bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Applying an ecosystem services framework on nature and mental health to recreational blue space visits across 18 countries
Authors: Garrett Joanne K. , White Mathew P. , Elliott Lewis R. , Grellier James , Bell Simon , Bratman Gregory N. , Economou Theo , Gascon Mireia , Lõhmus Mare , Nieuwenhuijsen Mark , Ojala Ann , Roiko Anne , van den Bosch Matilda , Ward Thompson Catharine , Fleming Lora E. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe effects of ‘nature’ on mental health and subjective well-being have yet to be consistently integrated into ecosystem service models and frameworks. To address this gap, we used data on subjective mental well-being from an 18-country survey to test a conceptual model integrating mental health with ecosystem services, initially proposed by Bratman et al. We analysed a range of individual and contextual factors in the context of 14,998 recreational visits to blue spaces, outdoor environments which prominently feature water. Consistent with the conceptual model, subjective mental well-being outcomes were dependent upon on a complex interplay of environmental type and quality, visit characteristics, and individual factors. These results have implications for public health and environmental management, as they may help identify the bluespace locations, environmental features, and key activities, that are most likely to impact well-being, but also potentially affect recreational demand on fragile aquatic ecosystems.
CRISPR/Cas9 mediated specific ablation of vegfa in retinal pigment epithelium efficiently regresses choroidal neovascularization
Authors: Park Jinkyu , Cui Gang , Lee Hyundong , Jeong Han , Kwak Jay Jiyong , Lee Junwon , Byeon Suk Ho 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe CRISPR/Cas9 system easily edits target genes in various organisms and is used to treat human diseases. In most therapeutic CRISPR studies, ubiquitously expressed promoters, such as CMV, CAG, and EF1α, are used; however, gene editing is sometimes necessary only in specific cell types relevant to the disease. Therefore, we aimed to develop a retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-specific CRISPR/Cas9 system. We developed a CRISPR/Cas9 system that operates only in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) by expressing Cas9 under the RPE-specific vitelliform macular dystrophy 2 promoter (pVMD2). This RPE-specific CRISPR/pVMD2-Cas9 system was tested in human retinal organoid and mouse model. We confirmed that this system works specifically in the RPE of human retinal organoids and mouse retina. In addition, the RPE-specific Vegfa ablation using the novel CRISPR-pVMD2-Cas9 system caused regression of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) without unwanted knock-out in the neural retina in laser-induced CNV mice, which is a widely used animal model of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. RPE-specific Vegfa knock-out (KO) and ubiquitous Vegfa KO were comparable in the efficient regression of CNV. The promoter substituted, cell type-specific CRISPR/Cas9 systems can be used in specific ‘target cell’ therapy, which edits genes while reducing unwanted off- ‘target cell’ effects.
Machine learning for detecting DNA attachment on SPR biosensor
Authors: Mondal Himadri Shekhar , Ahmed Khandaker Asif , Birbilis Nick , Hossain Md Zakir 
Published: March 2023

AbstractOptoelectric biosensors measure the conformational changes of biomolecules and their molecular interactions, allowing researchers to use them in different biomedical diagnostics and analysis activities. Among different biosensors, surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based biosensors utilize label-free and gold-based plasmonic principles with high precision and accuracy, allowing these gold-based biosensors as one of the preferred methods. The dataset generated from these biosensors are being used in different machine learning (ML) models for disease diagnosis and prognosis, but there is a scarcity of models to develop or assess the accuracy of SPR-based biosensors and ensure a reliable dataset for downstream model development. Current study proposed innovative ML-based DNA detection and classification models from the reflective light angles on different gold surfaces of biosensors and associated properties. We have conducted several statistical analyses and different visualization techniques to evaluate the SPR-based dataset and applied t-SNE feature extraction and min-max normalization to differentiate classifiers of low-variances. We experimented with several ML classifiers, namely support vector machine (SVM), decision tree (DT), multi-layer perceptron (MLP), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), logistic regression (LR) and random forest (RF) and evaluated our findings in terms of different evaluation metrics. Our analysis showed the best accuracy of 0.94 by RF, DT and KNN for DNA classification and 0.96 by RF and KNN for DNA detection tasks. Considering area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) (0.97), precision (0.96) and F1-score (0.97), we found RF performed best for both tasks. Our research shows the potentiality of ML models in the field of biosensor development, which can be expanded to develop novel disease diagnosis and prognosis tools in the future.
The impact of N-glycosylation on the properties of the antimicrobial peptide LL-III
Authors: Tortorella Attila , Leone Linda , Lombardi Angelina , Pizzo Elio , Bosso Andrea , Winter Roland , Petraccone Luigi , Del Vecchio Pompea , Oliva Rosario 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe misuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) may represent valuable alternative to antibiotics; nevertheless, the easy degradation due to environmental stress and proteolytic enzyme action, limits their use. So far, different strategies have been developed to overcome this drawback. Among them, glycosylation of AMPs represents a promising approach. In this work, we synthesized and characterized the N-glycosilated form of the antimicrobial peptide LL-III (g-LL-III). The N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) was covalently linked to the Asn residue and the interaction of g-LL-III with bacterial model membranes, together with its resistance to proteases, were investigated. Glycosylation did not affect the peptide mechanism of action and its biological activity against both bacteria and eukaryotic cells. Interestingly, a higher resistance to the activity of proteolytic enzymes was achieved. The reported results pave the way for the successful application of AMPs in medicine and biotechnological fields.
Anatomical and functional outcomes of short-term DensironXTRA heavy silicone oil for rhegmatogenous retinal detachments: a comparative case series
Authors: Felfeli Tina , Murtaza Fahmeeda , Herman Joshua , Pereira Austin M. , Mandelcorn Mark S. , Mandelcorn Efrem D. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractTo assess the safety and efficacy of short-term DensironXTRA tamponade for repair of complicated rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRD). This is a retrospective consecutive case series of patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with intravitreal DensironXTRA and a comparator group with gas (sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) or perfluoropropane (C3F8)) tamponades by a single surgeon between January 2017 and November 2020 at a tertiary care centre. A total of 121 eyes with DensironXTRA and 81 comparator eyes with a gas tamponade were included. The DensironXTRA group had a significantly higher number of cases with inferior breaks (82% vs. 48%; p < 0.0001) and a history of previous PPV for RRD (64% vs. 12%; p < 0.0001). DensironXTRA was removed after a median period of 70 (IQR: 48.5–105.5) days. There was similar anatomical success in both the comparator gas tamponade and DensironXTRA groups (98.8% vs. 97.5%, p = 0.6506). Although both groups experienced a significant improvement in visual acuity, this change was significantly higher in the comparator gas tamponade group versus DensironXTRA group (p = 0.0017). There was no significant change in IOP in the DensironXTRA group (mean difference − 0.7; 95% CI − 1.753 to 0.331, p = 0.1785). The rates of complications were low and not significantly different between the two groups. There was no evidence for central macular thinning with DensironXTRA compared to the contralateral eye without RRD as well as with DensironXTRA in situ versus after its removal. DensironXTRA is a promising short-term tamponade agent with good anatomical and functional outcomes and low rates of complications for the repair of complicated RRDs.
Gemcitabine–cisplatin versus MVAC chemotherapy for urothelial carcinoma: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Lee Yong Seong , Ha Moon Soo , Tae Jong Hyun , Chang In Ho , Kim Tae-Hyoung , Myung Soon Chul , Nguyen Tuan Thanh , Kim Myoungsuk , Lee Kyung-Eun , Kim Yuwon , Woo Hyun-ki , Kyoung Dae-Sung , Kim Hasung , Choi Se Young 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThis study assessed the trends in methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (MVAC) and gemcitabine–cisplatin (GC) regimens in Korean patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC) and compared the side effects and overall survival (OS) rates of the two regimens using nationwide population-based data. The data of patients diagnosed with UC between 2004 and 2016 were collected using the National Health Insurance Service database. The overall treatment trends were assessed according to the chemotherapy regimens. The MVAC and GC groups were matched by propensity scores. Cox proportional hazard analysis and Kaplan–Meier analysis were performed to assess survival. Of 3108 patients with UC, 2,880 patients were treated with GC and 228 (7.3%) were treated with MVAC. The transfusion rate and volume were similar in both the groups, but the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) usage rate and number were higher in the MVAC group than in the GC group. Both groups had similar OS. Multivariate analysis revealed that the chemotherapy regimen was not a significant factor for OS. Subgroup analysis revealed that a period of ≥ 3 months from diagnosis to systemic therapy enhanced the prognostic effects of the GC regimen. The GC regimen was widely used as the first-line chemotherapy in more than 90% of our study population with metastatic UC. The MVAC regimen showed similar OS to the GC regimen but needed greater use of G-CSF. The GC regimen could be a suitable treatment option for metastatic UC after ≥ 3 months from diagnosis.
The research of a novel WOG-YOLO algorithm for autonomous driving object detection
Authors: Xu Lingzhi , Yan Wei , Ji Jiashu 
Published: March 2023

AbstractObject detection has been one of the critical technologies in autonomous driving. To improve the detection precision, a novel optimization algorithm is presented to enhance the performance of the YOLOv5 model. First, by improving the hunting behavior of the grey wolf algorithm(GWO) and incorporating it into the whale optimization algorithm(WOA), a modified whale optimization algorithm(MWOA) is proposed. The MWOA leverages the population’s concentration ratio to calculate $$p_h$$

p
h

for selecting the hunting branch of GWO or WOA. Tested by six benchmark functions, MWOA is proven to possess better global search ability and stability. Second, the C3 module in YOLOv5 is substituted by G-C3, and an extra detection head is added, thus a highly optimizable detection G-YOLO network is constructed. Based on the self-built dataset, 12 initial hyperparameters in the G-YOLO model are optimized by MWOA using a score fitness function of compound indicators, thus the final hyperparameters are optimized and the whale optimization G-YOLO (WOG-YOLO) model is obtained. In comparison with the YOLOv5s model, the overall mAP increases by 1.7$$\%$$
%
, the mAP of pedestrians increases by 2.6$$\%$$
%
and the mAP of cyclists increases by 2.3$$\%$$
%
.
Resculpting carbon dots via electrochemical etching
Authors: Yang Qingsong , Gavalas Spyridon , Ejsmont Aleksander , Krysmann Marta J. , Guo Jiangtao , Li Li , Guo Xuhong , Kelarakis Antonios 
Published: March 2023

AbstractSubstantial efforts are directed into exploring the structure-properties relationships of photoluminescent Carbon dots (C-dots). This study unravels a resculpting mechanism in C-dots that is triggered by electrochemical etching and proceeds via extensive surface oxidation and carbon–carbon breakage. The process results in the gradual shrinkage of the nanoparticles and can enhance the quantum yield by more than half order of magnitude compared to the untreated analogues.
Concussed patients with visually induced dizziness exhibit increased ocular torsion and vertical vergence during optokinetic gaze-stabilization
Authors: Wibble Tobias , Frattini D. , Benassi M. , Bolzani R. , Pansell T. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractVisually Induced Dizziness (VID) is a common post-concussion sequalae that remains poorly understood and difficult to quantify. The present study aims to identify biomarkers for VID in the form of gaze-stabilizing eye movements. Nine patients with post-commotio VID and nine age-matched healthy controls were recruited by physiotherapists at a local neurorehabilitation centre. Torsional and vergence eye movements were recorded while participants viewed a series of optokinetic rotations where the central- and peripheral regions moved coherently, incoherently, or semi-randomly. Results showed that vergence and torsional velocities were increased in VID patients, reflecting increased oculomotor gain to visual motion, and that responses correlated with symptom severity. Coherent stimulation produced fastest torsional slow-phases across all participants; when faced with confliction directional information, eye movements tended to follow the direction of the central visual field, albeit at slower velocities than during coherent motion, meaning that while torsion was sensitive to visual content of the entire visual field it expressed directional preference to the central stimulation. In conclusion, post-commotio VID was associated with faster slow-phases during optokinetic gaze-stabilization, with both vergence and torsion being correlated to symptom intensity. As torsional tracking remains inaccessible using commercial eye-trackers, vertical vergence may prove particularly accessible for clinical utility.
Transcriptomic analysis of the cerebral hippocampal tissue in spontaneously hypertensive rats exposed to acute hypobaric hypoxia: associations with inflammation and energy metabolism
Authors: Chang Wei , Cui Jinxiu , Li Yajuan , Zang Kehai , Zhang Xutao , Zhang Zhuoru , Jiang Yihong , Ma Qianqian , Qu Shuai , Liu Fengzhou , Xue Junhui 
Published: March 2023

AbstractWe evaluated the effect of acute hypobaric hypoxia (AHH) on the hippocampal region of the brain in early-stage spontaneously hypertensive male rats. The rats were classified into a control (ground level; ~ 400 m altitude) group and an AHH experimental group placed in an animal hypobaric chamber at a simulated altitude of 5500 m for 24 h. RNA-Seq analysis of the brains and hippocampi showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were primarily associated with ossification, fibrillar collagen trimer, and platelet-derived growth factor binding. The DEGs were classified into functional categories including general function prediction, translation, ribosomal structure and biogenesis, replication, recombination, and repair. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the DEGs were primarily associated with relaxin signaling, PI3K-Akt signaling, and amoebiasis pathways. Protein–protein interaction network analysis indicated that 48 DEGs were involved in both inflammation and energy metabolism. Further, we performed validation experiments to show that nine DEGs were closely associated with inflammation and energy metabolism, of which two (Vegfa and Angpt2) and seven (Acta2, Nfkbia, Col1a1, Edn1, Itga1, Ngfr, and Sgk1) genes showed up and downregulated expression, respectively. Collectively, these results indicated that inflammation and energy metabolism-associated gene expression in the hippocampus was altered in early-stage hypertension upon AHH exposure.
Extinction drives a discontinuous temporal pattern of species–area relationships in a microbial microcosm system
Authors: Deng Wei , Li Na , Zhang Chao-Zhi , An Rui , Yang Xiao-Yan , Xiao Wen 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAs the most potential ecological "law", the mechanism of the species-area relationship (SAR) remains controversial. Essentially, the SAR addresses the relationship between regional area and biodiversity, shaped by speciation, extinction and dispersal processes. Extinction is the process of loss and a direct cause of species richness differences in community. Therefore, it is crucial to elucidate the role of extinction in shaping SAR. Since the extinction process has temporal dynamics, we propose the hypothesis that the occurrence of SAR should also have temporal dynamics. Here, we designed independent closed microcosm systems, in which dispersal/speciation can be excluded/neglected to reveal the role of extinction in shaping the temporal dynamics pattern of SAR. We find that extinction can shape SAR in this system independent of the dispersal and speciation process. Due to the temporal dynamics of the extinction, SAR was temporally discontinuous. The small-scale extinctions modified community structure to promote ecosystem stability and shaped SAR, while mass extinction pushed the microcosm system into the next successional stage and dismissed SAR. Our result suggested that SAR could serve as an indicator of ecosystem stability; moreover, temporal discontinuity can explain many controversies in SAR studies.
Ex vivo expansion of circulating tumour cells (CTCs)
Authors: Mohamed Bashir M. , Ward Mark P. , Bates Mark , Spillane Cathy D. , Kelly Tanya , Martin Cara , Gallagher Michael , Heffernan Sheena , Norris Lucy , Kennedy John , Saadeh Feras Abu , Gleeson Noreen , Brooks Doug A. , Brooks Robert D. , Selemidis Stavros , O’Toole Sharon , O’Leary John J. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractCirculating tumour cells (CTCs) are a critical intermediate step in the process of cancer metastasis. The reliability of CTC isolation/purification has limited both the potential to report on metastatic progression and the development of CTCs as targets for therapeutic intervention. Here we report a new methodology, which optimises the culture conditions for CTCs using primary cancer cells as a model system. We exploited the known biology that CTCs thrive in hypoxic conditions, with their survival and proliferation being reliant on the activation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α). We isolated epithelial-like and quasi-mesenchymal CTC phenotypes from the blood of a cancer patient and successfully cultured these cells for more than 8 weeks. The presence of CTC clusters was required to establish and maintain long-term cultures. This novel methodology for the long-term culture of CTCs will aid in the development of downstream applications, including CTC theranostics.
Comparison of moderate-intensity continuous training and high-intensity interval training effects on the Ido1-KYN-Ahr axis in the heart tissue of rats with occlusion of the left anterior descending artery
Authors: Nori Pouria , Haghshenas Rouhollah , Aftabi Younes , Akbari Hakimeh 
Published: March 2023

AbstractMyocardial infarction (MI) affects many molecular pathways in heart cells, including the Ido1-KYN-Ahr axis. This pathway has recently been introduced as a valuable therapeutic target in infarction. We examined the effects of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the axis in the heart tissue of male Wistar rats with occluded left anterior descending (OLAD). Thirty rats (age 10–12 weeks, mean weight 275 ± 25 g) were divided into five groups with 6 animals: Control (Ct) group, MICT group, rats with OLAD as MI group, rats with OLAD treated with MICT (MIMCT group) and rats with OLAD treated with HIIT (MIHIIT group). Rats performed the training protocols for 8 weeks, 5 days a week. HIIT included 7 sets of 4 min running with an intensity of 85–90% VO2max and 3 min of recovery activation between sets. MICT included continuous running at the same distance as HIIT with an intensity of 50–60% VO2max for 50 min. The expressions of Ahr, Cyp1a1, and Ido1 were assayed by real-time PCR. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Kynurenine levels, and AHR, CYP1A1, and IDO1 proteins were detected using ELISA. Data were analyzed using the ANOVA and MANOVA tests. Compared to the CT group, MI caused an increase in all studied factors, but only statistically significant (P < 0.05) for MDA and IDO1. With a greater effect of HIIT, both protocols significantly lowered the proteins expressions in the MIHIIT and MIMCT groups, compared with the MI group (P < 0.001). In healthy rats, only AHR protein significantly decreased in the MICT group compared to the Ct group (P < 0.05). HIIT and MICT protocols significantly reduced the gene and protein expression of Cyp1a1 (P < 0.05) and Ido1 (P < 0.01), and HIIT had a greater effect. In conclusion, both protocols were effective at reducing the levels of Ido1-Kyn-Ahr axis components and oxidative stress in the infarcted heart tissue and HIIT had a higher significant effect.
Exploring regional aspects of 3D facial variation within European individuals
Authors: Wilke Franziska , Herrick Noah , Matthews Harold , Hoskens Hanne , Singh Sylvia , Shaffer John R. , Weinberg Seth M. , Shriver Mark D. , Claes Peter , Walsh Susan 
Published: March 2023

AbstractFacial ancestry can be described as variation that exists in facial features that are shared amongst members of a population due to environmental and genetic effects. Even within Europe, faces vary among subregions and may lead to confounding in genetic association studies if unaccounted for. Genetic studies use genetic principal components (PCs) to describe facial ancestry to circumvent this issue. Yet the phenotypic effect of these genetic PCs on the face has yet to be described, and phenotype-based alternatives compared. In anthropological studies, consensus faces are utilized as they depict a phenotypic, not genetic, ancestry effect. In this study, we explored the effects of regional differences on facial ancestry in 744 Europeans using genetic and anthropological approaches. Both showed similar ancestry effects between subgroups, localized mainly to the forehead, nose, and chin. Consensus faces explained the variation seen in only the first three genetic PCs, differing more in magnitude than shape change. Here we show only minor differences between the two methods and discuss a combined approach as a possible alternative for facial scan correction that is less cohort dependent, more replicable, non-linear, and can be made open access for use across research groups, enhancing future studies in this field.