears captured in winter and summer showed decreased movement from den exit until late summer, compared to those in the control group. Bears captured in summer showed reduced movement and body temperature for at least, respectively, 14 and 3 days, with an 11% decrease in hourly distance, compared to pre-capture levels, but did not differ in the timing of hibernation onset. We reveal that brown bear behaviour and physiology can be altered in response to capture and surgery for days to months, post-capture. This has broad implications for the conclusions of wildlife studies that rely upon invasive sampling.
Justifying the use of excessive force: A critical discourse analysis of Chinese police individual WeChat Subscription Accounts
Authors: Wang Han 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThis article examines how individual police officers in China interpret and justify the use of excessive force on social media through their WeChat Subscription Accounts (WSAs). Existing research examines how the police department uses social media to justify deadly force, but overlooks individual officers’ online justifications. Adopting a critical discourse analysis approach, this study analyses 211 articles commenting on a prominent case of police violence in China. The findings shed light on the online voice of Chinese frontline officers, revealing an ideology that defends the use of excessive force. The articles published in WSAs displayed strong empathy towards the involved officer; contested the characterization of the incident as police brutality by police officials, the public, and the media; and employed various strategies to justify the officer’s actions. The discussion section expands on these findings by drawing comparisons to justifications in the United States, emphasizing the distinctive dynamic between individual officers’ online expression and official police discourse in China, and offering insights for scholars examining online expression and digital nationalism in the Chinese context.
Maximum Supersaturation in the Marine Boundary Layer Clouds Over the North Atlantic
Authors: Gong Xianda , Wang Yang , Xie Hua , Zhang Jiaoshi , Lu Zheng , Wood Robert , Stratmann Frank , Wex Heike , Liu Xiaohong , Wang Jian 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe maximum supersaturation (Sx) in clouds is a key parameter affecting the cloud's microphysical and radiative properties. We investigate the Sx of the marine boundary layer clouds by combining airborne and surface observations in the Eastern North Atlantic. The cloud droplet number concentration (Nc) in the least diluted cloud cores agrees well with the number concentration of particles larger than the Hoppel Minimum (HM) (N>HM) below clouds, indicating that the HM represents the average size threshold above which particles are activated to form cloud droplets. The Sx values derived from surface observations vary from 0.10% to 0.50% from June 2017 to June 2018, with a clear seasonal variation exhibiting higher values during winter. Most of the Sx variance (∼60%) can be explained by the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentration and updraft velocity (w), with the CCN concentration playing a more important role than w in explaining the variation of Sx. The influence of CCN concentration on Sx leads to a buffered response of Nc to aerosol perturbations. The response of Nc to low aerosol concentration during winter is further buffered by the high w. The global Community Earth System Model (CESM) simulated Sx values in the Azores have a positive bias compared to measured Sx, likely due to overestimated w and underestimated CCN concentration. The CESM simulated Sx exhibits higher values further north over the North Atlantic Ocean, which is attributed to stronger w. The suppression of Sx by aerosol is also evident in regions with high CCN concentrations.
Natural Vegetation Succession Under Climate Change and the Combined Effects on Net Primary Productivity
Authors: Zhang Sen , Hao Xingming , Zhao Zhuoyi , Zhang Jingjing , Fan Xue , Li Xuewei 
Published: November 2023

AbstractClimate change and the resulting natural vegetation succession can alter vegetation productivity. However, the mechanisms underlying future productivity changes under the two influences remain unclear. Here, we used the comprehensive sequence classification system to simulate changes in global potential natural vegetation under different climate scenarios (SSP1‐2.6, SSP2‐4.5, SSP3‐7.0, and SSP5‐8.5), and combined the Carnegie–Ames–Stanford Approach model with random forest to assess the response of net primary productivity (NPP) to climate change and vegetation succession from 2020 to 2100. Except for SSP126, terrestrial NPP in 2100 decreased by 0.86, 2.39, and 2.54 Pg C·a−1 versus 2020 under SSP2‐4.5, SSP5‐8.5, and SSP3‐7.0, respectively. Forest was the primary contributor to terrestrial NPP changes. The total forest area was projected to increase under all scenarios, with SSP2‐4.5 showing the largest increase (358.57 × 104 km2). However, expanding forest regions exhibited a relatively low mean NPP, while stable regions demonstrated a declining pattern. Consequently, forest NPP increased under SSP1‐2.6 but decreased by 4.03, 3.43, and 0.82 Pg C·a−1 in 2100 versus 2020 under SSP5‐8.5, SSP3‐7.0, and SSP2‐4.5, respectively. In comparison, grassland and desert exerted minor influence on terrestrial NPP changes, their total NPP decreased only under the SSP1‐2.6 scenario. The grassland area decreased, but the mean NPP increased, whereas the desert area expanded, resulting in consistent changes in both total and mean NPP. Our results analyzed the effects of climate change and vegetation distribution under its influence on the change of NPP, which can deepen our understanding of their relationship.
Arctic Tropospheric Ozone Trends
Authors: Law Kathy S. , Hjorth Jens L. , Pernov Jakob B. , Whaley Cynthia H. , Skov Henrik , Collaud Coen Martine , Langner Joakim , Arnold Stephen R. , Tarasick David , Christensen Jesper , Deushi Makoto , Effertz Peter , Faluvegi Greg , Gauss Michael , Im Ulas , Oshima Naga , Petropavlovskikh Irina , Plummer David , Tsigaridis Kostas , Tsyro Svetlana , Solberg Sverre , Turnock Steven T. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractObserved trends in tropospheric ozone, an important air pollutant and short‐lived climate forcer (SLCF), are estimated using available surface and ozonesonde profile data for 1993–2019, using a coherent methodology, and compared to modeled trends (1995–2015) from the Arctic Monitoring Assessment Program SLCF 2021 assessment. Increases in observed surface ozone at Arctic coastal sites, notably during winter, and concurrent decreasing trends in surface carbon monoxide, are generally captured by multi‐model median trends. Wintertime increases are also estimated in the free troposphere at most Arctic sites, with decreases during spring months. Winter trends tend to be overestimated by the multi‐model medians. Springtime surface ozone increases in northern coastal Alaska are not simulated while negative springtime trends in northern Scandinavia are not always reproduced. Possible reasons for observed changes and model performance are discussed including decreasing precursor emissions, changing ozone dry deposition, and variability in large‐scale meteorology.
Automatic Characterization of Boulders on Planetary Surfaces From High‐Resolution Satellite Images
Authors: Prieur Nils C. , Amaro Brian , Gonzalez Emiliano , Kerner Hannah , Medvedev Sergei , Rubanenko Lior , Werner Stephanie C. , Xiao Zhiyong , Zastrozhnov Dmitry , Lapôtre Mathieu G. A. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractBoulders form from a variety of geological processes, which their size, shape, and orientation may help us better understand. Furthermore, they represent potential hazards to spacecraft landing that need to be characterized. However, mapping individual boulders across vast areas is extremely labor‐intensive, often limiting the extent over which they are characterized and the statistical robustness of obtained boulder morphometrics. To automate boulder characterization, we use an instance segmentation neural network, Mask R‐CNN, to detect and outline boulders in high‐resolution satellite and aerial images. Our neural network, BoulderNet, was trained from a data set of >33,000 boulders in >750 image tiles from Earth, the Moon, and Mars. BoulderNet not only correctly detects the majority of boulders in images but also identifies the outline of boulders with high fidelity, achieving average precision and recall values of 72% and 64% relative to manually digitized boulders from the test data set, when only detections with intersection‐over‐union ratios >50% are considered valid. These values are similar to those obtained from human mappers. On Earth, equivalent boulder diameters, aspect ratios, and orientations extracted from predictions were benchmarked against ground measurements and yield values within ±15%, ±0.20, and ±20° of their ground‐truth values, respectively. BoulderNet achieves better boulder detection and characterization performance relative to existing methods, providing a versatile open‐source tool to characterize entire boulder fields on planetary surfaces.
Tumor-mesothelium HOXA11-PDGF BB/TGF β1-miR-181a-5p-Egr1 feedforward amplifier circuity propels mesothelial fibrosis and peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer
Authors: Wang Chao , Ji Jun , Jin Yangbing , Sun Ying , Cai Qu , Jiang Jinling , Guo Liting , Zhou Chenfei , Zhang Jun 
Published: November 2023

AbstractA proportion of gastric cancer (GC) patients suffer from peritoneal metastasis (PM) in the late stage of tumor and these patients have a poor prognosis. To provide more care for GC patient with PM, a deeper exploration of the molecular characteristics of GC-PM is needed. Here we performed the in vitro and in vivo study to illustrate the effect of HOXA11 over-expressed GC cells on peritoneal mesothelial cells (HMrSV5), transcriptomics analyses of HMrSV5 cells co-cultured with HOXA11 over-expressed GC cells, counterparts or alone, cytokine array analyses of serum-free culture medium of HOXA11 over-expressed GC cells, we validated our findings through genetic manipulation of HMrSV5 cells and neutralizing antibodies targeting cytokines secreted by HOXA11 over-expressed GC cells in vitro, as well as utilized human peritoneal metastatic lesions to validate expression of potential targets. We identified that HOXA11 over-expressed GC cells strongly propelled mesothelial fibrosis in vivo and in vitro, and HOXA11 regulated paracrine and autocrine of PDGF BB and TGF β1 in GC cells to propel mesothelial fibrosis. Meanwhile, HOXA11 over-expressed GC cells drove PDGF BB and TGF β1 secretion to activate developmental-process related genes in HMrSV5 cells, including Egr1, which processes dependent on miR-181a-5p. Then, Egr1 could mediate peritoneal mesothelial fibrosis. Correspondingly, Egr1 over-expressed HMrSV5 cells supported migration and peritoneal dissemination of GC cells. Together our results suggest that a feedforward amplifier circuity governing GC cells and mesothelial cells in peritoneum contribute to peritoneal metastasis of GC cells.
The etiology of congenital diaphragmatic hernia: the retinoid hypothesis 20 years later
Authors: Rivas Juan F. Garcia , Clugston Robin D. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractCongenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a severe birth defect and a major cause of neonatal respiratory distress. Impacting ~2–3 in 10,000 births, CDH is associated with a high mortality rate, and long-term morbidity in survivors. Despite the significant impact of CDH, its etiology remains incompletely understood. In 2003, Greer et al. proposed the Retinoid Hypothesis, stating that the underlying cause of abnormal diaphragm development in CDH was related to altered retinoid signaling. In this review, we provide a comprehensive update to the Retinoid Hypothesis, discussing work published in support of this hypothesis from the past 20 years. This includes reviewing teratogenic and genetic models of CDH, lessons from the human genetics of CDH and epidemiological studies, as well as current gaps in the literature and important areas for future research. The Retinoid Hypothesis is one of the leading hypotheses to explain the etiology of CDH, as we continue to better understand the role of retinoid signaling in diaphragm development, we hope that this information can be used to improve CDH outcomes.ImpactThis review provides a comprehensive update on the Retinoid Hypothesis, which links abnormal retinoic acid signaling to the etiology of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.The Retinoid Hypothesis was formulated in 2003. Twenty years later, we extensively review the literature in support of this hypothesis from both animal models and humans.
Structure and function of the membrane microdomains in osteoclasts
Authors: Hou Jialong , Liu Jian , Huang Zhixian , Wang Yining , Yao Hanbing , Hu Zhenxin , Shi Chengge , Xu Jiake , Wang Qingqing 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe cell membrane structure is closely related to the occurrence and progression of many metabolic bone diseases observed in the clinic and is an important target to the development of therapeutic strategies for these diseases. Strong experimental evidence supports the existence of membrane microdomains in osteoclasts (OCs). However, the potential membrane microdomains and the crucial mechanisms underlying their roles in OCs have not been fully characterized. Membrane microdomain components, such as scaffolding proteins and the actin cytoskeleton, as well as the roles of individual membrane proteins, need to be elucidated. In this review, we discuss the compositions and critical functions of membrane microdomains that determine the biological behavior of OCs through the three main stages of the OC life cycle.
Intestinal Atp8b1 dysfunction causes hepatic choline deficiency and steatohepatitis
Authors: Tamura Ryutaro , Sabu Yusuke , Mizuno Tadahaya , Mizuno Seiya , Nakano Satoshi , Suzuki Mitsuyoshi , Abukawa Daiki , Kaji Shunsaku , Azuma Yoshihiro , Inui Ayano , Okamoto Tatsuya , Shimizu Seiichi , Fukuda Akinari , Sakamoto Seisuke , Kasahara Mureo , Takahashi Satoru , Kusuhara Hiroyuki , Zen Yoh , Ando Tomohiro , Hayashi Hisamitsu 
Published: November 2023

AbstractCholine is an essential nutrient, and its deficiency causes steatohepatitis. Dietary phosphatidylcholine (PC) is digested into lysoPC (LPC), glycerophosphocholine, and choline in the intestinal lumen and is the primary source of systemic choline. However, the major PC metabolites absorbed in the intestinal tract remain unidentified. ATP8B1 is a P4-ATPase phospholipid flippase expressed in the apical membrane of the epithelium. Here, we use intestinal epithelial cell (IEC)-specific Atp8b1-knockout (Atp8b1IEC-KO) mice. These mice progress to steatohepatitis by 4 weeks. Metabolomic analysis and cell-based assays show that loss of Atp8b1 in IEC causes LPC malabsorption and thereby hepatic choline deficiency. Feeding choline-supplemented diets to lactating mice achieves complete recovery from steatohepatitis in Atp8b1IEC-KO mice. Analysis of samples from pediatric patients with ATP8B1 deficiency suggests its translational potential. This study indicates that Atp8b1 regulates hepatic choline levels through intestinal LPC absorption, encouraging the evaluation of choline supplementation therapy for steatohepatitis caused by ATP8B1 dysfunction.
Potential drivers of the recent large Antarctic ozone holes
Authors: Kessenich Hannah E. , Seppälä Annika , Rodger Craig J. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe past three years (2020–2022) have witnessed the re-emergence of large, long-lived ozone holes over Antarctica. Understanding ozone variability remains of high importance due to the major role Antarctic stratospheric ozone plays in climate variability across the Southern Hemisphere. Climate change has already incited new sources of ozone depletion, and the atmospheric abundance of several chlorofluorocarbons has recently been on the rise. In this work, we take a comprehensive look at the monthly and daily ozone changes at different altitudes and latitudes within the Antarctic ozone hole. Following indications of early-spring recovery, the October middle stratosphere is dominated by continued, significant ozone reduction since 2004, amounting to 26% loss in the core of the ozone hole. We link the declines in mid-spring Antarctic ozone to dynamical changes in mesospheric descent within the polar vortex, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring of the state of the ozone layer.
HIV-1 Gag targeting to the plasma membrane reorganizes sphingomyelin-rich and cholesterol-rich lipid domains
Authors: Tomishige Nario , Bin Nasim Maaz , Murate Motohide , Pollet Brigitte , Didier Pascal , Godet Julien , Richert Ludovic , Sako Yasushi , Mély Yves , Kobayashi Toshihide 
Published: November 2023

AbstractAlthough the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 lipid envelope has been reported to be enriched with host cell sphingomyelin and cholesterol, the molecular mechanism of the enrichment is not well understood. Viral Gag protein plays a central role in virus budding. Here, we report the interaction between Gag and host cell lipids using different quantitative and super-resolution microscopy techniques in combination with specific probes that bind endogenous sphingomyelin and cholesterol. Our results indicate that Gag in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane colocalizes with the outer leaflet sphingomyelin-rich domains and cholesterol-rich domains, enlarges sphingomyelin-rich domains, and strongly restricts the mobility of sphingomyelin-rich domains. Moreover, Gag multimerization induces sphingomyelin-rich and cholesterol-rich lipid domains to be in close proximity in a curvature-dependent manner. Our study suggests that Gag binds, coalesces, and reorganizes pre-existing lipid domains during assembly.