bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Performance evaluation of SimPET-L and SimPET-XL: MRI-compatible small-animal PET systems with rat-body imaging capability
Authors: Seo Minjee , Ko Guen Bae , Kim Kyeong Yun , Son Jeong-Whan , Byun Jung Woo , Lee Yun-Sang , Kim Kyeong Min , Park Jang Woo , Kim Kipom , Lee Taekwan , Lee Jae Sung 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
SimPET-L and SimPET-XL have recently been introduced with increased transaxial fields of view (FOV) compared with their predecessors (SimPET™ and SimPET-X), enabling whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of rats. We conducted performance evaluations of SimPET-L and SimPET-XL and rat-body imaging with SimPET-XL to demonstrate the benefits of increased axial and transaxial FOVs.

Procedures
The detector blocks in SimPET-L and SimPET-XL consist of two 4 × 4 silicon photomultiplier arrays coupled with 20 × 9 array lutetium oxyorthosilicate crystals. SimPET-L and SimPET-XL have an inner diameter (bore size) of 7.6 cm, and they are composed of 40 and 80 detector blocks yielding axial lengths of 5.5 and 11 cm, respectively. Each system was evaluated according to the National Electrical Manufacturers Association NU4-2008 protocol. Rat imaging studies, such as 18F-NaF and 18F-FDG PET, were performed using SimPET-XL.

Results
The radial resolutions at the axial center measured using the filtered back projection, 3D ordered-subset expectation maximization (OSEM), and 3D OSEM with point spread functions correction were 1.7, 0.82, and 0.82 mm FWHM in SimPET-L and 1.7, 0.91, and 0.91 mm FWHM in SimPET-XL, respectively. The peak sensitivities of SimPET-L and SimPET-XL were 6.30% and 10.4% for an energy window of 100–900 keV and 4.44% and 7.25% for a window of 250–750 keV, respectively. The peak noise equivalent count rate with an energy window of 250–750 keV was 249 kcps at 44.9 MBq for SimPET-L and 349 kcps at 31.3 MBq for SimPET-XL. In SimPET-L, the uniformity was 4.43%, and the spill-over ratios in air- and water-filled chambers were 5.54% and 4.10%, respectively. In SimPET-XL, the uniformity was 3.89%, and the spill-over ratio in the air- and water-filled chambers were 3.56% and 3.60%. Moreover, SimPET-XL provided high-quality images of rats.

Conclusion
SimPET-L and SimPET-XL show adequate performance compared with other SimPET systems. In addition, their large transaxial and long axial FOVs provide imaging capability for rats with high image quality.
Image-derived input functions from dynamic 15O–water PET scans using penalised reconstruction
Authors: Young Peter , Appel Lieuwe , Tolf Andreas , Kosmidis Savvas , Burman Joachim , Rieckmann Anna , Schöll Michael , Lubberink Mark 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
Quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) scans of the brain typically require arterial blood sampling but this is complicated and logistically challenging. One solution to remove the need for arterial blood sampling is the use of image-derived input functions (IDIFs). Obtaining accurate IDIFs, however, has proved to be challenging, mainly due to the limited resolution of PET. Here, we employ penalised reconstruction alongside iterative thresholding methods and simple partial volume correction methods to produce IDIFs from a single PET scan, and subsequently, compare these to blood-sampled input curves (BSIFs) as ground truth. Retrospectively we used data from sixteen subjects with two dynamic 15O-labelled water PET scans and continuous arterial blood sampling: one baseline scan and another post-administration of acetazolamide.

Results
IDIFs and BSIFs agreed well in terms of the area under the curve of input curves when comparing peaks, tails and peak-to-tail ratios with R2 values of 0.95, 0.70 and 0.76, respectively. Grey matter cerebral blood flow (CBF) values showed good agreement with an average difference between the BSIF and IDIF CBF values of 2% ± and a coefficient of variation (CoV) of 7.3%.

Conclusion
Our results show promising results that a robust IDIF can be produced for dynamic 15O–water PET scans using only the dynamic PET scan images with no need for a corresponding MRI or complex analytical techniques and thereby making routine clinical use of quantitative CBF measurements with 15O–water feasible.
SEmHuS: a semantically embedded humanitarian space
Authors: Shamoug Aladdin , Cranefield Stephen , Dick Grant 
Published: March 2023

AbstractHumanitarian crises are unpredictable and complex environments, in which access to basic services and infrastructures is not adequately available. Computing in a humanitarian crisis environment is different from any other environment. In humanitarian environments the accessibility to electricity, internet, and qualified human resources is usually limited. Hence, advanced computing technologies in such an environment are hard to deploy and implement. Moreover, time and resources in those environments are also limited and devoted for life-saving activities, which makes computing technologies among the lowest priorities for those who operate there. In humanitarian crises, interests and preferences of decision-makers are driven by their original languages, cultures, education, religions, and political affiliations. Hence, decision-making in such environments is usually hard and slow because it solely depends on human capacity in absence of proper computing techniques. In this research, we are interested in overcoming the above challenges by involving machines in humanitarian response. This work proposes and evaluates a text classification and embedding technique to transform historical humanitarian records from human-oriented into a machine-oriented structure (in a vector space). This technique allows machines to extract humanitarian knowledge and use it to answer questions and classify documents. Having machines involved in those tasks helps decision-makers in speeding up humanitarian response, reducing its cost, saving lives, and easing human suffering.
Biological control of onion white rot disease using potential Bacillus subtilis isolates
Authors: Amin M. M. , Ahmed M. F. A. 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
Onion (Allium cepa L.) is a very important vegetable crop all over the world, particularly in Egypt for local consumption and exportation. White rot disease is the most serious disease of Allium spp. caused by the soil-borne fungus Sclerotium cepivorum Berk.

Results
In this investigation, five tested isolates of Bacillus subtilis showed an antagonistic effect and significantly reduced the linear growth of the pathogen in vitro. B. subtilis isolates no. 2 and 4 caused the highest reduction of S. cepivorum growth, 75.78 and 74.33%, respectively, while isolate no. 3 was the least effective one, causing 66.67% growth reduction. Under field conditions at two successive seasons (2019/20 and 2020/21), all tested bioagent treatments reduced the percentage of infection than Folicure as an officially recommended fungicide. B. subtilis isolate no. 2 showed the highest efficacy (78.57 and 77.78%) followed by isolates no. 4 (74.29 and 72.22%), while B. subtilis isolate no. 3 showed the lowest efficacy (42.86 and 50.00%), respectively, for both successive seasons. All treatments increased dry onion bulb yield and improved its quality than the untreated control plants. The chemical changes of total carbohydrates, total nitrogen contents, total soluble solids (TSS %) and enzymes activity related to defense mechanisms in treated plants by biological treatments were considered.

Conclusion
This study aimed to find effective biological agents of B. subtilis isolates against the white rot of onion and evaluate their effect on yield parameters, components and quality.
Influence of host egg age on parasitic potential of the entomophagous, Telenomus remus Nixon (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) against the Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and investigations on the developmental biology and ultrastructure of egg parasitoid immature stages
Authors: Priyanka S. Lekha , Jeyarani S. , Sathiah N. , Mohankumar S. , Nakkeeran S. 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
Biological control through augmentative release of egg parasitoids is a potential tool in integrated management of field crop pests. The egg parasitoid, Telenomusremus Nixon (1937) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), is found promising against the fall armyworm, Spodopterafrugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in different parts of the world. However, fundamental information on the parasitic capabilities with reference to the host eggs of progressing ages is very limited. The investigations reported herein focused on the influence of host egg age on the parasitic potential, developmental biology and morphological features of the sexes of T.remus that could aid in decisions on their field release. The laboratory experiments were carried out with FAW egg masses of different ages (24, 48 and 72 h old). Host eggs glued to paper strips (3 × 5 cm) were offered to T.remus for parasitization at the parasitoid: host ratio 1:40 under standard laboratory conditions. Developmental biology of immature stages of T.remus and the adult sexual dimorphism were studied through stereomicroscopic and scanning electron microscopic examinations on 24 h old FAW egg masses parasitized by T.remus.

Result
Parasitic potential of T.remus on FAW eggs of different ages indicated the highest level of parasitization on 24 h old eggs with 98.2% parasitization, followed by 48 h old eggs and 72 h old eggs of the host were avoided by the parasitoid female and hence no parasitism occurred. The developmental duration of T.remus on 24 h old FAW eggs was recorded as 9.61 days and 48 h old eggs as 9.52 days, respectively. Microscopic examinations revealed the presence of six immature bio-stages viz., egg (1 day), two larval instars (each 1 day), pre-pupal (1 day), pupal (5 days) and adult stage with a total developmental duration of 9 days. T.remus adults can be differentiated by the morphology, type and number of antennal segments. The scape or the basal antennal segment was slender and longer in males, whereas shorter in females. T.remus female has a club typed antenna with 11 segments, while male has geniculate antenna with 12 segments.

Conclusions
The parasitoid exhibited selective preference for fresh stages of eggs than the matured ones indicating requirement of early field interventions coinciding with fresh brood emergence of FAW. Among the six stages of development, the pupal duration was found to be the longest in the study indicating that in augmentative biocontrol, host eggs with fully developed parasitoid stages, especially the pupal stage could be the appropriate one for field deployment.
Evaluation of stem cell differentiation medicated with calcium phosphate nanoparticles in chlorohexidine paste
Authors: Mahran Abeer Hashem , Fahmy Sarah Hossam , Ibrahim Sarah Shokry 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
Our present study aimed to evaluate the effect of calcium phosphate nanoparticles in chlorohexidine paste on the odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells. The human dental pulp stem cells (HDPSCs) were examined for viability and proliferation via trypan blue stain test and MTT assay. This was followed by evaluating the alkaline phosphatase assay and detecting the Dentin matrix protein (DMP-1) marker via immunofluorescence staining to confirm the odontogenic differentiation.

Results
In viability testing, nano calcium phosphate in Chlorohexidine (CHX) and nano calcium hydroxide showed no significant difference regarding trypan blue staining and MTT assay. Moreover, DMP-1 marker detection revealed a higher expression with nano calcium hydroxide compared to nano calcium phosphate in CHX, while ALP showed no significant difference.

Conclusion
Based on the analysis conveyed, it can be concluded that nano calcium phosphate in CHX can induce the proliferation and differentiation of HDPSCs.
Simulium surveillance and control in Mahenge, Tanzania: time to think bigger and utilize drone-based remote sensing technology
Authors: Mushi Vivian 
Published: March 2023

AbstractDespite the ongoing onchocerciasis control program that has been in place in Mahenge for more than two decades using the Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) strategy, the persistent transmission of onchocerciasis has been observed, proving that CDTI alone is unable to interrupt the transmission. This letter aims to highlight how drone-based remote sensing technology can be utilized for Simulium surveillance and control in Mahenge and suggest measures that can be employed to initiate the vector control intervention using the proposed technology in Mahenge. The drone-based technology in Mahenge could assist in the identification of Simulium breeding sites even in inaccessible parts of rivers and streams, mapping the microenvironmental composition, and suggesting potential control measures, including whether to apply larviciding using drones or where the ground control effort of slashing and clearing should be prioritized. Therefore, now is an opportune time to combine CDTI and Simulium control interventions to achieve sustainable onchocerciasis control in Mahenge.
SIRT1 is transcriptionally repressed by YY1 and suppresses ferroptosis in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Zhan Yuwei , Yang Zhou , Zhan Feng , Huang Yanyan , Lin Shudian 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is reported downregulated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and the protective effects of SIRT1 on tissue damage and organ failure may be related to cellular ferroptosis. However, the exact mechanism by which SIRT1 regulates RA remains unclear.

Methods
Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and western blot assays were performed to explore the expressions of SIRT1 and Yin Yang 1 (YY1). CCK-8 assay was used for cytoactive detection. The interaction between SIRT1 and YY1 was validated by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). DCFH-DA assay and iron assay were applied to detect the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and iron ion levels.

Results
In the serum of RA patients, SIRT1 was downregulated, but YY1 was upregulated. In LPS-induced synoviocytes, SIRT1 could increase cell viability and decrease ROS and iron levels. Mechanistically, YY1 downregulated the expression of SIRT1 by inhibiting its transcription. YY1 overexpression partly revised the effects of SIRT1 on ferroptosis in synoviocytes.

Conclusion
SIRT1 is transcriptionally repressed by YY1 and inhibits the ferroptosis of synoviocytes induced by LPS, so as to relieve the pathological process of RA. Therefore, SIRT1 might be a new diagnosis and therapeutic target of RA.
The role of different innate and environmental factors in Tm-22-mediated resistance to tomato mottle mosaic virus
Authors: Tettey Carlos Kwesi , Mu Xiu-Qi , Ma Hua-Yu , Chen Xin-Yang , Geng Chao , Tian Yan-Ping , Yan Zhi-Yong , Li Xiang-Dong 
Published: March 2023

AbstractTomato mottle mosaic virus (ToMMV) poses a threat to production and quality of tomato fruits. The Tm-22 gene confers resistance to some tobamoviruses by recognizing viral movement proteins. However, Tm-22-mediated resistance against ToMMV is not well known. Here, we found that ToMMV could infect wild-type but not Tm-22 transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants and could also infect tomato cultivar Moneymaker but not resistant cultivar Jili with homozygous Tm-22. Chimeric viral ToMMVToBRFV−MP with swapped ToMMV MP to MP of tomato brown rugose fruit virus could systemically infect Tm-22 transgenic N. benthamiana and tomato cultivars Jili plants. Further, transient expression of ToMMV MP in the leaves of Tm-22 transgenic N. benthamiana plants induced hypersensitive response-associated cell death, suggesting that the MP of ToMMV was the avirulent factor for the Tm-22 resistance gene. ToMMV could infect Tm-22-containing cultivar Jinpeng 1 but not Chaobei. Sequence analysis revealed that cultivars Chaobei and Jinpeng 1 were heterozygous, where Chaobei consists of Tm-22 and Tm-2 genes, while Jinpeng 1 consists of Tm-22 and tm-2 genes. Transient co-expression assays showed that both Tm-22 and Tm-2 but not tm-2 could recognize ToMMV MP and induce hypersensitivity response-associated cell death in N. benthamiana leaves, suggesting that homozygous tomato harboring Tm-22 and heterozygous tomato containing Tm-22 and Tm-2 may exhibit more durable resistance to ToMMV than heterozygous tomato carrying Tm-22 and tm-2. Further, Tm-22 transgenic N. benthamiana and tomato cultivar Jili plants with silenced Tm-22 gene were susceptible to ToMMV. Also, silencing type-I J-domain MIP1 gene compromised Tm-22-mediated resistance to ToMMV in Tm-22 transgenic N. benthamiana and tomato cultivar Jili. Moreover, we found that viral RNA could accumulate in the systemic leaves of Tm-22 transgenic N. benthamiana plants and tomato cultivar Jili at 35°C, but not at 20, 25, or 30°C. Altogether, our findings reveal that the Tm-22 confers resistance to ToMMV by recognizing MP, and the resistance is regulated by the allele combinations, accumulation levels of Tm-22, MIP1, and the temperature.
Association of CYP1A2 and GST gene variants with asthma in cases presenting with allergic chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Jangala Madhavi , Manche Santoshi Kumari , Katika Madhu Mohan , Koralla Raja Meghanadh , Akka Jyothy 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
Inter-individual differences in regulation and activity of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes (XMEs) CYP1A and GST might cause distinct susceptibility to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) phenotypes that need to be explored. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the role and risk of CYP1A and GST gene variants in allergic CRS subjects with and without asthma. A total of 224 allergic CRS cases with asthma, 252 allergic CRS cases without asthma, and 350 healthy control subjects were subjected to genetic analysis. Gene variants of cytochrome P450 (CYP1A1 T3801 rs4646903, A2455G rs1048943, C2453A rs1799814 and CYP1A2 G3858A rs2069514, T739G rs2069526, C163A rs762551) and glutathione S-transferase P (GSTP1 A313G rs1605 & C341T rs1799811) were investigated by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and GSTM1null, and GSTT1null by multiplex PCR methods.

Results
TG genotype of CYP1A2 rs2069526 (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.20–2.50, p < 0.002), TC genotype of CYP1A1 rs4646903 (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.03–1.98, p < 0.031) and GSTM1del (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.24–2.81, p < 0.003) and were found to be significantly associated with only allergic CRS cases. CYP1A2 rs2069526 (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.61–3.37, p < 0.001), GG genotype of GSTP1 rs1605 (OR 4.75, 95% CI 2.62–8.63, p < 0.001), GSTM1del (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.19–2.78, p < 0.006), GSTM1/GSTT1 double null (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.36–4.87, p < 0.004) and were found to be significantly associated with asthma in allergic CRS cases. Further, G-G-C haplotype of CYP1A2 rs2069514, rs2069526 and rs762551 gene variants was found to increase the risk for asthma by 5 folds in allergic CRS subjects (OR 5.53, 95% CI 1.76–17.31, p < 0.003) while T-G-C haplotype of CYP1A1 rs4646903, rs1048943, rs1799814 (OR 0.11, 95% CI (0.01–0.95, p < 0.045) and A-T haplotype of GSTP1 rs1605, rs1799811 (OR 0.27, 95% CI (0.08–0.89, p < 0.032) showed protective effect in allergic CRS group.

Conclusion
The present study reports the significantly increased association of CYP1A2, GSTM, and GSTP gene variants with asthma in allergic CRS.
A continuous quality improvement strategy to strengthen screening practices and facilitate the routine use of intravenous iron for treating anaemia in pregnant and postpartum women in Nigeria: a study protocol
Authors: Eboreime Ejemai , Banke-Thomas Aduragbemi , Obi-Jeff Chisom , Adelabu Yusuf , Balogun Mobolanle , Aiyenigba Adejoke A. , Oluwole Esther O. , Akinajo Opeyemi R. , Afolabi Bosede B. 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
Pregnancy-related anaemia is a public health challenge across Africa. Over 50% of pregnant women in Africa get diagnosed with this condition, and up to 75% of these are caused by iron deficiency. The condition is a significant contributor to the high maternal deaths across the continent and, in particular, Nigeria, which accounts for about 34% of global maternal deaths. Whereas oral iron is the mainstay treatment for pregnancy-related anaemia in Nigeria, this treatment is not very effective given the slow absorption of the medication, and its gastrointestinal adverse effects which lead to poor compliance by women. Intravenous iron is an alternative therapy which can rapidly replenish iron stores, but fears of anaphylactic reactions, as well as several misconceptions, have inhibited its routine use. Newer and safer intravenous iron formulations, such as ferric carboxymaltose, present an opportunity to overcome some concerns relating to adherence. Routine use of this formulation will, however, require addressing misconceptions and systemic barriers to adoption in the continuum of care of obstetric women from screening to treatment. This study aims to test the options to strengthen routine screening for anaemia during and immediately after pregnancy, as well as evaluate and improve conditions necessary to deliver ferric carboxymaltose to pregnant and postpartum women with moderate to severe anaemia.

Methods
This study will be conducted in a cluster of six health facilities in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study will employ continuous quality improvement through the Diagnose-Intervene-Verify-Adjust framework and Tanahashi’s model for health system evaluation to identify and improve systemic bottlenecks to the adoption and implementation of the intervention. Participatory Action Research will be employed to engage health system actors, health services users, and other stakeholders to facilitate change. Evaluation will be guided by the consolidated framework for implementation research and the normalisation process theory.

Discussion
We expect the study to evolve transferable knowledge on barriers and facilitators to the routine use of intravenous iron that will inform scale-up across Nigeria, as well as the adoption of the intervention and strategies in other countries across Africa.