bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Ethephon and Incomplete Irrigation on some Growth and Yield Characteristics of Safflower
Authors: Hussain Nisreen Aqeel , Al-Refai Shaimaa Ibrahiem 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
The experiment was conducted to study the effect of ethephon and moisture stress in different growth stages on the yield, its components, and the water consumption efficiency of safflower (Gilla) variety. This experiment was carried out during the winter season 2021-2022, on 11/24/2021, in the Al-Bulatif area, which is 3 km from the governorate center, in the fields of a farmer in Al-Muthanna Governorate. It was implemented that using the split-section design with three replications, where the first factor included four levels (full irrigate-Drop irrigation when branching-Drop irrigation at the flower bud-Drop an irrigation when it is full), which is denoted by the symbol. I 1, I 2, I 3, I 4. The second factor: spraying with Ethephon at five levels 2000-1500-1000-500-0 mg/l, which is coded as E0, E1, E2, E3, and E4, with a plant density of 40,000 plants/ha. The results showed a significant effect of the athephon for most of the studied traits. Treatment E2 gave the highest mean for the two characteristics of plant height and number of leaves, which reached 125.40 cm and 410.60 leaves per plant, while treatment E3 showed the highest average number of branching, reaching 81.6 branches, and finally with regard to the athephon, the treatment gave E4 was the highest mean of grain yield, reaching 5.10 kg H-1. As for the effect of lack of irrigation, the significant effect was only for the characteristics of the number of leaves, the weight of 500 seeds, and the grain yield. As the I1 treatment excelled in giving the highest average grain yield of 4.49 kg H-1, while the I2 treatment presented the highest average weight of 500 seeds, which amounted to 23.19 g. As a final point I3 treatment is the highest average number of leaves, as it reached 341.00 leaves per plant. As for the bilateral overlap between the ethephon and the lack of irrigation, the overlap treatment (I3 * E2) excelled in giving the highest average height, reaching 135.6 cm, while the overlap treatment (I2 * E3) gave the highest average number of branching, reaching 97.30 branches per plant. As for the overlap treatment (I2 * E2), it gave the highest average weight of 500 seeds, reaching 25.55 gm, while the overlap treatment between (I1 * E4) gave the highest average grain yield, reaching 7.186 kg H-1.
Water Pollution in Cobalt and Nickel by the Effect of Adding Urban Waste in Al-Diwaniyah River / Iraq
Authors: Al-Zaiadi Baidaa Hamid Gaish , Jarallah Raid Shaalan 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
This study was conducted in Al-Diwaniyah Governorate, Iraq, across four seasons with the intention of determining the impact of introducing liquid urban waste (including sewage, waste water, factory, and sewer water) on the content of cobalt and nickel in river water. At each location and during each of the following four seasons: summer in July, 2021; autumn in October, 2021; winter in January, 2022; and spring in April, 2022; for the following three locations: The first site was positioned at the entrance to Diwaniyah (Saniaa), which represents the control treatment as it is located before to the pollution outputs. The numerous sources of pollution that are discharged into the river, as well as the second location in the city center (the neighborhood of Refaat), and the third location in the Al-Sidair region, which is the final location in the city of Diwaniyah following the cessation of all pollution discharges into the river. The third, where the highest significant concentration of cobalt was 0.2400 μg l-1 in the summer, the third site, where it exceeded the limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), and the lowest concentration was 0.0033 μg l-1 In the winter, the first site, while the highest concentration of Nickel was 0.382 μg l-1 in the summer, the third site, thus exceeding the critical limits of the World Health Organization (WHO), and its lowest concentration was 0.022 μg l-1 in the winter, the first site.
Synergistic enhancement of glucagon-like peptide-1 release by γ-aminobutyric acid and L-phenylalanine in enteroendocrine cells—searching active ingredients in a water extract of corn zein protein
Authors: Noguchi Hiroki , Kohda Noriyuki , Hara Hiroshi , Hira Tohru 
Published: September 2023

ABSTRACT
This study investigated the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)-releasing activity of an aqueous extract (ZeinS) from corn zein protein and aimed to identify the active compounds responsible for this activity. Glucagon-like peptide-1-releasing activity was evaluated using a murine enteroendocrine cell line (GLUTag). Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was performed on purified fractions of ZeinS to identify active molecules. ZeinS stimulated more GLP-1 secretion from GLUTag cells compared to zein hydrolysate. Fractions displaying biological activity were determined by solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fractionation. Subsequent LC-MS/MS analysis identified several amino acids in the active fractions of ZeinS. In particular, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) exhibited significant GLP-1-releasing activity both alone and synergistically with L-phenylalanine (Phe). Moreover, ZeinS-induced GLP-1 secretion was attenuated by antagonists for the GABA receptor and calcium sensing receptor. These results demonstrate that GABA and Phe identified in ZeinS synergistically stimulate GLP-1 secretion in enteroendocrine cells.
Phenotypic associations of common waxbill gut and feather microbiome diversity in a shared environment
Authors: Marques Silva Sofia , Xavier Raquel , Gomes Ana Cristina R , Beltrão Patrícia , Cardoso Gonçalo C , Trigo Sandra 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Microbial diversity may affect host phenotypes, including morphology and behaviour, but it remains unclear to which extent those could be mediated by host differences in diet or habitat use. We used a population of wild common waxbills living in a large open-air mesocosm to control for such differences and test whether phenotypic variation is associated with cloaca bacteria diversity. We also tested correlations between feather-associated bacteria diversity and plumage colour ornamentation. Albeit weakly correlated, individuals sharing more similar cloaca microbiotas were more similar in their carotenoid-based plumage and bill red colour, suggesting that the gut microbiota can influence ornamentation even when individuals are in the same habitat and have access to the same food resources, perhaps mediating individual differences in feeding or digestion. There were no associations between feather bacteria and plumage colour, nor between cloaca bacteria and body size or several behavioural phenotypes. These results further highlight that investigating associations between microbiota and behaviour in nature should account for variation in extrinsic factors.
Research progress of the Fanconi anemia pathway and premature ovarian insufficiency
Authors: Zhao Jingyu , Zhang Yixin , Li Wenbo , Yao Mengmeng , Liu Chuqi , Zhang Zihan , Wang Caiqin , Wang Xiaomei , Meng Kai 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
The Fanconi anemia pathway is a key pathway involved in the repair of deoxyribonucleic acidinterstrand crosslinking damage, which chiefly includes the following four modules: lesion recognition, Fanconi anemia core complex recruitment, FANCD2–FANCI complex monoubiquitination, and downstream events (nucleolytic incision, translesion synthesis, and homologous recombination). Mutations or deletions of multiple Fanconi anemia genes in this pathway can damage the interstrand crosslinking repair pathway and disrupt primordial germ cell development and oocyte meiosis, thereby leading to abnormal follicular development. Premature ovarian insufficiency is a gynecological clinical syndrome characterized by amenorrhea and decreased fertility due to decreased oocyte pool, accelerated follicle atresia, and loss of ovarian function in women &lt;40 years old. Furthermore, in recent years, several studies have detected mutations in the Fanconi anemia gene in patients with premature ovarian insufficiency. In addition, some patients with Fanconi anemia exhibit symptoms of premature ovarian insufficiency and infertility. The Fanconi anemia pathway and premature ovarian insufficiency are closely associated.
Bayesian joint models for multi-regional clinical trials
Authors: Bean Nathan W , Ibrahim Joseph G , Psioda Matthew A 
Published: September 2023

Summary
In recent years, multi-regional clinical trials (MRCTs) have increased in popularity in the pharmaceutical industry due to their ability to accelerate the global drug development process. To address potential challenges with MRCTs, the International Council for Harmonisation released the E17 guidance document which suggests the use of statistical methods that utilize information borrowing across regions if regional sample sizes are small. We develop an approach that allows for information borrowing via Bayesian model averaging in the context of a joint analysis of survival and longitudinal data from MRCTs. In this novel application of joint models to MRCTs, we use Laplace’s method to integrate over subject-specific random effects and to approximate posterior distributions for region-specific treatment effects on the time-to-event outcome. Through simulation studies, we demonstrate that the joint modeling approach can result in an increased rejection rate when testing the global treatment effect compared with methods that analyze survival data alone. We then apply the proposed approach to data from a cardiovascular outcomes MRCT.
MerTK is a mediator of alpha-synuclein fibril uptake by human microglia
Authors: Dorion Marie-France , Yaqubi Moein , Senkevich Konstantin , Kieran Nicholas W , MacDonald Adam , Chen Carol X Q , Luo Wen , Wallis Amber , Shlaifer Irina , Hall Jeffery A , Dudley Roy W R , Glass Ian A ,   Birth Defects Research Laboratory, Stratton Jo Anne , Fon Edward A , Bartels Tim , Antel Jack P , Gan-or Ziv , Durcan Thomas M , Healy Luke M 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Mer tyrosine kinase (MerTK) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that mediates non-inflammatory, homeostatic phagocytosis of diverse types of cellular debris. Highly expressed on the surface of microglial cells, MerTK is of importance in brain development, homeostasis, plasticity and disease. Yet, involvement of this receptor in the clearance of protein aggregates that accumulate with ageing and in neurodegenerative diseases has yet to be defined. The current study explored the function of MerTK in the microglial uptake of alpha-synuclein fibrils which play a causative role in the pathobiology of synucleinopathies.
Using human primary and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived microglia, the MerTK-dependence of alpha-synuclein fibril internalization was investigated in vitro. Relevance of this pathway in synucleinopathies was assessed through burden analysis of MERTK variants and analysis of MerTK expression in patient-derived cells and tissues.
Pharmacological inhibition of MerTK and siRNA-mediated MERTK knockdown both caused a decreased rate of alpha-synuclein fibril internalization by human microglia. Consistent with the non-inflammatory nature of MerTK-mediated phagocytosis, alpha-synuclein fibril internalization was not observed to induce secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 or TNF, and downmodulated IL-1β secretion from microglia. Burden analysis in two independent patient cohorts revealed a significant association between rare functionally deleterious MERTK variants and Parkinson’s disease in one of the cohorts (P = 0.002). Despite a small upregulation in MERTK mRNA expression in nigral microglia from Parkinson’s disease/Lewy body dementia patients compared to those from non-neurological control donors in a single-nuclei RNA-sequencing dataset (P = 5.08 × 10−21), no significant upregulation in MerTK protein expression was observed in human cortex and substantia nigra lysates from Lewy body dementia patients compared to controls.
Taken together, our findings define a novel role for MerTK in mediating the uptake of alpha-synuclein fibrils by human microglia, with possible involvement in limiting alpha-synuclein spread in synucleinopathies such as Parkinson’s disease. Upregulation of this pathway in synucleinopathies could have therapeutic values in enhancing alpha-synuclein fibril clearance in the brain.
Dynamics in cardiac surgery: trends in population characteristics and the performance of the EuroSCORE II over time
Authors: van Dijk Wouter B , Leeuwenberg Artuur M , Grobbee Diederick E , Siregar Sabrina , Houterman Saskia , Daeter Edgar J , de Vries Martine C , Groenwold Rolf H H , Schuit Ewoud ,   Cardiothoracic Surgery Registration Committee of the Netherlands Heart Registration, Bramer Sander , van Boven Wim Jan , Vonk Alexander , Koene Bart , Bekkers Jos , Hoohenkerk Gerard , Markou Thanasie , de Weger Arend , Segers Patrique , Porta Fabiano , Speekenbrink Ron , Stooker Wim , Li Wilson , Daeter Edgar , van der Kaaij Niels , Douglas Yvonne 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to investigate the performance of the EuroSCORE II over time and dynamics in values of predictors included in the model.

METHODS
A cohort study was performed using data from the Netherlands Heart Registration. All cardiothoracic surgical procedures performed between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2019 were included for analysis. Performance of the EuroSCORE II was assessed across 3-month intervals in terms of calibration and discrimination. For subgroups of major surgical procedures, performance of the EuroSCORE II was assessed across 12-month time intervals. Changes in values of individual EuroSCORE II predictors over time were assessed graphically.

RESULTS
A total of 103 404 cardiothoracic surgical procedures were included. Observed mortality risk ranged between 1.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6–2.4] and 3.6% (95% CI 2.6–4.4) across 3-month intervals, while the mean predicted mortality risk ranged between 3.4% (95% CI 3.3–3.6) and 4.2% (95% CI 3.9–4.6). The corresponding observed:expected ratios ranged from 0.50 (95% CI 0.46–0.61) to 0.95 (95% CI 0.74–1.16). Discriminative performance in terms of the c-statistic ranged between 0.82 (95% CI 0.78–0.89) and 0.89 (95% CI 0.87–0.93). The EuroSCORE II consistently overestimated mortality compared to observed mortality. This finding was consistent across all major cardiothoracic surgical procedures. Distributions of values of individual predictors varied broadly across predictors over time. Most notable trends were a decrease in elective surgery from 75% to 54% and a rise in patients with no or New York Heart Association I class heart failure from 27% to 33%.

CONCLUSIONS
The EuroSCORE II shows good discriminative performance, but consistently overestimates mortality risks of all types of major cardiothoracic surgical procedures in the Netherlands.
Defining benchmark outcomes for transsphenoidal surgery of pituitary adenomas: a multicenter analysis
Authors: Drexler Richard , Rotermund Roman , Smith Timothy R , Kilgallon John L , Honegger Jürgen , Nasi-Kordhishti Isabella , Gardner Paul A , Gersey Zachary C , Abdallah Hussein M , Jane John A , Marino Alexandria C , Knappe Ulrich J , Uksul Nesrin , Rzaev Jamil A , Galushko Evgeniy V , Gormolysova Ekaterina V , Bervitskiy Anatoliy V , Schroeder Henry W S , Eördögh Márton , Losa Marco , Mortini Pietro , Gerlach Rüdiger , Azab Mohammed , Budohoski Karol P , Rennert Robert C , Karsy Michael , Couldwell William T , Antunes Apio C M , Westphal Manfred , Ricklefs Franz L , Flitsch Jörg 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Importance
Benchmarks aid in improve outcomes for surgical procedures. However, best achievable results that have been validated internationally for transsphenoidal surgery (TS) are not available.

Objective
We aimed to establish standardized outcome benchmarks for TS of pituitary adenomas.

Design
A total of 2685 transsphenoidal tumor resections from 9 expert centers in 3 continents were analyzed.

Setting
Patients were risk stratified, and the median values of each center's outcomes were established. The benchmark was defined as the 75th percentile of all median values for a particular outcome. The postoperative benchmark outcomes included surgical factors, endocrinology-specific values, and neurology-specific values.

Results
Of 2685 patients, 1149 (42.8%) defined the low-risk benchmark cohort. Within these benchmark cases, 831 (72.3%) patients underwent microscopic TS, and 308 (26.8%) patients underwent endoscopic endonasal resection. Of all tumors, 799 (29.8%) cases invaded the cavernous sinus. The postoperative complication rate was 19.6% with mortality between 0.0% and 0.8%. Benchmark cutoffs were ≤2.9% for reoperation rate, ≤1.9% for cerebrospinal fluid leak requiring intervention, and ≤15.5% for transient diabetes insipidus. At 6 months, benchmark cutoffs were calculated as follows: readmission rate: ≤6.9%, new hypopituitarism ≤6.0%, and tumor remnant ≤19.2%.

Conclusions
This analysis defines benchmark values for TS targeting morbidity and mortality and represents the best outcomes in the best patients in expert centers. These cutoffs can be used to assess different centers, patient populations, and novel surgical techniques. It should be noted that the benchmark values may influence each other and must be evaluated in their own context.
Process and sampling variance within fisheries stock assessment models: estimability, likelihood choice, and the consequences of incorrect specification
Authors: Fisch N , Shertzer K , Camp E , Maunder M , Ahrens R 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Increasingly, mixed-effect fishery stock assessment models are being developed where deviations about functional forms of different processes are modelled as random effects and the extent of variance is estimated internal to the model. Concurrently, sampling variance parameters associated with likelihoods for fitting composition data within fisheries assessments are more often being estimated internal to the model as well. We examine the performance of stock assessment models when multiple process variance and sampling variance terms are simultaneously estimated within assessment models. We specifically examine how assessment performance is affected by the choice of composition likelihood, the degree of overdispersion in composition data, overparameterization, and modelling variation on the wrong process. In doing so, we build a simulation containing overdispersion and correlations in composition data, directional variation in catchability and/or selectivity, and estimation models which include random effects and composition likelihoods with theoretically estimable variances. Results suggest that with standard data available in fisheries assessments, process variance parameters associated with some commonly employed methods and sampling variance parameters can be simultaneously estimated internal to an assessment, and performance greatly improves with increased composition data. Our results also suggest little downside to overparameterization of selectivity and catchability when the true process is not time-varying, which largely agrees with previous research. However, when a process is truly time-varying and the assessment models time-variation on a different process, namely when selectivity is time-varying and instead natural mortality is modelled as potentially time-varying, we find a risk of severe increases in bias and decreases in confidence interval coverage for assessed quantities. This bias and decrease in coverage could, however, be partially mitigated by also modelling time-variation on the correct process.
Research progress and latest achievements of road piezoelectric vibration energy capture technology based on intelligent transportation construction
Authors: Zhou Mengqi , Wang Long , Wang Jun , Ding Guangya , Liu Zhiming 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Developing smart transportation and advocating green transportation are the main directions of future transportation development. In recent years, with the rapid development of intelligent structures and intelligent materials, a variety of energy harvesting technologies in road environment have gradually become a research hotspot. However, due to the low energy conversion efficiency and high cost, the application of some energy harvesting technologies is limited. Among them, vibration energy capture technology based on piezoelectric effect has been widely concerned by scholars because it does not need external power supply and can supply power for low-power wireless sensors. Therefore, this paper summarizes the current state of road energy harvesting technology, with emphasis on piezoelectric systems. It includes the mechanism of piezoelectric effect, the structure of the collector, and its road application. Based on extensive review research, this paper provides a comprehensive insight into road energy harvesting technologies. Specifically, the paper discusses the social and environmental benefits and challenges of road energy harvesting technologies. Finally, research on the durability, safety, and life cycle cost of road piezoelectric energy capture technology is still scarce. It is recommended to carry out such research in order to promote the positive contribution of piezoelectric energy exchange technology in the construction of intelligent transportation.
Epiphytic microbiota in Swedish grass-clover herbage and the effect of silage additives on fermentation profiles and bacterial community compositions of the resulting silages
Authors: Eliasson Thomas , Sun Li , Lundh Åse , Höjer Annika , Saedén Karin Hallin , Hetta Mårten , Gonda Horacio 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Aims
To investigate the epiphytic microbiota in grass-clover herbage harvested at different sites and occasions and to explore the effect of different silage additives on the resulting silage microbiota.

Methods and results
Herbage was harvested from grass-clover leys at geographically distributed sites in a long-term field experiment in Sweden, in early and late season of two consecutive years. Different silages were made from the herbage using: (1) no additive, (2) acid-treatment, and (3) inoculation by starter culture. Herbages were analysed for botanical and chemical composition, and the resulting silages for products of fermentation. Bacterial DNA was extracted from herbage and silage samples, followed by sequencing using Illumina 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Herbage microbiota showed no clear correlation to site or harvesting time. Silage additives had a major effect on the ensiling process; inoculation resulted in well fermented silages comprising a homogenous microbiota dominated by the genera Lactobacillus and Pediococcus. A minor effect of harvest time was also observed, with generally a more diverse microbiota in second-harvest silages. Untreated silages showed a higher relative abundance (RA) from non-lactic acid bacteria compared to acid-treated silages. In most silages, only a few bacterial amplicon sequence variants contributed to most of the RA.

Conclusions
The epiphytic microbiota in grass-clover herbage were found to be random and not dependent on site. From a microbial point of view, the most predictable and preferable silage outcome was obtained by inoculation with a starter culture. Acid-treatment with formic- and propionic acid surprisingly resulted in a less preferable silage. Silage making without additives cannot be recommended based on our results.