bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cerium oxide nanoparticles-carrying human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells counteract oxidative damage and facilitate tendon regeneration
Authors: Ren Xunshan , Zhuang Huangming , Zhang Yuelong , Zhou Panghu 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background
Tendon injuries have a high incidence and limited treatment options. Stem cell transplantation is essential for several medical conditions like tendon injuries. However, high local concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) inhibit the activity of transplanted stem cells and hinder tendon repair. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeONPs) have emerged as antioxidant agents with reproducible reducibility.

Results
In this study, we synthesized polyethylene glycol-packed CeONPs (PEG-CeONPs), which were loaded into the human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) to counteract oxidative damage. H2O2 treatment was performed to evaluate the ROS scavenging ability of PEG-CeONPs in hUCMSCs. A rat model of patellar tendon defect was established to assess the effect of PEG-CeONPs-carrying hUCMSCs in vivo. The results showed that PEG-CeONPs exhibited excellent antioxidant activity both inside and outside the hUCMSCs. PEG-CeONPs protect hUCMSCs from senescence and apoptosis under excessive oxidative stress. Transplantation of hUCMSCs loaded with PEG-CeONPs reduced ROS levels in the tendon injury area and facilitated tendon healing. Mechanistically, NFκB activator tumor necrosis factor α and MAPK activator dehydrocrenatine, reversed the therapeutic effect of PEG-CeONPs in hUCMSCs, indicating that PEG-CeONPs act by inhibiting the NFκB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Conclusions
The carriage of the metal antioxidant oxidase PEG-CeONPs maintained the ability of hUCMSCs in the injured area, reduced the ROS levels in the microenvironment, and facilitated tendon regeneration. The data presented herein provide a novel therapeutic strategy for tendon healing and new insights into the use of stem cells for disease treatment.

Graphical Abstract
Bayesian phylodynamic analysis reveals the evolutionary history and the dispersal patterns of citrus tristeza virus in China based on the p25 gene
Authors: Wang Changning , Chen Chaoyun , Chen Yiqun , Zhong Ke , Yi Long 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background
Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) is one of the most serious threats to the citrus industry, and is present in both wild and cultivated citrus. The origin and dispersal patterns of CTV is still poorly understood in China.

Methods
In this study, 524 CTV suspected citrus samples from China were collected, including 354 cultivated citrus samples and 174 wild citrus samples. Finally, 126 CTV coat protein sequences were obtained with time-stamped from 10 citrus origins in China. Bayesian phylodynamic inference were performed for CTV origin and dispersal patterns study in China.

Result
We found that CTV was mainly distributed in southern and coastal areas of China. The substitution rate of CTV was 4.70 × 10− 4 subs/site/year (95% credibility interval: 1.10 × 10− 4 subs/site/year ~ 9.10 × 10− 4 subs/site/year), with a slight increasing trend in CTV populations between 1990 and 2006. The CTV isolates in China shared a most common recent ancestor around 1875 (95% credibility interval: 1676.57 ~ 1961.02). The CTV in China was originated from wild citrus in Hunan and Jiangxi, and then spread from the wild citrus to cultivated citrus in the growing regions of Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei, Fujian, Zhejiang, Guangxi and Guangdong provinces.

Conclusions
This study has proved that CTV in China was originated from wild citrus in Hunan and Jiangxi. The spatial-temporal distribution and dispersal patterns has uncovered the population and pandemic history of CTV, providing hints toward a better understanding of the spread and origin of CTV in China.
Automating high-throughput screening for anthracnose resistance in common bean using allele specific PCR
Authors: Zaleski-Cox Marysia , Miklas Phillip N. , Soler-Garzón Alvaro , Hoyos-Villegas Valerio 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background
Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) provide important protein and calories globally. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc. & Magnus) Briosi & Cavara, 1889) is a major disease in common bean and causes significant yield losses in bean production areas. Screening for markers linked to known disease resistance genes provides useful information for plant breeders to develop improved common bean varieties. The Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) assay is an affordable genetic screening technique that can be used to accelerate breeding programs, but manual DNA extraction and KASP assay preparation are time-consuming. Several KASP markers have been developed for genes involved in resistance to bean anthracnose, which can reduce yield by up to 100%, but their usefulness is hindered by the labor required to screen a significant number of bean lines. Our research objective was to develop publicly available protocols for DNA extraction and KASP assaying using a liquid handling robot (LHR) which would facilitate high-throughput genetic screening with less active human time required. Anthracnose resistance markers were used to compare manual and automated results.

Results
The 12 bean anthracnose differential cultivars were screened for four anthracnose KASP markers linked to the resistance genes Co-1, Co-3 and Co-42 both by hand and with the use of an LHR. A protocol was written for DNA extraction and KASP assay thermocycling to implement the LHR. The LHR protocol reduced the active human screening time of 24 samples from 3h44 to 1h23. KASP calls were consistent across replicates but not always accurate for their known linked resistance genes, suggesting more specific markers still need to be developed. Using an LHR, information from KASP assays can be accumulated with little active human time.

Conclusion
Results suggest that LHRs can be used to expedite time-consuming and tedious lab work such as DNA extraction or PCR plate filling. Notably, LHRs can be used to prepare KASP assays for large sample sizes, facilitating higher throughput use of genetic marker screening tools.
Violence against health care workers in a crisis context: a mixed cross-sectional study in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Makali Samuel Lwamushi , Lembebu Jean Corneille , Boroto Raïssa , Zalinga Christian Chiribagula , Bugugu Daniella , Lurhangire Emmanuel , Rosine Bigirinama , Chimanuka Christine , Mwene-Batu Pacifique , Molima Christian , Mendoza Jessica Ramirez , Ferrari Giovanfrancesco , Merten Sonja , Bisimwa Ghislain 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background
Health Care Workers (HCWs) in conflict zones face high levels of violence while also playing a crucial role in assisting the population in distress. For more than two decades, the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), have been wracked by conflict. This study aims to describe the state of violence against HCWs and the potential prevention mechanisms in eastern DRC.

Methods
In North and South Kivu, between February 5 and 21, 2021, we conducted a mixed cross-sectional convergent study in health facilities (health centers and hospitals). An anonymized self-administered questionnaire was sent to HCWs about their experience of violence in the 12 months prior to the study. In-depth individual interviews with HCWs, present on the day of the investigation, were also done to explore their experience of violence. A descriptive analysis of the quantitative data and a thematic analysis of the qualitative data was carried out.

Results
Of a total of 590 participants, 276 (45.9%) reported having experienced violence in the 12 months before the study. In North Kivu, aggressors were more frequently the patients (43.7% vs. 26.5%) and armed group members (14.3% vs. 7.9%) than in South Kivu. Most respondents (93.5%) reported verbal aggression (insults, intimidation, death threats). Other forms of physical aggression including with bare hands (11.2%), firearm (1.81%), and stabbing (4.7%). Only nearly one-tenth of the attacks were officially reported, and among those reported a higher proportion of sanctions was observed in South Kivu (8.5%) than in North Kivu (2.4%). The mechanisms proposed to prevent violence against HCWs were community initiatives and actions to strength the health system.

Conclusions
In Eastern DRC, HCWs face multiple and severe forms of aggression from a variety of individuals. The effects of such levels violence on HCWs and the communities they served could be devastating on the already pressured health system. Policy framework that defines the roles and responsibilities for the protection of HCWs and for the development and implementation of preparedness measures such as training on management of violence are possible solutions to this problem.
CEGA: a method for inferring natural selection by comparative population genomic analysis across species
Authors: Zhao Shilei , Chi Lianjiang , Chen Hua 
Published: October 2023

AbstractWe developed maximum likelihood method for detecting positive selection or balancing selection using multilocus or genomic polymorphism and divergence data from two species. The method is especially useful for investigating natural selection in noncoding regions. Simulations demonstrate that the method outperforms existing methods in detecting both positive and balancing selection. We apply the method to population genomic data from human and chimpanzee. The list of genes identified under selection in the noncoding regions is prominently enriched in pathways related to the brain and nervous system. Therefore, our method will serve as a useful tool for comparative population genomic analysis.
Growth-coupled anaerobic production of isobutanol from glucose in minimal medium with Escherichia coli
Authors: Boecker Simon , Schulze Peter , Klamt Steffen 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background
The microbial production of isobutanol holds promise to become a sustainable alternative to fossil-based synthesis routes for this important chemical. Escherichia coli has been considered as one production host, however, due to redox imbalance, growth-coupled anaerobic production of isobutanol from glucose in E. coli is only possible if complex media additives or small amounts of oxygen are provided. These strategies have a negative impact on product yield, productivity, reproducibility, and production costs.

Results
In this study, we propose a strategy based on acetate as co-substrate for resolving the redox imbalance. We constructed the E. coli background strain SB001 (ΔldhA ΔfrdA ΔpflB) with blocked pathways from glucose to alternative fermentation products but with an enabled pathway for acetate uptake and subsequent conversion to ethanol via acetyl-CoA. This strain, if equipped with the isobutanol production plasmid pIBA4, showed robust exponential growth (µ = 0.05 h−1) under anaerobic conditions in minimal glucose medium supplemented with small amounts of acetate. In small-scale batch cultivations, the strain reached a glucose uptake rate of 4.8 mmol gDW−1 h−1, a titer of 74 mM and 89% of the theoretical maximal isobutanol/glucose yield, while secreting only small amounts of ethanol synthesized from acetate. Furthermore, we show that the strain keeps a high metabolic activity also in a pulsed fed-batch bioreactor cultivation, even if cell growth is impaired by the accumulation of isobutanol in the medium.

Conclusions
This study showcases the beneficial utilization of acetate as a co-substrate and redox sink to facilitate growth-coupled production of isobutanol under anaerobic conditions. This approach holds potential for other applications with different production hosts and/or substrate–product combinations.
A Hierarchical Optimized Resource Utilization based Content Placement (HORCP) model for cloud Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)
Authors: Sasikumar M. , Jayarin P. Jesu , Vinnarasi F. Sangeetha Francelin 
Published: October 2023

AbstractContent Delivery Networks (CDNs) have grown in popularity as a result of the ongoing development of the Internet and its applications. The workload on streaming media service systems can be significantly decreased with the help of the cooperative edge-cloud computing architecture. In the traditional works, a different types of content placement and routing algorithms are developed for improving the content delivery of cloud systems with reduced delay and cost. But, the majority of existing algorithms facing complexities in terms of increased resource usage, ineffective delivery, and high system designing complexity. Therefore, the proposed work aims to develop a new framework, named as, Hierarchical Optimized Resource Utilization based Content Placement (HORCP) model for cloud CDNs. Here, the Chaotic Krill Herd Optimization (CKHO) method is used to optimize the resource usage for content placement. Then, a Hierarchical Probability Routing (HPR) model is employed to enable a dependable end-to-end data transmission with an optimized routing path. The performance of the proposed HORCP model is validated and compared by using several performance metrics. The obtained results are also compared with current state-of-the-art methodologies in order to show the superiority of the proposed HORCP model. By using the HORCP mechanism, the overall memory usage of the network is reduced to 80%, CPU usage is reduced to 20%, response is minimized to 2 s, and total congestion cost with respect to the network load level is reduced to 100.
A dashboard for the evaluation of the effect of school closures on wellbeing of children and parents
Authors: Brackx Febe , De Smedt Bert , Molenberghs Geert 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background
We present a dashboard for the evaluation of the impact of school closures on children and parents during the first wave of the COVID pandemic in 2020 on the various components of wellbeing.

Methods
Starting from an explorative literature search by a team of experts from diverse fields (e.g., epidemiology, virology, psychology, education, sociology), we developed a dashboard that allows for the quick evaluation of the general effect of school closures on various indicators of well-being in different groups and for the quality of the available research, at a time where a crisis is ongoing.

Results
It is concluded that there is evidence that the school closures reduced the transmission of COVID in the first wave in springtime 2020. Nevertheless, a multitude of studies show that the school closures also had a negative impact on different components of wellbeing such as academic achievement, time spent on learning and mental health. Furthermore, the school closures affected not only the children and adolescents, but also the parents that were forced to provide more childcare and help with schoolwork. Longitudinal studies on large representative samples with repeated assessments of wellbeing are necessary to understand the long-term effects of the school closures.

Conclusions
The dashboard provides a first visual overview of the effects of school closures on wellbeing, and can serve as the basis for a future more systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of school closures on wellbeing. It can be considered as a paradigm for rapid obtention of scientific evidence, during a quickly unfolding crisis, also in view of underpinning policy advice.
The Meaning and Purpose Scales (MAPS): development and multi-study validation of short measures of meaningfulness, crisis of meaning, and sources of purpose
Authors: Schnell Tatjana , Danbolt Lars Johan 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background
Meaning in life is multidimensional. It encompasses different qualities of meaning, such as meaningfulness, crisis of meaning, or existential indifference, as well as the sources from which people draw meaning, or purpose. For both research and practice, it is of high value to know not only the extent of meaningfulness, or its absence, but also its sources. How do these relate to meaningfulness and mental health? Are they accessible to people of different sociodemographic and economic backgrounds alike? For therapeutic and counseling practice, knowledge of experiences and sources of meaning is needed to support a clearer self-understanding in patients or clients and to encourage them to make authentic life choices. The Meaning and Purpose Scales (MAPS) presented here enable researchers and practitioners to gain insights into these dimensions of meaning in life, and, with only 23 items, to do so in a short time.

Methods
Using five independent and two follow-up samples with a total N of 7,500, this paper examined the MAPS’ internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent, divergent, criterion, factorial, and predictive validity.

Results
Principal axis factoring identified two meaning scales, Meaningfulness and Crisis of Meaning, and five purpose scales, Sustainability, Faith, Security, Community, and Personal Growth. The scales proved consistent, stable over four weeks and two months, and valid in multiple respects. In a representative German population sample, Personal Growth, Sustainability, and Community exhibited large, Faith and Security medium positive relationships with Meaningfulness, whereas Crisis of Meaning showed small to moderate negative correlations. Meaningfulness was positively, and Crisis of Meaning negatively predicted by age, partnership, parenthood, and religious affiliation. Financial hardship correlated positively with Crisis of Meaning and negatively with Meaningfulness, Community, and Personal Growth. Meaningfulness and Crisis of Meaning explained 21%, the sources of purpose 6% of additional variance in general mental distress (PHQ-4), beyond sociodemographics. Except for Faith (unrelated), all sources exhibited moderate negative correlations with the PHQ-4.

Conclusion
As this series of studies demonstrates, the MAPS provide a highly economic and valid assessment of two qualities of meaning, Meaningfulness and Crisis of Meaning, and five sources of purpose: Sustainability, Faith, Security, Community, and Personal Growth.
Standards for structured reporting of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans: best practice recommendations by the Pan Arab Osteoporosis Society
Authors: El Miedany Yasser , El Gaafary Maha , Gadallah Naglaa , Sulimani Riad , AlAli Nadia S. , Alzoubi Ziad , Azim Atef Abdel , Abdulateef Nizar , Adib Gemma , Elwy Mohamed , Al Izzi Mustafa Khalid , El Maghraoui Abdellah , Mahran Safaa , Masri Basel K. , Al Emadi Samar , Abu-Zaid Mohammed Hassan , Saba Elias , Hassan Waleed , El Rakaawi Manal , Otom Ali , Elwakil Walaa 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is an important diagnostic test for bone mass status. The aim of this work was to set the standards for structured reporting of DXA measurements in adults within the context of fracture and fall risk assessment.

Results
Two rounds of Delphi were completed. The first Delphi round had a 68% response rate, while round two had a 100% response rate. After round 2, a total of 28 items were obtained, which were classified into three domains. The percentage of people who agreed with the recommendations (ranks 9–7) ranged from 76.5 to 100%. The wording of all 19 clinical standards determined by the scientific committee was agreed upon (i.e., 75% of respondents strongly agreed or agreed).

Conclusion
The DXA scan report is an independent document that contains sufficient information to enable optimal osteoporosis management advised by an experienced healthcare professional. Setting up quality standards for DXA scans not only supports healthcare professionals reporting/interpreting bone densitometry but also meets the parameters outlined in national as well as international guidelines or recommendations for the optimal management of osteoporosis and subsequent prevention of low trauma fractures.
Unstable government revenues in uncertain times: which taxes are especially volatile?
Authors: Karpowicz Andrzej 
Published: October 2023

Motivation: External shocks affect the performance of economies. This is especially true recently after COVID-19 pandemics and ongoing war in Ukraine. States struggle to maintain their revenues in order to avoid skyrocketing public debts. Yet, especially now, governments face challenges connected with high uncertainty of inflows from the taxes.Aim: The aim of the article is improvement in understanding of the variability of government revenues sourced from selected taxes binding in the EU Member states as well as the potential reasons for their fluctuations.Results: The calculations are made based on empirical data for EU Members states for the period 1996–2021. There are ten taxes that were considered — both those of key importance for budgets in most jurisdictions as well as some sectoral or specific more niche levies. Study is executed with usage of statistical tools that include calculation of coefficient of variation, modified trend curve estimation with use of Hodrick–Prescott filter, correlation of such trend with empirical data, comparison of coefficient of variation for empirical data with numbers produces by Hodrick–Prescott filter and two-way ANOVA without replications, while controlling for the states. Corporate income taxes, Excise duty as well as most specific and sectoral taxes that include Taxes on capital transfers, Car registration taxes, Taxes on insurance premiums or Tax on lotteries, gambling and betting are generally characterized by greater variability in terms of revenues they provide than Payroll taxes, Real estate taxes or Value added taxes. Due to insufficient research in previous studies in this respect, findings presented in this article may provide for a useful hint for policymakers in further design of optimal tax system that would provide for stable and predictable sources of income to the government.
Equity and Efficiency in Dynamic Matching: Extreme Waitlist Policies
Authors: Nikzad Afshin , Strack Philipp 
Published: October 2023

Waitlists are commonly used to allocate scarce resources, such as public housing or organs. Waitlist policies attempt to prioritize agents who wait longer by assigning them priority points (à la first come, first served). We show that such point systems can lead to severe inequality across the agents’ assignment probabilities unless they use randomization. In particular, deterministic point systems lead to a more unequal allocation than any other rule that prioritizes earlier arrivals, an axiom that ensures that agents who wait longer are treated (weakly) better. Among the policies abiding by this axiom, we show that service in random order (SIRO) leads to the most equal allocation. From a utilitarian perspective, we show that the planner faces no trade-off between equity and efficiency when the flow utility from waiting is nonnegative or negative and increasing over time. In these cases, SIRO is also the most efficient policy. However, when the flow cost of waiting increases over time, then the planner may face an efficiency–equity trade-off: SIRO remains the most equitable policy but may not be the most efficient one. This paper was accepted by Omar Besbes, revenue management and market analytics.