bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bison alter the northern Yellowstone ecosystem by breaking aspen saplings
Authors: Painter Luke E. , Beschta Robert L. , Ripple William J. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe American bison (Bison bison) is a species that strongly interacts with its environment, yet the effects of this large herbivore on quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) have received little study. We documented bison breaking the stems of aspen saplings (young aspen >2 m tall and ≤5 cm in diameter at breast height) and examined the extent of this effect in northern Yellowstone National Park (YNP). Low densities of Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis) after about 2004 created conditions conducive for new aspen recruitment in YNP's northern ungulate winter range (northern range). We sampled aspen saplings at local and landscape scales, using random sampling plots in 87 randomly selected aspen stands. Across the YNP northern range, we found that 18% of sapling stems had been broken. The causal attribution to bison was supported by multiple lines of evidence: (1) most broken saplings were in areas of high bison and low elk density; (2) saplings were broken in summer when elk were not foraging on them; (3) we directly observed bison breaking aspen saplings; and (4) mixed‐effects modeling showed a positive association between scat density of bison and the proportion of saplings broken. In a stand heavily used by bison, most aspen saplings had been broken, and portions of the stand were cleared of saplings that were present in previous sampling in 2012. Bison numbers increased more than fourfold between 2004 and 2015, and their ecosystem effects have similarly increased, limiting and in some places reversing the nascent aspen recovery. This situation is further complicated by political constraints that prevent bison from dispersing to areas outside the park. Thus, one important conservation goal, the preservation of bison, is affecting another long‐term conservation goal, the recovery of aspen and other deciduous woody species in northern Yellowstone.
An activity recognition system at home based on illuminance sensors
Authors: Matsubara Hiroyuki 
Published: August 2023

AbstractA social issue that leads to the safety and security of people is the network that monitors the safety of people living alone in remote areas. Various research and developments of indoor human activity recognition using IoT sensor nodes have been conducted in recent years. In this research, we focus on turning on and off indoor lighting and propose an activity recognition system at home using an illuminance sensor. An IoT sensor node with a built‐in illuminance sensor is attached to the wall near the indoor lighting equipment. The living activities of people in the room are estimated from changes in the illuminance. We assume a significant change in the illuminance of the indoor lighting is observed at least once a day at the sampling interval of the IoT sensor node. In that case, it is possible to estimate the operation of the indoor lighting due to daily activities and to confirm the safety of people living alone in remote areas. The activity recognition system was evaluated for a total of 380 days, excluding the missing period. The estimation of indoor lighting manipulation by daily activities was accurate for 376 days. Precision, Recall, and F‐measure score values, which are evaluation indices for activity estimation, were 94.9%, 98.2%, and 96.5%, respectively.
Vagus nerve stimulation‐induced stromal cell‐derived factor‐l alpha participates in angiogenesis and repair of infarcted hearts
Authors: Wang Yan , Liu Yun , Li Xing‐yuan , Yao Lu‐yuan , Mbadhi MagdaleenaNaemi , Chen Shao‐Juan , Lv Yan‐xia , Bao Xin , Chen Long , Chen Shi‐You , Zhang Jing‐xuan , Wu Yan , Lv Jing , Shi Liu‐liu , Tang Jun‐ming 
Published: August 2023

AbstractAimsWe aim to explore the role and mechanism of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in coronary endothelial cells and angiogenesis in infarcted hearts.Methods and resultsSeven days after rat myocardial infarction (MI) was prepared by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery, the left cervical vagus nerve was treated with electrical stimulation 1 h after intraperitoneal administration of the α7‐nicotinic acetylcholine inhibitor mecamylamine or the mAChR inhibitor atropine or 3 days after local injection of Ad‐shSDF‐1α into the infarcted heart. Cardiac tissue acetylcholine (ACh) and serum ACh, tumour necrosis factor α (TNF‐α), interleukin 1β (IL‐1β) and interleukin 6 (IL‐6) levels were detected by ELISA to determine whether VNS was successful. An inflammatory injury model in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) was established by lipopolysaccharide and identified by evaluating TNF‐α, IL‐1β and IL‐6 levels and tube formation. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed to evaluate CD31‐positive vessel density and stromal cell‐derived factor‐l alpha (SDF‐1α) expression in the MI heart in vivo and the expression and distribution of SDF‐1α, C‐X‐C motif chemokine receptor 4 and CXCR7 in HCAECs in vitro. Western blotting was used to detect the levels of SDF‐1α, V‐akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog (AKT), phosphorylated AKT (pAKT), specificity protein 1 (Sp1) and phosphorylation of Sp1 in HCAECs. Left ventricular performance, including left ventricular systolic pressure, left ventricular end‐diastolic pressure and rate of the rise and fall of ventricular pressure, should be evaluated 28 days after VNS treatment. VNS was successfully established for MI therapy with decreases in serum TNF‐α, IL‐1β and IL‐6 levels and increases in cardiac tissue and serum ACh levels, leading to increased SDF‐1α expression in coronary endothelial cells of MI hearts, triggering angiogenesis of MI hearts with increased CD31‐positive vessel density, which was abolished by the m/nAChR inhibitors mecamylamine and atropine or knockdown of SDF‐1α by shRNA. ACh promoted SDF‐1α expression and its distribution along with the branch of the formed tube in HCAECs, resulting in an increase in the number of tubes formed in HCAECs. ACh increased the levels of pAKT and phosphorylation of Sp1 in HCAECs, resulting in inducing SDF‐1α expression, and the specific effects could be abolished by mecamylamine, atropine, the PI3K/AKT blocker wortmannin or the Sp1 blocker mithramycin. Functionally, VNS improved left ventricular performance, which could be abolished by Ad‐shSDF‐1α.ConclusionsVNS promoted angiogenesis to repair the infarcted heart by inducing SDF‐1α expression and redistribution along new branches during angiogenesis, which was associated with the m/nAChR‐AKT‐Sp1 signalling pathway.
Development and validation of a peripheral cell ratio and lactate score for differentiating status epilepticus from prolonged psychogenic nonepileptic seizures
Authors: Tan Tracie H.L. , Sanfilippo Paul , Colman Blake , Perucca Piero , Kwan Patrick , O'Brien Terence J. , Monif Mastura 
Published: August 2023

AbstractObjectiveDifferentiating status epilepticus (SE) from prolonged psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (pPNES) can be difficult clinically. We aimed to define the utility of peripheral cell counts, cell ratios, and lactate levels in distinguishing SE from pPNES.MethodsRetrospective two‐center study investigating the sensitivity and specificity of acute (≤12 h of event offset) peripheral cell counts, cell ratios (neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil–monocyte ratio, monocyte–lymphocyte ratio, platelet–lymphocyte ratio, systemic immune‐inflammatory index [SII], systemic inflammatory response index [SIRI]), and lactate levels in differentiating SE from pPNES. Patients were identified from two tertiary hospitals, with one forming the development cohort and the other the validation cohort. Using generalized additive models to generate biomarker vs time curves, optimal blood collection times were defined for set parameters. Three diagnostic scores combining neutrophil count, SII, or SIRI with lactate levels were developed and validated in separate cohorts.ResultsFor the development cohort, 1262 seizure‐like events were reviewed and 79 SE and 44 pPNES events were included. For the validation cohort, 241 events were reviewed and 20 SE and 11 pPNES events were included. Individually, the biomarkers generally had low sensitivity and reasonable specificity for differentiating SE from pPNES, with the neutrophil count, SIRI, and SII performing best with sensitivities of 0.65–0.84, specificities of 0.64–0.89, and ROC AUCs of 0.78–0.79. Lactate levels peaked at 60 min, while cell counts and ratios peaked after 240 min. Combining early peaking lactate levels and later peaking neutrophil count, SIRI or SII resulted in three scores that improved predictive potential with sensitivities of between 0.75 and 0.79, specificities between 0.93 and 1.00, and ROC AUCs of 0.89–0.91.SignificanceLactate levels peak early post‐SE, whereas cell counts and ratios do so later. The differing post‐event time profiles of lactate levels vs neutrophil count, SIRI, and SII allow incorporation into three separate scores which can assist in differentiating SE from pPNES.
Evaluation of the lodging resistance and the selection of identification indexes of maize inbred lines
Authors: Zheng Yunxiao , Hou Peng , Jia Xiaoyan , Zhu Liying , Zhao Yongfeng , Song Weibin , Song Wei , Guo Jinjie 
Published: August 2023

AbstractLodging is one of the main problems affecting the maize production. In this study, 220 maize inbred lines were used for determining the lodging resistance. Analysis methods such as the correlation analysis, the principal component analysis, the cluster analysis, the stepwise discriminate analysis, and the ridge regression analysis were deployed for data interpretation. The results of the correlation analysis showed that 17 characters were correlated with varying degrees. Strong and positive correlations between TID and FID (r = 0.910), TIL and FIL (r = 0.898), NSVB and NLVB (r = 0.775), ASVB and ALVB (r = 0.746), and LC and HC (r = 0.656) were observed. The first six principal components explained 79.13% of the phenotypic variation of the 17 characters, with the contribution rates being 20.77%, 18.12%, 14.09%, 11.17%, 8.66%, and 6.32%, respectively. Five categories were clustered in the 220 inbred lines. The result of stepwise discriminate analysis showed that 211 inbred lines were correctly discriminated and the identification rate was 95.91%, and 9 inbred lines were incorrectly discriminated and the identification rate was 4.09%, which meant that the result of cluster analysis was accurate and reliable. The stalk bending strength, ear height, cellulose content, number of small vascular bundles, and cross‐sectional area were selected, and the regression model of lodging resistance of inbred lines was established by using the ridge regression method. Thirty of the 220 inbred lines, including R1656, 4003, and LD61, showed the highest lodging resistance. The results provide a reference for the selection of lodging‐resistant germplasm resources in breeding for the lodging resistance hybrids.
Collaborative validation of the quantification method for 57 allergens in ready to inject fragrance samples
Authors: Pérès Christophe , Corbi Elise , David Nathalie , Masson Jérôme , Cicchetti Esmeralda , Kupfermann Nikolai , Kuropka Gryta , Tacnet Nicolas , Roach Nick , Delacôte Anne‐Marie , Gervais Gaël , Schippa Christine , Ventura Merixtell , Merle Philippe 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThis publication presents the collaborative work conducted in CEN/TC 347/WG4 ‘Fragrance and colophony’ working group to evaluate the robustness of a GC–MS analytical methodology to quantify the extended list of 57 fragrance allergens in ‘ready to inject’ samples. The intention of this group was to provide an updated and consensual standard for the quantification of the extended allergen list. The analytical approach was based on the similar methodology than the original one developed for the 26 allergens, using a universal GC–MS simple quadrupole instrument. A ring test was performed among the different end‐user experiences of the CEN group to test the method on a representative fragrance matrix. Accuracy profile method was used to validate the analytical method within the 2–240 mg/kg concentration range. Thanks to the use of commercial standard mixes and dedicated automation of decisional tree for data treatment, 89% of tolerance intervals of targeted allergens were included into the acceptance limits in the whole 2–240 mg/kg concentration range. The objective of this article was to provide some complementary data to implement the NF EN 16274 standard in an analytical laboratory and to highlight the inherent difficulties linked to extended data treatment and complexity for the recovery of low concentration analytes and potential coelutions in a wide diversity of ready‐to inject samples.
Understanding the concurrence of environmental characteristics in Latino youth: A person‐centered approach
Authors: Gomez Christopher , Baca Selena A. , Ryder Annie , Gudiño Omar G. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe current study aimed to identify profiles of youth presenting with a unique combination of environmental characteristics and understand the differential relationship between profile membership, anxiety, and depression symptoms. Data were drawn from 158 Latino youth between the ages of 11 and 13. Youth provided information on community violence exposure, acculturative stress, familial and peer support, and parental supervision. Main analyses included Latent Profile Analysis and Multivariate Analysis of Variance. Support for a four‐profile model was found. Profiles are distinguished by mean levels of community violence exposure, acculturative stress, familial and peer support, and parental supervision. Profile membership was significantly associated with anxiety and depression, separately. Those belonging to the profile with the highest levels of environmental risk reported the highest levels of anxiety and depression. Findings contribute to a personalized understanding of risk and protective experiences in the environment for Latino youth.
Lipoteichoic acid inhibits osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption via interruption of gelsolin‐actin dissociation
Authors: Kwon Yeongkag , Yang Jihyun , Park Ok‐Jin , Park Chaeyeon , Kim Jiseon , Lee Dongwook , Yun Cheol‐Heui , Han Seung Hyun 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBone resorption can be caused by excessive differentiation and/or activation of bone‐resorbing osteoclasts. While microbe‐associated molecular patterns can influence the differentiation and activation of bone cells, little is known about the role of lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a major cell wall component of Gram‐positive bacteria, in the regulation of bone metabolism. In this study, we investigated the effect of LTA on bone metabolism using wild‐type Staphylococcus aureus and the LTA‐deficient mutant strain. LTA‐deficient S. aureus induced higher bone loss and osteoclast differentiation than wild‐type S. aureus. LTA isolated from S. aureus (SaLTA) inhibited osteoclast differentiation from committed osteoclast precursors in the presence of various osteoclastogenic factors by downregulating the expression of NFATc1. Remarkably, SaLTA attenuated the osteoclast differentiation from committed osteoclast precursors of TLR2−/− or MyD88−/− mice and from the committed osteoclast precursors transfected with paired immunoglobulin‐like receptor B‐targeting siRNA. SaLTA directly interacted with gelsolin, interrupting the gelsolin‐actin dissociation which is a critical process for osteoclastogenesis. Moreover, SaLTA suppressed the mRNA expression of dendritic cell‐specific transmembrane protein, ATPase H+ transporting V0 subunit D2, and Integrin, which encode proteins involved in cell‐cell fusion of osteoclasts. Notably, LTAs purified from probiotics, including Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, and Lactobacillus species, also suppressed Pam2CSK4‐ or RANKL‐induced osteoclast differentiation. Taken together, these results suggest that LTAs have anti‐resorptive activity through the inhibition of osteoclastogenesis by interfering with the gelsolin‐actin dissociation and may be used as effective therapeutic agents for the prevention or treatment of inflammatory bone diseases.
Antibody response following the fourth SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine dose during the Omicron wave in Brazil
Authors: Silva Maria Francilene Souza , de Oliveira Fátima de Cássia Evangelista , Pinto Ana Carolina M. Dinelly , Luciano Maria Claudia dos S. , Garcia Max Moreira Lizano , Araújo Fernanda Montenegro de C. , Fonseca Marcela H. Gambim 
Published: August 2023

AbstractWe investigated the impact of the fourth dose with ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 (AstraZeneca) in the humoral immune response to SARS‐CoV‐2 during a 9‐month follow‐up period in which Omicron was the predominant variant in Brazil. IgG for the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins were analyzed in samples collected before and after the fourth dose. All participants were tested monthly for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection by RT‐qPCR. The antibody response induced by the fourth dose of the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine was evaluated and compared with the response induced by the second and third doses. The additional antibody response to the viral S protein after the fourth dose was smaller than those after the third vaccine dose. In contrast, an increase in the N IgG levels could be observed after the fourth dose compared to other vaccine doses. In the comparison of the antibody response before and after the fourth dose, an increase in both S‐and‐N IgG was noted, mainly in the positive qPCR group. We did not observe a significant decline in IgG levels after the fourth dose, as observed after the second and third doses, therefore, a sustained humoral response to both S and N proteins seems to be achieved.
Intercalation of silsesquioxane surfactant in layered double hydroxide for silicone rubber composites: Enhancing interfacial interactions toward improvement of mechanical, thermal, and gas barrier properties
Authors: Li Dongxia , Lin Qiong , Liu Lingli , Song Xuan , Wang Zhongxin , Sun Xiangfeng , Xue Yuxin , Fu Yulin , Shi Yuanhao , Li Zhiqi , Gui Xuefeng , Xu Kai 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe incorporation of two‐dimensional layered metal hydroxides (LDHs) into nonpolar silicone rubber (SR) is not yet universal, mainly because of their originally hydrophilic surface and limited interlamellar galleries that make nanoparticle dispersion and intercalation of polymer segments more difficult. In this work, we develop a modified Ca‐Mg‐Al LDH form by conjugating the ternary Ca‐Mg‐Al LDH with silsesquioxane (SQ) surfactants containing benzoic acid moieties and polyethylene glycol chains via an in‐situ intercalation process. The bulky anions conjugation to the hydroxide layers dictated both the surface hydrophobicity and interlayer spacing of the modified Ca‐Mg‐Al LDH, enabling strong inter‐constituent interactions within the nanocomposites as well as extensive polymer penetration after incorporation into the SR matrix. The SR/modified LDH nanocomposites show excellent thermal stability and satisfactory mechanical properties due to the homogeneous dispersion and good compatibility of modified Ca‐Mg‐Al LDH. Moreover, we have observed that the shear‐induced orientation of the nano‐layered particles upon application of stress imparts a more notably decreased SR/LDH‐SQ‐40 gas transmission rate (reduced by 55% with respect to that in the unstretched composite films). This result also corroborates the better interfacial bonding and highly efficient load transfer between silsesquioxane‐modified LDH and polymer in melt extrusion mixing of such composites.Highlights
Modified Ca‐Mg‐Al LDH with increased layer spacing and reduced hydrophilicity.
Modifier enhanced the interfacial adhesion between Ca‐Mg‐Al LDH and SR matrix.
SR/modified LDH showed excellent thermal stability and mechanical properties.
Orientation and exfoliation enhanced gas barrier properties of SR/modified LDH.
Development of light weight transparent bullet proof polymeric laminates
Authors: Kumar A. V. Anil , Pothuraju Kollipaka , Lakshmi K. Rajya , Bhowmik Shantanu 
Published: August 2023

AbstractArmed vehicles, improvised explosive device blast‐proof vehicles, require their windshields and windows to be transparent and yet be resistant to high‐velocity impact of splinters. Hence, composite which is of ballistic grade and yet transparent is in real need for all these applications. This study is dedicated to finding a practical solution for using transparent polycarbonate (PC) laminate made using solvent vapor bonding for ballistic applications. The solvent that was proved to be best for solvent vapor bonding of polycarbonate sheets was dichloromethane, as the bond strength was observed to be high from the results of lap shear tensile test. The transparency retention is reasonably high when solvent vapor bonding was used and the toughness has increased near to 50% in comparison with nonlaminated PC. In this study, a polycarbonate laminate with dimensions 150 × 150 × 40 mm made using solvent vapor bonding and is tested with two 9‐mm bullets fired with velocity of 430 m/s from a distance of 5 m. The laminae successfully stopped both the bullets without any back face signature and there was no brittle failure as such, rather delamination happened at interface of laminae since it has essentially absorbed the impact energy of bullet.Highlights
Solvent vapor bonding of polycarbonate laminate.
Transparent ballistic shield with layer of polycarbonate laminate.
Enhancement of mechanical properties of solvent‐vaporized bonding polycarbonate laminate.
Ballistic testing of transparent polycarbonate laminate.
The effects of different taping methods on patellofemoral alignment, pain and function in individuals with patellofemoral pain: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Songur Adil , Demirdel Ertugrul , Kılıc Ozlem , Akin Mustafa Emre , Alkan Afra , Akkaya Mustafa 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundAthletic taping has long been a physiotherapeutic application in individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP). However, the therapeutic effects of local and proximal taping have not been fully determined.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of two different taping techniques applied in addition to exercise on patellofemoral alignment, pain, and function in individuals with PFP.DesignRandomized controlled trial.SettingAn outpatient hospital clinic.ParticipantsIndividuals with PFP aged 18–50 years (n = 36).InterventionsGroup 1 underwent only the exercise program. Group 2 underwent the exercise plus McConnell patellar taping (MPT), and Group 3 underwent the exercise plus femoral rotational taping (FRT) (6 weeks).Main Outcome MeasuresBisect offset index (BOI) and patellar tilt angle (PTA) were measured in relaxed and maximum voluntary contractions of the quadriceps muscle (MVCq) using magnetic resonance imaging. Pain intensity was assessed by the Visual Analog Scale for three conditions: at daytime rest, during activity, and at nighttime. Functional level was assessed by the Kujala Patellofemoral Scoring System.ResultsSignificant improvements in the BOI of Group 2 at rest (p = .015; r = 0.593) and in PTA of Group 3 at MVCq (p = .010; r = 0.613) were found. Improvements in pain under all three conditions were significant within groups (all, p values < .050 and r > 0.5). The change in pain was similar between groups (all, p values > .05). All groups showed significant improvement in functional level (all, p values < .010 and r > 0.5). However, the increase in Group 3 was higher than that in Group 1 (p = .019).ConclusionThis study shows that MPT and FRT applications increase functionality and can affect patellofemoral alignment in different ways. In the treatment of PFP, more successful results can be obtained with appropriate taping techniques for the local and proximal region.