bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chronological age, changes in DNA methylation, and endogenous hormone levels of explants promote somatic embryogenesis of Euterpe edulis Martius
Authors: de Mello Tamyris , Zanardo Tadeu Ériton Caliman , Silva Tatiane Dulcineia , Costa Joana Silva , Fagundes Débora Pellanda , de Araujo Caroline Palacio , Hegedus Clovis Eduardo Nunes , Anjos Breno Benvindo dos , Schmildt Edilson Romais , Ferreira Adésio Ferreira , Ferreira Márcia Flores da Silva , Lopes José Carlos , Otoni Wagner Campos , Alexandre Rodrigo Sobreira 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Euterpe edulis Martius is an endangered palm tree native to the Atlantic Forest. As it propagates only with seeds and does not tiller, the tree dies after its highly appreciated palm heart is harvested. In this study, we analyzed the embryogenic response of E. edulis with respect to maturity of the explant and concentration of picloram, an auxin mimetic. Immature fruits were harvested, and their seeds were extracted and germinated in vitro. After 2, 4, 6, and 8 months, the aerial parts of normal seedlings were excised and stem segments were used to induce somatic embryogenesis in the presence of 100, 125, 150, 175, and 200 µM picloram. The number of proembryos, induction rate, explant mass, oxidation, global DNA methylation, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, proline, polyamines, and ultrastructural analysis of cells were assessed. Six-month-old seedling explants achieved the highest number of proembryos and embryogenic induction rate at most picloram concentrations, as well as the highest 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid content, but lowest spermine and putrescine levels. Explants with somatic embryos exhibited lower DNA methylation levels than non-embryogenic calli. Proline content was highest in stem segments of younger seedlings (2-month-old). Despite being asynchronous, maturation with 5 µM abscisic acid was achieved. Therefore, 6-month-old E. edulis seedlings supplemented with 200 µM picloram could be used for ex situ conservation of this endangered species.
Integrating network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and experimental validation to unveil the molecular targets and mechanisms of galangin to treat hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Li Xiaoliang , Zhou Mingyan , Chen Weijia , Sun Jiangbo , Zhao Yihang , Wang Gaoan , Wang Bingshu , Pan Yipeng , Zhang Junqing , Xu Jian 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background Galangin, a flavonoid compound, is derived from Alpinia officinarum Hance. Previous studies have shown that galangin can inhibit the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its mechanism is still unclear. This study aims to investigate the potential targets and molecular mechanisms of galangin on HCC through network pharmacology, bioinformatics, molecular docking, and experimental in vitro validation.
Methods In this study, network pharmacology was investigated firstly to determine the targets and mechanisms of galangin in the treatment of HCC. AutoDockTools software was used to further simulate and calculate the binding of galangin to core targets.GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were conducted in the DAVID database to explore the main biological functions and signaling pathways impacted by galangin intervention. Moreover, bioinformatics was used to analyze the correlation between the differential expressions of galangin's anti-HCC core targets and the survival of HCC patients. Finally, the findings obtained from network pharmacology and bioinformatics were verified in cell experiments.
Results A total of 67 overlapping target genes of galangin and HCC were identified. Through the PPI network analysis, 10 hub genes with the highest degree of freedom, including SRC, ESR1, MMP9, CDK4, CCNB1, MMP2, CDK2, CDK1, CHEK1, and PLK1, were screened and found to be closely related to the decomposition of the extracellular matrix, signal transduction, and the cell cycle, etc. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that galangin exerts an anti-HCC role by affecting various signaling pathways, including the cell cycle, pathways in cancer, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, etc. Molecular docking demonstrated that CCNB1, CDK4, CDK1, and PLK1 had a powerful bond with galangin. Bioinformatics revealed that CCNB1, CDK4, CDK1, and PLK1 were up-regulated in the livers of patients with HCC at both mRNA and protein levels. The in vitro experiment showed that galangin can induce apoptosis of HepG2 and Huh7 cells and inhibit the proliferation of HCC cell. Conclusions Galangin induces apoptosis in HCC cells by blocking the cell cycle at the G0/G1 or G2/M phase through the inhibition of cyclins or mRNA expression.
Reporting of interventional clinical trial results in a French academic center: a survey of completed studies
Authors: Doucet Anne Sophie Alix , VINATIER Constant , Fin Loïc , Léna Hervé , Rangé Hélène , Locher Clara , Naudet Florian 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background: The dissemination of clinical trial results is an important scientific and ethical endeavour. This survey of completed interventional studies in a French academic center describes their reporting status.
Methods: We explored all interventional studies sponsored by Rennes University Hospital identified on the French Open Science Monitor which tracks trials registered on EUCTR or clinicaltrials.gov, and provides an automatic assessment of the reporting of results. For each study, we ascertained the actual reporting of results using systematic searches on the hospital internal database, bibliographic databases (Google Scholar, PubMed), and by contacting all principal investigators (PIs). We describe several features (including total budget and numbers of trial participants) of the studies that did not report any results.
Results: The French Open Science Monitor identified 93 interventional studies, among which 10 (11%) reported results. In contrast, our survey identified 36 studies (39%) reporting primary analysis results and an additional 18 (19%) reporting results for secondary analyses (without results for their primary analysis). The overall budget for studies that did not report any results was estimated to be €5,051,253 for a total of 6,735 trial participants. The most frequent reasons for the absence of results reported by PIs were lack of time for 18 (42%), and logistic difficulties (e.g. delay in obtaining results or another blocking factor) for 12 (28%). An association was found between non-publication and negative results (adjusted Odds Ratio = 4.70, 95% Confidence Interval [1.67;14.11]).
Conclusions: Even allowing for the fact that automatic searches underestimate the number of studies with published results, the level of reporting was disappointingly low. This amounts to a waste of trial participants' implication and money. Corrective actions are needed.
Registration: 10.17605/OSF.IO/Q5HCS
NSSIM: A Novel Self-Sovereign Identity Scheme For Metaverse with Sybil-Resistance, Full Lifecycle Synchronization and Joint Accountability
Authors: Lyu Qiuyun , Zhao Mingya , Shen Yanzhao , Ren Yizhi , Chen Shaopeng , Wang Zhen , Bao Junnan , Liu Junliang 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

The metaverse is a promising internet and social formation that aims to achieve a high level of synchronization and indivisibility between the virtual and physical worlds.
In the ultimate stage of metaverse, a natural person acts as an avatar not only to conduct all kinds of activities across time and space in the virtual world but also to sense and change the physical world.
Therefore, a genuine avatar serves as a trust anchor and is crucial for the organized advancement of the metaverse.
Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) is regarded as the promising scheme to build trust foundation for the metaverse, since it takes the trust anchor from a third-party organization back to a user, compared with the traditional digital identity management.

Although the state-of-the-art SSI schemes already have appended the abilities of sybil-resistance, accountability, revocation or recovery, they suffer from privacy leakage and internal corruption due to a centralized authority involved. Futhermore, they failed to take into consideration high synchronization and indivisibility in metaverse.
In order to construct a reliable and secure trust anchor for metaverse, a new self-sovereign identity scheme (NSSIM) with sybil-resistance, full lifecycle synchronization and joint accountability is proposed in this paper.
Specifically, a genuine avatar generation protocol which provide one-to-one bound to a natural person is designed to achieve the sybil-resistance without violating privacy.
And, an avatar behavior paradigm is devised to fulfill the full lifecycle synchronization between an avatar and the corresponding natural person, as well as protect his identity privacy.
Furthermore, a joint accountability procedure is proposed to conduct fair, public and conditional regulation over avatar behavior paradigms.
Finally, we analyze the security, properties of our scheme and conduct detailed experiments in term of the cost of computation and storage.
The security analysis results indicate that our scheme resists all the known attacks. Compared with the state-of-the-art SSI schemes, our scheme
fulfills all the SSI properties and the extensive experiment results show that the computation cost is small and the storage cost for privacy protection is acceptable.
Effect of enzymatic modification on the structure and rheological properties of diluted alkali soluble pectin fraction rich in RG-I
Authors: Kaczmarska Adrianna , Pieczywek Piotr M. , Cybulska Justyna , Zdunek Artur 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This study focuses on pectin covalently linked in cell walls and extracted using diluted alkali (DASP) from two sources: apples and carrots, describing changes in rheological properties due to enzymatic treatment. Given DASP's richness in rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I), RG-I acetyl esterase (RGAE), rhamnogalacturonan endolyase (RGL), and arabinofuranosidase (ABF) were employed in various combinations for targeted degradation of RG-I pectin chains. Enzymatic degradations were followed by structural studies of pectin molecules using atomic force microscopy (AFM) as well as measurements of rheological and spectral properties. AFM imaging revealed significant increase in the length of branched molecules after incubation with ABF, suggesting that arabinose side chains limit RG-I aggregation. Structural modifications were confirmed by changes in the intensity of bands in the pectin fingerprint and anomeric region on FTIR spectra. ABF treatment led to decrease in stability of pectic gels while simultaneous use of ABF, RGAE and RGL enzymes did not increase the degree of aggregation compared to the control sample. These findings suggest that the association of pectin chains within the DASP fraction may rely significantly on intermolecular interactions. Two mechanisms are proposed, involving side chains as short-range attachment points or an extended linear homogalacturonan conformation favoring inter-chain interactions over self-association.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Cardiochek® Pa Point-of-care Testing (Poct) Analyser With a 3-in-1 Lipid Panel for Epidemiological Surveys
Authors: Lourdes Tania Gayle Robert , Lin Chong Zhuo , Saminathan Thamil Arasu , Hamid Hamizatul Akmal Abd , Rifin Halizah Mat , Wan Kim Sui , Majid Nur Liana Ab , Yogaratnam Kishwen Kanna , Riyadzi Mohd Ruhaizie , Ismail Hasimah , Yusoff Muhammad Fadhli Mohd 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Background
Point-of-care testing (POCT) is commonly used in epidemiological surveys due to its various advantages, such as portability and immediate test results. The CardioChek® PA analyser 3-in-1 lipid panel measures total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. This study tested the reliability and diagnostic accuracy of the CardioChek® PA analyser using a 3-in-1 lipid panel.
Methods
A cross-sectional study design with quota sampling was used. A total of 203 respondents aged 18 years and above from a research centre in the Ministry of Health, Malaysia, were recruited. Venous blood was sent to the laboratory, while a POCT analyser was used for capillary blood measurements. Intraclass coefficient correlation (ICC) analysis was employed to determine the agreement between capillary and venous blood parameters. The diagnostic performance of the evaluated tests was evaluated using STATA version 12.
Results
The agreement between capillary and laboratory venous blood was moderate (0.64–0.67) for TC and HDL, good (0.75) for LDL and excellent (0.91) for TG). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were as follows: TC, 57.1%, 94.3%, 92.3% and 64.8%; TG, 76.0%, 100%, 100%, and 96.6%; HDL, 96.2%, 83.2%, 47.2% and 99.3%; and LDL, 81.0%, 100%, 100% and 68.3%, respectively.
Conclusions
The CardioChek® PA analyser showed acceptable diagnostic accuracy for screening high-risk individuals more often in places where laboratories are inaccessible. It could also be used in clinical settings where patients would benefit from swift treatment decisions.
Determination of Growth and Reproduction Characteristics of Garfish (Belone euxini Günther, 1866) in the South Black Sea
Authors: Samsun Serap , Sağlam Naciye Erdoğan 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
In this study, it was aimed to determine some basic population parameters (age, length, sex composition, length-weight relationship, age-length relationship, growth parameters, condition factor, GSI) of garfish (Belone euxini, Günther, 1866) in the Southern Black Sea Region coasts. A total of 917 fish were sampled in the study, and their average length and weight were determined as 37.31 ± 0.147 cm, 58.74 ± 0.876 g. Theirs ages were between 1 to 7 and 40.89% of fish consisted of 3 years old. Sex ratio (F:M) is determined as 1:1.81. Length-weight relationship equations W = 0.0005*L3.196, W = 0.0009*L3.040, W = 0.0005*L3.196 for females and males and all, respectively. Asymptotic length (L∞) and the growth coefficient (k) were estimated at 78.20 cm and 0.119 year− 1 for females, 69.82 cm and 0.120 year− 1 for males and 92.06 cm and 0.082 year− 1 for all indivuduals. Instantaneous total mortality, natural mortality and fishing mortality rates were calculated as Z = 1.02 year–1, M = 0.16 year–1, and F = 0.86 year–1 for combined sexes. Exploitation rate was E = 0.84. The population of Belone euxini was affected by fishing during the study period, according to the estimated E values. According to the GSI values ​​calculated for Belone euxini, it was determined that reproduction started in July and continued until October.
Association between gut microbiota and anxiety disorders: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: jianbing Li , changhe Fan , jiaqi Wang , bulang Tang , jiafan Cao , xianzhe Hu , xuan Zhao , caiqin Feng 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
There are many articles reporting that the component of intestinal microbiota implies a link to anxiety disorders (AD), and the brain-gut axis is also a hot topic in current research. However, the specific relevance between gut microbiota and AD is uncertain. We aimed to investigate causal relationship between gut microbiota and AD by using bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR).
Methods
Genetic instrumental variable (IV) for the gut microbiota were obtained from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving 18,340 participants. Summary data for AD were derived from the GWAS and included 158,565 cases and 300,995 controls. We applied the inverse variance weighting (IVW) method as the main analysis. To ensure the robustness of the results, we further executed weighted median method and MR-Egger regression to evaluate potential horizontal pleiotropy.
Result
We discovered 16 potential connections between bacterial traits and AD. Utilizing the IVW method, we identified 7 species that exhibited a direct correlation with the risk of AD: class Negativicutes, genus Eubacteriumbrachygroup, genus Coprococcus3, genus Enterorhabdus, genus Oxalobacter, genus Ruminiclostridium6, order Selenomonadales. Additionally, we found 9 species that exhibited a negative association with AD: class Methanobacteria, family Methanobacteriaceae, family Porphyromonadaceae, genus Blautia, genus Butyricicoccus, genus Erysipelotrichaceae-UCG003, genus Parasutterella, order Methanobacteriales, phylum Proteobacteria.
Conclusion
Our study found a causal relation between parts of the gut microbiota and AD. Further randomized controlled trials are crucial to elucidate the protective effects of probiotics on AD and their particular protection systems.
Introducing Novel Droplet Generators: Enhanced Mixing Efficiency and Reduced Droplet Size
Authors: Barzoki Ali Kheirkhah 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Nowadays, droplet microfluidics has become widely utilized for high-throughput assays. Efficient mixing is crucial for initiating biochemical reactions in many applications. Rapid mixing during droplet formation eliminates the need for incorporating micromixers, which can complicate the chip design. Furthermore, immediate mixing of substances upon contact can significantly improve the consistency of chemical reactions and resulting products. This study introduces three innovative designs for droplet generators that achieve efficient mixing and produce small droplets. The T-cross and cross-T geometries combine cross and T junction mixing mechanisms, resulting in improved mixing efficiency. Numerical simulations were conducted to compare these novel geometries with traditional T and cross junctions in terms of mixing index, droplet diameter, and eccentricity. The cross-T geometry exhibited the highest mixing index and produced the smallest droplets, increasing the mixing index by 10% compared to the T junction. While the T junction has the best mixing efficiency among traditional droplet generators, it produces larger droplets, which can increase the risk of contamination due to contact with the microchannel walls. Therefore, the cross-T geometry is highly desirable in most applications due to its production of considerably smaller droplets. Other new geometries also demonstrated comparable mixing efficiency to the T junction. The cross junction exhibited the lowest mixing efficiency and produced larger droplets compared to the cross-T geometry. Thus, the novel geometries, particularly the cross-T geometry, are a favorable choice for applications where both high mixing efficiency and small droplet sizes are important.
Construction of a Simulation Scenario and a Low-Cost Simulator for Teaching Thoracentesis Surgical Technique: A Validation Study
Authors: Moron Roberson Antequera , Cardozo Victor , Filho Marcos Antonio Marton , Mazzo Alessandra , Costa Raphael Ranieri Oliveira , Santos Carlos Ferreira dos 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
Thoracentesis yields valuable insights in pleural effusion diagnosis by accurately interpreting pleural fluid analysis results and can cause several complications, which emphasizes the importance of training in a simulated environment. There are many expensive simulators related to this procedure and few validated scenarios. This study aimed to build and validate a low-cost simulator and a clinical simulation scenario for teaching the thoracentesis surgical technique to undergraduate medical students.
Methods
This is a methodological study carried out at a public university in the interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. It was carried out in three methodological stages, namely: 1) Construction of the simulator, which involved planning, surveying, pricing, and use of material resources 2) Construction of a simulated thoracentesis scenario, based on literature and a simulation script and 3) Validation by experts and pilot study of the simulator and scenario. Experts were selected according to Fehring criteria.
Results
The simulator proved to be suitable and low-cost (US $18). Modifications to the scenario were suggested by the experts and students in the pilot study, with 100.0% agreement.
Conclusions
In conclusion, a low-tech, handmade, and low-cost simulator was built and validated for training in the thoracentesis surgical technique, as well as a clinical simulation scenario for the management of patients with pleural effusion, which can be included in various medical teaching contexts.
Discoid technology in between: The Middle Palaeolithic site of Istraishta in the Quaternary context of the Korça Basin, Albania
Authors: Ruka Rudenc , Bassetti Michele , BERTOLA Stefano , Delpiano Davide , Gjipali Ilirjan , Peresani Marco 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Neanderthal groups developed different models of mobility and exploitation of resources across their territory: these differences can be linked to various knapping methods and are probably related to adaptative strategies and responses at many ecological and cultural levels. Neanderthals associated with Discoid knapping are known to depend on a context-specific, not planned exploitation of lithic raw materials for daily food procurement and be more mobile than others using different technologies. However, we have no defined data for most of the geographical contexts where this technocomplex was found. This study presents the open-air site of Istraishta, where the Mousterian is characterized by the Discoid technology applied to the reduction of pebbles, thin plates and flakes. The multidisciplinary investigations include the study of the lithic surface collection, of the quality and variety of the lithic raw materials exploited in the site as well as the analysis of the soil which is preserved in localized patches. These new data on the behavioral variability of Neanderthals in the southern Balkans are here contextualized at a macro-regional level, with analogies with many sites of the Adriatic basin mainly framed chronologically between MIS 5 and MIS 3.
Item Response Theory Validation of Social Studies Aptitude Test
Authors: Jessa Morrison , Osadebe Patrick , Ashibuogwu Kingsley 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This study assessed the psychometric properties of the Social Studies Aptitude Test (SSAT) using the 3-Parameter Item Response Theory Model. Four research questions guided the study. A 100-item multiple choice SSAT, developed by Jessa, et al. (2023) was used as an instrument for the study. The data were collated and analysed using chi-square goodness of fit and factor analysis. The findings revealed that all the 100 items measured a single construct; that most of the items (94 out of 100) were either satisfactory (need no revision), good or moderate (needs little or no revision); most of the items (89 out of 100) were either very easy or easy; and most of the items (73 out of 100) are not susceptible to guessing. The study recommended amongst others, that the developed SSAT should be used by Social Studies teachers for the assessment of secondary school students, especially during mock examinations.