bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Economical and environment friendly self-compacting concrete
Authors: Badgujar Smita , Dwivedi Arun Kumar 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
A rapid industrialization and urbanization resulted in the increased demand for usage of electricity at an alarming rate. At the same time, coal ashes are produced in coal based thermal power plant in large quantity. Fly ash is being used as an alternative material in construction industries while pond ash is disposed-off on huge land areas resulting in environmental pollution through soil, water and air. This research emphases on the study of performance of pond ash as a fine aggregate in self-compacting concrete (SCC). Fine aggregate is substituted by pond ash in percentages of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30. The fresh state properties of SCC like flowability, passing ability of all mixes have been checked by conducting inverted slump cone and L-box according to IS code of practice. The cost analysis of SCC has been conducted to establish the relative cost savings. From the experimental investigation, cost analysis and life cycle assessment, it is concluded that SCC with 20% fine aggregate replaced by pond ash can be economical and environment friendly self-compacting concrete.
Analysis of Water Quality Around the Patancheruvu, Sangareddy, Telangana, India.
Authors: Gudivada Bhogayya Naidu , Murali krishna I.V. , Manjula Vani K. 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
In nature, water quality affects the condition of ecosystems and altering the existence of living beings. In this paper the study of water quality is done for Patancheruvu block, Telangana, India. The main objective of this research is to find out the effect of different land use on water and protect it from contamination without hampering the environmental balance. The method used in this research to evaluated groundwater quality includes single factor evaluation method called Water Quality Index (WQI). The study area is divided in to 3 zones and collected bore water data from 16 sites around the study area. WQI analysis is done for two periods i.e., monsoon season and non-monsoon season. The results explained that, among the 16 sites,3 sites which are falling in the 3rd zone are not suitable for domestic purposes. Out of remaining 14 sites, 11 sites are satisfactory, and 2 sites are slightly modified. It is concluded that water quality of the Patancheruvu is degraded, fundamentally, by three factors: agricultural sewage discharges, industrial wastewater and urban wastage.
Investigation of Mechanical Properties of M-sand concrete with Polypropylene and Steel fibers
Authors: Tadiboina Naga Venkata Vamsi Krishna , Narayana Rao U V 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
This study looks into the impact of the adding of polypropylene(pp) and Hooked-end steel (HES) fibre on the mechanical characteristics of M-sand concrete (MSC). HES fibres with a 30-mm length were used at 1% to the weight of the cement for every mix and Polypropylene(pp) fibers with length 12-mm were used at the content of 0.25%, 0.50%, and 0.75% and 1%. All the mixes were produced with the mixing of HES and pp fibers. All the mixes with fiber-reinforced concretes (FRC) contained 60% M-sand as fine aggregate (FA) replacement. For increment of workability, the super plasticizer is also added. The compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength of the concrete mixes was examined for M30 Concrete. Results of this work indicated that the adding of the M-sand improves compression characteristics of plain concrete mix. The outcomes also show that the mechanical characteristics of MSC were amplified by the addition of steel (HES) and polypropylene (pp) fibers at each weight fraction taken into account in this investigation. Additionally, it was found that adding 1% steel fiber considerably increased the concrete’s split tensile test values and also flexural test values. The blend with the highest performance out of all the varied steel and polypropylene(pp) fibre combinations tested had 1% HES and 0.5% pp fiber. Finally, the findings demonstrated that adding fibres to concrete led to reduction in compressive strength and increase in the value of split tensile strength and also flexural strength.
Advancements in modelling human blood brain-barrier on a chip
Authors: Guarino Vita , Zizzari Alessandra , Bianco Monica , Gigli Giuseppe , Moroni Lorenzo , Arima Valentina 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
The human Blood Brain Barrier (hBBB) is a complex cellular architecture separating the blood from the brain parenchyma. Its integrity and perfect functionality are essential for preventing neurotoxic plasma components and pathogens enter the brain. Although vital for preserving the correct brain activity, the low permeability of hBBB represents a huge impediment to treat mental and neurological disorders or to address brain tumors. Indeed, the vast majority of potential drug treatments are unable to reach the brain crossing the hBBB. On the other hand, hBBB integrity can be damaged or its permeability increase as a result of infections or in presence of neurodegenerative diseases. Current in vitro systems and in vivo animal models used to study the molecular/drug transport mechanism through the hBBB have several intrinsic limitations that are difficult to overcome. In this scenario, Organ-on-Chip (OoC) models based on microfluidic technologies are considered promising innovative platforms that combine the handiness of an in vitro model with the complexity of a living organ, while reducing time and costs. In this review, we focus on recent advances in OoCs for developing hBBB models, with the aim of providing the reader with a critical overview of the main guidelines to design and manufacture a hBBB-on-chip, whose compartments need to mimic the ‘blood side’ and ‘brain side’ of the barrier, to choose the cells types that are both representative and convenient, and to adequately evaluate the barrier integrity, stability, and functionality.
Laser ablation mediated ZnO nanoparticles inhibit growth and biofilm forming potential of urinary tract bacterium Proteus mirabilis
Authors: Jawad Kareem H 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were formed via the laser ablation technique of a zinc (Zn) target immersed in deionised water (DIW). The optical, structural, and morphological features of these ZnO NPs were investigated using UV/Vis spectrophotometry, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy. XRD results of zinc oxide nanoparticles showed diffraction peaks at 32°, 34.5°, 36.5°, 57°, and 67° corresponding to the (100), (002), (101), (110) and (103). The average nanoparticle size was 21 nm. The TEM images of zinc oxide nanoparticles show that they are spherical in shape and have a size distribution of 20–70 nm. The antibacterial activity of the ZnO NPs was determined and compared with Ciprofloxacin against Proteus mirabilis isolates. The ZnO NPs have significant antibacterial activity against P. mirabilis isolates compared with the control (P ≤ 0.05), and the antibiofilm activity of ZnO NPs was sturdier than that of Ciprofloxacin (P ≤ 0.05). In addition, zinc oxide NPs were more effective than Ciprofloxacin in terms of preventing biofilm formation in the urinary catheter. This finding was confirmed by using atomic force microscopy to investigate the effect of ZnO NPs on bacterial biofilm formation in Foleys catheter (AFM). Therefore, ZnO NPs could be used as a preservative for Foleys catheter by preventing the formation of microbial biofilms. DPPH assay was used to investigate the radical scavenging potential of ZnO NPs.
The size of a smell: assessment of rival’s relative size from femoral secretions in the common wall lizards,Podarcis muralis(Laurenti, 1768)
Authors: Scali Stefano , Sacchi Roberto , Gozzo Elisabetta , Chiesa Stefano , Coladonato Alan J , Zuffi Marco A L , Mangiacotti Marco 
Published: January 2023

AbstractAnimal communication depends on signals conveying information to a receiver who must perceive and decode them. Signals involved in territoriality are usually complex stimuli that should be correctly interpreted to avoid unnecessary conflicts. Lacertids use both visual and chemical stimuli in modulating their aggressive response against conspecifics and the rival’s size is one of the most important information, affecting the success probability in combat. To assess the actual ability of decoding information about a rival’s size based on its chemical stimulus alone, 60 males of Podarcis muralis were tested for three consecutive days in an arena bearing a mirror (to simulate an equal-sized intruder), and the chemical cues (femoral secretions) from an unknown individual of different size. Significant differences were observed in tongue-flicks number, which grew as the size difference between the focal lizard and the secretion donor decreased. This can be interpreted as the need for the lizard to better evaluate the potential competitor’s characteristics. The size difference also affected the number of bites against the mirror. They increased when the size of the focal lizard was larger than the donor triggering the aggressive response with a higher probability of winning the contest. This confirms that the focal lizard had correctly decoded the information about the opponent’s size by chemical stimulus. Although previous studies have shown that some components of the chemical signals are potentially informative about the signaler’s size, this is the first demonstration that male P. muralis is actually able to decode and use such information.
Gos: a declarative library for interactive genomics visualization in Python
Authors: Manz Trevor , L’Yi Sehi , Gehlenborg Nils 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Summary
Gos is a declarative Python library designed to create interactive multiscale visualizations of genomics and epigenomics data. It provides a consistent and simple interface to the flexible Gosling visualization grammar. Gos hides technical complexities involved with configuring web-based genome browsers and integrates seamlessly within computational notebooks environments to enable new interactive analysis workflows.

Availability and implementation
Gos is released under the MIT License and available on the Python Package Index (PyPI). The source code is publicly available on GitHub (https://github.com/gosling-lang/gos), and documentation with examples can be found at https://gosling-lang.github.io/gos.
Effects of a ketogenic diet on reproductive and metabolic phenotypes in mice with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Liu Shihe , Yao Qiyang , Li Xiaolian , Wu Haowen , Sun Changwei , Bai Wenpei , Kang Jihong 
Published: January 2023

AbstractPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common female reproductive and metabolic disorders. The ketogenic diet (KD) is a diet high in fat and low in carbohydrate. The beneficial effects of KD intervention have been demonstrated in obese women with PCOS. The underlying mechanisms, however, remain unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a KD on both reproductive and metabolic phenotypes of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced PCOS mice. Female C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups, designated Control, DHEA, and DHEA+KD groups. Mice of both Control and DHEA groups were fed the control diet, whereas DHEA+KD mice were fed a KD with 89%(kcal) fat for 1 or 3 weeks after PCOS mouse model was completed. At the end of the experiment, both reproductive and metabolic characteristics were assessed. Our data show that KD treatment significantly increased blood ketone levels, reduced body weight and random and fasting blood glucose levels in DHEA+KD mice compared with DHEA mice. Glucose tolerance, however, was impaired in DHEA+KD mice. Ovarian functions were improved in some DHEAmice after KD feeding, especially in mice treated with KD for 3 weeks. In addition, inflammation and cell apoptosis were inhibited in the ovaries of DHEA+KD mice. Results from in vitro experiments showed that the main ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate reduced inflammation and cell apoptosis in DHEA-treated KGN cells. These findings support the therapeutic effects of KD and reveal a possible mechanism by which KD improves ovarian functions in PCOS mice.
Polyploid hybrid speciation in theCalcarataspecies complex ofViolasectionMelanium(Violaceae): relating hybrid species to parent species distribution and ecology
Authors: Hühn Philipp , Dillenberger Markus S , Krause Sandra , Kadereit Joachim W 
Published: January 2023

AbstractTwo species of the Calcarata species complex of Viola section Melanium have been hypothesized to be of polyploid hybrid origin. To test this hypothesis, we used a modified restriction site associated (RAD) DNA-sequencing approach along with ITS and plastid DNA sequence data for reconstructing and dating the phylogeny of the group. For the detection of polyploid hybrid speciation and the parental lineages involved we used the four-taxon D-statistic metric (ABBA-BABA). Viola corsica (Elba, Corsica, Sardinia; calcifuge) and V. tineorum (Sicily; calcicole) were confirmed as polyploid hybrid species. They share V. cassinensis subsp. cassinensis (central Apennine; calcicole) as a parental lineage with V. bertolonii (Maritime Alps; serpentine) as the second parent of V. corsica and with V. nebrodensis (Sicily; calcicole) as the second parent of V. tineorum. The geographical distribution of the two hybrid species reflects the geographical distribution of the differential parent lineages. Substrate requirements of V. corsica are different, and those of V. tineorum are identical to those of their respective parents. We conclude that the differential distribution and ecology of V. corsica and V. tineorum can be traced back to properties of their respective parents.
Vagal cross-sectional area correlates with parasympathetic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Huckemann Sophie , Mueller Katharina , Averdunk Paulina , Kühn Eva , Hilker Lovis , Kools Saskia , Scholz Leonard , Bulut Yesim , Brünger Jil , Fiegert Sean , Grüter Thomas , Fisse Anna Lena , Motte Jeremias , Yoon Min-Suk , Gold Ralf , Schneider-Gold Christiane , Tönges Lars , Pitarokoili Kalliopi 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
The aim of this prospective study was to investigate autonomic function in Parkinson’s disease with a multidimensional approach including clinical evaluation tools, head-up tilt test and morphological studies of the vagus nerve. Head-up tilt test parameters including high frequency power of the heart frequency interval, the ratio of low frequency power of the distance between two consecutive R waves in electrocardiogram (RR interval) to the high frequency and low frequency power of systolic blood pressure were used to evaluate parasympathetic, cardiac sympathetic and vasomotor sympathetic functions, respectively, in 80 patients with Parkinson's disease. We examined the cross-sectional area of the vagus nerves bilaterally using nerve ultrasound and compared mean values with a control group of healthy subjects (n = 40) as well as patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (n = 76). The cross-sectional area of right/left vagus nerve of Parkinson's patients was significantly lower compared to the right/left vagus nerve of the control group and of chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy patients. Furthermore, the cross-sectional area of the right vagus nerve was significantly larger from the one of the left vagus nerve for all groups. Based on tilt test, 43 patients (disease duration 7 ± 5, age at evaluation 71 ± 9, Hoehn and Yahr score 2.8 ± 8) were diagnosed with autonomic dysfunction (orthostatic hypertension n = 11, chronotropic incompetence n = 31, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome n = 1). Patients with orthostatic hypotension showed significantly higher Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale-III values than those with chronotropic incompetence. The cross-sectional area of the vagus nerve correlated inversely with heart rate in rest and supine position and positively with tilt test parameters representing parasympathetic modulation through vagal activity [high frequency power of the distance between two consecutive R waves in electrocardiogram (RR interval)] at rest. We demonstrate for the first time that morphological characteristics of the vagus nerve correlate with parameters of parasympathetic function from the spectral analysis of cardiovascular parameters in tilt test for Parkinson's patients. This correlation reveals the impact of the atrophy of vagal atrophy for autonomic function in Parkinson's disease. Nerve ultrasound of the vagus nerve could potentially be used as an adjunct to tilt table examination to diagnose autonomic dysfunction.
Inefficient speech-motor control affects predictive speech comprehension: atypical electrophysiological correlates in stuttering
Authors: Gastaldon Simone , Busan Pierpaolo , Arcara Giorgio , Peressotti Francesca 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Listeners predict upcoming information during language comprehension. However, how this ability is implemented is still largely unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis proposing that language production mechanisms have a role in prediction. We studied 2 electroencephalographic correlates of predictability during speech comprehension—pre-target alpha–beta (8–30 Hz) power decrease and the post-target N400 event-related potential effect—in a population with impaired speech-motor control, i.e. adults who stutter (AWS), compared to typically fluent adults (TFA). Participants listened to sentences that could either constrain towards a target word or not, modulating its predictability. As a complementary task, participants also performed context-driven word production. Compared to TFA, AWS not only displayed atypical neural responses in production, but, critically, they showed a different pattern also in comprehension. Specifically, while TFA showed the expected pre-target power decrease, AWS showed a power increase in frontal regions, associated with speech-motor control. In addition, the post-target N400 effect was reduced for AWS with respect to TFA. Finally, we found that production and comprehension power changes were positively correlated in TFA, but not in AWS. Overall, the results support the idea that processes and neural structures prominently devoted to speech planning also support prediction during speech comprehension.
Elevated energy costs of biomass production in mitochondrial respiration-deficientSaccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Grigaitis Pranas , van den Bogaard Samira L , Teusink Bas 
Published: January 2023

AbstractMicrobial growth requires energy for maintaining the existing cells and producing components for the new ones. Microbes therefore invest a considerable amount of their resources into proteins needed for energy harvesting. Growth in different environments is associated with different energy demands for growth of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, although the cross-condition differences remain poorly characterized. Furthermore, a direct comparison of the energy costs for the biosynthesis of the new biomass across conditions is not feasible experimentally; computational models, on the contrary, allow comparing the optimal metabolic strategies and quantify the respective costs of energy and nutrients. Thus in this study, we used a resource allocation model of S. cerevisiae to compare the optimal metabolic strategies between different conditions. We found that S. cerevisiae with respiratory-impaired mitochondria required additional energetic investments for growth, while growth on amino acid-rich media was not affected. Amino acid supplementation in anaerobic conditions also was predicted to rescue the growth reduction in mitochondrial respiratory shuttle-deficient mutants of S. cerevisiae. Collectively, these results point to elevated costs of resolving the redox imbalance caused by de novo biosynthesis of amino acids in mitochondria. To sum up, our study provides an example of how resource allocation modeling can be used to address and suggest explanations to open questions in microbial physiology.
Transgender Adults From Minoritized Ethnoracial Groups in the U.S. Report Greater Subjective Cognitive Decline
Authors: Cicero Ethan C , Lett Elle , Flatt Jason D , Benson G Perusi , Epps Fayron 
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Objectives
Investigate subjective cognitive decline (SCD) among 4 study groups consisting of cisgender and transgender adults who are from minoritized ethnoracial groups (i.e., minoritized ethnoracial transgender, minoritized ethnoracial cisgender) and White cisgender and transgender adults aged 45+ (i.e., White transgender, White cisgender) to determine the odds of SCD by group and to test for group differences.

Methods
Data from the 2015–2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were used in a modified case–control approach to perform an intercategorical intersectional study. Each transgender participant was matched to 2 cisgender men and 2 cisgender women, on state, ethnoracial identity, and age. Multivariable logistic regressions modeled SCD odds by group and post hoc contrasts estimated pairwise odds ratios comparing the SCD odds for each combination of groups.

Results
SCD prevalence was highest among minoritized ethnoracial transgender (21.6%), followed by White transgender (15.0%), minoritized ethnoracial cisgender (12.0%), and White cisgender (9.0%). After accounting for age, education, and survey year, the odds of SCD were higher in minoritized ethnoracial transgender when compared to White cisgender (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.59–3.96) and minoritized ethnoracial cisgender (aOR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.16–3.09). The odds of SCD were higher in White transgender compared to White cisgender (aOR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.20–2.30).

Discussion
When considering the intersection of transgender and ethnoracial identities, we found that transgender adults from minoritized ethnoracial groups reported higher odds of SCD when compared to cisgender adults from minoritized ethnoracial groups. Additional studies are needed to understand the relationship between racialized and gendered inequities in cognitive impairment and how specific mechanisms of systemic transphobia and racism may contribute to this inequity.