bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Combinatorial Therapeutic Potential of Stem Cells and Benzimidazol Derivatives for the Reduction of Liver Fibrosis
Authors: Iqbal Maryam , Shams Sulaiman , Rafiq Huma , Khan Momin , Khan Shahid , Sadique Khattak Umer , Afridi Sahib Gul , Bibi Fehmida , Abdulkareem Angham Abdulrhman , Naseer Muhammad Imran 
Published: February 2023

(1) Background: Liver fibrosis is currently one of the top ten causes of death worldwide. Stem cells transplantation using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is an alternative therapy which is used in the place of organ transplant, due to the incapacity of stem cells to endure oxidative stress in the damage site, thus affecting the healing process. The present study aimed to enhance the therapeutic potential of MSCs using combined therapy, along with the novel synthetic compounds of benzimidazol derivatives. (2) Methods: Eighteen compound series (benzimidazol derivatives) were screened against liver fibrosis using an in vitro CCl4-induced injury model on cultured hepatocytes. IC50 values were calculated on the bases of LDH assay and cell viability assay. (3) Results: Among the eighteen compounds, compounds (10), (14) and (18) were selected on the basis of IC50 value, and compound (10) was the most potent and had the lowest IC50 value in the LDH assay (8.399 ± 0.23 uM) and cell viability assay (4.73 ± 0.37 uM). Next, these compounds were combined with MSCs using an in vitro hepatocytes injury culture and in vivo rat fibrotic model. The effect of the MSCs + compounds treatment on injured hepatocytes was evaluated using LDH assay, cell viability assay, GSH assay and real-time PCR analysis and immuno-staining for caspase-3. Significant reductions in LDH level, caspase-3 and apoptotic marker genes were noted in MSCs + compounds-treated injured hepatocytes. In vivo data also showed the increased homing of the MSCs, along with compounds after transplantation. Real-time PCR analysis and TUNEL assay results also support our study. (4) Conclusions: It was concluded that compounds (10), (14) and (18) can be used in combination with MSCs to reduce liver fibrosis.
Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of the R2R3-MYB Subfamily in Brassica napus
Authors: Luo Dingfan , Mei Desheng , Wei Wenliang , Liu Jia 
Published: February 2023

The R2R3-MYB sub-family proteins are composed of most members of MYB (v-Myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog) protein, a plant-specific transcription factor (TF) that is classified into four classes depending on the number of MYB repeats. R2R3-MYB TFs are involved in physiological and biochemical processes. However, the functions of the Brassica napus R2R3-MYB genes are still mainly unknown. In this study, 35 Brassica napus MYB (BnaMYB) genes were screened in the genome of Brassica napus, and details about their physical and chemical characteristics, evolutionary relationships, chromosome locations, gene structures, three-dimensional protein structures, cis-acting promoter elements, and gene duplications were uncovered. The BnaMYB genes have undergone segmental duplications and positive selection pressure, according to evolutionary studies. The same subfamilies have similar intron–exon patterns and motifs, according to the genes’ structure and conserved motifs. Additionally, through cis-element analysis, many drought-responsive and other stress-responsive cis-elements have been found in the promoter regions of the BnaMYB genes. The expression of the BnaMYB gene displays a variety of tissue-specific patterns. Ten lignin-related genes were chosen for drought treatment. Our research screened four genes that showed significant upregulation under drought stress, and thus may be important drought-responsive genes. The findings lay a new foundation for understanding the complex mechanisms of BnaMYB in multiple developmental stages and pathways related to drought stress in rapeseed.
Multi-Task Classification of Physical Activity and Acute Psychological Stress for Advanced Diabetes Treatment
Authors: Abdel-Latif Mahmoud , Askari Mohammad Reza , Rashid Mudassir M. , Park Minsun , Sharp Lisa , Quinn Laurie , Cinar Ali 
Published: February 2023

Wearable sensor data can be integrated and interpreted to improve the treatment of chronic conditions, such as diabetes, by enabling adjustments in treatment decisions based on physical activity and psychological stress assessments. The challenges in using biological analytes to frequently detect physical activity (PA) and acute psychological stress (APS) in daily life necessitate the use of data from noninvasive sensors in wearable devices, such as wristbands. We developed a recurrent multi-task deep neural network (NN) with long-short-term-memory architecture to integrate data from multiple sensors (blood volume pulse, skin temperature, galvanic skin response, three-axis accelerometers) and simultaneously detect and classify the type of PA, namely, sedentary state, treadmill run, stationary bike, and APS, such as non-stress, emotional anxiety stress, mental stress, and estimate the energy expenditure (EE). The objective was to assess the feasibility of using the multi-task recurrent NN (RNN) rather than independent RNNs for detection and classification of AP and APS. The multi-task RNN achieves comparable performance to independent RNNs, with the multi-task RNN having F1 scores of 98.00% for PA and 98.97% for APS, and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.728 calhr.kg for EE estimation for testing data. The independent RNNs have F1 scores of 99.64% for PA and 98.83% for APS, and an RMSE of 0.666 calhr.kg for EE estimation. The results indicate that a multi-task RNN can effectively interpret the signals from wearable sensors. Additionally, we developed individual and multi-task extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) for separate and simultaneous classification of PA types and APS types. Multi-task XGBoost achieved F1 scores of 99.89% and 98.31% for the classification of PA types and APS types, respectively, while the independent XGBoost achieved F1 scores of 99.68% and 96.77%, respectively. The results indicate that both multi-task RNN and XGBoost can be used for the detection and classification of PA and APS without loss of performance with respect to individual separate classification systems. People with diabetes can achieve better outcomes and quality of life by including physical activity and psychological stress assessments in treatment decision-making.
The Synergic Effect of Erythrosine and Gold Nanoparticles in Photodynamic Inactivation
Authors: Shi Shih-Chen , Yang Shu-Wen , Xu Yu-Chen , Lu Fu-I 
Published: February 2023

Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is a process that uses photosensitizing substances to produce reactive oxygen species. This is achieved by exposing photosensitizers to specific wavelengths of light and causing oxidative damage in cells. This sterilization technique is commonly utilized and has been extensively investigated owing to its environmentally friendly and inert characteristics. In this study, erythrosine was selected as the photosensitizer and a green light-emitting diode was used as the light source. Due to their excellent biocompatibility, gold nanoparticles were added; these acted as a carrier for erythrosine, linking it to Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells. Colony-forming unit plate counting and LIVE/DEAD bacterial viability tests were performed. A synergic PDI effect of the photosensitizer, light, and gold nanoparticles was demonstrated. After irradiation for 9 min, a bacterial death rate higher than 97% was achieved. Finally, to study the mechanism of E. coli death, we conducted reactive oxygen species tests by adding different scavengers, and concluded that the bacterial death was due to the production of singlet oxygen (Type II reaction).
Characterization of electrical properties of β-Ga2O3 epilayer and bulk GaAs using terahertz time-domain ellipsometry
Authors: Iwamoto Toshiyuki , Agulto Verdad C. , Liu Shuang , Wang Youwei , Mag-usara Valynn Katrine , Fujii Takashi , Goto Ken , Kumagai Yoshinao , Nakajima Makoto 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
The electrical properties of beta-gallium oxide (β-Ga2O3) and gallium arsenide semiconductors were characterized using the emerging terahertz time-domain ellipsometry (THz-TDE) technique. The dielectric and conductivity properties were obtained from the complex ratio of the measured p- and s-polarized THz pulses reflected from the samples. The carrier concentration and mobility were then deduced using the Drude model, and the results showed good accuracy. This work demonstrates THz-TDE as a promising tool for characterizing semiconductors, especially those with high carrier concentrations and significant absorption in the THz region.
“Sport knowledge creates value” Old age on the move: physical activity to promote physical and cognitive health in old age
Authors: Voelcker-Rehage Claudia 
Published: February 2023

Against the background of demographic change, health in old age is an important topic. This applies not solely to healthy older adults living independently but also to residents of nursing homes. Physical activity and exercise are essential determinants of maintaining health throughout the entire life span. In this regard, physical activity and exercise are central to physical as well as cognitive health. However, not all exercise programs are universally effective. There are differential effects on different bodily systems and interindividual differences in responses to physical activity or exercise. Therefore, tailored exercise programs that meet the individual needs of older adults are increasingly in focus.
This talk will review research on physical activity in older adults concerning various dependent variables, such as physical fitness, motor function, cognition, and dual-tasking. Additionally, findings for different target groups will be presented, from healthy older adults to the very old and multimorbid in long-term care settings. The aim is to highlight how physical activity and exercise can contribute to physical and cognitive health in old age. Particular emphasis will be placed on individualization and studies conducted in scenarios close to everyday life.
Agreement and reliability of lower limb muscle architecture measurements using a portable ultrasound device
Authors: Ritsche Paul , Schmid Reto , Franchi Martino , Faude Oliver 
Published: February 2023

Although ultrasonography is commonly used to assess muscle architecture, high-end ultrasonography devices lack in portability and are expensive. Recently, ultrasonography devices consisting solely of a probe, an app, and/or a mobile display were introduced. These devices have lower acquisition costs than high-end devices and demonstrate higher portability. Portable systems would allow for cost-effective, on-site athlete or patient screenings of muscle architecture as well as diagnosis of pathologies or injury. Furthermore, portable systems can be easily transported to allow for uncomplicated assessment of athletes belonging to different teams or patients in different hospital units. Nonetheless, the reliability of portable systems and the comparability to high-end devices for muscle architecture assessment have not been investigated.
We investigated the agreement and reliability of a portable and handheld ultrasonography system for muscle architecture measurements in human lower limb muscles. We acquired images of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL) and gastrocnemius medialis (GM) in 36 active healthy participants (15 female, 21 male) at 50% of muscle length using the handheld Lumify (L12-4, linear array 37 mm, Philips Healthcare, Amsterdam, Netherlands) and a high-end laboratory device (ACUSON Juniper, linear-array 54 mm, 12L3, SIEMENS Healthineers, Erlangen, Germany). Muscle length was determined as distance between the proximal and distal muscle tendon junction. We compared measurements of muscle fascicle length, pennation angle and thickness. To assess inter-session reliability of the Lumify system, participants were measured twice within 1 week.
Comparing RF architecture measurements of both devices resulted in intra-class correlations (ICCs) ranging from 0.46–0.82 and standardized mean difference (SMDs) ranging from −0.45–0.05. For VL, ICCs ranged from 0.60–0.89 and SMDs ranged from −0.11–0.13. ICCs and SMDs for the GM ranged from 0.82–0.86 and −0.07–0.07. Calculating inter-session reliability for RF resulted in ICCs ranging from 0.44–0.76 and SMDs ranging from −0.38–0.15. For VL, ICCs and SMDs ranged from 0.57–0.75 and −0.13–0.02. ICCs for GM ranged from 0.75–0.92 and SMDs ranged from −0.15–0.16. The highest agreement (ICC ≥ 0.82) and reliability (ICC ≥ 0.75) across all muscles was demonstrated for the measurement of muscle thickness.
The Lumify system was comparable to a high-end device and reliable for GM measurements. Nevertheless, agreement and reliability were lower for the RF and VL. Thus, when interpreting longitudinal observed changes in muscle architecture assessed with the Lumify system, measurement errors should be considered. Future investigations should consider including different participant populations, comparing the reliability of different portable systems for muscle architecture assessment as well as including different muscle groups.
The effects of physical activity and social interaction on executive functions - Better together?
Authors: Zehnder Cäcilia , Anzeneder Sofia , Wallman-Jones Amie , Schmidt Mirko , Benzing Valentin 
Published: February 2023

Introduction
Research has shown that acute physical activity (PA) enhances executive functions (EFs). However, it is still not fully understood, what underlying mechanism and associated PA characteristics are responsible for these effects. Derived from unsystematic investigations, social interaction (SI) is proposed as one factor that might positively influence these effects. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of PA, SI, and their combination on EFs.
Methods
A total of 96 sports students aged 17 to 26 years (M = 20.51, SD = 1.73; 50% female) underwent four conditions in a 2×2 within-subject design that varied in terms of PA (physically active exergame/non-physically active exergame) or SI (socially interactive exergame/non-socially interactive exergame). EFs were measured using the computer-based Flanker Task during the baseline assessment and immediately after the four intervention conditions.
Results
Two-way repeated measures ANOVAs showed that participants’ EFs benefited from PA in terms of faster response time (F(1,95) = 19.34, p < .001, ƞ2p = .169) and lower error rate (F(1,95) = 15.43, p < .001, ƞ2p = .140). Concerning SI, results showed that although participants responded faster (F(1,95) = 4.11, p = .045, ƞ2p = .041), they also made significantly more errors (F(1,95) = 15.43, p < .001, ƞ2p = .140) after socially interactive compared to non-socially interactive activities. No significant interaction effects could be demonstrated (p > .050) neither for reaction time (ƞ2p = .036) nor for error rate (ƞ2p = .005).
Discussion
This study confirmed previous evidence that PA leads to better EFs. Results are in line with the cognitive stimulation hypothesis, which assumes that PA preactivates specific brain areas relevant to higher-order cognitive processes. Concerning socially interactive activities, results show speed-accuracy trade-offs. Besides highlighting the importance of PA for enhancing EFs, this result indicates that SI during exergaming may lead to cognitive overload, resulting in lower performance. Further studies are needed on the effect and underlying mechanisms of different characteristics, such as SI, to promote EFs.
Inequality and diversity in sport - Developments and perspectives
Authors: Lamprecht Markus , Nagel Siegfried 
Published: February 2023

Despite the steady increase in the number of people active in sport over the past decades, certain population groups are still underrepresented in sport and especially in sport clubs, e.g. people with a low level of education and income, with a migration background or disabilities. In view of the diverse functions attributed to sport involvement, such as health promotion, transmission of norms and values, and social integration, analyses of social inequalities with regard to sport participation are of particular relevance. The symposium organized by the Research Committee for the Sociology of Sport aims, on the one hand, to highlight current developments and relevant factors with regard to the participation of different population groups in sport and, on the other hand, to present possibilities in the sense of diversity management of how sport organizations can facilitate access to sport. This will provide a knowledge base on the question of how to reduce barriers to access in sport and ensure greater equality.
The first two presentations highlight developments with regard to social differences in the sport behavior of the Swiss population. Bürgi and Lamprecht analyze the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic and Klostermann et al. examine historical changes in sport behavior. The two other contributions look at specific target groups and the importance of structural conditions. Klenk et al. focus on the social participation of children with cognitive impairment in inclusive school sport. Buser and Nagel show how inclusive measures for people with a migration background are structurally anchored in soccer clubs.
The impact of the Covid19 pandemic on social and regional differences in the sports behaviour of the Swiss population
Authors: Bürgi Rahel , Lamprecht Markus 
Published: February 2023

The Covid19 pandemic and the accompanying measures between March 2020 and March 2022 had a strong impact on the sport system. The various restrictions on sports activities affected not only school sports, but also clubs and fitness centres, as well as competitive sports in general. At the same time, a considerable increase in unorganised outdoor sports activities and a shift in sport preferences could be observed.
In order to assess and quantify the short- to medium-term changes in the sporting behaviour of the Swiss population due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the Federal Office of Sport commissioned a representative population survey. For this purpose, 2,130 people aged 15 and over were surveyed in the summer of 2022 in the three national languages German, French and Italian by means of an online questionnaire. To facilitate comparisons over time, the survey was based on the survey instrument of the "Sport Switzerland" studies (cf. Lamprecht et al., 2020), with additional questions on the assessment and management of the Covid19 pandemic.
For the present paper, on the one hand, results on the changes in sports behaviour during the Covid19 pandemic will be presented and it will be shown how these changes affected sports activity in the different settings in the medium term. On the other hand, the consequences of these changes on social and regional differences in sports behaviour (cf. Lamprecht & Nagel, 2022) will be examined. Did the Covid19 pandemic and the accompanying measures in the field of sport tend to increase or rather level out the differences according to age, gender, social status and place of residence? Did the pandemic lead to a situation in which population groups who were only sparingly and irregularly active in sport were increasingly discouraged from taking part in sport, while those who were more active in sport found it easier to switch to other types of sport and settings? With regard to the regions, it will be investigated whether a connection can be found between compliance with the Corona measures and the changes in sports behaviour.
Finally, the question will be raised as to how lasting the measured changes and shifts are likely to be and how an increase in social inequality in the field of sport could be countered.
References
Lamprecht, M., & Nagel, S. (2022). Sportsoziologie: Einführung. Nomos.
Lamprecht, M., Bürgi, R., & Stamm, H. (2020). Sport Schweiz 2020: Sportaktivität und Sportinteresse der Schweizer Bevölkerung. Bundesamt für Sport BASPO.
The association between physical behavior, affective states, and contextual factors: Using ambulatory assessment to characterize moderating effects
Authors: Timm Irina , Reichert Markus , Ebner-Priemer Ulrich , Giurgiu Marco 
Published: February 2023

Introduction
Physical behavior is a key lifestyle factor in regulating and preventing diseases across the lifespan. Researchers identified affective, cognitive, and contextual factors like weather conditions, as significant contributors in determining if individuals are physically active. However, there is scarce empirical evidence about potential associations between physical behavior and affective states influenced by weather conditions in daily life. Therefore, we investigated the within-subject association between momentary affective states and physical behavior, and weather conditions and physical behavior. Further, we additionally explored if weather conditions moderated the within-subject association between momentary affective states and subsequent physical behavior.
Methods
Utilizing ambulatory assessment, 79 participants completed electronic diaries about their affective states (i.e., valence, energetic arousal, and calmness) up to six times a day over five days, and their physical behavior (i.e., physical activity and sedentariness) was simultaneously recorded via accelerometers. Weather conditions (i.e., temperature and precipitation) recorded near participants’ locations served as moderators in the multilevel analyses.
Results
We showed, that the association of affective states and physical activity was moderated by temperature. Higher temperatures enhanced the positive effects of valence on physical activity (β = .001, p = .023) and attenuated the negative effects of calmness on physical activity (β = .001, p = .021). Moreover, higher temperatures enhanced the positive effects of valence on reduced sedentary behavior (β = -0.011, p = .043). In addition, we revealed a significant positive association between temperature, as a momentary weather condition, and physical activity (β = 0.025; p = .015). Furthermore, we confirmed earlier findings associating affective states with physical behavior. Increased valence and energetic arousal were positively associated with physical activity (β = 0.007; p < .001), whereas calmness predicted lower levels of physical activity (β = -0.006; p < .001). Higher levels of calmness showed a positive association with sedentary behavior (β = 0.054; p = .003).
Conclusion
Moderating effects, such as higher temperatures enhancing the positive effects of valence on PA, provide mechanistic real-life insights as a basis for future health technologies. Just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAI) offer the possibility to incorporate weather conditions and allow triggering individuals within their preferred contextual condition to promote physical activity. Such personalized real-time systems have recently been promoted by the WHO as most promising.