bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Point of Use Treatment for Medical Devices: From Bedside to Battlefield
Authors: Eberhardt Gina L , Atwood Bethany I , Smith Joshua D 
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Point of use (POU) treatment is a critical first step of medical device reprocessing. Reusable instruments and flexible endoscopes require a minimum of terminal sterilization or high-level disinfection, neither of which can be guaranteed if POU is performed incorrectly. Compliance considerations for POU include hospital accreditation readiness, unique austere surgical mission requirements, and the transition of future conflict towards Large Scale Combat Operations. This integrative review aims to describe POU for reusable instruments and endoscopes, and extrapolate implications for Military Health System policies and future considerations.

Materials and methods
The authors performed an integrative review and comprehensive literature search in PubMed and CINAHL with the keywords “point of use,” “point of use cleaning,” “POU,” “instrument,” “high-level disinfection,” “endoscope,” and “clean.” Articles were limited to “English” and “human” from 2017 to 2023. The authors also performed a thorough review of the Defense Health Agency and service-specific doctrine, as well as national guidelines regarding POU adherence.

Results
The literature review yielded 18 articles that discussed the transport and reprocessing of reusable medical devices. Regulatory standards and national guidelines were used to supplement the literature. Seventeen evidence-based criteria were extrapolated from the literature to generate two step-by-step guides for the POU treatment of endoscopes and reusable instruments (Tables I and II). Despite increased morbidity and mortality rates linked to inadequate device reprocessing, compliance with POU procedures remains low. Barriers to practice included complex POU processes, intricately designed surgical instruments and endoscopes, lack of healthcare worker (HCW) knowledge and competency, and inadequate or ambiguously written policies. Training, competency assessments, and clearly written policies and procedures can be cost-effective, evidence-based, and feasible solutions.

Conclusion
Completing POU treatment is critical to a successful surgical mission in both the hospital and austere environment. Implications to practice include implementing evidence-based POU programs that improve patient outcomes and readiness while decreasing costs.
The dragon-II simulations – I. Evolution of single and binary compact objects in star clusters with up to 1 million stars
Authors: Arca Sedda Manuel , Kamlah Albrecht W H , Spurzem Rainer , Giersz Mirek , Berczik Peter , Rastello Sara , Iorio Giuliano , Mapelli Michela , Gatto Massimiliano , Grebel Eva K 
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT
We present the first results of the Dragon-II simulations, a suite of 19 N-body simulations of star clusters with up to 106 stars, with up to 33 per cent of them initially paired in binaries. In this work, we describe the main evolution of the clusters and their compact objects (COs). All Dragon-II clusters form in their centre a black hole (BH) subsystem with a density 10−100 times larger than the stellar density, with the cluster core containing $50{-}80~{{\rm per\ cent}}$ of the whole BH population. In all models, the BH average mass steeply decreases as a consequence of BH burning, reaching values 〈mBH〉 &lt; 15 M⊙ within 10−30 relaxation times. Generally, our clusters retain only BHs lighter than 30 M⊙ over 30 relaxation times. Looser clusters retain a higher binary fraction, because in such environments binaries are less likely disrupted by dynamical encounters. We find that BH–main-sequence star binaries have properties similar to recently observed systems. Double CO binaries (DCOBs) ejected from the cluster exhibit larger mass ratios and heavier primary masses than ejected binaries hosting single CO binaries (SCOBs). Ejected SCOBs have BH masses mBH = 3−20 M⊙, definitely lower than those in DCOBs (mBH = 10−100 M⊙).
The three hundred project: mapping the matter distribution in galaxy clusters via deep learning from multiview simulated observations
Authors: de Andres Daniel , Cui Weiguang , Yepes Gustavo , De Petris Marco , Ferragamo Antonio , De Luca Federico , Aversano Gianmarco , Rennehan Douglas 
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT
A galaxy cluster as the most massive gravitationally bound object in the Universe, is dominated by dark matter, which unfortunately can only be investigated through its interaction with the luminous baryons with some simplified assumptions that introduce an un-preferred bias. In this work, we, for the first time, propose a deep learning method based on the U-Net architecture, to directly infer the projected total mass density map from idealized observations of simulated galaxy clusters at multiwavelengths. The model is trained with a large data set of simulated images from clusters of the three hundred project. Although machine learning (ML) models do not depend on the assumptions of the dynamics of the intracluster medium, our whole method relies on the choice of the physics implemented in the hydrodynamic simulations, which is a limitation of the method. Through different metrics to assess the fidelity of the inferred density map, we show that the predicted total mass distribution is in very good agreement with the true simulated cluster. Therefore, it is not surprising to see the integrated halo mass is almost unbiased, around 1 per cent for the best result from multiview, and the scatter is also very small, basically within 3 per cent. This result suggests that this ML method provides an alternative and more accessible approach to reconstructing the overall matter distribution in galaxy clusters, which can complement the lensing method.
Extracting the Global 21-cm signal from Cosmic Dawn and Epoch of Reionization in the presence of Foreground and Ionosphere
Authors: Tripathi Anshuman , Datta Abhirup , Choudhury Madhurima , Majumdar Suman 
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT
Detection of redshifted H i 21-cm emission is a potential probe for investigating the Universe’s first billion years. However, given the significantly brighter foreground, detecting 21-cm is observationally difficult. The Earth’s ionosphere considerably distorts the signal at low frequencies by introducing directional-dependent effects. Here, for the first time, we report the use of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) to extract the global 21-cm signal characteristics from the composite all-sky averaged signal, including foreground and ionospheric effects such as refraction, absorption, and thermal emission from the ionosphere’s F and D-layers. We assume a ‘perfect’ instrument and neglect instrumental calibration and beam effects. To model the ionospheric effect, we considered the static and time-varying ionospheric conditions for the mid-latitude region, where LOFAR is situated. In this work, we trained the ANN model for various situations using a synthetic set of the global 21-cm signals created by altering its parameter space based on the ‘$\rm \tanh$’ parametrized model and the Accelerated Reionization Era Simulations (ARES) algorithm. The obtained result shows that the ANN model can extract the global signal parameters with an accuracy of ${\ge}96\ \hbox{per cent}$ in the final study when we include foreground and ionospheric effects. On the other hand, a similar ANN model can extract the signal parameters from the final prediction data set with an accuracy ranging from 97 to 98 per cent when considering more realistic sets of the global 21-cm signals based on physical models.
The impact and response of mini-haloes and the interhalo medium on cosmic reionization
Authors: Chan Tsang Keung , Benítez-Llambay Alejandro , Theuns Tom , Frenk Carlos , Bower Richard 
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT
An ionization front (I-front) that propagates through an inhomogeneous medium is slowed down by self-shielding and recombinations. We perform cosmological radiation hydrodynamics simulations of the I-front propagation during the epoch of cosmic reionization. The simulations resolve gas in mini-haloes (halo mass 104 ≲ Mh[M⊙] ≲ 108) that could dominate recombinations, in a computational volume that is large enough to sample the abundance of such haloes. The numerical resolution is sufficient (gas-particle mass ∼20 M⊙ and spatial resolution &lt;0.1 ckpc) to allow accurate modelling of the hydrodynamic response of gas to photoheating. We quantify the photoevaporation time of mini-haloes as a function of Mh and its dependence on the photoionization rate, Γ−12, and the redshift of reionization, zi. The recombination rate can be enhanced over that of a uniform medium by a factor ∼10−20 early on. The peak value increases with Γ−12 and decreases with zi, due to the enhanced contribution from mini-haloes. The clumping factor, cr, decreases to a factor of a few at ∼100 Myr after the passage of the I-front when the mini-haloes have been photoevaporated; this asymptotic value depends only weakly on Γ−12. Recombinations increase the required number of photons per baryon to reionize the Universe by 20 per cent–100 per cent, with the higher value occurring when Γ−12 is high and zi is low. We complement the numerical simulations with simple analytical models for the evaporation rate and the inverse Strömgren layer. The study also demonstrates the proficiency and potential of sph-m1rt to address astrophysical problems in high-resolution cosmological simulations.
The X-ray high-energy cutoff in compact symmetric object Mrk 348
Authors: Liao Mai , Wang Junxian , Kang Jialai , Li Xiaofeng , Zhou Minhua 
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT
Compact radio active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are thought to be young radio AGN at the early stage of AGN evolution, thus are ideal laboratory to study the high-energy emission throughout the evolution of radio AGN. In this work, we report for the first time the detection of the high-energy cutoff (Ecut), a direct indicator of thermal coronal radiation, of X-ray emission in Mrk 348 (z = 0.015), a young radio galaxy classified as compact symmetric object. With a 100 ks Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array exposure, we find that the high-energy cutoff (Ecut) is firmly detected ($218^{+124}_{-62}$ keV). Fitting with various Comptonization models indicates the presence of a hot corona with temperature kTe = 35–40 keV. These strongly support the corona origin for its hard X-ray emission. The comparison in the Ecut – spectra index Γ plot of Mrk 348 with normal large-scale radio galaxies (mostly Fanaroff–Riley type II) yields no difference between them. This suggests the corona properties in radio sources may not evolve over time (i.e. from the infant stage to mature stage), which is to-be-confirmed with future sample studies of young radio AGNs.
Structural basis for transcription activation by the nitrate-responsive regulator NarL
Authors: Kompaniiets Dmytro , He Lina , Wang Dong , Zhou Wei , Yang Yang , Hu Yangbo , Liu Bin 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Transcription activation is a crucial step of regulation during transcription initiation and a classic check point in response to different stimuli and stress factors. The Escherichia coli NarL is a nitrate-responsive global transcription factor that controls the expression of nearly 100 genes. However, the molecular mechanism of NarL-mediated transcription activation is not well defined. Here we present a cryo-EM structure of NarL-dependent transcription activation complex (TAC) assembled on the yeaR promoter at 3.2 Å resolution. Our structure shows that the NarL dimer binds at the −43.5 site of the promoter DNA with its C-terminal domain (CTD) not only binding to the DNA but also making interactions with RNA polymerase subunit alpha CTD (αCTD). The key role of these NarL-mediated interactions in transcription activation was further confirmed by in vivo and in vitro transcription assays. Additionally, the NarL dimer binds DNA in a different plane from that observed in the structure of class II TACs. Unlike the canonical class II activation mechanism, NarL does not interact with σ4, while RNAP αCTD is bound to DNA on the opposite side of NarL. Our findings provide a structural basis for detailed mechanistic understanding of NarL-dependent transcription activation on yeaR promoter and reveal a potentially novel mechanism of transcription activation.
Transcription factor PbNAC71 regulates xylem and vessel development to control plant height
Authors: Cong Liu , Shi Yi-ke , Gao Xin-yi , Zhao Xiao-fei , Zhang Hai-qi , Zhou Feng-li , Zhang Hong-juan , Ma Bai-quan , Zhai Rui , Yang Cheng-quan , Wang Zhi-gang , Ma Feng-wang , Xu Ling-fei 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Dwarfism is an important agronomic trait in fruit breeding programs. However, the germplasm resources required to generate dwarf pear (Pyrus spp.) varieties are limited. Moreover, the mechanisms underlying dwarfism remain unclear. In this study, “Yunnan” quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) had a dwarfing effect on “Zaosu” pear. Additionally, the dwarfism-related NAC transcription factor gene PbNAC71 was isolated from pear trees comprising “Zaosu” (scion) grafted onto “Yunnan” quince (rootstock). Transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana and pear OHF-333 (Pyrus communis) plants overexpressing PbNAC71 exhibited dwarfism, with a substantially smaller xylem and vessel area relative to the wild-type controls. Yeast one-hybrid, dual-luciferase, chromatin immunoprecipitation-qPCR, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated that PbNAC71 downregulates PbWalls are thin 1 expression by binding to NAC-binding elements in its promoter. Yeast two-hybrid assays showed that PbNAC71 interacts with the E3 ubiquitin ligase PbRING finger protein 217 (PbRNF217). Furthermore, PbRNF217 promotes the ubiquitin-mediated degradation of PbNAC71 by the 26S proteasome, thereby regulating plant height as well as xylem and vessel development. Our findings reveal a mechanism underlying pear dwarfism and expand our understanding of the molecular basis of dwarfism in woody plants.
Sensory input to cortex encoded on low-dimensional periphery-correlated subspaces
Authors: Barreiro Andrea K , Fontenele Antonio J , Ly Cheng , Raju Prashant C , Gautam Shree Hari , Shew Woodrow L 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
As information about the world is conveyed from the sensory periphery to central neural circuits, it mixes with complex ongoing cortical activity. How do neural populations keep track of sensory signals, separating them from noisy ongoing activity? Here, we show that sensory signals are encoded more reliably in certain low-dimensional subspaces. These coding subspaces are defined by correlations between neural activity in the primary sensory cortex and upstream sensory brain regions; the most correlated dimensions were best for decoding. We analytically show that these correlation-based coding subspaces improve, reaching optimal limits (without an ideal observer), as noise correlations between cortex and upstream regions are reduced. We show that this principle generalizes across diverse sensory stimuli in the olfactory system and the visual system of awake mice. Our results demonstrate an algorithm the cortex may use to multiplex different functions, processing sensory input in low-dimensional subspaces separate from other ongoing functions.
Harnessing cytokine-induced killer cells to accelerate diabetic wound healing: an approach to regulating post-traumatic inflammation
Authors: Yang Yixi , Zhang Cheng , Jiang Yuan , He Yijun , Cai Jiawei , Liang Lin , Chen Zhaohuan , Pan Sicheng , Hua Chu , Wu Keke , Wang Le , Zhang Zhiyong 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Impaired immunohomeostasis in diabetic wounds prolongs inflammation and cytokine dysfunction, thus, delaying or preventing wound-surface healing. Extensive clinical studies have been conducted on cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells recently, as they can be easily proliferated using a straightforward, inexpensive protocol. Therefore, the function of CIK cells in regulating inflammatory environments has been drawing attention for clinical management. Throughout the current investigation, we discovered the regenerative capacity of these cells in the challenging environment of wounds that heal poorly due to diabetes. We demonstrated that the intravenous injection of CIK cells can re-establish a proregenerative inflammatory microenvironment, promote vascularization and, ultimately, accelerate skin healing in diabetic mice. The results indicated that CIK cell treatment affects macrophage polarization and restores the function of regenerative cells under hyperglycemic conditions. This novel cellular therapy offers a promising intervention for clinical applications through specific inflammatory regulation functions.
Implementation of EU Regulations in Czechia
Authors: Whelanová Markéta 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Implementation of EU regulations requires many changes in the Czech legal order. It is often necessary to repeal incompatible national provisions, provide for new penalties and provisions on competence of national institutions, or set up a new system only sketched by the EU regulations. Further, the implementation in Czechia has to match with the other parts of the Czech legal order to be effective. And it must comply with the Czech constitutional imperatives and legal drafting rules which follow from the principle of legal certainty and a rule of law. The main problem appears with European Parliament and Council regulations which establish only very general rules. Also, too many delegated and implementing regulations of the Commission are causing problems, specially when they have short implementation deadlines and change quickly. The article therefore contains examples of loopholes, presents methods to deal with them and sketches paths to be taken in the future.
The effect of shrub cover on conifer water-use patterns, growth and response to precipitation variability in the southern Sierra Nevada
Authors: Goodwin Marissa J , Hurteau Matthew D 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
As wildfires increase in size and severity, large areas of forest are undergoing substantial increases in shrub cover. In forests where water is the limiting resource, the partitioning of soil water between shrubs and young trees may determine how shrubs affect tree growth and water-stress. Here we evaluated juvenile trees (average age = 32 years) of two dominant conifer species in the southern Sierra Nevada of California (Abies concolor (white fir) and Pinus jeffreyi (Jeffrey pine)) growing in the presence or absence of shrubs. The two shrub species included Arctostaphylos patula and Ceanothus cordulatus, a nitrogen-fixing species. We analyzed the δ2H and δ18O values of xylem water for both tree and shrub species to assess how shrub cover affects the water-uptake patterns of conifers and whether there is niche partitioning between trees and shrubs. We found that growing near shrubs did not have a significant effect on the water source dynamics of either tree species, with similar source water contributions calculated for conifers growing in both the presence and absence of shrubs. Using a tree-ring analysis of growth and δ13C from 2016 to 2021, a period of high precipitation variability, we found that shrub cover had a positive effect on tree growth while decreasing carbon discrimination, which may be due to increased nitrogen availability from Ceanothus cordulatus. Overall, our results suggest that growing in the presence of shrubs does not alter the water uptake patterns of white fir and Jeffrey pine and instead may have a positive effect on the growth rates of these species during both wet and dry years.
Intraspecific plasticity and co-variation of leaf traits facilitate Ficus tinctoria to acclimate hemiepiphytic and terrestrial habitats
Authors: Li Yuan , Mo Yu-Xuan , Cui Hong-Li , Zhang Yong-Jiang , Dossa Gbadamassi G O , Tan Zheng-Hong , Song Liang 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Despite intensive studies on plant functional traits, the intraspecific variation and their co-variation at the multi-scale remains poorly studied, which holds the potential to unveil plant responses to changing environmental conditions. In this study, intraspecific variations of 16 leaf functional traits of a common fig species, Ficus tinctoria G. Frost., were investigated in relation to different scales: habitat types (hemiepiphytic and terrestrial), growth stages (small, medium and large) and tree crown positions (upper, middle and lower) in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China. Remarkable intraspecific variation was observed in leaf functional traits, which was mainly influenced by tree crown position, growth stage and their interaction. Stable nitrogen isotope (δ15N) and leaf area (LA) showed large variations, while stable carbon isotope (δ13C), stomata width and leaf water content showed relatively small variations, suggesting that light- and nitrogen-use strategies of F. tinctoria were plastic, while the water-use strategies have relatively low plasticity. The crown layers are formed with the growth of figs, and leaves in the lower crown increase their chlorophyll concentration and LA to improve the light energy conversion efficiency and the ability to capture weak light. Meanwhile, leaves in the upper crown increase the water-use efficiency to maintain their carbon assimilation. Moreover, hemiepiphytic medium (transitional stage) and large (free-standing stage) figs exhibited more significant trait differentiation (chlorophyll concentration, δ13C, stomata density, etc.) within the crown positions, and stronger trait co-variation compared with their terrestrial counterparts. This pattern demonstrates their acclimation to the changing microhabitats formed by their hemiepiphytic life history. Our study emphasizes the importance of multi-scaled intraspecific variation and co-variation in trait-based strategies of hemiepiphyte and terrestrial F. tinctoria, which facilitate them to cope with different environmental conditions.
The history, systematics, and nomenclature of Thalattosuchia (Archosauria: Crocodylomorpha)
Authors: Young Mark T , Wilberg Eric W , Johnson Michela M , Herrera Yanina , de Andrade Marco Brandalise , Brignon Arnaud , Sachs Sven , Abel Pascal , Foffa Davide , Fernández Marta S , Vignaud Patrick , Cowgill Thomas , Brusatte Stephen L 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
The use of more than one nomenclatural code is becoming increasingly common in some biological sub-disciplines. To minimize nomenclatural instability, we have decided to establish a higher level systematization for Thalattosuchia under both the International Code of Phylogenetic Nomenclature (‘PhyloCode’) and the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (‘Zoological Code’). We undertook a series of phylogenetic analyses with an expanded dataset to examine the origins of Thalattosuchia within Crocodylomorpha, and determined the clade’s diagnostic characters. Based on these analyses, we provide updated diagnoses for Thalattosuchia and its subclades under both the PhyloCode and Zoological Code. We also introduce two new nomina that are regulated under the PhyloCode (Neothalattosuchia and Euthalattosuchia), and the nomen Dakosaurina, which is registered under both nomenclatural codes. Moreover, we introduce PhyloCode-compliant phylogenetic definitions for Thalattosuchia and its subclades. As we cannot reliably discriminate between the positional hypotheses for Thalattosuchia within Crocodylomorpha, the clades’ origins are as much of a mystery today as they were over a century ago. However, we hope that using the same diagnostic characters to define the same clades, with the same nomina, under both nomenclatural codes will be an example to others to follow.