bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of some local plant extracts on fatty acid composition of fish (Alestes baremoze) during smoking and sun drying in the Far‐North region of Cameroon
Authors: Tabanty Zambou Goldefroy , Tenyang Noël , Birault Lucie , Kermarrec Alice , Gacel Agnes , Kansci Germain , Meynier Anne , Guyot Sylvain , Ponka Roger 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe objective of this study was to assess the antioxidant activities of three plant extracts (Moringa oleifera leaves, Xylopia aethiopica fruits, and Allium cepa leaves) and to evaluate their effects on the preservation of fish polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) during smoking and sun‐drying processes. PUFAs are highly prone to oxidation during fish processing. The plant extracts were analyzed for their polyphenol contents and were evaluated for their total antiradical capacity. The polyphenol components of each plant were characterized. The hydroethanolic and aqueous extracts were added to the fish at concentrations of 3, 6, 9, and 12 g/L and 10, 20, 30, and 40 g/L, respectively. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) was used as a positive control at a concentration of 2 g/L to compare the antioxidant effects of the plant extracts. The treated fish was subjected to smoking or sun drying and the fatty acid composition of the fish lipid extract was assessed. The results showed that the total polyphenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents varied significantly from one plant extract to the other (p < .05). The radical scavenging and FRAP increased significantly with the concentration of the plant extracts (p < .05). An HPLC analysis of the extracts led to the preliminary identification of four hydroxycinnamic acids in M. oleifera and X. aethiopica, one anthocyanin and one flavone glycoside in M. oleifera, and four flavan‐3‐ols in X. aethiopica. Moreover, eight flavonols were preliminarily identified in the three plants. Compared to the control product, these plant extracts significantly protected fish PUFAs from oxidation (p < .05). The aqueous extract of A. cepa at 40 g/L better preserved omega‐3 in fish during smoking and sun drying than the control product. Incorporating the three plant extracts during smoking and sun‐drying processes can effectively preserve the PUFAs in fish. Therefore, these plants are viable sources of natural antioxidants in the preservation of fish products.
Investigation of the Effects of Working Conditions on Performance of Planar and Cylindrical Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Authors: Cellek Muhammed Salih , Demircan Tolga 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn this study, the effects of varying operating conditions on cell performance in cylindrical and planar PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) fuel cells with equal geometrical properties are investigated numerically. For this purpose, planar and cylindrical fuel cells are analyzed and the changes in performance are compared with each other. In particular, by increasing the temperature from 363 to 373 K, the current density decreases by ≈50%. When the pressure is increased from 1 atm to 1.2 atm, the current density increases by 20% and 2% in cylindrical and planar fuel cells, respectively. When the stoichiometric ratio is increased from 1 to 1.5, the current density increases by 25% and 32% for cylindrical and planar fuel cells, respectively. However, it decreases slightly after 1.5 value of the stoichiometric ratio. As a result, it is seen that temperature has a more significant effect on fuel cell performance than other operating conditions. It can be said that the planar fuel cell can operate with more stable performance than the cylindrical fuel cell when the temperature and pressure are changed. However, in the case of changing the stoichiometric ratio, there is no significant difference in the operating performance of both fuel cells.
Clinical‐functional brain connectivity signature predicts longitudinal symptom improvement after acupuncture treatment in patients with functional dyspepsia
Authors: Yin Tao , Qu Yuzhu , Mao Yangke , Zhang Pan , Ma Peihong , He Zhaoxuan , Sun Ruirui , Lu Jin , Chen Yuan , Yin Shuai , Gong Qiyong , Tang Yong , Liang Fanrong , Zeng Fang 
Published: August 2023

AbstractWhilst acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment for functional dyspepsia (FD), its efficacy varies significantly among patients. Knowing beforehand how each patient responds to acupuncture treatment will facilitate the ability to produce personalized prescriptions, therefore, improving acupuncture efficacy. The objective of this study was to construct the prediction model, based on the clinical‐neuroimaging signature, to forecast the individual symptom improvement of FD patients following a 4‐week acupuncture treatment and to identify the critical predictive features that could potentially serve as biomarkers for predicting the efficacy of acupuncture for FD. Clinical‐functional brain connectivity signatures were extracted from samples in the training‐test set (100 FD patients) and independent validation set (60 FD patients). Based on these signatures and support vector machine algorithms, prediction models were developed in the training test set, followed by model performance evaluation and predictive features extraction. Subsequently, the external robustness of the extracted predictive features in predicting acupuncture efficacy was evaluated by the independent validation set. The developed prediction models possessed an accuracy of 88% in predicting acupuncture responders, as well as an R2 of 0.453 in forecasting symptom relief. Factors that contributed significantly to stronger responsiveness of patients to acupuncture therapy included higher resting‐state functional connectivity associated with the orbitofrontal gyrus, caudate, hippocampus, and anterior insula, as well as higher baseline scores of the Symptom Index of Dyspepsia and shorter durations of the condition. Furthermore, the robustness of these features in predicting the efficacy of acupuncture for FD was verified through various machine learning algorithms and independent samples and remained stable in univariate and multivariate analyses. These findings suggest that it is both feasible and reliable to predict the efficacy of acupuncture for FD based on the pre‐treatment clinical‐neuroimaging signature. The established prediction framework will promote the identification of suitable candidates for acupuncture treatment, thereby improving the efficacy and reducing the cost of acupuncture for FD.
Quantifying patterns of streamflow peaks over the southeastern United States using a long‐term retrospective data set
Authors: Raczyński K. , Dyer J. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractUtilizing simulated daily flow values for 61 948 stream nodes from the National Water Model (NWM) v.2.1 retrospective data set, which covers the period 1979–2020, streamflow peaks (SFP) were determined using an objective threshold method based on the Fisher‐Jenks breakpoint algorithm. This approach provides estimates of low probability, high in‐channel water level conditions. Strong spatial relations in temporal streamflow peak distribution were observed, with four main spatial clusters covering: (1) the central parts of Mississippi to South Carolina; (2) the south and north parts of Mississippi to South Carolina; (3) Florida, the Gulf Coast, and parts of North Carolina and Virginia; and (4) the Atlantic Coast and parts of the Gulf Coast. The first area is characterized by high multiannual SFP occurrence with long total durations, high contribution to total discharge, and occurrence throughout the year with peaks in February and March. Increasing annual peak trends are present locally. The second area is characterized by similar parameters with increased flash flooding potential. In the third area, lower occurrence and share in total discharge are observed, with two peaks of occurrence in the September–October and March periods. In the fourth region, the lowest occurrences and shortest durations are present, along with strong seasonality manifested in September–October occurrences that constitute over 80% of all SFP volumes. Decreasing trends in maximal monthly flows for the June–October period are also observed here. The results provide valuable regionalized information about historical high flow characteristics across the southeast United States, which can be used as a basis for improved long‐term flood prediction based on seasonality models and constitute a baseline for defining regional changes in high flow frequency and distribution.
Toddlers' self‐regulation development from 14 to 26 months: The unique role of paternal discipline
Authors: Wang Zheyan , Li Wei , Woudstra Mi‐lan , Wang Lamei 
Published: August 2023

AbstractToddlerhood is a critical period for children's self‐regulation development during which parenting is undoubtedly a key influencing factor. The role that parents especially fathers play in shaping the emergence of self‐regulation is still under investigation. This longitudinal study was carried out in 38 families in China, in which toddlers and both parents participated in two waves of observations during home visits, one performed when the toddlers were around 14 months old and another one 12 months later. Children's self‐regulation was measured by behaviour control and Stroop tasks. Parental positive and negative discipline was coded by videotaped parent–child interactions. Results indicated that the mothers showed more positive discipline than the fathers at child 14 months, and there were no significant differences in positive and negative discipline between the fathers and mothers at child 26 months, neither in their negative discipline at child 14 months. Only the fathers' positive and negative discipline at child 14 months both significantly predicted toddlers' behaviour control at 26 months—over and above maternal discipline. This study reveals fathers' unique and irreplaceable contributions to children's early self‐regulation development.
How languages differ: Evidence from firm‐level stock price crash risk in 36 countries
Authors: Ho Kung‐Cheng 
Published: August 2023

AbstractSpeakers of weak future time reference (FTR) languages (e.g., Chinese) do not need to grammatically mark future events, whereas speakers of strong FTR languages (e.g., English) do. We conjectured that weak FTR languages lead speakers to hold less precise beliefs about timing and, hence, are associated with higher stock price crash risk. Accordingly, using a comprehensive sample of firms in 36 countries (regions) with 221,414 observations from 1988 to 2017, we found that stock price crash risk was significantly higher in regions dominated by speakers of weak FTR languages. Furthermore, the effect of FTR on stock price crash risk was weakened in countries with stronger formal and informal institutions (e.g., high disclosure quality, greater transparency, and less corruption). Our results gave a new explanation for the heterogeneity in stock price crash risk, provided insights into whether language is an economic institution, and added to the research on the effects of languages on economic and financial outcomes.
Long‐term data of maintained salmonid populations show alarming conditions, albeit signs of natural reproduction
Authors: Soto Ismael , Dietrich Jana S. , Monteoliva Agustín P. , Haubrock Phillip J. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractHealthy populations of salmonids are integral for the functioning of ecosystems and a valuable part of sociocultural identities. Past declines were attributed to anthropogenic stressors, raising concern about the sustainability of populations. Accordingly, many salmonids are listed on red lists and protected by national legislation. One region where salmonid populations are threatened is Northern Spain, the most southern distribution of both the Atlantic salmon (protected under the EU Habitat Directive) and the brown trout. Here, we collated ~700 biomonitoring samples of both species collected across 177 sites over a 10‐year period (2010–2019) to describe ongoing trends in these species and to relate them to site characteristics and potential drivers which may modulate these trends. We showed that both species have declined substantially, with stocked individuals constituting the majority of both populations. Natural reproduction was almost entirely absent for the brown trout (<1%), but present in the Atlantic salmon (~20%). Both species expressed distinct spatial patterns, likely related to their stocking and habitat preferences. As a result, we not only underline alarming conditions of both species, but also question the effectiveness of currently employed stocking efforts. Given that both species are of increasing conservation concern, river basin‐specific analyses are required to identify limiting factors on which conservation actions can be taken. In the evaluated river systems, identified targets include dam removal and pollution reduction, concomitant to the implementation of more effective stocking practices to reduce dependency and maximise conservation benefits for aquatic populations.
Performance of Fracture Risk Assessment Tools by Race and Ethnicity: A Systematic Review for the ASBMR Task Force on Clinical Algorithms for Fracture Risk
Authors: Fink Howard A. , Butler Mary E. , Claussen Amy M. , Collins Erin S. , Krohn Kristina M. , Taylor Brent C. , Tikabo Sina S. , Vang Denny , Zerzan Nicholas L. , Ensrud Kristine E. 
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT
The American Society of Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) Professional Practice Committee charged an ASBMR Task Force on Clinical Algorithms for Fracture Risk to review the evidence on whether current approaches for differentiating fracture risk based on race and ethnicity are necessary and valid. To help address these charges, we performed a systematic literature review investigating performance of calculators for predicting incident fractures within and across race and ethnicity groups in middle-aged and older US adults. We included English-language, controlled or prospective cohort studies that enrolled US adults aged &gt;40 years and reported tool performance predicting incident fractures within individual race and ethnicity groups for up to 10 years. From 4838 identified references, six reports met eligibility criteria, all in women. Just three, all from one study, included results in non-white individuals. In these three reports, non-white women experienced relatively few major osteoporotic fractures (MOFs), especially hip fractures, and risk thresholds for predicting fractures in non-white women were derived from risks in the overall, predominantly white study population. One report suggested the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) without bone mineral density (BMD) overestimated hip fracture similarly across race and ethnicity groups (black, Hispanic, American Indian, Asian, white) but overestimated MOF more in non-white than White women. However, these three reports were inconclusive regarding whether discrimination of FRAX or the Garvan calculator without BMD or of FRAX with BMD for MOF or hip fracture differed between white versus black women. This uncertainty was at least partly due to imprecise hip fracture estimates in black women. No reports examined whether ratios of observed to predicted hip fracture risks within each race or ethnicity group varied across levels of predicted hip fracture risk. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR). This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
Application of conformational space annealing to the protein structure modeling using cryo‐EM maps
Authors: Park Jimin , Joung InSuk , Joo Keehyoung , Lee Jooyoung 
Published: August 2023

AbstractConformational space annealing (CSA), a global optimization method, has been applied to various protein structure modeling tasks. In this paper, we applied CSA to the cryo‐EM structure modeling task by combining the python subroutine of CSA (PyCSA) and the fast relax (FastRelax) protocol of PyRosetta. Refinement of initial structures generated from two methods, rigid fitting of predicted structures to the Cryo‐EM map and de novo protein modeling by tracing the Cryo‐EM map, was performed by CSA. In the refinement of the rigid‐fitted structures, the final models showed that CSA can generate reliable atomic structures of proteins, even when large movements of protein domains were required. In the de novo modeling case, although the overall structural qualities of the final models were rather dependent on the initial models, the final models generated by CSA showed improved MolProbity scores and cross‐correlation coefficients to the maps. These results suggest that CSA can accomplish flexible fitting and refinement together by sampling diverse conformations effectively and thus can be utilized for cryo‐EM structure modeling.
Apoptosis inhibitor of macrophages/CD5L enhances phagocytosis in the trabecular meshwork cells and regulates ocular hypertension
Authors: Nemoto Hotaka , Honjo Megumi , Arai Satoko , Miyazaki Toru , Aihara Makoto 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe trabecular meshwork (TM) cells of the eye are important for controlling intraocular pressure (IOP) and regulating outflow resistance in the aqueous humor. TM cells can remove particles and cellular debris by phagocytosis, decreasing both outflow resistance and IOP. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigate whether apoptosis inhibitor of macrophages (AIM), which mediates the removal of dead cells and debris in renal tubular epithelial cells, regulates the phagocytic capacity of TM cells. In vitro experiments revealed that CD36, the main receptor for AIM, colocalized with AIM in human TM cells; additionally, phagocytosis was stimulated when AIM was provided. Furthermore, in a mouse model with transient IOP elevation induced by laser iridotomy (LI), removal of accumulated iris pigment epithelial cells or debris in the TM and recovery of IOP to baseline levels were delayed in AIM−/− mice, compared with control mice. However, treatment with AIM eyedrops rescued AIM−/− mice from the elevated IOP after LI. Since AIM is a protein known to inhibit macrophage apoptosis, we additionally verified its involvement in macrophage removal of cellular debris and IOP. There were no statistically significant differences in the number of macrophages between control mice and AIM−/− mice in the TM. Additionally, we confirmed the rescue effect of the rAIM eyedrops after macrophages had been removed by clodronate liposomes. Therefore, AIM plays an important role in regulating the phagocytic capacity of TM cells, thereby affecting outflow resistance. Our results suggest that drugs targeting the phagocytic capacity of TM cells via the AIM–CD36 pathway may be used to treat glaucoma.
A novel splice variant of the human MSTN gene encodes a myostatin‐specific myostatin inhibitor
Authors: Maeta Kazuhiro , Farea Manal , Nishio Hisahide , Matsuo Masafumi 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundMyostatin, encoded by the MSTN gene comprising 3 exons, is a potent negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth. Although a variety of myostatin inhibitors have been invented for increasing muscle mass in muscle wasting diseases, no effective inhibitor is currently available for clinical use. Myostatin isoforms in several animals have been reported to inhibit myostatin, but an isoform has never been identified for the human MSTN gene, a conserved gene among animals. Here, a splice variant of the human MSTN gene was explored.MethodsTranscripts and proteins were analysed by reverse transcription‐PCR amplification and western blotting, respectively. Proteins were expressed from expression plasmid. Myostatin signalling was assayed by the SMAD‐responsive luciferase activity. Cell proliferation was assayed by the Cell Counting Kit‐8 (CCK‐8) assay and cell counting. Cell cycle was analysed by the FastFUCCI system.ResultsReverse transcription‐PCR amplification of the full‐length MSTN transcript in CRL‐2061 rhabdomyosarcoma cells revealed two bands consisting of a thick expected‐size product and a thin additional small‐size product. Sequencing of the small‐size product showed a 963‐bp deletion in the 5′ end of exon 3, creating exon 3s, which contained unusual splice acceptor TG dinucleotides. The novel variant was identified in other human cell lines, although it was not identified in skeletal muscle. The 251‐amino acid isoform encoded by the novel variant (myostatin‐b) was identified in CRL‐2061 rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Transfection of a myostatin‐b expression plasmid into CRL‐2061 and myoblast cells inhibited endogenous myostatin signalling (44%, P < 0.001 and 63%, P < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, myostatin‐b inhibited myostatin signalling induced by recombinant myostatin (68.8%, P < 0.001). In remarkable contrast, myostatin‐b did not inhibit the myostatin signalling induced by recombinant growth differentiation factor 11 (9.2%, P = 0.70), transforming growth factor β (+3.1%, P = 0.83) or activin A (+1.1%, P = 0.96). These results indicate the myostatin‐specific inhibitory effect of myostatin‐b. Notably, the expression of myostatin‐b in myoblasts significantly enhanced cell proliferation higher than the mock‐transfected cells by the CCK‐8 and direct cell counting assays (60%, P < 0.05 and 39%, P < 0.05, respectively). Myostatin‐b increased the percentage of S‐phase cells significantly higher than that of the mock‐transfected cells (53% vs. 80%, P < 0.05).ConclusionsWe cloned a novel human MSTN variant produced by unorthodox splicing. The variant encoded a novel myostatin isoform, myostatin‐b, that inhibited myostatin signalling by myostatin‐specific manner and enhanced myoblast proliferation by shifting cell cycle. Myostatin‐b, which has myostatin‐specific inhibitory activity, could be developed as a natural myostatin inhibitor.
Ethylene production by partial oxidation of biogas using lime as catalyst
Authors: May Izabelly Cassia , Perez‐Lopez Oscar W 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) is an interesting route for direct conversion of methane into ethylene and ethane. Nevertheless, COx is a secondary product of this route, which decreases the selectivity of hydrocarbons. In this work it is proposed to overcome this drawback by using biogas as source of methane. In addition to being a renewable source of methane, the presence of CO2 in biogas may shift the balance of the methane combustion. For this purpose, it was evaluated how process conditions such as O2 and CO2 flow rates and temperature affect biogas‐based OCM, in the temperature range of 650–800 °C, using lime as catalyst.RESULTSThe increase in CO2 flow from 0 to 15 mL.min−1 increased the ethylene selectivity from 25.9% to 44.5% at 800 °C. As consequence, CO2 formation dropped from 53.9% to 18.3%. Methane conversion was not affected significantly by CO2 flow rate, remaining in the range of 22–25%. O2 flow was essential to activate the OCM reaction and the presence of higher concentrations of O2 favored the selectivity of ethylene, but also increased the CO2 produced through methane combustion. In the OCM experiments with variable flow of CO2, the highest C2 yield of 18% was obtained for the highest flow of co‐fed CO2, whereas the experiments with biogas and variable O2 flow showed the highest yield of ethylene for the highest flow of air co‐fed.CONCLUSIONThus, biogas‐based OCM was shown to be a promising route to improve C2 selectivity, since the CO2 present in the biogas minimizes the formation of CO2 in the reaction. The use of lime as a low‐cost catalyst proved to be viable for the OCM reaction, presenting results compatible with those obtained for catalysts with more complex composition. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.