bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Yield- and protein-neutral reduction in fertilizer rate for wheat, maize and rice can reduce the release of reactive nitrogen and greenhouse gas emissions in China
Authors: Hu Changlu , Sadras Victor O , Wang Zhaodong , Du Wenting , Lei Xiaoxiao , Yang Maolin , Zhao Longcai , Zhang Panxin , Liu Junmei , Lu Guoyan , Yang Xueyun , Zhang Shulan 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Seeking food security, contemporary Chinese agriculture has followed a trajectory of overfertilization and associated environmental problems, hence the need for nitrogen-balancing practices that do not compromise yield and quality. Here we present a national meta-analysis using 224 studies with 1972 comparisons to quantify the potential to reduce nitrogen (N) fertilization to improve environmental outcomes while maintaining yield and grain protein. We calculated a nitrogen reduction ratio (NRR), as 100 × (N
C − N
T)/N
C; where N is N fertilizer rate and subscripts indicate farmer practice (C) and reduced N rate treatment (T). Our meta-analysis showed that the NRR that maintained yield and grain protein content at the level of current practice was up to 10% in wheat and up to 30% in maize and rice. Larger yield-neutral NRR could be achieved in more fertile, heavier-textured soils, and with practices including enhanced-efficiency N fertilizer, combined application of organic and inorganic N fertilizer, and incorporated straw. Assuming a reduction in N fertilizer usage by 10% for wheat and by 30% for maize and rice in the current cropping area, there is a potential to save 5.7 Mt N yr−1; reduce loss of reactive nitrogen by 1.26 Mt N yr−1, equivalent to 63% of annual total Nr losses for rice in China, reduce N-related greenhouse emissions by 75.2 Mt CO2-eq yr−1, equivalent to 14.5%–25% of the emissions associated with the N fertilizer chain in China; and improve N use efficiency by 23%. Our results highlight the feasibility of maintaining yield and grain protein, and achieving substantial environmental benefits with reduced fertilization rate, and the environmental and agronomic scenarios where these outcomes are more likely.
Concurrent and Prospective Associations Between Communicated Emotional Arousal and Adjustment Among Couples Coping With Cancer
Authors: Weber Danielle M , Baucom Brian R W , Baucom Donald H , Fischer Melanie S , Ramos Katherine , Romano Joan M , Porter Laura S , Langer Shelby L 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe experience of cancer can create considerable emotional distress for patients and their committed partners. How couples communicate about cancer-related concerns can have important implications for adjustment. However, past research has primarily utilized cross-sectional designs and retrospective self-reports of couple communication. While informative, little is known about how patients and partners express emotion during conversations about cancer, and how these emotional patterns predict individual and relational adjustment.PurposeThe current investigation examined how patterns of emotional arousal within couples’ communication about cancer was associated with concurrent and prospective individual psychological and relational adjustment.MethodsAt baseline, 133 patients with stage II– breast, lung, or colorectal cancer and their partners completed a conversation about a cancer-related concern. Vocally expressed emotional arousal (f0) was extracted from recorded conversations. Couples completed self-report measures of individual psychological and relational adjustment at baseline and at 4, 8, and 12 months later.ResultsCouples who started the conversation higher in f0 (i.e., greater emotional arousal) reported better individual and relational adjustment at baseline. If the non-cancer partner had lower f0 relative to patients, this predicted worse individual adjustment across follow-up. Additionally, couples who maintained their level of f0 rather than decreasing later in the conversation reported improvements in individual adjustment across follow-up.ConclusionsElevated emotional arousal within a cancer-related conversation may be adaptive for adjustment, as it may reflect greater emotional engagement and processing of an important topic. These results may suggest ways for therapists to guide emotional engagement to enhance resilience in couples experiencing cancer.
Census of exposed aggregation-prone regions in proteomes
Authors: Falgarone Théo , Villain Etienne , Richard Francois , Osmanli Zarifa , Kajava Andrey V 
Published: May 2023

AbstractLoss of solubility usually leads to the detrimental elimination of protein function. In some cases, the protein aggregation is also required for beneficial functions. Given the duality of this phenomenon, it remains a fundamental question how natural selection controls the aggregation. The exponential growth of genomic sequence data and recent progress with in silico predictors of the aggregation allows approaching this problem by a large-scale bioinformatics analysis. Most of the aggregation-prone regions are hidden within the 3D structure, rendering them inaccessible for the intermolecular interactions responsible for aggregation. Thus, the most realistic census of the aggregation-prone regions requires crossing aggregation prediction with information about the location of the natively unfolded regions. This allows us to detect so-called ‘exposed aggregation-prone regions’ (EARs). Here, we analyzed the occurrence and distribution of the EARs in 76 reference proteomes from the three kingdoms of life. For this purpose, we used a bioinformatics pipeline, which provides a consensual result based on several predictors of aggregation. Our analysis revealed a number of new statistically significant correlations about the presence of EARs in different organisms, their dependence on protein length, cellular localizations, co-occurrence with short linear motifs and the level of protein expression. We also obtained a list of proteins with the conserved aggregation-prone sequences for further experimental tests. Insights gained from this work led to a deeper understanding of the relationship between protein evolution and aggregation.
A-269 IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON SURGERY FOR INDETERMINATE THYROID NODULES: RESULTS FROM A LARGE MULTICENTRIC INTERNATIONAL (THE THYCOVID) STUDY
Authors: Medas F , Calò P G , Dobrinja C ,   THYCOVID study group
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Background
During the COVID-19 pandemic, planned surgery was ubiquitously suspended or slowed down. We focused our attention on surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules (ITNs).

Methods
This was a retrospective multicentric study. Patients with ITNs were included in the study and were divided into three groups based on when they were submitted to thyroidectomy:
The main aims of the THYCOVID study were:

Results
We included 22974 patients with ITNs from 157 centers, mainly located in Europe (76.5%) and Asia (11.8%). The median monthly operations per center were 2 (IQR: 0.9-3.7) in P1, 1.4 (IQR: 0.6-3.4) in P2, and 2.3 (IQR: 1-5) in P3; the differences among the phases were all significant (p&lt;0.001).
At pathological examination, the incidence of lymph node metastases was significantly higher in P2 (11.7%) and in P3 (12.2%) than in P1 (9.3%; p&lt;0.0001). Considering the ATA classification for risk of disease recurrence, the incidence of high-risk tumours increased over time from 203 (5.7%) patients in P1, to 198 (6.2%) in P2, and to 155 (7.7%) in P3; the difference between P1 and P3 was significant (p=0.0072).

Conclusion
Surgical activity for ITNs decreased significantly during the pandemic. In the last phase, an increased incidence of aggressive tumours was found.
Strategies to avoid mastectomy skin-flap necrosis during nipple-sparing mastectomy
Authors: Moo Tracy-Ann , Nelson Jonas A , Sevilimedu Varadan , Charyn Jillian , Le Tiana V , Allen Robert J , Mehrara Babak J , Barrio Andrea V , Capko Deborah M , Pilewskie Melissa , Heerdt Alexandra S , Tadros Audree B , Gemignani Mary L , Morrow Monica , Sacchini Virgilio 
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Background
Nipple-sparing mastectomy is associated with a higher risk of mastectomy skin-flap necrosis than conventional skin-sparing mastectomy. There are limited prospective data examining modifiable intraoperative factors that contribute to skin-flap necrosis after nipple-sparing mastectomy.

Methods
Data on consecutive patients undergoing nipple-sparing mastectomy between April 2018 and December 2020 were recorded prospectively. Relevant intraoperative variables were documented by both breast and plastic surgeons at the time of surgery. The presence and extent of nipple and/or skin-flap necrosis was documented at the first postoperative visit. Necrosis treatment and outcome was documented at 8–10 weeks after surgery. The association of clinical and intraoperative variables with nipple and skin-flap necrosis was analysed, and significant variables were included in a multivariable logistic regression analysis with backward selection.

Results
Some 299 patients underwent 515 nipple-sparing mastectomies (54.8 per cent (282 of 515) prophylactic, 45.2 per cent therapeutic). Overall, 23.3 per cent of breasts (120 of 515) developed nipple or skin-flap necrosis; 45.8 per cent of these (55 of 120) had nipple necrosis only. Among 120 breasts with necrosis, 22.5 per cent had superficial, 60.8 per cent had partial, and 16.7 per cent had full-thickness necrosis. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, significant modifiable intraoperative predictors of necrosis included sacrificing the second intercostal perforator (P = 0.006), greater tissue expander fill volume (P &lt; 0.001), and non-lateral inframammary fold incision placement (P = 0.003).

Conclusion
Modifiable intraoperative factors that may decrease the likelihood of necrosis after nipple-sparing mastectomy include incision placement in the lateral inframammary fold, preserving the second intercostal perforating vessel, and minimizing tissue expander fill volume.
The political economy of destructing essential Services in the Quest for basic services: the case of violent protest in Cato Manor
Authors: Yende Nsizwazonke E 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Protesting in post-apartheid South Africa is perceived as one of the significant democratic methods of participation and engagement with the government and its executive. As a result, since the early 2000s, community-led participation has been preferred over government-led forms of participatory methods, including mayoral forums and izimbizo (interactive dialogues between government officials and the people). However, the community-invented spaces of participation in the form of protests have been accompanied by violent tactics that have severely impacted infrastructure. The violent tactics used during protests related to service delivery have been more conspicuous in the local sphere of government, especially in places composed of informal settlements. Hence, Cato Manor has not been immune to this but continues to experience violence during service delivery protests, which causes damage to assets. This article explores the destruction of infrastructure in the quest for basic services in Cato Manor. A qualitative research design was adopted to guide the study, together with the displaced-aggression theory, as a theoretical lens to interpret the findings. The study used a purposive and snowball sampling method to recruit thirty-three participants. Thematic analysis facilitated by NVivo was adopted for data analysis purposes. Thus, the study’s findings illustrate that the damage to essential services in the quest for basic services emanates from the frustration of the local people due to the government’s inability to address the prevailing socioeconomic issues. The destruction of key infrastructure occurs when the primary cause of the frustration is not within the reach of the people.
The elevation of the anion gap in steady state chronic kidney disease may be less prominent than generally accepted
Authors: Zijlstra Hendrik W , Stegeman Coen A 
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACT

Background
A presumed cause of metabolic acidosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is accumulation of unmeasured anions, leading to a high anion gap (AG). In patients with CKD with a high AG, only minor increases are expected. The aim of this study is to evaluate the magnitude of the AG in documented steady state CKD to examine the effect of CKD on a high-AG metabolic acidosis (HAGMA).

Methods
In this cross-sectional study the AG, bicarbonate, and chloride were evaluated in 1045 blood and urine samples of 501 patients with steady state CKD in the outpatient clinic. The influence of phosphate, albumin and potassium on the AG were evaluated.

Results
The mean AG increased from 8.8 mEq/l (±1.57) in CKD stage 1 to 11.2 mEq/l (±2.22) in CKD stage 5 (P &lt; 0.001). Correction for albumin or phosphate did not influence the magnitude of the AG. Correction for potassium did alter the prevalence of HAGMA, but not the severity. [HCO3−] decreased between CKD stages 1 and 5 by 5.1 mEq/l. The [Cl−] increased by 2.6 mEq/l between CKD stages 1 and 5.

Conclusions
The elevation of the AG in patients with steady state CKD is limited and less pronounced than the decrease in [HCO3−]. Normal AG metabolic acidosis seems to be more important in CKD than HAGMA. The CKD stage and the magnitude of the AG should be taken into account when evaluating a patient with HAGMA. This study suggests that an AG &gt;15 mEq/l is rarely due to renal failure alone.
Transforming growth factor-β2 is associated with atherosclerotic plaque stability and lower risk for cardiovascular events
Authors: Edsfeldt Andreas , Singh Pratibha , Matthes Frank , Tengryd Christoffer , Cavalera Michele , Bengtsson Eva , Dunér Pontus , Volkov Petr , Karadimou Glykeria , Gisterå Anton , Orho-Melander Marju , Nilsson Jan , Sun Jiangming , Gonçalves Isabel 
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Aims
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) exists in three isoforms TGF-β1, -β2, and -β3. TGF-β1 has been suggested to be important for maintaining plaque stability, yet the role of TGF-β2 and -β3 in atherosclerosis remains to be investigated.
This study explores the association of the three isoforms of TGF-β with plaque stability in the human atherosclerotic disease.

Methods and results
TGF-β1, -β2, and -β3 proteins were quantified in 223 human carotid plaques by immunoassays. Indications for the endarterectomy were: symptomatic carotid plaque with stenosis &gt;70% or without symptoms and &gt;80% stenosis. Plaque mRNA levels were assessed by RNA sequencing. Plaque components and extracellular matrix were measured histologically and biochemically. Matrix metalloproteinases and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) was measured with immunoassays. The effect of TGF-β2 on inflammation and protease activity was investigated in vitro using THP-1 and RAW264.7 macrophages. Patients were followed longitudinally for cardiovascular (CV) events.
TGF-β2 was the most abundant isoform and was increased at both protein and mRNA levels in asymptomatic plaques. TGF-β2 was the main determinant separating asymptomatic plaques in an Orthogonal Projections to Latent Structures Discriminant Analysis. TGF-β2 correlated positively to features of plaque stability and inversely to markers of plaque vulnerability. TGF-β2 was the only isoform inversely correlated to the matrix-degrading matrix metalloproteinase-9 and inflammation in the plaque tissue. In vitro, TGF-β2 pre-treatment reduced MCP-1 gene and protein levels as well as matrix metalloproteinase-9 gene levels and activity. Patients with plaques with high TGF-β2 levels had a lower risk to suffer from future CV events.

Conclusions
TGF-β2 is the most abundant TGF-β isoform in human plaques and may maintain plaque stability by decreasing inflammation and matrix degradation.
SmartWoodID—an image collection of large end-grain surfaces to support wood identification systems
Authors: De Blaere Ruben , Lievens Kévin , Van Hassel Dieter , Deklerck Victor , De Mil Tom , Hubau Wannes , Van Acker Joris , Bourland Nils , Verwaeren Jan , Van den Bulcke Jan , Beeckman Hans 
Published: May 2023

AbstractWood identification is a key step in the enforcement of laws and regulations aimed at combatting illegal timber trade. Robust wood identification tools, capable of distinguishing a large number of timbers, depend on a solid database of reference material. Reference material for wood identification is typically curated in botanical collections dedicated to wood consisting of samples of secondary xylem of lignified plants. Specimens from the Tervuren Wood Collection, one of the large institutional wood collections around the world, are used as a source of tree species data with potential application as timber. Here, we present SmartWoodID, a database of high-resolution optical scans of the end-grain surfaces enriched with expert wood anatomical descriptions of macroscopic features. These can serve as annotated training data to develop interactive identification keys and artificial intelligence for computer vision–based wood identification. The first edition of the database consists of images of 1190 taxa, with a focus on potential timber species from the Democratic Republic of the Congo with at least four different specimens per species included.Database URL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12624/SmartWoodID_first_edition
Social determinants of health and disease in companion dogs: a cohort study from the Dog Aging Project
Authors: McCoy Brianah M , Brassington Layla , Jin Kelly , Dolby Greer A , Shrager Sandi , Collins Devin , Dunbar Matthew ,   Dog Aging Project Consortium, Akey Joshua M , Benton Brooke , Borenstein Elhanan , Castelhano Marta G , Coleman Amanda E , Creevy Kate E , Crowder Kyle , Dunbar Matthew D , Fajt Virginia R , Fitzpatrick Annette L , Jeffery Unity , Jonlin Erica C , Kaeberlein Matt , Karlsson Elinor K , Kerr Kathleen F , Levine Jonathan M , Ma Jing , McClelland Robyn L , Promislow Daniel E L , Ruple Audrey , Schwartz Stephen M , Shrager Sandi , Snyder-Mackler Noah , Tolbert Katherine , Urfer Silvan R , Wilfond Benjamin S , Ruple Audrey , Snyder-Mackler Noah 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Exposure to social environmental adversity is associated with health and survival across many social species, including humans. However, little is known about how these health and mortality effects vary across the lifespan and may be differentially impacted by various components of the environment. Here, we leveraged a relatively new and powerful model for human aging, the companion dog, to investigate which components of the social environment are associated with dog health and how these associations vary across the lifespan. We drew on comprehensive survey data collected on 21,410 dogs from the Dog Aging Project and identified five factors that together explained 33.7% of the variation in a dog’s social environment. Factors capturing financial and household adversity were associated with poorer health and lower physical mobility in companion dogs, while factors that captured social support, such as living with other dogs, were associated with better health when controlling for dog age and weight. Notably, the effects of each environmental component were not equal: the effect of social support was 5× stronger than financial factors. The strength of these associations depended on the age of the dog, including a stronger relationship between the owner’s age and the dog’s health in younger as compared to older dogs. Taken together, these findings suggest the importance of income, stability and owner’s age on owner-reported health outcomes in companion dogs and point to potential behavioral and/or environmental modifiers that can be used to promote healthy aging across species.
P373 IN SUPPORT OF THE NEED FOR P.E.R.T. (PULMONARY EMBOLISM RESPONSE TEAMS) IN PULMONARY EMBOLISM (PE)
Authors: Camassa N , De Michele L , De Tommasi E , D’Agostino C 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular death with a wide range of criticality and complex and varied pathogenesis. A rapid therapeutic decision reverses the rapid progression towards a fatal outcome. A 64 years old patient, obese and hypertensive, returning from an intercontinental flight, went to the emergency room because of worsening dyspnoea and chest pain, which he had been suffering for a week; he arrived tachycardic, tachypnoic and with 91% O2 saturation in ambient air. A CT angiography showed extensive thrombosis of both main branches of the pulmonary artery (PA). Echocardiography confirmed right ventricular involvement, which was already hypokinetic and with a RV/LV ratio double than normal, which corresponds to a progressive drop in pressure and for which he was transferred to the cardiac intensive unit. The patient‘s history, comorbidities, risk of haemorrhage, imaging and laboratory data were analysed, leading to an evaluation of high risk PE, hemodynamic instability and positive cardiac biomarkers. With the availability of on–site equipment and trained personnel, the patient underwent ultrasound–guided locoregional thrombolysis through the placement of dedicated catheters capable of infusing into each PA branch 1mg of rtPA/h for 12 hours and ultrasound throughout the course of the catheter to increase the penetrance of thrombolysis into old thrombi (Ultrasound Accelerated Thrombolysis). As early as 6 hours, at echocardiographic control, there was a reduction in the RV/LV ratio to below 1.5, corresponding to a restoration of pressor stability. PERT shortens the time of decision of the best medical approach, which is the most effective method available to deal with the emergency. But PERT is also useful in low–risk PE in patients with significant comorbidities that contraindicate anticoagulant therapy, or in PE that is an incidentalomas, according to the wisdom of the radiologists in the group who know how to identify inveterate thromboses or PA sarcoma occlusion which are otherwise treatable. Hence the need for a multidisciplinary team: a) able to assess the patient with PE and provide the correct treatment which includes a range of medical, surgical and endovascular therapies; b) skilled in ensuring the follow–up of the patient with PE (post–thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension; c) skilled in getting the components to communicate about the effectiveness of treatment in the individual patient.
Nuclear genome organization in fungi: from gene folding to Rabl chromosomes
Authors: Torres David E , Reckard Andrew T , Klocko Andrew D , Seidl Michael F 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Comparative genomics has recently provided unprecedented insights into the biology and evolution of the fungal lineage. In the postgenomics era, a major research interest focuses now on detailing the functions of fungal genomes, i.e. how genomic information manifests into complex phenotypes. Emerging evidence across diverse eukaryotes has revealed that the organization of DNA within the nucleus is critically important. Here, we discuss the current knowledge on the fungal genome organization, from the association of chromosomes within the nucleus to topological structures at individual genes and the genetic factors required for this hierarchical organization. Chromosome conformation capture followed by high-throughput sequencing (Hi-C) has elucidated how fungal genomes are globally organized in Rabl configuration, in which centromere or telomere bundles are associated with opposite faces of the nuclear envelope. Further, fungal genomes are regionally organized into topologically associated domain-like (TAD-like) chromatin structures. We discuss how chromatin organization impacts the proper function of DNA-templated processes across the fungal genome. Nevertheless, this view is limited to a few fungal taxa given the paucity of fungal Hi-C experiments. We advocate for exploring genome organization across diverse fungal lineages to ensure the future understanding of the impact of nuclear organization on fungal genome function.