bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adolescent intermittent ethanol use in male rats do not change cerebellar cell numbers but initiate astroglial reaction
Authors: Çon Nurhan , Mercan Sevcan , Küçüköner Asuman , Çalişkan Nüket 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAlcohol consumption during adolescence causes negative structural changes in the cerebellum and can lead to cognitive and motor skill disorders. Unfortunately, the age at which individuals begin drinking alcohol has decreased in recent years, which has drawn attention to the effects of alcohol on neurological changes during preadolescence. In this study, we investigated the effects of adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) exposure on the cellular composition of the cerebellum in male rats, particularly when alcohol consumption begins early. The male rats received eight doses of intermittent intraperitoneal injection of 25% (v/v) ethanol (3 g/kg) or saline from postnatal days (PND) 25 to PND 38. In rats, 28–42 days old corresponds to 10–18 years old in humans. Two hours after the last injection, the cells, neurons, and non‐neuronal cells in the cerebellum were immunocytochemically labeled and the total numbers of related cells were calculated using the Isotropic Fractionator method. We found that AIE exposure does not change the cell numbers of the cerebellum in the short term, but it does activate astrocytes in the white matter of the cerebellum. These findings suggest that alcohol use during adolescence impairs the innate immune system and negatively affects brain plasticity.
Short‐time exposure to light at night affects incubation patterns and correlates with subsequent body weight in great tits (Parus major)
Authors: Strauß Aurelia F. T. , Bosma Lies , Visser Marcel E. , Helm Barbara 
Published: February 2024

AbstractArtificial light at night (ALAN) widely affects wildlife by blurring light‐dark differences, including transitions such as sunrise and sunset, thereby affecting regulation of diel rhythms. As a result, activity onsets in many wild diurnal songbirds advance under ALAN. From chronobiological studies, it is known that the direction and strength of the response to light depends on when during the night exposure takes place. However, these experiments are mostly done under continuous light conditions, when animals have free‐running rhythms. It remains unclear whether phase‐dependence also holds in entrained, wild songbirds; i.e., does the effect of ALAN on activity patterns differ between exposure in the morning compared to the evening? This information is essential to assess the effects of mitigation measures by limiting ALAN to selected times of the night. We exposed incubating great tits (Parus major) inside the nest‐box to 4 h of dim light, of which 1 h overlapped with dawn before sunrise or dusk after sunset. We found a small advancing effect of morning‐light on activity onset and of evening‐light on offset compared to dark controls but not vice versa. Breeding success and chick condition were unaffected by the light treatments. However, light‐treated females had lower weights 9–18 days after the end of the treatment compared to the controls, independent of whether ALAN occurred in the morning or the evening, indicating possible costs of ALAN. Despite the weak behavioral response, ALAN might have affected the females' circadian clock or physiology resulting in lower body condition.
Sensitivity of amphibian embryos to timing and magnitude of present and future thermal extremes
Authors: Oborová Valentína , Šugerková Monika , Gvoždík Lumír 
Published: February 2024

AbstractOngoing climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme temperature events. Unlike the gradual increase on average environmental temperatures, these short‐term and unpredictable temperature extremes impact population dynamics of ectotherms through their effect on individual survival. While previous research has predominantly focused on the survival rate of terrestrial embryos under acute heat stress, less attention has been dedicated to the nonlethal effects of ecologically realistic timing and magnitude of temperature extremes on aquatic embryos. In this study, we investigated the influence of the timing and magnitude of current and projected temperature extremes on embryonic life history traits and hatchling behavior in the alpine newt, Ichthyosaura alpestris. Using a factorial experiment under controlled laboratory conditions, we exposed 3‐ or 10‐day‐old embryos to different regimes of extreme temperatures for 3 days. Our results show that exposure to different extreme temperature regimes led to a shortened embryonic development time and an increase in hatchling length, while not significantly affecting embryonic survival. The duration of development was sensitive to the timing of temperature extremes, as early exposure accelerated embryo development. Exposure to temperature extremes during embryonic development heightened the exploratory activity of hatched larvae. We conclude that the timing and magnitude of ecologically realistic temperature extremes during embryogenesis have nonlethal effects on life history and behavioral traits. This suggests that species' vulnerability to climate change might be determined by other ecophysiological traits beyond embryonic thermal tolerance in temperate pond‐breeding amphibians.
Association Between Myocardial Oxygenation and Fibrosis in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Analysis by Rest Oxygenation‐Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Zhou Ziqi , Xu Rong , Cai Xiaotang , Fu Hang , Xu Ke , Yuan Weifeng , Song Yu , Shi Ke , Fu Chuan , Li Xuesheng , Wang Chuan , Guo Yingkun , Yu Li , Xu Huayan 
Published: February 2024

BackgroundMyocardial hypoxia has been demonstrated in many cardiomyopathies and is related to development of myocardial fibrosis. However, myocardial hypoxia and its association with myocardial fibrosis are understudied in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)‐associated cardiomyopathy.PurposeTo evaluate myocardial hypoxia by oxygenation‐sensitive (OS) cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and further explore its association with fibrosis.Study TypeProspective.SubjectsNinety‐one DMD boys (8.78 ± 2.32) and 30 healthy boys (9.07 ± 2.30).Field Strength/Sequence3 T, Balanced steady‐state free procession, Modified Look‐Locker inversion recovery sequence and Single‐shot phase‐sensitive inversion recovery sequence.AssessmentCardiac MRI data, including left ventricular functional, segmental native T1, and oxygenation signal‐intensity (SI) according to AHA 17‐segment model, were acquired. Patients were divided into LGE+ and LGE− groups. In patients with LGE, all segments were further classified as positive or negative segments by segmentally presence/absence of LGE.Statistical TestsVariables were compared using Student's t, Wilcoxon, Kruskal–Wallis test and one‐way analysis of variance. Bivariate Pearson or Spearman correlation were calculated to determine association between oxygenation SI and native T1. Variables with P < 0.10 in the univariable analysis were included in multivariable model. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to assess the performance of OS in diagnosing myocardial hypoxia.ResultsThe myocardial oxygenation SI of DMD was significantly decreased in all segments compared with normal controls, and more obvious in the LGE+ segments (0.46 ± 0.03 vs. 0.52 ± 0.03). For patients with and without LGE, myocardial oxygenation SI were significantly negatively correlated with native T1 in all segments (r = −0.23 to −0.42). The inferolateral oxygenation SI was a significant independent associator of LGE presence (adjusted OR = 0.900).Data ConclusionMyocardial hypoxia evaluated by the OS‐Cardiac‐MRI indeed occurs in DMD and associate with myocardial fibrosis, which might be used as a biomarker in assessing myocardial damage in DMD.Evidence Level1Technical EfficacyStage 1
Genomic surveillance of omicron B.1.1.529 SARS‐CoV‐2 and its variants between December 2021 and March 2023 in Tamil Nadu, India—A state‐wide prospective longitudinal study
Authors: Selvavinayagam Sivaprakasam T. , Suvaithenamudhan Suvaiyarasan , Yong Yean K. , Hemashree Kannan , Rajeshkumar Manivannan , Kumaresan Anandhazhvar , Arthydevi Parthiban , Kannan Meganathan , Gopalan Natarajan , Vignesh Ramachandran , Murugesan Amudhan , Sivasankaran Munusamy P. , Sankar Sathish , Cheedarla Narayanaiah , Anshad Abdul R. , Govindaraj Sakthivel , Zhang Ying , Tan Hong Y. , Larsson Marie , Saravanan Shanmugam , Balakrishnan Pachamuthu , Kulanthaivel Langeswaran , Singh Kamalendra , Joseph Narcisse , Velu Vijayakumar , Byrareddy Siddappa N. , Shankar Esaki M. , Raju Sivadoss 
Published: February 2024

AbstractA state‐wide prospective longitudinal investigation of the genomic surveillance of the omicron B.1.1.529 SARS‐CoV‐2 variant and its sublineages in Tamil Nadu, India, was conducted between December 2021 and March 2023. The study aimed to elucidate their mutational patterns and their genetic interrelationship in the Indian population. The study identified several unique mutations at different time‐points, which likely could attribute to the changing disease characteristics, transmission, and pathogenicity attributes of omicron variants. The study found that the omicron variant is highly competent in its mutating potentials, and that it continues to evolve in the general population, likely escaping from natural as well as vaccine‐induced immune responses. Our findings suggest that continuous surveillance of viral variants at the global scenario is warranted to undertake intervention measures against potentially precarious SARS‐CoV‐2 variants and their evolution.
Regional specificity of cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation effects on spatial–numerical associations: Comparison of four stimulation sites
Authors: Farshad Maryam , Artemenko Christina , Cipora Krzysztof , Svaldi Jennifer , Schroeder Philipp A. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractNeuromodulation with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is an increasingly popular research tool to experimentally manipulate cortical areas and probe their causal involvements in behavior, but its replicability and regional specificity are not clear. This registered report investigated cathodal tDCS effects on spatial–numerical associations (i.e., the SNARC effect), the numerical distance effect (NDE), and inhibitory control (i.e., stop‐signal reaction time; SSRT). Healthy adults (N = 160) were randomly assigned to one of five groups to receive sham tDCS or 1 mA cathodal tDCS to one of four stimulation sites (left/right prefrontal cortex [PFC], left/right posterior parietal cortex) with extracephalic return. We replicated that cathodal tDCS over the left PFC reduced the SNARC effect compared to sham tDCS and to tDCS over the left parietal cortex. However, neither NDE nor SSRT were modulated in the main analyses. Post hoc contrasts and exploratory analyses showed that cathodal tDCS over the right PFC had a time‐dependent effect by delayed practice‐related improvements in SSRT. Math anxiety moderated changes in the NDE in the groups receiving tDCS to the right parietal cortex. With few exceptions, the replicability and regional specificity of tDCS effects on behavior were weak and partially moderated by individual differences. Future research needs to characterize the parameter settings for effective neuromodulation.
Cause or effect? Undetectable vitamin D in a patient with Crohn's disease
Authors: Esswein Julia , Vickers Maggie , Kleinman Michael , Whitworth John , Corkins Mark , Riley Pace S. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractCrohn's disease has been described as the “great mimicker” with a wide array of presentations. We describe a case of a teenager who presented with tetany and undetectable vitamin D as initial presentation of Crohn's disease. There are reports of adults in tetany due to electrolyte derangements in chronic gastrointestinal diseases secondary to malabsorption. However, the role of deficient vitamin D as it contributes to immune system dysfunction has only begun to be explored. Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption, immune regulation, and gut epithelial barrier. This case report discusses vitamin D physiology and its potential mediation in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease.
Salicylic acid promotes phenolic acid biosynthesis for the production of phenol acid‐rich barley sprouts
Authors: Yin Yongqi , Hu Meixia , Yang Zhengfei , Zhu Jiangyu , Fang Weiming 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDPhenolic acid exhibits a variety of well‐known physiological functions. In this study, optimal germination conditions to ensure total phenolic acid enrichment in barley sprouts induced by salicylic acid treatment and its effects on sprout physiology and activity, as well as the gene expression of key enzymes for phenolic acid biosynthesis, were investigated.RESULTSWhen sprouts were treated with 1 mmol L−1 salicylic acid during germination and germinated at 25 °C for 4 days, the phenolic acid content was 1.82 times that of the control, reaching 1221.54 μg g−1 fresh weight. Salicylic acid significantly increased the activity of phenylalanine aminolase and cinnamic acid‐4‐hydroxylase and the gene expression of phenylalanine aminolase, cinnamic acid‐3‐hydroxylase, cinnamic acid‐4‐hydroxylase, 4‐coumaric acid‐coenzyme A, caffeic acid O‐methyltransferase, and ferulate‐5‐hydroxylase in barley sprouts. However, salicylic acid treatment significantly increased malondialdehyde and H2O2 content, H2O2 and O2− fluorescence intensity, as well as significantly decreasing sprout length and fresh weight. Salicylic acid treatment markedly increased the activity of peroxidase and catalase and the gene expression of peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase in barley sprouts.CONCLUSIONSalicylic acid treatment during barley germination significantly promoted the enrichment of total phenolic acid by increasing the activities and gene expression levels of enzymes involved in the phenolic acid biosynthesis pathway. Salicylic acid induced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, inhibited sprout growth, and activated the antioxidant system. This study provides a basis for the future development of functional foods using phenol acid‐rich plants as raw materials. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Quality of Life of Oligometastatic and Polymetastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients
Authors: Berzenji Diako , Dorr Maarten C. , Sewnaik Aniel , Mast Hetty , Offerman Marinella P.J. , Baatenburg de Jong Robert J. , Hardillo Jose A. 
Published: February 2024

ObjectiveEvidence suggests that distant metastasis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is a spectrum of disease. Previous studies show that oligometastasis has favorable survival compared with polymetastasis. The quality of life of patients with oligometastasis remains unknown. To further solidify the position of oligometastasis as a separate entity, we hypothesized that oligometastatic patients experience better quality of life than polymetastatic patients.MethodsPatients with distant metastasis were stratified into three groups: oligometastasis (≤3 metastatic foci in ≤2 anatomic sites), explosive metastasis (≥4 metastatic foci at one anatomic site), and explosive‐disseminating metastasis (spread to ≥3 anatomic sites). Quality of life was assessed every 2 months post distant metastasis diagnosis.ResultsBetween January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2021, a total of 161 patients with distant metastasis were identified, with a total of 397 measurements. In this group, 57 (35.4%) patients had oligometastasis, 35 (21.7%) patients had explosive metastasis, and 69 (42.9%) patients had explosive‐disseminating metastasis. Their median post‐distant metastasis survivals were 8.5 months, 3.2 months, and 3.2 months respectively (p < 0.001). A significantly better overall quality of life was observed in the oligometastasis group compared with the polymetastatic groups (+0.75 out of 7, p < 0.05). Furthermore, oligometastatic patients performed better in the subdomains of “physical functioning,” “fatigue,” and “pain.”ConclusionResults from this study underscore that subgroups exist regarding quality of life and survival within distant metastasis, with polymetastatic patients performing worse than oligometastatic patients. This highlights the significance of tailored interventions that consider the unique challenges faced by each metastatic group of patients.Level of Evidence3, retrospective cohort study Laryngoscope, 134:3170–3176, 2024
Mixture of winter cover crops reduces surface runoff and sediment production under no‐tillage system for Oxisols
Authors: Fuentes‐Guevara Miguel D. , Spliethoff Jhonatan , Camilo Edson L. , Neto Ernani Garcia , Olanik Chaiane , Pacheco Amanda Alves , Ferreira Rodrigo , Rampim Leandro , Müller Marcelo M. L. , Pott Cristiano A. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractOne of Brazil's efficient soil and water conservation practices is the no‐tillage system (NTS). Nonetheless, erosion during rainfall still causes soil and water losses in this system. Therefore, this study aimed to assess surface runoff in different cultivation systems and sediment production during rainfall events. In macro‐plot 1 (non‐terraced catchment [NTC]), we adopted the NTS management with up‐ and down‐slope farming without including mechanical runoff control practices, which most regional producers use. In macro‐plot 2 (best management practices [BMPs]), we optimized crop rotation by incorporating a mixture of cover crop species in autumn and implemented contour farming practices. In macroplot 3 (terraced catchment [TC]), we adopted the same soil management practices as the NTC macroplot, including mechanical runoff control using broad‐based terraces. We used rainfall data to create hyetographs, hydrographs, and sedimentographs, aiming to evaluate the impact of management practices on surface runoff and sediment production. The surface runoff was reduced by 81% (BMPs) and 88% (TC) compared to the NTC system. There was also a reduction in suspended sediment concentration, around 33% (BMPs) and 63% (TC), compared to the NTC system. Despite conservation systems have shown effectiveness in reducing surface runoff and sediment production, monitoring these systems during periods not influenced by the La Niña phenomenon is necessary to assess the impact of rainfall events on soils with conservation practices in extreme events. The study findings provide guidance and recommendations for agricultural producers and field technicians globally, offering criteria for selecting optimal soil and water management practices in no‐till systems. This promotes a conservation‐oriented approach to agriculture.
Cathodes in magnetrons: A review
Authors: Liu Zheng , Yang Yun‐Fei , Sun Jun‐Hao , Liu Hong‐Mei , Li Zi‐Chen , Wang Jin‐Shu 
Published: February 2024

AbstractMagnetron is currently one kind of the most widely used vacuum electronic devices. The cathode, as the electronic source of the device, is the core of magnetrons. With the development of magnetrons, the requirements for cathode performance are also increasing, including thermal electron emission and secondary electron emission performance. This article reviews the development history of cathodes used in magnetrons, discusses the performance and application fields of various cathodes, and the relationship between performance and structure. However, there are still certain problems with various cathode materials that make it difficult to truly cover all magnetrons. The ongoing challenges relating to the magnetron cathodes have been discussed in this paper.
Solid materials characterization using split ring resonators enclosed by power divider
Authors: Mohammadi Pejman , Mohammadi Ali , Kara Ali 
Published: February 2024

AbstractA highly sensitive microwave sensor for solid material characterization is proposed. A novel design consisting of split ring resonators (SRRs) within a three‐port power divider is developed. The three‐port junction is employed as the host to provide two output channels, and SRRs are loaded through electric coupling to the power divider as the sensing area. The SRRs are located symmetrically so that any change in the electric field of the SRRs is transferred equally to the transmission coefficients of the three‐port junction. The operation of the proposed sensor is based on the downshifting of the transmission zero caused by the loading of samples. The two identical outputs help to control cross‐sensitivity due to external effects. The performance of the fabricated prototype on a 22.2 × 18.8 × 1.6 mm3 printed circuit board is presented. It is shown that a 135 MHz shift per unit relative permittivity change can be achieved. The normalized sensitivity is found to be 3%, which is relatively higher than the sensors reported in the literature.
Use of effective multiscale cohesive models in the simulation of spall in metal plates
Authors: Pandolfi A. , Ortiz M. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractDuctile fracture of metals is the net result of void nucleation, growth and coalescence mechanisms that operate at the microscale. Optimal scaling analysis provides the analytical form of the effective material law that models the ductile fracture phenomena at the macroscale. The upscaled model of ductile behavior assumes the form of a cohesive relation—surface traction versus displacement—of the power‐law type with well‐defined exponents. In the present work, we demonstrate how the effective cohesive law derived from optimal scaling can be conveniently inserted into macroscale calculations by recourse to cohesive elements. The plastic deformation outside the cohesive elements is of moderate size and can be modeled by means of conventional plasticity models. In particular, the mesh size is dictated by accuracy considerations at the macroscale structural level and is not in any way constrained by microscale features and mechanisms, which happen at the subgrid level and are accounted for by the effective cohesive law. We illustrate the multiscale paradigm by means of spall calculations.
Considerations for Use of the MAUDE Database in Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery Research
Authors: Batheja Aashish , Bentan Mihai , Coelho Daniel H. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe use of the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) to analyze adverse events linked to medical devices has grown in recent years. MAUDE facilitates post‐market surveillance, contributing to the assessment of device performance and the identification of potential safety concerns. The database is instrumental not only for mandatory reporters such as manufacturers and healthcare facilities but also offers a platform for voluntary submissions from clinicians and patients, thus widening the scope of data collection. While the database offers valuable data, there are important limitations that must be understood in order to encourage appropriate interpretation of findings. This commentary highlights the major advantages and disadvantages of the MAUDE database, as well as describes possible areas for improvement in adverse event reporting.