bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Method to estimate the basal turn length in inner ear malformation types
Authors: Alshalan Afrah , Almuhawas Fida , Alhabib Salman , Hamed Nezar , Abdelsamad Yassin , Dhanasingh Anandhan 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe mathematical equations to estimate cochlear duct length (CDL) using cochlear parameters such as basal turn diameter (A-value) and width (B-value) are currently applied for cochleae with two and a half turns of normal development. Most of the inner ear malformation (IEM) types have either  less than two and a half cochlear turns or have a cystic apex, making the current available CDL equations unsuitable for cochleae with abnormal anatomies. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the basal turn length (BTL) from the cochlear parameters of different anatomical types, including normal anatomy; enlarged vestibular aqueduct; incomplete partition types I, II, and III; and cochlear hypoplasia. The lateral wall was manually tracked for 360° of the angular depth, along with the A and B values in the oblique coronal view for all anatomical types. A strong positive linear correlation was observed between BTL and the A- (r2 = 0.74) and B-values (r2 = 0.84). The multiple linear regression model to predict the BTL from the A-and B-values resulted in the following equation (estimated BTL = [A × 1.04] + [B × 1.89] − 0.92). The manually measured and estimated BTL differed by 1.12%. The proposed equation could be beneficial in adequately selecting an electrode that covers the basal turn in deformed cochleae.
New approaches for developing biomarkers of hormonal contraceptive use
Authors: Sachdeva Rakhee , Kumar Narender , Brache Vivian , Friedland Barbara A. , Plagianos Marlena , Zhang Shimin , Kizima Larisa , Cochon Leila , Tabar Ana Sofía Tejada , Blanc Ann , Merkatz Ruth B. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractTo identify biomarkers of hormonal contraceptive (HC) use in urine and saliva, we conducted a pilot study with 30 women initiating levonorgestrel (LNG) containing combined oral contraceptives (COCs) or depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) (15/group). Based on established COC pharmacokinetics, we collected serum and urine samples before COC ingestion and during Days one and three of use, or before DMPA injection and on Days 21 and 60 post-injection. We used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to measure serum/urine LNG and MPA. LNG was undetectable at baseline (specificity 100%); post ingestion, most urine samples had detectable LNG levels (sensitivity: 80% 6 h post Dose one, 93% 6 h post Dose three). We used a DetectX LNG immunoassay kit and showed 100% sensitivity measuring urine LNG. Urine MPA levels were undetectable in 14/15 women at baseline (specificity 91%); post-injection all urine samples had detectable MPA levels (sensitivity: 100% days 21 and 60). Results suggest urine sampling can be used to identify a biomarker of LNG and MPA use. Based on evidence from other steroidal hormonal studies showing changes affecting the transcriptome profile of saliva at 24 h, we used the same (COC, DMPA) timepoints to collect saliva. We performed transcriptome analysis and detected several differentially expressed genes in DMPA users’ saliva on Days 21 and 60 compared to baseline; none among COC users. We plan further research of differential gene expression in saliva as a HC biomarker of DMPA use, and will explore longer periods of COC use and saliva collection times, and application of microRNA sequencing to support using saliva as a COC biomarker.
Strength training for arterial hypertension treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
Authors: Correia Rafael Ribeiro , Veras Allice Santos Cruz , Tebar William Rodrigues , Rufino Jéssica Costa , Batista Victor Rogério Garcia , Teixeira Giovana Rampazzo 
Published: January 2023

AbstractCardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the world and arterial hypertension (AH) accounts for 13.8% of deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases. Strength training interventions could be an important alternative tool for blood pressure control, however, consistent evidence and the most effective training protocol for this purpose are yet to be established. The current study used the Cochrane methodology to systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effect of strength training on blood pressure in hypertensive patients. A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and World Health Organization databases. This review included controlled trials that evaluated the effect of strength training for 8 weeks or more in adults with arterial hypertension, published up to December 2020. Data are described and reported as the weighted mean difference of systolic and diastolic pressure and a 95% confidence interval. Protocol registration: PROSPERO registration number CRD42020151269. A total of 14 studies were identified, including a combined total of 253 participants with hypertension. The meta-analysis showed that mean values of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased significantly after strength training interventions. The strongest effect of strength training on decreasing blood pressure was observed in protocols with a moderate to vigorous load intensity (> 60% of one-repetition maximum-1RM), a frequency of at least 2 times per week, and a minimum duration of 8 weeks. We concluded that strength training interventions can be used as a non-drug treatment for arterial hypertension, as they promote significant decreases in blood pressure.
The greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.) uses two different sensory modalities to evaluate the suitability of potential oviposition sites
Authors: Parepely Saravan Kumar , Kempraj Vivek , Sanganahalli Dharanesh Divija , Krishnarao Gandham , Pagadala Damodaram Kamala Jayanthi 
Published: January 2023

AbstractAn ovipositing insect evaluates the benefits and risks associated with the selection of an oviposition site for optimizing the fitness and survival of its offspring. The greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.), uses beehives as an oviposition site. During egg-laying, the gravid wax moth confronts two kinds of risks, namely, bees and conspecific larvae. While bees are known to attack the moth’s offspring and remove them from the hive, the conspecific larvae compete for resources with the new offspring. To date, little is known about the mechanisms involved in the assessment of oviposition site by the greater wax moth, G. mellonella (L.). Here, we demonstrate that the wax moth uses two different sensory modalities to detect risks to its offspring in the hives of Apis cerena. Bees appear to be detected by the contact-chemoreception system of the gravid wax moth, while detection of conspecifics relies on the olfactory system. Hence, our findings suggest that two different sensory modalities are used to detect two different risks to the offspring and that the selection of oviposition sites by G. mellonella (L.) relies on the integration of inputs from both the olfactory and contact-chemoreception systems.
Cold- versus warm-season-forced variability of the Kuroshio and North Pacific subtropical mode water
Authors: Kawakami Yuma , Nakano Hideyuki , Urakawa L. Shogo , Toyoda Takahiro , Sakamoto Kei , Yamanaka Goro , Sugimoto Shusaku 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe ocean responds to atmospheric variations. Changes in sea surface winds, surface air temperature, and surface air humidity cause upper ocean variability by modulating air-sea momentum and heat exchanges. Upper ocean variability in the mid-latitudes on inter-annual and longer timescales has previously been considered to be attributable to atmospheric variations in the cold season, because atmospheric forcing is stronger in the cold season than in the warm season. However, this idea has not been sufficiently confirmed yet. Although the ocean model is a useful tool to evaluate the impact of the atmospheric forcing in each season, there are no past studies having examined ocean model responses respectively to the cold- and warm-season atmospheric forcing. In this study, we performed numerical experiments with an eddy-resolving ocean general circulation model and investigated oceanic responses to cold- and warm-season atmospheric forcing, focusing on the Kuroshio and North Pacific subtropical mode water (STMW) in the western mid-latitude North Pacific. We found that temporal variations of net Kuroshio transport and STMW distribution/temperature are dominantly controlled by atmospheric forcing in the cold season. These results suggest that cold-season atmospheric variations are key to obtaining insights into large-scale upper ocean variability in the North Pacific subtropical gyre.
Solar radiation, temperature and the reproductive biology of the coral Lobactis scutaria in a changing climate
Authors: Bouwmeester Jessica , Daly Jonathan , Zuchowicz Nikolas , Lager Claire , Henley E. Michael , Quinn Mariko , Hagedorn Mary 
Published: January 2023

AbstractCoral reefs worldwide are at risk due to climate change. Coral bleaching is becoming increasingly common and corals that survive bleaching events can suffer from temporary reproductive failure for several years. While water temperature is a key driver in causing coral bleaching, other environmental factors are involved, such as solar radiation. We investigated the individual and combined effects of temperature, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on the spawning patterns and reproductive physiology of the Hawaiian mushroom coral Lobactis scutaria, using long-term experiments in aquaria. We examined effects on spawning timing, fertilisation success, and gamete physiology. Both warmer temperatures and filtering UVR altered the timing of spawning. Warmer temperatures caused a drop in fertilisation success. Warmer temperatures and higher PAR both negatively affected sperm and egg physiology. These results are concerning for the mushroom coral L. scutaria and similar reproductive data are urgently needed to predict future reproductive trends in other species. Nonetheless, thermal stress from global climate change will need to be adequately addressed to ensure the survival of reef-building corals in their natural environment throughout the next century and beyond. Until then, reproduction is likely to be increasingly impaired in a growing number of coral species.
Bio-inspired antimicrobial surfaces fabricated by glancing angle deposition
Authors: Qu Chuang , Rozsa Jesse L. , Jung Hyun-Jin , Williams Anna R. , Markin Emmanuel K. , Running Mark P. , McNamara Shamus , Walsh Kevin M. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThis paper describes the fabrication of cicada-wing-inspired antimicrobial surfaces using Glancing Angle Deposition (GLAD). From the study of an annual cicada (Neotibicen Canicularis, also known as dog-day cicada) in North America, it is found that the cicada wing surfaces are composed of unique three-dimensional (3D) nanofeature arrays, which grant them extraordinary properties including antimicrobial (antifouling) and antireflective. However, the morphology of these 3D nanostructures imposes challenges in artificially synthesizing the structures by utilizing and scaling up the template area from nature. From the perspective of circumventing the difficulties of creating 3D nanofeature arrays with top-down nanofabrication techniques, this paper introduces a nanofabrication process that combines bottom-up steps: self-assembled nanospheres are used as the bases of the features, while sub-100 nm pillars are grown on top of the bases by GLAD. Scanning electron micrographs show the resemblance of the synthesized cicada wing mimicry samples to the actual cicada wings, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The synthetic mimicry samples are hydrophobic with a water contact angle of 125˚. Finally, the antimicrobial properties of the mimicries are validated by showing flat growth curves of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and by direct observation under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The process is potentially suitable for large-area antimicrobial applications in food and biomedical industries.
Long-term presence of autoantibodies in plasma of cured leprosy patients
Authors: Yang Xi , Dong Hua , Kuang Yi-Qun , Yu Xiu-Feng , Long Heng , Zhang Chun-Yu , Wang Dong , Zhang Deng-Feng , Li Yu-Ye 
Published: January 2023

AbstractAutoantibodies have been detected in leprosy patients, indicating that infection with M. leprae may lead to autoimmune disorders. However, whether autoimmune response last until patients are cured is unknown. Knowing the autoimmune response in cured leprosy patients is essential to identify whether symptoms are caused by leprosy itself or by other immune-related diseases. This knowledge is essential for the ongoing health management in cured leprosy patients where autoimmune disorders still exist. In our study, we selected six autoantibodies, including anticardiolipin antibody of IgG (ACA), anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), extractable nuclear antigen antibody (ENA), anti-streptolysin O (ASO), anti-double stranded DNA antibody (dsDNA), and rheumatoid factor (RF), that had been reported in leprosy patients as typical autoantibodies. We tested the six typical autoantibodies combined with LACC1, which encodes a protein associated with autoimmune disease such as Crohn’s disease and is also the susceptible gene conferring leprosy risk, in cured leprosy patients through ELISA to assess the cured patient’s immune status. We observed high positive rates of autoantibodies in cured leprosy patients, and the average plasma levels of five (ACA, ANA, ENA, ASO, and RF) out of the six autoantibodies were significantly higher in cured leprosy patients than in controls. The positive detection of autoantibodies is independent of the recovery period. Moreover, the level of these autoantibodies showed a strong positive correlation with the level of LACC1 in both controls and cured patients. This study showed that there is long-term autoimmunological activation in leprosy patients, even after decades of recovery. Autoimmune responses may influence the development and prognosis of leprosy. Special care should be given to posttreatment or cured leprosy patients regarding long-term autoimmunological activation.
Sublethal concentrations of conventional nematicides alter the physiological activities of Meloidogyne incognita and suppress parasitism
Authors: Abdel-Rahman Abdullah A. , Kesba Hosny H. , Mohamed Hoda G. , Kamel Donia F. , Ahmed Fatma S. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractReducing nematicide dose rates could be a useful strategy for mitigating their negative effects on health and the environment. In this study, enzymatic activities and the parasitic ability of Meloidogyne incognita after exposure to sub-lethal concentrations (0.25, 1, 2, and 5 ppm) of ethoprophos, fenamiphos, and oxamyl were investigated. Although the tested concentrations did not show nematicidal properties in vitro, they reduced root galls by at least 30% at 0.25 ppm and up to 67% at 5 ppm in pots, besides disrupting nematode fertility. For all three nematicides at 2 ppm, a chemotaxis assay showed that ≤ 11% of the nematode population was successfully oriented to the host roots, compared to 44% in the control. Ethoprophos and fenamiphos at 5 ppm showed poor inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity (5.6% and 12.5%, respectively). In contrast, the same nematicides were shown to be strong ATPase inhibitors, causing 82.4% and 82.8% inhibition, respectively. At the same concentration, oxamyl moderately inhibited AChE and ATPase-specific activities, the inhibition being 22.5% and 35.2%, respectively. This study suggests that the use of very low nematicide concentrations could be a promising strategy for nematode management. Furthermore, it has also highlighted the role of ATPases as a possible target site for suppressing nematode activity in the development of future nematicides.
Energy valley optimizer: a novel metaheuristic algorithm for global and engineering optimization
Authors: Azizi Mahdi , Aickelin Uwe , A. Khorshidi Hadi , Baghalzadeh Shishehgarkhaneh Milad 
Published: January 2023

AbstractIn this paper, Energy Valley Optimizer (EVO) is proposed as a novel metaheuristic algorithm inspired by advanced physics principles regarding stability and different modes of particle decay. Twenty unconstrained mathematical test functions are utilized in different dimensions to evaluate the proposed algorithm's performance. For statistical purposes, 100 independent optimization runs are conducted to determine the statistical measurements, including the mean, standard deviation, and the required number of objective function evaluations, by considering a predefined stopping criterion. Some well-known statistical analyses are also used for comparative purposes, including the Kolmogorov–Smirnov, Wilcoxon, and Kruskal–Wallis analysis. Besides, the latest Competitions on Evolutionary Computation (CEC), regarding real-world optimization, are also considered for comparing the results of the EVO to the most successful state-of-the-art algorithms. The results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can provide competitive and outstanding results in dealing with complex benchmarks and real-world problems.
Evaluation of the role of kefir in management of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis rat model via modulation of NASH linked mRNA-miRNA panel
Authors: Salah Noha , Eissa Sanaa , Mansour Amal , El Magd Nagwa M. Abo , Hasanin Amany Helmy , El Mahdy Manal M. , Hassan Mohamed Kamel , Matboli Marwa 
Published: January 2023

AbstractNon-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the clinically aggressive variant of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Hippo pathway dysregulation can contribute to NASH development and progression. The use of probiotics is effective in NASH management. Our aim is to investigate the efficacy of kefir Milk in NASH management via modulation of hepatic mRNA-miRNA based panel linked to NAFLD/NASH Hippo signaling and gut microbita regulated genes which was identified using bioinformatics tools. Firstly, we analyzed mRNAs (SOX11, SMAD4 and AMOTL2), and their epigenetic regulator (miR-6807) followed by validation of target effector proteins (TGFB1, IL6 and HepPar1). Molecular, biochemical, and histopathological, analyses were used to evaluate the effects of kefir on high sucrose high fat (HSHF) diet -induced NASH in rats. We found that administration of Kefir proved to prevent steatosis and development of the inflammatory component of NASH. Moreover, Kefir improved liver function and lipid panel. At the molecular level, kefir down-regulated the expression of miR 6807-5p with subsequent increase in the expression of SOX 11, AMOTL2 associated with downregulated SMAD4, resulting in reduction in the expression of the inflammatory and fibrotic markers, IL6 and TGF-β1 in the treated and prophylactic groups compared to the untreated rats. In conclusion, Kefir suppressed NASH progression and improved both fibrosis and hepatic inflammation. The produced effect was correlated with modulation of SOX11, SMAD4 and AMOTL2 mRNAs) – (miR-6807-5p) – (TGFB, IL6 and, HepPar1) expression.
Climate change multi-model projections in CMIP6 scenarios in Central Hokkaido, Japan
Authors: Peng Shilei , Wang Chunying , Li Zhan , Mihara Kunihito , Kuramochi Kanta , Toma Yo , Hatano Ryusuke 
Published: January 2023

AbstractSimulation of future climate changes, especially temperature and rainfall, is critical for water resource management, disaster mitigation, and agricultural development. Based on the category-wise indicator method, two preferred Global Climate Models (GCMs) for the Ishikari River basin (IRB), the socio-economic center of Hokkaido, Japan, were examined from the newly released Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). Climatic variables (maximum/minimum temperature and precipitation) were projected by the Statistical DownScaling Model (SDSM) under all shared socioeconomic pathway-representative concentration pathway (SSP-RCP) scenarios (SSP1-1.9, SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, SSP4-3.4, SSP4-6.0, SSP5-3.4OS, and SSP5-8.5) in two phases: 2040–2069 (2040s) and 2070–2099 (2070s), with the period of 1985–2014 as the baseline. Predictors of SDSM were derived from CMIP6 GCMs and the reanalysis dataset NOAA-CIRES-DOE 20th Century Reanalysis V3 (20CRv3). Results showed that CMIP6 GCMs had a significant correlation with temperature measurements, but could not represent precipitation features in the IRB. The constructed SDSM could capture the characteristics of temperature and precipitation during the calibration (1985–1999) and validation (2000–2014) phases, respectively. The selected GCMs (MIROC6 and MRI-ESM-2.0) generated higher temperature and less rainfall in the forthcoming phases. The SSP-RCP scenarios had an apparent influence on temperature and precipitation. High-emission scenarios (i.e., SSP5-8.5) would project a higher temperature and lower rainfall than the low-emission scenarios (e.g., SSP1-1.9). Spatial–temporal analysis indicated that the northern part of the IRB is more likely to become warmer with heavier precipitation than the southern part in the future. Higher temperature and lower rainfall were projected throughout the late twenty-first century (2070s) than the mid-century (2040s) in the IRB. The findings of this study could be further used to predict the hydrological cycle and assess the ecosystem's sustainability.
Development, preparation, and evaluation of a novel dotted lateral flow immunochromatographic kit for rapid diagnosis of dermatophytosis
Authors: Aboul-Ella Hassan , Sayed Rafik Hamed , Abo-Elyazeed Heidy Shawky 
Published: January 2023

AbstractDermatophytosis is a widely spread contagious zoonotic disease, affecting both man (tinea) and animals (ringworm). This disease is caused by a group of closely related keratinophilic fungi known collectively as the dermatophytes group. Although the wide distribution of dermatophytosis cases throughout the whole world and its adverse clinical effect on human health, economical effect on productive animals, and pet animal welfare, there is no rapid accurate diagnostic tool for such disease. The current conducted study tries to accomplish the difficult equation by achieving an accurate, sensitive, specific, user-friendly, rapid, robust, device-less, deliverable to end-users, and economic cost for the development and production of diagnostic kits. Through the development of a rapid diagnostic kit based on immunochromatographic assay with three major affordable reproducible production stages; preliminary stage, developmental and standardization stage, and evaluation stage. Obtaining dermatophytes-specific polyclonal antibodies against criteria-based selected dermatophytes strains associating proper gold nanoparticle preparation, characterization, and conjugation, with proper loading of the different bio-reactants on the efficiently laminated and fabricated lateral flow strips were the main challenge and control points through the whole process. Also, as a result of examining 100 animal samples using the new kit, the κ coefficients of the kit with the direct microscopy while the kit with the culture were 0.44 and 0.76, respectively. Therefore, the newly designated and developed kit showed a very promising competitive diagnostic result within 5–7 min through easy-to-be-performed three steps.