bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Taxonomic significance of pollen ornamentation in the Hymenaea clade (Leguminosae, Detarioideae)
Authors: De Moura Tania Maria Maria de , LEWIS GWILYM P. , TACHEVSKI ANA P. , PINTO RAFAEL B. , BOGLER DAVID , de Jesus João Pedro Marinho , Cardoso Domingos 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Detarioideae is one of the most florally diverse legume lineages, in which the 84 genera and ca. 760 species variously interact with pollinating bees, bats, and birds. However, pollen ornamentation has not been extensively studied in the subfamily. Here we focus on describing the morphological variation of pollen ornamentation in the Hymenaea clade, a small lineage comprised of ca. 65 species in the florally heterogeneous genera Guibourtia, Hymenaea, and Peltogyne. We analyzed pollen grains of 32 taxa using scanning electron microscopy to characterize and illustrate their exine ornamentation. We show that pollen traits have high taxonomic significance within the Hymenaea clade. We hypothesize that highly specialized interactions with pollinating organisms might have shaped not just distinct floral architectures within the Hymenaea clade but also its highly variable pollen ornamentation.
Functions of violaxanthin de­epoxidase-related (VDR) in the photoprotective response to high-light stress
Authors: Wei Jingwei , Huang Hongyu , Zhang Shi , Zhang Jing , Sun Weike , Huang Yichao , Ma Si , Shah Syed Aizaz Ali , Tian Yongqiang , Zhang Zhenxian , Gao Lihong , Li Xin 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
The xanthophyll cycle is crucial for protecting plants and algae from photodamage. While the resistance of the violaxanthin de-epoxidase enzyme (VDE) to high-light stress in the xanthophyll cycle has been extensively studied, there is limited knowledge about VDE-related (VDR) proteins, which share a close homologous relationship with VDEs. In this study, we conducted a preliminary investigation of VDR protein from the aspects of basic bioinformatics, spatiotemporal gene expression patterns, and strong light stress treatment. Through subcellular localization experiments, we observed that the CsVDR-GFP protein was predominantly located in chloroplasts. CsVDR was expressed in all tissues of Arabidopsis and cucumber, with the highest expression level observed in mature leaves cultivated for 20 days in cucumber. Interestingly, both CsVDR and AtVDR were identified as high-light response genes. However, when subjected to high-light stress, all CRISPR/Cas9 mediated gene-edited Arabidopsis mutants (Atvdr) exhibited a decreasing trend in the de-epoxidation ratio of (A+Z)/(A+Z+V) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) compared to the wild-type (WT) lines. This suggests that the xanthophyll cycle in Atvdr was less effective and more susceptible to photoinhibition of PSII under high-light stress. Our findings provide evidence that VDR proteins play a role in regulating the high-light response in plants, thereby offering a theoretical basis for further investigation into plant photoprotective pathways.
A novel approach to architecting microchannel in pressure sensor for real-time wearable gait monitoring system
Authors: Ahn Jung , Yoo Byungseok , Bejjanki Naga Sai , Pines Darryll J , Kim Soaram 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

A highly sensitive and reliable pressure sensor has been successfully fabricated by employing eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) liquid metal as the sensing material and EcoFlex 00–30 silicone as the substrate material via a low-cost fabrication process. The combination of durable mechanical properties in substrate and sensing material contributes to the sensor's superior stretchability and flexibility, resulting in an enhanced sensitivity (6556 kPa− 1) and an reliable detecting range of over 1 MPa. The design of a microchannel with two independent sensing channels in a single device adds novelty to the sensor's architecture. The sensor not only detects applied pressure accurately but also distinguishes pressure distribution across a wide area. By leveraging these features, the sensor proves high efficiency in monitoring human walking gait at various speeds with a single sensor attached to the foot, differentiating between proper walking postures and indicating strong potential for clinical and rehabilitation applications in gait analysis.
Region-specific variation in the electrophysiological responses of Spodoptera frugiperda to synthetic sex pheromone compounds
Authors: Akinbuluma Mobolade D. , Schaijk Renée , Roessingh Peter , Groot Astrid T. 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a global pest that feeds on > 350 plant species and causes major yield loses. Variation in the responses of S. frugiperda males to female sex pheromone compounds affects the detection, monitoring and management of the pest. We determined geographic variation in the responses of S. frugiperda males to four different doses of synthetic sex pheromone compounds using a gas chromatography-electroantennogram detector (GC-EAD). Furthermore, we disentangled regional populations into C- and R- mitotypes via molecular analysis of the cytochrome oxidase I gene, and measured their responses to the compounds. When comparing responses of males from Florida, Benin, Nigeria and Kenya, we found some regional differences in the responses of S. frugiperda males to the major compound, Z9-14:OAc and minor component Z9-12:OAc. However, we found no differences in male responses from the different African countries. All males showed significantly higher antennal responses to Z7-12:OAc than to E7-12:OAc. When comparing the mitotypes, we found that Florida R-type males showed higher responses to Z9-14:OAc, Z7-12:OAc and Z9-12:OAc than Benin R-type males, while C-type males from both regions responded equally to Z7-12:OAc. In addition, Florida R-type males showed higher responses to E7-12:OAc than Florida C-type males. Our study thus shows some differential physiological responses of Spodoptera frugiperda males towards the known sex pheromone compounds, including E7-12:OAc, but mostly in the different mitotypes. How these differences translate to field trap catches remains to be determined.
possible scalable solution for Early detection of prodromal phase of dementia based on EEG complexity
Authors: Cukic Milena , Anneheim Simon , Eggenberger Patrick , Rossi Renè Michel 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is recognized as a predementia stage and important risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The electroencephaloram (EEG) signal reflects activity of the brain cortex cells, which is very complex, as well as brain structure and organization. Contrary to the classical (standard) Fourier-based analysis that presumes the signals' stationarity, the fractal and nonlinear analysis might be a better suited for EEG analysis allowing to early detect changes in such a complex dynamical system as the brain. The application of complex systems dynamics theory in physiology (physiological complexity) is connected to the stereotypy of disease. Certain levels of decomplexification are confirmed in healthy human ageing, but the levels of complexity characteristic for disease are distinct and can serve as a marker. In early detection of dementia risk nonlinear measures extracted from EEG as a proxy of the brain as a complex system are promising as accessible, accurate and potentially clinically useful biomarkers of dementia. Together with the use of wearables for health, this approach to early detection can be done out of the clinical setting improving the chances of increasing the quality of life in seniors.
Introduction and Testing of a Cost-Effective GNSS System for Landslide Monitoring
Authors: Garcia Ingrid Arantxa Berru , Pulisci Renato Macciotta , Rodriguez Jorge , Grapel Chris , Skirrow Roger , Tappenden Kristen 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
The use of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in combination with real-time kinematic (RTK) technique, commonly known as differential GNSS (dGNSS), has increased in recent years for monitoring landslide displacements and detecting early signs of potential failure, enabling earlier response for risk mitigation than traditional monitoring techniques. GNSS offers several advantages, including high accuracy and high-frequency data collection. Although more cost-effective, their affordability may still present challenges for public organizations managing multiple landslides in their territory. The SparkFun is a suite of components for GNSS assembly designed for topographic surveying, offering the benefits of dGNSS technology while being more affordable than other market options. It also avoids relying on phone signals for data storage in a cloud server. The SparkFun system, its components, and how it can be assembled to create a dGNSS system for landslide monitoring are described in this paper. The deployment and testing of a SparkFun system at the Chin Coulee landslide in Alberta, including challenges faced during the 6-month period, are described. The results are compared with those from a commercially available dGNSS system (Ophelia Geocube) developed for landslide monitoring in the area. Preliminary findings show that the SparkFun system demonstrates horizontal accuracy consistent with the manufacturer's specifications and exhibits displacement trends comparable to the 2018 Geocube monitoring campaign. The robustness of the power supply system and environmental insulation of the equipment needs to be enhanced for future deployments. The SparkFun assembly is shared in this paper, for others to test and deploy their own prototypes.
Prevalence and correlates of hyperbilirubinemia in Atazanavir boosted with Ritonavir (ATV/r) recipients PLHIV: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Farrokhi Hamidreza , Shahmohamadi Elnaz , Pashaei Zahra , Koochak Hamid Emadi , Parikhani Sahar Nooralioghli , Amrollah Masoumeh Fathi , Dadras Omid , Manshadi SeyedAli Dehghan , SeyedAlinaghi SeyedAhmad , Hackett Daniel 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Background
Following rapid advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART), long-term treatment with simple and tolerable regimens has been provided. Protease Inhibitors are important drugs in the ART regimen for the treatment of HIV, with one of the recommended treatments in this class being Atazanavir boosted with Ritonavir (ATV/r). However, hyperbilirubinemia has been reported as an adverse effect of this treatment. Considering the importance and necessity of ART treatment in people living with HIV (PLHIV), this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of hyperbilirubinemia in PLHIV who received ATV/r as an HIV treatment regimen.
Methods
This cross-sectional study retrospectively examined clinical records of PLHIV in Tehran, Iran, who were receiving Atazanavir/Ritonavir treatment at the Consulting Clinic of Behavioral Disorders of Imam Khomeini Hospital between 2014 and 2020. The records for 121 PLHIV patients were reviewed and relevant data were extracted. Relevant variables included bilirubin tests aligned with drug intake dates, liver enzymes, CD4 count, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C serology, as well as demographic information and treatment history. Atazanavir/Ritonavir was administered as a second-line treatment in Iran during the study period. The normality of data distribution was assessed by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. For normal distributed variables, parametric tests were employed while for non-normal distributed variables, non-parametric tests such as Chi-square were used.
Results
The majority of study participants were male, with 39.7% testing positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies. Hyperbilirubinemia was present in over 85% of the patients, with more than half exhibiting a grade III or higher of indirect hyperbilirubinemia. The prevalence and severity of hyperbilirubinemia were higher when ATV/r was combined with Co-biovir as compared to Truvada. There was no significant difference in hyperbilirubinemia risk between sexes or HCV-Ab positive and negative patients. However, a significant correlation was noted between levels of indirect bilirubin and CD4 cell counts.
Conclusions
The prevalence and severity of hyperbilirubinemia appear to be associated with CD4 count in PLHIV, while there was no apparent association with gender or age. The choice of drug combined with ATV/r may also influence the occurrence and intensity of hyperbilirubinemia in this clinical population.
Assessing rainfall and extreme weather variability for climate resilient agricultural production systems in Nigeria
Authors: Olayide Olawale Emmanuel , Alabi T.R. , Oyedepo John , Okechukwu Richardson 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Nigeria's food production heavily relies on smallholder rainfed agriculture. Unfortunately, this sector is highly vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change, such as floods and droughts. It is crucial to examine the frequency, intensity, and magnitude of these events and develop effective mitigation and adaptation strategies to ensure the resilience of Nigeria's agricultural system. This study analyses rainfall variability in Nigeria's agroecological zones (AEZs) over the past sixty years. The research evaluates annual, quarterly, and seasonal rainfall patterns and uses the Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) to examine drought and flood frequency and intensity. The study's findings reveal that the period from 1981 to 1990 experienced the weakest rainfall patterns across all AEZs, while the best occurred from 1961 to 1970. The humid forest zone consistently received the highest rainfall, although with a declining trend over the decades. Conversely, the Arid/Sahel and Semi-arid zones exhibited the lowest with a slight upward trend in precipitation, while others experienced a reduction. Spatial analysis of drought patterns also reveals that most of the AEZs face high drought risks, with over 65% of the country experiencing a considerable increase in drought in the last three decades. The rainfall pattern was less erratic in zones of lower latitudes than in the higher altitudes. Heavy rainfall events exceeding 10 mm and 20 mm revealed a decreasing trend from the Arid to the Humid Forest zone. Extreme weather events have significant economic consequences. Policymakers and stakeholders must take action to ensure climate resilient and sustainable agricultural production systems.
Causal Influence of Plasma Metabolites on Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Mendelian Randomization Study.
Authors: wang tao , huang chun , li jinshuai , wu Xiangjian , fu Xiaoyan , Hu Yimin , Wu Geping , Yang Chunfeng , Li minfang , chen sheng 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a prevalent eye condition in the elderly, profoundly affecting their quality of life. Despite its multifactorial nature, the precise mechanisms underlying AMD remain elusive. The potential role of metabolites as biomarkers has become a focal point of recent research. Utilizing Mendelian randomization analysis, this study aims to decipher the complex metabolic mechanisms associated with AMD, laying the groundwork for novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
Methods
Employing Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, this study leveraged single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with plasma metabolites as instrumental variables (IVs). This approach established a causal link between metabolites and AMD. Analytical methods such as Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, and Weighted Median were applied to validate causality. MR-PRESSO was utilized for outlier detection and correction, and Cochran's Q test was conducted to assess heterogeneity. To delve deeper into the metabolic characteristics of AMD, metabolic enrichment analysis was performed using Metabo Analyst 5.0. These combined methods provided a robust framework for elucidating the metabolic underpinnings of AMD.
Results
The two-sample MR analysis, after meticulous screening, identified causal relationships between 88 metabolites and AMD. Of these, 16 metabolites showed a significant causal association. Following FDR correction, three metabolites remained significantly associated, with Androstenediol (3beta,17beta) disulfate (2) exhibiting the most potent protective effect against AMD. Further exploration using Metabo Analyst 5.0 highlighted four metabolic pathways potentially implicated in AMD pathogenesis.
Conclusion
This pioneering MR study has unravelled the causal connections between plasma metabolites and AMD. It identified several metabolites with a causal impact on AMD, with three maintaining significance after FDR correction. These insights offer robust causal evidence for future clinical applications and underscore the potential of these metabolites as clinical biomarkers in AMD screening, treatment, and prevention strategies.
Relationship between weight-adjusted waist circumference index and psoriasis - based on data from NHANES2009-2014
Authors: Fu Yi , Chai Shufang , Peng Xinxin , Zhang Zhixiang , Zhang Ying , Li Junqin , Li Xinhua 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Objective This study aims to investigate the potential relationships between a novel obesity indicator,the weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI),and psoriasis.Methods A cross-sectional design was used in this study,featuring both psoriasis and non-psoriasis subjects with complete WWI data,sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2009 to 2014.To determine the relationship between the WWI and psoriasis,both univariate and multivariate logistic regression models,which were appropriately weighted,were used in the analysis.The linearity of the relationships was validated using smooth curve fitting. Additionally,subgroup evaluations and interaction assessments were conducted.Results The study sample comprised 15031 subjects, yielding a psoriasis prevalence of 2.76%.WWI was positively related to psoriasis according to the full adjustment [odds ratio (OR) = 1.53,95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.02,2.26,P = 0.036].After converting the WWI to a categorical variable by quartiles (Q1-Q4),compared to Q1 the highest WWI quartile was linked to an obviously increased likelihood of psoriasis(OR = 2.62,95%CI = 1.17,5.590, P = 0.0109).Conclusion This study provides evidence that an elevated WWI is correlated with an increased risk of psoriasis in the adult population of the U.S. These results suggest that the WWI may serve as a viable anthropometric indicator for predicting psoriasis.
Overriding Plate Mantle Delamination Controls the Uplift of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Xie Yuan , Balázs Attila , Gerya Taras , Xiong Xiong 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

The Tibetan Plateau stands as one of the most remarkable and complex topographic features in the world, with its geodynamic origin remaining a highly debated topic. In particular, the challenge lies in how the successive growth of the plateau inferred from paleo-altitude studies is connected to documented spatio-temporally variable magmatic activity as well as to lithospheric mantle removal processes proposed on the basis of the characteristic mantle seismic velocity anomalies under the orogen. Several conflicting geodynamic models have been proposed for this region, but none of them were capable of explaining all these first-order topographic, magmatic and seismic features self-consistently. Here, we propose and test numerically a new evolutionary model of overriding plate delamination and related mantle and crustal melting and uplift events, aiming to reconcile all three main features of the Tibetan Plateau. By comparing the numerical modelling predictions with the observations, we show that the overriding plate delamination model is consistent with the successive northward surface uplift to more than 4 km high. Furthermore, it explains the observed northward migration of magmatism and the observed lithosphere-asthenosphere geometry with the subducting Indian Plate and the delaminating Eurasian mantle lithosphere beneath the area, as imaged by seismic tomography.
Generative AI-enabled Knowledge Base Fine-tuning: Enhancing Feature Engineering for Customer Churn
Authors: Shahabikargar Maryam , Beheshti Amin , Mansoor Wathiq , Zhang Xuyun , Foo Jin , Jolfaei Alireza , Hanif Ambreen , Shabani Nasrin 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Customers are the most critical component in a business’s success regardless of the industry or product. Companies make significant efforts to acquire and, more importantly, retain their existing customers. Customer churn is a significant challenge for businesses, leading to financial losses. To address this challenge, understanding customer’s cognitive status, behaviors, and early signs of churn is crucial. However, predictive and ML-based analysis, being fed with proper features that are indicative of a customer’s cognitive status or behavior, is extremely helpful in addressing this challenge. Having practical ML-based analysis relies on a well-developed feature engineering process. Previous churn analytical studies mainly applied feature engineering approaches that leveraged demographic, product usage, and revenue features alone, and there is a lack of research on leveraging the information-rich content from interactions between customers and companies. Considering the effectiveness of applying domain knowledge and human expertise in feature engineering, and motivated by our previous work, we propose a Customer Churn-related Knowledge Base (ChurnKB) to enhance the feature engineering process. In the ChurnKB, we leverage textual data mining techniques for extracting churn-related features from texts created by customers, e.g., emails or chat logs with company agents, reviews on the company’s website, and feedback on social media. We use Generative AI (GAI) to enhance and enrich the structure of the ChurnKB regarding features related to customer churn-related cognitive status, feelings, and behaviors. We also leveraged feedback loops and crowdsourcing to enhance and approve the validity of the proposed ChurnKB and apply it to develop a classifier for customer churn problems.