bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Understanding the influence of genotype and temperature on proteolytic activity in distinct barley genotypes
Authors: Rani Heena , Bhardwaj Rachana D , Kaur Simarjit 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThis study aimed at investigating the effects of genotype and temperatures on the proteolytic activity in green malt of 48 barley genotypes, including 19 mutants, 15 hulled, 4 hulless, and 10 wild using enzyme assays based on casein, as substrate. During malting, insoluble barley protein must be hydrolyzed into soluble peptides and free amino acids to supply the brewing yeast with sufficient nutrients to grow rapidly and metabolize glucose and other sugars into alcohol through fermentation. However, the relatively hot temperatures employed during kilning usually denature the proteolytic enzymes due to their thermolabile nature. Even though the hydrolytic activity of most of the proteases is destroyed during the kilning process, the malt includes a small fraction of thermostable proteases that can further degrade protein in the subsequent mashing process. Considering the higher temperature range employed in industrial kilning and mashing, three temperatures (37, 50, and 70°C) were selected to identify the genotypes possessing high activity at the higher range of temperatures as well as thermostable variant of the enzyme. The proteolytic activity in all the genotypes declined after 50°C depicting its optimum temperature. Overall proteolytic activity was observed to be positively correlated with the amino acids and negatively correlated with protein content. Three mutant (BL2086, BL2091, and BL2079) and one wild (WS 237) genotypes possessing proteolytic activity in a higher range at all the studied temperatures have the potential to be exploited in the breeding programs for incorporating trait of thermostable proteolytic activity into low malting efficiency cultivars.Practical ApplicationThe optimal hydrolytic activities of carbohydrases and proteases during mashing are essential for producing high‐quality wort from malted barley to ensure that hydrolyzed molecules are available to brewers’ yeast to support fermentative metabolism. In this study, several barley cultivars were grown under identical environmental conditions but assayed at different temperatures. As result, four genotypes had been obtained that possessed optimal proteolytic activities at a higher temperature range and can be of great interest to breeders and maltsters for altering wort amino acid profiles and better exposure of starch to mashing enzymes, thereby increasing the fermentable sugar yield from the malt.
Prescription psychostimulants for cocaine use disorder: A review from molecular basis to clinical approach
Authors: Tardelli Vitor S. , Berro Lais F. , Gerra Gilberto , Tadonio Leonardo , Bisaga Adam , Fidalgo Thiago M. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractCocaine use is a public health concern in many countries worldwide, particularly in the Americas and Oceania. Overdose deaths involving stimulants, such as cocaine, have been increasing markedly in North America, especially with concurrent opioid involvement. To date, no pharmacological treatment is available to treat stimulant (including cocaine) use disorders. Prescription psychostimulants (PPs) could be useful to treat cocaine use disorder (CUD) as they share the pharmacological effects with cocaine, as evidenced by a recent meta‐analysis that assessed 38 randomized clinical trials (RCTs). PPs were found to promote sustained abstinence and reduce drug use in patients with CUD. The aim of this paper is to provide a narrative review of the clinical pharmacology of PPs and comment on the current stage of evidence supporting PPs to treat CUD. We also propose a model of care that integrates PPs with evidence‐based psychosocial interventions (such as cognitive‐behavioural therapy [CBT] and contingency management [CM]), a harm reduction approach and case management with social support.
Weighted genomic prediction for growth and carcass‐related traits in Nelore cattle
Authors: da Silva Neto João Barbosa , Peripoli Elisa , Pereira Angelica S. C. , Stafuzza Nedenia Bonvino , Lôbo Raysildo B. , Fukumasu Heigde , Ferraz José Bento Sterman , Baldi Fernando 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the impact of differential weighting in genomic regions harboring candidate causal loci on the genomic prediction accuracy and dispersion for growth and carcass‐related traits in Nelore cattle. The dataset contained 168 793 phenotypic records for adjusted weight at 450 days of age (W450), 83 624 for rib eye area (REA), 24 480 for marbling (MAR) and 82 981 for subcutaneous backfat thickness (BFT) and rump fat thickness (RFT). The pedigree harbored information from 244 254 animals born between 1977 and 2016, including 6283 sires and 50 742 dams. Animals (n = 7769) were genotyped with the low‐density panel (Clarifide® Nelore 3.0), and the genotypes were imputed to a panel containing 735 044 markers. A linear animal model was applied to estimate the genetic parameters and to perform the weighted single‐step genome‐wide association study (WssGWAS). A total of seven models for genomic prediction were evaluated combining the SNP weights obtained in the iterations of the WssGWAS and the candidate QTL. The heritability estimated for W450 (0.35) was moderate, and for carcass‐related traits, the estimates were moderate for REA (0.27), MAR (0.28) and RFT (0.28), and low for BFT (0.18). The prediction accuracy for W450 incorporating reported QTL previously described in the literature along with different SNPs weights was like those described for the default ssGBLUP model. The use of the ssGWAS to weight the SNP effects displayed limited advantages for the REA prediction accuracy. Comparing the ssGBLUP with the BLUP model, a meaningful improvement in the prediction accuracy from 0.09 to 0.63 (700%) was observed for MAR. The highest prediction accuracy was obtained for BFT and RFT in all evaluated models. The application of information obtained from the WssGWAS is an alternative to reduce the genomic prediction dispersion for growth and carcass‐related traits, except for MAR. Furthermore, the results obtained herein pointed out that is possible to improve the prediction accuracy and reduce the genomic prediction dispersion for growth and carcass‐related traits in young animals.
Demography and reproductive seasonality of small terrestrial mammals in two forest ecosystems in Ghana
Authors: Adjapong Abena Owusu , Oppong Samuel Kingsley , Nsor Collins Ayine , Boakye Emmanuel Amoah , Ashiagbor George , Danquah Emmanuel 
Published: March 2023

AbstractWe examined the effects of habitat types (farmlands, open forests and closed forests) and seasons on the population demography and reproduction of small terrestrial mammals in two tropical evergreen forests [Atewa Range Forest Reserve (ARFR) and Bimpong Forest Reserve (BFR)] environments in 2018 and 2019. Small mammals were trapped with Sherman's collapsible traps on transects across land use types and seasons to measure change in the relative density, sex ratio, age structure, juvenile recruitment and breeding probability. Twenty‐two (22) species of 506 small mammals (16 rodents and six shrews) were recorded in this study. Relative density of small mammals (captures/100 trap nights) was highest (p < 0.05) in the farmland [ARFR (3.48); BFR (2.36)] than the open forest [ARFR (1.96); BFR (0.65)] and closed forest [ARFR (1.13); BFR (0.98)] habitats in both forest ecosystems. Overall sex ratio was male‐skewed (1.03:1) in the study. ARFR recorded higher female ratios in all habitat types [farmland (1:1.2); open forest (1:1.04); closed forest (1:1.3)] and seasons than males. Male sex ratio was high in all habitat types and seasons in the BFR. Majority of individuals captured in the habitat types [farmland (1.5:1); open forest (1.1:1); closed forest (1.5:1)] and seasons were adults. Over 90% of all captured adults in the study areas were actively breeding. The closed forest habitat type had the highest proportion (0.93) of actively breeding small mammals in the study forests. Seasonally, there were more species actively breeding in the wet season in ARFR and dry season in BFR. Majority of the small mammal captured (n = 268 recorded for ARFR and n = 168 for BFR) were adults. Juvenile recruitment (proportion of juveniles/total capture) was low for all the study forests (with mean proportions of 0.11, 0.04 and 0.03 for closed forest, farmland and open forest, respectively, in ARFR and 0.05, 0.03 and 0.07 for closed forest, farmland and open forest, respectively, in BFR) and seasons. Anthropogenic activities degrade ecosystems, change population demography and favour habitat generalists and pest species.
Patient characteristics, anaesthetic workload and techniques in the UK: an analysis from the 7th National Audit Project (NAP7) activity survey
Authors: Kane A. D. , Soar J. , Armstrong R. A. , Kursumovic E. , Davies M. T. , Oglesby F. C. , Cortes L. , Taylor C. , Moppett I. K. , Agarwal S. , Cordingley J. , Dorey J. , Finney S. J. , Kunst G. , Lucas D. N. , Nickols G. , Mouton R. , Nolan J. P. , Patel B. , Pappachan V. J. , Plaat F. , Scholefield B. R. , Smith J. H. , Varney L. , Cook T. M. ,   collaborators
Published: March 2023

SummaryDetailed contemporary knowledge of the characteristics of the surgical population, national anaesthetic workload, anaesthetic techniques and behaviours are essential to monitor productivity, inform policy and direct research themes. Every 3–4 years, the Royal College of Anaesthetists, as part of its National Audit Projects (NAP), performs a snapshot activity survey in all UK hospitals delivering anaesthesia, collecting patient‐level encounter data from all cases under the care of an anaesthetist. During November 2021, as part of NAP7, anaesthetists recorded details of all cases undertaken over 4 days at their site through an online survey capturing anonymous patient characteristics and anaesthetic details. Of 416 hospital sites invited to participate, 352 (85%) completed the activity survey. From these, 24,177 reports were returned, of which 24,172 (99%) were included in the final dataset. The work patterns by day of the week, time of day and surgical specialty were similar to previous NAP activity surveys. However, in non‐obstetric patients, between NAP5 (2013) and NAP7 (2021) activity surveys, the estimated median age of patients increased by 2.3 years from median (IQR) of 50.5 (28.4–69.1) to 52.8 (32.1–69.2) years. The median (IQR) BMI increased from 24.9 (21.5–29.5) to 26.7 (22.3–31.7) kg.m–2. The proportion of patients who scored as ASA physical status 1 decreased from 37% in NAP5 to 24% in NAP7. The use of total intravenous anaesthesia increased from 8% of general anaesthesia cases to 26% between NAP5 and NAP7. Some changes may reflect the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the anaesthetic population, though patients with confirmed COVID‐19 accounted for only 149 (1%) cases. These data show a rising burden of age, obesity and comorbidity in patients requiring anaesthesia care, likely to impact UK peri‐operative services significantly.
Allergic rhinitis in India
Authors: Moitra Subhabrata , Mahesh Padukudru Anand , Moitra Saibal 
Published: March 2023

AbstractIndia is the home of nearly 20% of the global population with 1.35 billion people. Of all non‐communicable diseases, allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma appear to have increased in India over the past decades. Approximately 22% of adolescents currently suffer from AR in India. However, owing to the lack of adequate epidemiological studies in India, particularly in rural and suburban areas, this number may misrepresent the true burden of this disease. While the risk factors for AR are mainly environmental exposures or genetic factors, several new environmental, social, and behavioural risk factors such as the presence of dumpsters near residences, movement of vehicles near homes, and exposure to artificial light at night have been found to be associated with AR. However, despite international guidelines, the diagnosis and management of AR in India are often suboptimal, for multiple reasons such as the lack of specialized training in allergy and immunology among Indian clinicians, the lack of diagnostic facilities, and the high cost of medications. This review aims at highlighting the current scenario of AR in India and how it differs from the rest of the world. It also highlights the need for developing a strategic approach to enhance the quality of care for allergic diseases by upgrading education and training for healthcare professionals, creating awareness among clinicians and patients, and involving stakeholders and policymakers in making treatments accessible and affordable to patients.
Micro insights on the pathways to agricultural transformation: Comparative evidence from Southeast Asia and Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Amare Mulubrhan , Parvathi Priyanka , Nguyen Trung Thanh 
Published: March 2023

AbstractMost studies of agricultural transformation document the impact of agricultural income growth on macroeconomic indicators of development. Much less is known about the micro‐scale changes within the farming sector that signal a transformation precipitated by agricultural income growth. This study provides a comparative analysis of the patterns of micro‐level changes that occur among small‐holder farmers in Uganda and Malawi in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), and Thailand and Vietnam in Southeast Asia (SEA). Our analysis provides several important insights on agricultural transformation in these two regions. First, agricultural income in all examined countries is vulnerable to changes in precipitation and temperature, an effect that is nonlinear and asymmetric. SSA countries are more vulnerable to these weather changes. Second, exogenous increases in agricultural income in previous years improve non‐farm income and trigger a change in labor allocation within the rural sector in SEA. However, this is the opposite in SSA where the increase in agricultural income reduces non‐farm income, indicating a substitution effect between farm and non‐farm sectors. These findings reveal clear agricultural transformation driven by agricultural income in SEA but no similar evidence in SSA.
Effect of laser‐assisted reconstructive surgical therapy of peri‐implantitis on protein biomarkers and bacterial load
Authors: Di Gianfilippo Riccardo , Wang Chin‐Wei , Xie Yuying , Kinney Janet , Sugai James , Giannobile William V. , Wang Hom‐Lay 
Published: March 2023

AbstractObjectivesThis randomized clinical trial assessed changes in protein biomarker levels and bacterial profiles after surgical reconstructive therapy of peri‐implantitis and investigated whether the adjunctive use of Er:YAG laser impacts protein biomarker and microbial outcomes.Materials and MethodsTwenty‐four patients received surgical reconstructive therapy for peri‐implantitis with guided bone regeneration following mechanical debridement with (test) or without (control) the adjunctive irradiation of Er:YAG laser. Bacterial and peri‐implant crevicular fluid (PICF) samples were collected over 6 months and analyzed with bacterial qPCR and luminex multiplex assays.ResultsSurgical reconstructive treatment significantly affected the concentration of PICF protein biomarkers, including a 50% reduction in IL‐1β between 2 and 4 weeks (p < .0001). Both MMP‐9 (p < .001) and VEGF (p < .05) levels steadily decreased after treatment. In the laser group, the peak increase in IL‐1β was attenuated at 2 weeks, followed by significant reduction in MMP‐9 (p < .01) and VEGF (p < .05) across all follow‐up appointments compared with the control nonlaser group. The total bacterial load was reduced 2 weeks after treatment, especially in the laser group, but recolonized to presurgical levels after 4 weeks in both groups (p < .01). The composition of selective pathogens varied significantly over the follow‐up, but recolonization patterns did not differ between groups.ConclusionsReconstructive therapy of peri‐implantitis significantly altered PICF protein biomarker and microbial levels during the healing process. The adjunctive use of Er:YAG laser significantly modulated the inflammatory response through reduced levels of MMP‐9 and VEGF during the postsurgical period. The bacterial load was reduced immediately after therapy, but recolonization was observed by 4 weeks in both groups.
Plant roots fuel tropical soil animal communities
Authors: Zhou Zheng , Lu Jing‐Zhong , Preiser Jooris , Widyastuti Rahayu , Scheu Stefan , Potapov Anton 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBelowground life relies on plant litter, while its linkage to living roots had long been understudied, and remains unknown in the tropics. Here, we analysed the response of 30 soil animal groups to root trenching and litter removal in rainforest and plantations in Sumatra, and found that roots are similarly important to soil fauna as litter. Trenching effects were stronger in soil than in litter, with an overall decrease in animal abundance in rainforest by 42% and in plantations by 30%. Litter removal little affected animals in soil, but decreased the total abundance by 60% in rainforest and rubber plantations but not in oil palm plantations. Litter and root effects on animal group abundances were explained by body size or vertical distribution. Our study quantifies principle carbon pathways in soil food webs under tropical land use, providing the basis for mechanistic modelling and ecosystem‐friendly management of tropical soils.
Resting state functional connectivity demonstrates increased segregation in bilateral temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Lucas Alfredo , Cornblath Eli J. , Sinha Nishant , Hadar Peter , Caciagli Lorenzo , Keller Simon S. , Bonilha Leonardo , Shinohara Russell T. , Stein Joel M. , Das Sandhitsu , Gleichgerrcht Ezequiel , Davis Kathryn A. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractObjectiveTemporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common type of focal epilepsy. An increasingly identified subset of patients with TLE consists of those who show bilaterally independent temporal lobe seizures. The purpose of this study was to leverage network neuroscience to better understand the interictal whole brain network of bilateral TLE (BiTLE).MethodsIn this study, using a multicenter resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs‐fMRI) data set, we constructed whole‐brain functional networks of 19 patients with BiTLE, and compared them to those of 75 patients with unilateral TLE (UTLE). We quantified resting‐state, whole‐brain topological properties using metrics derived from network theory, including clustering coefficient, global efficiency, participation coefficient, and modularity. For each metric, we computed an average across all brain regions, and iterated this process across network densities. Curves of network density vs each network metric were compared between groups. Finally, we derived a combined metric, which we term the “integration‐segregation axis,” by combining whole‐brain average clustering coefficient and global efficiency curves, and applying principal component analysis (PCA)–based dimensionality reduction.ResultsCompared to UTLE, BiTLE had decreased global efficiency (p = .031), and decreased whole brain average participation coefficient across a range of network densities (p = .019). Modularity maximization yielded a larger number of smaller communities in BiTLE than in UTLE (p = .020). Differences in network properties separate BiTLE and UTLE along the integration‐segregation axis, with regions within the axis having a specificity of up to 0.87 for BiTLE. Along the integration‐segregation axis, UTLE patients with poor surgical outcomes were distributed in the same regions as BiTLE, and network metrics confirmed similar patterns of increased segregation in both BiTLE and poor outcome UTLE.SignificanceIncreased interictal whole‐brain network segregation, as measured by rs‐fMRI, is specific to BiTLE, as well as poor surgical outcome UTLE, and may assist in non‐invasively identifying this patient population prior to intracranial electroencephalography or device implantation.
A novel intelligent approach for man‐in‐the‐middle attacks detection over internet of things environments based on message queuing telemetry transport
Authors: Michelena Álvaro , Aveleira‐Mata José , Jove Esteban , Bayón‐Gutiérrez Martín , Novais Paulo , Romero Oscar Fontenla , Calvo‐Rolle José Luis , Aláiz‐Moretón Héctor 
Published: March 2023

AbstractOne of the most common attacks is man‐in‐the‐middle (MitM) which, due to its complex behaviour, is difficult to detect by traditional cyber‐attack detection systems. MitM attacks on internet of things systems take advantage of special features of the protocols and cause system disruptions, making them invisible to legitimate elements. In this work, an intrusion detection system (IDS), where intelligent models can be deployed, is the approach to detect this type of attack considering network alterations. Therefore, this paper presents a novel method to develop the intelligent model used by the IDS, being this method based on a hybrid process. The first stage of the process implements a feature extraction method, while the second one applies different supervised classification techniques, both over a message queuing telemetry transport (MQTT) dataset compiled by authors in previous works. The contribution shows excellent performance for any compared classification methods. Likewise, the best results are obtained using the method with the highest computational cost. Thanks to this, a functional IDS will be able to prevent MQTT attacks.
Are polluters shunned? A study on the institutional ownership and returns of polluter stocks
Authors: Tirodkar Mihir , Berkman Henk 
Published: March 2023

AbstractWe hypothesise that societal norms cause institutional investors to discriminate against polluters. Consistent with this hypothesis, we document relatively lower institutional ownership for the most polluting firms in the United States. Institutional discrimination against polluters increases over 1987–2018, in line with increasing environmental awareness. Institutions are primarily averse to investments in dioxin emitters. Institutions that prioritize portfolio performance are less sensitive to societal norms against polluters, as are institutions with shorter investment horizons and more aggressive trading strategies. Lastly, we test whether investor discrimination affects polluter equity valuations and creates systematic trading opportunities, but find no convincing evidence of a polluter return premium.
Compound droughts slow down the greening of the Earth
Authors: Liu Xianfeng , Sun Gaopeng , Fu Zheng , Ciais Philippe , Feng Xiaoming , Li Jing , Fu Bojie 
Published: March 2023

AbstractVegetation response to soil and atmospheric drought has raised extensively controversy, however, the relative contributions of soil drought, atmospheric drought, and their compound droughts on global vegetation growth remain unclear. Combining the changes in soil moisture (SM), vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and vegetation growth (normalized difference vegetation index [NDVI]) during 1982–2015, here we evaluated the trends of these three drought types and quantified their impacts on global NDVI. We found that global VPD has increased 0.22 ± 0.05 kPa·decade−1 during 1982–2015, and this trend was doubled after 1996 (0.32 ± 0.16 kPa·decade−1) than before 1996 (0.16 ± 0.15 kPa·decade−1). Regions with large increase in VPD trend generally accompanied with decreasing trend in SM, leading to a widespread increasing trend in compound droughts across 37.62% land areas. We further found compound droughts dominated the vegetation browning since late 1990s, contributing to a declined NDVI of 64.56%. Earth system models agree with the dominant role of compound droughts on vegetation growth, but their negative magnitudes are considerably underestimated, with half of the observed results (34.48%). Our results provided the evidence of compound droughts‐induced global vegetation browning, highlighting the importance of correctly simulating the ecosystem‐scale response to the under‐appreciated exposure to compound droughts as it will increase with climate change.