bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Design and synthesis of peptides from Phoneutria nigriventer δ-ctenitoxin-Pn2a for antivenom production
Authors: Rodríguez Jésica Ayelén , Vacchelli Gabriela Romina Barredo , Iglesias-García Lucía Candela , Birocco Ariadna María , Blachman Agustín , Calabrese Graciela Cristina , Acosta Gerardo , Albericio Fernando , Camperi Silvia Andrea 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Phoneutria nigriventer spider can cause severe envenomation in humans principally due to its venom toxin δ-ctenitoxin-Pn2a. Current low yielding antivenom production is extremely complicated and dangerous. Furthermore, δ-ctenitoxin-Pn2a cystine-knot motif provides exceptional stability hampering immune response activation. Here, epitopes from δ-ctenitoxin-Pn2a were identified, and antigenic peptides were designed for their potential use in antivenom production. The Immune Epitope Database Analysis Resource was used to identify the G34YFWIAWYKLANCKK48 epitope and used to design antigenic peptides. The Cys was replaced by α-aminobutyric acid (Abu) to avoid disulfide bonds formation. To increase their immunogenicity, branched and N-palmitoylated peptides were synthesized. Ac-GYFWIAWYKLAN-Abu-KKG-NH2 (A), (Ac-GYFWIAWYKLAN-Abu-KK)2-KG-NH2 (B), Palm-GYFWIAWYKLAN-Abu-KKG-NH2 (C) and (Palm-GYFWIAWYKLAN-Abu-KK)2-KG-NH2 (D) were synthesized using solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) techniques and analyzed by ESI-MS demonstrating their identity. Also, they were evaluated by RP-HPLC, and all the chromatograms showed only one principal peak except that of the N-palmitoylated branched peptide which showed two principal peaks probably due to the presence of two conformations in slow interconversion. Cytotoxicity was evaluated on the murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in the presence of increasing doses of each peptide (0.25-10.0 µM). Peptide A did not exhibit cytotoxicity between 0.25-10.0 µM, while B, C and D showed cytotoxicity over 10.0, 5.0 and 2.5 µM respectively. NF-κB cellular distribution was evaluated by immunofluorescence, after exposing macrophages to 0.5 µM of each peptide. An early activation was observed for all the assayed peptides demonstrating that they are promising candidates for their in vivo evaluation as immunogens in antivenom production.
Environmental Impact Of 2A 2B Carcinogenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Industrial Soil: Status, Profile, Concentration and Assessment to Humans Health Risk
Authors: EL-Saeid Mohamed H. , Alghamdi Abdulaziz G. , Al‑thamili Dhaifallah M. 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Due to the health and environmental impact resulting from the percentage of soil pollutants due to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHs emitted from different sources, especially in industrial areas, and the spread of pollutants in neighboring neighborhoods, and the extent of their impact on children and adult, especially children as a result of their behavior known as soil ingestion or through exposure to soil directly from Through skin contact or inhalation of contaminated soil dust.The objective of the research to know the percentage of pollution by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (2A and 2B) as carcinogens human effect for industrial areas, specifically the automobile industry in the city of Riyadh, Naseem Industrial (NAI), Old Industrial (OLI), Gulf Industrial (GUI), Al-Shifa Industrial (SHI) and Umm Al-Hamam Industrial (UMH). Surface soil from the industrial areas within the range of 0-10 cm as well as from the neighborhoods adjacent to the industrial areas. The percentage of pollution by PHAs according to Agency for Research on Cancer classified BaP, DBA, and BaA as probable human carcinogens (2A) while BbF, BkF, and IND as possible human carcinogens (2B). IARC has evaluated Nap and CRY reclassified it possible human carcinogens. the extraction technique quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) for the ∑8 PAHs and GC-MS used to estimate the results in the extracted samples. The result for potential risks for both children and adults only were found to be exposed to BaP and DBA in street dust in different land areas in Riyadh. Mean ILCRingand ILCRdervalues and cancer risk based on mean total concentrations of PAHBaPequifor children and adults exposed to PAHs in street dust in different regions of Riyadh were found between 10-9and 10-4, indicating a potential risk.
Genetic Analysis of Platelet-related Genes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Reveals a Novel Prognostic Signature and Determines PRKCD as the Potential Molecular Bridge
Authors: Li Xiangyu , Zhao Kai , Lu Yun , Wang Jianming , Yao Wei 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) belongs to a representative lethality gastrointestinal malignancy, and comprehensive management of HCC remains intractable at present on account of its invasive biological feature that is easy to relapse and early metastasis. The intimate connection between platelets and tumor progression has been widely reported, and platelet-related indicators are also used in the clinical practice of carcinoma. This work is designed to investigate the significance of platelet-related genes in the prognostic prediction of patients with HCC and their potential role in the cross-talk between HCC cells and platelets in the tumor microenvironment.
Methods
By integrating the RNA-seq data and clinicopathological information of HCC patients, we extracted prognosis-associated platelet-related genes based on the univariate cox analysis and further established a relevant prognostic signature via the lasso cox regression analysis, and two independent HCC cohorts were used as external validation. Multiple bioinformatics methods were utilized to explore the underlying functional discrepancy between different risk groups classified by the risk model. And in vitro proliferation, invasion, and migration assays were conducted to investigate the effect of platelet stimulation on HCC cells’ viability and motility, and flow cytometric analysis was exerted to demonstrate the influence of HCC cells on platelet activation.
Results
A novel platelet-related risk model was developed and patients both in the training and testing cohorts were divided into distinct risk subgroups according to the median risk score. It was observed that the high-risk status was closely associated with poor prognosis and worse clinicopathological parameters. Meanwhile, an obvious discrepancy in the constitution of the immune microenvironment also indicated that distinct immune status might be a potential determinant affecting prognosis as well as immunotherapy reactiveness. Moreover, in vitro experiments demonstrated that PRKCD could act as a molecular bridge between tumor cells and platelets, which could either participate in regulating tumor malignant phenotype or mediating platelet activation.
Conclusions
In brief, this work reveals a novel platelet-related risk signature for prognostic evaluation of HCC patients and confirms that PRKCD is a key messenger in HCC cell-platelet interaction and plays a crucial role in mediating platelet-induced tumor progression.
Is Stable Marriage Associated with Greater Wealth Among Low-Income Households?: Evidence from the Survey of Consumer Finances
Authors: Witkin Nathan 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
A large body of research connects poverty to non-marital family structures, such as divorce or cohabitation, but continues to debate whether the lack of stable marriage is a cause or effect of poverty. Because commitment to marriage is arguably more of a choice than are economic circumstances, this question affects pro-marriage economic policies and public perceptions about the unmarried poor. Applying a new approach to explain the relative lack of family stability in poverty, the below analysis tests whether non-marital family structures are actually associated with less net worth among low-income households. Using the U.S. Survey of Consumer Finances to examine households on government assistance with poverty-level income (N = 1,402), this study employs OLS regression to estimate the average change in net worth associated with divorce and/or cohabitation. This novel research design tests the important null hypothesis that family structure does not impact financial health in the specific context of poverty, and it also tests the interesting alternative hypothesis that flexible, non-marital family structures are resourceful among households with unstable incomes. The results are wholly inconsistent with non-marital households having lower average wealth among the poorest. Robust controls and wealth distribution visualizations reinforce the different wealth effects of family stability within vs. outside of deep poverty.
JEL Classification Codes J12, I30, I38, D60, D63
Automatic 2D Material Detection in Optical Images using Deep Learning Based Computer Vision
Authors: Ramezani Fereshteh , Parvez Sheikh , Fix J. Pierce , Battaglin Arthur , Whyte Seamus , Borys Nicholas , Whitaker Bradley 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Computer vision algorithms can quickly analyze numerous images and identify useful information with high accuracy. Recently, computer vision has been used to identify 2D materials in microscope images. 2D materials have important fundamental properties allowing for their use in many potential applications, including many in quantum information science and engineering. In order to use these materials for research and product development, single-layer 2D crystallites must be prepared through an exfoliation procedure and then identified using reflected light optical microscopy. Performing these searches manually is a time-consuming and tedious task. Deploying deep learning-based computer vision algorithms for 2D material search can automate the flake detection task with minimal need for human intervention. In this work, we have implemented a new deep learning pipeline to classify crystallites of 2D materials based on coarse thickness classifications in reflected-light optical micrographs. We have used DetectorRS as the object detector and trained it on 177 images containing hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) flakes of varying thickness. The trained model achieved a high detection accuracy for the rare category of thin flakes (<50 atomic layers thick). Further analysis shows that our proposed pipeline could be generalized to various microscope settings and is robust against changes in color or substrate background.
Autologous CD133+ Cells and Laser Revascularization in patients with severe Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Abdel-Latif Ahmed , Ahmed Taha , Leung Steve W. , Alnabelsi Talal , Tarhuni Wadea , Sekela Michael E. 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Objective: We tested the hypothesis that targeted TMLR combined with intramyocardial injection of autologous CD 133+ endothelial progenitor cells is safe and feasible in patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and no revascularization options.
Methods: Eight male patients (age 62 ± 2.4 years) with multivessel severe ischemic heart disease and no revascularization options were enrolled. Autologous CD 133+ endothelial progenitor cells were derived and purified from the bone marrow on the day of surgery using the clinical-grade closed CliniMACS system. Using a lateral thoracotomy approach, TMLR was performed, followed by transmyocardial transplantation of purified CD133+ cells (mean number of transplanted cells: 12.5 x106) in the region surrounding the TMLR sites. These sites were selected based on ischemia on pre-procedure perfusion imaging. We performed clinical and myocardial perfusion imaging pre-procedure and then at 6- and 12-month follow-up.
Results: No major complications or death occurred during the procedure or during the peri-operative hospital stay. One patient died of cardiac cause 6 months post-procedure. There was a reported short-term improvement in anginal and heart failure symptoms and a modest reduction in the ischemic score as assessed by perfusion imaging.
Conclusions: Our phase 1 clinical study examining the combination therapy of targeted transmyocardial laser revascularization therapy and autologous CD133+ endothelial progenitor cells in patients with chronic ICM and no revascularization options demonstrates the feasibility and short-term safety of this combined approach and warrants future larger phase 2 randomized clinical studies.
An Improved Discrete Grey Wolf Optimizer for the Nurse Rostering Problem
Authors: Ngoo Chong Man , Goh Say Leng , Kendall Graham 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
In this paper, an improved discrete Grey Wolf Optimizer (ID-GWO) is proposed to address a benchmark nurse rostering problem (NRP). We propose a discrete grey wolf optimizer (D-GWO) by utilizing the neighborhood structures commonly found in the literature as mutation operators. The D-GWO is further improved by modifying the crossover operator to enhance the algorithm’s exploitation capability. We propose two new mutation operators to improve the exploration capability of the algorithm and we apply probabilistic selection on the mutation operators to upgrade the performance of the algorithm. The proposed methodology is tested on the second International Nurse Rostering Competition (INRC-II) dataset. It performs better than 6 other entries in the competition. An in-depth discussion on the behavior and performance of the algorithm is provided.
Mitigation of Arsenic Accumulation in Crop Plants Using Biofertilizer
Authors: Hoang Anh T.P. , Kim Kyoung-Woong 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Elevated levels of arsenic in crop plants have been found in various regions worldwide, especially where agricultural soils have been affected by arsenic-enriched aquifer and human activities including mining, smelting, pesticide application, and so forth. Given the highly toxic nature of arsenic, remediation should be carried out immediately to reduce this potentially toxic element transport from soil to crop plants. This study focused on the utilization of biofertilizer which is a combination of arsenic-accumulating microorganisms and adsorbent (carrier) in order to achieve high efficiency of arsenic immobilization and ability to apply in the field. Thirty-two bacterial strains were isolated from 9 soil samples collected from Dongjin and Duckum mining areas in Korea using nutrient medium amended with 2 mM sodium arsenite. Among isolates, strain DE12 identified as Bacillus megaterium exhibited the greatest arsenic accumulation capacity (0.236 mg/g dry biomass) and ability to resist up to 18 mM arsenite. Among three agricultural waste adsorbents studied, rice straw was proved to have higher adsorption capacity (0.104 mg/g) than rice husk and corn husk. Therefore, rice straw was chosen to be the carrier to form biofertilizer together with strain DE12. Inoculation of biofertilizer in soil showed reduction of arsenic content in edible part of lettuce, water spinach, and sweet basil by 17.5%, 34.1%, and 34,1%, respectively compared to control group. The use of biofertilizer may open up the potential application in the field for other food plants.
Land use change in rapidly developing economies – A case study on land use intensification and land fallowing in Kerala, India
Authors: Thekkeyil Akshara , Joseph Shijo , Abdurazak Fathima , Kuriakose Giby , Nameer P O , Abhilash Purushothaman Chirakkuzhyil 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

The land use/land cover change is a local driver of environmental change having cascading impacts and implications at the global level and therefore requires appreciable consideration when perceived from sustainability perspectives. Kerala, the southernmost state of India has undergone a dramatic transition from a traditional agrarian economy to a modern thriving economy involving the irrational exploitation of natural resources, precisely, land and its components. The present study addresses how land is being changed along an urbanization gradient in the most agglomerative city in the state, Kochi, during the last one and half decades. High-resolution remote sensing data available from the Google Earth Engine pertaining to the four time periods, i.e., 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, representing urban, suburban, and rural areas, were analysed to estimate the changes in land use land cover. A semi-structured interview was conducted at the household level to identify the major drivers of land use change. The results indicated the presence of two major and divergent trends; the first one is the intensification of land use activities at the rate of 1.37% per annum, primarily driven by urbanization and infrastructure developments, and the second one is the fallowing and abandonment of land (at the rate of 0.21% per annum) driven by the increased cost of cultivation and unexpected changes in meteorological events frequently reported in the recent history of Kerala. The rates of change are more prominent in the rural areas while the urban grids are nearing saturation occupying nearly two-third of the area with urban features at the expense of greenery. Though the progression with respect to urbanization and infrastructure developments is expected, the fallowing and abandonment of land is unanticipated, raising serious questions in the developmental pathways to achieve Sustainable Development Goals in the State of Kerala.
Genetic diversity and population structure analysis of Capoeta trutta (Heckel, 1843) in Turkey and Iraq based on mitochondrial d loop gene
Authors: PARMAKSIZ Arif 
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Capoeta trutta, a species of cyprinid with economic importance thriving in fresh water, is considered to hold a substantial potential for commercial growth in Turkey and Iraq. In recent years, it has been observed that there has been a decrease in the populations of this species, which lives naturally in the Euphrates and Tigris river systems. For long-term fishing and conservation strategies, it is necessary to determine the genetic structure of the populations of this species and to take measures accordingly. In this study, a total of 125 fish samples from 8 populations were collected and the mtDNA D-loop site was analyzed by sequencing, and by determining the genetic structures of C. trutta populations, basic data were obtained for the sustainability and conservation of the stocks of the species. In the analyzes made for the target gene region, a total of 16 polymorphic regions and 22 haplotypes were determined; mean haplotype and nucleotide diversity were calculated as 0.847 and 0.00675, respectively. Pairwise FST values between populations, which were calculated based on haplotype frequencies, varied between − 0.03136 and 0.45114 and were determined to be significant between certain populations. The results obtained in this study will contribute to the planning of effective strategies for the conservation and rehabilitation of future populations for both C. trutta and similar species.
Pleiotropic functions of chordin gene causing drastic morphological changes in ornamental goldfish
Authors: Chen Hsiao-Chian , Wang Chenyi , Li Ing-Jia , Abe Gembu , Ota Kinya 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Breeders and fanciers have established many peculiar morphological phenotypes in ornamental goldfish. Among them, the twin-tail and dorsal-finless phenotypes have particularly intrigued early and recent researchers, as equivalent morphologies are extremely rare in nature. These two mutated phenotypes appeared almost simultaneously within a short time frame (~600 years) and were fixed in several strains. However, little is known about how these two different mutations could have co-occurred during such a short time period. Here, we demonstrate that the chordin gene, a key factor in dorsal-ventral patterning, is responsible not only for the twin-tail phenotype but also for the dorsal-finless phenotype. Our F2 backcrossing and functional analyses revealed that the penetrance/expressivity of the dorsal-finless phenotype can be suppressed by the wild-type allele of chdS. Based on these findings, we propose that chdSwt may have masked the expression of the dorsal-finless phenotype, acting as a capacitor buffering gene to allow accumulation of genetic mutations. Once this gene lost its original function in the twin-tail goldfish lineages, the dorsal-finless phenotype could be highly expressed. Thus, this study experimentally demonstrates that the rapid genetic fixation of morphological mutations during a short domestication time period may be related to the robustness of embryonic developmental mechanisms.
Improvement of the quality of analytical results generated by GC/MS method for characterization of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don essential oil
Authors: Hafner-Vuk Katarina , Milojević Vladimir , Avdić Monia , Kevrić Jasmin , Krajišnik Milica 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Most of the papers that treat the composition of essential oils for this purpose use GCMS or GCMS and GC-FID techniques for the identification and/or quantification of individual compounds. Therewithal, papers usually treat the composition as semi-quantitative (percentage composition as the area of ​​the peak of a particular compound in relation to the total area of ​​the peaks on the chromatogram, given as 100%). At the same time, the quality of the results is not treated in metrological terms. A GCMS method for the quantification of components present Helichrysum italicum hydro-distilled essential oil samples from Bosnia and Herzegovina with a similar composition was developed and optimized. The stability of the method set-up and adequacy of sample storage and manipulation was assessed. Calibration method and assessment of measurement uncertainty was established for neryl acetate, one of the major compounds with known health benefits.
Management of Orbital Cellulitis with Periorbital Abscess and Rhinosinusitis in Older Patient with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Case Series
Authors: Susiyanti Made , Hartono Michael , Pintary Marsha Rayfa 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background

In this observational case series, we describe two cases of orbital cellulitis with periorbital abscess and rhinosinusitis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Orbital cellulitis is an ocular emergency because it’s not only sight- but also life-threatening if not properly treated.

Case Report

Two female patients presented to our hospital with progressive swelling and pain in the right eye. Ophthalmological examination of both patients showed diffuse inflammatory signs from the upper eyelid to the lower eyelid with pus production. A multidisciplinary approach including ENT, dermato-venereology, internist-endocrinologist, dentistry, and plastic reconstructive surgery departments was accomplished to achieve proper management. Both patients were diagnosed with orbital cellulitis, periorbital abscess, rhinosinusitis, diabetes mellitus, and dental problem. In the first case, initial empiric antibiotic therapy was given for two days, but there was no clinical improvement. Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery and debridement were performed on the 4th day of hospitalization. There was a significant improvement after the surgery and a new regimen of antibiotics (piperacillin-sulbactam 4x4.5 g intravenously and clindamycin 3x600 mg orally). The pus culture showed Klebsiella pneumonia and Enterobacter cloacae which were sensitive to piperacillin-sulbactam. In the second case, improvement was significant with given antibiotics medication (ampicillin-sulbactam 4x1.5 gram, and metronidazole 3x500 mg intravenously). The pus culture revealed no growth of bacteria, but gram-positive cocci were positive in the gram staining examination.

Conclusion

Multidisciplinary team plays a critical role in managing orbital cellulitis with periorbital abscess, rhinosinusitis, and type 2 diabetes mellitus to achieve a better prognosis and visual outcome.