bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effects of copper deficiency on lignification, xylem vessel structure, and hydraulic traits in hybrid poplar
Authors: Hunter Cameron , Sun Zimou , Mansfield Shawn D. , Shahbaz Muhammad , Pilon Marinus , Gleason Sean M. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractCopper (Cu) homeostasis is integral to many plant physiological processes, including lignification of plant cell walls. This link occurs through Cu's role as a cofactor in the apoplastic laccase enzymes that oxidize monolignols that then polymerize to form the hydrophobic lignin polymer, which provides rigidity and strength to the water transport system. In this study, we investigated the effect of Cu deficiency on lignin content and chemistry in poplar stems. We also examined the effect of Cu deficiency on the stiffness of stem wood and the hydraulic properties of leaves. Cu deficiency resulted in a significant reduction in lignin content, an increase in the syringyl to guaiacyl monomer ratio of stem xylem, and no change to stem modulus of elasticity. Accompanying these stem traits, Cu‐deficient leaves had higher (less negative) turgor loss points and markedly stiffer mesophyll cell walls. Our results may reflect a novel response in poplar whereby structural stiffness and mechanical stability are maintained in the face of Cu deficiency and reduction in the guaiacyl lignin monomer content.
Structural realism and theory classification
Authors: Benitez Federico 
Published: September 2023

AbstractOntic structural realism constitutes a promising take on scientific realism, one that avoids the well‐known issues that realist stances have with underdetermination and theory change. In its most radical versions, ontic structural realism proposes a type of eliminativism about theoretical entities, ascribing ontological commitment only to the structures, and not to the objects appearing in our theories. More moderate versions of ontic structural realism have also been proposed, allowing for ‘thin’ objects in the ontology. This work connects these takes on structural realism with the independent notion that there are two categorically different kinds of scientific theories, namely those that deal with interactions and those that deal with structural constraints – what are known as interaction and framework theories, respectively. By taking this classification seriously, one can arrive at a selective version of ontic structural realism which is better adapted to our scientific knowledge, in which eliminativist ontic structural realism constitutes a natural fit to framework theories, whereas the moderate version is connected to interaction theories.
Introduction to symposium supply chain trade in Africa: Retrospect and prospect
Authors: de Melo Jaime , Olarreaga Marcelo 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThe symposium focuses on the evolution and determinants of Africa's participation in Global Value Chains (GVC) through comparisons with other continents, but also across countries within Africa. Using firm, sector and country‐level data they provide a comprehensive micro and macroeconomic analysis of GVC in Africa that helps inform policymakers aiming at increasing Africa's participation in GVC. Three policy areas are identified. First, encouraging FDI and better governance are important drivers of GVC participation through vertical and horizontal linkages. Second, promoting production capacity through industrial policies that aim at learning by exporting and internet connectivity can help diversify African GVC, which is heavily concentrated in the commodity sector, towards the manufacturing and services sectors with higher value‐added. Finally, there is a need to increase the downstreamness of Africa's participation in GVC, not only because it moves Africa towards sectors with high value‐added but also because it would make Africa's production more environmentally sustainable.
From historical expedition diaries to whole genome sequencing: A case study of the likely extinct Red Sea torpedo ray
Authors: Palandačić Anja , Kapun Martin , Greve Carola , Schell Tilman , Kirchner Sandra , Kruckenhauser Luise , Szucsich Nikolaus , Bogutskaya Nina 
Published: September 2023

AbstractTorpedo rays (Torpedinidae, Torpediniformes) are small to moderately large batoids that produce an electric discharge. They are distributed worldwide in temperate and tropical seas and are, as a result of their bottom‐dwelling behaviour, susceptible to trawl fishing and often end up as victims of bycatch. The distribution ranges of most recognized species seem to be restricted; however, their species‐level systematics is not adequately resolved. In the genus Torpedo, in which many species require revision, there are possibly several undescribed species, while numerous misidentifications add to the complexity of the issue. In the latest lists of living rays, 13 species are accepted in the genus Torpedo, including three of doubtful validity and several recently discovered undescribed species. Among the valid species is the critically endangered, possibly extinct, Torpedo suessii Steindachner, 1898, the Red Sea torpedo, of which only four specimens have been recorded in the literature until now, three of which still exist in the fish collection of the Natural History Museum of Vienna. Museum collections are the most important archive of biodiversity on Earth, and are increasingly being used for various studies, including phylogenetics, population genomics, and biogeography. Nevertheless, molecular analysis of old museum material remains challenging because the genetic material has degraded, is fragmented, and of low quantity. In molecular taxonomy, the necessity of including type specimens as name‐bearing specimens is increasingly recognized. Here, the extended specimen approach was applied to re‐describe the lectotype of T. suessii. The approach included research of historical information and whole genome sequencing, followed by genome assembly and phylogenetic analysis.
Ensemble of Artificial Neural Networks for Approximating the Survival Signature of Critical Infrastructures
Authors: Di Maio Francesco , Pettorossi Chiara , Zio Enrico 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Survival signature can be useful for the reliability assessment of critical infrastructures. However, analytical calculation and Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) are not feasible for approximating the survival signature of large infrastructures, because of the complexity and computational demand due to the large number of components. In this case, efficient and accurate approximations are sought. In this paper we formulate the survival signature approximation problem as a missing data problem. An ensemble of artificial neural networks (ANNs) is trained on a set of survival signatures obtained by MCS. The ensemble of trained ANNs is, then, used to retrieve the missing values of the survival signature. A numerical example is worked out and recommendations are given to design the ensemble of ANNs for large-scale, real-world infrastructures. The electricity grid of Great Britain, the New England power grid (IEEE 39-Bus Case), the reduced Berlin metro system and the approximated American Power System (IEEE 118-Bus Case) are, then, eventually, analyzed as particular case studies.
Widening the Band Gaps of Hourglass Lattice Truss Core Sandwich Structures for Broadband Vibration Suppression
Authors: Guo Zhenkun , Wen Jiaqi , Yu Dewen , Hu Guobiao , Yang Yaowen 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
This paper proposes a novel phononic crystal sandwich beam (PCSB) for low-frequency and broadband vibration suppression. The representative volume element (RVE) consists of two hourglass truss unit cells with the same span but different rod radii. After validating the modeling method, a model of the PCSB is established to calculate band structure and transmittance response, and the results show good agreement. It is found that the PCSB can open wider and lower band gaps compared to a traditional sandwich beam (TSB). The band-folding mechanism is applied. The PCSB breaks the spatial symmetry, becomes diatomic, and opens the folding points, finally leading to two band-folding-induced gaps. The experiment is conducted on the PCSB, and the vibration band gap property is confirmed. Subsequently, the impacts of geometric parameters on the PCSB’s band gaps are investigated in detail. Design guidelines for tuning the geometric parameters toward lower frequency and broadband band gap are provided based on the parametric study results. In addition, the higher-order band-folding strategy is proposed. It is shown that a multi-folding PCSB can produce more band gaps. However, through two examples, i.e., second-folding and third-folding PCSBs, it is known that simply increasing the folding order may not be effective and even could deteriorate the vibration attenuation ability. In summary, this work explores a general strategy for designing sandwich beams with low-frequency and broadband vibration suppression ability.
Front Asymptotics of a Flat Sub-Riemannian Structure on the Engel Distribution
Authors: Bogaevsky I. A. 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
We approximate the front of a flat sub-Riemannian structure on the Engel distribution in a neighborhood of a non-subanalytic singularity by the front of a control system integrable in elementary functions. As a corollary, we find the asymptotics of the exponential map of a flat sub-Riemannian structure on the Engel distribution.
Electroresponse of weak polyelectrolyte brushes
Authors: Balzer Christopher , Wang Zhen-Gang 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
End-tethered polyelectrolytes are widely used to modify substrate properties, particularly for lubrication or wetting. External stimuli, such as pH, salt concentration, or an electric field, can induce profound structural responses in weak polyelectrolyte brushes, which can be utilized to further tune substrate properties. We study the structure and electroresponsiveness of weak polyacid brushes using an inhomogeneous theory that incorporates both electrostatic and chain connectivity correlations at the Debye–Hückel level. Our calculation shows that a weak polyacid brush swells under the application of a negative applied potential, in agreement with recent experimental observation. We rationalize this behavior using a scaling argument that accounts for the effect of the surface charge. We also show that the swelling behavior has a direct influence on the differential capacitance, which can be modulated by the solvent quality, pH, and salt concentration.

Graphical Abstract
Combined Targeting of NAD Biosynthesis and the NAD-dependent Transcription Factor C-terminal Binding Protein as a Promising Novel Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Dcona M. Michael , Chougoni Kranthi Kumar , Dcona Diana T. , West Jacqueline L. , Singh Sahib J. , Ellis Keith C. , Grossman Steven R. 
Published: September 2023

Cancer therapies targeting metabolic derangements unique to cancer cells are emerging as a key strategy to address refractory solid tumors such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) that exhibit resistance to extreme nutrient deprivation in the tumor microenvironment. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) participates in multiple metabolic pathways and nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase (NAMPT) is one of the key intracellular enzymes that facilitate the synthesis of NAD. C-terminal binding proteins 1 and 2 (CtBP) are paralogous NAD-dependent oncogenic transcription factors and dehydrogenases that nucleate an epigenetic complex regulating a cohort of genes responsible for cancer proliferation and metastasis. As adequate intracellular NAD is required for CtBP to oligomerize and execute its oncogenic transcriptional coregulatory activities, we hypothesized that NAD depletion would synergize with CtBP inhibition, improving cell inhibitory efficacy. Indeed, depletion of cellular NAD via the NAMPT inhibitor GMX1778 enhanced growth inhibition induced by either RNAi-mediated CtBP1/2 knockdown or the CtBP dehydrogenase inhibitor 4-chlorophenyl-2-hydroxyimino propanoic acid as much as 10-fold in PDAC cells, while untransformed pancreatic ductal cells were unaffected. The growth inhibitory effects of the NAMPT/CtBP inhibitor combination correlated pharmacodynamically with on-target disruption of CtBP1/2 dimerization, CtBP2 interaction with the CoREST epigenetic regulator, and transcriptional activation of the oncogenic target gene TIAM1. Moreover, this same therapeutic combination strongly attenuated growth of PDAC cell line xenografts in immunodeficient mice, with no observable toxicity. Collectively, our data demonstrate that targeting CtBP in combination with NAD depletion represents a promising therapeutic strategy for PDAC.

Significance:
Effective precision therapies are lacking in PDAC. We demonstrate that simultaneous inhibition of NAD metabolism and the oncoprotein CtBP is potently effective at blocking growth of both PDAC cells in culture and human PDAC-derived tumors in mice and should be explored further as a potential therapy for patients with PDAC.
Confounding Effects of Tamoxifen: Cautionary and Practical Considerations for the Use of Tamoxifen-Inducible Mouse Models in Atherosclerosis Research—Brief Report
Authors: Dubner Allison M. , Lu Sizhao , Jolly Austin J. , Noble Tysen , Hinthorn Tyler , Nemenoff Raphael A. , Moulton Karen S. , Majesky Mark W. , Weiser-Evans Mary C.M. 
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND:

In recent years, fate-mapping lineage studies in mouse models have led to major advances in vascular biology by allowing investigators to track specific cell populations in vivo. One of the most frequently used lineage tracing approaches involves tamoxifen-inducible Cre
ERT
-LoxP systems. However, tamoxifen treatment can also promote effects independent of Cre recombinase activation, many of which have not been fully explored.

METHODS:
To elucidate off-target effects of tamoxifen, male and female mice were either unmanipulated or injected with tamoxifen or corn oil. All mice received PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9)-AAV (adeno-associated virus) injections and a modified Western diet to induce hypercholesterolemia. After 2 weeks, serum cholesterol and liver morphology were assessed. To determine the duration of any tamoxifen effects in long-term atherosclerosis experiments, mice received either 12 days of tamoxifen at baseline or 12 days plus 2 sets of 5-day tamoxifen boosters; all mice received PCSK9-AAV injections and a modified Western diet to induce hypercholesterolemia. After 24 weeks, serum cholesterol and aortic sinus plaque burden were measured.

RESULTS:
After 2 weeks of atherogenic treatment, mice injected with tamoxifen demonstrated significantly reduced serum cholesterol levels compared with uninjected- or corn oil–treated mice. However, there were no differences in PCSK9-mediated knockdown of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) receptors between the groups. Additionally, tamoxifen-treated mice exhibited significantly increased hepatic lipid accumulation compared with the other groups. Finally, the effects of tamoxifen remained for at least 8 weeks after completion of injections, with mice demonstrating persistent decreased serum cholesterol and impaired atherosclerotic plaque formation.

CONCLUSIONS:
In this study, we establish that tamoxifen administration results in decreased serum cholesterol, decreased plaque formation, and increased hepatic lipid accumulation. These alterations represent significant confounding variables in atherosclerosis research, and we urge future investigators to take these findings into consideration when planning and executing their own atherosclerosis experiments.
Modern Economic Elites
Authors: Syzdykova Zhibek , Mikhaylov Viacheslav , Temirkhanova Ainagul , Shestakov Nikolay 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
The main motivation for the study is to address the existing problem of determining the influence of the (emerging) economic elite on the global capital flows on which both the national economies and the global economy depend. The results of the study show that the economic elite does not arise on its own – it is developed from MNCs’ managers. Such managers have vast experience and are key figures in the structure of such companies. Through their decisions, they affect not only the company they work for, but also the global economy. The practical value of the study consists in the possibility of using the obtained results for further research into the influence of economic elites on the capital flows in the global economy, and the proposed classification of economic elites allows identifying the channels of influence of economic elites on the global economy.
The East Mediterranean Gas Forum: A Regional Institution Struggling in the Mire of Energy Insecurities
Authors: Magliveras Konstantinos D. , Naldi Gino J. 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
In January 2019, governments of several East Mediterranean countries agreed to create a new regional technical intergovernmental organization, the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (emgf). Its Statute was signed in September 2020 and came promptly into force in March 2021. The emgf was established at a time when the region’s rivalries, especially unresolved maritime issues (including questions of delimitation), were exacerbated by exploration and drilling activities in contested areas with significant fossil fuel deposits. The principal aim of the emgf is to form a sustainable and competitive regional gas market and to ensure energy security for participating countries in a volatile market, a goal of immense importance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and in part, it is a response to unfriendly and threatening positioning by other States. But the emgf’s role may be best described as one of coordination and cooperation. Following a short overview of the maritime disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean, the article examines the emgf from the perspective of the law of international institutions. Weak provisions and lacunae in the Statute are recorded, while pertinent answers are offered. It is argued that, while the emgf is well-intentioned in a region mired in discord, it is institutionally weak and, if its operation is not improved and enhanced, it may become a largely meaningless discussion platform.
Benefits of Nigeria’s Participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act
Authors: Ola Temitope 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
With a view to understand the benefits of Nigeria’s participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) this paper examines US–Nigeria’s trade relations between 2001 and 2022. The paper argues that the lofty provisions of AGOA are laudable, even though unworkable, and given the environments within which the provisions of the trade policy were drafted and enacted, the subscription was carried out, and the implementation is pursued AGOA helps to entrench Nigeria in its peripheral position of world economy. The skewed impacts of the application of the basic assumptions of David Ricardo’s comparative advantage postulation to the patterning of US–Nigeria’s trade under AGOA raises critical empirical questions. Consequently the paper concludes that rather than continuing to perform its historic economic rituals to global democratic capitalism Nigeria needs emancipation from the stranglehold of unremunerated primary exports or insolvency would scuttle it irretrievably into an ungovernable chaotic territorial entity.
Efficacy of a 1 day Rifaximin and Metronidazole Regimen and Mechanical Bowel Preparation for Preventing Surgical Site Infection in Minimally Invasive Colorectal Cancer Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Yoon Seung-Hwan , Yang In Jun , Kim Ji Yeon , Lee Kyung-Ha 
Published: September 2023

Background A combination of oral antibiotics and mechanical bowel preparation is recommended for patients scheduled to undergo elective colorectal surgery on the basis of recent large trials that have reported the superiority of this approach in preventing surgical site infections (SSIs). However, there are no standard recommendations for this approach. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the efficacy of rifaximin and metronidazole and mechanical bowel preparation for preventing SSIs in cases of minimally invasive surgery for colorectal cancer. Methods This single-arm prospective observational study included 256 individuals. The primary end point was the rate of SSI. Rifaximin 400 mg and metronidazole 500 mg were administered twice daily (10 am and 10 pm), and mechanical bowel preparation was administered the day before the operation. Results After excluding 15 patients, 241 were enrolled. No adverse event occurred following the administration of oral antibiotics and mechanical bowel preparation; there was 100% compliance. The total SSI rate was 2.9%; the rates of incisional and organ/space SSIs were 1.2% and 1.7%, respectively. All patients were treated conservatively. Univariate analyses revealed preoperative anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and transfusion and postoperative transfusion were significantly associated with SSIs. Discussion A 1 day rifaximin and metronidazole regimen with mechanical bowel preparation for elective minimally invasive surgery for colorectal cancer was associated with a favorable SSI rate of 2.9%, safety, and high compliance. This approach is appropriate for inclusion in the current guidelines for perioperative management of patients scheduled to undergo minimally invasive surgery for colorectal cancer.
Total Glucosides of Peony Alleviate Joint Destruction in Rabbits With Osteoarthritis
Authors: Chao Wei Chen , Yi Shan Ding , Fei Yue Li , Tian You Fan 
Published: September 2023

Objective Although many painkillers can be used to relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA), these drugs do not address joint bone degeneration and muscle wasting, highlighting the need for alternative treatments. This study evaluated the ability of various plant extracts to inhibit joint destruction, focusing on the total glucosides of peony (TGP) obtained from the normal Chinese medication white peony. Methods A rabbit OA model was established by anterior cruciate ligament resection (ACLT) and TGP treatment was initiated for 3 months. The morphologies of the skeletal muscle fibers, articular cartilage, and subchondral bone of the knee joint were histologically observed via X-ray and micro-computed tomography scan. Results TGP significantly reduced the histopathological changes associated with skeletal muscle atrophy and inflammation, and alleviated cartilage degeneration. In addition, TGP treatment significantly improved the bone density and microstructure of subchondral bone in rabbit knee joints compared with the model group. Conclusion The results suggested that TGP treatment may alleviate the progression of osteoarthritis and reduce the destruction of joint cartilage and bone in ACLT.