bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ecological and behavioral correlates of homing performance in the egg-feeding poison frog Oophaga histrionica
Authors: GÓMEZ-CONSUEGRA JULIANA , AMÉZQUITA ADOLFO 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Homing is the ability to return to previously visited sites, often to the home range. Most studies have focused on the mechanisms used to home, but few have addressed the cost-benefit analysis of homing behavior, e.g., by testing for associations between homing performance and ecological factors. We aimed to study homing ability in males of the poison frog Oophaga histrionica, by testing the general hypothesis that homing performance depends upon potential indicators of territory quality or the risk of losing it. First, we tested whether return time was related to displacement distance, body size, number of courtships during the previous month, or distance to nearest neighbors. All males homed and males that were displaced 10 meters (m) from their territories returned significantly faster than males displaced 25 or 40 m. Yet none of the ecological variables affected homing ability. In a second experiment, we tested whether males’ homing performance was affected by adding or removing acoustic cues, simulating changes in the number, identity, and spatial distribution of neighbors. Most displaced males homed within six hours, and males exposed to additional loudspeakers (i.e., neighbors) within their territories homed more accurately than other males. Our results indicate that the homing performance of males is affected by the perceived risk of being displaced from their territories.
High-throughput SARS-CoV-2 antiviral testing method using the Celigo Image Cytometer
Authors: Clair Laura A. St , Chan Leo Li-Ying , Boretsky Adam , Lin Bo , Spedding Michael , Perera Rushika 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a worldwide public health crisis that has since resulted in 6.8 million reported deaths. The pandemic prompted the immediate response of researchers around the world to engage in rapid vaccine development, surveillance programs, and antiviral testing, which resulted in the delivery of multiple vaccines and repurposed antiviral drug candidates. However, the emergence of new highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants has renewed the desire for discovering new antiviral drug candidates with high efficacy against the emerging variants of concern. Traditional antiviral testing methods employ the plaque-reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs), plaque assays, or RT-PCR analysis, but each assay can be tedious and time-consuming, requiring days to visualize and count plaques, or to prepare cell extractions for PCR analysis. In recent years, plate-based image cytometers have demonstrated high-throughput vaccine screening methods, which can be adopted for screening potential antiviral drug candidates. In this work, we developed a high-throughput antiviral testing method employing the Celigo Image Cytometer to investigate the efficacy of antiviral drug candidates on SARS-CoV-2 infectivity using a fluorescent reporter virus and their safety by measuring the cytotoxicity effects on the healthy host cell line using fluorescent viability stains. The Celigo Image Cytometer can provide an efficient and robust method to rapidly identify potential antiviral drugs to effectively combat the rapidly spreading SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants during the pandemic.
Theoretical investigation of adsorption charactieristics of typical additives for zinc electroplating
Authors: Ri Song-Kyun , Kang Jin-Hyok , Pak Myong-Chol , Ri Mun-Hyok , Ri Chung-Nam , Choe Mun-Il Choe , Ju Kyong-Sik 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Quantum chemical parameters~(QCPs) of four additives were calculated by using DFT, and MD simulations were performed.
By comparing binding energies of four additives (benzalacetone~(BA), sodium benzoate~(SB), polyoxyethylene nonylphenylether~(NP) and dispersant NNO), with Zn~(001) surface, BA has the smallest binding energy, which is due to the smallest hardness parameter, and NNO has the largest binding energy, which is due to the largest dipole moment despite its small hardness parameter.
In order to enhance the adsorption of BA onto Zn~(001) surface, NP was selected to be combined with BA, because BA has the lowest energy level of LUMO, which is more capable of accepting electrons from Zn~(001) surface than others, and NP has the highest energy level of HOMO, which is more capable of donating electrons to Zn~(001) surface than others.
By calculating the binding energies of the complex of BA and NP, it has larger binding energy than individual BA, SB, and NP, but smaller than NNO.
Application of Graph Energy in Glaucoma detection using Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Hari Kamya , Rajeshwar Kruthi , B Praba 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Automatic detection of glaucoma from retinal fundus images is a major area of research in Computer aided diagnostics. In this paper, we propose a novel methodology to detect glaucoma by using energy of graph concepts. The retinal fundus image is first segmented to get the structure of the retinal vasculature using various image processing techniques. The retinal vasculature is then modeled into two graphs based on the position of branchpoints and the crossover points in the image. The graphs thus formed are simplified and 6 different energies are extracted from it. These energies are then used as features to a machine learning model i.e., quadratic support vector machine after performing principal component analysis. The methodology was tested out on the G1020 dataset and the results obtained show that energy of graphs does contain discriminating information regarding disease detection.
Not so sweet: Impacts of a soda tax on producers
Authors: Gonçalves Judite , Merenda Roxanne , Santos João Pereira dos 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Portugal introduced a sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) tax in 2017. This study uses unique administrative accounting data for all SSB producers/importers in Portugal, and an event study design with bottled water firms as the primary comparison group, to assess the causal impacts of the tax on multiple firm-level outcomes. We find a 6.8% average decrease in domestic SSB sales, vis-à-vis bottled water. The soda tax hindered SSB firms’ financial health, namely net income, ability to convert receivables into cash, and liabilities. SSB producers/importers did not decrease wages, cut jobs, or modify their workforce towards higher R&D capacity. Forgone corporate income tax appears negligible compared to the government revenue generated by the tax itself.
Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance mediated by the acetyltransferase MYS-2/MOF in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Li Yuhong , Bai Hua , Liu Wenwen , Wu Tingting , Gu Huan , Shi Guolin , Zhu Man , Zhao Ninghui , Huang Xiaowei 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Background Although autosomal-dominant inheritance is believed to be an important cause of familial clustering AD (FAD), it covers only a small proportion of FAD incidence. Epigenetic memory has been suggested an alternative mechanism to explain transgenerational phenotypes in animals, and may contribute to intergenerational AD pathogenesis.Methods We employed the methods of RNA interference, gene mutation, treatment of inhibitors or agonists, and Western blot, to investigate the roles of acetyltransferase MYS-2/MOF and its mediated H4K16 in transgenerational heredity of AD pathogenesis in C. elegans and cell AD models. To validate our findings, we also analyzed the MOF(KAT8) expression data in AD patients from Alzdata. Fluorescence staining and ELISA were performed to detect Aβ accumulation or lysosomal activities. Gene expression patterns and the potential target genes associated with AD pathogenesis were analyzed in parental and progeny generations using RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, and ChIP-qPCR.Results Our data in vivo showed that mys-2 of Caenorhabditis elegans that encodes a MYST acetyltransferase responsible for H4K16 acetylation modulated AD occurrence. The phenotypic improvements in the parent generation caused by mys-2 deficiency were passed to their progeny due to epigenetic memory, which resulted in similar H4 acetylation levels among the candidate target genes of MYS-2 and similar gene expression patterns of the AD-related pathways. Furthermore, the ROS/CDK-5/ATM pathway functioned as an upstream activator of MYS-2. Furthermore, we showed that the mammalian ortholog MOF had the same role in AD pathogenesis.Conclusions Our study indicated that AD could be inherited transgenerationally via epigenetic mechanisms, providing a new insight into our understanding of the etiology and inheritance of FAD.
Equivalent heat transfer modeling for poplar fiber clusters based on thermography
Authors: Yang Chunmei , Liu Tongbin , Ma Yaqiang , Zhu Zanbin , Yan Jie , Qu Wen , Zhang Jiawei , Ding Yucheng 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Poplar fiber mass is a non-uniform medium that is composed of discrete microelements making it an imperative raw material in the production of ultra-thin high-density wood fiberboards. Preheating, therefore, becomes a crucial process in producing ultra-thin boards from poplar fiber masses. This study aims to investigate the thermal conductivity properties of wood fiber pellets with the objective of guiding the process parameters in the preheating section.Basic size and composition of poplar fiber masses were observed using an optical microscope. Measured parameters such as bark content and stacking density were combined with observations to establish the heat transfer unit of poplar fiber masses which were then used to develop a one-dimensional equivalent heat transfer model.The steady-state images of the surface layer of poplar fiber masses were captured under different parameters using infrared thermography. The results indicated that the relationships between thickness, density, and moisture content were negatively correlated with surface layer temperature, while the relationships between bottom heating temperature and surface layer temperature were positively correlated. From these findings, the surface layer temperature of poplar fiber mass was derived, and equivalent thermal conductivity as well as convective heat transfer coefficients were solved.Simulation results showed that the average error of the equivalent heat transfer model of poplar fiber mass was 1.584 indicating that the model is usable. This study contributes to efficient simulation of steady-state heat transfer in wood fiber masses, and could be useful in guiding decision-making processes in the preheating section of ultra-thin high-density fiberboard production.
Bi-directional electrical recording and stimulation of the intact retina
Authors: Vėbraitė Ieva , Bar-Haim Chen , David-Pur Moshe , Hanein Yael 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Electrophysiological investigations of intact neural circuits are challenged by the gentle and complex nature of neural tissues. Bi-directional electrophysiological interfacing with the retina, in its intact form, is particularly demanding and currently there is no feasible approach to achieve such investigations. Here we present the use of novel soft multi electrode arrays for bi-directional electrophysiological study of the intact retina. To this aim, soft electrode arrays, suitable for stable electrical interfacing with the retina, were developed and tested. The soft probes were designed to accommodate the curvature of the retina in the eye and offer a unique opportunity to study the retina in its intact form. For the first time, we show both electrical recording and stimulation capabilities from the intact retina. In particular, we demonstrate the ability to map retina responses to electrical stimulation in order to reveal conspicuously, stable, direct and indirect responses. These results suggest that intact retinas retain better stability and robustness than ex-vivo retinas.
Go beyond the individual: an intersectional perspective on mental illness stigma in China
Authors: Lin Zhuyun 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Background: Stigma is a pervasive and severe issue for individuals with mental illness in China. It is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that is influenced by social, cultural, and political factors. However, few concerned about mental illness stigma in China through intersectional perspective. This study aims to employ an intersectional lens to examine mental illness stigma in China and explore its heterogeneity and the disparities it creates among patients. Methods: The study is based on 16 months of ethnographic research conducted in a psychiatric hospital in 2019. The study sample includes 11 patients, 3 patients’ family members, and 23 medical workers from F hospital in Guangdong province. Data were collected through participant observation, interviews, and document analysis. Results: The research reveals that mental illness stigma is deeply ingrained in Chinese society, affecting individuals not only at a personal level but also within their families, healthcare facilities, and wider institutions. The study underscores that, social determinants, including education, rural-urban disparity, and economic circumstances, exacerbate the deleterious effects of stigma. In addition, the research reveals that medical professionals harbor unfavorable attitudes towards their patients or families, and that such attitudes are reflected through cultural symbols, such as the creation of a "mental illness hierarchy" within hospitals based on patients' socioeconomic status. Furthermore, the study highlights that mental illness stigma is not a monolithic construct and is characterized by individual differences, and that its effects may be mitigated by time and the resilience and self-efficacy of patients. Conclusions: This study contributes to the understanding of mental illness stigma in China and informs future anti-stigma efforts. It highlights the need to consider not only the stigma attached to mental illness but also the broader socio-cultural factors that exacerbate the experiences of disadvantaged individuals. To effectively address stigma, it is vital to recognize its heterogeneity and its intersection with social, cultural, and political factors. The findings of this study have implications for mental health policy and practice in China and beyond.
Missing Canals in Endodontically Treated Molar Teeth Among Different Age Groups in a Turkish Population
Authors: Çulha Emre , Tunç Fatma 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Objectives Root canal localization is necessary for proper canal disinfection and obturation. Missed canals may act as a microorganism repository. As the world's population ages, the endodontic needs of the elders present increasing challenges for dental care providers. This study aimed to examine the missing canals in terms of ageing in endodontically treated 1st and 2nd molars in a Turkish population.Materials and Methods The study included maxillary and mandibular molar teeth of 619 subjects (317 female and 302 male). Cone-beam computed tomography images of 490 molar teeth representing at least one missing canal were divided into 3 groups according to the age of the subjects: 18–44, 45–64, and more than 65. The localization of the missed canals was recorded. The data were evaluated with the chi-square test, with the significance level set at a p-value of 0.05.Results The incidence of missing 2nd mesiobuccal canals in the 18–44 age group and 1st mesiobuccal canals in the over-45 age group was statistically higher (p < 0.05). The incidence of missing 2nd mesiobuccal canals in maxillary 1st molars was statistically higher than in maxillary 2nd molars (p < 0.05). There was no statistical difference between the types of missing canals and age groups in mandibular molars (p > 0.05).Conclusion Missing canals were more frequent in the mesial roots of mandibular molars with ageing. With age, the incidence of missing canals increased in maxillary first molars but decreased in maxillary second molars.Clinical Relevance: Ageing can make it difficult to clinically locate the canals in the mesiobuccal root of maxillary molars and mesial roots of mandibular molars.
Evaluation of the effect of ZnO nanoparticles on biofilm formation and gene expression of the toxin-antitoxin system in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Valadbeigi Hassan , Sadeghifard Nourkhoda , Kaviar Vahab Hassan , Haddadi Mohammad Hossein , Ghafourian Sobhan , Maleki Abbas 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Background Biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa is known to be characteristic of this organism. P. aeruginosa is considered one of the most life-threatening bacteria and has been identified as a priority pathogen for research by WHO. Biofilm-producing P. aeruginosa is a concern in many parts of the world due to antibiotic resistance. Alginate also plays an important role in biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa as well as in the emergence of antibiotic resistance in biofilms. In addition, TA systems play an important role in biofilm formation. Metal NPs such as ZnO also have extensive biological properties, especially anti-biofilm properties. Therefore, this study was conducted in relation to the importance of ZnO NPs in biofilm formation and also the correlation of gene expression of TA systems in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa.Methods A total of 52 P. aeruginosa isolates were collected from burns (n = 15), UTI (n = 31), and trachea (n = 6) in hospitals in Ilam between May 2020 and October 2020. Biofilm formation was assessed using a microtiter plate assay. MIC and sub-MIC concentrations of ZnO NPs (10–30 nm with purity greater than 99.8%) in P. aeruginosa were determined. Subsequently, biofilm formation was investigated using sub-MIC concentrations of ZnO NPs. Finally, total RNA was extracted and RT- qPCR was used to determine the expression levels of genes of mazEF, mqsRA, and higBA of TA systems.Results Six isolates of P. aeruginosa were found to form strong biofilms. The results showed that ZnO NPs were able to inhibit biofilm formation. In our experiments, we found that sub-MIC concentration of ZnO NPs increased the gene expression of antitoxins mazE and mqsA and toxin higB of TA systems treated with ZnO NPs.Conclusions In the present study, ZnO NPs were shown to effectively inhibit biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa. Our results support the relationship between TA systems and ZnO NPs in biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa. Importantly, the expression of antitoxins mazE and mqsA was high after treatment with ZnO NPs, but not that of antitoxin higA.
Characteristics and Genesis of Dolomites from the Devonian Guanwushan Formation in the Jiguanshan Section, southwest Sichuan Basin, China
Authors: Yang Chaoyi , Xia Qingsong , Wei Hengye , Yang Peng , Zhu Yunfang 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
The Guanwushan Formation of Middle Devonian in Sichuan Basin is an excellent oil and gas reservoir, but its genetic mechanism is still unclear, and previous studies mainly focus on the typical profile in northwest Sichuan. In this paper, the characteristics and genesis of dolomite in Guanwushan Formation are studied by taking the Jiguanshan section in southwest Sichuan as an example. The section of Jiguanshan in Chongzhou City is located in the middle of Longmen Mountain and the southwest of Chengdu. Through field profile measurement, petrological observation, isotope analysis, REE distribution mode analysis, fluid inclusion analysis, the following understandings are obtained. 1. The Guanwushan Formation of the profile is in conformity with the overlying Shawozi Formation and the underlying Jinbaoshi Formation; 2. The dolomite types developed in Guanwushan Formation in the profile mainly include reef dolomite, and “zebra” structure dolomite can be seen. 3. On the profile, a large number of organisms can be observed, mainly including tetragonal corals, transverse corals, cladocoropsis, etc. Under the microscope, corals with intact diaphragms can be observed on thin slices; 4. The Jiguanshan section is a platform margin facies deposit, located on the continental margin side of the carbonate platform; 5. The carbon and oxygen isotope contents in the samples are all within the distribution range of carbon and oxygen isotopes of seawater in the same period of the Devonian system. It is speculated that most of the dolomite in the study section are reef quasi contemporaneous dolomite, samples’ δ18O content can be divided into three types of dolomite according to different temperatures; The distribution pattern of rare earth elements in the sample shows obvious δCe negative anomaly, speculated to be Devonian sea water, or slightly modified Devonian sea water quasi syngenetic origin, with obvious zebra dolomite filling δEu positive anomaly is a typical hydrothermal dolomite; The inclusion homogenization temperature test shows that there are two different origins of dolomite on the profile.
Flower globose AgIn5S8/AgInS2-SnIn4S8 heterojunction composites constructed by microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis for enhanced photocatalytic efficiency toward methyl orange
Authors: Wang Run , Hu Tianyu , Liu Yannan , Liu Yin , Hou Jiaqi , Zhang Wenzhi , Li Li 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Ternary metal sulfides normally have narrow band gap energy levels, leading to fast recombination of photogenerated electron pairs. Design and construction of composites with heterojunctions is one of the effective ways to improve this disadvantage. In this paper, different ratios of AgInS2-SnIn4S8 composites were synthesized by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, and the molar ratio of SnIn4S8:AgInS2=0.5:1 was determined as the optimal ratio based on the experimental results of visible photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO). Furthermore, AgIn5S8/AgInS2-SnIn4S8 composites were successfully prepared by changing the feeding ratio of In and S elements. The constitution, structural morphology and surface physicochemical properties of the composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL), ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance absorption spectroscopy (UV–vis/DRS) and nitrogen adsorption–desorption tests. The results show that AgIn5S8/AgInS2-SnIn4S8 composites have a flower globose structure with uniform size distribution, and AgInS2 and AgIn5S8 are compounded with SnIn4S8 to form a heterogeneous structure. After recombination, light absorption properties are changed and light absorption range is broadened due to stronger light absorption capacity in AgInS2 and AgIn5S8. As they have matched energy band structures, the electron transfer paths are increased and the e-–h+ lifetime is prolonged, which leads to enhanced photocatalytic performance of AgIn5S8/AgInS2-SnIn4S8 composites. Moreover, the formation of regular and homogeneous flower globose structure under the effect of microwave polarization also has an important contribution to the improvement of their photocatalytic performance. AgIn5S8/AgInS2-SnIn4S8 composites exhibit a certain degradation ability towards MO, and the degradation is almost complete within 180 min under UV light. Finally, through trapping experiments with the addition of different radical trapping agents, photocatalytic active species are identified, and thus the possible photocatalytic reaction mechanism of AgIn5S8/AgInS2-SnIn4S8 composites was inferred.