bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Taxonomic, biogeographic, and biological implications of mammoth teeth from a dynamic Pleistocene landscape in Alberta, Canada
Authors: Barrón-Ortiz Christina I. , Jass Christopher N. , Cammidge Tasha S. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractContinental-scale patterns of morphological and biological change represent broad time- and spatially averaged interpretations. Conversely, regionally focused studies of morphological variability offer an opportunity to consider patterns of biological change at more refined spatial scales, where nuanced histories may be identified. That approach is particularly applicable for areas known to have dynamic biogeographic and glacial landscapes (e.g., western Canada). We studied proboscideans from Alberta, Canada, an area thought to represent a zone of sympatry between extinct forms of mammoth (i.e., Mammuthus columbi, Mammuthus primigenius) in order to test existing taxonomic hypotheses and chronologically contextualize the regional record of mammoths through the Late Pleistocene. Morphometric analysis of sixth molars of mammoths from Alberta (n = 17) support identification of three distinct morphologies that we assign to M. columbi, M. primigenius, and intermediates of those taxa. The presence of intermediate forms is perhaps unsurprising, given both the recognition of hybridization in M. columbi and M. primigenius and the previously documented occurrence of both taxa in Alberta. Some records of M. columbi may document a broader northern geographic incursion for that taxon than previously recognized, but could also represent a much deeper time component to the history of Mammuthus in Alberta (i.e., Mammuthus trogontherii).
Echinostomatids from South African freshwater limpets: phylogenetic analyses and diagnostic morphological features for cercariae of Petasiger
Authors: Outa James Omondi , Avenant-Oldewage Annemariè 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Species of the family Echinostomatidae use diverse gastropod taxa as first intermediate hosts. However, identification of echinostomatid larvae often proves difficult because of incomplete information on their life cycles and lack of molecular data that can link larvae to the corresponding known adults. Here, echinostomatids that were isolated from freshwater limpets in South Africa were described using light and scanning electron microscopy, and ribosomal (28S, ITS, and 18S) and mitochondrial (cox1) DNA sequences. The analyses revealed three species: Petasiger radiatus, Petasiger sp., and Echinostomatidae gen. sp. Considering the close morphological resemblance between cercariae of Petasiger spp., the current species were compared with data from literature. The results showed that cercarial size is generally unsuitable for species discrimination. The numbers of flame cells and refractile granules in the excretory system, and penetration gland cell patterns, may indicate, but do not prove species identity. Although papillary patterns were distinct between species, papillae were clearly discernible only using scanning electron microscopy and are known for only a few species. Phylogenetic reconstruction indicated that 28S rDNA sequences of Petasiger on GenBank are for P. exaeretus, P. phalacrocoracis, P. radiatus, and six unnamed species. Furthermore, the results revealed that multiple ITS rDNA and cox1 sequences labelled as Stephanoprora amurensis and P. phalacrocoracis on GenBank, are from isolates whose identities are questionable. Echinostomatidae gen. sp. could not be assigned to any currently known genus. Expansion of the genetic database of the family Echinostomatidae is necessary for the delineation of putative species and elucidation of intergeneric relationships.
Digital technologies and identity negotiation: a study of trilingual Uyghur university students’ language learning experiences in intranational migrations
Authors: Ye Xiaoya 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
This three-year longitudinal case study explored how trilingual Uyghur intranational migrant students utilized digital technologies to learn languages and negotiate their identities in Han-dominant environments during their internal migrations within China, a topic that has been scarcely researched before. Adopting a poststructuralist perspective of identity, the study traced four Uyghur students who migrated from underdeveloped southern Xinjiang to northern Xinjiang for junior high school education, and to more developed cities in eastern and southern China for senior high school education and higher education. A qualitative approach was adopted, utilizing semi-structured interviews, class and campus observations, daily conversations, WeChat conversations, participants’ reflections, and assignments. Findings reveal that Uyghur minority students utilized digital technologies to bridge the English proficiency gap with Han students, negotiate their marginalized identities, integrate into the mainstream education system, and extend the empowerment to other ethnic minority students. This was in sharp contrast to the significant challenges and identity crises they faced when they did not have access to digital technologies to learn Mandarin in boarding secondary schools. An unprecedented finding is that, with digital empowerment, Uyghur minority students could achieve accomplishments that were even difficult for Han students to attain and gain upward social mobility by finding employment in Han-dominant first-tier cities. The implications of utilizing digital technologies to support intranational migrant ethnic minority students’ language learning and identity development are discussed.
Long-term correction of hemophilia A via integration of a functionally enhanced FVIII gene into the AAVS1 locus by nickase in patient-derived iPSCs
Authors: Kim Do-Hun , Choi Sang-Hwi , Sung Jin Jea , Kim Sieun , Yi Hanui , Park Sanghyun , Park Chan Wook , Oh Young Woo , Lee Jungil , Kim Dae-Sung , Kim Jong-Hoon , Park Chul-Yong , Kim Dong-Wook 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Hemophilia A (HA) is caused by mutations in coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). Genome editing in conjunction with patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is a promising cell therapy strategy, as it replaces dysfunctional proteins resulting from genetic mutations with normal proteins. However, the low expression level and short half-life of FVIII still remain significant limiting factors in the efficacy of these approaches in HA. Here, we constructed a functionally enhanced FVIII variant, F309S/E1984V-mutated B domain-deleted (BDD)-FVIII (FE-FVIII), with increased activity and stability. We inserted FE-FVIII with a human elongation factor-1 alpha (EF1α) promoter into the AAVS1 locus of HA patient-derived iPSCs via CRISPR/Cas9 (D10A) nickase to ensure expression in any cell type. FE-FVIII was expressed not only in undifferentiated FE-FVIII-inserted (FE-KI) iPSCs but also in endothelial cells (ECs) differentiated from them in vitro. Compared with mice transplanted with wild-type BDD-FVIII-containing ECs, immunocompetent HA mice intravenously transplanted with FE-KI ECs presented a 2.12-fold increase in FVIII activity in the blood and an approximately 20% greater survival rate after hemorrhagic tail injury. For sustained efficacy, FE-KI ECs were subcutaneously transplanted into immunodeficient HA mice, resulting in amelioration of the hemophilia phenotype for more than 3 months. This strategy can improve FVIII function and may provide a universal therapeutic approach for treating HA.
Negative PSMA PET can be used to avoid unnecessary pelvic lymph node dissection in intermediate risk prostate cancer
Authors: Incesu Reha-Baris , Preisser Felix , Nohe Florian , Maurer Tobias , Graefen Markus , Tilki Derya 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Background
Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET) has a high negative predictive value (NPV) in determining lymph node invasion (LNI) in men with intermediate-risk disease undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) and pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND). We hypothesized that PSMA PET may be used to reduce the number of unnecessary PLND procedures performed.

Objective
To assess BCR-free survival of intermediate risk prostate cancer patients with a negative PSMA PET who underwent PLND vs. no PLND.

Design, setting, and participants
Within a high-volume center database, we identified patients with Grade Group 2-3 and PSA ≤ 20 ng/ml who had a negative PSMA PET prior to RP between 2016 and 2021.

Outcome measurements and statistical analysis
Kaplan–Meier analyses were used to compare BCR-free survival between patients with and without PLND.

Results and limitations
Overall, 371 patients were identified. Of those, 333 (90%) underwent RP with PLND, while 38 (10%) had no PLND during RP. Median number of removed lymph nodes in patients with PLND was 16. The NPV of PSMA PET for LNI detection was 90.1%. Median follow-up was 36 months. The median preoperative PSA was 7.8 ng/ml. 59% had biopsy Grade Group 2 and 41% had biopsy Grade Group 3, respectively. BCR-free survival at 36 months after prostatectomy was 78.7% vs. 76.7% (p = 0.8) for patients with vs. without PLND. Main limitation is the absence of long-term oncologic outcomes.

Conclusions
In intermediate risk prostate cancer patients, a PLND may be avoided in the presence of a negative PSMA PET.
Rapid and quantitative functional interrogation of human enhancer variant activity in live mice
Authors: Hollingsworth Ethan W. , Liu Taryn A. , Alcantara Joshua A. , Chen Cindy X. , Jacinto Sandra H. , Kvon Evgeny Z. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractFunctional analysis of non-coding variants associated with congenital disorders remains challenging due to the lack of efficient in vivo models. Here we introduce dual-enSERT, a robust Cas9-based two-color fluorescent reporter system which enables rapid, quantitative comparison of enhancer allele activities in live mice in less than two weeks. We use this technology to examine and measure the gain- and loss-of-function effects of enhancer variants previously linked to limb polydactyly, autism spectrum disorder, and craniofacial malformation. By combining dual-enSERT with single-cell transcriptomics, we characterise gene expression in cells where the enhancer is normally and ectopically active, revealing candidate pathways that may lead to enhancer misregulation. Finally, we demonstrate the widespread utility of dual-enSERT by testing the effects of fifteen previously uncharacterised rare and common non-coding variants linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. In doing so we identify variants that reproducibly alter the in vivo activity of OTX2 and MIR9-2 brain enhancers, implicating them in autism. Dual-enSERT thus allows researchers to go from identifying candidate enhancer variants to analysis of comparative enhancer activity in live embryos in under two weeks.
Selectively expressed RNA molecules as a versatile tool for functionalized cell targeting
Authors: Rastfeld Frederik , Hoffmann Marco , Krüger Sylvie , Bohn Patrick , Gribling-Burrer Anne-Sophie , Wagner Laura , Hersch Nils , Stegmayr Carina , Lövenich Lukas , Gerlach Sven , Köninger Daniel , Hoffmann Christina , Walter Helene L. , Wiedermann Dirk , Manoharan Hajaani , Fink Gereon R. , Merkel Rudolf , Bohlen Heribert , Smyth Redmond P. , Rueger Maria A. , Hoffmann Bernd 
Published: January 2025

AbstractTargeting of diseased cells is one of the most urgently needed prerequisites for a next generation of potent pharmaceuticals. Different approaches pursued fail mainly due to a lack of specific surface markers. Developing an RNA-based methodology, we can now ensure precise cell targeting combined with selective expression of effector proteins for therapy, diagnostics or cell steering. The specific combination of the molecular properties of antisense technology and mRNA therapy with functional RNA secondary structures allowed us to develop selectively expressed RNA molecules for medical applications. These seRNAs remain inactive in non-target cells and induce translation by partial degradation only in preselected cell types of interest. Cell specificity and type of functionalization are easily adaptable based on a modular system. In proof-of-concept studies we use seRNAs as platform technology for highly selective cell targeting. We effectively treat breast tumor cell clusters in mixed cell systems and shrink early U87 glioblastoma cell clusters in the brain of male mice without detectable side effects. Our data open up potential avenues for various therapeutic applications.
Tracing ancient solar cycles with tree rings and radiocarbon in the first millennium BCE
Authors: Brehm Nicolas , Pearson Charlotte L. , Christl Marcus , Bayliss Alex , Nicolussi Kurt , Pichler Thomas , Brown David , Wacker Lukas 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThe Sun drives Earth’s energy systems, influencing weather, ocean currents, and agricultural productivity. Understanding solar variability is critical, but direct observations are limited to 400 years of sunspot records. To extend this timeline, cosmic ray-produced radionuclides like 14C in tree-rings provide invaluable insights. However, few records have the resolution or temporal span required to thoroughly investigate important short-term solar phenomena, such as the 11-year solar cycle, or 14C production spikes most likely linked to solar energetic particle (SEP) events. Here we present a continuous, annually resolved atmospheric 14C record from tree-rings spanning the first millennium BCE, confirming no new SEP’s and clearly defining the 11-year solar cycle, with a mean period of 10.5 years, and amplitude of approximately 0.4‰ in 14C concentration. This dataset offers unprecedented detail on solar behavior over long timescales, providing insights for climatic research and solar hazard mitigation, while also offering enhanced radiocarbon calibration and dating accuracy.
Mechanism of mammalian transcriptional repression by noncoding RNA
Authors: Tlučková Katarína , Kaczmarek Beata , Salmazo Anita , Bernecky Carrie 
Published: January 2025

AbstractTranscription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) can be repressed by noncoding RNA, including the human RNA Alu. However, the mechanism by which endogenous RNAs repress transcription remains unclear. Here we present cryogenic-electron microscopy structures of Pol II bound to Alu RNA, which reveal that Alu RNA mimics how DNA and RNA bind to Pol II during transcription elongation. Further, we show how distinct domains of the general transcription factor TFIIF control repressive activity. Together, we reveal how a noncoding RNA can regulate mammalian gene expression.
An intelligent hybrid approach combining fuzzy C-means and the sperm whale algorithm for cyber attack detection in IoT networks
Authors: Elsedimy E. I. , AboHashish Sara M. M. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThe Internet of Things (IoTs) has revolutionized cities, enabling them to become smarter. IoTs play an important role in monitoring the traffic cameras, roads, smart farming, connected vehicles, air quality, water level, humidity, and carbon dioxide pollution levels in city buildings. One of the major challenges of smart cities is the cyber threat to sensitive data. This paper presents an intelligent approach for detecting cyberattacks and mitigating malicious events in IoT-based smart systems. The proposed approach, known as FCM-SWA, hybridizes a fuzzy C-mean (FCM) with a sperm whale algorithm (SWA). In the first step, we use a novel SWA optimization algorithm to enhance the FCM performance and provide effective defenses against various types of smart city attacks. Next, we propose an adaptive threshold strategy to enhance the global search capability of SWA and prevent the algorithm from settling into local optima. Lastly, we present an efficient scaling approach that solves the clustering problem and finds the optimal cluster center, striking a balance between exploration and exploration in the search space. The proposed FCM-SWA model does better than related and state-of-the-art methods in terms of accuracy, detection rate, precision rate, and F1-scores, as shown by experiments on the NSL-KDD, AWID, and BoT-IoT datasets.
Nano-chitosan-coated, green-synthesized selenium nanoparticles as a novel antifungal agent against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum: in vitro study
Authors: Desouky Mohamed M. , Abou-Saleh Radwa H. , Moussa Tarek A. A. , Fahmy Heba M. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractChemical fungicides have been used to control fungal diseases like Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. These fungicides must be restricted because of their toxicity and the development of resistance strains. Therefore, utilizing natural nanoscale materials in agricultural production is a potential alternative. This work aimed to investigate the antifungal properties of a nanocomposite (nano-chitosan-coated, green-synthesized selenium nanoparticles) against the plant pathogenic fungus S. sclerotiorum. Chemical reduction was used to produce selenium nanoparticles from citrus peel extracts, and ionotropic gelation was used to produce chitosan nanoparticles. The nanocomposite has been produced using selenium nanoparticles stabilized by chitosan and cross-linked with sodium tripolyphosphate. Transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, UV-VIS spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize all produced nanostructures. The in vitro antifungal activity and minimum inhibitory concentration of all bulk and nanostructures are investigated at (0.5, 1, 5, 10, 50, 100) ppm concentrations. Scanning electron microscopy was used to detect structural deformations in the fungal mycelium. The findings support the successful synthesis and characterization of all nanoparticles. Lemon peel extract produced smaller, more stable, and distributed selenium nanoparticles (42.28 ± 18.5 nm) than orange peel extract (85.7 ± 140.22 nm). Nanostructures, particularly nanocomposite, have shown a considerable increase in antifungal efficacy compared to bulk structures. At a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.5 ppm, the nanocomposite exhibited 100% inhibitory activity. The nanocomposite with a concentration of 0.5 ppm exhibited the lowest average fungal biomass (0.32 ± 0.05 g) among all tested nanostructures. Fungal hyphae treated with 0.5 ppm of nanocomposite within 18 h of treatment revealed substantial damage and deformation. These results provide new insights into the nanocomposite as an eco-friendly and promising antifungal agent against other plant pathogenic fungi.
Rapid climate action is needed: comparing heat vs. COVID-19-related mortality
Authors: Batibeniz Fulden , Seneviratne Sonia I. , Jha Srinidhi , Ribeiro Andreia , Suarez Gutierrez Laura , Raible Christoph C. , Malhotra Avni , Armstrong Ben , Bell Michelle L. , Lavigne Eric , Gasparrini Antonio , Guo Yuming , Hashizume Masahiro , Masselot Pierre , da Silva Susana Pereira , Royé Dominic , Sera Francesco , Tong Shilu , Urban Aleš , Vicedo-Cabrera Ana M. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThe impacts of climate change on human health are often underestimated or perceived to be in a distant future. Here, we present the projected impacts of climate change in the context of COVID-19, a recent human health catastrophe. We compared projected heat mortality with COVID-19 deaths in 38 cities worldwide and found that in half of these cities, heat-related deaths could exceed annual COVID-19 deaths in less than ten years (at + 3.0 °C increase in global warming relative to preindustrial). In seven of these cities, heat mortality could exceed COVID-19 deaths in less than five years. Our results underscore the crucial need for climate action and for the integration of climate change into public health discourse and policy.
Role of miR-16, 146a, 19b and 720 gene expressions in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of vitiligo
Authors: Shaker Olfat G. , Abd elrahim Talal A. , Azzam Somia , El-Zook Mai Mohamed , Aboraia Nesreen M. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractVitiligo is a common long-term depigmenting skin disorder that is characterized by patches of skin losing their pigment. To evaluate serum/tissue levels of miR-16, 146a, 19b and 720 in vitiligo patients and healthy controls, also analyzing the correlations between all biomarkers to indicate whether those can be used to early diagnose vitiligo patients. Forty-subjects were included, divided into two equal groups, 20 healthy matched individuals and 20 vitiligo patients. For all groups a 5 mL venous blood sample for serum isolation was taken and analyzed for the serum level of miRNAs. For tissue analysis, 3 mm biopsy was taken. For all patients Vitiligo area scoring index (VASI), vitiligo disease activity (VIDA), disease duration and extent percentages were calculated. No significant difference was observed in age and sex ratio among the two groups (p > 0.05). Serum, expression levels for miR-16, 146a, and 19b were overexpressed in vitiligo patients as compared to healthy controls with p-value 0.000 for all biomarkers. While miR-720 was reported low in vitiligo patients compared to controls (p = 0.000). For tissue samples, miR-16, 146a, 19b were overexpressed in vitiligo patients with p-values 0.000, 0.000 and < 0.001 respectively, while for the expression level of miR-720 in tissue, the level was low compared to controls (p = 0.000). There are positive correlations between VASI and miR-16, 146a in serum and miR-146a in tissue. Also positive correlations between disease extent and both miR-16 and miR-146a in serum and in tissue was found. A negative correlation between VIDA and miR-720 in serum was found. Various correlations between the selected miRNAs were reported. Based upon the expression levels of miR-16, 146a, 19b and 720 in both serum and tissue, these biomarkers can be used as early indicators for vitiligo.