bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association between endometrial blood and clinical outcome in frozen single blastocyst transfer cycles
Authors: Zhang Qian , Wang Xiaolong , Li Zhishu , Wang Yinghua , Lu Hai’Ou , Xiao Yuhong , Yu Yuexin 
Published: March 2023

Background: The success of embryo transfer cycle depends mainly on the quality of embryo and endometrial receptivity. Ultrasound examination is still the most widely used non-invasive evaluation method for its advantages of convenience, non-invasiveness and repeatability. Ultrasound-measured endometrial blood flow is one of the important evaluation indicators of morphology.Aims: To investigate the effect of the number of endometrial blood flow branches on pregnancy outcome of frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles which have undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT-FET).Material and methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed looking at a total of 1390 HRT-FET cycles from our reproductive medicine center between January 2017 to December 2021, which transferred one blastocyst frozen on day 5 with good quality in morphology. Associations between endometrial blood flow branches and pregnancy outcomes were evaluated with multivariable linear regression analysis.Results: The number of endometrial blood flow branches was independently associated with clinical pregnancy (OR 1.10; 95% CI 1.02–1.20). After adjusting for potential confounders, the effect size (odds ratio) was 1.09 (95% CI 1.00–1.19), and the results showed that the clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate of T2 and T3 groups were significantly higher than those in group T1 (p &lt; 0.05). Subgroup analysis showed that a consistent association between the endometrial blood flow branches and clinical pregnancy in all subgroups.Conclusion: Our study provided evidence for the influence of endometrial blood flow on pregnancy outcomes. There may be an independent association between the number of endometrial blood flow branches and pregnancy outcomes in frozen-thawed single blastocyst transfer cycles.
An in vivo study of isotropic and anisotropic wall stress in a hyperelastic holzapfel-gasser-ogden model in the human abdominal aorta: Effects of age and sex
Authors: Karlsson Jerker , Stålhand Jonas , Carlhäll Carl-Johan , Länne Toste , Engvall Jan 
Published: March 2023

Background: Wall stress of the abdominal aorta (AA) appears to be an important factor in the assessment of risk for rupture based on the relationship between blood pressure and aortic diameter. We therefore investigated peak wall stress as well as isotropic and anisotropic wall stress of AA.Methods: Thirty healthy adults (male = 15) were included. Pulsatile diameter changes were determined non-invasively by an echo-tracking system, and intra-aortic pressure was measured simultaneously. A computer based mechanical model was used to compute the isotropic and anisotropic components of circumferential and longitudinal stresses.Results: Elderly males had higher total wall stress and a higher isotropic stress component in the circumferential direction and higher total longitudinal wall stress than elderly females. The isotropic component increased with age in males but not in females, whereas the anisotropic component decreased with age in both sexes.Conclusion: We found that isotropic and anisotropic properties of the abdominal aortic wall differ between young and elderly participants and between the sexes. A possible explanation could relate to chemical alterations (e.g., due to sex hormones) and changes over time in the physical distribution of fibers. Modeling of wall stress components of the human AA may contribute to a better understanding of elastin-collagen interactions during remodeling of the aortic wall.
Genomic methylation patterns in pre-meiotic gynoecia of wild-type and RdDM mutants of Arabidopsis
Authors: Ortiz-Vasquez Quetzely , León-Martínez Gloria , Barragán-Rosillo Carlos , González-Orozco Eduardo , Deans Samuel , Aldridge Billy , Vickers Martin , Feng Xiaoqi , Vielle-Calzada Jean-Philippe 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionAlthough DNA methylation patterns are generally considered to be faithfully inherited in Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), there is evidence of reprogramming during both male and female gametogenesis. The gynoecium is the floral reproductive organ from which the ovules develop and generate meiotically derived cells that give rise to the female gametophyte. It is not known whether the gynoecium can condition genomic methylation in the ovule or the developing female gametophyte.MethodsWe performed whole genome bisulfite sequencing to characterize the methylation patterns that prevail in the genomic DNA of pre-meiotic gynoecia of wild-type and three mutants defective in genes of the RNA-directed DNA methylation pathway (RdDM): ARGONAUTE4 (AGO4), ARGONAUTE9 (AGO9), and RNA-DEPENDENT RNA POLYMERASE6 (RDR6). ResultsBy globally analyzing transposable elements (TEs) and genes located across the Arabidopsis genome, we show that DNA methylation levels are similar to those of gametophytic cells rather than those of sporophytic organs such as seedlings and rosette leaves. We show that none of the mutations completely abolishes RdDM, suggesting strong redundancy within the methylation pathways. Among all, ago4 mutation has the strongest effect on RdDM, causing more CHH hypomethylation than ago9 and rdr6. We identify 22 genes whose DNA methylation is significantly reduced in ago4, ago9 and rdr6 mutants, revealing potential targets regulated by the RdDM pathway in premeiotic gyneocia. DiscussionOur results indicate that drastic changes in methylation levels in all three contexts occur in female reproductive organs at the sporophytic level, prior to the alternation of generations within the ovule primordium, offering a possibility to start identifying the function of specific genes acting in the establishment of the female gametophytic phase of the Arabidopsis life cycle.
The effect of perceived stress on depression in college students: The role of emotion regulation and positive psychological capital
Authors: Liu Yafei , Yu Haibo , Shi Yaohui , Ma Chao 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionCollege students have become a high prevalence group and vulnerable group of depression. The present study aims to explore the effect of perceived stress on depression in a sample of Chinese college students and proposes that both emotion regulation and positive psychological capital play a moderating role between the two, so as to provide rational intervention for the prevention of potential depression among college students.MethodIn this study, 1,267 college students (46.4% female) from a university in western China were selected for the study using a whole-group convenience sampling method.ResultsAfter controlling for gender, this study found that both cognitive reappraisal and positive psychological capital positively moderated the relationship between perceived stress and depression, and both significantly inhibited depression in high and low stress perceivers, and the inhibitory effect was more pronounced in high stress perceivers, but expression inhibition did not moderate the relationship between perceived stress and depression.DiscussionThe results suggest that college students can be helped to cope with the negative effects of perceived stress on depression by increasing the frequency of their use of cognitive reappraisal strategies and encouraging the accumulation of positive psychological capital. This study provides theoretical and practical implications for rational interventions for depression among college students.
Risk factors for developmental quotients in ASD children: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Dong Han-Yu , Miao Chun-Yue , Zhang Yu , Shan Ling , Feng Jun-Yan , Jia Fei-Yong , Du Lin 
Published: March 2023

ObjectiveTo analyze the risk factors for developmental quotients (DQs) of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and to better understand the effects of screen time on neurodevelopment in children with ASD.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the data of 382 children with ASD, including demographic profiles; socioeconomic status; score on the Chinese parent–child interaction scale (CPCIS); screen time questionnaire; ASD symptom rating scales, including the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule Second Edition (ADOS-2); and DQs using Griffiths Development Scales–Chinese Edition. Univariate analysis was carried out to analyze the factors related to the DQs of children with ASD, and then the linear regression model was used to identify the independent influencing factors of the DQs of children with ASD.ResultsVitamin D (β = 0.180, p = 0.002), age (β = −0.283, p = 0.000) and CARS score (β = −0.347, p = 0.000) are risk factors related to DQ of locomotor in children with ASD. Vitamin D (β = 0.108, p = 0.034), CARS score (β =  −0.503, p = 0.000), ADOS-2 severity score (β =  −0.109, p = 0.045) and CPCIS score (β = 0.198, p = 0.000) are risk factors related to DQ of personal social skill in children with ASD. Vitamin D (β = 0.130, p = 0.018), CARS score (β =  −0.469, p = 0.000), and CPCIS score (β = 0.133, p = 0.022) are risk factors related to DQ of hearing-speech in children with ASD. Vitamin D (β = 0.163, p = 0.003) and CARS score (β =  −0.471, p = 0.000) are risk factors related to DQ of eye-hand coordination in children with ASD. Age (β =  −0.140, p = 0.020), CARS score (β =  −0.342, p = 0.000), ADOS-2 severity score (β = −0.133, p = 0.034) and CPCIS score (β = 0.193, p = 0.002) are risk factors related to DQ of performance in children with ASD. Vitamin D (β = 0.801, p = 0.000) and CPCIS score (β = 0.394, p = 0.019) are risk factors related to DQ of practical reasoning in children with ASD.ConclusionVitamin D status, the severity of autistic symptoms and parent-child interaction are risk factors for developmental quotients in children with ASD. Screen exposure time is negatively associated with DQs in children with ASD but is not an independent risk factor for DQs.
Translation and psychometric validation of the Chinese version of the meaningful and enjoyable activities scale for mild dementia
Authors: Chen Hongyu , Wang Yuanyuan , Zhang Minyi , Wang Ning , Hao Xixi , Xue Zhihan , Fang Kui , Liu Yan 
Published: March 2023

ObjectivesTo translate 20-item Meaningful and Enjoyable Activities Scale into Chinese and evaluate its psychometric properties amongst Chinese with mild dementia.MethodsA cross-sectional study of 450 people with mild dementia recruited from a memory disorders clinic was conducted with the C-MEAS. Raw data were randomly divided into two parts for exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, to evaluate the construct validity. Content validity and reliability were tested by content validity index and Cronbach’s α coefficients, respectively.ResultsAdaptation results showed that the Chinese version of the scale is adequate for linguistic and content validation. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a significantly good fit for a three-factor model. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.84 for the overall scale.ConclusionThe C-MEAS for people with mild dementia is a reliable and valid instrument with satisfactory psychometric properties. Future studies should recruit a more representative sample of people with mild dementia in China to verify the applicability of the scale.
Interactive robots for health in Europe: Technology readiness and adoption potential
Authors: Östlund Britt , Malvezzi Monica , Frennert Susanne , Funk Michael , Gonzalez-Vargas Jose , Baur Kilian , Alimisis Dimitris , Thorsteinsson Freygardur , Alonso-Cepeda Antonio , Fau Guillaume , Haufe Florian , Di Pardo Massimo , Moreno Juan C. 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionSocial robots are accompanied by high expectations of what they can bring to society and in the healthcare sector. So far, promising assumptions have been presented about how and where social robots are most relevant. We know that the industry has used robots for a long time, but what about social uptake outside industry, specifically, in the healthcare sector? This study discusses what trends are discernible, to better understand the gap between technology readiness and adoption of interactive robots in the welfare and health sectors in Europe.MethodsAn assessment of interactive robot applications at the upper levels of the Technology Readiness Level scale is combined with an assessment of adoption potential based on Rogers' theory of diffusion of innovation. Most robot solutions are dedicated to individual rehabilitation or frailty and stress. Fewer solutions are developed for managing welfare services or public healthcare.ResultsThe results show that while robots are ready from the technological point of view, most of the applications had a low score for demand according to the stakeholders.DiscussionTo enhance social uptake, a more initiated discussion, and more studies on the connections between technology readiness and adoption and use are suggested. Applications being available to users does not mean they have an advantage over previous solutions. Acceptance of robots is also heavily dependent on the impact of regulations as part of the welfare and healthcare sectors in Europe.
Sedentary behavior, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and brain structure in midlife: A longitudinal brain MRI sub-study of the coronary artery risk development in young adults study
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Meirelles Osorio D. , Li Zhiguang , Yaffe Kristine , Bryan R. Nick , Qiu Chengxuan , Launer Lenore J. 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundBrain-derived neurotrophic factor levels are higher in those who are physically active and lower in people with cognitive dysfunction. This study investigated whether brain-derived neurotrophic factor mediated or modified the association of sedentary time to MRI-estimated brain volumes in midlife.MethodsBaseline (n = 612) and five-year follow-up (n = 418) data were drawn from the multicenter Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Brain MRI sub-study, including Black and White participants (aged 50.3 years, 51.6% females, 38.6% Black). Sedentary time (hours per day) was categorized into quartiles with low ≤ 4.3 (reference) and high &gt; 8.4. Outcomes of the study were total brain, white matter, gray matter, hippocampal volumes, and white matter fractional anisotropy at baseline and 5-year percent change from baseline. The study used general linear regression models to examine the mediation and moderation effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (natural log transformed) on the associations of sedentary time to brain outcomes. The authors adjusted the regression model for age, sex, race, intracranial volume, education, and vascular factors.ResultsCross-sectionally, baseline participants with the highest sedentary time had a lower total brain (−12.2 cc; 95%CI: −20.7, −3.7), gray matter (−7.8 cc; 95%CI: −14.3, −1.3), and hippocampal volume (−0.2 cc; 95%CI: −0.3, 0.0) compared with populations with the lowest sedentary time. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels did not mediate the associations between brain measures and sedentary time. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor was found to moderate associations of sedentary time to total brain and white matter volume such that the brain volume difference between high and low sedentary time decreased as brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels increased. Longitudinally, higher baseline brain-derived neurotrophic factor level was associated with less brain volume decline. The longitudinal associations did not differ by sedentary time, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor did not mediate or moderate the association of sedentary time to brain measure changes.ConclusionsHigher brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels may buffer the negative effects of sedentary time on the brain.
Clinical Impact of Staphylococcus aureus Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
Authors: Linz Matthew S. , Mattappallil Arun , Finkel Diana , Parker Dane 
Published: March 2023

The pathogenic bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is the most common pathogen isolated in skin-and-soft-tissue infections (SSTIs) in the United States. Most S. aureus SSTIs are caused by the epidemic clone USA300 in the USA. These infections can be serious; in 2019, SSTIs with S. aureus were associated with an all-cause, age-standardized mortality rate of 0.5 globally. Clinical presentations of S. aureus SSTIs vary from superficial infections with local symptoms to monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis, which can cause systemic manifestations and may lead to serious complications or death. In order to cause skin infections, S. aureus employs a host of virulence factors including cytolytic proteins, superantigenic factors, cell wall-anchored proteins, and molecules used for immune evasion. The immune response to S. aureus SSTIs involves initial responders such as keratinocytes and neutrophils, which are supported by dendritic cells and T-lymphocytes later during infection. Treatment for S. aureus SSTIs is usually oral therapy, with parenteral therapy reserved for severe presentations; it ranges from cephalosporins and penicillin agents such as oxacillin, which is generally used for methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA), to vancomycin for methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Treatment challenges include adverse effects, risk for Clostridioides difficile infection, and potential for antibiotic resistance.
Endoparasitic Gall Mites: Two New Novophytoptus Species (Eriophyoidea, Phytoptidae) from Southern African Sedges (Cyperaceae, Carex) and New Hypotheses on the Phylogeny of Novophytoptines
Authors: Chetverikov Philipp E. , Craemer Charnie , Gankevich Vladimir D. , Kremenetskaya Maria V. , Kuzmin Igor V. , Zhuk Anna S. 
Published: March 2023

Eriophyoid mites (Acariformes, Eriophyoidea) are microscopic chelicerates morphologically greatly preadapted to endoparasitism on plants. Members of at least six phylogenetically distant eriophyoid genera from two families homoplastically transitioned to endoparasitism and acquired the ability to penetrate under the plant epidermis and feed on parenchymatous cells, usually causing necrosis. Theoretically, endoparasites are expected to show patterns of codivergence with hosts more than ectoparasites. Novophytoptus Roivainen 1947 is the only eriophyoid genus comprising exclusively endoparasitic species living in subepidermal tissues of herbaceous monocots of three families of the order Poales: Cyperaceae, Juncaceae, and Poaceae. Here, we described two new endoparasitic species, N. limpopoensis n. sp. and N. zuluensis n. sp., from southern African sedges Carex spicatopaniculata Boeckeler ex C.B.Clarke and C. zuluensis C.B.Clarke, respectively, and investigated the Cox1 phylogeny of Novophytoptus. Contrary to expectations, molecular phylogenetics did not recover host-specific mite clades associated with Cyperaceae and Juncaceae, but revealed geographical groups of Novophytoptus species from Africa and Eurasia. Our results provide a substantial basis for future coevolutionary studies on novophytoptines, which will be possible when more species and sequences of Novophytoptus from geographically remote regions and from diverse hosts representing all major clades of Poales become available for analyses.
Experimental Study and Modeling of Beer Dealcoholization via Reverse Osmosis
Authors: Varga Áron , Bihari-Lucena Eszter , Ladányi Márta , Szabó-Nótin Beatrix , Galambos Ildikó , Koris András 
Published: March 2023

The goals of the present investigation are to study and to model pale lager beer dealcoholization via reverse osmosis (RO). Samples were dealcoholized at a temperature of 15 ± 1 °C. An Alfa Laval RO99 membrane with a 0.05 m2 surface was used. The flux values were measured during the separations. The ethanol content, extract content, bitterness, color, pH, turbidity, and dynamic viscosity of beer and permeate samples were measured. The initial flux values were determined using linear regression. The initial ethanol flux (JEtOH 0) values were calculated from the initial flux values and the ethanol content values. A 2P full factorial experimental design was applied, and the factors were as follows: transmembrane pressure (TMP): 10, 20, 30 bar; retentate flow rate (Q): 120, 180, 240 L/h; JEtOH 0 was considered as the response. The effect sizes of the significant parameters were calculated. The global maximum of the objective function was found using a self-developed Grid Search code. The changes in the analytical parameters were appropriate. The TMP had a significant effect, while the Q had no significant effect on the JEtOH 0. The effect size of the TMP was 1.20. The optimal value of the factor amounted to TMP = 30 bar. The predicted JEtOH 0 under the above conditions was 121.965 g/m2 h.
Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Its Combination with Pyropia columbina (Rhodophyta) Extracts for a Cosmeceutical Application
Authors: González-Conde Mercedes , Vega Julia , López-Figueroa Félix , García-Castro Miguel , Moscoso Ana , Sarabia Francisco , López-Romero J. Manuel 
Published: March 2023

We report the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by using daisy petals (Bellis perennis), leek (Allium porrum) and garlic skin (Allium sativum) as reducing agents and water as solvent. AgNPs are obtained with high monodispersity, spherical shapes and size ranging from 5 to 35 nm and characterized by UV-Vis and TEM techniques. The obtained yields in AgNPs are in concordance with the total phenolic content of each plant. We also study the incorporation of AgNPs in combination with the red algae Pyropia columbina extracts (PCE) into cosmetic formulations and analyze their combined effect as photoprotective agents. Moreover, we carry out the inclusion of the PCE containing mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), which are strong UV-absorbing and antioxidant compounds, into β-cyclodextrin (βCD) and pNIPAM nanoparticles and analyze stability and release. The thermoresponsive polymer is grown by free radical polymerization using N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) as the monomer, N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (BIS) as the cross-linker, and 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionamidene) (V50) as the initiator, while βCD complex is prepared by heating in water. We evaluate the nanoparticle and βCD complex formation by UV-Vis and FT-IR, and NMR spectroscopies, respectively, and the nanoparticles’ morphology, including particle size, by TEM. The cosmetic formulations are subsequently subjected to accelerated stability tests and photoprotective analyses: a synergistic effect in the combination of AgNPs and PCE in photoprotection was found. It is not related to a UV screen effect but to the antioxidant activity, having potential against photoaging.