bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Feeding metformin during pregnancy and lactation periods improved learning and memory impairment in the rat offspring exposed to febrile seizure: Role of oxidative stress and inflammatory response
Authors: Khoshroo Niloofar , Rahimi Ali , Kakhki Samaneh , Kaffashan Fatemeh , Masoudi Maha , Baharlou Soheil , Beheshti Farimah 
Published: January 2024

AbstractBackgroundMany clinical evidences have reported the higher risk of seizure in young children and infants after exposure to hyperthermia, which more likely can cause brain damage and affect cognitive function, so, many researches were focused on prevention or treatment of febrile seizure (FS) with minimal adverse effects. Considering the potential effects of oxidative stress as a prominent trigger in FS, and demonstrating the anti‐oxidant effects of metformin, the present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of metformin administration in prenatal and lactation periods in rat pups exposed to hyperthermia by which induced seizure.Method and materialsPregnant rats were divided into six groups: (1) vehicle: pregnant rats received normal saline during pregnancy and lactation; (2) FS: pregnant rats received normal saline during pregnancy and lactation; (3–5) FS‐Met50/100/150 mg/kg: pregnant rats received different doses of metformin including 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg during pregnancy and lactation; (6) Met150 mg/kg: pregnant rats received Met150 mg/kg during pregnancy and lactation. The male pups born to mothers received in all FS groups exposed to hyperthermia. All experimental groups were allowed to grow up, and after the lactation period, they were subjected for behavioural tests and biochemical analysis.ResultsAccording to the present findings, the prenatal and lactation exposure to the highest dose of metformin demonstrated significant difference with FS group in both behavioural and biochemical test analyses. Although the remaining doses of metformin were also effective, the much better results were reported with the highest dose of metformin (150 mg/kg). Interestingly, the highest dose of metformin administered alone demonstrated better result than vehicle in probe trial test.ConclusionConsidering the present research and related study in relation to metformin in ameliorating the epilepsy symptoms, there are numerous evidences on positive effect of metformin on seizure. Although the exact mechanism is unclear, the anti‐oxidant effect of metformin is strongly supported.
DLgram cloud service for deep‐learning analysis of microscopy images
Authors: Matveev Andrey V. , Nartova Anna V. , Sankova Natalya N. , Okunev Alexey G. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractTo analyze images in various fields of science and technology, it is often necessary to count observed objects and determine their parameters. This can be quite labor‐intensive and time‐consuming. This article presents DLgram, a universal, user‐friendly cloud service that is developed for this purpose. It is based on deep learning technologies and does not require programming skills. The user labels several objects in the image and uploads it to the cloud where the neural network is trained to recognize the objects being studied. The user receives recognition results, which if necessary, can be corrected, errors removed, or missing objects added. In addition, it is possible to carry out mathematical processing of the data obtained to get information about the sizes, areas, and coordinates of the observed objects. The article describes the service features and discusses examples of its application. The DLgram service allows to reduce significantly the time spent on quantitative image analysis, reduce subjective factor influence, and increase the accuracy of analysis.Research Highlights
DLgram automatically recognizes and counts the number of objects in images and their parameters.
DLgram is a universal service, which was created on the basis of the latest deep learning developments and does not require programming skills.
Scanning electron microscopic exploration of intricate pollen morphology and antimicrobial potentials of gourd family
Authors: Alhomaidi Eman 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis study employs scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to delve into the intricate pollen morphology of Cucurbitaceae (Gourd Family) species, unraveling the nuanced details of their structural features. Concurrently, the research investigates the antimicrobial potentials encoded within these pollen grains, shedding light on their possible applications in the realm of natural antimicrobial agents. Cucurbitaceae plants showcases significant antibacterial and antifungal potentials, underscoring its potential as a source for novel antimicrobial compounds. This research endeavors to provide a comprehensive analysis of pollen morphometry in 12 Cucurbitaceous species, with the primary goal of identifying pollen morpho‐types to enrich the taxonomic understanding of the Cucurbitaceae. Following the Erdtman protocol, the study involved processing, measuring, and capturing pollen grains using SEM techniques. Qualitative data were analyzed to evaluate the variations in pollen types, size, and exine stratified sculptured layering. The pollen grains exhibit characteristics of being monads, ranging in size from medium to very large, with the prevailing shape being prolate‐spheroidal in six species. Notably, the maximum polar axis diameter was recorded for Cucurbita pepo (106.3 μm), while the minimum was observed in Zehneria anomala (32.6 μm). The grains of Cucurbitaceae exhibit diverse surface patterns, including reticulate columellae, reticulate, verrucate‐scabrate, verrucate‐gemmate, echinate baculate, reticulate‐perforate, and micro‐reticulate. This SEM investigation illuminates the intricacies of Cucurbitaceae pollen morphology while concurrently highlighting their noteworthy antimicrobial potentials.Highlights
High‐resolution imaging reveals complex pollen morphology.
Identification of unique antimicrobial structures on Cucurbitaceae pollen (gourd family).
Exploring medicinal potential: Antimicrobial properties of cucurbitaceae species.
Exploring pathways toward open‐hardware ecosystems to safeguard genetic resources for biomedical research communities using aquatic model species
Authors: Liu Yue , Koch Jack C. , Arregui Lucía , Oune Allyssa , Bodenstein Sarah , Gutierrez‐Wing Maria T. , Tiersch Terrence R. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractDevelopment of reliable germplasm repositories is critical for preservation of genetic resources of aquatic species, which are widely utilized to support biomedical innovation by providing a foundational source for naturally occurring variation and development of new variants through genetic manipulations. A significant barrier in repository development is the lack of cryopreservation capability and reproducibility across the research community, posing great risks of losing advances developed from billions of dollars of research investment. The emergence of open scientific hardware has fueled a new movement across biomedical research communities. With the increasing accessibility of consumer‐level fabrication technologies, such as three‐dimensional printers, open hardware devices can be custom designed, and design files distributed to community members for enhancing rigor, reproducibility, and standardization. The overall goal of this review is to explore pathways to create open‐hardware ecosystems among the communities using aquatic model resources for biomedical research. To gain feedback and insights from community members, an interactive workshop focusing on open‐hardware applications in germplasm repository development was held at the 2022 Aquatic Models for Human Disease Conference, Woods Hole, Massachusetts. This work integrates conceptual strategies with practical insights derived from workshop interactions using examples of germplasm repository development. These insights can be generalized for establishment of open‐hardware ecosystems for a broad biomedical research community. The specific objectives were to: (1) introduce an open‐hardware ecosystem concept to support biomedical research; (2) explore pathways toward open‐hardware ecosystems through four major areas, and (3) identify opportunities and future directions.
Release of reclassified VUS results of now deceased patients to family members: Practices and opinions
Authors: Lascurain Seth , Thull Darcy , Durst Andrea , Bear Todd , Mai Phuong L. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractVariants of uncertain significance (VUS) are commonly identified in genetic testing. The rate at which a VUS is reclassified depends on multiple factors. However, as the amount of time it might take for a VUS to be reclassified varies, some patients with a VUS genetic testing result might have passed away before the VUS is reclassified. A VUS that is reclassified after the patient's death has clinical implications for the deceased patient's family members. The disclosure of reclassified VUS results for a deceased patient has complex legal and ethical implications. There are no established guidelines on how the reclassified VUS result for a deceased patient should be disclosed to at‐risk relatives. An online survey was sent to members of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGCs) to elicit practices and opinions regarding this issue. A total of 153 (4%) NSGC members completed the survey. Thirty‐seven (24.2%) respondents reported having received a reclassified VUS for a deceased patient. Respondents were more likely to attempt disclosure if the variant was reclassified as pathogenic (93.5%) versus benign (76.5%), although the difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.06). Respondents more often reported the impact on family members (85.5%) than the decedent's right to privacy (15.0%) as extremely important when considering disclosure to family members. A legal mechanism to allow disclosure to relatives was supported by 70.6% of respondents and 97.4% felt the issue was important enough to pursue if such a process was in place. Only 9.8% of respondents supported a legal requirement of consent before disclosing to family members when a VUS is reclassified after the patient has passed away. Our results indicate that there is no consensus for how these results should be handled and a mechanism for disclosure of reclassified results to family members is supported.
Genome‐wide polygenic risk score for rheumatoid arthritis prediction in postmenopausal women
Authors: Xu Yingke , Wu Qing 
Published: January 2024

AbstractBackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA), a common autoimmune disease, exhibits a vital genetic component. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) derived from genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) offer potential utility in predicting disease susceptibility. The present study aimed to develop and validate a PRS for predicting RA risk in postmenopausal women.MethodsThe study developed a novel PRS using 225,000 genetic variants from a GWAS dataset. The PRS was developed in a cohort of 8967 postmenopausal women and validated in an independent cohort of 6269 postmenopausal women. Among the development cohort, approximately 70% were Hispanic and approximately 30% were African American. The testing cohort comprised approximately 50% Hispanic and 50% Caucasian individuals. Stratification according to PRS quintiles revealed a pronounced gradient in RA prevalence and odds ratios.ResultsHigh PRS was significantly associated with increased RA risk in individuals aged 60–70 years, ≥ 70 years, and overweight and obese participants. Furthermore, at age 65 years, individuals in the bottom 5% of the PRS distribution have an absolute risk of RA at 30.6% (95% confidence interval = 18.5%–42.6%). The risk increased to 53.8% (95% confidence interval = 42.8%–64.9%) for those in the top 5% of the PRS distribution.ConclusionsThe PRS developed in the present study is significantly associated with RA risk, showing the potential for early screening of RA in postmenopausal women. This work demonstrates the feasibility of personalized medicine in identifying high‐risk individuals for RA, indicating the need for further studies to test the utility of PRS in other populations.
Exploring the parenting experiences of Brazilian immigrants in the United States
Authors: Da Costa Silva Beall Nayara Aparecida , Lengua Liliana J. , Thorson‐Olesen Stephanie J. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis study aimed to understand Brazilian immigrant parents' experience and needs using an explanatory sequential design with two phases: survey and structured interviews. The results identified several challenges these parents face, the most prevalent being a lack of social support, as well as cultural values and parenting styles. These findings are important for informing counselors and other professionals working with this community how to better develop intervention and advocacy tools tailored to their unique needs.
Characterization of integrated hepatitis B virus DNA harboring pre‐S mutations in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with ground glass hepatocytes
Authors: Su Yih‐Ping , Lin Selena Y. , Su Ih‐Jen , Kao Yu‐Lan , Shen Shih‐Chun , Earl Joshua P. , Ehrlich Garth D. , Chen Cheng‐Yi , Huang Wenya , Su Ying‐Hsiu , Tsai Hung‐Wen 
Published: January 2024

AbstractGround glass hepatocytes (GGHs) have been associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and poor prognosis. We previously demonstrated that pre‐S expression in some GGHs is resistant to current hepatitis B virus (HBV) antiviral therapies. This study aimed to investigate whether integrated HBV DNA (iDNA) is the primary HBV DNA species responsible for sustained pre‐S expression in GGH after effective antiviral therapy. We characterized 10 sets of micro‐dissected, formalin‐fixed‐paraffin‐embedded, and frozen GGH, HCC, and adjacent hepatitis B surface antigen‐negative stained tissues for iDNA, pre‐S deletions, and the quantity of covalently closed circular DNA. Eight patients had detectable pre‐S deletions, and nine had detectable iDNA. Interestingly, eight patients had integrations within the TERT and CCNE1 genes, which are known recurrent integration sites associated with HCC. Furthermore, we observed a recurrent integration in the ABCC13 gene. Additionally, we identified variations in the type and quantity of pre‐S deletions within individual sets of tissues by junction‐specific PacBio long‐read sequencing. The data from long‐read sequencing indicate that some pre‐S deletions were acquired following the integration events. Our findings demonstrate that iDNA exists in GGH and can be responsible for sustained pre‐S expression in GGH after effective antiviral therapy.
Sub‐daily rainfall intermittency: Is it really stochastic? A test at two Australian locations
Authors: Dunkerley David 
Published: January 2024

AbstractSub‐daily rainfall intermittency is virtually ubiquitous, with multiple periods of rain in a day being separated by temporary cessations. This phenomenon remains only partly explored. A significant question is whether the on–off sequence of rainfalls can be regarded as stochastic, as presumed in some common approaches to rainfall disaggregation, such as daily to hourly or hourly to sub‐hourly disaggregation, or whether there is an underlying sequence of rainfalls and cessations, related perhaps to other diurnal changes in rainfall. At two Australian locations, the timing of the longest cessation—whether it was the first, second, or a subsequent cessation on any day—was used to test this. Pluviograph data revealed up to 24 rainfall cessations per day. Analysis showed that the first cessation was in most cases the longest on a rainy day, and less often, this was the second, third, or subsequent cessation. Moreover, the decline in the mean duration of cessations was well‐fitted by a logarithmic function of their position in the daily series of cessations. In addition, both field sites exhibited evidence of diurnal cycles in amount, intensity, and frequency of rainfall, and also in the extent of intermittency in the form of intra‐day rainfall cessations. Whilst additional evidence is needed, it is hypothesised that these findings with respect to rainfall arrival may reflect a progressive and intermittent onset and decay of convection and moisture convergence, together with progressive changes in the scale of eddy turbulence, linked to the daily transitions in net radiation and local air buoyancy and uplift. The results suggest that wholly stochastic rainfall disaggregation procedures may be missing key aspects of diurnal rainfall behaviour. Exploration of these phenomena at additional locations seems warranted.
Comparison of epidural infusion versus intrathecal morphine block as part of enhanced recovery after open pancreatoduodenectomy
Authors: El‐Mallah Jessica C. , Greene Alicia C. , Clegg Taylor J. , Shah Sejal J. , El‐Mallah Saif N. , Vining Charles C. , Dixon Matthew E. B. , Peng June S. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesThe accepted approach to pain management following open pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) remains controversial, with the most recent enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols recommending epidural anesthesia (EA). Few studies have investigated intrathecal (IT) morphine, combined with transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks. We aim to compare the different approaches to pain management for open PD.MethodsPatients who underwent open PD at our institution from 2020 to 2022 were included in the study. Patient characteristics, pain management, and postoperative outcomes between EA, IT morphine with TAP blocks, and TAP blocks only were compared using univariate analysis.ResultsFifty patients were included in the study (58% male, median age 66 years [interquartile range, IQR: 58–73]). Most patients received IT morphine (N = 24, 48%) or EA (N = 18, 36%). The TAP block‐only group required higher doses of postoperative narcotics while hospitalized (p = 0.004) and at discharge (p = 0.017). The IT morphine patients had a shorter median time to Foley removal (p = 0.007). Postoperative pain scores, non‐opioid administration, postoperative bolus requirements, postoperative outcomes, and length of stay were similar between pain modalities.ConclusionsIT morphine and EA showed comparable efficacy with superior results compared to TAP blocks alone. Integration of IT morphine into PD ERAS protocols should be considered.
The role of the oxide layer in the corrosion of aluminium in acidic solutions
Authors: Dychtoń Kamil , Wierzbińska Małgorzata , Kościelniak Barbara , Obłój Andrzej , Wojnicki Marek , Kwolek Przemysław 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe role of the oxide layer in the corrosion of aluminium in hydrochloric, sulphuric(VI) and orthophosphoric acid is studied at pH 1. The oxide layer is stable in hydrochloric and sulphuric acids. The corrosion rate of aluminium in these solutions is 0.2 and 0.3 mm/year, respectively. The oxide layer is unstable in orthophosphoric acid and the corrosion rate is higher, 1.75 mm/year. The corrosion process is studied using scanning electron microscopy, immersion and electrochemical techniques. The mechanism of corrosion of aluminium in the orthophosphoric acid solution is proposed. It includes the adsorption of a reaction intermediate on the surface of the corroding metal and the formation of the oxide layer at anodic potentials with respect to the open‐circuit potential. It is also explained when the inductive loop appears on the electrochemical impedance spectra of aluminium corroding in orthophosphoric acid solution. The mechanism of aluminium corrosion in hydrochloric and sulphuric acid is more complex compared to orthophosphoric acid, and is not analysed in detail.
How does cross‐platform externality impact pricing strategies? A two‐stage discriminatory pricing model analysis
Authors: Can‐Zhong Yao , Yi‐Na Mo 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis study delves into the impact of cross‐platform externality on the pricing strategies of platforms, employing a two‐stage discriminatory pricing model. The research reveals several significant findings. Initially, cross‐platform externality exacerbates the “killing the loyal customers” strategy on the access platform, prompting consumers to favor a “one‐time” consumption approach to avoid potential intensification of this strategy. Furthermore, cross‐platform externality serves as a critical trigger for independent competitive platforms; surpassing a critical consumer threshold leads to a shift from the former “killing the loyal customers” strategy to offering more favorable prices for existing customers. Finally, cross‐platform externality leads to reduced prices for consumers on both platforms in both stages, assuming the drainage effect of the open platform is substantially weaker than its enhancement effect on the cross‐network externality of the access platform. During such instances, the cross‐platform externality proves advantageous to consumers. However, with a strengthening drainage effect and increased merchant attraction by the access platform, both platforms may face potential price increases. Notably, cross‐platform externalities provide access platforms with substantial advantages over independent competitors in terms of user scale and profit levels. This advantage progressively grows as cross‐platform externalities increase. However, for the access platform itself, the influx of consumers from the open platform must surpass a minimal threshold before cross‐platform externalities contribute to an increase in the access platform's profit levels. Consequently, if the objective of engaging in platform discriminatory pricing competition is to overcome competitors, integrating with an open platform proves to be an effective approach. However, if the goal is solely to boost one's own profits, embracing an open platform entails certain risks, necessitating the selection of a platform capable of delivering sufficient traffic.
Unraveling the drivers of greenwashing in China's new energy sector: A PLS‐SEM and fsQCA analysis
Authors: Chen Lin 
Published: January 2024

AbstractESG greenwashing behaviors (GWBs) of firms have become a pressing issue globally nowadays. Combining partial least square‐structural equation model (PLS‐SEM) and FUZZY set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), this article explores the drivers of ESG greenwashing behaviors in China's new energy industry, which provides valuable insight into understanding GWBs. Results show that (1) GWBs present causal asymmetry, with internal factors dominating in high GWBs configurations, while external factors are more critical in low GWBs configurations. (2) There are offsetting or compensating interactions between the variables. (3) “Rationalization” dominates the level of GWBs when it is used as a core factor.