bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Indigenous collective land titling and the creation of leftovers: Insights from Paraguay and Cambodia
Authors: Leemann Esther , Tusing Cari 
Published: August 2023

AbstractCollective land titling often drags on for decades, while private land concessions and holdings do not face the same problem, creating ‘leftovers’ of land available for Indigenous peoples to attempt to collectively title. In two ethnographic case studies in Cambodia and Paraguay, we analyse community‐based Indigenous land titling by focusing on the on‐the‐ground dynamics of property relations, Indigenous livelihood shifts and ecological change. In both countries, large agricultural players implemented a staggering change in local landscapes through deforestation, configuring new realities that in turn feed into local environments and titling processes. Adapting their livelihoods to living in the leftovers, in Cambodia, the Indigenous Bunong shifted from rice to rubber as they navigated the slow titling process. In Paraguay, some Indigenous Guarani shifted from corn to cattle by renting out their collectively titled land. The case studies show that the liberal titling approach to secure Indigenous lands overestimates the ability of title to remove land from capitalist logics such as the push to rent or sell, while some spaces of autonomy are opened. We critique the liberal approaches to formalising title, where Indigenous struggles for their ways of life are funnelled into fighting for collective property.
When meaning in life protects against fear of death: The moderating role of self‐alienation
Authors: Maffly‐Kipp Joseph , Gause Chase , Hicks Joshua A. , Vess Matthew 
Published: August 2023

AbstractObjectiveA sense of meaning in life (MIL) is thought to help protect people against experiencing explicit anxiety about death. However, the experience of meaning is complex and subjective and may relate to death anxiety in nuanced ways. We examine how self‐alienation—a feeling of not knowing/being disconnected from one's self—might moderate the relationship between MIL and death anxiety.MethodAcross five studies, we tested the hypothesis that MIL would negatively predict death anxiety more strongly for people relatively low in self‐alienation. These studies were similar in design and included exploratory, confirmatory, and pre‐registered tests.ResultsA meta‐regression across our five studies (N = 2001) provided clear evidence that MIL was most strongly associated with lower death anxiety at low self‐alienation. We also observed that MIL was positively associated with death anxiety at high self‐alienation. These effects were consistent in direction but inconsistent in strength.ConclusionsWe interpreted these results as evidence that MIL is existentially protective when experienced in combination with a relatively strong, clear, and connected sense of self. In contrast, MIL may be existentially problematic when people feel relatively unaware and disconnected from themselves. These findings align with aspects of terror management theory and highlight the potentially complex ways that MIL might relate to death anxiety.
Management of alcoholic hepatitis: A clinical perspective
Authors: Kasper Philipp , Lang Sonja , Steffen Hans‐Michael , Demir Münevver 
Published: August 2023

AbstractAlcohol‐associated liver disease is the primary cause of liver‐related mortality worldwide and one of the most common indications for liver transplantation. Alcoholic hepatitis represents the most acute and severe manifestation of alcohol‐associated liver disease and is characterized by a rapid onset of jaundice with progressive inflammatory liver injury, worsening of portal hypertension, and an increased risk for multiorgan failure in patients with excessive alcohol consumption. Severe alcoholic hepatitis is associated with a poor prognosis and high short‐term mortality. During the COVID‐19 pandemic, rates of alcohol‐associated hepatitis have increased significantly, underscoring that it is a serious and growing health problem. However, adequate management of alcohol‐associated hepatitis and its complications in everyday clinical practice remains a major challenge. Currently, pharmacotherapy is limited to corticosteroids, although these have only a moderate effect on reducing short‐term mortality. In recent years, translational studies deciphering key mechanisms of disease development and progression have led to important advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of alcoholic hepatitis. Emerging pathophysiology‐based therapeutic approaches include anti‐inflammatory agents, modifications of the gut‐liver axis and intestinal dysbiosis, epigenetic modulation, antioxidants, and drugs targeting liver regeneration. Concurrently, evidence is increasing that early liver transplantation is a safe treatment option with important survival benefits in selected patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis not responding to medical treatment. This narrative review describes current pathophysiology and management concepts of alcoholic hepatitis, provides an update on emerging treatment options, and focuses on the need for holistic and patient‐centred treatment approaches to improve prognosis.
Recent parallel speciation in Antirrhinum involved complex haplotypes and multiple adaptive characters
Authors: Barnbrook Matthew , Durán‐Castillo Mario , Critchley Jo , Wilson Yvette , Twyford Alex , Hudson Andrew 
Published: August 2023

AbstractA role of ecological adaptation in speciation can be obscured by stochastic processes and differences that species accumulate after genetic isolation. One way to identify adaptive characters and their underlying genes is to study cases of speciation involving parallel adaptations. Recently resolved phylogenies reveal that alpine morphology has evolved in parallel in the genus Antirrhinum (snapdragons): first in an early split of an alpine from a lowland lineage and, more recently, from within the lowland lineage to produce closely related sympatric species with contrasting alpine and lowland forms. Here, we find that two of these later diverged sympatric species are differentiated by only around 2% of nuclear loci. Though showing evidence of recent gene flow, the species remain distinct for a suite of morphological characters typical of earlier‐diverged alpine or lowland lineages and their morphologies correlate with features of the local landscape, as expected of ecological adaptations. Morphological differences between the two species involve multiple, unlinked genes so that parental character combinations are readily broken up by recombination in hybrids. We detect little evidence for post‐pollination barriers to gene flow or recombination, suggesting that genetic isolation related to ecological adaptation is important in maintaining character combinations and might have contributed to parallel speciation. We also find evidence that genes involved in the earlier alpine‐lowland split were reused in parallel evolution of alpine species, consistent with introgressive hybridisation, and speculate that many non‐ecological barriers to gene flow might have been purged during the process.
Sperm of more colourful males are better adapted to ovarian fluids in lake char (Salmonidae)
Authors: Nusbaumer David , Garaud Laura , de Guttry Christian , Ançay Laurie , Wedekind Claus 
Published: August 2023

AbstractFish often spawn eggs with ovarian fluids that have been hypothesized to support the sperm of some males over others (cryptic female choice). Alternatively, sperm reactions to ovarian fluids could reveal male strategies. We used wild‐caught lake char (Salvelinus umbla) to experimentally test whether sperm react differently to the presence of ovarian fluid, and whether any differential sperm reaction could be predicted by male breeding coloration, male inbreeding coefficients (based of 4150 SNPs) or the kinship coefficients between males and females. Male coloration was positively linked to body size and current health (based on lymphocytosis and thrombocytosis) but was a poor predictor of inbreeding or kinship coefficients. We found that sperm of more colourful males were faster in diluted ovarian fluids than in water only, while sperm of paler males were faster in water than in ovarian fluids. We then let equal numbers of sperm compete for fertilizations in the presence or absence of ovarian fluids and genetically assigned 1464 embryos (from 70 experimental trials) to their fathers. The presence of ovarian fluids significantly increased the success of the more colourful competitors. Sperm of less inbred competitors were more successful when tested in water only than in diluted ovarian fluids. The kinship coefficients had no significant effects on sperm traits or fertilization success in the presence of ovarian fluids, although parallel stress tests on embryos had revealed that females would profit more from mating with least related males rather than most coloured ones. We conclude that sperm of more colourful males are best adapted to ovarian fluids, and that the observed reaction norms suggest male strategies rather than cryptic female choice.
Three‐dimensional spatial quantitative analysis of cardiac lymphatics in the mouse heart
Authors: Phillips Evan H. , Bindokas Vytautas P. , Jung Dahee , Teamer Jay , Kitajewski Jan K. , Solaro R. John , Wolska Beata M. , Lee Steve Seung‐Young 
Published: August 2023

AbstractObjectiveThree‐dimensional (3D) microscopy and image data analysis are necessary for studying the morphology of cardiac lymphatic vessels (LyVs) and their association with other cell types. We aimed to develop a methodology for 3D multiplexed lightsheet microscopy and highly sensitive and quantitative image analysis to identify pathological remodeling in the 3D morphology of LyVs in young adult mouse hearts with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).MethodsWe developed a 3D lightsheet microscopy workflow providing a quick turn‐around (as few as 5–6 days), multiplex fluorescence detection, and preservation of LyV structure and epitope markers. Hearts from non‐transgenic and transgenic (TG) HCM mice were arrested in diastole, retrograde perfused, immunolabeled, optically cleared, and imaged. We built an image‐processing pipeline to quantify LyV morphological parameters at the chamber and branch levels.ResultsChamber‐specific pathological alterations of LyVs were identified, and significant changes were seen in the right atrium (RA). TG hearts had a higher volume percent of ER‐TR7+fibroblasts and reticular fibers. In the RA, we found associations between ER‐TR7+volume percent and both LyV segment density and median diameter.ConclusionsThis workflow and study enabled multi‐scale analysis of pathological changes in cardiac LyVs of young adult mice, inviting ideas for research on LyVs in cardiac disease.
Improving visual question answering for bridge inspection by pre‐training with external data of image–text pairs
Authors: Kunlamai Thannarot , Yamane Tatsuro , Suganuma Masanori , Chun Pang‐Jo , Okatani Takayaki 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThis paper explores the application of visual question answering (VQA) in bridge inspection using recent advancements in multimodal artificial intelligence (AI) systems. VQA involves an AI model providing natural language answers to questions about the content of an input image. However, applying VQA to bridge inspection poses challenges due to the high cost of creating training data that requires expert knowledge. To address this, we propose leveraging existing bridge inspection reports, which already include image–text pairs, as external knowledge to enhance VQA performance. Our approach involves training the model on a large collection of image–text pairs, followed by fine‐tuning it on a limited amount of training data specifically designed for the VQA task. The results demonstrate a significant improvement in VQA accuracy using this approach. These findings highlight the potential of AI models for VQA as valuable tools for assessing the condition of bridges.
Effects of antibiotics ceftriaxone and levofloxacin on the growth of Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae)
Authors: Preußer Daniel , Fischer Thomas , Juretzek Thomas 
Published: August 2023

AbstractLucilia sericata is one of the most studied species in forensic entomology due to its widespread distribution, forensic importance as well as medical use. The growth and development stage of maggots is often used to determine the post‐mortem interval in forensic cases. L. sericata can cause myiasis in humans who are not able to maintain personal hygiene due to age or medical condition and can therefore be used to determine the time period of neglect. The influence of the temperature on the maggot development has been examined in various studies. Different examinations on the effects of toxic substances on the maggot development and survival have been conducted in order to test the influence and resulting deviations. In this study, the effects of different therapeutical doses of the antibiotics ceftriaxone and levofloxacin were examined on L. sericata in order to determine and compare deviations in maggot development and survival. The used antibiotics did not significantly influence the maggot weight and length. A significant delay in the time of pupation has been determined in the treatments with high concentrations of levofloxacin. The mortality was significantly increased in all treatments with antibiotics compared to the control, whereby the survivability of all treatments remained over 80%. Because of the high doses needed to produce an effect, we concluded that an overestimation of the post‐mortem interval is unlikely but higher antibiotic concentrations or possible interactions with other medications could increase the maggot development time.
Long‐term ecological responses of a lowland dipterocarp forest to climate changes and nutrient availability
Authors: Prohaska Ana , Seddon Alistair W. R. , Rach Oliver , Smith Andrew , Sachse Dirk , Willis Katherine J. 
Published: August 2023

Summary
Understanding the long‐term impact of projected climate change on tropical rainforests is critical given their central role in the Earth's system. Palaeoecological records can provide a valuable perspective on this problem. Here, we examine the effects of past climatic changes on the dominant forest type of Southeast Asia – lowland dipterocarp forest.
We use a range of proxies extracted from a 1400‐yr‐old lacustrine sedimentary sequence from north‐eastern Philippines to determine long‐term vegetation responses of lowland dipterocarp forest, including its dominant tree group dipterocarps, to changes in precipitation, fire and nutrient availability over time.
Our results show a positive relationship between dipterocarp pollen accumulation rates (PARs) and leaf wax hydrogen isotope values, which suggests a negative effect of drier conditions on dipterocarp abundance. Furthermore, we find a positive relationship between dipterocarp PARs and the proxy for phosphorus availability, which suggests phosphorus controls the productivity of these keystone trees on longer time scales. Other pollen taxa show widely varying relationships with the abiotic factors, demonstrating a high diversity of plant functional responses.
Our findings provide novel insights into lowland dipterocarp forest responses to changing climatic conditions in the past and highlight potential impacts of future climate change on this globally important ecosystem.
Orosomucoid proteins limit endoplasmic reticulum stress in plants
Authors: Wang Ling‐Yan , Li Jian , Gong Benqiang , Wang Rui‐Hua , Chen Yi‐Li , Yin Jian , Yang Chang , Lin Jia‐Ting , Liu Hao‐Zhuo , Yang Yubing , Li Jianfeng , Li Chunyu , Yao Nan 
Published: August 2023

Summary

Sphingolipids are cell membrane components and signaling molecules that induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress responses, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Orosomucoid proteins (ORMs) negatively regulate serine palmitoyltransferase activity, thus helping maintain proper sphingolipid levels in humans, yeast, and plants.

In this report, we explored the roles of ORMs in regulating ER stress in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Loss of ORM1 and ORM2 function caused constitutive activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR), as did treatment with the ceramide synthase inhibitor Fumonisin B1 (FB1) or ceramides. FB1 treatment induced the transcription factor bZIP28 to relocate from the ER membrane to the nucleus. The transcription factor WRKY75 positively regulates the UPR and physically interacted with bZIP28. We also found that the orm mutants showed impaired ER‐associated degradation (ERAD), blocking the degradation of misfolded MILDEW RESISTANCE LOCUS‐O 12 (MLO‐12). ORM1 and ORM2 bind to EMS‐MUTAGENIZED BRI1 SUPPRESSOR 7 (EBS7), a plant‐specific component of the Arabidopsis ERAD complex, and regulate its stability. These data strongly suggest that ORMs in the ER membrane play vital roles in the UPR and ERAD pathways to prevent ER stress in Arabidopsis.

Our results reveal that ORMs coordinate sphingolipid homeostasis with ER quality control and play a role in stress responses.
Epigenetic regulation of female germline development through ERECTA signaling pathway
Authors: Huang Youmei , Liu Liping , Chai Mengnan , Su Han , Ma Suzhuo , Liu Kaichuang , Tian Yaru , Cao Zhuangyuan , Xi Xinpeng , Zhu Wenhui , Qi Jingang , Palanivelu Ravishankar , Qin Yuan , Cai Hanyang 
Published: August 2023

Summary

Germline development is a key step in sexual reproduction. Sexual plant reproduction begins with the formation of haploid spores by meiosis of megaspore mother cells (MMCs). Although many evidences, directly or indirectly, show that epigenetics plays an important role in MMC specification, how it controls the commitment of the MMC to downstream stages of germline development is still unclear.

Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), western blot, immunofluorescence, and chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with quantitative PCR analyses were performed. Genetic interactions between BZR1 transcription factor family and the SWR1‐SDG2‐ER pathway in the control of female germline development were further studied.

The present findings showed in Arabidopsis that two epigenetic factors, the chromatin remodeling complex SWI2/SNF2‐RELATED 1 (SWR1) and a writer for H3K4me3 histone modification SET DOMAIN GROUP 2 (SDG2), genetically interact with the ERECTA (ER) receptor kinase signaling pathway and regulate female germline development by restricting the MMC cell fate to a single cell in the ovule primordium and ensure that only that single cell undergoes meiosis and subsequent megaspore degeneration. We also showed that SWR1‐SDG2‐ER signaling module regulates female germline development by promoting the protein accumulation of BZR1 transcription factor family on the promoters of primary miRNA processing factors, HYPONASTIC LEAVES 1 (HYL1), DICER‐LIKE 1 (DCL1), and SERRATE (SE) to activate their expression.

Our study elucidated a Gene Regulation Network that provides new insights for understanding how epigenetic factors and receptor kinase signaling pathways function in concert to control female germline development in Arabidopsis.
Production of yellow‐flowered gentian plants by genetic engineering of betaxanthin pigments
Authors: Nishihara Masahiro , Hirabuchi Akiko , Goto Fumina , Nishizaki Yuzo , Uesugi Shota , Watanabe Aiko , Tasaki Keisuke , Washiashi Rie , Sasaki Nobuhiro 
Published: August 2023

Summary

Genetic engineering of flower color provides biotechnological products such as blue carnations or roses by accumulating delphinidin‐based anthocyanins not naturally existing in these plant species. Betalains are another class of pigments that in plants are only synthesized in the order Caryophyllales. Although they have been engineered in several plant species, especially red‐violet betacyanins, the yellow betaxanthins have yet to be engineered in ornamental plants.

We attempted to produce yellow‐flowered gentians by genetic engineering of betaxanthin pigments. First, white‐flowered gentian lines were produced by knocking out the dihydroflavonol 4‐reductase (DFR) gene using CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated genome editing.

Beta vulgaris BvCYP76AD6 and Mirabilis jalapa MjDOD, driven by gentian petal‐specific promoters, flavonoid 3′,5′‐hydroxylase (F3′5′H) and anthocyanin 5,3′‐aromatic acyltransferase (AT), respectively, were transformed into the above DFR‐knockout white‐flowered line; the resultant gentian plants had vivid yellow flowers. Expression analysis and pigment analysis revealed petal‐specific expression and accumulation of seven known betaxanthins in their petals to c. 0.06–0.08 μmol g FW−1.

Genetic engineering of vivid yellow‐flowered plants can be achieved by combining genome editing and a suitable expression of betaxanthin‐biosynthetic genes in ornamental plants.
The role of basophil activation test and component‐resolved diagnostics in the workup of egg allergy in children at low risk for severe allergic reactions: A real‐life study
Authors: Licari Amelia , D'Auria Enza , De Amici Mara , Castagnoli Riccardo , Sacchi Lucia , Testa Giorgia , Marseglia Gian Luigi 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe gold standard for diagnosing egg allergy in children is the oral food challenge (OFC). However, OFCs are time‐consuming and risky procedures. Our study aimed to evaluate the utility of the basophil activation test (BAT) and component‐resolved diagnostic in the diagnostic workup of children with egg allergy.MethodsOverall, 86 children aged 6 months to 17 years, suspected of egg allergy, underwent OFC with boiled egg according to international standardized protocols. BAT and specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) testing to component egg proteins (Gal d 1‐4) were also performed.ResultsOf the 22 children who reacted to boiled egg, only one experienced anaphylaxis during the challenge. BAT was performed in samples obtained by 75 of the 86 patients of our cohort. Egg white and yolk protein extracts induced CD63 upregulation in the egg‐allergic (EA) children compared with sensitized children that tolerated boiled egg (we registered an overall mean of CD63 expression in the EA population of 44.4% [SD 34.1] for egg white and 34.7% [SD 31.3] for egg yolk vs. 12.5% [SD 19.1] and 10.0% [SD 16.0] in sensitized children). BAT could discriminate between true egg allergy and egg sensitization in our population. As a second‐line diagnostic step, the positivity of BAT for egg white or Gal d 1‐sIgE resulted in a 40.9% OFC reduction, especially for those with a positive outcome.ConclusionThe BAT may be implemented in the diagnostic workup of egg allergy in children and, in a stepwise approach, separately or combined with Gal d 1‐sIgE, may predict the allergic status and reduce the number of positive OFCs in children with egg allergy at low risk for severe reactions.