bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Muscle synergy-informed neuromusculoskeletal modelling to estimate knee contact forces in children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Rabbi Mohammad Fazle , Davico Giorgio , Lloyd David G. , Carty Christopher P. , Diamond Laura E. , Pizzolato Claudio 
Published: March 2024

AbstractCerebral palsy (CP) includes a group of neurological conditions caused by damage to the developing brain, resulting in maladaptive alterations of muscle coordination and movement. Estimates of joint moments and contact forces during locomotion are important to establish the trajectory of disease progression and plan appropriate surgical interventions in children with CP. Joint moments and contact forces can be estimated using electromyogram (EMG)-informed neuromusculoskeletal models, but a reduced number of EMG sensors would facilitate translation of these computational methods to clinics. This study developed and evaluated a muscle synergy-informed neuromusculoskeletal modelling approach using EMG recordings from three to four muscles to estimate joint moments and knee contact forces of children with CP and typically developing (TD) children during walking. Using only three to four experimental EMG sensors attached to a single leg and leveraging an EMG database of walking data of TD children, the synergy-informed approach estimated total knee contact forces comparable to those estimated by EMG-assisted approaches that used 13 EMG sensors (children with CP, n = 3, R2 = 0.95 ± 0.01, RMSE = 0.40 ± 0.14 BW; TD controls, n = 3, R2 = 0.93 ± 0.07, RMSE = 0.19 ± 0.05 BW). The proposed synergy-informed neuromusculoskeletal modelling approach could enable rapid evaluation of joint biomechanics in children with unimpaired and impaired motor control within a clinical environment.
Integrating post-event very high resolution SAR imagery and machine learning for building-level earthquake damage assessment
Authors: Macchiarulo Valentina , Giardina Giorgia , Milillo Pietro , Aktas Yasemin D. , Whitworth Michael R. Z. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractEarthquakes have devastating effects on densely urbanised regions, requiring rapid and extensive damage assessment to guide resource allocation and recovery efforts. Traditional damage assessment is time-consuming, resource-intensive, and faces challenges in covering vast affected areas, often limiting timely decision-making. Space-borne synthetic aperture radars (SAR) have gained attention for their all-weather and day-night imaging capabilities. These advantages, coupled with wide coverage, short revisits and very high resolution (VHR), have created opportunities for using SAR data in disaster response. However, most SAR studies for post-earthquake damage assessment rely on change detection methods using pre-event SAR images, which are often unavailable in operational scenarios. Limited studies using solely post-event SAR data primarily concentrate on city-block-level damage assessment, thus not fully exploiting the VHR SAR potential. This paper presents a novel method integrating solely post-event VHR SAR imagery and machine learning (ML) for regional-scale post-earthquake damage assessment at the individual building-level. We first used supervised learning on case-specific datasets, and then introduced a combined learning approach, incorporating inventories from multiple case studies to assess generalisation. Finally, the ML model was tested on unseen study areas, to evaluate its flexibility in unfamiliar contexts. The method was implemented using datasets collected during the Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT) reconnaissance missions following the 2021 Nippes earthquake and the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake sequence. The results demonstrate the method’s ability to classify standing and collapsed buildings, achieving up to 72% overall accuracy on unseen regions. The proposed method has potential for future disaster assessments, thereby contributing to more effective earthquake management strategies.
Assigning multiple labels of sustainable development goals to open educational resources for sustainability education
Authors: Yao Rui , Tian Meilin , Lei Chi-Un , Chiu Dickson K. W. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractSustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4.7 aims to ensure learners acquire the knowledge and skills for promoting sustainable development by 2030. Yet, Open Educational Resources (OERs) that connect the public with SDGs are currently limitedly assigned and insufficient to promote SDG and sustainability education to support the achievement of SDG 4.7 and other SDGs by 2030, indicating a need for automatic classification of SDG-related OERs. However, most existing labeling systems can not support multiple labeling, tend to generate a large number of false positives, and have poor transferability within the OER domain. This research proposes a method to automatically assign SDGs based on AutoGluon, a machine-learning framework with powerful predictive capabilities, to allow multiple SDGs to be assigned to each OER. In the proposed framework, challenges of category imbalance and limited data availability are addressed, enhancing the precision and applicability of SDG integration in educational resources. To validate the transferability of model knowledge within the OER corpus, we used 900 lecture video descriptions from SDG Academy, forming the foundation for comparing our framework with existing labeling systems. According to the experiment results, our model demonstrates outstanding merits across various metrics, including precision, recall, F1, ACC, AUC, and AP.
Paternal mouthbrooding in the chocolate gourami Sphaerichthys osphromenoides (Osphronemidae)
Authors: Zworykin Dmitry , Müller Johannes , Grundmeijer Henk , Pavlov Efim 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWe examined sexual dimorphism and parental care in the chocolate gourami (Sphaerichthys osphromenoides) by visual observations, video recording of spawning, and histological analysis of the gonads of individuals in which spawning and mouthbrooding was previously observed. S. osphromenoides is considered a rare exception among labyrinth fishes (Osphronemidae family) because of the presumed maternal parental care, which is not found in other species of this family. According to our observations of 32 spawning events, parental care in this species was always performed by the male. Our visual observations were confirmed by video and histological analysis. This suggests that the sex in this species has probably been misidentified so far. We argue that the putative “females” (previously defined by external features) were in fact males, and that there are probably no exceptions to male parental care in osphronemid fishes.
Astaxanthin application enhances salinity tolerance in rice seedlings by abating oxidative stress effects and enhancing Na+/K+ homeostatic balance
Authors: Mekawy Ahmad Mohammad M. , Assaha Dekoum V. M. , Li Jiacheng , Ueda Akihiro 
Published: March 2024

AbstractSince many cultivated plants, including rice, are susceptible to stress and salt stress, resulting in a tremendous reduction in yield, threatens food security worldwide. Strategies such as using biostimulants to ameliorate salt stress can reduce stress effects and sustain production. The effects of soaking Koshihikari (salt-sensitive) seeds in astaxanthin (AS) under salt stress were determined in the present study. In particular, the seeds of the rice cultivar were subjected to control, salt stress (50 mM NaCl), AS (50 µM), and AS + salt stress treatments for two weeks in hydroponic culture. Thereafter, the plants were harvested, and their growth, physiological, and molecular parameters were analyzed. The results showed that the growth of plants under salt stress was significantly reduced; however, the growth was restored to levels comparable to those of non-stressed plants treated with AS. Salt stress significantly increased the concentrations of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and the electrolyte leakage ratio in untreated plants and significantly decreased their concentration in AS-treated plants under the same conditions, with corresponding increases in leaf catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase activities. Leaf Na+ concentration markedly increased under salt stress in non-treated plants, and AS treatment reduced the concentration. However, the difference was not statistically significant, which resulted in a significant decrease in the Na+/K+ ratio in AS-treated plants compared to that in non-treated plants. Salt stress and AS treatment did not alter the concentration of photosynthetic pigments but enhanced the expression of OsBHY, OsNHX1, OsSOS1, and OsHKT1;5 genes. Overall, soaking seeds in AS induced salt stress tolerance in the Koshihikari rice cultivar by reducing oxidative stress damage and enhancing shoot Na+/K+ balance. Therefore, seed-soaking methods using AS could serve as a good strategy for improving the cultivation of salt-sensitive rice cultivars in saline soils.
The Role of Desire Thinking and Craving in Problematic Smartphone Use
Authors: Fioravanti Giulia , Spada Marcantonio M. , Bocci Benucci Sara 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe Elaborated Intrusion Theory of desire and the metacognitive model of desire thinking posit that the intensification of craving centres on the initiation of a voluntary cognitive process named desire thinking (DT). The role of DT in eliciting craving has been studied extensively in substance use disorders and, more recently, in some behavioral addictions. The main aim of the current study was to test the mediating role of DT and craving in the association between psychological distress, boredom proneness, and problematic Smartphone use (PSU). Six hundred and forty-six participants (mean age = 27.57 ± 9.64; females = 74.8%) took part in the study and completed a battery of self-report measures. As evidenced by path analysis, psychological distress and boredom proneness were linked to PSU through (i) imaginal prefiguration and verbal perseveration components of DT’s serial mediation; and (ii) imaginal prefiguration and craving’s serial effect. The model accounted for 60% of PSU variance and showed good fit indices. The current findings highlight the role of DT, particularly the imaginal prefiguration, in craving for the Smartphone and provide evidence that DT is associated with PSU directly, supporting the distinction between DT and craving.
The psychological strain of becoming self-employed: a longitudinal investigation of honeymoon-hangover effects
Authors: Qu Jingjing , Li Jun , Georgellis Yannis 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Using British longitudinal data, we re-examine the honeymoon-hangover hypothesis (Boswell et al., 2005) for the psychological strain (measured by anxiety and depression) employees experience when they become self-employed. Most previous studies explore self-employment honeymoon-hangover effects mostly for job or life satisfaction. Employing the entropy balancing approach, we find that employees who make the transition to self-employment experience an immediate improvement in anxiety and depression, like that experienced by those who change employers. Our results hint at a slightly stronger initial improvement of psychological strain for those switching employers compared to those entering self-employment. However, within-individual variation analysis of psychological strain supports the honeymoon-hangover hypothesis in that any early anxiety and depression improvements taper off over time. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.
“It’s Not, Can You Do This? It’s… How Do You Feel About Doing This?” A Critical Discourse Analysis of Sexuality Support After Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Bryant Chloe , Aplin Tammy , Piantedosi Diana K. , Setchell Jenny 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPrevious research has indicated that healthcare support for sexuality after spinal cord injury appears to be neglected or inadequately provided. The perspectives of people living with spinal cord injuries regarding what is lacking and what support they would like to be provided, and why, has yet to be explored. This paper uses critical theory to explore how societal constructs of sexuality and disability shape how sexuality is supported after a spinal cord injury. To do this, we conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 11 people with a spinal cord injury from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. We drew from the works of various critical disability theorists to analyze what discourses underpinned the experiences people with spinal cord injuries had when receiving sexuality support. Analysis suggested that the following discourses were apparent: (1) broken bodies require repair, (2) sex is penetration, ejaculation then reproduction, and (3) sexual autonomy is required. Findings indicated healthcare professionals need to recognize people with spinal cord injuries as sexual beings with a diverse range of desires, lives, relations, and bodies. Provision of individualized comprehensive high-quality sexuality support is therefore warranted. To achieve this, healthcare professionals should aim to be aware of, and mitigate, ableist and normative assumptions.
Highly efficient degradation of basic dyes using gold-coated nature-based supermagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as eco-friendly nanocatalysts
Authors: Matar Ghassan H. , Andac Muberra 
Published: March 2024

AbstractNowadays, organic dyes are prevalent components in wastewater discharges due to their extensive use in various industries, posing a significant threat to public health across different organisms. As a result, wastewater treatment has become an indispensable requirement. In this study, we synthesized supermagnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4 NPs) and gold-iron oxide bimetallic nanoparticles (Au@Fe3O4 BNPs) using an eco-friendly method that involved natural compounds extracted from brown Egyptian propolis. We employed UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, VSM, SEM, HRTEM, EDX, Zeta potential and XPS techniques to examine the optical characteristics, chemical structure, crystalline structure, magnetic properties, morphology, size, and chemical composition of these biosynthesized nanoparticles. Furthermore, these nanoparticles were used as nanocatalysts for the removal of cationic dyes. The photocatalytic results indicated high efficiency in the removal of methylene blue (MB), crystal violet (CV), and malachite green (MG) dyes from aqueous solutions using Fe3O4 NPs and Au@Fe3O4 BNPs. The removal rates of MB, CV, and MG were about 95.2% in 70 min, 99.4% in 50 min, and 96.2% in 60 min for Fe3O4 NPs, and 97.1% in 50 min, 99.1% in 30 min, and 98.1% in 50 min for Au@Fe3O4 BNPs, respectively. The study also assessed the potential anti-radical properties of the extract, Fe3O4 NPs, and Au@Fe3O4 BNPs using the DPPH assay, and the results demonstrated their antioxidant activity. Finally, these Fe3O4 NPs and Au@Fe3O4 BNPs have the potential to serve as efficient antioxidants and photocatalysts for removing basic dyes from water.
Graphical abstract
Shared genetic architecture between periodontal disease and type 2 diabetes: a large scale genome-wide cross-trait analysis
Authors: Wu Kevin Chun Hei , Liu Lin , Xu Aimin , Chan Yap Hang , Cheung Bernard Man Yung 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Purpose
To investigate the relationship between abnormal glucose metabolism, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and periodontal disease (PER) independent of Body Mass Index (BMI), we employed a genome-wide cross-trait approach to clarify the association.

Methods
Our study utilized the most extensive genome-wide association studies conducted for populations of European ancestry, including PER, T2D, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, 2-hour glucose after an oral glucose challenge, HOMA-β, HOMA-IR (unadjusted or adjusted for BMI) and HbA1c.

Results
With this approach, we were able to identify pleiotropic loci, establish expression-trait associations, and quantify global and local genetic correlations. There was a significant positive global genetic correlation between T2D (rg = 0.261, p = 2.65 × 10−13), HbA1c (rg = 0.182, p = 4.14 × 10−6) and PER, as well as for T2D independent of BMI (rg = 0.158, p = 2.34 × 10−6). A significant local genetic correlation was also observed between PER and glycemic traits or T2D. We also identified 62 independent pleiotropic loci that impact both PER and glycemic traits, including T2D. Nine significant pathways were identified between the shared genes between T2D, glycemic traits and PER. Genetically liability of HOMA-βadjBMI was causally associated with the risk of PER.

Conclusion
Our research has revealed a genetic link between T2D, glycemic traits, and PER that is influenced by biological pleiotropy. Notably, some of these links are not related to BMI. Our research highlights an underlying link between patients with T2D and PER, regardless of their BMI.
Assessing the steroid-sparing effect of biological agents in randomized controlled trials for lupus: a scoping review
Authors: Sciascia Savino , Foddai Silvia Grazietta , Arbrile Marta , Radin Massimo , Cecchi Irene , Barinotti Alice , Fenoglio Roberta , Roccatello Dario 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPrompt disease control of flares in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a priority in treatment strategy planning. However, the long-term dosage-related collateral effects of glucocorticoids (GCs) have pushed researchers towards the identification and utilization of novel biological agents that could both induce and maintain low disease activity and remission, especially in the context of lupus nephritis (LN). This scoping review aims at assessing the current evidence of the potential steroid-sparing effect of biologic therapies by reviewing phase II and phase III randomized, placebo-controlled trials involving SLE/LN patients. A scoping review of the literature was carried out in accordance with PRISMA-ScR recommendations. Risk of bias was assessed through the utilization of the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Eight RCTs met the inclusion criteria and were included in this analysis (treatment drug, 7 belimumab; 1 anifrolumab). Four studies showed a definite steroid-sparing effect (treatment drug, 3 belimumab; 1 anifrolumab), while in the remaining four RCTs, the steroid-sparing effect was not observed. When focusing on phase III trials, the overall quality of the studies resulted fair or good considering the risk of bias. However, a degree of heterogeneity of steroid regimen protocol (considering initial dosage, tapering and rescue treatment allowance) was observed. While a growing body of evidence is supporting the safety and efficacy of biological treatment in SLE, the evidence on their steroid-sparing effect remains scattered. Future research needs to pursue the identification of precise SLE clusters of patients who would benefit most from a specific treatment protocol with a definite steroid-sparing effect.
Examining the Impact of Conscript Service on the Labour Market Integration of Migrants
Authors: Bontenbal Ilona , Riikonen Reetta , Kosonen Jarkko 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis research considers the role that participating in conscript service has for individuals with a migrant background in overcoming barriers to labour market integration. According to previous studies, these barriers include discrimination, previous qualifications not being recognised and a lack of language skills, networks and information. The study is based on 24 interviews conducted with individuals with a migrant background who have performed conscript service in Finland. The research takes place in the context of conscription and mandatory conscript service among male citizens. The findings indicate that conscript service may have some direct and indirect beneficial outcomes for labour market integration. Direct labour market outcomes are particularly related to qualifications acquired during service, which can be directly applied in the civilian labour market. Indirect outcomes are associated with acculturation, such as learning the language and becoming familiar with the host society’s culture and norms. Performing conscript service also facilitates the establishment of social networks, especially with native-born youngsters. Furthermore, conscript service is perceived to have the potential to elevate conscripts’ status in the eyes of potential Finnish employers. As a result, completing conscript service enhances location-specific human capital, and therefore, it can potentially improve labour market integration outcomes.
A Novel Stability-Indicating RP-HPLC Method for the Simultaneous Estimation and In Vitro and In vivo Evaluation: Curcumin and Naringin Co-amorphous System
Authors: Mallya Pooja , Yarlagadda Dani Lakshman , Lewis Shaila 
Published: March 2024

AbstractCurcumin (CUR) is a phytochemical widely used in food industries, cosmetics, and in the treatment of various ailments. It is a polyphenol derived from turmeric and is often considered the golden spice. CUR has a low solubility of less than 1 µg/ml and poor oral bioavailability which can be improved by co-amorphization with naringin (NRG). Analytical method to simultaneously quantify CUR and NRG is not reported in literature. This study aimed to develop a stability-indicating reverse phase HPLC method in gradient mode to simultaneously quantify CUR and NRG in co-amorphous system. The co-amorphous system of CUR and NRG in molar ratios 1:1 and 1:2 was prepared by quench cooling technique. The separation was attained on a Genesis C18, (4.6 mm × 150 mm, 4 µm) column with the mobile phase comprising of methanol and a 0.1% acetate buffer pH 3.8 at a single wavelength, 289 nm. CUR and NRG eluted at 5.1 and 11.1 min, respectively. For both the molecules, the linearity range was 0.125–16 µg/ml with LOD and LOQ of 0.063 and 0.125 µg/ml. The method developed was validated as per International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines for linearity, accuracy, precision, and robustness. The method was used to estimate CUR and NRG content in co-amorphous mixture and for in vitro evaluation.
Graphical Abstract
Comparative analysis of codon usage patterns in the chloroplast genomes of nine forage legumes
Authors: Xiao Mingkun , Hu Xiang , Li Yaqi , Liu Qian , Shen Shaobin , Jiang Tailing , Zhang Linhui , Zhou Yingchun , Li Yuexian , Luo Xin , Bai Lina , Yan Wei 
Published: March 2024

AbstractLeguminosae is one of the three largest families of angiosperms after Compositae and Orchidaceae. It is widely distributed and grows in a variety of environments, including plains, mountains, deserts, forests, grasslands, and even waters where almost all legumes can be found. It is one of the most important sources of starch, protein and oil in the food of mankind and also an important source of high-quality forage material for animals, which has important economic significance. In our study, the codon usage patterns and variation sources of the chloroplast genome of nine important forage legumes were systematically analyzed. Meanwhile, we also constructed a phylogenetic tree based on the whole chloroplast genomes and protein coding sequences of these nine forage legumes. Our results showed that the chloroplast genomes of nine forage legumes end with A/T bases, and seven identical high-frequency (HF) codons were detected among the nine forage legumes. ENC-GC3s mapping, PR2 analysis, and neutral analysis showed that the codon bias of nine forage legumes was influenced by many factors, among which natural selection was the main influencing factor. The codon usage frequency showed that the Nicotiana tabacum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be considered as receptors for the exogenous expression of chloroplast genes of these nine forage legumes. The phylogenetic relationships of the chloroplast genomes and protein coding genes were highly similar, and the nine forage legumes were divided into three major clades. Among the clades Melilotus officinalis was more closely related to Medicago sativa, and Galega officinalis was more closely related to Galega orientalis. This study provides a scientific basis for the molecular markers research, species identification and phylogenetic studies of forage legumes.