bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vitamin B5 copper conjugated triazine dendrimer improved the visible-light photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanoparticles for aerobic homocoupling reactions
Authors: Zamenraz Samira , Jafarpour Maasoumeh , Eskandari Ameneh , Rezaeifard Abdolreza 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn this work, Cu-vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) bonded to 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine produced a bioconjugated dendrimer giving rise to the visible-light photocatalytic activity of nanocrystalline TiO2. XPS spectra uncovered the coexistence of Cu(II)/Cu(I) oxidation states with a predominant contribution of Cu(I). The new heterogeneous bio-relevant Cu-photocatalyst (Cu(I) Cu(II) [PTAPA G2-B5] @TiO2) revealed a band gap value [Eg = (2.8 eV)] less than those of Cu free components [PTAPA G1-B5]@TiO2 (3.04) and [PTAPA G2-B5]@TiO2 (3.06) and particularly the bare TiO2 (3.15 eV). The reactions showed to be light-dependent with the best performance under room light bulbs. The photocatalytic efficiency of the as-prepared heterojunction photocatalyst was exploited in the aerobic Csp2–Csp2 homocoupling of phenylboronic acid and Csp–Csp homocoupling of phenyl acetylenes under visible-light irradiation to prepare structurally and electronically different biaryls. A radical pathway relying on the photogenerated e− and h+ and involving the Cu(I)–Cu(II) synergistic cooperation was postulated. The reusability and stability of the catalyst were verified by the recycling test, FT-IR spectra, and ICP-OES analysis.
The psychophysics of home plate umpire calls
Authors: Flannagan Kevin S. , Mills Brian M. , Goldstone Robert L. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractWe analyze the visual perception task that home plate umpires (N = 121) perform calling balls and strikes (N = 3,001,019) in baseball games, focusing on the topics of perceptual learning and bias in decision-making. In the context of perceptual learning, our results show that monitoring, training, and feedback improve skill over time. In addition, we document two other aspects of umpires’ improvement that are revealing with respect to the nature of their perceptual expertise. First, we show that biases in umpires’ decision-making persist even as their overall accuracy improves. This suggests that bias and accuracy are orthogonal and that reduction of bias in decision-making requires interventions aimed specifically at this goal. Second, we measure a distinct difference in the rate of skill improvement between older and younger umpires. Younger umpires improve more quickly, suggesting that the decision task umpires engage in becomes routinized over time.
Fidelity of WRF model in simulating heat wave events over India
Authors: Gupta Priyanshu , Verma Sunita , Mukhopadhyay Parthasarathi , Bhatla R. , Payra Swagata 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe evaluation of Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model has been performed for simulating episodic Heat Wave (HW) events of 2015 and 2016 with varied horizontal resolutions of 27 km for the entire India (d01), 9 km for the North West (NW (d02)) and South East (SE (d03)) domain. Study compares the maximum temperature (Tmax) simulated by WRF model, using six different combination of parameterization schemes, with observations from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) during the HW events. Among the six experiments, Exp2 (i.e., combination of WSM6 microphysics (MP) together with radiation parameterization CAM, Yonsei (PBL), NOAH land surface and Grell-3D convective schemes) is found closest to the observations in reproducing the temperature. The model exhibits an uncertainty of ± 2 °C in maximum temperature (Tmax) for both the regions, suggesting regional temperature is influenced by the location and complex orography. Overall, statistical results reveal that the best performance is achieved with Exp2. Further, to understand the dynamics of rising HW intensity, two case studies of HW days along with influencing parameters like Tmax, RH and prevailing wind distribution have been simulated. Model simulated Tmax during 2015 reaches up to 44 °C in NW and SE part of India. In 2016, HW is more prevailing towards NW, while in SE region Tmax reaches upto 34–38 °C with high RH (60–85%). The comparative research made it abundantly evident that these episodic events are unique in terms of duration and geographical spread which can be used to assess the WRF performance for future projections of HW.
A collapse risk assessment method for subway foundation pit based on cloud model and improved Dempster–Shafer evidence theory
Authors: Wu Bo , Zeng Jiajia , Zhu Ruonan , Yang Fan , Liu Cong , Xie Yundong 
Published: February 2024

AbstractCollapse is a major engineering hazard in open-cut foundation pit construction, and risk assessment is crucial for considerably reducing engineering hazards. This study aims to address the ambiguity problem of qualitative index quantification and the failure of high-conflict evidence fusion in risk assessment. Thus, a fast-converging and high-reliability multi-source data fusion method based on the cloud model (CM) and improved Dempster–Shafer evidence theory is proposed. The method can achieve an accurate assessment of subway pit collapse risks. First, the CM is introduced to quantify the qualitative metrics. Then, a new correction parameter is defined for improving the conflicts among evidence bodies based on conflict degree, discrepancy degree and uncertainty, while a fine-tuning term is added to reduce the subjective effect of global focal element assignment. Finally, the risk assessment result is obtained according to the maximum affiliation principle. The method is successfully applied to Luochongwei Station, where the difference between the maximum value and the second largest value of the basic probability assignment is 0.624, and the global uncertainty degree is 0.087. Both values satisfy the decision evaluation condition; however, values of other methods only satisfy one or neither condition. In addition, the proposed method requires only four cycles to reach the steady state by fusing data of the same index, which has faster convergence compared with that of other methods. The proposed method has good universality and effectiveness in subway pit collapse risk assessment.
The outcomes of Re-Redo bariatric surgery—results from multicenter Polish Revision Obesity Surgery Study (PROSS)
Authors: Łabul Michał , Wysocki Michał , Małczak Piotr , Matyja Maciej , Dowgiałło-Gornowicz Natalia , Lech Paweł , Szymański Michał , Major Piotr ,   PROSS–Collaborative Study Group, Pędziwiatr Michał , Rymarowicz Justyna , Zarzycki Piotr , Stefura Tomasz , Ciszek Karol , Myśliwiec Piotr , Hady Hady Razak , Głuszyńska Paulina , Proczko-Stepaniak Monika , Walędziak Maciej , Janik Michał , Kwiatkowski Andrzej , Materlak Magdalena , Bartosiak Katarzyna , Czyżykowski Łukasz , Mawlichanów Maciej , Kowalewski Piotr , Szeliga Jacek , Kupczyk Wojciech , Harań Anna , Kowalski Grzegorz , Mulek Rafał , Kreft Michał , Orłowski Michał , Franczak Paula , Binda Artur , Tarnowski Wiesław , Jaworski Paweł , Kamiński Mateusz , Pastuszka Maciej , Lisik Wojciech , Szymański Paweł , Katkowski Bartosz , Leśniak Michał 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe increasing prevalence of bariatric surgery has resulted in a rise in the number of redo procedures as well. While redo bariatric surgery has demonstrated its effectiveness, there is still a subset of patients who may not derive any benefits from it. This poses a significant challenge for bariatric surgeons, especially when there is a lack of clear guidelines. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of patients who underwent Re-Redo bariatric surgery. We conducted a retrospective cohort study on a group of 799 patients who underwent redo bariatric surgery between 2010 and 2020. Among these patients, 20 individuals underwent a second elective redo bariatric surgery (Re-Redo) because of weight regain (15 patients) or insufficient weight loss, i.e. < 50% EWL (5 patients). Mean BMI before Re-Redo surgery was 38.8 ± 4.9 kg/m2. Mean age was 44.4 ± 11.5 years old. The mean %TWL before and after Re-Redo was 17.4 ± 12.4% and %EBMIL was 51.6 ± 35.9%. 13/20 patients (65%) achieved > 50% EWL. The mean final %TWL was 34.2 ± 11.1% and final %EBMIL was 72.1 ± 20.8%. The mean BMI after treatment was 31.9 ± 5.3 kg/m2. Complications occurred in 3 of 20 patients (15%), with no reported mortality or need for another surgical intervention. The mean follow-up after Re-Redo was 35.3 months. Although Re-Redo bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obesity, it carries a significant risk of complications.
Relative quantification of the recA gene for antimicrobial susceptibility testing in response to ciprofloxacin for pathogens of concern
Authors: Stefan Christopher P. , Blancett Candace D. , Huynh Kimberly A. , Minogue Timothy D. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAntimicrobial resistance (AR) is one of the greatest threats to global health and is associated with higher treatment costs, longer hospital stays, and increased mortality. Current gold standard antimicrobial susceptibility tests (AST) rely on organism growth rates that result in prolonged time-to-answer for slow growing organisms. Changes in the cellular transcriptome can be rapid in the presence of stressors such as antibiotic pressure, providing the opportunity to develop AST towards transcriptomic signatures. Here, we show that relative quantification of the recA gene is an indicator of pathogen susceptibly when select species are challenged with relevant concentrations of ciprofloxacin. We demonstrate that ciprofloxacin susceptible strains of Y. pestis and B. anthracis have significant increases in relative recA gene expression after 15 min of exposure while resistant strains show no significant differences. Building upon this data, we designed and optimized seven duplex RT-qPCR assays targeting the recA and 16S rRNA gene, response and housekeeping genes, respectively, for multiple biothreat and ESKAPE pathogens. Final evaluation of all seven duplex assays tested against 124 ciprofloxacin susceptible and resistant strains, including Tier 1 pathogens, demonstrated an overall categorical agreement compared to microbroth dilution of 97% using a defined cutoff. Testing pathogen strains commonly associated with urinary tract infections in contrived mock sample sets demonstrated an overall categorical agreement of 96%. These data indicate relative quantification of a single highly conserved gene accurately determines susceptibility for multiple bacterial species in response to ciprofloxacin.
A clinically relevant computed tomography (CT) radiomics strategy for intracranial rodent brain tumour monitoring
Authors: Connor Kate , Conroy Emer , White Kieron , Shiels Liam P. , Keek Simon , Ibrahim Abdalla , Gallagher William M. , Sweeney Kieron J. , Clerkin James , O’Brien David , Cryan Jane B. , O’Halloran Philip J. , Heffernan Josephine , Brett Francesca , Lambin Philippe , Woodruff Henry C. , Byrne Annette T. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractHere, we establish a CT-radiomics based method for application in invasive, orthotopic rodent brain tumour models. Twenty four NOD/SCID mice were implanted with U87R-Luc2 GBM cells and longitudinally imaged via contrast enhanced (CE-CT) imaging. Pyradiomics was employed to extract CT-radiomic features from the tumour-implanted hemisphere and non-tumour-implanted hemisphere of acquired CT-scans. Inter-correlated features were removed (Spearman correlation > 0.85) and remaining features underwent predictive analysis (recursive feature elimination or Boruta algorithm). An area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve was implemented to evaluate radiomic features for their capacity to predict defined outcomes. Firstly, we identified a subset of radiomic features which distinguish the tumour-implanted hemisphere and non- tumour-implanted hemisphere (i.e, tumour presence from normal tissue). Secondly, we successfully translate preclinical CT-radiomic pipelines to GBM patient CT scans (n = 10), identifying similar trends in tumour-specific feature intensities (E.g. ‘glszm Zone Entropy’), thereby suggesting a mouse-to-human species conservation (a conservation of radiomic features across species). Thirdly, comparison of features across timepoints identify features which support preclinical tumour detection earlier than is possible by visual assessment of CT scans. This work establishes robust, preclinical CT-radiomic pipelines and describes the application of CE-CT for in-depth orthotopic brain tumour monitoring. Overall we provide evidence for the role of pre-clinical ‘discovery’ radiomics in the neuro-oncology space.
Uplift modeling to identify patients who require extensive catheter ablation procedures among patients with persistent atrial fibrillation
Authors: Sato Taiki , Sotomi Yohei , Hikoso Shungo , Kitamura Tetsuhisa , Nakatani Daisaku , Okada Katsuki , Dohi Tomoharu , Sunaga Akihiro , Kida Hirota , Matsuoka Yuki , Tanaka Nobuaki , Watanabe Tetsuya , Makino Nobuhiko , Egami Yasuyuki , Oka Takafumi , Minamiguchi Hitoshi , Miyoshi Miwa , Okada Masato , Kanda Takashi , Matsuda Yasuhiro , Kawasaki Masato , Masuda Masaharu , Inoue Koichi , Sakata Yasushi ,   the OCVC-Arrhythmia Investigators, Mano Toshiaki , Fukunami Masatake , Yamada Takahisa , Furukawa Yoshio , Hasegawa Shinji , Higuchi Yoshiharu , Hirata Akio , Tanouchi Jun , Nishino Masami , Matsunaga Yasuharu , Matsumura Yasushi , Mizuno Hiroya , Takeda Toshihiro , Nakano Tomoaki , Ozu Kentaro , Suna Shinichiro , Oeun Bolrathanak , Tanaka Koji , Minamisaka Tomoko , Hoshida Shiro 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIdentifying patients who would benefit from extensive catheter ablation along with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) among those with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) has been a subject of controversy. The objective of this study was to apply uplift modeling, a machine learning method for analyzing individual causal effect, to identify such patients in the EARNEST-PVI trial, a randomized trial in patients with persistent AF. We developed 16 uplift models using different machine learning algorithms, and determined that the best performing model was adaptive boosting using Qini coefficients. The optimal uplift score threshold was 0.0124. Among patients with an uplift score ≥ 0.0124, those who underwent extensive catheter ablation (PVI-plus) showed a significantly lower recurrence rate of AF compared to those who received only PVI (PVI-alone) (HR 0.40; 95% CI 0.19–0.84; P-value = 0.015). In contrast, among patients with an uplift score < 0.0124, recurrence of AF did not significantly differ between PVI-plus and PVI-alone (HR 1.17; 95% CI 0.57–2.39; P-value = 0.661). By employing uplift modeling, we could effectively identify a subset of patients with persistent AF who would benefit from PVI-plus. This model could be valuable in stratifying patients with persistent AF who need extensive catheter ablation before the procedure.
The NMR structure of the Ea22 lysogenic developmental protein from lambda bacteriophage
Authors: Goddard Cameron , Nejman-Faleńczyk Bożena , Donaldson Logan W. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe ea22 gene resides in a relatively uncharacterized region of the lambda bacteriophage genome between the exo and xis genes and is among the earliest genes transcribed upon infection. In lambda and Shiga toxin-producing phages found in enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) associated with food poisoning, Ea22 favors a lysogenic over lytic developmental state. The Ea22 protein may be considered in terms of three domains: a short amino-terminal domain, a coiled-coiled domain, and a carboxy-terminal domain (CTD). While the full-length protein is tetrameric, the CTD is dimeric when expressed individually. Here, we report the NMR solution structure of the Ea22 CTD that is described by a mixed alpha–beta fold with a dimer interface reinforced by salt bridges. A conserved mobile loop may serve as a ligand for an unknown host protein that works with Ea22 to promote bacterial survival and the formation of new lysogens. From sequence and structural comparisons, the CTD distinguishes lambda Ea22 from homologs encoded by Shiga toxin-producing bacteriophages.
Retinal vessel volume reference database derived from volume-rendered optical coherence tomography angiography
Authors: Feu-Basilio Silvia , Maloca Peter M. , Hasler Pascal , Scholl Hendrik P. N. , Marin-Martinez Sara , Rosinés-Fonoll Josep , Suarez-Valero Xavier , Reich Michael , Lange Clemens , Egan Catherine , Zweifel Sandrine , Tufail Adnan , Spaide Richard F. , Zarranz-Ventura Javier 
Published: February 2024

AbstractOptical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) enables three-dimensional reconstruction of the functional blood vessels in the retina. Therefore, it enables the quantification of 3D retinal vessel parameters such as surface area and vessel volume. In spite of the widespread use of OCTA, no representative volume-rendered vessel volume (VV) data are published to date. In this study, OCTA 3 × 3 mm macular cubes were processed with volume-rendering techniques to measure VV in 203 eyes from 107 healthy volunteers. Generalized linear models (GLM) were constructed to assess the impact of age, gender, visual acuity (VA), spherical equivalent (SE), and axial length (AL) on VV. Overall mean VV was 0.23 ± 0.05mm3. Age and axial length showed a negative correlation with VV. However, GLM model analysis found that AL exerted the most pronounced influence on VV. No statistically significant associations were identified between gender or between left and right eyes. This is the first study to assess 3D OCTA VV and its naturally occurring variations in a large series of healthy subjects. It offers novel insights into the characterization of normal retinal vascular anatomy in healthy individuals, contributing to a valuable reference for future research in this field.
The value-based price of transformative gene therapy for sickle cell disease: a modeling analysis
Authors: Morgan George , Back Emily , Besser Martin , Hallett Timothy B. , Guzauskas Gregory F. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractSickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited, progressively debilitating blood disorder. Emerging gene therapies (GTx) may lead to a complete remission, the benefits of such can only be realized if GTx is affordable and accessible in the low-and middle-income countries (LMIC) with the greatest SCD burden. To estimate the health impacts and country-specific value-based prices (VBP) of a future gene therapy for SCD using a cost-utility model framework. We developed a lifetime Markov model to compare the costs and health outcomes of GTx versus standard of care for SCD. We modeled populations in seven LMICs and six high-income countries (HICs) estimating lifetime costs and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in comparison to estimates of a country’s cost-effectiveness threshold. Each country’s unique VBP for GTx was calculated via threshold analysis. Relative to SOC treatment alone, we found that hypothetical GTx reduced the number of people symptomatic with SCD over time leading to fewer DALYs. Across countries, VBPs ranged from $3.6 million (US) to $700 (Uganda). Our results indicate a wide range of GTx prices are required if it is to be made widely available and may inform burden and affordability for ‘target product profiles’ of GTx in SCD.
Threshold of anthropogenic sound levels within protected landscapes in Kerala, India, for avian habitat quality and conservation
Authors: Rajan Sajeev C. , M Vishnu , Mitra Ahalya , N P Sooraj , K Athira , Pillai M. S. , R Jaishanker 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAnthrophony is an important determinant of habitat quality in the Anthropocene. Acoustic adaptation of birds at lower levels of anthrophony is known. However, threshold anthrophony, beyond which biophony starts decreasing, is less explored. Here, we present empirical results of the relationship between anthrophony and biophony in four terrestrial soundscapes. The constancy of the predicted threshold vector normalised anthropogenic power spectral density (~ 0.40 Watts/Hz) at all the study sites is intriguing. We propose the threshold value of anthropogenic power spectral density as an indicator of the avian acoustic tolerance level in the study sites. The findings pave the way to determine permissible sound levels within protected landscapes and directly contribute to conservation planning.
Impact of macronutrients and salinity stress on biomass and biochemical constituents in Monoraphidium braunii to enhance biodiesel production
Authors: El-Sheekh Mostafa M. , Galal Hamdy R. , Mousa Amal SH. H. , Farghl Abla A. M. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractMicroalgal lipids are precursors to the production of biodiesel, as well as a source of valuable dietary components in the biotechnological industries. So, this study aimed to assess the effects of nutritional (nitrogen, and phosphorus) starvations and salinity stress (NaCl) on the biomass, lipid content, fatty acids profile, and predicted biodiesel properties of green microalga Monoraphidium braunii. The results showed that biomass, biomass productivity, and photosynthetic pigment contents (Chl. a, b, and carotenoids) of M. braunii were markedly decreased by nitrogen and phosphorus depletion and recorded the maximum values in cultures treated with full of N and P concentrations (control, 100%). These parameters were considerably increased at the low salinity level (up to 150 mM NaCl), while an increasing salinity level (up to 250 mM NaCl) reduces the biomass, its productivity, and pigment contents. Nutritional limitations and salt stress (NaCl) resulted in significantly enhanced accumulation of lipid and productivity of M. braunii, which represented more than twofold of the control. Furthermore, these conditions have enhanced the profile of fatty acid and biodiesel quality-related parameters. The current study exposed strategies to improve M. braunii lipid productivity for biodiesel production on a small scale in vitro in terms of fuel quality under low nutrients and salinity stress.
Exploring the impact of nano-Se and nano-clay feed supplements on interleukin genes, immunity and growth rate in European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)
Authors: Khaled Asmaa A. , Shabaan Amany M. , Hammad Saad M. , Hafez Elsayed E. , Saleh Ahmed A. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the effects of adding Nano-Selenium (NSe) and Nano-clay (NC) as feed supplements on European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Two separate experiments were conducted, one with NC and the other with NSe. Each experiment consisted of four sub-groups with varying concentrations of NC or NSe. The expression levels of five immune-related genes (TNF-α, TNF-β, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-12) were measured using Real-time Quantitative PCR (Rt-PCR) Assay. The results showed an increase in the expression of interleukins (IL-2, IL-6 and IL-12) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and TNF-β) after exposure to NC and NSe.TNF-α gene expression was significantly higher with both 1 mg and 10 mg concentrations of NC and NSe. TNF-β gene expression was highest with the 5 mg concentration of NC. The concentrations of 1 mg and 10 mg for NC, and 1 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg for NSe, led to the highest (p < 0.05) levels of IL-2 expression compared to the control. Similar trends were observed for IL-6 and IL-12 gene expression. Understanding the impact of these concentrations on gene expression, growth rate, biochemical indices, and antioxidant status can provide valuable insights into the potential applications of NC and NSe supplements on European Sea Bass.