bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ethical Dilemmas in Clinical Trials of Innovations in Bubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Models in Resource‐Limited Neonatal Care
Authors: Ahmed H. Shafeeq 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTBackgroundBubble Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (bCPAP) has become a crucial intervention in neonatal care, particularly in resource‐limited settings where access to advanced respiratory support is scarce. While bCPAP offers a cost‐effective solution for neonatal respiratory distress, conducting clinical trials in these settings presents significant ethical challenges. Issues of justice, beneficence, and autonomy arise due to disparities in healthcare infrastructure, complexities surrounding informed consent, and the potential exploitation of vulnerable populations.MethodsIn this study, I examine the ethical principles essential to the design and implementation of bCPAP trials, focusing on justice, beneficence, and autonomy within the constraints of resource‐limited settings. A normative analysis was conducted, drawing on key ethical frameworks to establish guiding principles for conducting ethically sound bCPAP trials.ResultsApplying frameworks such as Rawls' theory of distributive justice and Sen's capability approach, I argue for prioritizing neonatal populations in low‐resource settings while addressing the potential for exploitation. Autonomy underscores the need for informed consent processes that are culturally appropriate and accessible, empowering caregivers in decision‐making. Beneficence and non‐maleficence are evaluated through both utilitarian and deontological perspectives, balancing the potential benefits of innovation against the risks to participants. Structural inequities that complicate neonatal care and research are also critically examined.ConclusionI advocate for the integration of ethical safeguards, including community‐centered consent processes, rigorous trial protocols, and international collaboration to mitigate systemic inequities. By incorporating these ethical considerations, bCPAP research can better serve the interests of neonates and their families while ensuring their safety and dignity are upheld.
A BiO‐Optimizing Site Targeted (BOOST) Approach to Periodontal Regeneration Through Local Doxycycline Prior to Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Aimetti Mario , Baima Giacomo , Lorenzetti Virginia , Aliyeva Nargiz , Bottone Mario , Mariani Giulia Maria , Romano Federica 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTAimTo test a BiO‐Optimizing Site Targeted (BOOST) approach to periodontal regeneration by the adjunctive use of locally delivered doxycycline (DOX) 2 weeks prior to minimally invasive surgery in terms of clinical and radiographic outcomes at 1 year.MethodsFor this randomized clinical trial, stage III/IV periodontitis patients presenting sites with intrabony defects and bleeding on probing (BoP+) after steps 1–2 of periodontal treatment were included. Sites were treated via subgingival instrumentation with or without a BOOST approach by local DOX. After 2 weeks, defects were accessed by minimally invasive surgical technique with xenograft and amelogenins. Primary (clinical attachment level [CAL] gain) and secondary (probing pocket depth [PPD] reduction, composite outcomes, radiographic bone defect fill) outcomes were assessed at 12 months.ResultsSixty patients completed the study (30 on each group). BOOST led to lower preoperative BoP (p < 0.001) and better wound healing after surgery (p = 0.027). Both groups showed clinical and radiographic improvements at 1 year, with significant differences in mean CAL gain (4.1 ± 1.9 vs. 3.2 ± 2.0 mm; p = 0.019) and PPD reduction (4.4 ± 1.8 vs. 3.6 ± 1.9 mm; p = 0.040) favoring the test group. BOOST group also achieved higher composite outcome measure (PPD ≤ 4 mm and CAL gain ≥ 3; 83.3% vs. 46.7%; p = 0.006), pocket closure (PPD ≤ 3 mm or 4 mm BoP−; 83.3% vs. 60.0%; p = 0.045), and defect fill (3.5 ± 1.2 vs. 2.7 ± 1.3 mm; p < 0.001) compared to the control group.ConclusionA BOOST approach by local doxycycline 2 weeks before surgery enhanced the local inflammatory control prior to periodontal regeneration and post‐operative early wound healing, yielding to improved clinical and radiographic outcomes at 1 year.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05878353
Nutritional and functional outcomes in trials of nutrient‐stimulated hormone‐based therapy—A systematic mapping review
Authors: Czernichow Sébastien , Rassy Nathalie , Carette Claire , Shoung Nicholas , Hu Frank B. , Rives‐Lange Claire 
Published: January 2025

SummaryIntroductionCurrently, trials are investigating the efficacy of nutrient‐stimulated hormone‐based therapies (NuSHs) in promoting weight loss in people living with overweight and obesity. However, the extent to which nutritional and functional outcomes are evaluated remains uncertain. Thus, we conducted a systematic mapping to assess the presence of nutritional and functional outcomes in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating NuSHs.MethodsWe conducted a systematic mapping search on the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), which includes ClinicalTrials.gov and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform for interventional trials of NuSHs registered from inception to December 31, 2023. We excluded non‐ and quasi‐randomized trials, phase I trials, trials that did not include body weight as a primary or secondary outcome, trials with an intervention duration of less than 6 months, and trials that did not specify a body mass index threshold in their eligibility criteria. Outcomes included: dietary intake, eating behavior, body composition, physical performance, muscle strength, bone health, and levels of vitamins, trace elements, albumin, prealbumin, and hemoglobin.ResultsThe search identified 2284 trials, of which 417 were included in the analysis. The proportion of RCTs that included nutritional assessment other than body weight increased over time. Approximately, 20.4% reported measurements of body composition, 17.3% reported measurements of albumin/prealbumin/hemoglobin, and 17% reported assessment of dietary intake and eating behavior. Evaluations of bone health, physical performance, muscle strength, and measurements of vitamins/trace elements were reported in less than 5% of the total trials each.ConclusionThe present review has shown the sparse reporting of nutritional and functional outcomes in RCTs evaluating the impact of NuSHs.
Direct and indirect effects of multiplex genome editing of F5H and FAD2 in oil crop camelina
Authors: van Belle Jarst , Schaart Jan G. , Dechesne Annemarie C. , Fei Danli , Cisneros Abraham Ontiveros , Serafini Michele , Visser Richard G.F. , van Loo Eibertus N. 
Published: January 2025

SummaryMutants with simultaneous germline mutations were obtained in all three F5H genes and all three FAD2 genes (one to eleven mutated alleles) in order to improve the feed value of the seed meal and the fatty acid composition of the seed oil. In mutants with multiple mutated F5H alleles, sinapine in seed meal was reduced by up to 100%, accompanied by a sharp reduction in the S‐monolignol content of lignin without causing lodging or stem break. A lower S‐lignin monomer content in stems can contribute to improved stem degradability allowing new uses of stems. Mutants in all six FAD2 alleles showed an expected increase in MUFA from 8.7% to 74% and a reduction in PUFA from 53% to 13% in the fatty acids in seed oil. Remarkably, some full FAD2 mutants showed normal growth and seed production and not the dwarfing phenotype reported in previous studies. The relation between germline mutation allele dosage and phenotype was influenced by the still ongoing activity of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, leading to new somatic mutations in the leaves of flowering plants. The correlations between the total mutation frequency (germline plus new somatic mutations) for F5H with sinapine content, and FAD2 with fatty acid composition were higher than the correlations between germline mutation count and phenotypes. This shows the importance of quantifying both the germline mutations and somatic mutations when studying CRISPR/Cas9 effects in situations where the CRISPR/Cas9 system is not yet segregated out.
Slow‐Moving Welfare State Change in Quebec and “Movements From Below”
Authors: Graefe Peter 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTRecent discussions of policy change in political science have been heavily influenced by historical institutionalist typologies of gradual institutional change and of the ideal‐typical agents producing them. The key agents are those within the state who implement and interpret the rules, while the agency of social movements is treated as largely contextual. One way of enriching these accounts is to consider the offensive and defensive strategies of “social movements from below” contesting the dominance of the “social movement from above” over time. This is illustrated by the case of Quebec, where the shift away from a liberal welfare state in the 1990s is explained in part by the social movement project of the women's and community movement.
Province of Origin, Decision‐Making Bias, and Responses to Bureaucratic Versus Algorithmic Decision‐Making
Authors: Wang Ge , Zhang Zhejun , Xie Shenghua , Guo Yue 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTAs algorithmic decision‐making (ADM) becomes prevalent in certain public sectors, its interaction with traditional bureaucratic decision‐making (BDM) evolves, especially in contexts shaped by regional identities and decision‐making biases. To explore these dynamics, we conducted two survey experiments within traffic enforcement scenarios, involving 4816 participants across multiple provinces. Results indicate that non‐native residents perceived ADM as fairer and more acceptable than BDM when they did not share a province of origin with local bureaucrats. Both native and non‐native residents showed a preference for ADM in the presence of bureaucratic and algorithmic biases but preferred BDM when such biases were absent. When bureaucratic and algorithmic biases coexisted, the lack of a shared province of origin further reinforced non‐native residents' perception of ADM as fairer and more acceptable than BDM. Our findings reveal the complex interplay among province of origin, decision‐making biases, and responses to different decision‐making approaches.
DemoGravity: World Population and Trade in the 21st Century
Authors: Brakman Steven , Kohl Tristan , van Marrewijk Charles 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTThe availability and composition of labor is fundamental for the structure of international trade. Key in this respect is the so‐called demographic dividend, which is the potential economic growth stemming from low dependency ratios. We use the gravity model to link long‐run changes of the demographic dividend to geographical changes in world trade for the 21st century. All our scenarios point towards the same conclusion: compared to the current situation, North America and Europe will no longer be the center of global trade in 2100 due to their aging populations. In contrast, South Asia and Sub‐Saharan Africa will experience a substantial increase in their share of world trade, while the impact of the demographic drag facing China will be most pronounced after 2050; its share in world trade will decline significantly. Overall, our results point towards the under‐studied, yet important role of past and future demographic developments in generating demographic dividends that shape world trade.
A Ralstonia effector RipAU impairs peanut AhSBT1.7 immunity for pathogenicity via AhPME‐mediated cell wall degradation
Authors: Chen Kun , Zhuang Yuhui , Chen Hua , Lei Taijie , Li Mengke , Wang Shanshan , Wang Lihui , Fu Huiwen , Lu Wenzhi , Bohra Abhishek , Lai Qiaoqiao , Xu Xiaolin , Garg Vanika , Barmukh Rutwik , Ji Biaojun , Zhang Chong , Pandey Manish K. , Tang Ronghua , Varshney Rajeev K. , Zhuang Weijian 
Published: January 2025

SUMMARYBacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is a devastating disease affecting a great many crops including peanut. The pathogen damages plants via secreting type Ш effector proteins (T3Es) into hosts for pathogenicity. Here, we characterized RipAU was among the most toxic effectors as ΔRipAU completely lost its pathogenicity to peanuts. A serine residue of RipAU is the critical site for cell death. The RipAU targeted a subtilisin‐like protease (AhSBT1.7) in peanut and both protein moved into nucleus. Heterotic expression of AhSBT1.7 in transgenic tobacco and Arabidopsis thaliana significantly improved the resistance to R. solanacearum. The enhanced resistance was linked with the upregulating ERF1 defense marker genes and decreasing pectin methylesterase (PME) activity like PME2&4 in cell wall pathways. The RipAU played toxic effect by repressing R‐gene, defense hormone signaling, and AhSBTs metabolic pathways but increasing PMEs expressions. Furthermore, we discovered AhSBT1.7 interacted with AhPME4 and was colocalized at nucleus. The AhPME speeded plants susceptibility to pathogen via mediated cell wall degradation, which inhibited by AhSBT1.7 but upregulated by RipAU. Collectively, RipAU impaired AhSBT1.7 defense for pathogenicity by using PME‐mediated cell wall degradation. This study reveals the mechanism of RipAU pathogenicity and AhSBT1.7 resistance, highlighting peanut immunity to bacterial wilt for future improvement.
Expression of spider silk protein in tobacco improves drought tolerance with minimal effects on its mechanotype
Authors: Morey‐Yagi Shamitha Rao , Hashida Yoichi , Okamoto Masanori , Odahara Masaki , Suzuki Takehiro , Thagun Chonprakun , Foong Choon Pin , Numata Keiji 
Published: January 2025

SUMMARYSpider silk, especially dragline silk from golden silk spiders (Trichonephila clavipes), is an excellent natural material with remarkable mechanical properties. Many studies have focused on the use of plants as biofactories for the production of recombinant spider silk. However, the effects of this material on the mechanical properties or physiology of transgenic plants remain poorly understood. Since glycine‐rich proteins play key roles in plants, we evaluated the effects of a glycine‐rich spider silk protein on plant mechanical properties (mechanotype) and physiology. We generated tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants producing a nucleus‐ or plastid‐encoded partial component of dragline silk, MaSp1 (major ampullate spidroin‐1; MaSp1‐tobacco), containing six repetitive glycine‐rich and polyalanine tandem domains. MaSp1 accumulation had minimal effect on leaf mechanical properties, but improved drought tolerance. Transcriptome analysis of drought‐stressed MaSp1‐tobacco revealed the upregulation of genes involved in stress response, antioxidant activity, cellular metabolism and homeostasis, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. The effects of drought treatment differed between the nucleus‐ and the plastid‐encoded MaSp1‐tobacco, with the latter showing a stronger transcriptomic response and a higher total antioxidant status (TAS). Well‐watered MaSp1‐tobacco displayed elevated levels of the stress phytohormone ABA, leading to stomatal closure, reduced water loss, activation of stress response, and increased TAS. We show that the moderately enhanced ABA content in these plants plays a pivotal role in drought tolerance, alongside, ABA priming, which causes overall adjustments in multiple drought tolerance mechanisms. Thus, our findings highlight the potential of utilizing glycine‐rich spider silk proteins to enhance plant resilience to drought.
Variation in relaxation of non‐photochemical quenching between the founder genotypes of the soybean (Glycine max) nested association mapping population
Authors: Gotarkar Dhananjay , Digrado Anthony , Wang Yu , Doran Lynn , Sparrow‐Muñoz Ignacio , Chung Sarah , Lisa Nicholas , Wasiq Farwah , Amaro Gerardo , Blakely Bethany , Diers Brian W. , Eck Daniel J. , Burgess Steven J. 
Published: January 2025

SUMMARYImproving the efficiency of crop photosynthesis has the potential to increase yields. Genetic manipulation showed photosynthesis can be improved by speeding up the relaxation of photoprotective mechanisms during sun‐to‐shade transitions. However, it is unclear if natural variation in the relaxation of non‐photochemical quenching (NPQ) can be exploited in crop breeding programs. To address this issue, we measured six NPQ parameters in the 40 founder lines and common parent of a Soybean Nested Association Mapping (SoyNAM) panel over two field seasons in Illinois. Leaf disks were sampled from plants grown in the field, and induction and relaxation of NPQ were measured under controlled conditions. NPQ parameters did not show consistently variable trends throughout development, and variation between sampling days suggests environmental impacts on NPQ dynamics. Seventeen genotypes were found to show small but consistent differences in NPQ relaxation kinetics relative to a reference line, providing a basis for future mapping studies. Finally, a soybean canopy model predicted available phenotypic variation could result in a 1.6% difference in carbon assimilation when comparing the fastest and slowest relaxing NPQ values. No correlation could be found between yield and rates of NPQ relaxation, but a full test will require an analysis of isogenic lines.
Phosphorus starvation induces the synthesis of novel lipid class diacylglyceryl glucuronide and diacylglyceryl‐N,N,N‐trimethylhomoserine in two species of cold‐adapted microalgae Raphidonema (Chlorophyta)
Authors: Suzuki Hirono , Cuiné Stéphan , Légeret Bertrand , Wijffels René H. , Hulatt Chris J. , Li‐Beisson Yonghua , Kiron Viswanath 
Published: January 2025

SUMMARYMicroalgae possess diverse lipid classes as components of structural membranes and have adopted various lipid remodeling strategies involving phospholipids to cope with a phosphorus (P)‐limited environment. Here, we report a unique adaptative strategy to P deficient conditions in two cold‐adapted microalgae, Raphidonema monicae and Raphidonema nivale, involving the lipid class diacylglyceryl glucuronide (DGGA) and the betaine lipid diacylglyceryl‐N,N,N‐trimethylhomoserine. Lipidomic analyses showed that these two lipid classes were present only in trace amounts in nutrient replete conditions, whereas they significantly increased under P‐starvation concomitant with a reduction in phospholipids, suggesting a physiological significance of these lipid classes to combat P‐starvation. Additionally, we found two putative sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG) synthases, known to be involved in DGGA synthesis in higher plants, in the draft genome of R. monicae, and compared it with SQDG synthases found in other organisms such as higher plants, Streptophyta, and Chlorophyta. DGGA has not been previously recognized in Chlorophyta, and our findings suggest that the lipid class may be present in other closely related green algae too. Thus, this study expands our knowledge on diverse lipid remodeling responses of Chlorophycean algae to adapt to low P environments.
On differences of two harmonic numbers
Authors: Lim Jeck , Steinerberger Stefan 
Published: January 2025

AbstractWe prove the existence of infinitely many such that the difference of harmonic numbers approximates 1 well
This answers a question of Erdős and Graham. The construction uses asymptotics for harmonic numbers, the precise nature of the continued fraction expansion of and a suitable rescaling of a subsequence of convergents. We also prove a quantitative rate by appealing to techniques of Heilbronn, Danicic, Harman, Hooley and others regarding .
Placental mitochondrial metabolic adaptation maintains cellular energy balance in pregnancy complicated by gestational hypoxia
Authors: Tong Wen , Allison Beth J. , Brain Kirsty L. , Patey Olga V. , Niu Youguo , Botting Kimberley J. , Ford Sage G. , Garrud Tess A. , Wooding Peter F. B. , Lyu Qiang , Zhang Lin , Ma Jin , Sowton Alice P. , O'Brien Katie A. , Cindrova‐Davies Tereza , Yung Hong Wa , Burton Graham J. , Murray Andrew J. , Giussani Dino A. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThe mechanisms that drive placental dysfunction in pregnancies complicated by hypoxia and fetal growth restriction remain poorly understood. Changes to mitochondrial respiration contribute to cellular dysfunction in conditions of hypoxia and have been implicated in the pathoaetiology of pregnancy complications, such as pre‐eclampsia. We used bespoke isobaric hypoxic chambers and a combination of functional, molecular and imaging techniques to study cellular metabolism and mitochondrial dynamics in sheep undergoing hypoxic pregnancy. We show that hypoxic pregnancy in sheep triggers a shift in capacity away from β‐oxidation and complex I‐mediated respiration, while maintaining total oxidative phosphorylation capacity. There are also complex‐specific changes to electron transport chain composition and a switch in mitochondrial dynamics towards fission. Hypoxic placentas show increased activation of the non‐canonical mitochondrial unfolded protein response pathway and enhanced insulin like growth factor 2 signalling. Combined, therefore, the data show that the hypoxic placenta undergoes significant metabolic and morphological adaptations to maintain cellular energy balance. Chronic hypoxia during pregnancy in sheep activated placental mitochondrial stress pathways, leading to alterations in mitochondrial respiration, mitochondrial energy metabolism and mitochondrial dynamics, as seen in the placenta of women with pre‐eclampsia.
imageKey points
Hypoxia shifts mitochondrial respiration away from β‐oxidation and complex I.
Complex‐specific changes occur in the electron transport chain composition.
Activation of the non‐canonical mitochondrial unfolded protein response pathway is heightened in hypoxic placentas.
Enhanced insulin like growth factor 2 signalling is observed in hypoxic placentas.
Hypoxic placentas undergo significant functional adaptations for energy balance.