bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sneak Peek: Food, Waste, and Packaging Characteristics of South Australian School Children’s Lunchboxes
Authors: Lalchandani Neha Kishan , Hume Clare , Giles Lynne , Crabb Shona , Hendrikx Jo , Miller Caroline 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT

Objective:
To characterise children’s lunchbox contents for food, waste, and packaging.

Design:
A cross-sectional study was conducted. Lunchboxes were photographed at two time points on the same day: before first morning break to capture food and packaging and post-lunch break to capture food waste. Contents were coded using an audit tool developed using REDCap.

Setting:
23 sites across metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia including 14 preschools and 9 primary schools in low (n=8), medium (n=7), and high (n=8) socioeconomic areas.

Participants:
Preschool (3-5 years) to Grade 7 (6-13 years) school students.

Results:
673 lunchboxes were analysed. Grain foods dominated (with at least half of them being discretionary varieties), with 92% of lunchboxes having at least one item from that category, followed by fruits (78%), snacks (62%), dairy (32%), and vegetables (26%). Lunchboxes of preschool children contained more fruits (92% vs 65%; χ2(1)=73.3, P<0.01), vegetables (36% vs 16%; χ2(1)=34.0, P<0.01), and dairy items (45% vs 19%; χ2(1)=53.6, P<0.01), compared to lunchboxes of primary school children. Snack foods were more prevalent in primary school (68%) than preschool (55%; χ2(1)=11.2, P<0.01). Discretionary foods appeared more frequently, and single-use packaging accounted for half (53%) of all packaging in lunchboxes, primarily from snacks and grain foods. Preschool children had less single-use packaging but more food waste. Vegetables were the most wasted food group.

Conclusions:
Sandwiches, fruits, and various snacks are typical lunchbox foods, often accompanied by single-use packaging. Considering both health and environmental factors in lunchbox choices could benefit children and sustainability efforts in schools.
Novel educational strategies to improve the telemedicine clinical skills of medical students
Authors: Greengold Judith , Spahic Harisa , Serwint Janet , Dlhosh Sharon , Barouch Lili , Gattamorta Karina , Pahwa Amit , Hughes Helen 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Aim:
Test educational interventions to increase the quality of care in telemedicine.

Background:
Telemedicine (TM) has become an essential tool to practise medicine around the world. However, education to address clinical skills in TM remains an area of need globally across the health professions. We aim to evaluate the impact of a pilot online learning platform (OLP) and standardized coaching programme on the quality of medical student TM clinical skills.

Methods:
A randomized pilot study was conducted with fourth-year medical students (n = 12). All participants engaged in video-recorded standardized patient (SP) simulated encounters to assess TM clinical skills before and after the intervention. Participants were randomized to either the OLP or OLP + Virtual Coaching Institute (VCI) intervention cohort. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected to address self-reported skills, attitudes, and self-efficacy before the 1st SP encounter and after the 2nd SP encounter. SP encounter recordings were scored by two blinded non-investigator raters based on a standardized rubric to measure the change in TM care delivered pre- and post-intervention. Statistical analysis of quantitative data included descriptive statistics and mixed effects ANOVA.

Findings:
Recruitment and retention of participants exceeded expectations, pointing to significant enthusiasm for this educational opportunity. Self-reported skills and scored simulation skills demonstrated significant improvements for all participants receiving the interventions. Both OLP and VCI interventions were well received, feasible, and demonstrated statistically significant efficacy in improving TM clinical skills. Participants who received coaching described more improvements in self-efficacy, confidence, and overall virtual clinical skills. This study provides evidence that virtualized clinical learning environments can positively impact the development of TM clinical skills among medical students. As TM continues to evolve, the implementation of innovative training approaches will be crucial in preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals for the demands of modern healthcare delivery.
Design of dual-band filtering patch antenna slot coupling feed
Authors: Jiang Tiezhen , Zhuang Long , Wang Jianhua , An Qi 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
A novel microstrip filtering antenna with slot coupling feed is presented in this work. An asymmetric interdigital coupling structure is used for the feed to excite the patch antenna through gap-fed coupling. Introducing a U-shaped slot on the patch surface modifies the current path to attain different resonant modes. The asymmetric coupled fingers in the low-frequency band generate a radiation null of −64 dBi, while additional resonances introduced in the high band broaden the bandwidth from 4.9 to 5.3 GHz. A horizontally shorted microstrip branch produces another null point of −28 dBi between the bands, enabling steeper roll-off and further improvement in frequency selectivity. The proposed filtering antenna provides a flexible filter response without requiring extra filtering circuits, with appreciable peak gains (6.1 dBi and 7.1 dBi) and stable radiation characteristics. This makes it suitable for WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) and ISM (Industrial Scientific Medical) systems applications.
Semiotics of Naming: Narrating and Meaning-Making of the Place Ieodo
Authors: Lee Yunhee 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
This paper aims to explore human beings as language animals, examining how language shapes them in the lifeworld. Biosemiotics and anthroposemiotics are both geared toward studying the relations between life and the environment. This paper thus concerns the semiotics of naming, exploring naming as meaning-making activity based on the interrelation of language and narrative. There are two ways of looking at the language functions in the act of naming. One is “languaging,” which is geared toward producing intimacy with the surrounding world in nature by naming things to establish a relationship with them. The other is “narrating,” which generates a dialogic relationship with fellow human beings by storytelling based on existence and place. This enables humans to cultivate the selves through semiotic cultural activity. Thus, I shall elaborate the semiotic process in naming and narrating things, which leads to culture-making activity, by analyzing the place Ieodo off the south coast of Korea within the biosemiotic perspective which connects language and cognition with the narrative world for culture-making activity.
Integrated Remote Sensing for Enhanced Drought Assessment: A Multi‐Index Approach in Rajasthan, India
Authors: Agarwal Vivek , Vishvendra Raj Singh Bhanwar , Marsh Stuart , Qin Zhengyuan , Sen Anjan , Kulhari Khusbhu 
Published: February 2025

AbstractThis study investigates land use, land cover (LULC) changes, vegetation health, and drought severity in Rajasthan, India, from 1985 to 2020 using remote sensing techniques. By analyzing satellite imagery with the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), temperature condition index (TCI), vegetation condition index (VCI), and NDVI deviation (Dev_NDVI), we assess the spatial and temporal dynamics of the region's landscape and drought conditions. Our findings indicate significant LULC changes, including a decrease in water bodies from 6412.87 to 2248.51 km2 and dense forests by 61.37%, while built‐up areas expanded by 890.50%, reflecting substantial human impact and environmental change. Drought analysis revealed that nearly 49% of the study area experienced moderate to severe drought conditions, with VCI levels below 40%, indicating widespread drought impact across different regions and time periods. The study employs weighted sum analysis of Dev_NDVI, VCI, and TCI to create a detailed drought severity map, revealing areas of severe and extreme drought that necessitate immediate action for sustainable management. The novelty of this approach lies in its integrated multi‐index method for assessing drought over a 35 year period, providing a robust framework for analyzing environmental dynamics and the resilience of ecosystems to climatic stresses. This research emphasizes the value of remote sensing for continuous environmental monitoring and highlights future implications for integrating advanced satellite technologies to enhance drought management strategies, ultimately informing policy decisions for sustainable land and water resource management in Rajasthan and similar semi‐arid regions globally.
Quantifying Geomagnetic Activity's Contribution to the Global E‐Region Electron Density's Day‐To‐Day Variability Using Spire Radio Occultation Observations
Authors: Salinas Cornelius Csar Jude H. , Wu Dong L. , Qian Liying 
Published: February 2025

AbstractUsing the unprecedented sampling of the Spire Radio Occultation (RO) data set, this paper statistically estimates geomagnetic dependencies of the global E‐region Electron Density's (Ne) day‐to‐day variability. To assesses how much Spire RO‐observed variabilities are consistent with known Physics, comparison is made with the Specified Dynamics–Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model with Ionosphere/Thermosphere eXtension (SD‐WACCM‐X), a first principles Physics‐based model. Results show that the largest geomagnetic dependency on Spire and SD‐WACCM‐X E‐region Ne occurs at night over the auroral latitudes with coefficients of determination at around 49% and 80%, respectively. Their regression coefficients are both between +10%/Kp index to +16%/Kp index. On the other hand, Spire and SD‐WACCM‐X substantially disagree on the geomagnetic dependencies during day‐time. These results suggest that Spire RO's observations of E‐region Ne geomagnetic dependencies may only be substantially explained by known physics at night and not during the day.
Diurnal and Seasonal Variations of Gravity Waves in the Lower Atmosphere of Mars as Observed by InSight
Authors: Hernández‐Bernal J. , Spiga A. , Chatain A. , Pla‐Garcia J. , Banfield D. 
Published: February 2025

AbstractWe investigate Gravity Waves (GWs) in the lower atmosphere of Mars based on pressure timeseries acquired by the InSight lander. We compile a climatology showing that most GW activity detected at the InSight landing site takes place after the sunrise and sunset; they are almost absent during the aphelion season, and more prominent around the equinoxes, with variations during dust events and interannual variations. We find GWs with coherent phases in different sols, and a previously unnoticed coincidence of GW activity with those moments in which the diurnal cycle (of tidal origin) exhibits the fastest increases in absolute pressure. We explore the possibility that some of these GWs might actually be high‐order harmonics of thermal tides transiently interfering constructively to produce relevant meteorological patterns, and discuss other interpretations based on wind patterns. The so‐called Terminator Waves observed on Earth might also explain some of our observations.
Phospholipase C β4 promotes RANKL-dependent osteoclastogenesis by interacting with MKK3 and p38 MAPK
Authors: Lee Dong-Kyo , Jin Xian , Choi Poo-Reum , Cui Ying , Che Xiangguo , Lee Sihoon , Hur Keun , Kim Hyun-Ju , Choi Je-Yong 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Phospholipase C β (PLCβ) is involved in diverse biological processes, including inflammatory responses and neurogenesis; however, its role in bone cell function is largely unknown. Among the PLCβ isoforms (β1–β4), we found that PLCβ4 was the most highly upregulated during osteoclastogenesis. Here we used global knockout and osteoclast lineage-specific PLCβ4 conditional knockout (LysM-PLCβ4

−/−
) mice as subjects and demonstrated that PLCβ4 is a crucial regulator of receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation. The deletion of PLCβ4, both globally and in the osteoclast lineage, resulted in a significant reduction in osteoclast formation and the downregulation of osteoclast marker genes. Notably, male LysM-PLCβ4

−/−
mice presented greater bone mass and fewer osteoclasts in vivo than their wild-type littermates, without altered osteoblast function. Mechanistically, we found that PLCβ4 forms a complex with p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and MAPK kinase 3 (MKK3) in response to RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation, thereby modulating p38 activation. An immunofluorescence assay further confirmed the colocalization of PLCβ4 with p38 after RANKL exposure. Moreover, p38 activation rescued impaired osteoclast formation and restored the reduction in p38 phosphorylation caused by PLCβ4 deficiency. Thus, our findings reveal that PLCβ4 controls osteoclastogenesis via the RANKL-dependent MKK3–p38 MAPK pathway and that PLCβ4 may be a potential therapeutic candidate for bone diseases such as osteoporosis.
Macrophages: a double-edged sword in female reproduction and disorders
Authors: Park Mira , Kim Yeon Sun , Song Haengseok 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Reproduction consists of sequential inflammation-like events, primarily within the endometrium, from ovulation to embryo implantation, decidualization and delivery. During the reproductive cycle, the endometrium repeatedly undergoes cyclic periods of proliferation, differentiation, tissue breakdown and repair without scarring. Owing to their phagocytic activity, macrophages, key players in innate immunity, are thought to play crucial roles in the endometrium. Endometrial macrophages actively participate in various stages of reproductive tissue remodeling, particularly during decidualization and pregnancy establishment. Traditionally considered simple bystanders that clear debris to prevent autoimmune responses in tissue homeostasis, macrophages are now recognized as main actors with broad functional plasticity that allows them to fine tune the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses during tissue inflammation, remodeling and repair. Homeostatic balance is determined by the sum of various mediators produced by two distinctly polarized macrophage subpopulations. The biased polarization of tissue-resident macrophages may contribute to the pathogenesis of various diseases, such as inflammation and cancer. Thus, understanding how macrophages contribute to endometrial homeostasis is crucial for deciphering the underlying mechanisms of various reproductive disorders. Nanomedicines using extracellular vesicles, nanoparticles and noncoding RNAs have recently been applied to modulate macrophage polarization and alleviate disease phenotypes. Despite these advances, the functions of endometrial macrophages under physiological and pathophysiological conditions remain poorly understood, which complicates the development of targeted therapies. Here we update the current understanding of the homeostatic function of macrophages and the putative contribution of endometrial macrophage dysfunction to reproductive disorders in women, along with innovative molecular therapeutics to resolve this issue.
Serotonin attenuates tumor necrosis factor-induced intestinal inflammation by interacting with human mucosal tissue
Authors: Bosáková Veronika , Papatheodorou Ioanna , Kafka Filip , Tomášiková Zuzana , Kolovos Petros , Hortová Kohoutková Marcela , Frič Jan 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The intestine hosts the largest immune system and peripheral nervous system in the human body. The gut‒brain axis orchestrates communication between the central and enteric nervous systems, playing a pivotal role in regulating overall body function and intestinal homeostasis. Here, using a human three-dimensional in vitro culture model, we investigated the effects of serotonin, a neuromodulator produced in the gut, on immune cell and intestinal tissue interactions. Serotonin attenuated the tumor necrosis factor-induced proinflammatory response, mostly by affecting the expression of chemokines. Serotonin affected the phenotype and distribution of tissue-migrating monocytes, without direct contact with the cells, by remodeling the intestinal tissue. Collectively, our results show that serotonin plays a crucial role in communication among gut–brain axis components and regulates monocyte migration and plasticity, thereby contributing to gut homeostasis and the progression of inflammation. In vivo studies focused on the role of neuromodulators in gut inflammation have shown controversial results, highlighting the importance of human experimental models. Moreover, our results emphasize the importance of human health research in human cell-based models and suggest that the serotonin signaling pathway is a new therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel disease.
Increased oxidative phosphorylation through pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 2 deficiency ameliorates cartilage degradation in mice with surgically induced osteoarthritis
Authors: Han Jin , Kim Yoon Hee , Han Seungwoo 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Chondrocytes can shift their metabolism to oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) in the early stages of osteoarthritis (OA), but as the disease progresses, this metabolic adaptation becomes limited and eventually fails, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Here we investigated whether enhancing OxPhos through the inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) 2 affects the metabolic flexibility of chondrocytes and cartilage degeneration in a surgical model of OA. Among the PDK isoforms, PDK2 expression was increased by IL-1β in vitro and in the articular cartilage of the DMM model in vivo, accompanied by an increase in phosphorylated PDH. Mice lacking PDK2 showed significant resistance to cartilage damage and reduced pain behaviors in the DMM model. PDK2 deficiency partially restored OxPhos in IL-1β-treated chondrocytes, leading to increases in APT and the NAD+/NADH ratio. These metabolic changes were accompanied by a decrease in reactive oxygen species and senescence in chondrocytes, as well as an increase in the expression of antioxidant proteins such as NRF2 and HO-1 after IL-1β treatment. At the signaling level, PDK2 deficiency reduced p38 signaling and maintained AMPK activation without affecting the JNK, mTOR, AKT and NF-κB pathways. p38 MAPK signaling was critically involved in reactive oxygen species production under glycolysis-dominant conditions in chondrocytes. Our study provides a proof of concept for PDK2-mediated metabolic reprogramming toward OxPhos as a new therapeutic strategy for OA.
Rheumatoid arthritis severity is mediated by crosstalk between synoviocytes and mature osteoclasts through a calcium and cytokine feedback loop
Authors: Lee Eun Sun , Kim Hyeong Jae , Lee Dongun , Kang Jung Yun , Shin Dong Min , Hong Jeong Hee 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) and osteoclasts are central cells in the maintenance of joint homeostasis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of joints that induces cytokine-activated FLSs and progressive bone erosion. Interactions between FLSs and other cells, such as T cells and B cells, have been recognized in the development of RA. Here we hypothesized that calcium released from bone by mature osteoclasts might activate FLSs, which are also affected by inflammatory cytokines in the inflamed synovium. Osteoclastogenesis occurs in the presence of cytokine-stimulated FLS medium, and calcium released from the bone disc activates FLS migration. We first investigated the calcium and cytokine feedback loop between FLSs and osteoclast maturation. Moreover, by addressing the role of the sodium-bicarbonate cotransporter NBCn1 in osteoclastogenesis, we found that the inhibition of NBCn1 attenuated the infinite calcium and cytokine feedback loop between FLSs and osteoclasts. In a collagen-induced arthritis mouse model, the inhibition of NBC reduced the RA pathological phenotype and bone resorption area in the femur. These results suggest that modulation of the crosstalk between FLSs and osteoclasts by inhibiting the calcium and cytokine feedback loop could be considered to develop pioneering strategies to combat RA severity and dysregulated bone homeostasis.
Neddylation of RhoA impairs its protein degradation and promotes renal interstitial fibrosis progression in diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Li Xue-qi , Jin Bo , Liu Si-xiu , Zhu Yan , Li Nan , Zhang Qing-yan , Wan Cheng , Feng Yuan , Xing Yue-xian , Ma Kun-ling , Liu Jing , Jiang Chun-ming , Lu Jian 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common and serious complication of diabetes, characterized by chronic fibro-inflammatory processes with an unclear pathogenesis. Renal fibrosis plays a significant role in the development and progression of DN. While recent research suggests that the neddylation pathway may influence fibrotic processes, its specific dysregulation in DN and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. This study identified the neddylation of RhoA as a novel post-translational modification that regulates its expression and promotes renal fibrosis in DN. We here demonstrated that two key components of the neddylation pathway—NEDD8-activating enzyme E1 subunit 1 (NAE1) and NEDD8—are significantly upregulated in human chronic kidney disease (CKD) specimens compared to healthy kidneys, implicating neddylation in CKD-associated fibrosis. Our findings further revealed that both pharmacological inhibition of neddylation using MLN4924 and genetic knockdown of NAE1 mitigate renal fibrosis in mouse models of streptozotocin-induced diabetes and unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry (IP-MS) and subsequent function assays demonstrated a direct interaction between RhoA and NEDD8. Importantly, neddylation inhibition reduced RhoA protein expression, highlighting a potential therapeutic target. Additionally, a positive correlation was noted between elevated NEDD8 mRNA levels and RhoA mRNA expression in human CKD specimens. RhoA overexpression counteracted the antifibrotic effects of neddylation inhibition, underscoring its critical role in fibrosis progression. Mechanistically, we unveiled that neddylation enhances RhoA protein stability by inhibiting its ubiquitination-mediated degradation, which subsequently activates the ERK1/2 pathway. Collectively, this study provides novel insights into NAE1-dependent RhoA neddylation as a key contributor to renal fibrosis in DN.