bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Parasites in wildlife in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Omeragić Jasmin , Kapo Naida , Softić Adis , Škapur Vedad , Goletić Šejla , Alić Amer , Goletić Teufik 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Parasitic diseases of wild animals represent an important area of research. In addition to a significant impact on wildlife health and fitness, many of parasitic diseases have zoonotic implications. Scientific information regarding parasitic diseases in wildlife in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) are scarce. Hence, the aim of this research was to investigate wildlife parasites in the Entity of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), with an emphasis on zoonotic species. In the period April 2020 - November 2022, the research was performed in 9 species of wildlife. Out of a total of 1,278 collected samples, parasitic eggs or parasitic DNA were confirmed in 907 (70.9%). Parasitic infestations were confirmed in 15.9% of examined bears (11/69); 83.7% of examined red foxes (262/313); 67.6% of examined wolves (44/65); 25% of examined wild cats (1/4); 20% of examined badger (1/5); 43.7% of examined martens (7/16); 39.7% of examined wild boars (76/191); 84.5% of examined deer (350/414) and in 77.1% of examined rabbits (155/201) The finding of zoonotic parasites (Trichinella spp., Echinococcus multilocularis, Cryptosporidium spp.) is particularly important due to their potential detrimental effects on human health. Therefore, the monitoring of parasitic infections in wildlife has a paramount importance in developing the health care programs and control strategies.
Seismic floor acceleration and energy absorption comparison on residential framed buildings with typical retrofitting and combined with nonlinear dampers
Authors: Preciado Adolfo 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Here is analyzed the seismic performance of typical 15-story framed buildings of reinforced concrete in original state and retrofitted with different stiff solutions and combined with passive dampers by fast nonlinear time-history analyses. The investigated conventional retrofitting solutions are infill masonry panels, diagonal/Chevron braces, rigid cores and passive dampers (fluid viscous and solid viscoelastic). It is compared the floor shear/bending distribution, peak floor acceleration, seismic energy dissipation and device’s hysteretic performance. The flexible behavior of the unretrofitted building was corrected with stiff retrofitting solutions, but, conversely, the peak floor accelerations were amplified (25–64%). Compared to conventional stiff solutions, the dampers allowed a reduction of distortions (floors 2–12), where the original building showed excessive flexibility. Viscoelastic dampers exhibited acceleration reductions on floors 4–12 (43%) and amplifications on top floors (15%). Conversely, fluid viscous dampers showed more acceleration reductions on almost all floors of 55% and less amplifications on top floors. The energy absorption effectiveness of the devices depended on the location, number of devices, shear forces and peak floor accelerations flow, especially when analyzed without dampers (only with stiff retrofitting). Fluid viscous dampers showed a better performance in terms of seismic energy absorption if compared to the combinations with viscoelastic dampers.
Climate Change Impacts on Broussonetia papyrifera Pollen - Metabolome Investigations and Prospects of Allergy Prevalence in Times of Climate Change
Authors: Humayun Muhammad , Naseem Saadia , Ali Zahid , Goodman Richard E. 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Broussonetia papyrifera (B. papyrifera) is a tree producing allergenic pollen that grow at varied climatic conditions worldwide. The tree pollen disperse in the air causing allergies in susceptible humans. The study investigates climate change variable’s impact on B. papyrifera pollen’s composition, pollen metabolome, pollen allergenicity and their occurrence in the upcoming years. The tree pollens were collected in summer and spring from different regions in Pakistan. Pollens were subjected to morphological analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LCMS), and immunoblotting. The tree future-growth invasion was predicted through MaxEnt modeling. Light microscopy and FTIR showed seasonal and regional differences in pollen-morphology and pollen-metabolome that correlated to weather conditions’ shift. LCMS analysis detected four allergenic lipids having a potential role in allergies. Pollen protein immunoblotting-studies identified putative 15 kDa novel allergen, and verified previously known 40 kDa, 33 kDa, and 10 kDa allergens. B. papyrifera MaxEnt modeling through ACCESS1­0 and CCSM4 under 2-greenhouse gas emissions scenarios {representative concentration pathway (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5} projected the tree invasion by the years 2050 and 2070. The study findings demonstrate that climatic variables differences affect B. papyrifera-pollen physiology. The study discovered allergenic lipids and a 15 kDa potential novel allergen in B. papyrifera-pollen protein extracts, and predicted the tree invasion in future. These results predict potential changes in B. papyrifera-pollen allergy risks in the future and provide a model system for studying pollen morphology, plant invasion, and associated allergies in response to climate changes for other species.
Ultralow Threshold Surface Emitting Ultraviolet Lasers with Semiconductor Nanowires
Authors: Vafadar Mohammad Fazel , Zhao Songrui 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Surface-emitting semiconductor lasers have changed our everyday life in various ways such as communication and sensing. Expanding the operation wavelength of surface-emitting semiconductor lasers to shorter ultraviolet (UV) wavelength range further broadens the applications to disinfection, medical diagnostics, phototherapy, and so on. Nonetheless, the UV surface-emitting lasers demonstrated so far are all using conventional vertical cavities, all with large lasing thresholds in the range of several hundred kW/cm^2 to MW/cm^2. Here, we report ultralow threshold surface-emitting lasing in the UV range using novel epitaxial nanowire photonic crystal structures. Lasing at 367 nm is measured, with a threshold of only 7 kW/cm^2, a factor of 100× reduction compared to the previously reported surface-emitting UV lasers at similar wavelengths. Further given the excellent electrical doping that has already been demonstrated in nanowires, this work offers a viable path for the development of the long-sought-after surface-emitting semiconductor UV lasers.
Customary light-gauge steel framing construction with flat strap bracing. Seismicity limits for short to mid-rise buildings in Europe
Authors: GRANADOS JORDI NAVARRO , Casafont Miquel , Bové Oriol , Bonada Jordi , López-Almansa Francisco 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Ordinary (customary) light gauge steel framing is a convenient construction technology; however, given the studs low axial capacity, has been mainly considered for short buildings in low seismicity regions. This paper investigates the bounds of this type of steel framing (in moderate and high seismicity areas) by designing the structures of three representative 5, 7 and 10-story buildings in order to examine their feasibility. The necessity of using built-up columns consisting of two or more sections is observed. The axial capacity of studs is estimated by code-type analyses. The critical buckling stress is determined with well-known closed-form expressions; as they do not contemplate the flexibility of the screwed connections (in built-up sections), the obtained results are complemented with those of Finite Strip Method and Generalized Beam Theory formulations.
Effects of postnatal exposure to mixtures of bisphenol A and phthalates on children’s IQ at 5 years of age: Mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) Study
Authors: Ham Da Jeong , Ha Mina , Park Hyesook , Hong Yun-Chul , Kim Yangho , Ha Eunhee , Bae Sanghyuk 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background

Early childhood is important for neurodevelopment, and exposure to endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates in this period may cause neurodevelopmental disorders and delays. The present study examined the association between exposure to mixtures of BPA and phthalates in early childhood and IQ at 5 years of age.

Methods

The Mother and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) study is a prospective birth cohort study conducted in Korea with 1751 pregnant women enrolled from 2006 to 2010. A total of 152 children was included in the analyses. We measured children’s urinary concentrations of metabolites of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (BPA, mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate, mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate, and mono-(2-ethyl-5-butyl) phthalate) at ages of 24 and 36 months. We evaluated the children’s IQ with the Korean Wechsler Intelligence Test at the age of 5 years. After adjusting for potential confounders, a multiple linear regression was conducted to examine the associations between individual endocrine-disrupting chemicals and the IQ of the children. Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regression and quantile-based g-computation were used to assess the association between IQ at age 5 and exposure to mixtures of BPA and phthalates.

Results

In the single-chemical analyses, mono-(2-ethyl-5-butyl) phthalate exposure at 36 months was adversely associated with children’s IQ (β = -4.93, 95% confidence interval (CI): -9.22, -0.64). In the WQS regression and quantile-based g-computation analyses, exposure to the mixture of BPA and phthalates was associated with lower IQ [β = -9.126 (P-value = 0.051) and β = -9.18 (P-value = 0.049), respectively]. The largest contributor to the overall association was exposure to mono-(2-ethyl-5-butyl) phthalate at 36 months.

Conclusions

In the present study, postnatal exposure to mixtures of BPA and phthalates was associated with decreased IQ of children at age 5.

Trial registration

Not applicable
Suitable habitats shifting toward human-dominated landscapes of Asian elephants in China
Authors: Yu Qiupeng , Hu Zhechang , Huang Cheng , Xu Tongmei , Onditi Kenneth Otieno , Li Xueyou , Jiang Xuelong 
Published: March 2023

Abstract

Although intensifying human activity in Asian elephants' natural habitats has led to gradual habitat changes, fragmentation, and contraction in recent decades, their population has continued to increase and disperse due to a series of conservation efforts, resulting in increased severe human-elephant conflicts. The habitat adaptation strategies of Asian elephants remain unclear. Here, we used the maximum entropy models to explore habitat selection strategies of Asian elephants at different spatial scales in Southwest China based on the occurrence data. Using habitat suitability predictions, we identified the key environmental, anthropogenic, and climatic variables influencing Asian elephants' habitat utilization. We also assessed the historical dispersal trend of Asian elephants and the overlap between suitable habitat ranges and human-dominated regions. The results showed that inherent topographic variables, such as elevation and slope, strongly influence the habitat selection of Asian elephants across spatial scales and that human activity influence is stronger at larger scales. There is currently approximately 17,744 km2 of suitable habitat and 25,590 km2 of sub-suitable habitat for Asian elephants in China, mainly in Xishuangbanna and central and south Pu'er, with 63.73% of these habitats overlapping human-dominated regions. Under the high-emissions climate change scenario, suitable and sub-suitable habitats of Asian elephants would shrink by 61% and 31% by the 2050s. In areas of high overlaps between suitable habitats of Asian elephants and human-dominated regions, strategies such as habitat restoration, construction of ecological corridors, and land use improvement could effectively alleviate human-elephant conflict and promote human-elephant coexistence.
Analysis of genomic copy number variation in 48 azoospermia patients with chromosomal abnormalities
Authors: liu yongjie , Shi Dongmei , Dai Liang , Zhang Fan , Wang Guoping 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background: To explore the copy number variation (CNV) of genome in azoospermia patients with chromosomal abnormalities, and to lay a foundation for elucidating the genetic factors of spermatogenesis.
Methods: 204 patients with azoospermia were analyzed by G banding karyotype analysis; The next generation sequencing technology (NGS) is used to detect CNV, screen out CNVs related genes, and determine by referring to the latest published data of human genome hg19 version, genome variation database (DGV), human chromosome imbalance and phenotype database (DECIPHER), online human Mendelian genetic database (OMIM), University of California Santa Cruz database (UCSC), PubMed and other public databases. All data are entered into EXCEL table, and the percentage and proportion of each indicator are statistically analyzed.
Results: Among 204 patients with azoospermia, 48 patients had chromosomal abnormalities (23.53%), of which 47, XXY (47.92%), 46, X, Yqh - (12.50%), 46, XY, 16qh+(6.25%) accounted for more than 5%; Chromosome abnormalities were found in 48 patients, including 43 patients with CNV, including 28 patients with 1 CNV, 11 patients with 2 CNVs, 2 patients with 3 CNVs, and 2 patients with 4 CNVs. The X chromosome (39.68%), Y chromosome (14.29%), and chromosome 15 (6.35%) accounted for more than 5% of the total; Among 63 CNVs, the fragment size was 0.10~2.38Mb, and 90 related genes were detected, including 26 deletions and 64 repeats.
Conclusion:G-banding karyotype analysis combined with NGS detection can provide more complete genetic evaluation for azoospermic patients, which is worth popularizing.
High throughput 13C-metabolic flux analysis of 3-hydroxypropionic acid producing Pichia pastoris reveals limited availability of acetyl-CoA and ATP due to tight control of the glycolytic flux
Authors: Fina Albert , Millard Pierre , Albiol Joan , Ferrer Pau , Heux Stephanie 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
Production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) through the malonyl-CoA pathway has yielded promising results in Pichia pastoris (Komagataella phaffii), demonstrating the potential of this cell factory to produce this platform chemical and other acetyl-CoA-derived products using glycerol as a carbon source. However, further metabolic engineering of the original P. pastoris 3-HP-producing strains resulted in unexpected outcomes, e.g. significantly lower product yield and/or growth rate. To gain understanding on the metabolic constraints underlying these observations, the fluxome of ten 3-HP-producing P. pastoris strains has been characterized using a high throughput 13C-metabolic flux analysis platform.
Results
Results indicate that the expression of the NADH kinase leads to a reduction in the fluxes of the pentose phosphate pathway reactions. Moreover, an increase in the pentose phosphate pathway fluxes was observed when the cytosolic acetyl-CoA pathway was overexpressed. Results also show that the tight control of the glycolytic flux hampers cell growth due to limited acetyl-CoA biosynthesis. When the cytosolic acetyl-CoA synthesis pathway was overexpressed, the cell growth increased, but the product yield decreased due to higher growth-associated ATP costs. Finally, the six most relevant strains were also cultured at pH 3.5 to characterize their fluxome. Similar results were obtained at pH 3.5 and pH 5.
Conclusions
The reported results provide valuable information on the adaptation of the fluxome of Pichia pastoris when genetic modifications are made to increase the availability of NADPH and cytosolic acetyl-CoA. Such knowledge can guide further metabolic engineering of these strains. Moreover, the first insights into the adaptation of P. pastoris to an acidic pH are also provided, which is of high interest for the downstream processing of carboxylic acids production.
Exploring sensory sensitivity, cortical excitability, and habituation using the pattern-reversal task across the episodic migraine spectrum: A case-control study
Authors: Marti-Marca Angela , Vilà-Balló Adrià , Cerdá-Company Xim , Ikumi Nara , Torres-Ferrus Marta , Caronna Edoardo , Gallardo Victor J , Alpuente Alicia , Torralba Mireia , Soto-Faraco Salvador , Pozo-Rosich Patricia 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
Migraine is a cyclic, neurosensory disorder characterized by recurrent headaches and altered sensory processing. In particular, hypersensitivity to visual stimuli, measured with questionnaires and sensory thresholds, as well as abnormal cortical excitability, and a lack of habituation, assessed with visual evoked potentials elicited by pattern-reversal stimulation, have been reported. Here, the goal was to assess sensory sensitivity, cortical excitability, and habituation using two experiments and determine whether factors such as age and/or disease severity may exert a modulatory influence on them.
Methods
Two similar experiments were carried out, the first comparing 24 young, episodic migraine patients and 28 healthy age- and gender-matched controls and the second 36 middle-aged, episodic migraine patients and 30 healthy age- and gender-matched controls. A neurologist confirmed the diagnoses. Migraine phases were obtained using eDiaries. Sensory sensitivity was assessed with the Sensory Perception Quotient and group comparisons were carried out. We obtained pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials and calculated the N1-P1 Peak-to-Peak amplitude. Two linear mixed-effects models were fitted to this data. The first model had Block (first block, last block) and Group as fixed factors, whereas the second model had Trial (all trials) and Group as fixed factors. Participant was included as a random factor in both. N1-P1 first block amplitude was used to assess cortical excitability and habituation was defined as a decrease of N1-P1 amplitude across Blocks/Trials. Both experiments were performed interictally.
Results
The final samples consisted of 18 patients with episodic migraine and 27 headache-free controls (first experiment) and 19 patients and 29 controls (second experiment). In both experiments, patients reported increased visual hypersensitivity on the Sensory Perception Quotient as compared to controls. Regarding N1-P1 peak-to-peak data, there was no main effect of Group, indicating no differences in cortical excitability between groups. Finally, significant main effects of both Block and Trial were found indicating normal habituation in both groups, regardless of age and headache frequency.
Conclusions
The results of this study yielded significant hypersensitivity in patients but similar habituation and cortical excitability, as compared to headache-free controls. Therefore, the mechanisms of sensory-attentional processing in response to PR stimulation may be mostly intact.
Implementation of Block-Based Diagonal and Quadrantal Symmetry type 2D-FIR Filter Architectures using DA Technique
Authors: R V. Srilatha , Juliet A. Vimala , Thuraka Esther Rani , Odugu Venkata Krishna 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
An efficient architecture of two-dimensional (2D) Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filters is required to process the images. The architectures implemented in VLSI design and optimization achieve better performance in terms of metrics such as power consumption, area, and delay. The 2D FIR filter architectures can be implemented using parallel or block processing to increase the throughput of the architecture and to prune the number of clock cycles required for image processing. The symmetry in the filter coefficients decreases the number of multipliers, whereas the multiplier block is very complex and a power hunger block in the filter architecture. In this work, two types of symmetry architectures such as diagonal symmetry and quadrantal symmetry filters are proposed. The remaining multipliers required for the filter architecture are replaced by Distribute Arithmetic (DA) logic. The memory-based DA reduces the LUT size and hence the area, power, and delay are reduced in the filter architecture. Block processing, symmetry, and DA concepts are introduced here to optimize the 2D FIR filter architecture. The proposed architectures are implemented in 45nm CMOS technology using Cadence Genus Synthesis tools and area, delay, power, Area-Delay Product (ADP), and Power-Dealy Product (PDP) results are obtained and compared with state-of-the-art works. The ADP value of the proposed diagonal symmetry architecture is decreased by a maximum of 73.35%, and a minimum of 28.9%, and the PDP value is decreased by a maximum of 87%, and a minimum of 21.27% when compared to the existing works. The ADP and PDP values of the proposed quadrantal symmetry are decreased by a minimum of 28.9%, and 27.74% when compared to the works, respectively.
Acetone O-(2-naphthylsulfonyl)oxime Alleviates the Toxic Effects of Cadmium Stress in Maize Seedlings by Increasing the Phenolic Substance Content and Antioxidant System Activity
Authors: YETİŞSİN Fuat , AHNEAK Esin 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that can have toxic effects on plants even in trace amounts in the soil. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the role of exogenous O-(2-naphthylsulfonyl)oxime (ANSO) in maize plants under Cd stress. For this purpose, the following experimental groups were formed: The control group will be kept in distilled water for 18 hours, the second group will be kept in ANSO (0.3 mM) for 6 hours and then in distilled water for 12 hours, the third group will be in distilled water for 6 hours and then in Cd solution (100 μM) for 12 hours, fourth group ANSO (0.3 mM) for 6 hours, followed by 12 hours of Cd solution (100 µM). When ANSO+Cd application is compared to Cd, the Cd content increased 7.8 times, while the ABA content decreased. RWC content, which was reduced by Cd stress, was not changed by ANSO pre-treatment. Chlorophyll content, which decreased with Cd treatment, increased with ANSO+Cd treatment. While the carotenoid content increased with Cd application, it increased much with ANSO+Cd application. The H2O2 content and lipid peroxidation increased in the plant with Cd stress and decreased with ANSO pre-treatment. With ANSO+Cd treatment, GPX activity decreased compared to Cd treatment, but CAT and APX values increased. ANSO pre-treatment did not significantly change SOD activity. Cd application increased proline content compared to control, but proline content decreased compared to Cd with ANSO pre-treatment. In ANSO+CD application, ascorbic acid, cinnamic acid and catechol values increased compared to the values in plants treated with Cd alone, but the trans-coumaric acid value decreased. As a result, it can be said that ANSO pre-application to maize seedlings under Cd stress provides the preservation of the ion balance of the cells by chelating Cd+2 ions in the cell wall and vacuoles.