bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of the polyol pathway by Ducrosia anethifolia extract: plausible implications for diabetic retinopathy treatment
Authors: Ahmad Saheem , Ahmad Mohammad Faizan Ali , Khan Saif , Alouffi Sultan , Khan Mahvish , Khan Mohd Wajid Ali , Ansari Irfan Ahmad 
Published: December 2024

IntroductionDiabetic retinopathy is a significant microvascular disorder and the leading cause of vision impairment in working-age individuals. Hyperglycemia triggers retinal damage through mechanisms such as the polyol pathway and the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Inhibiting key enzymes in this pathway, aldose reductase (AR) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SD), alongside preventing AGE formation, may offer therapeutic strategies for diabetic retinopathy and other vascular complications. This study investigates the ability of Ducrosia anethifolia, an Arabian plant, to inhibit AR and SD enzymes.MethodsMethanolic extracts of the plant were tested in enzyme assays and further analyzed using Lineweaver-Burk plots for kinetic insights. Additionally, the effects on AGE production and sorbitol accumulation in red blood cells were evaluated.ResultsThe methanolic extract showed strong inhibitory effects on AR (IC50: 69.41 ± 3.59 μg/mL) and SD (IC50: 31.11 ± 5.58 μg/mL), acting through a mixed-inhibition mechanism. It also significantly reduced sorbitol accumulation and AGE formation.DiscussionThese findings suggest that the extract’s inhibition of the polyol pathway enzymes is due to its phytochemical content. Further isolation and identification of these active compounds could provide valuable insights for developing future pharmaceutical treatments for diabetic retinopathy.
Spatial heterogeneity of soil factors enhances intraspecific variation in plant functional traits in a desert ecosystem
Authors: Wang Yong-chang , Zhang Xue-ni , Yang Ji-fen , Tian Jing-ye , Song Dan-hong , Li Xiao-hui , Zhou Shuang-fu 
Published: December 2024

IntroductionFunctional traits of desert plants exhibit remarkable responsiveness, adaptability and plasticity to environmental heterogeneity.MethodsIn this study, we measured six crucial plant functional traits (leaf carbon, leaf nitrogen, leaf phosphorus, leaf thickness, chlorophyll concentration, and plant height) and employed exemplar analysis to elucidate the effects of soil environmental heterogeneity on intraspecific traits variation in the high-moisture-salinity and low-moisture-salinity habitats of the Ebinur LakeWetland National Nature Reserve.ResultsThe results showed that (1) The soil moisture and electrical conductivity heterogeneity showed significant differences between the two moisture-salinity habitats. Moreover, soil nutrient in high moisture-salinity habitat exhibited higher heterogeneity than in low moisture-salinity habitat. The order of intraspecific trait variation among different life forms was herbs &gt; shrubs &gt; trees in both the soil moisture-salinity habitats. (2) At the community level, intraspecific variation of leaf carbon, nitrogen, plant height and chlorophyll content in high moisture-salinity habitat was higher than that in low moisture-salinity habitat, while the opposite was true for leaf thickness and leaf phosphorus content. (3) Our findings revealed a positive impact of soil heterogeneity on intraspecific traits variation. In high moisture-salinity habitat, the heterogeneity of soil organic carbon had the highest explanatory power for intraspecific traits variation, reaching up to 20.22%, followed by soil total nitrogen (9.55%) and soil total phosphorus (3.49%). By comparison, in low-moisture-salinity habitat, the heterogeneity of soil moisture alone contributes the highest explanatory power for intraspecific traits variation in community-level, reaching up to 13.89%, followed by the heterogeneity of soil total nitrogen (3.76%).DiscussionThis study emphasizes the differences in soil heterogeneity and intraspecific trait variation among plant life forms under various soil moisture-salinity habitats and confirms the significant promoting effect of soil heterogeneity on intraspecific trait variation of desert plant. Our findings provide valuable theoretical basis and reference for predicting plant adaptation strategies under environmental change scenarios.
Case report: Clinical and genetic characterization of a novel ALDH7A1 variant causing pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy, developmental delay, and intellectual disability in two siblings
Authors: Salih Mustafa A. , AlBakheet Albandary , Almass Rawan , Hamed Ahlam A. A. , AlOdaib Ali , Kaya Namik 
Published: December 2024

BackgroundPathogenic variants in ALDH7A1 are associated with pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE), a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by epileptic seizures, unresponsiveness to standard antiseizure medications (ASM), and a response only to pyridoxine. Here, we report two patients (from a consanguineous family) with neonatal seizures and developmental delay.Case presentationPatient 1 (a 13-year-old girl) was born normally at term. Her pregnancy was complicated by antiphospholipid syndrome, and persistent vomiting was managed with several medications, including pyridoxine (40 mg daily). Seizures occurred 6 h after birth and did not respond to antiseizure medications. However, they ceased 2 days later when pyridoxine (40 mg daily) was administered. She continued her medications and had delayed early milestones. Phenobarbitone was discontinued at 18 months, and pyridoxine was increased to 100 mg daily at 8 years of age. She was able to join a regular school and performed well. Patient 2, a 12-year-old boy, was delivered normally at term. Seizures started 10 h after birth, and he immediately received 40 mg of pyridoxine. Seizures have been controlled since then, and he experienced delayed milestones. Pyridoxine was increased to 100 mg daily at 7 years of age. He is currently in fifth grade and has dyslexia. Whole exome sequencing (WES) revealed that both patients 1 and 2 harbor a novel homozygous missense variant in ALDH7A1 (NM_001202404: exon 12: c.1168G&gt;C; (p.Gly390Arg)).ConclusionThe present study reports a novel ALDH7A1 variant causing PDE and highlights the associated developmental delay and intellectual disability, despite early seizure control treatment.
The Southern Center for Maternal Health Equity (SCMHE): a multisector multifaceted community-based approach to reduce disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality in the Gulf South
Authors: Goldin Evans Melissa , Wallace Maeve , Bazzano Alessandra N. , Biggio Joseph R. , Cruz Kiara , Gamble Abigail , Green Carmen , Jah Zainab , Longo Sherri , Perez Susan , Reed Rachael N. , Shaffer Jeffrey G. , Shi Lizheng , Harville Emily 
Published: December 2024

IntroductionThe maternal mortality crisis in the United States disproportionately affects women who are Black, especially those living in the Gulf South. These disparities result from a confluence of healthcare, policy, and social factors that systematically place Black women at greater risk of maternal morbidities and mortality. This study protocol describes the Southern Center for Maternal Health Equity (SCMHE), a research center funded by the National Institutes of Health in 2023 to reduce preventable causes of maternal morbidity and mortality while improving health equity. This is a seven year program with pilot and implementation phases. SCMHE is co-led by three organizations: Reproductive Health Impact (a fiscally sponsored project of the Praxis Project), an advocacy community-based organization; Tulane University, an academic research institute; and Ochsner Health, a large regional nonprofit health system.MethodsSCMHE applies a multilevel life course approach based on the Social Ecological Model to prevent maternal morbidity and mortality with interventions at individual, interpersonal, institutional, community, and societal levels. This community-focused research center uses an intersectional lens and the Reproductive Justice framework in its aims to improve maternal health and strengthen community-based maternal health research capacity in Louisiana and Mississippi.DiscussionTo advance the field of maternal health using participatory, community-centered, and radically equity-focused approaches previously underutilized and under-evaluated, the Center will lead three R01 projects to assess the implementation of existing evidence-based strategies and build the evidence base for translational research strategies.Ethics and disseminationBy leveraging our team's existing network with local, regional, and national partners while continuing to build new, unique interdisciplinary partnerships, we will build upon our distinctive interdisciplinary strengths and community connections to bring our outreach and technical assistance efforts to diverse audiences.
Longitudinal performance trajectories of young female sprint runners: a new tool to predict performance progression
Authors: Romann Michael , Javet Marie , Hernandez Julia , Heyer Louis , Trösch Severin , Cobley Stephen , Born Dennis-Peter 
Published: December 2024

BackgroundLongitudinal performance tracking in sports science is crucial for accurate talent identification and prognostic prediction of future performance. However, traditional methods often struggle with the complexities of unbalanced datasets and inconsistent repeated measures.PurposeThis study aimed to analyze the longitudinal performance development of female 60 m sprint runners using linear mixed effects models (LMM). We sought to generate a practical tool for coaches and researchers to establish benchmarks and predict performance development.MethodsWe analyzed 41,123 race results from 8,732 female 60 m track sprinters aged 6–15 years, collected from the Swiss Athletics online database between 2006 and 2021. Only season-best times per athlete and only athletes with at least 3 season-best times in their career were included. LMM was used to generate performance trajectories, benchmarks, and individual predictions. A practical software tool was developed and made available to allow individual performance prediction based on race times from previous seasons. In addition, classic empirical percentile curves were constructed using the Lambda-Mu-Sigma (LMS) method.ResultsLMM handled the dataset's complexities, producing robust longitudinal performance trajectories. Compared to empirical percentiles generated using the LMS method, which provided a retrospective view of performance development, the mixed model approach identified individualized longitudinal performance developments and estimated predictions of future performance. The best-fitting model included log-transformed chronological age (CA) as a fixed effect and random intercepts and slopes for each athlete. This model explained 59% of the variance through fixed effects (marginal R2) and 93% through combined fixed and random effects (conditional R2).ConclusionLMM provided longitudinal sport performance data, enabling the establishment of performance benchmarking and prediction of future performance. The software tool can assist coaches in setting realistic training goals and identifying promising athletes.
Treatment of idiopathic scoliosis with conservative methods based on exercises: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Dimitrijević Vanja , Rašković Bojan , Popović Miroslav , Viduka Dejan , Nikolić Siniša , Drid Patrik , Obradović Borislav 
Published: December 2024

IntroductionThis systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to systematically assess the effect size of conservative methods based on exercise for respondents with idiopathic scoliosis.MethodsThis study was developed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were searched in May 2023. The key search terms were “Idiopathic scoliosis”, “Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis”, “Cobb angle”, “Angle of trunk rotation”, “Quality of life”, “Schroth method”, and “Core stabilization exercises”. Risk of bias was assessed for each randomized trial using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, and the methodological index for non-randomized studies. The outcomes included Cobb angle, angle of trunk rotation (ATR), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and quality of life (QoL). R 4.0.5 software was used, and standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for continuous outcomes using a random model.ResultsIn total, 23 studies were included. Depending on the outcome measured, the effect size of the different methods in the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis ranged from small to large as follows: Cobb angle (SMD = −0.43, p &lt; 0.0001), ATR (SMD = −0.25, p = 0.06), FVC (SMD = 0.48, p = 0.03), FEV1 (SMD = 0.51, p = 0.004), and QoL (SMD = 0.95, p &lt; 0.0001).ConclusionOur meta-analysis indicates the positive effects of applying conservative methods based on therapeutic exercises on patients with idiopathic scoliosis.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=373554, PROSPERO (CRD42022373554).
The need to (climate) adapt: perceptions of German sports event planners on the imperative to address climate change
Authors: Werner Kim 
Published: December 2024

IntroductionWhile the impact of anthropogenic climate change on sports and the subsequent need for adaptation to evolving climatic conditions are acknowledged, there remains a notable paucity of scientific inquiry within the realm of sports and sports event studies specifically addressing climate change and its ramifications for event planning and management. Existing studies predominantly stem from health, medical, weather and climate science and mostly focus on mega-events and elite athlete contexts. Moreover, they often only focus on one specific impact (e.g., extreme heat) without providing a comprehensive summary or overview of all eminent impacts, resulting risks and potential adaptation strategies. This study aims to explore how (German) sports events are impacted by climate change and identify measures for organizers to address these impacts.MethodsFollowing a comprehensive literature review, semi-structured interviews with event planners and organizers in Germany were conducted, ranging from small local events to weekly league competitions to national championships and major events.ResultsThe findings demonstrate that climate change adaptation is not yet a primary focus in the German sports event context. While some planners, especially those of large-scale events, have started implementing adaptation measures, others are only beginning to address the issue.DiscussionThe study discusses the challenges that sports event organizers face in adjusting to the adverse effects of climate change and also examines specific adaptation strategies. The paper emphasizes the imperative for organizers to incorporate climate adaptation measures more effectively into routine event planning and management processes, and provides practical guidelines to achieve this integration.
Clinical Versus Pathological Staging in Patients with Resected Ground Glass Pulmonary Lesions
Authors: Faber Dan Levy , Agbarya Abed , Lee Andrew , Tsenter Yael , Schneer Sonia , Robitsky Gelis Yulia , Galili Ronen 
Published: December 2024

Background: A ground glass nodule (GGN) is a radiologically descriptive term for a lung parenchymal area with increased attenuation and preserved bronchial and vascular structures. GGNs are further divided into pure versus subsolid lesions. The differential diagnosis for GGNs is wide and contains a malignant possibility for a lung adenocarcinoma precursor or tumor. Clinical and pathological staging of GGNs is based on the lesions’ solid component and falls into a specific classification including T0 for TIS, T1mi for minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) and T1abc for lepidic predominant adenocarcinoma (LPA) according to the eighth edition of the TNM classification of lung cancer. Correlation between solid parts seen on a CT scan and the tumor pathological invasive component is not absolute. Methods: This retrospective study collected the data of 68 GGNs that were operated upon in Carmel Medical Center. A comparison between preoperative clinical staging and post-surgery pathological staging was conducted. Results: Over a third of the lesions, twenty-four (35.3%), were upstaged while only four (5.9%) lesions were downstaged. Another third of the lesions, twenty-three (33.8%), kept their stage. In three (4.4%) cases, premalignant lesion atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) was diagnosed. Ten (14.7%) cases were diagnosed as non-malignant on final pathology. These findings show an overall low agreement between the clinical and pathological stages of GGNs. Conclusions: The relatively high percentage of upstaging tumors detected in this study and the overall safe and short surgical procedure advocate for surgical resection even in the presence of a significant number of non-malignant lesions that retrospectively do not mandate intervention at all.
Intraspecific Chloroplast Genome Genetic Polymorphism of Pinellia ternata (Xi Junecry) and Its Revelation of a Single Origin in Phylogeny
Authors: Xing Wenlong , Yu Weihan , Kong Yuanyuan , Ren Xian , Zhu Liuying , Li Qingyang , Yang Yujie , Cheng Yueqin , Wang Hongwei 
Published: December 2024

Background: Xi Junecry (Pinellia ternata), a perennial herb of the Araceae family, is indigenous to Xinxian County, Henan Province, China, and is regarded as a premium variety among similar medicinal materials. However, the lack of comprehensive genetic information on Xi Junecry germplasm resources has constrained the cultivation and identification of high-quality varieties. Methods: In this study, six chloroplast genomes of Xi Junecry were assembled and annotated using high-throughput sequencing. Subsequently, comparative analyses were conducted, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. Results: The six Xi Junecry chloroplast genome lengths ranged from 157,456 to 158,406 bp, and the GC content was between 36.0% and 36.2%. A total of 265 single nucleotide polymorphism sites were identified across the six genomes, with a whole-genome nucleotide diversity (Pi) value of 0.00084. Among the four genomic regions, the small single-copy region exhibited the highest Pi, followed by the large single-copy region, while the inverted repeat region showed the lowest. Nucleotide polymorphism in coding regions was significantly lower than in non-coding regions. Nine hypervariable regions were identified, as follows: ndhE-ndhG, trnN-GUU-ndhF, trnS-GCU-trnG-UCC, atpB-rbcL, psaI, accD-ycf4, psbE-petL, psaC-ndhE, and psbI-trnG-UCC. Positive selection sites were detected in the accD and rbcL genes. Phylogenetic analysis clustered the six Xi Junecry samples into a distinct clade, separating them from other regional Pinellia samples. Conclusions: These findings elucidate the genetic variation levels in Xi Junecry and provide high-variability loci for population history inference, genetic diversity assessment, species domestication studies, and new cultivar development.
Bioconvective Flow Characteristics of NEPCM–Water Nanofluid over an Inclined Cylinder in Porous Medium: An Extended Darcy Model Approach
Authors: Das Bikash , Ahmed Sahin , Zueco Joaquín 
Published: December 2024

Bioconvection phenomena play a pivotal role in diverse applications, including the synthesis of biological polymers and advancements in renewable energy technologies. This study develops a comprehensive mathematical model to examine the effects of key parameters, such as the Lewis number (Lb), Peclet number (Pe), volume fraction (φ), and angle of inclination (α), on the flow and heat transfer characteristics of a nanofluid over an inclined cylinder embedded in a non-Darcy porous medium. The investigated nanofluid comprises nano-encapsulated phase-change materials (NEPCMs) dispersed in water, offering enhanced thermal performance. The governing non-linear partial differential equations are transformed into dimensionless ordinary differential equations using similarity transformations and solved numerically via the Network Simulation Method (NSM) and an implicit Runge–Kutta method implemented through the bvp4c routine in MATLAB R2021a. Validation against the existing literature confirms the accuracy and reliability of the numerical approach, with strong convergence observed. Quantitative analysis reveals that an increase in the Peclet number reduces the shear stress at the cylinder wall by up to 18% while simultaneously enhancing heat transfer by approximately 12%. Similarly, the angle of inclination (α) significantly boosts heat transmission rates. Additionally, higher Peclet and Lewis numbers, along with greater nanoparticle volume fractions, amplify the density gradient of microorganisms, intensifying the bioconvection process by nearly 15%. These findings underscore the critical interplay between bioconvection and transport phenomena, providing a framework for optimizing bioconvection-driven heat and mass transfer systems. The insights from this investigation hold substantial implications for industrial processes and renewable energy technologies, paving the way for improved efficiency in applications such as thermal energy storage and advanced cooling systems.
The Quenched gA in Nuclei and Infrared Fixed Point in QCD
Authors: Rho Mannque , Shao Long-Qi 
Published: December 2024

The possible consequence of an infrared (IR) fixed point in QCD for Nf=2, 3 in nuclear matter is discussed. It is shown in terms of d(ilaton)-χ effective field theory (dχEFT) incorporated in a generalized effective field theory implemented with hidden local symmetry and hidden scale symmetry that the superallowed Gamow–Teller transition in the doubly magic-shell nucleus 100Sn recently measured at RIKEN indicates a large anomaly-induced quenching identified as a fundamental renormalization of gA from the free-space value of 1.276 to ≈0.8. Combined with the quenching expected from strong nuclear correlations “snc”, the effective coupling in nuclei gAeff would come to ∼1/2. If this result were reconfirmed, it would impact drastically not only nuclear structure and dense compact-star matter—where gA figures in π-N coupling via the Goldberger-Treiman relation—but also in search for physics Beyond the Standard Model (BSM), e.g., 0νββ decay, where the fourth power of gA figures.
Analysis of Rice Yield Prediction with Mlpregressor and Long Short-Term Memory Models
Authors: Sunoto  , Mangapul Siahaan  
Published: December 2024

This research aims to analyse and compare the accuracy of rice productivity prediction using Multi-Layer Perceptron Regressor (MLPRegressor) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models. The data used comes from the Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) for the period 2018-2023, covering rice productivity from 34 provinces in Indonesia. The study employed six different architectural models for each model, with training data using the 2018-2020 period and testing data for 2021-2023. The results show that the LSTM model with 2-42-42-42-1 architecture achieved the highest accuracy rate of 94.12% with MSE 0.00305660, while the MLPRegressor model with 2-22-1 architecture achieved 91.18% accuracy with MSE 0.00471975. These results indicate that LSTM performs slightly better in predicting rice productivity, which can be used as a reference for agricultural planning and food policy in Indonesia.