bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of common Gram-negative pathogens causing male genitourinary-tract infections on human sperm functions
Authors: Marchiani Sara , Baccani Ilaria , Tamburrino Lara , Mattiuz Giorgio , Nicolò Sabrina , Bonaiuto Chiara , Panico Carmen , Vignozzi Linda , Antonelli Alberto , Rossolini Gian Maria , Torcia Maria , Baldi Elisabetta 
Published: September 2021

AbstractMale genitourinary tract (MGT) bacterial infections are considered responsible for 15% of male infertility, but the mechanisms underlying decreased semen quality are poorly known. We evaluated in vitro the effect of strains of Gram-negative uropathogenic species (two E.coli strains, three K. pneumoniae strains, P. aeruginosa and E. cloacae) on motility, viability, mitochondrial oxidative status, DNA fragmentation and caspase activity of human spermatozoa. All strains, except P. aeruginosa, reduced significantly sperm motility, with variable effects. Sperm Immobilizing Factor (SIF) was largely responsible for deteriorating effects on sperm motility of E. coli strains since they were completely reverted by knockout of SIF coding recX gene. Sequence alignment for RecX showed the presence of high homologous sequences in K. pneumoniae and E. cloacae but not in P. aeruginosa. These results suggest that, in addition to E.coli, other common uropathogenic Gram-negative bacteria affect sperm motility through RecX products. In addition to sperm motility, the E. coli strain ATCC 35218 also affected sperm viability, and induced caspase activity, oxidative stress and DNA fragmentation suggesting an interspecies variability in the amount and/or type of the produced spermatotoxic factors. In general, our results highlight the need for a careful evaluation of semen infections in the diagnostic process of the infertile man.
Is glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase deficiency associated with severe outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients?
Authors: Kumar Nitya , AbdulRahman AbdulKarim , AlAwadhi Abdulla Ismaeel , AlQahtani Manaf 
Published: September 2021

AbstractGlucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd) is known to suppress the antioxidant system and is likely to aggravate severity of COVID-19, which results in a pro-oxidant response. This possible association has not been explored adequately in human studies. In this research, we report that the occurrence of non-invasive ventilation, intubation or death—all of which are indicative of severe COVID-19, are not significantly different in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with and without G6PDd (4.6 vs. 6.4%, p = 0.33). The likelihood of developing any of these severe outcomes were slightly lower in patients with G6PDd after accounting for age, nationality, presence of comorbidities and drug interventions (Odds ratio 0.40, 95% confidence intervals 0.142, 1.148). Further investigation that extends to both, hospitalized and non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients, is warranted to study this potential association.
A low aromatic amino-acid diet improves renal function and prevent kidney fibrosis in mice with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Barba Christophe , Benoit Bérengère , Bres Emilie , Chanon Stéphanie , Vieille-Marchiset Aurélie , Pinteur Claudie , Pesenti Sandra , Glorieux Griet , Picard Cécile , Fouque Denis , Soulage Christophe O. , Koppe Laetitia 
Published: September 2021

AbstractDespite decades of use of low protein diets (LPD) in the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD), their mechanisms of action are unclear. A reduced production of uremic toxins could contribute to the benefits of LPDs. Aromatic amino-acids (AA) are precursors of major uremic toxins such as p-cresyl sulfate (PCS) and indoxyl sulfate (IS). We hypothesize that a low aromatic amino acid diet (LA-AAD, namely a low intake of tyrosine, tryptophan and phenylalanine) while being normoproteic, could be as effective as a LPD, through the decreased production of uremic toxins. Kidney failure was chemically induced in mice with a diet containing 0.25% (w/w) of adenine. Mice received three different diets for six weeks: normoproteic diet (NPD: 14.7% proteins, aromatic AAs 0.019%), LPD (5% proteins, aromatic AAs 0.007%) and LA-AAD (14% proteins, aromatic AAs 0.007%). Both LPD and LA-AAD significantly reduced proteinuria, kidney fibrosis and inflammation. While LPD only slightly decreased plasma free PCS and free IS compared to NPD; free fractions of both compounds were significantly decreased by LA-AAD. These results suggest that a LA-AAD confers similar benefits of a LPD in delaying the progression of CKD through a reduction in some key uremic toxins production (such as PCS and IS), with a lower risk of malnutrition.
Nutritional resources of the yeast symbiont cultivated by the lizard beetle Doubledaya bucculenta in bamboos
Authors: Toki Wataru , Aoki Dan 
Published: September 2021

AbstractSymbiotic fungi of wood-inhabiting insects are often considered to aid wood digestion of host insects when the associated fungi can assimilate wood-associated indigestible materials. In most cases, however, the components of wood that are utilized by fungal symbionts remain poorly understood. The lizard beetle Doubledaya bucculenta (Coleoptera, Erotylidae, Languriinae) farms the symbiotic yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus inside the cavity of host bamboo internodes, which serves as food for larvae. To determine the carbon sources of the internodes serving as nutritional substrates for W. anomalus, we used ion exchange chromatography measurements to analyze free and structural sugar compositions in fresh pith (FP), yeast-cultured pith (YP), and larva-reared pith (LP) of internodes. Glucose and fructose were the major free sugars in FP and markedly decreased in YP and LP. For structural sugars, no sugar significantly decreased in YP or LP compared with FP. Carbon assimilation tests showed that W. anomalus assimilated glucose, mannose, fructose, and sucrose strongly, xylose and cellobiose moderately, and xylan weakly. Elemental analysis revealed that the compositions of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen were not significantly different among tissue types. These results suggest that W. anomalus does not consume bamboo-associated indigestible sugars but most free sugars, mainly glucose and fructose, in the pith. Our findings suggest that a symbiont’s abilities may not always benefit its host in nature.
Aedes fluviatilis cell lines as new tools to study metabolic and immune interactions in mosquito-Wolbachia symbiosis
Authors: Conceição Christiano Calixto , da Silva Jhenifer Nascimento , Arcanjo Angélica , Nogueira Cíntia Lopes , de Abreu Leonardo Araujo , de Oliveira Pedro Lagerblad , Gondim Katia C. , Moraes Bruno , de Carvalho Stephanie Serafim , da Silva Renato Martins , da Silva Vaz Itabajara , Moreira Luciano Andrade , Logullo Carlos 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIn the present work, we established two novel embryonic cell lines from the mosquito Aedes fluviatilis containing or not the naturally occurring symbiont bacteria Wolbachia, which were called wAflu1 and Aflu2, respectively. We also obtained wAflu1 without Wolbachia after tetracycline treatment, named wAflu1.tet. Morphofunctional characterization was performed to help elucidate the symbiont-host interaction in the context of energy metabolism regulation and molecular mechanisms of the immune responses involved. The presence of Wolbachia pipientis improves energy performance in A. fluviatilis cells; it affects the regulation of key energy sources such as lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates, making the distribution of actin more peripheral and with extensions that come into contact with neighboring cells. Additionally, innate immunity mechanisms were activated, showing that the wAflu1 and wAflu1.tet cells are responsive after the stimulus using Gram negative bacteria. Therefore, this work confirms the natural, mutually co-regulating symbiotic relationship between W. pipientis and A. fluviatilis, modulating the host metabolism and immune pathway activation. The results presented here add important resources to the current knowledge of Wolbachia-arthropod interactions.
An adaptive approach to machine learning for compact particle accelerators
Authors: Scheinker Alexander , Cropp Frederick , Paiagua Sergio , Filippetto Daniele 
Published: September 2021

AbstractMachine learning (ML) tools are able to learn relationships between the inputs and outputs of large complex systems directly from data. However, for time-varying systems, the predictive capabilities of ML tools degrade if the systems are no longer accurately represented by the data with which the ML models were trained. For complex systems, re-training is only possible if the changes are slow relative to the rate at which large numbers of new input-output training data can be non-invasively recorded. In this work, we present an approach to deep learning for time-varying systems that does not require re-training, but uses instead an adaptive feedback in the architecture of deep convolutional neural networks (CNN). The feedback is based only on available system output measurements and is applied in the encoded low-dimensional dense layers of the encoder-decoder CNNs. First, we develop an inverse model of a complex accelerator system to map output beam measurements to input beam distributions, while both the accelerator components and the unknown input beam distribution vary rapidly with time. We then demonstrate our method on experimental measurements of the input and output beam distributions of the HiRES ultra-fast electron diffraction (UED) beam line at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and showcase its ability for automatic tracking of the time varying photocathode quantum efficiency map. Our method can be successfully used to aid both physics and ML-based surrogate online models to provide non-invasive beam diagnostics.
Aqueous mechano-bactericidal action of acicular aragonite crystals
Authors: Negishi Nobuaki , Inaba Tomohiro , Miyazaki Yukari , Ishii Genki , Yang Yingnan , Koura Setsuko 
Published: September 2021

AbstractNanoneedle structures on dragonfly and cicada wing surfaces or black silicon nanoneedles demonstrate antibacterial phenomena, namely mechano-bactericidal action. These air-exposed, mechano-bactericidal surfaces serve to destroy adherent bacteria, but their bactericidal action in the water is no precedent to report. Calcium carbonate easily accumulates on solid surfaces during long-term exposure to hard water. We expect that aragonite nanoneedles, in particular, which grow on TiO2 during the photocatalytic treatment of calcium-rich groundwater, exhibit mechano-bactericidal action against bacteria in water. Here, we showed that acicular aragonite modified on TiO2 ceramics prepared from calcium bicarbonate in mineral water by photocatalysis exhibits mechanical bactericidal activity against E. coli in water. Unmodified, calcite-modified and aragonite-modified TiO2 ceramics were exposed to water containing E. coli (in a petri dish), and their bactericidal action over time was investigated under static and agitated conditions. The surfaces of the materials were observed by scanning electron microscopy, and the live/dead bacterial cells were observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. As a result, the synergistic bactericidal performance achieved by mechano-bactericidal action and photocatalysis was demonstrated. Aragonite itself has a high biological affinity for the human body different from the other whisker-sharpen nanomaterials, therefore, the mechano-bactericidal action of acicular aragonite in water is expected to inform the development of safe water purification systems for use in developing countries.
Corn starch reactive blending with latex from natural rubber using Na+ ions augmented carboxymethyl cellulose as a crosslinking agent
Authors: Leksawasdi Noppol , Chaiyaso Thanongsak , Rachtanapun Pornchai , Thanakkasaranee Sarinthip , Jantrawut Pensak , Ruksiriwanich Warintorn , Seesuriyachan Phisit , Phimolsiripol Yuthana , Techapun Charin , Sommano Sarana Rose , Ougizawa Toshiaki , Jantanasakulwong Kittisak 
Published: September 2021

AbstractA mixture of corn starch and glycerol plasticizer (CSG) was blended with latex natural rubber (LNR) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The addition of 10 phr of CMC improved the Young’s modulus (6.7 MPa), tensile strength (8 MPa), and elongation at break (80%) of the CSG/LNR blend. The morphology of the CSG/LNR/CMC blends showed a uniform distribution of LNR particles (1–3 µm) in the CSG matrix. The addition of CMC enhanced the swelling ability and water droplet contact angle of the blends owing to the swelling properties, interfacial crosslinking, and amphiphilic structure of CMC. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the reaction between the C=C bond of LNR and the carboxyl groups (–COO−) of CMC, in which the Na+ ions in CMC acted as a catalyst. Notably, the mechanical properties of the CSG/LNR/CMC blend were improved owing to the miscibility of CSG/CMC and the CMC/LNR interfacial reaction. The CSG/LNR/CMC biodegradable polymer with high mechanical properties and interfacial tension can be used for packaging, agriculture, and medical applications.
Health risk assessment of PM2.5 on walking trips
Authors: Zhu Caihua , Fu Zekun , Liu Linjian , Shi Xuan , Li Yan 
Published: September 2021

AbstractPM2.5has an impact on residents' physical health during travelling, especially walking completely exposed to the environment. In order to obtain the specific impact of PM2.5on walking, 368 healthy volunteers were selected and they were grouped according to gender and age. In the experiment, the heart rate change rate (HR%) is taken as test variable. According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the travel is divided into two states: safety and risk. Based on this, a binary logit model considering Body Mass Index (BMI) is established to determine the contribution of PM2.5concentration and body characteristics to travel risk. The experiment was conducted on Chang'an Middle Road in Xi'an City. The analysis results show that the threshold of HR% for safety and risk ranges from 31.1 to 40.1%, and that of PM2.5concentration ranges from 81 to 168 μg/m3. The probability of risk rises 5.8% and 11.4%, respectively, for every unit increase in PM2.5concentration and HR%. Under same conditions, the probability of risk for male is 76.8% of that for female. The probability of risk for youth is 67.5% of that for middle-aged people, and the probability of risk for people with BMI in healthy range is 72.1% of that for non-healthy range. The research evaluates risk characteristics of walking in particular polluted weather, which can improve residents’ health level and provide suggestions for travel decision while walking.
Cutoff criteria for the placebo response: a cluster and machine learning analysis of placebo analgesia
Authors: Aslaksen Per M. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractComputations of placebo effects are essential in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for separating the specific effects of treatments from unspecific effects associated with the therapeutic intervention. Thus, the identification of placebo responders is important for testing the efficacy of treatments and drugs. The present study uses data from an experimental study on placebo analgesia to suggest a statistical procedure to separate placebo responders from nonresponders and suggests cutoff values for when responses to placebo treatment are large enough to be separated from reported symptom changes in a no-treatment condition. Unsupervised cluster analysis was used to classify responders and nonresponders, and logistic regression implemented in machine learning was used to obtain cutoff values for placebo analgesic responses. The results showed that placebo responders can be statistically separated from nonresponders by cluster analysis and machine learning classification, and this procedure is potentially useful in other fields for the identification of responders to a treatment.
Multivariate analysis of polyphenolic content and in vitro antioxidant capacity of wild and cultivated berries from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Marjanovic Aleksandra , Djedjibegovic Jasmina , Lugusic Aida , Sober Miroslav , Saso Luciano 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant activity, total phenolics, total flavonoid, proanthocyanidins, and anthocyanins content of eight berry species, namely serviceberry, gooseberry, blackberry, black chokeberry, bilberry, red currant, black currant, and cornelian cherry harvested in the regions of Sarajevo and Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The antioxidant activity was determined by a battery of in vitro tests including DPPH radical assay, FRAP assay, ABTS assay, and phosphomolybdate test for total antioxidant capacity. Total phenolics, total flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins ranged from 0.834 to 6.921 mg TAE (tannic acid equivalents), 0.081–0.673 mg of quercetin, and 0.162–3.247 mg of catechin per gram of fresh fruit, respectively. The water extract of fruits had considerable levels of tested constituents and antioxidant activity, with the highest results obtained for black chokeberry. The multivariate clustering analysis showed that water extracts of analyzed species of berries belong to four distinct types in terms of their antioxidants levels and antioxidant activity. Furthermore, these results support the opinion that employment of multiple antioxidant tests is indeed required for adequate in vitro assessment of antioxidant capacity. Results also emphasized the need for a more detailed evaluation of the fruit species with good antioxidant potential (relative to standards), such as cornelian cherry and gooseberry, which are abundant yet not frequently consumed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
An efficient differential equation load flow method to assess dynamic available transfer capability with wind farms
Authors: Eidiani Mostafa 
Published: September 2021

AbstractDifferential equation load flow (DELF) is an innovative approach to convert a load flow model to a fictitious dynamic system. DELF solves the entire time‐domain analysis of a dynamic system trajectory rather than solving load flow equations repeatedly in a set of conditions. The static available transfer capability (ATC) determination algorithm is specified through a method called the approximation of the path of the minimum distance method. In this method, instead of a repeated power flow, only three system operating points are used. An estimation of the potential energy boundary surface was also employed to determine the transient stability in an attempt to correct previous methods. A combination of static method and transient stability led to a combined approach to dynamic ATC computation. This paper proposes a truly effective and precise method to assess Dynamic ATC using the differential equation load flow considering the first contingency (n − 1) situations and the intact system condition. For various multilateral and bilateral transactions, this method was successfully implemented on 39, 118‐ and 300‐bus IEEE, 145‐bus Iowa‐State, the west of Iran (1153‐bus), and Mashhad MV distribution network (4438‐buses) systems. The results showed a better suitability, a higher speed and accuracy than other dynamic ATC methods.
Digital Replantations: Comparison Veins Anastomoses first versus Arteries Anastomoses first
Authors: Acciaro Andrea Leti , Colzani Giulia , Della Rosa Norman , Starnoni Marta , Adani Roberto 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Purpose This retrospective study analyses the effect performing veins anastomoses before arteries anastomoses in digital replantation.
Patients and methods 38 adult patients with replantation of 12 thumbs and 39 fingers, in whom the veins anastomoses were performed prior to the arteries anastomoses, were compared with 29 patients with replantation of 9 thumbs and 30 fingers, in whom the arteries anastomoses were done first, with respect to the survival rate, total active motion, grip strength, and duration of the replantation.
Results There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to the survival rates, total active motion, and grip strength, while the duration of the replantation was significantly shorter in patients, in whom the veins anastomoses were performed prior to the arteries anastomoses (2 hours and 50 minutes versus 3 hours and 42 minutes; p < 0.001).
Conclusion Performing veins anastomoses before arteries anastomoses in digital replantations reduces the replantation time significantly without influencing the survival rate and the clinical outcome.
Indikationen und Techniken der Versteifung von Fingergelenken bei Arthrose
Authors: Summer Tobias , Erdmann Jacob , Wüstner-Hofmann Margot C. 
Published: September 2021

ZusammenfassungDiese Arbeit gibt anhand von Fallbeispielen eine Übersicht über Indikationen und Techniken von Versteifungsoperationen bei Fingergelenksarthrosen.
Synthesis of 4,7′-Bibenzo[b]thiophenes Bearing Several Different Substituents at 2-, 2′-, 4′-, and 7-Positions; Structurally Featured Molecular Scaffolds for Selective Substitution
Authors: Toyota Kozo , Mikami Shinichi , Matsuo Akihiro , Kwon Eunsang 
Published: September 2021

AbstractFour isomers of 4,7′-bibenzothiophene scaffolds bearing two different halogen (Br, Cl) and triisopropylsilyl substituents have been synthesized from the two multihalobenzo[b]thiophenes via iodoselective Miyaura borylation reaction using potassium benzoate as a base. Further investigation into the reactivity of 4,7′-bibenzothiophenes in substitution reaction, Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction, and C–H direct arylation reaction revealed that tetrasubstituted 4,7′-bibenzothiophenes can be synthesized site- (chemo-) selectively, which are promising novel components for molecular architecture.
1,4,2-Dioxazol-5-ones as Isocyanate Equivalents: An Efficient Synthesis of 2-Quinolinones via β-Keto Amides
Authors: Guduru Ramakrishna , Vala Anand , Parmar Nirali , Soni Jigar Y , Kotturi Sharadsrikar 
Published: September 2021

AbstractUnder thermal conditions, 1,4,2-dioxazol-5-ones are known to undergo decarboxylation followed by Lossen’s rearrangement to yield isocyanates. Described herein is the in situ trapping of the resulting isocyanates with carbon nucleophiles to synthesize β-keto amides. Furthermore, a general and mild method for the conversion of the resulting β-keto amides into quinolin-2-ones is reported.