bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Region-specific remodeling of the enteric nervous system and enteroendocrine cells in the colon of spinal cord injury patients
Authors: Lefèvre Chloë , Le Roy Camille , Bessard Anne , Le Berre-Scoul Catherine , Marchix Justine , Coron Emmanuel , Le Rhun Marc , Brochard Charlène , Perrouin-Verbe Brigitte , Neunlist Michel 
Published: October 2023

AbstractPatients with spinal cord injury (SCI) suffer from major bowel dysfunction, whose exact pathophysiology, particularly the involvement of the enteric nervous system or epithelial dysfunction is poorly understood. Herein, we aimed to characterize the mucosal biopsies of the right and left colon in SCI patients vs controls (CT): (1) remodeling of key enteric neurotransmitters, (2) remodeling of enteroendocrine cells, and (3) mucosal inflammation compared to those in controls. In SCI, mucosal ACh concentration was lower in the right colon as compared to CT, but no change was observed in the left colon, and AChE expression was lower in both the right and left colons than in CT. While the VIP concentration was similar in the right and left colons, VIP mRNA expression was increased in the right colon and decreased in the left colon, in SCI patients as compared to CT. Interestingly, 5-HT concentration was reduced in the left colon but not in the right colon in SCI patients. Moreover, in SCI patients, as compared to CT, SERT mRNA expression was selectively increased in the left colon while TPH1 mRNA expression was increased in the right and left colons. Although mucosal TNFα and IL-1β mRNA expression did not significantly differ between SCI and CT groups, we identified a significant positive correlation between TNFα and IL-1β mRNA expression and left colon transit time in the SCI group. In conclusion, region-specific changes occur in the enteric neurotransmitter, serotonergic, and inflammatory pathways in the colon of SCI patients. The significant correlations between these pathways and clinical parameters in the left colon further set a scientific basis for designing therapeutic targets to improve colonic motor dysfunction in patients.Biobank information: Spinal cord injury patients: PHRC ConstiCAPE—clinical trial NCT02566746. Controls: Anosain—clinical trial NCT03054415 and biobank of the “Institut des Maladies de l’Appareil Digestif (IMAD)” registered under number DC-2008-402.
Germ cell recovery, cryopreservation and transplantation in the California white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus
Authors: Romney Amie L. T. , Myers Danielle M. , Martin Fatima R. , Scanlan Tawny N. , Meyers Stuart A. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) is the largest freshwater fish in North America. Because of the unique life history characteristics of sturgeon, including longevity, late maturation and long spawning intervals, their aquaculture can be a significant investment of resources. As a result of habitat loss and overharvesting, natural populations of white sturgeon are threatened and there is a growing effort to improve conservation aquaculture programs. Germ cell transplantation is an innovative technology previously demonstrated in a variety of fish species to be able to produce a surrogate broodstock. The technique relies upon optimal donor germ cell recovery and transplantation into a recipient fish. In this study, we developed and optimized the harvest of donor cells for germline transplantation and evaluated methods for ovary cryopreservation for the first time in the white sturgeon. We found that harvesting gonads from juveniles between the ages of 1.5 and 2.5-years resulted in reliably high proportions of pre-meiotic cells regardless of sex, a critical feature for using white sturgeon for transplantation studies since the species shows no distinguishing external sex characteristics. From the viable cells, we identified germline cells using immunolabeling with the antibody DDX4, a marker specific to the germline. For in vivo tracking of donor cells during transplantations, gonadal cells were stained with a long half-life non-toxic cell membrane dye, PKH26, and microinjected into the peritoneal cavity of newly hatched white sturgeon larvae. Larvae were reared until 3 months post-transplantation to monitor for colonization and proliferation of PKH26-labeled cells within the recipient larval gonads. Furthermore, viable cell detection, assessment of germline-specificity, and transplantation was determined for cells recovered from cryopreserved ovarian tissue from sexually immature females. Transplantations using cells cryopreserved with media supplemented with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) rather than ethylene glycol (EG) demonstrated the highest number of PKH26-labeled cells distributed along the gonadal ridges of the larval recipient. Determining optimal methods of tissue cryopreservation, and germ cell recovery and transplantation are foundational to the future development of germ cell transplantation as a strategy to improve the aquaculture and conservation of this species. Our study demonstrates that conservation actions, such as surrogate breeding, could be utilized by hatcheries to retain or improve natural gamete production without genetic modification, and provide an encouraging approach to the management of threatened sturgeon species.
Genetic variants for smoking behaviour and risk of skin cancer
Authors: Dusingize Jean Claude , Law Matthew H. , Seviiri Mathias , Olsen Catherine M. , Pandeya Nirmala , Landi Maria Teresa , Iles Mark M. , Neale Rachel E. , Ong Jue-Sheng , MacGregor Stuart , Whiteman David C. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractObservational studies have suggested that smoking may increase the risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) while decreasing the risks of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and melanoma. However, it remains possible that confounding by other factors may explain these associations. The aim of this investigation was to use Mendelian randomization (MR) to test whether smoking is associated with skin cancer, independently of other factors. Two-sample MR analyses were conducted to determine the causal effect of smoking measures on skin cancer risk using genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics. We used the inverse-variance-weighted estimator to derive separate risk estimates across genetic instruments for all smoking measures. A genetic predisposition to smoking initiation was associated with lower risks of all skin cancer types, although none of the effect estimates reached statistical significance (OR 95% CI BCC 0.91, 0.82–1.01; cSCC 0.82, 0.66–1.01; melanoma 0.91, 0.82–1.01). Results for other measures were similar to smoking initiation with the exception of smoking intensity which was associated with a significantly reduced risk of melanoma (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.51–0.89). Our findings support the findings of observational studies linking smoking to lower risks of melanoma and BCC. However, we found no evidence that smoking is associated with an elevated risk of cSCC; indeed, our results are most consistent with a decreased risk, similar to BCC and melanoma.
Development of poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(lactic acid) blend as sustainable biomaterial for dental applications
Authors: Charasseangpaisarn Taksid , Wiwatwarrapan Chairat , Thunyakitpisal Pasutha , Srimaneepong Viritpon 
Published: October 2023

AbstractPoly(lactic acid) (PLA) is gaining popularity in manufacturing due to environmental concerns. When comparing to poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), PLA exhibits low melting and glass transition temperature (Tg). To enhance the properties of these polymers, a PMMA/PLA blend has been introduced. This study aimed to investigate the optimal ratio of PMMA/PLA blends for potential dental applications based on their mechanical properties, physical properties, and biocompatibility. The PMMA/PLA blends were manufactured by melting and mixing using twin screw extruder and prepared into thermoplastic polymer beads. The specimens of neat PMMA (M100), three different ratios of PMMA/PLA blends (M75, M50, and M25), and neat PLA (M0) were fabricated with injection molding technique. The neat polymers and polymer blends were investigated in terms of flexural properties, Tg, miscibility, residual monomer, water sorption, water solubility, degradation, and biocompatibility. The data was statistically analyzed. The results indicated that Tg of PMMA/PLA blends was increased with increasing PMMA content. PMMA/PLA blends were miscible in all composition ratios. The flexural properties of polymer blends were superior to those of neat PMMA and neat PLA. The biocompatibility was not different among different composition ratios. Additionally, the other parameters of PMMA/PLA blends were improved as the PMMA ratio decreased. Thus, the optimum ratio of PMMA/PLA blends have the potential to serve as novel sustainable biomaterial for extensive dental applications.
Underwater image quality assessment method based on color space multi-feature fusion
Authors: Chen Tianhai , Yang Xichen , Li Nengxin , Wang Tianshu , Ji Genlin 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe complexity and challenging underwater environment leading to degradation in underwater image. Measuring the quality of underwater image is a significant step for the subsequent image processing step. Existing Image Quality Assessment (IQA) methods do not fully consider the characteristics of degradation in underwater images, which limits their performance in underwater image assessment. To address this problem, an Underwater IQA (UIQA) method based on color space multi-feature fusion is proposed to focus on underwater image. The proposed method converts underwater images from RGB color space to CIELab color space, which has a higher correlation to human subjective perception of underwater visual quality. The proposed method extract histogram features, morphological features, and moment statistics from luminance and color components and concatenate the features to obtain fusion features to better quantify the degradation in underwater image quality. After features extraction, support vector regression(SVR) is employed to learn the relationship between fusion features and image quality scores, and gain the quality prediction model. Experimental results on the SAUD dataset and UIED dataset show that our proposed method can perform well in underwater image quality assessment. The performance comparisons on LIVE dataset, TID2013 dataset,LIVEMD dataset,LIVEC dataset and SIQAD dataset demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Contextual Determinants of the Parent–Speech-Language Pathologist Partnership
Authors: Barton-Hulsey Andrea , Collins Sara C. , Therrien Michelle C. S. , Biggs Elizabeth E. , Romano Mollie , Coltellino Brianna 
Published: October 2023

Purpose:
The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant changes for family–professional interactions. Many services shifted to telepractice, with new opportunities for parents and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to partner for service delivery. Parent-coached models of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) intervention provide positive outcomes for children; however, SLPs have reported difficulty building strong partnerships with families. The shift to telepractice during the COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique context to examine factors influencing parent–SLP partnerships, particularly for parents with children who use aided AAC.

Method:
Twenty-five parents and 25 SLPs who engaged in services with children and youth from 3 to 21 years of age who used aided AAC during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020 participated. Semistructured interviews were conducted individually with parents and SLPs to understand perspectives on whether the change in service delivery facilitated or hindered family-oriented practice. Inductive qualitative analysis was used to analyze information about the factors impacting parent–SLP partnerships.

Results:
The parent–SLP partnership was influenced by setting and systemic determinants, and intrinsic determinants to the parent and the SLP that included their history and rapport, beliefs about partnering, and knowledge and skills. These determinants served as barriers or facilitators to their partnership.

Conclusions:
It is essential to consider the relationship, expectations, and knowledge and skills that SLPs and parents bring to the partnership, along with extrinsic structural factors that can impact this partnership. Positive rapport, valued partnership, and an openness to sharing knowledge through teaming and collaboration provided for positive parent–SLP partnerships.
Novel antenna array configuration using miniature double box branch‐line couplers for wideband circularly polarised applications
Authors: Virdee Bal S. , Aribi Tohid , Sedghi Tohid 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis article presents a wideband circularly polarised (CP) antenna array using a miniaturised double box branch‐line coupler. This was achieved by creating a slow wave structure by introducing open‐circuit stubs on the inside arms of the branch‐line coupler. The 2 × 2 antenna array is made of four CP slot radiating elements excited through 1 × 4 feeding network. Moreover, sequentially rotation method is used to increase the axial‐ratio (AR) bandwidth of the array. The CP slot radiating element is fed by coplanar waveguide. The feedline of the horn‐shaped radiator includes a circular matching stub. Ground connected asymmetric T‐shaped stub, a pair of grounded L‐shaped square strips, and single strip line are shown to induce CP and enhance the antenna's 3 dB impedance bandwidth and AR performance. The antenna constituting the array has impedance bandwidth of 2.45 GHz from 4.8 to 7.25 GHz that corresponds to a fractional bandwidth of 40%, and its 3 dB AR extends between 4.8 and 6.25 GHz. Compared to a conventional double‐box branch‐line coupler the size of the proposed coupler is reduced by 35% by increasing the capacitance of the coupler's arms. This also is shown to increase the impedance bandwidth of the coupler. A 2 × 2 array was fabricated, and its performance verified. Measured results confirm the proposed antenna array exhibits CP covering the bands of WiMAX IEEE 802.16, C‐band and ITU‐R F386.9. The measured 3 dB AR bandwidth of the antenna array extend from 3 to 7.3 GHz and its impedance bandwidth extends from 3.2 to 9.0 GHz. The antenna array radiates with a peak gain of 11.5 dBic.
Modeling the Galactic center gamma-ray emission with more realistic cosmic-ray dynamics
Authors: Scherer Andrés , Cuadra Jorge , Bauer Franz E. 
Published: October 2023

Context. Very-high-energy gamma-ray observations of the Galactic center (GC) show extended emission that is strongly correlated with the morphology of the central molecular zone (CMZ). The best explanation for that emission is a hadronic interaction between cosmic rays (CRs) and ambient gas, where a CR central and continuous source accelerates protons up to 1 PeV (“PeVatron”). However, current models assume very simplistic CR dynamics.
Aims. Our goal is to verify if more realistic CR dynamics for the GC environment are consistent with current gamma-ray observations, and whether they could be constrained by upcoming observations with the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA).
Methods. We generated synthetic gamma-ray maps using a CR transport model with spherical injection, different diffusion regimes (in and out of the CMZ), polar advection, and mono-energetic particles of 1 PeV, and including different CR populations injected from the Arches, Quintuplet, and nuclear clusters of young massive stars, plus supernova Sgr A East. We adopted two different 3D gas distributions consistent with the observed gas column density, either with or without an inner cavity.
Results. In order to reproduce the existing observations detected by the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS), a ring-like gas distribution, with its mass set by the standard Galactic CO-to-H2 conversion factor, and CR acceleration from all relevant sources are required. For a conversion factor one order of magnitude lower, injection rates that are ten times higher are needed. We show that CTA will be able to differentiate between models with different CR dynamics, proton sources, and CMZ morphologies, owing to its unprecedented sensitivity and angular resolution.
Conclusions. More realistic CR dynamics suggest that the CMZ has a large inner cavity and that the GC PeVatron is a composite CR population accelerated by the Arches, Quintuplet, and nuclear star clusters, and Sgr A East.
Two-horn quiescent prominence observed in Hα and Mg II h&k lines with THEMIS and IRIS
Authors: Barczynski Krzysztof , Schmieder Brigitte , Gelly Bernard , Peat Aaron W. , Labrosse Nicolas 
Published: October 2023

Context. Prominences are large magnetic structures in the corona filled by cool plasma with fast evolving fine structure.
Aims. We aim to better understand the plasma conditions in the fine structure of a quiescent prominence including two transient horns observed at the bottom of the cavity using the high resolution Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) and the MulTi-Raies (MTR) spectrograph of the Télescope Heliographique pour l’Etude du Magnétisme et des Instabilités Solaires (THEMIS) in the Canary Islands.
Methods. We analysed the spectra obtained in Hα by THEMIS and Mg II by IRIS and compare them with a grid of 23 940 1D radiative transfer models which include a prominence-to-corona transition region (PCTR). The full observed profiles of Mg II in each pixel are fitted completely by synthesised profiles with ×RMS (Cross RMS; an improved version of the rolling root mean square (rRMS) method). When the RMS is below a certain threshold value, we recover the plasma conditions from the parameters of the model best fitting the observed line profile. This criterion is met in two regions (the horns and edge of the prominence) where the line profiles can generally be described as single peaked.
Results. The 1D models suggest that two different kinds of model atmospheres correspond to these two regions. The region at the edge is found to be fitted mainly with isothermal and isobaric models, while the other area (the horns) is seen to be fitted with models with a PCTR that have optical thicknesses of less than 5. In the prominence edge, the theoretical relationship between the integrated intensities in Hα and Mg II is verified and corresponds to low emission measure values. In these regions the electron density is around 1010 cm−3, while it is one order of magnitude less in the horn regions around 109 cm−3.
Conclusions. In the horns, we find some profiles are best fitted with models with high mean temperatures. This suggests that the hot PCTR found in the horns could be interpreted as prominence plasma in condensation phase at the bottom of the coronal cavity.
Influence of the tetraneutron on the EoS under core-collapse supernova and heavy-ion collision conditions
Authors: Pais Helena , Albertus Conrado , Pérez-García M. Ángeles , Providência Constança 
Published: October 2023

Context. Recently, a resonant state of four neutrons (tetraneutron) with an energy of E4n = 2.37 ± 0.38(stat) ± 0.44(sys) MeV and a width of Γ = 1.75 ± 0.22(stat) ± 0.30(sys) MeV was reported.
Aims. In this work, we analyze the effect of including such an exotic state on the yields of other light clusters; these clusters not only form in astrophysical sites, such as core-collapse supernovae and neutron star (NS) mergers, but also in heavy-ion collisions.
Methods. To this aim, we used a relativistic mean-field (RMF) formalism, where we consider in-medium effects in a two-fold way – that is, via the couplings of the clusters to the mesons, and via a binding energy shift – to compute the low-density equation of state (EoS) for nuclear matter at finite temperature and fixed proton fraction. We consider five light clusters – namely deuterons, tritons, helions, α-particles, and 6He – immersed in a gas of protons and neutrons, and we calculate their abundances and chemical equilibrium constants with and without the tetraneutron. We also analyze how the associated energy of the tetraneutron would influence such results.
Results. We find that the low-temperature, neutron-rich systems are the ones most affected by the presence of the tetraneutron, making NSs excellent environments for their formation. Moreover, its presence in strongly asymmetric matter may increase the proton and α-particle fractions considerably. This may have an influence on the dissolution of the accretion disk of the merger of two NSs.
Regulation des Calciumhaushaltes
Authors: Hartmann Julius Andreas Erich , Siggelkow Heide 
Published: October 2023

Zusammenfassung
Ziel Der Calciummetabolismus wird in einem engen physiologischen Fenster
gesteuert. Die beteiligten Organsysteme und die verschiedenen
Regulationsmechanismen werden in dieser Arbeit vorgestellt.
Methoden Es handelt sich um eine Übersichtsarbeit aus der
vorliegenden Literatur.
Ergebnisse Von den täglich aufgenommen 1000 mg Calcium
kommt es zu einer Nettoaufnahme von ca. 200 mg pro Tag. Die
Calciumregulation erfolgt über die Resorption im Darm, die
Rückresorption oder Ausscheidung über die Nieren und die
Freisetzung vom oder den Einbau in den Knochen. Veränderungen im
Serumspiegel wirken über den Calcium-Sensing Rezeptor an der
Nebenschilddrüsenzelle auf die Parathormonsekretion und an der Niere
direkt über die Transportproteine auf die Rückresorption von
Calcium. Parathormon reguliert die Freisetzung von Calcium auf den Knochen, die
Calciumausscheidung in der Niere und die Stimulation der Vitamin D Synthese.
Vitamin D wiederum erhöht die Calciumaufnahme aus dem Darm. Mit diesen
komplexen Regulationsmechanismen gelingt es dem Körper den
Calciumspiegel in dem engen Konzentrationsbereich zu halten
Schlußfolgerung Die Regulationsvorgänge für den
Erhalt des Calciumspiegels sind komplex und viele hormonelle
Veränderungen können beteiligt sein. Eine Störung des
Calciummetabolismus kann deshalb nicht allein am Calciumwert diagnostiziert
werden, da der Wert sich erst ganz spät ändert. Für die
Diagnosestellung einer Calciumstoffwechselstörung kann deshalb die
Bestimmung von Vitamin D, 1,25D, PTH und der Calciumausscheidung, sowie von
Knochenumsatzparametern und der Knochendichte erforderlich sein.
Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane-Catalyzed Stereoselective C-Glycosylation of Glycals: A Facile Synthesis of Allyl and Alkynyl Glycosides
Authors: Mandal Pintu Kumar , Gaurav Anand , Azeem Zanjila 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIn modern advances, tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (commonly known as BCF) catalyst has risen to prominence owing to its extensive versatility in the use of myriad of organic reactions. An efficient and highly stereoselective α-C-glycosylation strategy is presented by employing a catalytic amount of B(C6F5)3 under mild reaction conditions en route to 2,3-unsaturated C-glycosides. The reaction features a broad functional group tolerance including a variety of glycals coupled with allyltrimethylsilane and trimethylsilylphenylacetylene to access the corresponding 2,3-unsaturated allyl- and alkynyl-C-glycosides with excellent α-selectivity. The reaction proceeds in good to excellent yields via concomitant borane activation of glycal donor under mild conditions.
Photoinduced Synthesis of 2-Trifluoromethylated Indoles through Oxidative Trifluoromethylation Using Langlois’ Reagent in the Absence of External Photocatalyst
Authors: Sharma Deepak K. , Das Samarpita , Indurthi Harish K. , Kumari Amita 
Published: October 2023

AbstractA photoinduced approach for regioselective C-2 trifluoromethylation of indoles was achieved with CF3SO2Na under UV light irradiation (360–365 nm) at ambient conditions without any external photo activator. The key steps involve the in situ conversion of CF3SO2Na reagent to CF3
• radical under oxygen or air and UV irradiation. This proficient method has the advantages of mild reaction conditions, fair substrate tolerability, and gram scalability.