bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of vitamin D metabolites and gene expression of vitamin D receptor, and 1‐alpha‐hydroxylase related to the sperm quality
Authors: Roussev Bogdan H. , Salim Ayshe S. , Nenkova Galina T. , Barbolov Momchil T. , Nashar Milka A. , Ivanova Diana G. , Sokrateva Todorka D. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe incidence of male fertility disorders has increased greatly due to various genetic and lifestyle factors. Recently, it has been hypothesized that vitamin D may be involved with idiopathic infertility. The goal of the study was to determine the effect and relationship between blood vitamin D metabolites, intracellular sperm vitamin D levels, and gene expression of 1‐α‐hydroxylase and VDR, with regard to semen quality. Seventy volunteers aged 25–45 were involved in the study. According to spermogram analysis, participants were stratified into normozoospermic control group, non‐normozoospermic target group, and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic group. Vitamin D metabolites (total 25‐hydroxycholecalciferol, 1,25‐dihydroxycholecalciferol) in blood and spermatozoa were determined by ELISA. Free and bioavailable 25‐hydroxycholecalciferol were calculated using the Vermeulen equation. mRNA expression of VDR and 1‐α hydroxylase was evaluated by qPCR. Free and bioavailable 25‐hydroxycholecalciferol were significantly higher in the control group compared to the target group and compared to the oligoasthenoteratozoospermic group . Intracellular sperm 1,25‐dihydroxycholecalciferol was higher in the control group compared to the target group. The mRNA levels of 1‐ α‐hydroxylase were significantly higher in the control samples, while VDR expression was significantly higher in the target group. Significant positive correlations were established between free and bioavailable 25‐hydroxycholecalciferol with sperm motility and morphology. Vitamin D metabolites in blood and intracellular sperm 1,25‐dihydroxycholecalciferol seem to exert beneficial effects on sperm motility and morphology. Regarding sperm quality, these effects are more pronounced in the free and bioavailable 25OHD compared to the total 25OHD in blood. Higher expression of 1‐α‐hydroxylase likely leads to higher intracellular levels of 1,25‐dihydroxycholecalciferol, which could contribute to sperm motility and morphology. Higher VDR expression may be a compensatory mechanism related to lower intracellular sperm 1,25‐dihydroxycholecalciferol.
Tempering great expectations: The legitimacy constraints and the conflict function of international courts in international climate litigation
Authors: Shams Aref 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThis article challenges the assumptions of viability of international climate litigation. While international climate litigation has recently gained momentum, this article calls for a tempering of expectations on two bases. First, the climate problem is highly polycentric—more so than other environmental problems encountered by international courts. Second, international courts have structural limitations that make it difficult for them to address such highly polycentric problems. While international courts can deal with other environmental problems by balancing the interest of the parties involved, this approach is incongruous with the highly polycentric climate problem. This article demonstrates that international courts may insist upon deploying the same methods in international climate litigation. To do so, the article looks at the basis of the legitimacy of the work of international courts and reassesses their official functions.
Reverse skin aging signs by red light photobiomodulation
Authors: Couturaud Virginie , Le Fur Marie , Pelletier Michele , Granotier Frederic 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundPhotobiomodulation is a process by which the absorption of red light energy produces a series of physiological effects at the cellular level such as the enhancement of mitochondrial Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) production, cell signaling and growth factor synthesis, and the reduction of oxidative stress. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) photobiomodulation is an increasingly popular therapy for treating skin problems, especially for reversing the signs of skin aging.ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of a photobiomodulation treatment using red LEDs on the facial skin at a rate of two sessions per week for 3 months. The LED mask used is the Skin Light Dior x Lucibel mask diffusing a cold red light with a wavelength of 630 ± 10 nm and a power of 15.6 J/cm2 for a duration of 12 min.MethodIn order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the mask in reversing the signs of skin aging, a clinical study was conducted on 20 healthy Caucasian women: the antiwrinkle effect by measuring the depth of the crow's feet wrinkle, the relaxation of the oval of the face by clinical scoring, the firmness and elasticity of the skin by cutometric measurement, the density of the dermis by ultrasound analysis, the smoothness of the skin by measuring the roughness at the cheek, the homogeneity of the complexion by chromametric measurement, the diameter of the pores by macrophotographs and finally the sebo‐regulating effect by measurement of the rate of sebum and quantification of the number of pores containing porphyrin in the subjects presenting a mixed to oily skin. The satisfaction of the volunteers was also evaluated at the end of the study via a self‐questionnaire.ResultsThe efficacy results measured after 1, 2, and 3 months of use are progressive and confirm the interest of LED photobiomodulation to reverse the visible signs of skin aging.All the volunteers observed an overall improvement in skin quality.ConclusionAll the results observed confirm the interest of using photobiomodulation to reverse the visible signs of aging. These results last for up to 1 month after stopping the use of the mask, which is a sign of lasting structural and functional rejuvenation of the skin.
Toward a Skinnerian interpretivist methodological approach for terrorist propaganda
Authors: Qi Yuanbo , He Jing 
Published: June 2023

AbstractObjectiveThis article revisits the prevalent use of content analysis for examining terrorist propaganda in response to the methodological stagnation and aims to propose a novel methodological framework for understanding terrorist propaganda.MethodBorrowing from Quentin Skinner's intellectual works and using a terrorist propaganda video as our case study, we construct an analytical framework and apply it into practice.ResultsThe application of this approach yields and enlightens a prevalent speech act ofinvitingperformed through terrorist propaganda.ConclusionWe highlight the role of an innovative methodological approach that underscores the role of revolutionary political concepts in legitimizing violent jihadist activities.
Estimating Systemic Cognitive States from a Mixture of Physiological and Brain Signals
Authors: Scheutz Matthias , Aeron Shuchin , Aygun Ayca , de Ruiter J.P. , Fantini Sergio , Fernandez Cristianne , Haga Zachary , Nguyen Thuan , Lyu Boyang 
Published: June 2023

AbstractAs human–machine teams are being considered for a variety of mixed‐initiative tasks, detecting and being responsive to human cognitive states, in particularsystematic cognitive states, is among the most critical capabilities for artificial systems to ensure smooth interactions with humans and high overall team performance. Various human physiological parameters, such as heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, and skin conductance, as well as brain activity inferred from functional near‐infrared spectroscopy or electroencephalogram, have been linked to different systemic cognitive states, such as workload, distraction, or mind–wandering among others. Whether these multimodal signals are indeed sufficient to isolate such cognitive states across individuals performing tasks or whether additional contextual information (e.g., about the task state or the task environment) is required for making appropriate inferences remains an important open problem.In this paper, we introduce an experimental and machine learning framework for investigating these questions and focus specifically on using physiological and neurophysiological measurements to learn classifiers associated with systemic cognitive states like cognitive load, distraction, sense of urgency, mind wandering, and interference. Specifically, we describe a multitasking interactive experimental setting used to obtain a comprehensive multimodal data set which provided the foundation for a first evaluation of various standard state‐of‐the‐art machine learning techniques with respect to their effectiveness in inferring systemic cognitive states. While the classification success of these standard methods based on just the physiological and neurophysiological signals across subjects was modest, which is to be expected given the complexity of the classification problem and the possibility that higher accuracy rates might not in general be achievable, the results nevertheless can serve as a baseline for evaluating future efforts to improve classification, especially methods that take contextual aspects such as task and environmental states into account.
Spatially resolved gene regulatory networks in Asian rice (Oryza sativa cv. Nipponbare) leaves
Authors: Robertson Sean M. , Wilkins Olivia 
Published: June 2023

SUMMARYTranscriptome profiles in plants are heterogenous at every level of morphological organization. Even within organs, cells of the same type can have different patterns of gene expression depending on where they are positioned within tissues. This heterogeneity is associated with non‐uniform distribution of biological processes within organs. The regulatory mechanisms that establish and sustain the spatial heterogeneity are unknown. Here, we identify regulatory modules that support functional specialization of different parts of Oryza sativa cv. Nipponbare leaves by leveraging transcriptome data, transcription factor binding motifs and global gene regulatory network prediction algorithms. We generated a global gene regulatory network in which we identified six regulatory modules that were active in different parts of the leaf. The regulatory modules were enriched for genes involved in spatially relevant biological processes, such as cell wall deposition, environmental sensing and photosynthesis. Strikingly, more than 86.9% of genes in the network were regulated by members of only five transcription factor families. We also generated targeted regulatory networks for the large MYB and bZIP/bHLH families to identify interactions that were masked in the global prediction. This analysis will provide a baseline for future single cell and array‐based spatial transcriptome studies and for studying responses to environmental stress and demonstrates the extent to which seven coarse spatial transcriptome analysis can provide insight into the regulatory mechanisms supporting functional specialization within leaves.
Associations of donor, component, and recipient factors on hemoglobin increments following red blood cell transfusion in very low birth weight infants
Authors: DeSimone Robert A. , Plimier Colleen , Goel Ruchika , Hendrickson Jeanne E. , Josephson Cassandra D. , Patel Ravi M. , Sola‐Visner Martha , Roubinian Nareg H. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundAnemia in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants is common and frequently managed with red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. We utilized a linked vein‐to‐vein database to assess the role of blood donors and component factors on measures of RBC transfusion effectiveness in VLBW infants.Study Design and MethodsWe linked blood donor and component manufacturing data with VLBW infants transfused RBCs between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2016 in the Recipient Epidemiology Donor Evaluation Study‐III (REDS III) database. Using multivariable regression, hemoglobin increments and subsequent transfusion events following single‐unit RBC transfusion episodes were examined with consideration of donor, component, and recipient factors.ResultsData on VLBW infants (n = 254) who received one or more single‐unit RBC transfusions (n = 567 units) were linked to donor demographic and component manufacturing characteristics for analysis. Reduced post‐transfusion hemoglobin increments were associated with RBC units donated by female donors (−0.24 g/dL [95% confidence interval (CI) −0.57, −0.02]; p = .04) and donors <25 years old (−0.57 g/dL [95% CI −1.02, −0.11]; p = .02). For RBC units donated by male donors, reduced donor hemoglobin levels were associated with an increased need for subsequent recipient RBC transfusion (odds ratio 3.0 [95% CI 1.3, 6.7]; p < .01). In contrast, component characteristics, storage duration, and time from irradiation to transfusion were not associated with post‐transfusion hemoglobin increments.ConclusionDonor sex, age, and hemoglobin levels were associated with measures of RBC transfusion effectiveness in VLBW infants. Mechanistic studies are needed to better understand the role of these potential donor factors on other clinical outcomes in VLBW infants.
Experiment and Numerical Simulation Study of Low-Nitrogen Combustion Technology Inside Small Gas Boiler
Authors: Sun Kai , Liu Xiangyun , Ao Tingyu , Liu Liangde , Liang Zhu 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
This paper studies different experimental conditions for a 25t/h industrial boiler fueled with nature gas. In the meanwhile, numerical simulation is carried out using the commercial software of fluent. The different excess air coefficients of 1.05, 1.1, 1.15, 1.2, and 1.25 are studied. The different flue gas circulation rates of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% are studied compared with that rate of 0. The results show that the maximum temperature of the furnace and NOx emission concentration at the outlet increase first and then decrease with increasing excess air coefficient when flue gas circulation rate is 0, and the peak value of temperature and NOx emission concentration reaches 2071.93 K and 65.21 mg/m3 when excess air coefficient is 1.15, respectively. With increasing flue gas circulation rate, the average temperature of the furnace and the concentration of NOx at the outlet decreased, and the concentration of NOx decreased from 65.21 mg/m3 to 25 mg/m3. The higher the flue gas circulation, the smaller the high-temperature area of the furnace and the lower concentration of O2. However, excessively higher flue gas circulation rate and excess air coefficient can lead to incomplete combustion and lower coefficient. Hence, for optimizing the combustion conditions, the excess air coefficient and the flue gas circulation rate should be within an appropriate range.
A Simple Analytical Model to Predict the Freeze Plug Opening Time in Molten Salt Reactors
Authors: Ilham Muhammad , Okawa Tomio 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
The Freeze plug is an important passive safety system used in molten salt reactor (MSR). It enables automatic drainage of the liquid fuel from the core to the storage tanks in an emergency to stop the nuclear fission chain reaction without any operator's action or electric power supply. The opening time, that is the time taken for the freeze plug to open, is therefore of considerable importance to ensure passive safety of MSR. In our previous studies, systematic numerical simulations were carried out to understand how the fundamental design parameters such as the tube diameter and wall thickness of the freeze plug affected the opening time. In this work, a simple analytical model was developed for rough estimation of the opening time. It was shown that the opening time calculated by the present simple model was in fairly good agreement with that by the full simulation using the mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations for the salt and the heat conduction equation within the wall material. The present simple model was hence shown to be useful particularly for the schematic design of the improved MSR freeze plugs.
Mediolateral Postural Control Mechanisms and Proprioception Improve With Kicking Sports Training During Adolescence
Authors: Blanchet Mariève , Prince François 
Published: June 2023

Sensorimotor stimulation during the sensitive period is crucial for proper brain development. Kicking sports (KS) training stimulates these sensorimotor functions. The purpose of this study was to investigate if incorporating specific sensorimotor stimulation in mediolateral axis and proprioceptive inputs during KS training will improve the specific sensorimotor performance in adolescents. We assessed stability limits in 13 KS practitioners and 20 control participants. Starting from an upright position, subjects were asked to lean as far as possible (forward, backward, rightward, and leftward). Three sensory conditions were tested: (1) eyes open, (2) eyes closed, and (3) eyes closed while standing on a foam mat. We analyzed the maximal center of pressure excursion and the root means square of the center of pressure displacements. Results showed that KS group had smaller root means square and larger maximal center of pressure excursions than those of control participants in mediolateral axis in all sensory conditions. Furthermore, the results also revealed a significant smaller root means square excursion in KS group under foam mat condition compared to control group ML axis. This study provides evidence that KS training improved the lateral balance control and proprioceptive integration.
The FHA domain protein ArnA functions as a global DNA damage response repressor in the hyperthermophilic archaeon
Saccharolobus islandicus
Authors: Jiang Zhichao , Lin Zijia , Gan Qi , Wu Pengju , Zhang Xuemei , Xiao Yuanxi , She Qunxin , Ni Jinfeng , Shen Yulong , Huang Qihong 
Published: June 2023

ABSTRACT

Forkhead-associated (FHA) domain proteins specifically recognize phosphorylated threonine via the FHA domain and are involved in signal transduction in various processes especially DNA damage response (DDR) and cell cycle regulation in eukaryotes. Although FHA domain proteins are found in prokaryotes, archaea, and bacteria, their functions are far less clear as compared to the eukaryotic counterparts, and it has not been studied whether archaeal FHA proteins play a role in DDR. Here, we have characterized an FHA protein from the hyperthermophilic Crenarchaeon
Saccharolobus islandicus
(SisArnA) by genetic, biochemical, and transcriptomic approaches. We find that Δ
SisarnA
exhibits higher resistance to DNA damage agent 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (NQO). The transcription of
ups
genes, encoding the proteins for pili-mediated cell aggregation and cell survival after DDR, is elevated in Δ
SisarnA
. The interactions of SisArnA with two predicted partners, SisvWA1 (SisArnB) and SisvWA2 (designated as SisArnE), were enhanced by phosphorylation
in vitro
. Δ
SisarnB
displays higher resistance to NQO than the wild type. In addition, the interaction between SisArnA and SisArnB, which is reduced in the NQO-treated cells, is indispensable for DNA binding
in vitro
. These indicate that SisArnA and SisArnB work together to inhibit the expression of
ups
genes
in vivo
. Interestingly, Δ
SisarnE
is more sensitive to NQO than the wild type, and the interaction between SisArnA and SisArnE is strengthened after NQO treatment, suggesting a positive role of SisArnE in DDR. Finally, transcriptomic analysis reveals that SisArnA represses a number of genes, implying that archaea apply the FHA/phospho-peptide recognition module for extensive transcriptional regulation.

IMPORTANCE

Cellular adaption to diverse environmental stresses requires a signal sensor and transducer for cell survival. Protein phosphorylation and its recognition by forkhead-associated (FHA) domain proteins are widely used for signal transduction in eukaryotes. Although FHA proteins exist in archaea and bacteria, investigation of their functions, especially those in DNA damage response (DDR), is limited. Therefore, the evolution and functional conservation of FHA proteins in the three domains of life is still a mystery. Here, we find that an FHA protein from the hyperthermophilic Crenarchaeon
Saccharolobus islandicus
(SisArnA) represses the transcription of pili genes together with its phosphorylated partner SisArnB. SisArnA derepression facilitates DNA exchange and repair in the presence of DNA damage. The fact that more genes including a dozen of those involved in DDR are found to be regulated by SisArnA implies that the FHA/phosphorylation module may serve as an important signal transduction pathway for transcriptional regulation in archaeal DDR.
Optimized quantification of intra-host viral diversity in SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus sequence data
Authors: Roder A. E. , Johnson K. E. E. , Knoll M. , Khalfan M. , Wang B. , Schultz-Cherry S. , Banakis S. , Kreitman A. , Mederos C. , Youn J.-H. , Mercado R. , Wang W. , Chung M. , Ruchnewitz D. , Samanovic M. I. , Mulligan M. J. , Lässig M. , Luksza M. , Das S. , Gresham D. , Ghedin E. 
Published: June 2023

ABSTRACT
High error rates of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases lead to diverse intra-host viral populations during infection. Errors made during replication that are not strongly deleterious to the virus can lead to the generation of minority variants. However, accurate detection of minority variants in viral sequence data is complicated by errors introduced during sample preparation and data analysis. We used synthetic RNA controls and simulated data to test seven variant-calling tools across a range of allele frequencies and simulated coverages. We show that choice of variant caller and use of replicate sequencing have the most significant impact on single-nucleotide variant (SNV) discovery and demonstrate how both allele frequency and coverage thresholds impact both false discovery and false-negative rates. When replicates are not available, using a combination of multiple callers with more stringent cutoffs is recommended. We use these parameters to find minority variants in sequencing data from SARS-CoV-2 clinical specimens and provide guidance for studies of intra-host viral diversity using either single replicate data or data from technical replicates. Our study provides a framework for rigorous assessment of technical factors that impact SNV identification in viral samples and establishes heuristics that will inform and improve future studies of intra-host variation, viral diversity, and viral evolution.

IMPORTANCE
When viruses replicate inside a host cell, the virus replication machinery makes mistakes. Over time, these mistakes create mutations that result in a diverse population of viruses inside the host. Mutations that are neither lethal to the virus nor strongly beneficial can lead to minority variants that are minor members of the virus population. However, preparing samples for sequencing can also introduce errors that resemble minority variants, resulting in the inclusion of false-positive data if not filtered correctly. In this study, we aimed to determine the best methods for identification and quantification of these minority variants by testing the performance of seven commonly used variant-calling tools. We used simulated and synthetic data to test their performance against a true set of variants and then used these studies to inform variant identification in data from SARS-CoV-2 clinical specimens. Together, analyses of our data provide extensive guidance for future studies of viral diversity and evolution.