bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
X-ray spectroscopy station for sample characterization at ELI Beamlines
Authors: Zymaková A. , Precek M. , Picchiotti A. , Błachucki W. , Zymak I. , Szlachetko J. , Vankó G. , Németh Z. , Sá J. , Wiste T. , Andreasson J. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractX-ray spectroscopy is a demanded tool across multiple user communities. Here we report on a new station for X-ray emission spectroscopy at the Extreme Light Infrastructure Beamlines Facility. The instrument utilizes the von Hamos geometry and works with a number of different sample types, notably including liquid systems. We demonstrate a simple and reliable method for source position control using two cameras. This approach addresses energy calibration dependence on sample position, which is a characteristic source of measurement uncertainty for wavelength dispersive spectrometers in XES arrangement. We also present a straightforward procedure for energy calibration of liquid and powder samples to a thin film reference. The developed instrumentation enabled us to perform the first experimental determination of the Kα lines of liquidized K3Fe(CN)6 as well as powdered and liquidized FeNH4(SO4)2. Finally, we report on proof-of-principle use of a colliding jet liquid sample delivery system in an XES experiment.
Impact of diabetes mellitus severity, treatment regimen and glycaemic control on atrial fibrillation prevalence in the Polish population aged ≥ 65
Authors: Gumprecht Jakub , Lip Gregory Y. H. , Sokal Adam , Średniawa Beata , Stokwiszewski Jakub , Zdrojewski Tomasz , Rutkowski Marcin , Grodzicki Tomasz , Kaźmierczak Jarosław , Opolski Grzegorz , Kalarus Zbigniew 
Published: October 2023

AbstractDiabetes mellitus (DM) is a well-known risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF), but the mechanism(s) by which DM affects AF prevalence remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the impact of diabetes mellitus severity (expressed as its known duration), antihyperglycemic treatment regimen and glycaemic control on AF prevalence. From the representative sample of 3014 participants (mean age 77.5, 49.1% female) from the cross-sectional NOMED-AF study, 881 participants (mean age 77.6 ± 0.25, 46.4% female) with concomitant DM were involved in the analysis. AF was screened using a telemonitoring vest for a mean of 21.9 ± 9.1 days. The mean DM duration was 12 ± 0.35 years, but no significant impact of DM timespan on AF prevalence was observed. No differences in the treatment pattern (oral medication vs insulin vs both oral + insulin) among the study population with and without AF were shown (p = 0.106). Metabolic control reflected by HbA1c levels showed no significant association with AF and silent AF prevalence (p = 0.635; p = 0.094). On multivariate analyses, age (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.35, 95%CI: 1.18–1.53, p < 0.001), p = 0.042), body mass index (BMI; OR 1.043, 95%CI: 1.01–1.08, p = 0.027) and LDL < 100 mg/dl (OR 0.64, 95%CI: 0.42–0.97, p = 0.037) were independent risk factors for AF prevalence, while age (OR 1.45, 95%CI: 1.20–1.75, p < 0.001), LDL < 100 mg/dl (OR 0.43, 95%CI 0.23–0.82, p = 0.011), use of statins (OR 0.51, 95%CI: 0.28–0.94, p = 0.031) and HbA1c ≤ 6.5 (OR 0.46, 95%CI: 0.25–0.85, p = 0.013) were associated with silent AF prevalence. Diabetes duration, diabetic treatment pattern or metabolic control per se did not significantly impact the prevalence of AF, including silent AF detected by prospective continuous monitoring. Independent predictors of AF were age, BMI and low LDL levels, with statins and HbA1c ≤ 6.5 being additional independent predictors for silent AF.Trial registration: NCT03243474.
Dielectrophoretic profiling of erythrocytes to study the impacts of metabolic stress, temperature, and storage duration utilizing a point-and-planar microdevice
Authors: Oladokun Raphael , Adekanmbi Ezekiel O. , An Vanessa , Gangavaram Isha , Srivastava Soumya K. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractDielectrophoresis (DEP) is widely utilized for trapping and sorting various types of cells, including live and dead cells and healthy and infected cells. This article focuses on the dielectric characterization of erythrocytes (red blood cells or RBCs) by quantifying DEP crossover frequency using a novel point-and-planar microwell device platform. Numerical simulations using COMSOL Multiphysics software demonstrate that the distribution of the DEP force is influenced by factors such as the shape of the point electrode, spacing between the point and planar electrodes, and the type of bioparticle being investigated. The dependency on electrode spacing is experimentally evaluated by analyzing the DEP crossover response of erythrocytes. Furthermore, the results are validated against the traditional electrical characterization technique called electrorotation, which typically requires laborious fabrication and operation using quadrupole electrodes. Other significant factors, including erythrocyte storage age and the changes in cell properties over time since collection, osmolarity, and temperature, are also assessed to determine the optimal conditions for erythrocyte characterization. The findings indicate a significant difference between fresh and stored erythrocyte samples (up to 4 days), highlighting the importance of maintaining an isotonic medium for cell storage.
Characterization of the lncRNA-mediated ceRNA regulatory networks in preeclampsia by integrated bioinformatics
Authors: Zhu Liping , Liu Chengfeng , Xu Yongmei , Yue Yongfei , Tao Jianying , Zhang Chunhua , Zhang Xing , Zhou Xinfang , Song Ye 
Published: October 2023

AbstractPreeclampsia (PE) is a significant threat to all pregnancies that is highly associated with maternal mortality and developmental disorders in infants. However, the etiopathogenesis of this condition remains unclear. This study aims to explore the regulatory roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and the mediated competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) in the etiopathogenesis of PE through analysis of lncRNA expression patterns in PE and healthy pregnant women (HPW), as well as the construction of lncRNA-mediated ceRNA regulatory networks using bioinformatics. A total of 896 significant differentially expressed lncRNAs, including 586 upregulated lncRNAs and 310 downregulated lncRNAs, were identified in comparison between PE and HPW. Analysis of these differential expressed lncRNAs revealed their predominant enrichment in molecular functions such as sphingosine-1-phosphate phosphatase activity, lipid phosphatase activity, phosphatidate phosphatase activity, thymidylate kinase activity, and UMP kinase activity. Moreover, these differential expressed lncRNAs were predominantly enriched in KEGG analyses such as fat digestion and absorption, lysine degradation, ether lipid metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, and sphingolipid metabolism. Two ceRNA regulatory networks were constructed based on ceRNA score, including one that had 31 upregulated lncRNAs, 11 downregulated miRNAs, and 34 upregulated mRNAs, while the other contained 128 downregulated lncRNAs, 40 upregulated miRNAs, and 113 downregulated mRNAs. These results may provide a clue to explore the roles of lncRNAs in the etiopathogenesis of PE.
Quantum computing and machine learning for Arabic language sentiment classification in social media
Authors: Omar Ahmed , Abd El-Hafeez Tarek 
Published: October 2023

AbstractWith the increasing amount of digital data generated by Arabic speakers, the need for effective and efficient document classification techniques is more important than ever. In recent years, both quantum computing and machine learning have shown great promise in the field of document classification. However, there is a lack of research investigating the performance of these techniques on the Arabic language. This paper presents a comparative study of quantum computing and machine learning for two datasets of Arabic language document classification. In the first dataset of 213,465 Arabic tweets, both classic machine learning (ML) and quantum computing approaches achieve high accuracy in sentiment analysis, with quantum computing slightly outperforming classic ML. Quantum computing completes the task in approximately 59 min, slightly faster than classic ML, which takes around 1 h. The precision, recall, and F1 score metrics indicate the effectiveness of both approaches in predicting sentiment in Arabic tweets. Classic ML achieves precision, recall, and F1 score values of 0.8215, 0.8175, and 0.8121, respectively, while quantum computing achieves values of 0.8239, 0.8199, and 0.8147, respectively. In the second dataset of 44,000 tweets, both classic ML (using the Random Forest algorithm) and quantum computing demonstrate significantly reduced processing times compared to the first dataset, with no substantial difference between them. Classic ML completes the analysis in approximately 2 min, while quantum computing takes approximately 1 min and 53 s. The accuracy of classic ML is higher at 0.9241 compared to 0.9205 for quantum computing. However, both approaches achieve high precision, recall, and F1 scores, indicating their effectiveness in accurately predicting sentiment in the dataset. Classic ML achieves precision, recall, and F1 score values of 0.9286, 0.9241, and 0.9249, respectively, while quantum computing achieves values of 0.92456, 0.9205, and 0.9214, respectively. The analysis of the metrics indicates that quantum computing approaches are effective in identifying positive instances and capturing relevant sentiment information in large datasets. On the other hand, traditional machine learning techniques exhibit faster processing times when dealing with smaller dataset sizes. This study provides valuable insights into the strengths and limitations of quantum computing and machine learning for Arabic document classification, emphasizing the potential of quantum computing in achieving high accuracy, particularly in scenarios where traditional machine learning techniques may encounter difficulties. These findings contribute to the development of more accurate and efficient document classification systems for Arabic data.
Gut bacteria promote proliferation in benign S/RG/C2 colorectal tumour cells, and promote proliferation, migration and invasion in malignant HCT116 cells
Authors: Robson J. L. , Thorn R. M. S. , Williams A. C. , Collard T. J. , Qualtrough D. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractColorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant global health burden with a rising incidence worldwide. Distinct bacterial populations are associated with CRC development and progression, and it is thought that the relationship between CRC and associated gut bacteria changes during the progression from normal epithelium to benign adenoma and eventually malignant carcinoma and metastasis. This study compared the interaction of CRC-associated species Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis, Enterococcus faecalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum and one probiotic species, Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 with a colorectal adenoma (S/RG/C2) and a colorectal adenocarcinoma (HCT116) derived cell line. Gentamicin protection assays showed that all species displayed higher attachment to benign tumour monolayers when compared to malignant monolayers. However, invasion of 3/4 species was higher in the HCT116 cells than in the adenoma cells. All species were found to persist within tumour cell monolayers for a minimum of 48 h under standard aerobic cell culture conditions, with persistence significantly higher in HCT116 cells. Downstream assays were performed to analyse the behaviour of S/RG/C2 and HCT116 cells post-infection and revealed that all species increased the tumour cell yield of both cell lines. The migratory and invasive potential of HCT116 cells was increased after infection with F. nucleatum; however, no species significantly altered these characteristics in S/RG/C2 cells. These results add to the growing evidence for the involvement of microorganisms in CRC progression and suggest that these interactions may be dependent on tumour cell-specific characteristics.
Scientific facts improve cannabis perception and public opinion: results from Sinaloa, México
Authors: Camberos-Barraza Josué , Osuna-Ramos Juan F. , Rábago-Monzón Ángel R. , Quiñonez-Angulo Luis F. , González-Peña Héctor R. , Pérez-Ramos Alan A. , Camacho-Zamora Alejandro , López-Lazcano Héctor , Valdez-Flores Marco A. , Angulo-Rojo Carla E. , Guadrón-Llanos Alma M. , Picos-Cárdenas Verónica J. , Norzagaray-Valenzuela Claudia D. , De la Herrán-Arita Alberto K. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractCannabis, the most prevalent drug in Latin America, has long been associated with the state of Sinaloa, Mexico, known for its cultivation and distribution. Despite increasing global acceptance, cannabis use remains stigmatized in Mexican society, driven by perceptions of it as a highly psychoactive and addictive substance lacking medicinal or industrial value. This study investigates the impact of scientific information on societal perceptions of cannabis in Sinaloa. A large convenience sample of 3162 individuals from Sinaloa participated in this research, responding to a questionnaire on cannabis consumption and attitudes. Participants were then subjected to an intervention consisting of an informative briefing based on the documents “Using Evidence to Talk About Cannabis” and “State of the Evidence: cannabis use and regulation" by the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy. After the intervention, participants' attitudes were immediately reevaluated through the same questionnaire, allowing for a comparison of pre- and post-intervention responses. The results indicate that the intervention (providing scientific information) significantly influenced attitudes toward cannabis, with education and age playing prominent roles in its effectiveness. Notably, the intervention fostered more positive or more neutral attitudes, potentially reducing stigma and promoting a better-informed perspective on cannabis. This study highlights the pivotal role of evidence in shaping informed citizens' views, while underscoring the importance of countering misinformation for societal progress. These findings have significant implications for forthcoming cannabis policy modifications in Mexico, emphasizing the necessity of engaging knowledgeable individuals in policy decisions to address the violence and inequalities associated with the illicit drug trade, particularly in Sinaloa.
Inflammatory and intestinal permeability biomarkers in healthy participants on long term vegan, vegetarian, omnivore and low-carbohydrate high-fat diet
Authors: Jenko Pražnikar Zala , Šik Novak Karin , Bogataj Jontez Nives , Petelin Ana , Mohorko Nina , Kenig Saša 
Published: October 2023

AbstractVegan, vegetarian and low-carbohydrate high fat (LCHF) diets can all offer several health benefits, if food choices are appropriate. In most studies examining their effects on systemic inflammation, participants were either overweight, on a weight loss programme or not matched for BMI, or had a pre-existing condition such as type 2 diabetes mellitus or hypertension. Little is known about the effects of dietary patterns on healthy and normal weight individuals. The aim of the present study was therefore to assess and directly compare inflammatory and intestinal permeability status in healthy participants following aforementioned or omnivore diet for at least 6 months. In this cross-sectional study, we measured the inflammatory biomarkers IL-6, TNF-α and CRP, and the markers of intestinal permeability LBP and zonulin, along with the analysis of lifestyle aspects, dietary intakes and physical activity, in 89 healthy participants. The groups were matched for sex, age and BMI. There were no differences in any of the measured parameters between the four groups and we found no strong correlations with dietary intakes. Using cluster analysis, participants were divided into eight clusters with more or less favourable inflammatory profiles; all clusters contained representatives of all patterns and all patterns were represented in each cluster. Significant differences between clusters were in the intake of mono-unsaturated fatty acids, ω-3/ω-6 ratio, phase angle and working two shifts. In healthy, normal-weight individuals, inflammatory status therefore does not depend on the dietary pattern itself, but is rather more complexly regulated and associated with dietary and non-dietary factors.
The influence of sex difference on behavior and adult hippocampal neurogenesis in C57BL/6 mice
Authors: Tsao Chi-Hui , Wu Kuan-Yu , Su Nicole Ching , Edwards Andrew , Huang Guo-Jen 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAnimal models have been used extensively in in vivo studies, especially within the biomedical field. Traditionally, single-sex studies, mostly males, are used to avoid any potential confounding variation caused by sex difference and the female estrous cycle. Historically, female animal subjects are believed to exhibit higher variability, and this could increase the statistical power needed to test a hypothesis. This study sets out to evaluate whether a sex difference does exist in mouse behavior, and whether female mice featured higher variability. We assessed the sensorimotor skills, anxiety-like behavior, depression-like behavior, and cognitive abilities of mice through a series of commonly used behavioral tests. Except for the stronger grip force and lower tactile sensory sensitivity detected in male mice, there was no significant difference between males and females in other tests. Furthermore, immunolabeling of neurogenesis markers suggested no significant difference between sexes in adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Within group variances were equivalent; females did not exhibit higher variability than males. However, the overall negative results could be due to the limitation of small sample size. In conclusion, our study provides evidence that sex difference in mice does not significantly influence these commonly used behavioral tests nor adult neurogenesis under basal conditions. We suggest that female mice could also be considered for test inclusion in future experiment design.
Variation in antioxidant capacity, antioxidant activity and mineral composition during flower development of oil-bearing rose (Rosa damascena Mill.)
Authors: Önder Damla 
Published: October 2023

AbstractOil-bearing rose is an economically important rose species with a wide range of uses such as cosmetics, perfumery, food and health, but the changes in antioxidant capacity and antioxidant activity during flower development are not well understood. The antioxidant content and free radical scavenging properties of oil-bearing rose flowers are used in the cosmetic industry to modulate skin damage, and in the food industry as a source of antioxidants and sweeteners. The present investigation was carried out to explore the antioxidant capacity, antioxidant enzyme activity, and the composition and distribution of minerals in petals of oil-bearing rose at five flower development stages. The total antioxidant capacity of petals was determined using CUPRAC, DPPH, FRAP, FIC and ABTS methods. The antioxidant capacity of petals decreased during the flower development, suggesting that flowers in stage I and II are valuable sources of antioxidants. CUPRAC, DPPH, FRAP, FIC and ABTS scavenging activity of the petals at various developmental stages are strongly and positively correlated with each other. The activity of the antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, ascorbate peroxidase was highest at the bud stage (stage I), whereas the fully opened flowers (stage V) exhibited the lowest activity in oil-bearing rose petals. During the development of flower, malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased significantly from stage I to stage III and decreased at stage IV. Here we detected the contents of 15 elements in petals, some of them, especially calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus showed significant changes during rose flowering. Generally, the highest mineral content was observed in stage I while the lowest content observed in stage V of flower development. These results showed a close link between flower development, antioxidant capacity, enzymatic antioxidant activity and mineral content, with stage I exhibiting the best antioxidant activity, mineral content and free radical scavenging potential. This work will serve as a baseline for understanding the possible roles of antioxidant capacity, antioxidant enzymes, mineral content and their interactions in the regulation of flower development.
Prevalence and trends of developmental disabilities among US children and adolescents aged 3 to 17 years, 2018–2021
Authors: Li Qian , Li Yanmei , Zheng Juan , Yan Xiaofang , Huang Jitian , Xu Yingxia , Zeng Xia , Shen Tianran , Xing Xiaohui , Chen Qingsong , Yang Wenhan 
Published: October 2023

AbstractDevelopmental disabilities prevalence seem to be high in countries around the world. It’s worth understanding the most recent prevalence and trends of developmental disabilities. The objective of this study is to examine the prevalence and trends of developmental disabilities of US children and adolescents. A total of 26,422 individuals aged 3–17 years were included. Annual data were examined from the National Health Interview Survey (2018–2021). Weighted prevalence for each of the selected developmental disabilities were calculated. The prevalence of any developmental disabilities in individuals was 16.65% (95% CI 16.03–17.26%), prevalence of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disability (LD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability (ID), and other developmental delay were 9.57% (95% CI 9.09–10.06%), 7.45% (95% CI 7.00–7.89%), 2.94% (95% CI 2.67–3.21%), 1.72% (95% CI 1.51–1.93%), and 5.24% (95% CI 4.89–5.59%), respectively. Significant increases were observed for other developmental delay (4.02–6.05%) and co-occurring LD & ID (1.03–1.82%). Findings form this study highlight a high prevalence of any developmental disabilities, although no significant increase was observed. The prevalence of other developmental delay and co-occurring LD & ID were significantly increased. Further investigation is warranted to assess potentially modifiable risk factors and causes of developmental disabilities.
Interregional mobility in different age groups is associated with COVID-19 transmission in the Taipei metropolitan area, Taiwan
Authors: Jiang Wei-Ming , Wen Tzai-Hung , Huang Ying-Chi , Chiou Hung-Yi , Chen Wei J. , Hsiung Chao A. , Sytwu Huey-Kang , Tsou Hsiao-Hui 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBefore vaccines were introduced, mobility restriction was one of the primary control measures in the early stage of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Because different age groups face disproportionate health risks, differences in their mobility changes affect the effectiveness of pandemic control measures. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between multiscale mobility patterns in different age groups and COVID-19 transmission before and after control measures implementation. Data on daily confirmed case numbers, anonymized mobile phone data, and 38 socioeconomic factors were used to construct negative binomial regression models of these relationships in the Taipei metropolitan area in May 2021. To avoid overfitting, the socioeconomic factor dimensions were reduced by principal component analysis. The results showed that inter-district mobility was a greater promoter of COVID-19 transmission than was intra-district mobility (coefficients: pre-alert, 0.52 and 0.43; post-alert, 0.41 and 0.36, respectively). Moreover, both the inter-district mobility of people aged 15–59 and ≥ 60 years were significantly related to the number of confirmed cases (coefficients: pre-alert, 0.82 and 1.05; post-alert, 0.48 and 0.66, respectively). The results can help agencies worldwide formulate public health responses to emerging infectious diseases.