bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus with Developing Severe Retinopathy of Prematurity
Authors: Khoshtinat Narges , Moayeri Maryam , Fakhredin Hanieh , Farahani Afsar Dastjani , Ghassemi Fariba , Mahmoudi Alireza , Nabavi Amin , Bazvand Fatemeh 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background
To assess the impact of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in comparison with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), as well as combined presence both gestational diabetes mellitus and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (GDM-HDP), as perinatal risk factors affecting the severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
Methods
The hospital records of all premature infants referred to a tertiary center between 2020 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Infants born to mothers with GDM, HDP, or both were selected for analysis. Demographic variables, perinatal risk factors, as well as clinical and treatment characteristics of the infants were collected and analyzed.
Results
A total of 1161 infants and 2322 eyes, including HDP group (1110 eyes from 555 infants), GDM group (944 eyes from 472 infants), and GDM-HDP group (268 eyes from 134 infants), were enrolled. The mean gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW) for all infants were 31.6 ± 2.5 weeks and 1572 ± 427 g, respectively. A higher percentage of eyes (76.5%) in the GDM group were classified as ROP compared to the HDP group (71.6%), with the prevalence of severe ROP also higher in the GDM group (13.5%) than in the HDP group (9.9%; P < 0.05 for both comparisons). The rates of ROP and severe ROP were similar between the GDM and GDM-HDP groups. When considering only infants with BW < 1500, the GDM group still exhibited a higher rate of ROP and severe ROP compared to the HDP group. Treatment was required in 17.5% of eyes in the GDM group, 16.8% in the GDM-HDP group, and 13.9% in the HDP group (P = 0.071).
Conclusion
GDM can be implied as a risk factor for ROP and developing severe ROP. The data indicates that careful monitoring and management of GDM during pregnancy may be crucial in mitigating the risk of severe ROP.
Molecular Characterization and Genetic Analysis of Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b in Seagulls from Dukan Lake, Iraq
Authors: Sheikh Mohammed Omar Baba , Rashid Peshnyar M. Atta , Rahim Zhino Hussen , Marouf Ari Salahadin , Saeed Star Sharif 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Avian influenza virus (AIV) remains a significant global threat, with periodic reemergence in Iraq. This study marks the first molecular characterization of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b in seagulls. The H5N1 AIV was identified during outbreaks in 2024 at Dukan Lake in Sulaimani province. Phylogenetic analysis of the HA gene revealed that the Dukan Lake strain belongs to subclade 2.3.4.4b, clustering closely with Kazakhstan strains (A/mute swan/Mangystau and A/Arakol Lake) with DNA identities of 99.38% and 98.82%, respectively. Genetic analysis showed a polybasic amino acid cleavage site motif (PLREKRRKRGLF) in the HA gene. Additionally, receptor binding domain (RBD) analysis indicated a preference for the avian α-2, 3 SA receptor over the mammalian α-2, 6 SA receptor. The NA gene analysis revealed amino acid residues D199, I223, S247, and H275, which are susceptible to antiviral drugs. The molecular analysis of the H5N1 Dukan Lake seagull strain provides insights into how the virus spreads among different species and countries, which is crucial for global health security and the development of effective control measures.
Beyond AI: Fooling DNN Model in Physical World
Authors: Manna Debasmita , Tripathy Somanath 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Deep neural networks (DNNs) are becoming increasingly crucial across various fields, but their wide adoption raises critical security concerns. This paper proposes an attack that discreetly manipulates model predictions by strategically embedding a tiny patch into the input image. This adversarial patch remains imperceptible to human observers yet effectively compels the model to misclassified the input into a predetermined target label. Unlike traditional attacks, it bypasses the need for expensive and time-consuming model retraining or manipulation. Three different types of datasets (MNIST, CIFAR-10, and GTSRB) are used to demonstrate the attack. It is observed that our proposed method attains a higher attack success rate apart from compromising the test accuracy for clean input samples. Neural network models are vulnerable to adversarial attacks, where carefully crafted poisoned/toxic input resulting incorrect predictions or decisions, posing significant security risks across various applications. We propose an attack which could successfully misclassified an input by 50% without re-training/altering the model. The proposed method carefully generates a patch which changes the victim label into the desired label (target label), by injecting the patch with the original image. Also, the patch is placed in a corner, so as not to affect the visual impact.
Attenuation of natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity by interaction between NKp30 of NK cells and dipeptidase 1 of colon cancer cells
Authors: Kim Jong-Tae , Park Eun Sun , Hwang Yo Sep , Yoon Hyang Ran , Yoon Suk Ran , Cho Hee Jun , Lee Hee Gu 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background
Natural killer (NK) cells detect and respond to tumor cells for conducting immune surveillance, which is important for preventing tumor growth and metastasis. However, tumors have mechanisms to evade immune surveillance. NKp30 is a potent natural cytotoxicity receptor (NCR) on NK cells; however, NK cytotoxicity varies depending on ligand binding to cancer cells. We report that the killing activity of NK cells is attenuated by the interaction between NKp30 of NK92 cells and dipeptidase 1 (DPEP1) in colon cancer cells.
Materials and methods
We identified DPEP1 as an NKp30 ligand in KM12C colon cancer cells and verified this by coimmunoprecipitation, confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry. Additionally, DPEP1 was overexpressed in HCT116 cells or knocked down in KM12C cells to assess the effects on cytotoxicity of NK cells. A mouse xenograft model was established to assess the effect of DPEP1 on tumor size.
Results
In DPEP1 knockdown KM12C cells, NK cell cytotoxicity increased by approximately 12%, whereas in DPEP1-overexpressing HCT116 cells, NK cytotoxicity decreased by approximately 16%. In addition, DPEP1 was released through exosomes, and secreted DPEP1 inhibited the expression and secretion of perforin, granzyme B, and CD109a in NK92 cells. In xenografted mice injected with NK92 cells after tumor induction, tumors induced by HCT116/DPEP1 cells were 43% larger than those induced by HCT116 control cells that did not express DPEP1.
Conclusions
Therefore, immunotherapy may be improved by increasing NK cell cytotoxicity by interfering with or avoiding the interaction between DPEP1 and NKp30.
Contrastive Distillation Learning with Sparse Spatial Aggregation
Authors: Cheng Dan , Yin Jun 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Contrastive learning has advanced significantly and demonstrates excellent transfer learning capabilities. Knowledge distillation is one of the most effective methods of model compression for computer vision. When combined with contrastive learning, it can achieve even better results. Current knowledge distillation techniques based on contrastive learning struggle to efficiently utilize the information from both student and teacher models, often missing out on optimizing the contrastive framework. This results in a less effective knowledge transfer process, limiting the potential improvements in model performance and representation quality. To address this limitation, we propose a new contrastive distillation learning method by redesigning the contrastive learning framework and incorporating sparse spatial aggregation. This method introduces a novel integration of feature alignment and spatial aggregation mechanism to enhance the learning process. It ensures that the representations obtained by the model fully capture the semantics of the original input. Compared to traditional unsupervised learning methods, our approach demonstrates superior performance in both pre-training and transfer learning. It achieves 71.6 Acc@1, 57.6 AP, 75.8 mIoU, 39.8/34.8 AP on ImageNet linear classification, Pascal VOC object detection, Cityscapes semantic segmentation, MS-COCO object detection and instance segmentation. Moreover, our method exhibits stable training and does not require large pre-training batch-sizes or numerous epochs.
Antigen B from Echinococcus granulosus regulates T cells function through STAT3 inhibition in immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Zhang Yunfei , Yue Yingbin , Cheng Yongfeng , Jiao Hongjie , Yan Mei 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Dysregulation of T cell homeostasis is a pivotal factor in the pathogenesis of Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP), a condition hallmarked by a decrease in platelet counts. Antigen B (AgB), a predominant immunodominant protein found in the cyst fluid of Echinococcus granulosus, has demonstrated the capacity to modulate T cell differentiation, thereby dampening inflammatory responses. However, the potential of AgB to modulate immune responses in ITP remains unexplored. In this study, we investigated the capacity of AgB to regulate T cell functions within the context of ITP. Our findings reveal that AgB fosters the generation and differentiation of regulatory T (Treg) cells, enhancing their immunosuppressive capabilities. AgB treatment ameliorated thrombocytopenia and rebalanced the equilibrium between Treg and T helper cells (Th) in a passive ITP murine model. The therapeutic effects of AgB on CD4 + T cell subpopulations were negated by Treg depletion, indicating their necessity for AgB's action. Furthermore, AgB curtailed the production of proinflammatory cytokines and suppressed the activation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) in ITP. The inhibition of STAT3 was shown to abrogate the regulatory function of AgB on Treg cells. Subsequent investigations demonstrated that AgB enhanced the degradation of STAT3 through the promotion of TRAF6-mediated ubiquitination. In summary, AgB rectifies T cell homeostasis and bolsters the immunosuppressive function of Treg cells by facilitating TRAF6-mediated STAT3 ubiquitination, thereby offering relief from ITP.
CalciumZero: A Toolbox for Fluorescence Calcium Imaging on iPSC Derived Brain Organoids
Authors: He Xiaofu , Wang Yian , Gao Yutong , Wang Xuchen , Sun Zhixiong , Zhu Huixiang , Leong Kam , Xu Bin 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Calcium plays an important role in regulating various neuronal activities in human brains. Investigating the dynamics of the calcium level in neurons is essential not just for understanding the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders but also as a quantitative gauge to evaluate the influence of drugs on neuron activities. Accessing human brain tissue to study neuron activities has historically been challenging due to ethical concerns. However, a significant breakthrough in the field has emerged with the advent of utilizing patient-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to culture neurons and develop brain organoids. This innovative approach provides a promising modeling system to overcome these critical obstacles. Many robust calcium imaging analysis tools have been developed for calcium activity analysis. However, most of the tools are designed for calcium signal detection only. There are limited choices for in-depth downstream applications, particularly in discerning differences between patient and normal calcium dynamics and their responses to drug treatment obtained from human iPSC-based models.Moreover, end-user researchers usually face a considerable challenge in mastering the entire analysis procedure and obtaining critical outputs due to the steep learning curve associated with these available tools. Therefore, we developed CalciumZero, a user-friendly toolbox to satisfy the unmet needs in calcium activity studies in human iPSC-based 3D-organoid/neurosphere models. CalciumZero includes a graphical user interface (GUI), which provides end-user iconic visualization and smooth adjustments on parameter tuning. It streamlines the entire analysis process, offering full automation with just one click after parameter optimization. In addition, it includes supplementary features to statistically evaluate the impact on disease etiology and the detection of drug candidate effects on calcium activities. These evaluations will enhance the analysis of imaging data obtained from patient iPSC-derived brain organoid/neurosphere models, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the results.
Unveiling the impact of biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics on meadow soil health
Authors: Liu Shuming , Chen Binglin , Wang Kaili , Wang Jinghuizi , Suo Yan , Yang Xiaoyu , Zhu Yaokun , Zhang Jiaxing , Lu Mengchu , Liu Yunqing 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Soil microplastics (MPs) pollution has garnered considerable attention in recent years. The use of biodegradable plastics for mulching has led to significant quantities of plastic entering agro-ecosystems. However, the effects of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) plastics on meadow soils remain underexplored. This study investigates the impacts of PLA microplastics of varying particle sizes and concentrations on soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and microbial communities through a 60-day incubation experiment. PLA-MPs increased the pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN) and available potassium (AK) content, as well as enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase (S-SOD), peroxidase (S-POD), soil catalase (S-CAT), β-glucosidase(S-β-GC) and urease (S-UE) activities. Conversely, a decrease in alkaline phosphatase (S-ALP) activity was observed. The influence of PLA-MPs on soil physicochemical properties was more pronounced with larger particle sizes, whereas smaller particles had a greater effect on enzyme activities. Additionally, PLA-MPs led to an increase in the abundance of Acidobacteriota, Chloroflexi, and Gemmatimonadota, while the abundance of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Patescibacteria declined. Mental test analysis indicated that pH, AK, S-UE, and S-β-GC are the primary factors influencing microbial community composition. Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt2) analysis demonstrated that PLA-MPs modify bacterial metabolic pathways. Our results suggest that particle size and concentration of PLA-MPs differentially affect soil nutrients and microbial community structure and function, with more significant effects observed at larger particle sizes and higher concentrations.
Antiepileptic and Neuroprotective Effects of Teriflunomide on Experimental Acute Epilepsy Model
Authors: Yoldaş Meyri Arzu , Akünal Canan , Çetinkaya Ayhan , Deniz Ömür Gülsüm 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective and antiepileptic efficacy of teriflunomide(TRD) in a pentylenetetrazol(PTZ) induced acute seizure model in rats.
Methods Diazepam(DZ), whose antiepileptic activity is well known, was compared with TRD in the PTZ induced acute seizure model. The antineuroinflammatory, antioxidant properties of TRD and its place in antiepileptic treatment were investigated. Thirty-five adult male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to five groups of seven animals each. Seizure activity induced with PTZ was observed for 30 min using a video camera, recorded, and evaluated using the Racine scale. Data analysis was performed with seizure scoring. Brain tissues were subjected to histopathological and stereological examination. Following sacrification, left hemisphere brain tissues were homogenized and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2), hemoxygenase-1(HO-1), and tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α) values ​​were examined by ELISA method. Tissue samples taken from the right brain hemispheres were examined by immunohistochemical staining.
Results In the acute experimental epilepsy model, TRD exhibited antiepileptic effects by prolonging myoclonic jerk and generalized tonic-clonic seizure onset times and reducing myoclonic tonic-clonic seizure severity and duration. At the same time, even when used alone as a pretreatment antiepileptic, TRD showed antioxidant, and antineuroinflammatory effects by increasing HO-1 levels in brain tissue. Histopathological examination also revealed significant neuroprotective effects of TRD in the brain.
Conclusion TRD may be a promising agent with anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects.
Exploring the Perspectives of Persons with Visual Impairments on COVID-19 Cartoons in Malawian Newspapers
Authors: Kachimanga Harriet , Ngoma Chimwemwe 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Cartooning has long served as an important instrument for communicating various social issues. However, as pictures are designed to interact and are deemed more powerful than words, persons with visual impairments could be seen as not accessing the full benefits of cartoon-based communication. In the absence of assistive technologies, persons with visual impairments rely hugely on descriptions provided by others. Despite this reliance, little is known about how persons with visual impairments engage with such media when it is described to them. This study explores how persons with visual impairments understand and interpret cartoon depictions of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects. Using a qualitative approach and a descriptive research design, the study employed purposive sampling through the Malawi Union of the Blind to select 30 participants. Twelve cartoons from four major Malawian newspapers were analyzed. The cartoons were described to participants, and their feedback was collected through semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis of the responses identified the following key themes including the economic impact of COVID-19, scapegoating, hypocrisy and compliance, mental health, negligence in safety measures, and the gravity of the pandemic.
Drift of the Gulf Stream towards its northern limit over the last half-century
Authors: Taylor Arnold , Stephens John 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

The latitude of the north wall of the Gulf Stream along the US seaboard has been recorded in the Gulf Stream North Wall (GSNW) Index for over half a century from 1966 to 2023. The first half of this series shows the position fluctuating about a steady northward drift but this drift ceased in the second half. The same abrupt change is seen in the data of Joyce et al. from 200m depth which begin back to 1954 and extend further east. Monthly values of the GSNW index have been used to estimate how the occurrence of extreme meanders has changed over the 58-year period. Southern extremes follow the same pattern of change as the annual average positions but northern extremes show no northward drift. It may be the Gulf Stream has approached its northern limit. The transition has accompanied the rise in the number of warm-core rings observed by Gangopadhyay and colleagues and this may have been part of the process preventing further northward drift.
Investigating the Relationship Between Adherence to Traditional Medicine Nutritional Patterns and the Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Symptoms Among Medical Students of Shiraz Medical School
Authors: Mardani •	Maryam , Nimrouzi Majid 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background: Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM), which emphasizes dietary principles tailored to individual temperament, may offer a non-pharmacological approach to managing gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. This study investigates associations between TPM dietary adherence and the prevalence of GI symptoms among medical students, a high-stress demographic prone to digestive issues.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 215 medical students from Shiraz Medical School completed validated instruments, including the Traditional Medicine Nutrition and Temperament Questionnaire, Rome III Criteria, and a Lifestyle Hygiene Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Chi-square tests and logistic regression to assess relationships between TPM adherence, temperament, and GI symptoms.
Results: Higher adherence to TPM dietary practices was significantly associated with fewer GI symptoms (p = 0.005), particularly abdominal discomfort and bloating. Females reported a higher prevalence of symptoms (p < 0.05), and dry temperament was associated with increased bloating (p = 0.21). Logistic regression highlighted TPM adherence as a protective factor, reducing symptom likelihood by 20-30%.
Conclusion: TPM dietary practices provide a feasible, non-pharmacological option for managing GI symptoms in high-stress populations. Further longitudinal studies are recommended to confirm these findings across diverse groups.
The sugary enhancer1 (se1) Allele Is Associated with Significant Decreases in Carotenoids and Tocotrienols in Yellow (Y1) sugary1 (su1) Sweet Corn
Authors: Branch Carl , Baseggio Matheus , Resende Marcio , Tracy William F. 
Published: November 2024

A distinctive phenotype of homozygous sugary enhancer1 (se1) sweet corn (Zea mays) inbreds and hybrids is a light-yellow color in mature kernels. Carotenoid pigments contribute to yellow endosperm color in maize and are of nutritional importance in the human diet along with the related tocochromanols, the E vitamins. Tocochromanols, including both tocopherols and tocotrienols, are antioxidants important in human nutrition and cardiovascular health. Effects of the presence of sugary enhancer1 allele on carotenoid and tocochromanol levels in homozygous su1, Y1 endosperm were evaluated in the Wisconsin Sweet Corn Diversity Panel. Although population structure was present in the panel, the majority of variation in carotenoid levels was explained by genotype at the se1 locus. se1 was associated with significant decreases in the amount of lutein (34%) and zeaxanthin (36%) and decreases of tocotrienols by 12% to 65%. There were no significant differences in β-carotene and tocopherol levels between the two groups. Given that the biosynthesis pathways for carotenoids and tocochromanols are well defined, these differences in carotenoids and tocotrienols between su1Se1 and su1se1 inbreds point to a broader role of se1 alleles in metabolic pathways beyond endosperm starch production.
Comparative life cycle assessment of on-site sanitation systems using lagoons or drying beds for fecal sludge treatment in low-income tropical countries
Authors: Jean-Baptiste Davidson , Monette Frédéric 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Environmental challenges in low-income countries, such as Haiti, persist due to inadequate sanitation infrastructure. This study assesses the environmental impacts of nine on-site sanitation systems to identify those with the least environmental impacts and explore improvement options. Nine scenarios were developed, each representing different systems for managing 1 ton of fecal sludge over 1 year. The ‘Impact World + ’ and ‘IPCC 2013 GWP 100a’ methods evaluated impacts on ecosystems, human health, and climate change. Data sources included interviews, weighing records, and scientific publications. Results show that Scenario 8 (Flush Toilet – Evacuation – Planted Drying Beds) is most impactful on health (1.17 × 10−2 DALY), while Scenario 1 (Composting Toilet – Evacuation – Unplanted Drying Beds) is least impactful (1.77 × 10−3 DALY). For ecosystem impacts, Scenario 2 (Container-based Toilet – Evacuation – Planted Drying Beds) is most impactful (3.81 × 103 PDF·m2·year), while Scenario 6 (VIP latrine – Evacuation – Lagoons) is least impactful (3.52 × 103 PDF·m2·year). Key hotspots include toilet paper, wood shavings, GHG emissions, and water use. The study recommends an integrated approach combining environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) with life cycle cost assessment and social LCA for sustainable decision-making on sanitation systems in low-income countries.