bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Systematic analyses of the factors influencing sperm quality in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Zhang Guohui , Zhi Weiwei , Ye Fei , Xiong Dongsheng , Zhang Yanan , Liu Fulin , Zhao Yuhong , Du Xinrong , Wu Yang , Hou Mingxia , Liu Jiu , Wei Jiajing , Silang Yangzhong , Xu Wenming , Zeng Jiuzhi , Chen Shiqi , Liu Weixin 
Published: April 2024

AbstractTo figure out how does SARS-CoV-2 affect sperm parameters and what influencing factors affect the recovery of sperm quality after infection? We conducted a prospective cohort study and initially included 122 men with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The longest time to track semen quality after infection is 112 days and 58 eligible patients were included in our study eventually. We subsequently exploited a linear mixed-effects model to statistically analyze their semen parameters at different time points before and after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Semen parameters were significantly reduced after SARS-CoV-2 infection, including total sperm count (211 [147; 347] to 167 [65.0; 258], P < 0.001), sperm concentration (69.0 [38.8; 97.0] to 51.0 [25.5; 71.5], P < 0.001), total sperm motility (57.5 [52.3; 65.0] to 51.0 [38.5; 56.8], P < 0.001), progressive motility (50.0 [46.2; 58.0] to 45.0 [31.5; 52.8], P < 0.001). The parameters displayed the greatest diminution within 30 days after SARS-CoV-2 infection, gradually recovered thereafter, and exhibited no significant difference after 90 days compared with prior to COVID-19 infection. In addition, the patients in the group with a low-grade fever showed a declining tendency in semen parameters, but not to a significant degree, whereas those men with a moderate or high fever produced a significant drop in the same parameters. Semen parameters were significantly reduced after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and fever severity during SARS-CoV-2 infection may constitute the main influencing factor in reducing semen parameters in patients after recovery, but the effect is reversible and the semen parameters gradually return to normal with the realization of a new spermatogenic cycle.
CD74 as a prognostic and M1 macrophage infiltration marker in a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis
Authors: Li Ruo Qi , Yan Lei , Zhang Ling , Zhao Yanli , Lian Jing 
Published: April 2024

AbstractCD74 is a type-II transmembrane glycoprotein that has been linked to tumorigenesis. However, this association was based only on phenotypic studies, and, to date, no in-depth mechanistic studies have been conducted. In this study, combined with a multi-omics study, CD74 levels were significantly upregulated in most cancers relative to normal tissues and were found to be predictive of prognosis. Elevated CD74 expression was associated with reduced levels of mismatch-repair genes and homologous repair gene signatures in over 10 tumor types. Multiple fluorescence staining and bulk, spatial, single-cell transcriptional analyses indicated its potential as a marker for M1 macrophage infiltration in pan-cancer. In addition, CD74 expression was higher in BRCA patients responsive to conventional chemotherapy and was able to predict the prognosis of these patients. Potential CD74-activating drugs (HNHA and BRD-K55186349) were identified through molecular docking to CD74. The findings indicate activation of CD74 may have potential in tumor immunotherapy.
Characteristics and optical properties of atmospheric aerosols based on long-term AERONET investigations in an urban environment of Pakistan
Authors: Zeb Bahadar , Alam Khan , Khan Rehana , Ditta Allah , Iqbal Rashid , Elsadek Mohamed Farouk , Raza Ahsan , Elshikh Mohamed Soliman 
Published: April 2024

AbstractRadiative balance, local climate, and human health are all significantly influenced by aerosol. Recent severe air pollution over Lahore, a city in Pakistan calls for more thorough research to determine the negative impacts brought on by too many aerosols. To study regional aerosol characteristics and their differences from various aspects, in-depth and long-term (2007–2020) investigations of the columnar aerosol properties over the urban environment of Lahore were carried out by using AERONET data. The Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD400) and Angstrom Exponent (AE400–870) vary from low values of 0.10 to a maximum value of 4.51 and from 0.03 to 1.81, respectively. The huge differences in the amount of AOD440 as well as AE440–870 show the large fluctuation of aerosol classes because of various sources of their emission. During the autumn and winter seasons, the decreasing trend of the optical parameters of aerosols like Single Scattering Albedo (SSA) and Asymmetry Parameter (ASY) with increasing wavelength from 675 to 1020 nm indicates the dominance of light-absorbing aerosols (biomass burning (BB) and industrial/urban (UI). Due to the long-distance dust movement during spring, summer, and autumn, coarse mode particles predominated in Lahore during the study period. Dust type (DD) aerosols are found to be the dominant one during spring (46.92%), summer (54.31%), and autumn (57.46%) while urban industry (BB/UI) was dominant during the winter season (53.21%). During each season, the clean continental (CC) aerosols are found to be in negligible amounts, indicating terrible air quality in Lahore City. The present research work fills up the study gap in the optical properties of aerosols in Lahore and will help us understand more fully how local aerosol fluctuation affects regional climate change over the urban environment of Lahore.
Development of a high throughput system to screen compounds that revert the activated hepatic stellate cells to a quiescent-like state
Authors: Nakano Yasuhiro , Saijou Eiko , Itoh Tohru , Tanaka Minoru , Miyajima Atsushi , Kido Taketomo 
Published: April 2024

AbstractChronic liver injury induces fibrosis that often proceeds to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, indicating that prevention and/or resolution of fibrosis is a promising therapeutic target. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the major driver of fibrosis by expressing extracellular matrices (ECM). HSCs, in the normal liver, are quiescent and activated by liver injury to become myofibroblasts that proliferate and produce ECM. It has been shown that activated HSCs (aHSCs) become a "quiescent-like" state by removal of liver insults. Therefore, deactivation agents can be a therapeutic drug for advanced liver fibrosis. Using aHSCs prepared from human induced pluripotent stem cells, we found that aHSCs were reverted to a quiescent-like state by a combination of chemical compounds that either inhibit or activate a signaling pathway, Lanifibranor, SB431542, Dorsomorphin, retinoic acid, palmitic acid and Y27632, in vitro. Based on these results, we established a high throughput system to screen agents that induce deactivation and demonstrate that a single chemical compound can induce deactivation.
Protein restriction during pregnancy alters Cdkn1c silencing, dopamine circuitry and offspring behaviour without changing expression of key neuronal marker genes
Authors: Prodani Chiara , Irvine Elaine E. , Sardini Alessandro , Gleneadie Hannah J. , Dimond Andrew , Van de Pette Mathew , John Rosalind , Kokkinou Michelle , Howes Oliver , Withers Dominic J. , Ungless Mark A. , Merkenschlager Matthias , Fisher Amanda G. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWe tracked the consequences of in utero protein restriction in mice throughout their development and life course using a luciferase-based allelic reporter of imprinted Cdkn1c. Exposure to gestational low-protein diet (LPD) results in the inappropriate expression of paternally inherited Cdkn1c in the brains of embryonic and juvenile mice. These animals were characterised by a developmental delay in motor skills, and by behavioural alterations indicative of reduced anxiety. Exposure to LPD in utero resulted in significantly more tyrosine hydroxylase positive (dopaminergic) neurons in the midbrain of adult offspring as compared to age-matched, control-diet equivalents. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging revealed an increase in striatal dopamine synthesis capacity in LPD-exposed offspring, where elevated levels of dopamine correlated with an enhanced sensitivity to cocaine. These data highlight a profound sensitivity of the developing epigenome to gestational protein restriction. Our data also suggest that loss of Cdkn1c imprinting and p57KIP2 upregulation alters the cellular composition of the developing midbrain, compromises dopamine circuitry, and thereby provokes behavioural abnormalities in early postnatal life. Molecular analyses showed that despite this phenotype, exposure to LPD solely during pregnancy did not significantly change the expression of key neuronal- or dopamine-associated marker genes in adult offspring.
Long-term outcome of adjuvant radiotherapy upon postoperative relapse of centrally located hepatocellular carcinoma: a real-world study
Authors: Tao Changcheng , Hu Nan , Liu Yue , Wang Hongwei , Wang Zhihao , Zhang Kai , Wang Liming , Chen Bo , Wu Fan , Rong Weiqi , Wu Jianxiong 
Published: April 2024

AbstractDespite that surgical resection is widely regarded as the most effective approach to the treatment of liver cancer, its safety and efficacy upon centrally located hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unsatisfactory. In consequence, seeking an integrated treatment, like combined with adjuvant radiotherapy, to enhance the prognosis of patients is of critical importance. By recruiting patients undergoing surgical resection for centrally located HCC ranging from June 2015 to 2020, they were divided into liver resection combined with adjuvant radiotherapy (LR + RT) and mere liver resection (LR) groups. The calculation of propensity score and model of Cox proportional hazards regression were utilized. 193 patients were recruited in aggregation, containing 88 ones undergoing LR + RT, while 105 handled with LR. RT was verified to be an independent factor of prognosis for relapse (HR 0.60). In propensity-score analyses, significant association existed between adjuvant radiotherapy and better disease-free survival (DFS) (Matched, HR 0.60; Adjustment of propensity score, HR 0.60; Inverse probability weighting, HR 0.63). The difference of DFS was apparent within two groups (p value = 0.022), and RT significantly down-regulated early relapse (p value < 0.05) in subgroup analysis. The calculation of E-value revealed robustness of unmeasured confounding. The combination of liver surgical resection with RT is safe and effective towards patients with centrally located HCC, which would notably enhance the prognosis and decrease the early relapse of HCC.
AI-driven translations for kidney transplant equity in Hispanic populations
Authors: Garcia Valencia Oscar A. , Thongprayoon Charat , Jadlowiec Caroline C. , Mao Shennen A. , Leeaphorn Napat , Budhiraja Pooja , Craici Iasmina M. , Gonzalez Suarez Maria L. , Cheungpasitporn Wisit 
Published: April 2024

AbstractHealth equity and accessing Spanish kidney transplant information continues being a substantial challenge facing the Hispanic community. This study evaluated ChatGPT’s capabilities in translating 54 English kidney transplant frequently asked questions (FAQs) into Spanish using two versions of the AI model, GPT-3.5 and GPT-4.0. The FAQs included 19 from Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), 15 from National Health Service (NHS), and 20 from National Kidney Foundation (NKF). Two native Spanish-speaking nephrologists, both of whom are of Mexican heritage, scored the translations for linguistic accuracy and cultural sensitivity tailored to Hispanics using a 1–5 rubric. The inter-rater reliability of the evaluators, measured by Cohen’s Kappa, was 0.85. Overall linguistic accuracy was 4.89 ± 0.31 for GPT-3.5 versus 4.94 ± 0.23 for GPT-4.0 (non-significant p = 0.23). Both versions scored 4.96 ± 0.19 in cultural sensitivity (p = 1.00). By source, GPT-3.5 linguistic accuracy was 4.84 ± 0.37 (OPTN), 4.93 ± 0.26 (NHS), 4.90 ± 0.31 (NKF). GPT-4.0 scored 4.95 ± 0.23 (OPTN), 4.93 ± 0.26 (NHS), 4.95 ± 0.22 (NKF). For cultural sensitivity, GPT-3.5 scored 4.95 ± 0.23 (OPTN), 4.93 ± 0.26 (NHS), 5.00 ± 0.00 (NKF), while GPT-4.0 scored 5.00 ± 0.00 (OPTN), 5.00 ± 0.00 (NHS), 4.90 ± 0.31 (NKF). These high linguistic and cultural sensitivity scores demonstrate Chat GPT effectively translated the English FAQs into Spanish across systems. The findings suggest Chat GPT’s potential to promote health equity by improving Spanish access to essential kidney transplant information. Additional research should evaluate its medical translation capabilities across diverse contexts/languages. These English-to-Spanish translations may increase access to vital transplant information for underserved Spanish-speaking Hispanic patients.
Some plasma biomarkers of residual feed intake in beef cattle remain consistent regardless of intake level
Authors: Cantalapiedra-Hijar G. , Nedelkov K. , Crosson P. , McGee M. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis study investigated whether plasma biomarkers of residual feed intake (RFI), identified under ad libitum feeding conditions in beef cattle, remained consistent during feed restriction. Sixty Charolais crossbred young bulls were divided into two groups for a crossover study. Group A was initially fed ad libitum (first test) and then restricted (second test) on the same diet, while Group B experienced the opposite sequence. Blood samples were collected from the 12 most divergent RFI animals in each group at the end of the first test and again after the second test. 12 plasma variables consistently increased, while three consistently decreased during feed restriction (FDR < 0.05). Only two metabolites, α-aminoadipic acid for Group A and 5-aminovaleric acid for Group B, were associated with RFI independent of feed intake level (FDR < 0.05), demonstrating moderate-to-high repeatability across feeding levels (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥ 0.59). Notably, both metabolites belong to the same metabolic pathway: lysine degradation. These metabolites consistently correlated with RFI, irrespective of fluctuations in feed intake, indicating a connection to individual metabolic processes influencing feed efficiency. These findings suggest that a portion of RFI phenotypic variance is inherent to an individual’s metabolic efficiency beyond variations in feed intake.
On the crashworthiness analysis of bio-inspired DNA tubes
Authors: Najibi Amir , Zhang Liwen , Zheng Dongli 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis study presents a thorough numerical evaluation of the crashworthiness properties of a new bio-inspired DNA tubes (BIDNATs) with circular, elliptical, and rectangular cross-sections. Deformation and crashworthiness behaviors are evaluated using axial quasi-static crushing simulations by ABAQUS/Explicit (Abaqus 6.14, https://www.3ds.com/products-services/simulia/products/abaqus/). The study compares the performance of conventional tubes with rectangular and elliptical cross-sections to DNA-inspired tubes. Increasing the rotation angle leads to more helices and a pronounced helix angle, resulting in lower initial peak force (IPF). However, lower cross-section aspect ratios generally have higher IPF and specific energy absorption (SEA) values. BIDNATs with rectangular cross-sections and a 540° rotation angle have the lowest SEA and IPF values across all aspect ratios. Notably, for the 110/100 aspect ratio, the SEA of E110/100 is 71% higher than the conventional tube. Overall, BIDNATs with elliptical cross-sections and a 360° rotation angle exhibit higher SEA values and lower IPF values, particularly for a width (W) of 100 mm. Conventional circular and elliptical tubes generally have SEA values exceeding 6 J/g, with only E110/100 surpassing this among DNA-inspired tubes. The NE110/100 tube has the highest SEA, surpassing E110/100 by 54%, while its IPF is 10% greater than DNA-inspired E110/100. It's worth noting that conventional circular and elliptical tubes have higher IPF values compared to their DNA-inspired counterparts. These findings offer valuable insights for engineers and researchers in the design of crash tubes to improve overall vehicle safety for both occupants and pedestrians.
Tsunami deposits highlight high-magnitude earthquake potential in the Guerrero seismic gap Mexico
Authors: Ramírez-Herrera María Teresa , Corona Néstor , Černý Jan , Gaidzik Krzysztof , Sugawara Daisuke , Forman Steven L. , Machain-Castillo María Luisa , Gogichaishvili Avto 
Published: April 2024

AbstractGlobally, the largest tsunamigenic earthquakes have occurred along subduction zones. Devastating events exceeding magnitude 9, such as those in Chile, Sumatra, and Japan, struck in regions lacking instrumental records of similar events. Despite the absence of such events along the 1000-kilometer-long Mexican subduction zone, historical and geologic evidence suggests the occurrence of a magnitude 8.6 tsunamigenic earthquake. However, the Guerrero seismic gap has not experienced a high-magnitude earthquake in over 100 years. Here we present results on analyses of sediment grain size, geochemistry, microfossils, magnetic properties, and radiometric and optical stimulated luminescence dating conducted along the Guerrero coast. We provide evidence of a 2000-year history of large tsunamis triggered by potentially large earthquakes. Numerical modeling supports our findings, indicating a magnitude >8 event around the year 1300 in the Guerrero seismic gap. This evidence underscores the importance of assessing earthquake and tsunami potential using long-term evidence and instrumental observations along subduction zones globally.
Tamm plasmon polariton-based planar hot-electron photodetector for the near-infrared region
Authors: Konov Yurii V. , Pykhtin Dmitrii A. , Bikbaev Rashid G. , Timofeev Ivan V. 
Published: April 2024

The photoresponsivity of the proposed light-trapping device can reach 42.6 mA W−1 at 905 nm.
Multilingualism and Augmentative and Alternative Communication: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Andzik Natalie R. , LaMarca Hannah N. 
Published: April 2024

Purpose:
Individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) are often offered English-only AAC systems that do not meet their language needs. The aim of this review article was to describe the research published on multilingual AAC, define any emerging best practices, and highlight gaps in the literature that exist to ensure equal language access for all learners.

Method:
The authors reviewed the literature by searching relevant databases using a variety of search terms. Following our inclusionary and exclusionary criteria, 15 articles were yielded for coding and then patterns were reported.

Results:
The authors found that more than half of the included articles were expert opinion papers on AAC delivery, barriers to AAC and multilingualism, and code-switching using AAC. The included qualitative studies aimed to summarize the perceptions on AAC services—their impact, facilitating and limiting factors in communication, and the importance or relevance of using an AAC device. Only two quantitative studies were included.

Conclusions:
Practitioners have an obligation to support multilingual clients who use AAC across all languages they speak at school, at home, and in the community. Much of the literature supports encouraging multiple languages, but limited access to multilingual AAC systems are available. There is also a dire need for empirically based studies and more perspectives by way of interviews or surveys.
Learning to bag with a simulation‐free reinforcement learning framework for robots
Authors: Munguia‐Galeano Francisco , Zhu Jihong , Hernández Juan David , Ji Ze 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBagging is an essential skill that humans perform in their daily activities. However, deformable objects, such as bags, are complex for robots to manipulate. A learning‐based framework that enables robots to learn bagging is presented. The novelty of this framework is its ability to learn and perform bagging without relying on simulations. The learning process is accomplished through a reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm introduced and designed to find the best grasping points of the bag based on a set of compact state representations. The framework utilises a set of primitive actions and represents the task in five states. In our experiments, the framework reached 60% and 80% success rates after around 3 h of training in the real world when starting the bagging task from folded and unfolded states, respectively. Finally, the authors test the trained RL model with eight more bags of different sizes to evaluate its generalisability.
All‐metal wide‐angle and polarization‐independent microwave metamaterial absorber
Authors: Wang Shuang , Zeng Lingjun , He Liuyu , Mao Jiale , Chen Yu 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAn innovative all‐metal self‐support microwave metamaterial absorber (MMA) based on a continuous complementary split ring resonator (CSRR) array frequency selective surface (FSS) is constructed. The CSRR‐based FSS has a selected frequency of 23 GHz and is proved to be polarization insensitive. And the all‐metal MMA has the same response frequency as the FSS, showing convenience in the geometrical scaling process. Additionally, in both transverse electric and transverse magnetic modes, the all‐metal MMA shows stable response at oblique incidences with an incident angle as large as 50°. Along with lightweight, easy fabrication and high cost‐performance ratio, the new proposed all‐metal FSS‐based MMA has good potential to serve in many practical applications.
Regulate drain‐shield relative positioning and contact for mitigating radiated emission from USB cables
Authors: Liang Tao , Yin Ziqian , Song Yu , Xi Zhihao , Xie Yan‐zhao 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis letter delves into the influence of drain wire design on electromagnetic radiated emission (RE) from a commercial universal serial bus (USB) cable operating in a high‐speed data transfer mode. The investigation involves an experimental comparison of measured RE across various retrofitted cables. Notably, it is demonstrated that the distribution of contact points on the drain‐shield has negligible effects on RE. Conversely, relocating the drain wire externally to the shields and minimizing the distance with respect to the grounding connector leads to a significant reduction in RE, particularly within the sub‐MHz frequency range. Consequently, regulatory proposals are put forth to diminish overall RE and enhance the RE compliance of USB cables.
Co‐excitation control of a four‐degree‐of‐freedom magnetic bearing switched reluctance motor based on mathematical models
Authors: Liu Zeyuan , Wu Xingcheng , Cai Jun , Yang Yan , Liu Chengzi 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn traditional magnetic bearing motors, the magnetic bearing and the motor are usually driven and controlled separately, resulting in higher controller costs and limiting further expansion of their applications. The author presents a four‐degree‐of‐freedom (4DOF) magnetic bearing switched reluctance motor (MBSRM), consisting of two 8‐pole active radial magnetic bearings (RMBs) and two two‐phase 4/2‐pole switched reluctance motors (SRMs), driven simultaneously by a set of asymmetrical power converters together. Firstly, the structure, winding configuration and co‐excitation working principles of the 4DOF‐MBSRM system are described in detail. Then the radial force formula for an 8‐pole RMB and the torque mathematical model for a 4/2‐pole SRM are briefly derived based on equivalent magnetic circuits, respectively. Furthermore, a co‐excitation control strategy for the 4DOF MBSRM is developed wherein an instantaneous radial force is used to control its rotor shaft levitation, an instantaneous torque is employed for rotational control at low and medium speeds, and an average torque is used for high speed operation. Finally, the good performance of the co‐excitation control for the proposed 4DOF‐MBSRM is proved by simulation analysis.