bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biochemical and genotyping analyses of camels (Camelus dromedaries) trypanosomiasis in North Africa
Authors: Darwish Ahmed M. , Sharaf Abdoallah , Gaouar Semir Bechir Suheil , Ali Neama I. , El-Aziz Tamer H. Abd , Abushady Asmaa M. , Kaouadji Zoubeyda , Othman Othman E. , Obornik Miroslav 
Published: May 2023

AbstractCamels are considered an important food source in North Africa. Trypanosomiasis in camels is a life-threatening disease that causes severe economic losses in milk and meat production. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the trypanosome genotypes in the North African region. Trypanosome infection rates were determined by microscopic examination of blood smears and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), lipid peroxides (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were determined in erythrocyte lysate. Furthermore, 18S amplicon sequencing was used to barcode and characterizes the genetic diversity of trypanosome genotypes in camel blood. In addition to Trypanosoma, Babesia and Thelieria were also detected in the blood samples. PCR showed that the trypanosome infection rate was higher in Algerian samples (25.7%) than in Egyptian samples (7.2%). Parameters such as MDA, GSH, SOD and CAT had significantly increased in camels infected with trypanosomes compared to uninfected control animals, while TAC level was not significantly changed. The results of relative amplicon abundance showed that the range of trypanosome infection was higher in Egypt than in Algeria. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis showed that the Trypanosoma sequences of Egyptian and Algerian camels are related to Trypanosoma evansi. Unexpectedly, diversity within T. evansi was higher in Egyptian camels than in Algerian camels. We present here the first molecular report providing a picture of trypanosomiasis in camels, covering wide geographical areas in Egypt and Algeria.
Lymphocyte-C-reactive protein ratio with calf circumference could better predict survival of patients with non-metastatic cancer
Authors: Liu Xiao-Yue , Zhang Xi , Zhang Qi , Ruan Guo-Tian , Xie Hai-Lun , Liu Tong , Song Meng-Meng , Ge Yi-Zhong , Deng Li , Shi Han-Ping 
Published: May 2023

AbstractSystemic inflammatory responses caused by tumor cells play an important role in the occurrence and development of tumors. The aim of this study was to identify biomarkers that most accurately predict prognoses in patients with non-metastatic cancer and to evaluate their clinical significance when combined with muscle markers. This study retrospectively evaluated 2,797 cancer patients diagnosed with cancer at TNM stages I, II, and III. Lymphocyte-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) in conjunction with calf circumference (CC) were used (or chosed) after evaluating the predictive value of 13 inflammatory marker combinations and five anthropometric indicators for patient outcomes using the C-index. The Kaplan–Meier method and Cox’s proportional hazards regression modeling were used to analyze the individual and combined effects of these two potential biomarkers on overall survival. This study enrolled 1,604 men (57.3%) and 1,193 women (42.7%) with a mean age of 58.75 years. Among the 13 inflammatory nutritional indicators, the LCR was the most accurate predictor of prognoses in patients with non-metastatic cancer. After multifactorial adjustment, we found that low LCR had an adverse effect on overall survival (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.17, 2.88; P < 0.001). Low LCR combined with low CC was also shown to be an independent risk factor for poor overall survival (HR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.80, 2.83; P < 0.001). Compared with LCR or CC alone, the combination of the two had greater prognostic value for patients with non-metastatic cancer. The LCR can be implemented as a useful biomarker to predict prognoses in patients with non-metastatic cancer. CC is the best anthropometric indicator of muscle loss in patients with non-metastatic cancer. The combination of LCR and CC can better predict the prognosis of patients with non-metastatic cancer, and can provide important information for clinicians to formulate diagnosis and treatment plans.
A machine learning method for the identification and characterization of novel COVID-19 drug targets
Authors: Schultz Bruce , DeLong Lauren Nicole , Masny Aliaksandr , Lentzen Manuel , Raschka Tamara , van Dijk David , Zaliani Andrea ,   COPERIMOplus, Hansen Anne Funck , Sabine  , Rüping Kugler Stefan , Burmeister Jan , Kohlhammer Jörn , Sarau George , Christiansen Silke , Kannt Aimo , Zaliani Andrea , Foldenauer Ann Christina , Claussen Carsten , Resch Eduard , Frank Kevin , Gribbon Phil , Kuzikov Maria , Keminer Oliver , Laue Hendrik , Hahn Horst , Hirsch Jochen , Wischnewski Marco , Günther Matthias , Archipovas Saulius , Kodamullil Alpha Tom , Gemünd Andre , Schultz Bruce , Steinborn Carina , Ebeling Christian , Fernández Daniel Domingo , Hermanowski Helena , Fröhlich Holger , Klein Jürgen , Lentzen Manuel , Jacobs Marc , Hofmann-Apitius Martin , Knieps Meike , Krapp Michael , Wendland Philipp Johannes , Wegner Philipp , Khatami Sepehr Golriz , Springstubbe Stephan , Linden Thomas , Fluck Juliane , Fröhlich Holger 
Published: May 2023

AbstractIn addition to vaccines, the World Health Organization sees novel medications as an urgent matter to fight the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. One possible strategy is to identify target proteins, for which a perturbation by an existing compound is likely to benefit COVID-19 patients. In order to contribute to this effort, we present GuiltyTargets-COVID-19 (https://guiltytargets-covid.eu/), a machine learning supported web tool to identify novel candidate drug targets. Using six bulk and three single cell RNA-Seq datasets, together with a lung tissue specific protein-protein interaction network, we demonstrate that GuiltyTargets-COVID-19 is capable of (i) prioritizing meaningful target candidates and assessing their druggability, (ii) unraveling their linkage to known disease mechanisms, (iii) mapping ligands from the ChEMBL database to the identified targets, and (iv) pointing out potential side effects in the case that the mapped ligands correspond to approved drugs. Our example analyses identified 4 potential drug targets from the datasets: AKT3 from both the bulk and single cell RNA-Seq data as well as AKT2, MLKL, and MAPK11 in the single cell experiments. Altogether, we believe that our web tool will facilitate future target identification and drug development for COVID-19, notably in a cell type and tissue specific manner.
Childhood maltreatment and emotion regulation in everyday life: an experience sampling study
Authors: Ion Andrei , Bîlc Mirela I. , Pițur Simina , Pop Claudia Felicia , Szentágotai-Tătar Aurora , Miu Andrei C. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractChildhood maltreatment is a major risk factor for psychopathology, and increasing evidence suggests that emotion regulation is one of the underlying mechanisms. However, most of this evidence comes from single assessments of habitual emotion regulation, which may not overlap with spontaneous emotion regulation in daily life and which fail to account for within-individual variability in emotion regulation across multiple contexts. In the present study, we investigated the relation between history of childhood maltreatment, positive and negative affect, and multiple dimensions of spontaneous emotion regulation (strategy use, emotion regulation goals, emotion regulation success and effort) in everyday life, using experience sampling method (3 assessments/day, for 10 consecutive days), in a sample of healthy volunteers (N = 118). Multilevel modeling results indicated that childhood maltreatment was associated with lower positive affect and higher negative affect. Childhood maltreatment was also related to lower use of reappraisal and savoring (but not suppression, rumination and distraction), reduced emotion regulation success (but not effort), as well as lower levels of and higher within-individual variability of hedonic (but not instrumental) emotion regulation goals. These results provide ecological evidence for multiple differences in emotion regulation in individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment.
Role of paraoxonase 1 activity and PON1 gene polymorphisms in sickle cell disease
Authors: Menezes Joelma Figueiredo , Carvalho Magda Oliveira Seixas , Rocha Larissa Carneiro , dos Santos Felipe Miranda , Adorno Elisângela Vitória , de Souza Cyntia Cajado , Santiago Rayra Pereira , da Guarda Caroline Conceição , de Oliveira Rodrigo Mota , Figueiredo Camylla Vilas Boas , Carvalho Suéllen Pinheiro , Yahouédéhou Sètondji Cocou Modeste Alexandre , Fiuza Luciana Magalhães , Adanho Corynne Stéphanie Ahouefa , Pitanga Thassila Nogueira , Lyra Isa Menezes , Nascimento Valma Maria Lopes , Noronha-Dutra Alberto Augusto , Goncalves Marilda Souza 
Published: May 2023

AbstractSickle cell disease (SCD) patients often exhibit a dyslipidemic sub-phenotype. Paraoxonase 1 (PON 1) is a serum glycoprotein associated with the high-density lipoproteins cholesterol (HDL-C), and variability in PON1 activity depends on the PON1 genotypes. We investigated the influence of PON1c.192Q > R and PON1c.55L > M polymorphisms on PON1 activity and laboratory parameters and the association between PON1 activity and clinical manifestations in SCD patients. We recruited 350 individuals, including 154 SCD patients and 196 healthy volunteers, which comprised the control group. Laboratory parameters and molecular analyses were investigated from the participants' blood samples. We have found increased PON1 activity in SCD individuals compared to the control group. In addition, carriers of the variant genotype of each polymorphism presented lower PON1 activity. SCD individuals carrying the variant genotype of PON1c.55L > M polymorphism had lower platelet and reticulocyte counts, C-reactive protein, and aspartate aminotransferase levels; in addition to higher creatinine levels. SCD individuals carrying the variant genotype of PON1c.192Q > R polymorphism had lower triglyceride, VLDL-c, and indirect bilirubin levels. Furthermore, we observed an association between PON1 activity history of stroke and splenectomy. The present study confirmed the association between PON1c.192Q > R and PON1c.55L > M polymorphisms and PON1 activity, in addition to demonstrate their effects on markers of dislipidemia, hemolysis and inflammation, in SCD individuals. Moreover, data suggest PON1 activity as a potential biomarker related to stroke and splenectomy.
Acoustic stability of a self-gravitating cylinder leading to astrostructure formation
Authors: Dasgupta Sayanti , Atteya Ahmed , Karmakar Pralay Kumar 
Published: May 2023

AbstractWe employ a quantum hydrodynamic model to investigate the cylindrical acoustic waves excitable in a gyromagnetoactive self-gravitating viscous cylinder comprised of two-component (electron–ion) plasma. The electronic equation of state incorporates the effect of temperature degeneracy. It reveals an expression for the generalized pressure capable of reproducing a completely degenerate (CD) quantum (Fermi) pressure and a completely non-degenerate (CND) classical (thermal) pressure. A standard cylindrical wave analysis, moderated by the Hankel function, yields a generalized linear (sextic) dispersion relation. The low-frequency analysis is carried out procedurally in four distinct parametric special cases of astronomical importance. It includes the quantum (CD) non-planar (cylindrical), quantum (CD) planar, classical (CND) non-planar (cylindrical), and classical (CND) planar. We examine the multi-parametric influences on the instability dynamics, such as the plasma equilibrium concentration, kinematic viscosity, and so forth. It is found that, in the quantum regime, the concentration plays a major role in the system destabilization. In the classical regime, the plasma temperature plays an important role in both the stabilization and destabilization. It is further seen that the embedded magnetic field influences the instability growth dynamics in different multiparametric regimes extensively, and so forth. The presented analysis can hopefully be applicable to understand the cylindrical acoustic wave dynamics leading actively to the formation of astrophysical gyromagnetic (filamentary) structures in diverse astronomical circumstances in both the classical and quantum regimes of astronomical relevance.
Elementary Teachers' Perspectives on Teaching Reading Comprehension
Authors: Smith Reid , Snow Pamela , Serry Tanya , Hammond Lorraine 
Published: May 2023

Purpose:We report findings from a survey of elementary teachers regarding reading instruction. The purpose was to examine teachers' beliefs about how children in the first 7 years of schooling develop reading comprehension skills and to characterize the self-reported practices and strategies they use to support children to comprehend connected text.Method:A web-based survey was used to collect data from 284 Australian elementary teachers about their beliefs and practices regarding reading comprehension instruction. Selected Likert-scale items were aggregated to determine the degree to which participants held “child-centered” or “content-centered” views of reading instruction.Results:Australian elementary school teachers hold a wide range of beliefs about reading instruction, some of which are in direct opposition to each other. Our findings indicate low consensus about what elements of instructional practice are useful in classrooms or how time should be apportioned to different tasks. Commercial programs had significant penetration in schools, and many participants reported using multiple commercial programs, with varying degrees of pedagogical harmony. Participants indicated that their most common source of knowledge about reading instruction was their own personal research, with few nominating university teacher education as a primary source of knowledge or expertise.Conclusions:Little agreement exists within the Australian elementary teacher community regarding the ways that reading skills can and should be taught. There is significant room for teacher practice to have improved theoretical underpinnings and to develop a consistent repertoire of classroom practices aligned with these.
VarIabiLity seLection of AstrophysIcal sources iN PTF (VILLAIN)
Authors: Bruun S. H. , Agnello A. , Hjorth J. 
Published: May 2023

Context. Light-curve variability is well-suited to characterising objects in surveys with high cadence and a long baseline. This is especially relevant in view of the large datasets to be produced by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST).
Aims. We aim to determine variability parameters for objects in the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF) and explore differences between quasars (QSOs), stars, and galaxies. We relate variability and colour information in preparation for future surveys.
Methods. We fit joint likelihoods to structure functions (SFs) of 71 million PTF light curves with a Markov chain Monte Carlo method. For each object, we assume a power-law SF and extract two parameters: the amplitude on timescales of one year, A, and a power-law index, γ. With these parameters and colours in the optical (Pan-STARRS1) and mid-infrared (WISE), we identify regions of parameter space dominated by different types of spectroscopically confirmed objects from SDSS. Candidate QSOs, stars, and galaxies are selected to show their parameter distributions.
Results. QSOs show high-amplitude variations in the R band, and the highest γ values. Galaxies have a broader range of amplitudes and their variability shows relatively little dependency on timescale. With variability and colours, we achieve a photometric selection purity of 99.3% for QSOs. Even though hard cuts in monochromatic variability alone are not as effective as seven-band magnitude cuts, variability is useful in characterising object subclasses. Through variability, we also find QSOs that were erroneously classified as stars in the SDSS. We discuss perspectives and computational solutions in view of the upcoming LSST.
Comparison of Performances among Four Bleeding-Prediction Scores in Elderly Cancer Patients with Venous Thromboembolism
Authors: Xi Shaozhi , Liu Chaoyang , Yu Shuihua , Qiu Jingxuan , He Shuibo , Yi Zhong 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe performances of RIETE, VTE-BLEED, SWITCO65 + , and Hokusai-VTE scores for predicting major bleeding events in hospitalized elderly cancer patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) have not been evaluated. This study validated the performances of these scoring systems in a cohort of elderly cancer patients with VTE. Between June 2015 and March 2021, a total of 408 cancer patients (aged ≥ 65 years) with acute VTE were consecutively enrolled. The overall rates of in-hospital major bleeding and clinically relevant bleeding (CRB) were 8.3% (34/408) and 11.8% (48/408), respectively. RIETE score could categorize patients with increasing rate of major bleeding and CRB into low-/intermediate- and high-risk categories (7.1 vs. 14.1%, p = 0.05 and 10.1 vs. 19.7%, p = 0.02, respectively). The discriminative power of the four scores for predicting major bleeding was poor to moderate, indicated by areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (0.45 [95% confidence interval, CI: 0.35–0.55] for Hokusai-VTE, 0.54 [95% CI: 0.43–0.64] for SWITCO65 + , 0.58 [95% CI: 0.49–0.68] for VTE-BLEED, and 0.61 [95% CI: 0.51–0.71] for RIETE). RIETE score might be used to predict major bleeding in hospitalized elderly cancer patients with acute VTE.
Functional roles of coral reef primary producers examined with stable isotopes
Authors: Godinez-Espinosa Sara , Raoult Vincent , Smith Timothy M. , Gaston Troy F. , Williamson Jane E. 
Published: May 2023

Context Primary production on coral reefs varies under changing conditions such as light and nutrient availability. This variation causes changes in basal stable isotopes as photosynthetic and nutrient pathways change. Aims This study provides a preliminary baseline of nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) stable isotope profiles in Symbiodinium and macroalgae at a spatial scale and along a depth gradient around an island. Methods Coral fragments and macroalgae were collected at depths from the surface to 26 m. δ15N and δ13C stable isotope values were assessed for Symbiodinium relative to cell density per surface area. Key results δ15N values showed a uniform nutrient profile across primary producers. However, chlorophyll-a and Symbiodinium density from Montipora stellata had higher concentrations on the southern side of the island. δ15N values of Symbiodinium from Stylophora pistillata and macroalgae did not change with depth. Depth was associated with a significant decrease in Symbiodinium density, and δ13C values in macroalgae. Conclusions We attribute these findings to Symbiodinium from S. pistillata as depth increases, decreasing cell density but maintaining chlorophyll-a concentration to satisfy the coral-host nutrient requirements. Implications This study sets the scene for future, more comprehensive research on detecting carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values on primary producers in coral reefs.
Effects of V concentration on the physical properties of Cr1−x
Al
x
alloy system
Authors: Muchono B , Sheppard C J , Prinsloo A R E 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Electrical resistivity (ρ), magnetic susceptibility (χ) and thermoelectric power (S) studies reported previously on the (Cr1-x
Al
x
)99V1 alloy system indicate a suppression of antiferromagnetism in the concentration range 0.015 ≤ x ≤ 0.040. The present study incorporates Sommerfeld electronic specific heat coefficient (γ), thermal conductivity (κ), Hall coefficient (R
H) and analyses of the previous results in order to have a comprehensive study of the alloy system. γ(x) depicts two peaks close to the same concentrations where dS/dT|T→2K(x) have minima, i.e. at x
c1 ≈ 0.015 and x
c2 ≈ 0.040. Such peaks and minima, respectively, have been considered as key signatures of quantum criticality (QC) in alloys of Cr. Evidence of band structure modification in the alloy system is shown by a change of slope in the Nordheim-Gorter (N-G) relationship showing a minimum at an extrapolated concentration x = 0.035. The slope is positive for the incommensurate (I) spin-density-wave (SDW) alloys with x < 0.035 and a negative for the commensurate (C) SDW alloys with x > 0.035. A behaviour reminiscent of changes in the band structure is also observed in the Lorenz number, L(x), for the alloy with x = 0. R
H(T) results in the range 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.026 have a sharp increase in the charge carrier density, n
2K = [qR
H(2k)]−1, at the ISDW to paramagnetic (P) phase transition. The concentrations x = 0.015 and x = 0.040 are therefore considered ISDW to P and P to CSDW quantum critical points, respectively.
Effect of structure parameters on electron mobility in asymmetric V-shaped double quantum well structure
Authors: Jena Devika , Sahu Ajit Kumar , Sahoo Narayan , Tripathy Aruna , Panda Ajit K , Sahu Trinath 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Here, we analyse the effect of structure parameters like well width (w), central barrier width (b), and alloy concentration (x) on multisubband electron mobility μ in a GaAs-AlxGa1-xAs based modulation doped asymmetric V-shaped-double-quantum-well (VDQW) structure. The asymmetry in the structure potential is generated through the difference in the doping concentrations (N

d
) in the side barriers i.e., N

d1 (0 to 4 × 1018 cm−3) and N

d2 (2 × 1018 cm−3). The mobility μ is calculated by considering ionised impurity (imp) and alloy disorder (ad) scattering mechanisms. The continuous variation of x inside the well makes μ

ad
< μ

imp
resulting in the dominance of ad-scattering on μ as a function of N

d1. As a result, at the interface an increase in x from 0.1 to 0.3 reduces μ around 40%. However, an increase in w symmetrically (w
1 = w
2) enhances μ. Further, the introduction of non-symmetric well profile (w
1 ≠ w
2) not only causes asymmetric redistribution of subband wave functions ψ
0 and ψ
1 in the wells, but also changes the position and hence occupation of subband energy levels, thereby influencing the subband mobility. As the difference in w
1 and w
2 increases, the system becomes more and more single subband occupied as a function of N

d1 and hence the mobility enhances due to the absence of intersubband scattering. Our results also reflected that an increase in b from 20 Å to 80 Å has a marginal effect on μ during single subband occupancy but improves μ during double subband occupancy through intersubband interaction.
Effective crack-prevention strategy with composite of two clays of different sized particles
Authors: Ghosh Ankita , Majumdar Sudeshna , Tarafdar Sujata , Kumar Ghosh Anup , Dutta Tapati 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Crack formation and its possible prevention or remedy is an important branch of material science, closely related to study of granular materials and soft matter physics. This work reports a study on cracking behaviour in composites of bentonite and Laponite® in varying proportions. Both components are clays of the montmorillonite group. Our experiments demonstrate that for the particular composition - Laponite® : bentonite ∼1:1, cracks are totally absent. If either component exceeds the other, cracks develop. This is demonstrated over a range of film thickness. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images of the films at different compositions indicate that at this particular ratio, the much smaller particles of Laponite®, pack into the spaces between the bentonite platelets perfectly, to form a defect-free smooth film.