bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic diversity of the eastern black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis michaeli) in Tanzania; implications for future conservation
Authors: Mellya Ronald V. K. , Hopcraft J. Grant C. , Eblate Ernest M. , Otiende Moses , Chuma Idrissa S. , Macha Emmanuel S. , Wambura Dickson , Kilbride Elizabeth , Mable Barbara K. 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
In the past decade, there has been a drastic decline in the number of Eastern Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis michaeli), due to poaching, leaving few individuals in small, isolated populations that are vulnerable to extinction. However, the genetic consequences of the demographic decline on the remaining populations have not been investigated. Using the mitochondrial control region, this study investigated how current levels of genetic diversity relate to historical patterns, quantified genetic differentiation between extant populations, and the impacts of previous translocations on genetic diversity across populations. A total of 74 eastern black rhinoceroses were sampled from five extant populations in Tanzania and one neighboring cross-border population in the Maasai Mara in Kenya. Six maternal haplotypes were identified, with an overall haplotype diversity of h = 0.7 but low overall nucleotide diversity within populations (π = 0.017) compared to historical populations from Tanzania (π = 0.021). There was extensive variation in haplotype distribution between populations, some geographically close populations didn’t share haplotypes, suggesting limited maternal dispersal. The haplotypes were distributed among three east African haplogroups (Shari-Victoria(CV), Central-East(CE), and East-Africa(EA) as described in previous studies, suggesting that multiple lineages have been preserved despite the loss of haplotypes. One of the haplotypes was highly divergent and matched sequences previously classified as a subspecies that has not been recognized in recent years (Diceros bicornis ladoensis). We recommend that current levels of diversity be maintained by allowing natural movements of rhinoceroses between the populations, with the possibility of introducing additional variations by translocation of individuals between sites.
Association between Treatment Delays and Survival of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients: Analysis from a Nationwide Representative Cohort study in US population
Authors: Xiaoyuan Wei , Yu Siting , Wang Jun , Xiang Zhongzheng , Min Yu , Liu Lei 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Treatment delays have frequently been observed in cancer patients. Whether the treatment delays would impair the survival of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is still unclear.
Methods
The data was derived from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2010 and 2015. Patients were divided into groups of timely treatment (< 1 month), intermediate delay (1–2 months), and long delay (3–6 months). The influence of different treatment delay intervals on long-term survival was evaluated by multivariate Cox regression analysis.
Results
Generally, there were 2,048 NPC patients from the SEER database finally included in this study. There were 551 patients in the early stage (I, II stage: 26.9%) and 1,497 patients in the advanced stage (III, IV stage: 73.1%). No significant difference in overall survival (OS) or cancer-specific survival (CSS) was observed among the three groups, regardless of the stage (p = 0.48 in OS and p = 0.43 in CSS, respectively). However, after adjusting the covariates, a significantly better OS probability were observed in intermediate treatment delay patients compared with timely treatment groups in the whole stage (adjustedHazard ratio (aHR) = 0.86, 95%CI: 0.74–0.99, p = 0.043) and in advanced stage (aHR = 0.85, 95%CI: 0.72-1.00, p = 0.049) NPC patients. Similar results were also observed in the CSS (aHR = 0.84, 95%CI: 0.71–0.98, p = 0.030 in whole stage patients and aHR = 0.83, 95%CI: 0.70–0.99, p = 0.038 in advanced stage patients).
Conclusions
Our results revealed that treatment delays might not impair the survival of NPC patients. Whether intermediate treatment delays could improve the clinical outcomes of NPC patients need further validation.
Synergist Response of the Peach fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata (Sunders) to some Ammonium based proteinaceous food bait attractants
Authors: Hasnain Muhammad , Saeed Shafqat , Naeem-Ullah Unsar , Ullah Sami , Zaka Syed 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Family Tephritidae, Bactrocera zonata is a serious pest, attacking fruits and vegetables causing a large quantitive and qualitative damages throughout the world. Fruit fly required proteinaceous food for sexual maturation and eggs development. Therefore, food bait attractants are widely used for detection, monitoring, mass trapping and controlling fruit flies. We therefore screening out the most suitable synthetic proteinaceous food bait attractants to volatiles distinguished by the fruit fly antennae through Y-shape olfactometer (Behavioral assays). The response of B. zonata adults male and females to some ammonium compounds (ammonium acetate, trimethylamine and putrescine) that mixed with certain food attractants were evaluated under laboratory conditions from 5-day old flies to 30 days old. To find potential mixtures that might be beneficial in developing fruit fly attractants for male and especially for females. So, four base baits developed by mixing protein hydrolysate with Jaggery, papa powder, kachri powder, KOH and guava pulp. Finally, thirty-two (32), synthetic blends were developed when above four base baits mixed with synthetic attractants. Results from the olfactometer bioassay indicated that protein hydrolysate + jaggery, protein hydrolysate + jaggery + AA and, protein hydrolysate + Jaggery + AA + TMA + Putrescine were effective both male and female throughout the adult life span when jaggery was used as base baits. Similarly, protein hydrolysate + Guava pulp + AA + TMA and protein hydrolysate + Guava pulp + AA + TMA + Putrescine also effective for the attraction of both male and female from 5th to 30 days life span when guava pulp was used as base baits. There was also variation in the pH of the baits due to different chemical composition of attractants as well as different food constituents. Bait proteins pH was a significant factor that may be strongly associated with the attraction efficiency of male and female fruit flies B. zonata.
Breast-lesion assessment using amide proton transfer-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging
Authors: Zhuang Lulu , Lian Chun , Wang Zehao , Dai Yi , Zhang Ximin , Huang Rong , Cheng Guanxun 
Published: February 2023

Abstract

Background
Previous studies have indicated that amide proton transfer-weighted imaging (APTWI) could be utilized for differentiating benign and malignant tumors. The APTWI technology has increasingly being applied to breast tumor research in recent years. However, according to the latest literature retrieval, no relevant previous studies compared the value of APTWI and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging in distinguishing benign lesions from malignant lesions. In the present study, the application of APTWI and DCE for differentiating the benign and malignant breast lesions was investigated.
Methods
APTWI was performed on 40 patients (42 lesions) who were enrolled in this prospective study. The lesions were split into two groups, one with malignant breast lesions (n = 28) and the other with benign breast lesions (n = 14), based on the results of the histology. The measured image characteristics (APT value, ADC value, and time-of-intensity-curve type) were compared between the two groups, and the ROC curve was used to quantify the diagnostic performance on the basis of these factors. The correlation between the APT values and the estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, and Ki-67 expression levels and histological grades was examined using Spearman’s correlation coefficient.
Results
The measured APT and ADC values showed a strong inter-observer agreement according to the intraclass correlation coefficients (0.954 and 0.825). Compared to benign lesions, malignant lesions had significantly higher APT values (3.18 ± 1.07 and 2.01 ± 0.51, p < 0.001). Based on APTWI, DCE, DWI, and ADC + APTWI, ADC + DCE, and DCE + APTWI, the area-under-the-curve values were 0.915, 0.815, 0.878, 0.921, 0.916, and 0.936, respectively.
Conclusions
APTWI is a potentially promising method in differentiating benign and malignant breast lesions, and may it become a great substitute for DCE examination in the future.
Resistivity saturation in semi-conducting polyacetylene molecular wires
Authors: Valli Angelo , Tomczak Jan M. 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Realizing the promises of molecular electronic devices requires an understanding of transport on the nanoscale. Here, we consider a Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model for semi-conducting trans-polyacetylene molecular wires in which we endow charge carriers with a finite lifetime. The aim of this exercise is two-fold: (i) the simplicity of the model allows an insightful numerical and analytical comparison of the Landauer and Kubo linear response formalism; (ii) we distill the prototypical characteristics of charge transport through gapped mesoscopic systems and compare these to bulk semiconductors. We find that both techniques yield a residual differential conduction at low temperatures for contacted polyacetylene chains of arbitrary length—in line with the resistivity saturation in some correlated narrow-gap semiconductors. Quantitative agreement, however, is limited to not too long molecules. Indeed, while the Landauer transmission is suppressed exponentially with the system size, the Kubo response only decays hyperbolically. Our findings inform the choice of transport methodologies for the ab initio modelling of molecular devices.
TFE3 is a Novel Biomarker of Ovarian Sclerosing Stromal Tumours
Authors: Zhao Li , Zhou Yan , Liu Yuping , Luo Qiuping , Jiang Qingping , Wang Hui , Wang Na 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Sclerosing stromal tumours of the ovary are benign and tend to occur in young women with lobular structures at low frequencies. Three types of cells, luteinized cells, short spindle myoid cells, and intermediate cells, are found in lobules, which are rich in blood vessels. Currently, immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization are used to detect normal follicles, sclerosing stromal tumours, granulosa cell tumours, and theca fibromas. Our research found the expression of transcription factor enhancer 3 (TFE3) was moderately and strongly positive in the inner thecal cell layer of normal follicles. It was expressed in seven out of eight sclerosing stromal tumours, mainly in luteinized cells, but not in 20 granulosa cell tumours and 1 microcystic stromal tumour. In nine cases of theca cell tumours and theca fibromas, TFE3 was not expressed, except in two cases of weak TFE3 expression. Eight cases of sclerosing stromal tumours were analysed by FISH using a TFE3 separation probe, and the results were negative. In a word, as a nuclear transcription protein, TFE3 was specifically expressed in sclerosing stromal tumours and could serve as a new marker for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of sclerosing stromal tumours.
Upper cervical anterior fusion to C2 with temporary infrahyoid muscle detachment: A clinical case series and description of surgical technique
Authors: Okamoto Naoki , Okazaki Rentaro , Azuma Seiichi 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background:
Anterior cervical spine surgery to C2 (ACSS-C2) is a challenging procedure that often results in postoperative persistent dysphagia or dyspnea due to injury to the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (iSLN) or the relatively narrow and soft oropharynx. This study aimed to describe surgical outcomes of our modified approach with temporary infrahyoid muscle detachment during ACSS-C2 in a case series of patients.
Methods:
Patients who underwent ACSS-C2 at two institutions between June 2015 and January 2022 were prospectively enrolled. Intraoperatively, we performed temporary detachment of the infrahyoid muscle from the hyoid bone to improve laryngeal mobility and accessibility to C2. This procedure also allowed for the easy identification and preservation of the iSLN. We retrospectively investigated the surgery-related complications and outcomes of bony fusion.
Results:
Twelve patients were enrolled in this study; five and seven patients underwent single- and multi-level fusion surgery, respectively. Intraoperative preservation of the iSLN and proper visualization of C2 were achieved in all cases. Subsequent decompression and instrumentation were successfully performed. Two elderly patients (78 and 81 years, respectively) who underwent multi-level fusion experienced transient postoperative dysphagia. None of the patients required unplanned reintubation or revision surgery because of instrumentation failure. Solid bony fusion was achieved in all cases.
Conclusions:
Our modified approach with temporary infrahyoid muscle detachment during ACSS-C2 reduces the incidence of postoperative persistent dysphagia and dyspnea. However, in elderly patients at high risk for postoperative dysphagia, multi-level fusion should be avoided, and alternative procedures should be considered.
A YOLOv5s-GC-based surface defect detection method of strip steel
Authors: LI Xi-Xing , YANG Rui , ZHOU Hong-Di 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
The surface defect detection of strip steel is very important for identifying the steel quality which has a great significance for improving the production efficiency and ensuring the products’ quality. However, the traditional strip surface defect detection algorithm cannot effectively balance the detection speed and detection accuracy that leads to a low practical detection efficiency. Therefore, a novel detection method based on YOLOv5s-GC has been proposed. Firstly, the ResNet-Mini has been developed to pre-classify the original dataset to reduce the amount of operation of the YOLOv5s-GC network. Secondly, an image preprocessing approach has been proposed to enhance the defect features, which contains two steps. The first step is combining the ResNet-Mini network weights with Grad-CAM to crop the defective areas, and simultaneously removing the background interference; the second step is applying the OTSU and Normal Distribution Enhancement Algorithm (NDEA) to extract the feature grayscale. Thirdly, size enhance strategy has been introduced to obtain a larger size of the data which can simulate the actucal application scenario with large area saccade of strip steel. Finally, the CBL module of YOLOv5s has been replaced by GhostBottleneck and the convolutional block attention module (CBAM) has been added in the Neck layer. From the final experimental results, relative to the original YOLOv5s algorithm, the YOLOv5s-GC’s average accuracy in the detection of 6 types of strip steel has reached to 77.5%, which is 7.9% higher than YOLOv5s, and detection accuracy rate of the average precision is 95.6%, at the same time, the calculation amount of YOLOv5s-GC is reduced by 48% and the inference speed is increased by 24%.
Toxicity assessment of the biogenic amines cadaverine and putrescine in aquatic organisms
Authors: Braga Ana Paula Andrade , Vallim José Henrique , Castanha Rodrigo Fernandes , Castro Vera Lucia Scherholz Salgado , Marin-Morales Maria Aparecida 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Cemeteries are among the most polluting sources of groundwater and surface water in the world. Necro-leachate, a liquid released during the putrefaction of corpses, is the main culprit of such pollution. Among the compounds in this liquid are the potentially toxic amines cadaverine and putrescine, which are still poorly understood in terms of the environmental health risks they pose. This study evaluated the acute toxicity of cadaverine and putrescine, using efficient contamination bioindicators of aquatic environments. Danio rerio and Daphnia magna were exposed to both amines individually or in a mixture. Acute toxicity (LC50) was then observed in both organisms after exposure to the amines individually. Cadaverine showed higher lethality for D. magna (LC50 – 9.5 mg. L-1) and D. rerio (LC50 - 335.5 mg. L-1) than did putrescine (LC50 - 36.7 mg. L-1 and LC50- 452.6 mg. L-1, respectively). In embryotoxicity tests with D. rerio (hatching rate and malformations), delayed hatching, vertebral column malformations, and pericardial edema were observed after exposure to an amine mixture. However, co-exposure to cadaverine and putrescine was not toxic to D. magna. The results of this study confirmed the efficiency of the bioindicators used to assess contaminants in cemeteries and raised awareness of the toxic potential of cadaveric decomposition by-products.
Integration of Inherited Sterility and inoculative releases of a Miridae predator for the control of the tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta
Authors: Candás Lucas , Cagnotti Cynthia L. , López Silvia N. 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Tuta absoluta is one of the most devastating pests of tomato crops worldwide. The Inherited Sterility technique (IS) is an environmentally friendly option to control lepidopteran pests which efficiency is improved when it is combined with other compatible methods, such as biological control (BC). Tupiocoris cucurbitaceus is a predator that can complete its life cycle preying only on T. absoluta eggs from irradiated parental males or untreated parents. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of the integration of T. cucurbitaceus with the IS technique on the suppression of T. absoluta population. Four treatments were carried out into cages in a greenhouse: T1, where untreated T. absoluta adults were released; T2 consisted of the release of irradiated T. absoluta adults in an over flooding ratio of 15:1 (irradiated: untreated adults); T3, release of couples of T. cucurbitaceus; and T4 consisted in the combination of T2 and T3 (IS-BC combination). The number of T. absoluta eggs and larvae in each treatment and the number of T. cucurbitaceus nymphs and adults in T3 and T4 were counted twice a week during 3 generations of T. absoluta. The moth population in T1 was higher than in the other treatments in the three peaks of larval production. The highest population suppression was obtained in T4 respect of the other treatments. The use of T. cucurbitaceus combined with the IS for the control of T. absoluta seems to have potential in view of the results obtained in this work.
Formulating environmentally benign wood preservatives based on chicken feather protein combined with copper and boron salts
Authors: Xia Yan , Zhou Yonghui , Qi Jiyun , Zhang Chen , Deng Shuduan , Luo Bei , Wen Jialong , Fan Mizi 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Chicken feather is employed as a source of protein and combined with copper and boron salts to prepare chicken feather protein-based wood preservatives (CFP-WP). The treatability, leachability, chemical structure, crystallinity, thermal properties, micromorphology and decay resistance against fungi of treated wood samples are investigated to explore the efficacy and working mechanisms. The results showed that CFP-WP could penetrate into the wood structure, and NMR analysis indicated the small molecule amino acids hydrolyzed from chicken feather could successfully penetrate into wood. Furthermore, results of FT-IR, XRD, TGA/DTG analysis showed that the active ingredients of preservatives could interact with wood constituents, and CFP-WP were well fixed onto wood blocks. The morphology analysis and decay experiments verified that CFP-WP could protect wood against decay fungi efficiently and prolong the wood service life in consequence. The excellent functionalities of CFP-WP suggests that this eco-formulation could offer great potential to be used as environmentally benign wood preservatives with a more competitive cost.
Deposition of Daldinia starbaeckii (ELF) functionalized silver nanoparticles on Urinary catheter tube using chitosan polymer to prevent bacterial biofilms formation during UTI infection
Authors: Bharti Shweta , Paliya Balwant Singh , Nayaka Sanjeeva , Kumar Rajesh 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) are the most common healthcare problem in hospitals. In this study, we isolated and the Daldinia starbaeckii (An endolichenic fungus from Roccella montagnie) and its biomass extract was used to simultaneously synthesize and deposit DSFAgNPs on the inner and outer surfaces of the catheter tube using chitosan biopolymer via In-Situ deposition method. Perfectly designed D. starbaeckii extract functionalized DSFAgNPs were characterized by UV spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM, EDS, TEM, and XRD. The microbial efficacy of DSFAgNPs & DSFAgNPs coated catheter (CTH3) was evaluated against nine human pathogenic gram (+/-) ive strains. Results indicated DSFAgNPs showed significant biological activity against both gram (+/-) ive bacteria with an average MIC of 4µl/ml. The most promising activity was observed against Helicobacter pylori. CTH3 treated bacterial strains showed a significant reduction in colony formation unit (CFU/ml) in broth culture assay. Antibiofilm activity of CTH3 showed strong inhibition of biofilm formation (85%).
Potential role of the mTOR-C1-PGC1α-PPARα axis under type-II diabetes and hypertension in the human heart
Authors: Hang Tianyu , Lumpuy-Castillo Jairo , Goikoetxea-Usandizaga Naroa , Azkargorta Mikel , Aldámiz Gonzalo , Martínez-Milla Juan , Forteza Alberto , Cortina JMaría , Egido Jesús , Elortza Félix , Martínez-Chantar Malu , Tuñón José , Lorenzo Óscar 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background: Type-2 diabetes (T2DM) and arterial hypertension (HTN) are major risk factors for heart failure. Importantly, these pathologies could induce synergetic alterations in the heart, and the discovery of key molecular signaling may suggest new targets for therapy.
Methods and Results:: Intraoperative cardiac biopsies were obtained from patients with or without HTN and/or T2DM. Control (n=5), HTN (n=7) and HTN+T2DM (n=7) samples were analyzed by proteomics and bioinformatics. Cultured cardiomyocytes were used for further in vitro studies.
In cardiac biopsies from patients with cardiopathy but preserved systolic function we found significant alterations of 677 proteins. After filtered out non-cardiac factors, 529 and 41 were changed in HTN-T2DM and in HTN subjects, respectively, against control. Interestingly, 81% of proteins in HTN-T2DM were distinct from HTN, while 95% from HTN were common with HTN-T2DM. In addition, 78 factors were differentially expressed in HTN-T2DM against HTN, predominantly downregulated proteins of mitochondrial respiration and lipid oxidation. Bioinformatic analyses suggested implication of mTOR signaling and reduction of AMPK and PPARα activation, and regulation of PGC1α, fatty acid oxidation, and oxidative phosphorylation. In cultured cardiomyocytes, an excess of palmitate activated mTOR-C1 complex and subsequent attenuation of PGC1α-PPARα transcription of b-oxidation and mitochondrial electron chain factors, affecting the mitochondrial/glycolytic ATP synthesis.
Conclusions: The coexistence of HTN and T2DM induced higher alterations in cardiac proteins than HTN. HTN-T2DM subjects exhibited a dramatic downregulation of mitochondrial respiration and lipid metabolism. The mTOR-C1-PGC1α-PPARα axis might account as a target for future therapies.