bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mechanical properties of corn: Correlation with endosperm hardness
Authors: Gao Peng , Tian Shuangqi , Chen Yanyan , Lu Jing 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to explore the effects of different factors on the compressive mechanical properties of corn kernels. Explore the relationship between endosperm hardness and compressive mechanical properties of corn kernels by polynomial regression analysis. The results showed that the variety and kernel orientation had a significant effect on the compressive mechanical properties of corn kernels. Flint corn had a stronger ability to resist damage than floury corn. As the loading rate increased from 5 to 25 mm/min, the rupture force and rupture energy of corn kernels changed accordingly. The hardness of horny endosperm was significantly higher than that of floury endosperm. The dense starch‐protein network structure of horny endosperm leads to higher hardness. According to the fitting results, the compressive mechanical properties of corn kernels could be predicted using the hardness of the horny endosperm within a certain range.Practical applicationsAs a widely planted food crop in the world, corn is not only an important food crop, but also a high‐quality feed for livestock and poultry. The compressive mechanical properties (elastic modulus, compressive failure force, failure energy, etc.) of corn kernels were explored, and the relationship between endosperm hardness and its mechanical properties was analyzed. It can provide technical parameters for mechanical processing equipment, reduce the loss of corn grain in the processing process, and improve its economic value.
Novel single‐nucleus transcriptomics unravels developmental and functionally controlled principles of mammalian neuromuscular junctions
Authors: Soreq Hermona 
Published: November 2023

AbstractProf Ohno's team (Ohkawara et al. 2023, current issue) underscored the dynamic and functional features that co‐shape the embryonic and early post‐natal development of mammalian neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) using single‐nucleus transcriptomics which provides specific insights into the activities of individually studied nuclei and their functional characteristics. Unlike other single‐nucleus transcriptomics studies, which tend to be limited to single developmental time points, this article provides novel views of the complex developmental and regulatory dynamics and embryonic cell type origins underscoring the formation of functioning mammalian NMJs by combining this transcriptomic approach with interference tests in cultured C2C12 myotubes. This reveals intriguing novel links between the particular nicotinic acetylcholine receptor genes (nAChR) and regulator transcripts thereof and enables outlining the sequential development of functioning NMJs along embryogenesis and soon after delivery. Specifically, the timewise and cell type origins of the studied nuclei emerged as essential for NMJ neurogenesis and inter‐cellular transfer of specific regulators has been indicated. Breaking the barriers between distinct research subdisciplines, this study opens new neurochemistry research directions that recombine developmental, regulatory, and functional transcriptomics in NMJ‐including tissues. Moreover, these findings may facilitate tests of diverse pharmaceutical and therapeutic modulators of neuromuscular functioning in health and disease, assisting the translational research progress in treating devastating neuromuscular states such as in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myasthenia gravis or individuals poisoned occupationally or otherwise with anticholinesterase inhibitors.image
Genetics of human longevity: From variants to genes to pathways
Authors: Smulders Larissa , Deelen Joris 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe current increase in lifespan without an equivalent increase in healthspan poses a grave challenge to the healthcare system and a severe burden on society. However, some individuals seem to be able to live a long and healthy life without the occurrence of major debilitating chronic diseases, and part of this trait seems to be hidden in their genome. In this review, we discuss the findings from studies on the genetic component of human longevity and the main challenges accompanying these studies. We subsequently focus on results from genetic studies in model organisms and comparative genomic approaches to highlight the most important conserved longevity‐associated pathways. By combining the results from studies using these different approaches, we conclude that only five main pathways have been consistently linked to longevity, namely (1) insulin/insulin‐like growth factor 1 signalling, (2) DNA‐damage response and repair, (3) immune function, (4) cholesterol metabolism and (5) telomere maintenance. As our current approaches to study the relevance of these pathways in humans are limited, we suggest that future studies on the genetics of human longevity should focus on the identification and functional characterization of rare genetic variants in genes involved in these pathways.
Melatonin rescues the mitochondrial function of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells and improves the repair of osteoporotic bone defect in ovariectomized rats
Authors: Gu Chao , Zhou Quan , Hu Xiayu , Ge Xiaoyang , Hou Mingzhuang , Wang Wenhao , Liu Hao , Shi Qin , Xu Yong , Zhu Xuesong , Yang Huilin , Chen Xi , Liu Tao , He Fan 
Published: November 2023

AbstractOsteoporotic bone defects, a severe complication of osteoporosis, are distinguished by a delayed bone healing process and poor repair quality. While bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) are the primary origin of bone‐forming osteoblasts, their mitochondrial function is impaired, leading to inadequate bone regeneration in osteoporotic patients. Melatonin is well‐known for its antioxidant properties and regulation on bone metabolism. The present study postulated that melatonin has the potential to enhance the repair of osteoporotic bone defects by restoring the mitochondrial function of BMMSCs. In vitro administration of melatonin at varying concentrations (0.01, 1, and 100 μM) demonstrated a significant dose‐dependent improvement in the mitochondrial function of BMMSCs obtained from ovariectomized rats (OVX‐BMMSCs), as indicated by an elevation in mitochondrial membrane potential, adenosine triphosphate synthesis and expression of mitochondrial respiratory chain factors. Melatonin reduced the level of mitochondrial superoxide by activating the silent information regulator type 1 (SIRT1) and its downstream antioxidant enzymes, particularly superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2). The protective effects of melatonin were found to be nullified upon silencing of Sirt1 or Sod2, underscoring the crucial role of the SIRT1‐SOD2 axis in the melatonin‐induced enhancement of mitochondrial energy metabolism in OVX‐BMMSCs. To achieve a sustained and localized release of melatonin, silk fibroin scaffolds loaded with melatonin (SF@MT) were fabricated. The study involved the surgical creation of bilateral femur defects in OVX rats, followed by the implantation of SF@MT scaffolds. The results indicated that the application of melatonin partially restored the mitochondrial energy metabolism and osteogenic differentiation of OVX‐BMMSCs by reinstating mitochondrial redox homeostasis. These findings suggest that the localized administration of melatonin through bone implants holds potential as a therapeutic approach for addressing osteoporotic bone defects.
Insomnia medications: History, characteristics, and guidelines for optimal use in clinical practice
Authors: Krystal Andrew D. 
Published: November 2023

SummaryThis article reviews the history of insomnia pharmacotherapy, documenting the evolution that has occurred over time in the increasing availability of medications with novel mechanisms of action that more specifically target the neural systems that modulate sleep/wake function. This evolution provides an increasing capacity to improve the effectiveness of insomnia pharmacotherapy by allowing the selection of medications that specifically target the particular type of sleep difficulty present in each patient. As a result, they can achieve a therapeutic effect with fewer effects on aspects of brain function other than those needed to achieve benefit, thereby minimising adverse effects. The accumulated evidence‐base is such that it can serve as the basis for a personalised insomnia pharmacotherapy paradigm. Here we outline a set of best‐practice recommendations for how to carry out optimised personalised insomnia pharmacotherapy based on that evidence base in the hope that it will improve the treatment delivered to the many individuals suffering from insomnia.
Strange Affinities in the Search for Personalized Health: New Age Practices and Genetic Testing
Authors: Scheitle Christopher P. , DiGregorio Bernard D. , Corcoran Katie E. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractA prominent focus of New Age beliefs and practices has always been health and healing—including the use of holistic healing, power crystals, homeopathy, and complementary and alternative medicine. Given its association with modern science and medicine, genetic testing would seem to run counter to New Age alternative medical practices. On the other hand, the use of at‐home genetic health tests and the use of such New Age alternative medical practices could both be motivated by a desire for personalized healthcare. Using data generated from a survey fielded on a probability sample of U.S. adults, we examine associations between individuals’ use of at‐home genetic health tests and their use of power crystals and acupuncture or other homeopathic medicine. Logistic regression models find that those who use power crystals or homeopathic medicine have significantly greater odds of having used an at‐home genetic health test. We discuss the implications of these findings for our understanding of the direct‐to‐consumer genetic testing market and the relationship between science, religion, and spirituality more broadly.
Comparative evaluation of use of apexo elevators versus crane pick elevators in extraction of mandibular posterior root stumps
Authors: Mehta Mili , Shah Sonal , Rudagi Bhimappa , Lunkad Piyush , Bhagat Bhushan , Ticku Smriti 
Published: November 2023

AbstractPurposeThe crane pick elevator is a solid version of the pick‐type dental elevator that rolls the root out of the socket using the wheel and axle method. The traditional apexo elevator works on the wedge principle, wherein it helps to retrieve root stumps below the gingival line. Although most of the extractions can be performed with routine techniques and instruments, there is a constant urge to improve these conventional procedures with newer instruments and techniques. Thus, we intend to do a comparative study, evaluating the efficiency of apexo elevators versus crane pick elevators in the extraction of mandibular root stumps.Patients and MethodsThis was a comparative in vivo study conducted on a total of 68 patients aged 18 years and above. They were divided into two groups of 34 each using a random number generator. The patients were evaluated on the basis of their gender, whether extraction was successful, time taken for extraction, operators' difficulty, root length and the tooth that was extracted.ResultsMajority of the participants were males in the apexo group (61.7%) and females in the crane pick group (55.8%). InAU terms of successful extraction, it was seen to be more with apexo elevators compared to crane pick elevators and is statistically significant (0.04*). The operator encountered greater difficulty during the removal of root stumps with crane pick elevators.ConclusionWe concluded that crane pick elevators are useful in luxating apical one third of the root when fractured. However, apexo elevators are better when it comes to delivering the tooth out of the socket.
Optimizing electronic blood ordering and supporting administration workflows to improve blood utilization in the pediatric hospital setting
Authors: Stoffel Michelle , Leu Michael G. , Barry Dwight , Hrachovec Jennifer , Saifee Nabiha H. , Migita Darren S. , Deam Nate , Villavicencio Carlos E. , O'Hare M. Pauline , Pagliarulo Amy , Delaney Meghan 
Published: November 2023

AbstractBackgroundRed blood cell wastage occurs when blood is discarded rather than transfused, and ineffective ordering results in unnecessary crossmatch procedures. We describe how a multimodal approach to redesigning electronic ordering tools improved blood utilization in a pediatric inpatient setting and how using innovative application of time series data analysis provides insights into intervention effectiveness, which can guide future process improvement cycles.MethodsA multidisciplinary team used best practices and Toyota Production System methodology to redesign electronic blood ordering and improve administration processes. We analyzed crossmatch to transfusion ratio and red blood cell wastage time series data extracted from our laboratory information system and electronic health record. We used changepoint analysis to identify statistically discernible breaks in each time series, compatible with known interventions. We performed causal impact analysis on red blood cell wastage time series data to estimate blood wastage avoided due to the interventions.ResultsChangepoint analysis estimated an 11% decrease in crossmatch to transfusion ratio and a 77% decrease in red blood cell monthly wastage rate during the intervention period. Causal impact analysis estimated a 61% reduction in expected wastage compared to the scenario if the interventions had not occurred.DiscussionOur results show that electronic health record design is an important factor in reducing waste and preventing unnecessary crossmatching, and that time series analysis can be a useful tool for evaluating the long‐term impact of each stage of intervention in a longitudinal process redesign effort for the purpose of effectively targeting future improvement efforts.
Coloring unions of nearly disjoint hypergraph cliques
Authors: Mubayi Dhruv , Verstraete Jacques 
Published: November 2023

AbstractWe consider the maximum chromatic number of hypergraphs consisting of cliques that have pairwise small intersections. Designs of the appropriate parameters produce optimal constructions, but these are generally known to exist only when the number of cliques is exponential in the clique size (Glock, Kühn, Lo, and Osthus, Mem. Amer. Math. Soc. 284 (2023) v+131 pp; Keevash, Preprint; Rödl, Eur. J. Combin. 6 (1985) 69–78). We construct near designs where the number of cliques is polynomial in the clique size, and show that they have large chromatic number. The case when the cliques have pairwise intersections of size at most one seems particularly challenging. Here, we give lower bounds by analyzing a random greedy hypergraph process. We also consider the related question of determining the maximum number of caps in a finite projective/affine plane and obtain nontrivial upper and lower bounds.
Transition (From Sport) Experiences of Former National Football League Players: An NFL-LONG Study
Authors: DeFreese J.D. , Weight Erianne A. , Lempke Landon B. , Walton Samuel R. , Kerr Zachary Yukio , Brett Benjamin L. , Chandran Avinash , Mannix Rebekah , Echemendia Ruben J. , McCrea Michael A. , Meehan William P. , Guskiewicz Kevin M. 
Published: November 2023

Transition from professional football life has important implications for the health and well-being of former National Football League (NFL) players. The study purpose was to examine former NFL players’ experiences of transitioning from sport including factors that helped and factors that made transition difficult. This study used a convenience sample of former NFL players drawn from a larger study of health and function. Participants included 1,784 former NFL players, mean age = 52.3 ± 16.3 years, 59% White, and a discontinuation mean of 24.0 ± 15.6 years after leaving the league. Participants responded to open-ended transition questions via mail or electronic questionnaire with responses analyzed using conceptual content analysis. The most frequently reported factors that helped transition included career transition plan/options (48%) and social support (40%). Whereas, structure- (33%) and identity-related (23%) difficulties were reported as factors that made transition difficult. Findings identify areas for targeted interventions to enhance NFL player well-being during transition from sport.
Complete genome sequence of the probiotic
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
strain iVS-1
Authors: Chacón-Vargas Katherine , Van Haute Mallory J. , Kessinger Isabella M. K. , McClain Kaylee A. , Yumul Shara R. P. , Christensen Chloe M. , Lewis Zachery T. , Auchtung Thomas A. 
Published: November 2023

ABSTRACT

Bifidobacterium adolescentis
iVS-1 is a human-isolated strain known to possess several probiotic properties. Here, its genome was completely sequenced to examine genes associated with lactose metabolism and other potentially beneficial traits, such as the production of folate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
Complete genome sequence of PETase type IIa-harboring
Marinobacter nanhaiticus
D15-8W, isolated from a South China Sea sediment
Authors: Suzuki Yukako , Fukazawa Ayako , Sugawara Koki , Galipon Josephine , Arakawa Kazuharu 
Published: November 2023

ABSTRACT

Marinobacter nanhaiticus
D15-8W is known for its ability to metabolize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Here, we report the complete circular genome sequence of this strain to be 5,336,660 bp (G + C content, 58.6%; 4,869 protein-coding sequences) with one plasmid (69,655 bp).
On Observed Effects in Experiments on the Fissile Nuclei Rotaton (ROT Effects)
Authors: Danilyan G. V. 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
In experiments on polarized neutron beams, the effects indicating the rotation of a fissile nucleus have been observed. The main factor for this conclusion is the asymmetry of the coincidence count between the particle detectors accompanying the fission and the fragment detectors when reversing the direction of polarization of the neutron beam causing the fission of the studied nuclei. According to the opinions of the discovery authors, the measured asymmetry can be caused by the shift of the angular distribution in the direction or against the direction of the nucleus deformation rotation axis. In most publications, this shift is explained by the rotation of the angular distribution of particles in the direction of rotation of the nuclear fission axis. This article provides a simple and obvious explanation.
New perspectives in cancer immunotherapy: targeting IL-6 cytokine family
Authors: Soler Maria Florencia , Abaurrea Andrea , Azcoaga Peio , Araujo Angela M , Caffarel Maria M 
Published: November 2023

Chronic inflammation has been recognized as a canonical cancer hallmark. It is orchestrated by cytokines, which are master regulators of the tumor microenvironment (TME) as they represent the main communication bridge between cancer cells, the tumor stroma, and the immune system. Interleukin (IL)-6 represents a keystone cytokine in the link between inflammation and cancer. Many cytokines from the IL-6 family, which includes IL-6, oncostatin M, leukemia inhibitory factor, IL-11, IL-27, IL-31, ciliary neurotrophic factor, cardiotrophin 1, and cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor 1, have been shown to elicit tumor-promoting roles by modulating the TME, making them attractive therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.The development of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) immunotherapies has radically changed the outcome of some cancers including melanoma, lung, and renal, although not without hurdles. However, ICB shows limited efficacy in other solid tumors. Recent reports support that chronic inflammation and IL-6 cytokine signaling are involved in resistance to immunotherapy. This review summarizes the available preclinical and clinical data regarding the implication of IL-6-related cytokines in regulating the immune TME and the response to ICB. Moreover, the potential clinical benefit of combining ICB with therapies targeting IL-6 cytokine members for cancer treatment is discussed.
Sensitivity to triple Higgs couplings via di-Higgs production in the 2HDM at the (HL-)LHC
Authors: Arco F. , Heinemeyer S. , Mühlleitner M. , Radchenko K. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractAn important task of the LHC is the investigation of the Higgs-boson sector. Of particular interest is the reconstruction of the Higgs potential, i.e. the measurement of the Higgs self-couplings. Based on previous analyses, within the 2-Higgs-Doublet Model (2HDM) type I, we analyze several two-dimensional benchmark planes that are over large parts in agreement with all theoretical and experimental constraints. For these planes we evaluate di-Higgs production cross sections at the (HL-)LHC with a center-of-mass energy of $$14 \,\, \textrm{TeV}$$

14

TeV

at next-to-leading order in the heavy top-quark limit with the code . We investigate in particular the process $$gg \rightarrow hh$$

g
g
→
h
h

, with h being the Higgs boson discovered at the LHC with a mass of about $$125 \,\, \textrm{GeV}$$

125

GeV

. The top box diagram of the loop-mediated gluon fusion process into Higgs pairs interferes with the s-channel exchange of the two $${\mathcal{C}\mathcal{P}}$$

C
P

-even 2HDM Higgs bosons h and H. The latter two involve the triple Higgs couplings (THCs) $$\lambda _{hhh}$$

λ

hhh

and $$\lambda _{hhH}$$

λ

hhH

, respectively, possibly making them accessible at the HL-LHC. Depending on the size of the involved top-Yukawa and THCs as well as on the mass of H, the contribution of the s-channel H diagram can be dominating or be highly suppressed. We find regions of the allowed parameter space in which the di-Higgs production cross section can differ by many standard deviations from its SM prediction, indicating possible access to deviations in $$\lambda _{hhh}$$

λ

hhh

from the SM value $$\lambda _{\textrm{SM}}$$

λ
SM

and/or contributions involving $$\lambda _{hhH}$$

λ

hhH

. The sensitivity to the beyond-the-SM (BSM) THC $$\lambda _{hhH}$$

λ

hhH

is further analyzed employing the $$m_{hh}$$

m

hh

distributions. We demonstrate how a possible measurement of $$\lambda _{hhH}$$

λ

hhH

depends on the various experimental uncertainties. Depending on the underlying parameter space, the HL-LHC may have the option not only to detect BSM THCs, but also to provide a first rough measurement of their sizes.