bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Apitherapy combination improvement of blood pressure, cardiovascular protection, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses in dexamethasone model hypertensive rats
Authors: Abd El-Hakam Fatma El-Zahraa , Abo Laban Gomaa , Badr El-Din Sahar , Abd El-Hamid Hala , Farouk Mohammed Hamdy 
Published: December 2022

AbstractHypertension-induced ventricular and vascular remodeling causes myocardial infarction, heart failure, and sudden death. Most available pharmaceutical products used to treat hypertension lead to adverse effects on human health. Limited data is available on apitherapy (bee products) combinations for treatment of hypertension. This study aims to evaluate the antihypertensive effects of combinations of natural apitherapy compounds used in the medical sector to treat a variety of diseases. Rats were assigned into six groups consisting of one control group and five hypertensive groups where hypertension (blood pressure > 140/90) was induced with dexamethasone. One of these groups was used as a hypertension model, while the remaining four hypertensive groups were treated with a propolis, royal jelly, and bee venom combination (PRV) at daily oral doses of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg, and with losartan 10 mg/kg. The PRV combination at all doses decreased arterial blood pressure below the suboptimal value (p < 0.001), and PRV combination treatment improved dexamethasone-induced-ECG changes. The same treatment decreased angiotensin-II, endothelin-1, and tumor growth factor β serum levels in hypertensive rats. Additionally, PRV combination improved histopathological structure, and decreased serum levels of NF-kB and oxidative stress biomarkers. We concluded that PRV combination therapy may be used as a potential treatment for a variety of cardiovascular diseases.
Plant-mediated rifampicin treatment of Bemisia tabaci disrupts but does not eliminate endosymbionts
Authors: Milenovic Milan , Gouttepifre Antoine , Eickermann Michael , Junk Jürgen , Rapisarda Carmelo 
Published: December 2022

AbstractWhiteflies are among the most important global insect pests in agriculture; their sustainable control has proven challenging and new methods are needed. Bacterial symbionts of whiteflies are poorly understood potential target of novel whitefly control methods. Whiteflies harbour an obligatory bacterium, Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum, and a diverse set of facultative bacterial endosymbionts. Function of facultative microbial community is poorly understood largely due to the difficulty in their selective elimination without removal of the primary endosymbiont. Since the discovery of secondary endosymbionts, antibiotic rifampicin has emerged as the most used tool for their manipulation. Its effectiveness is however much less clear, with contrasting reports on its effects on the endosymbiont community. The present study builds upon most recent method of rifampicin application in whiteflies and evaluates its ability to eliminate obligatory Portiera and two facultative endosymbionts (Rickettsia and Arsenophnus). Our results show that rifampicin reduces but does not eliminate any of the three endosymbionts. Additionally, rifampicin causes direct negative effect on whiteflies, likely by disrupting mitochondria. Taken together, results signify the end of a rifampicin era in whitefly endosymbiont studies. Finally, we propose refinement of current quantification and data analysis methods which yields additional insights in cellular metabolic scaling.
Anxiety symptoms and puberty interactively predict lower cingulum microstructure in preadolescent Latina girls
Authors: Glenn Dana E. , Merenstein Jenna L. , Bennett Ilana J. , Michalska Kalina J. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractPreadolescence is a period of increased vulnerability for anxiety, especially among Latina girls. Reduced microstructure (fractional anisotropy; FA) of white matter tracts between limbic and prefrontal regions may underlie regulatory impairments in anxiety. However, developmental research on the association between anxiety and white matter microstructure is mixed, possibly due to interactive influences with puberty. In a sample of 39 Latina girls (8–13 years), we tested whether pubertal stage moderated the association between parent- and child-reported anxiety symptoms and FA in the cingulum and uncinate fasciculus. Parent- but not child-reported anxiety symptoms predicted lower cingulum FA, and this effect was moderated by pubertal stage, such that this association was only significant for prepubertal girls. Neither anxiety nor pubertal stage predicted uncinate fasciculus FA. These findings suggest that anxiety is associated with disruptions in girls’ cingulum white matter microstructure and that this relationship undergoes maturational changes during puberty.
Fractional model for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus on a complex heterogeneous network
Authors: El-Saka H. A. A. , Obaya Ibrahim , Lee Seyeon , Jang Bongsoo 
Published: December 2022

AbstractIn this paper, we present a new fractional epidemiological model on a heterogeneous network to investigate Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV), which is caused by a virus in the coronavirus family. We also consider the development of equations for the camel population, given that it is the primary animal source of the virus, as well as direct human interaction with this population. The model is configured in an SIS form for both the human population and the camel population. We study the equilibrium positions of the system and the conditions for the existence of each of them, as well as the local stability of each equilibrium position. Then, we provide some numerical examples that compare real data and numerical results.
Chemistry and lung toxicity of particulate matter emitted from firearms
Authors: Kim Yong Ho , Vance Samuel A. , Aurell Johanna , Holder Amara L. , Pancras Joseph Patrick , Gullett Brian , Gavett Stephen H. , McNesby Kevin L. , Gilmour M. Ian 
Published: December 2022

AbstractSmoke emissions produced by firearms contain hazardous chemicals, but little is known if their properties change depending on firearm and ammunition type and whether such changes affect toxicity outcomes. Pulmonary toxicity was assessed in mice exposed by oropharyngeal aspiration to six different types of smoke-related particulate matter (PM) samples; (1) handgun PM, (2) rifle PM, (3) copper (Cu) particles (a surrogate for Cu in the rifle PM) with and without the Cu chelator penicillamine, (4) water-soluble components of the rifle PM, (5) soluble components with removal of metal ions, and (6) insoluble components of the rifle PM. Gun firing smoke PM was in the respirable size range but the chemical composition varied with high levels of Pb in the handgun and Cu in the rifle smoke. The handgun PM did not induce appreciable lung toxicity at 4 and 24 h post-exposure while the rifle PM significantly increased lung inflammation and reduced lung function. The same levels of pure Cu particles alone and the soluble components from the rifle fire PM increased neutrophil numbers but did not cause appreciable cellular damage or lung function changes when compared to the negative (saline) control. Penicillamine treated rifle PM or Cu, slightly reduced lung inflammation and injury but did not improve the lung function decrements. Chelation of the soluble metal ions from the rifle fire PM neutralized the lung toxicity while the insoluble components induced the lung toxicity to the same degree as the rifle PM. The results show that different firearm types can generate contrasting chemical spectra in their emissions and that the rifle PM effects were mostly driven by water-insoluble components containing high levels of Cu. These findings provide better knowledge of hazardous substances in gun firing smoke and their potential toxicological profile.
Modulation of EEG theta by naturalistic social content is not altered in infants with family history of autism
Authors: Haartsen Rianne , Charman Tony , Pasco Greg , Johnson Mark H. , Jones Emily J. H. ,   The BASIS Team, Baron-Cohen Simon , Bedford Rachael , Blasi Anna , Bolton Patrick , Chandler Susie , Cheung Celeste , Davies Kim , Elsabbagh Mayada , Fernandes Janice , Gammer Issy , Garwood Holly , Gliga Teadora , Guiraud Jeanne , Hudry Kirstelle , Liew Melanie , Lloyd-Fox Sarah , Maris Helen , O’Hara Louise , Pickles Andrew , Ribeiro Helen , Salomone Erica , Tucker Leslie , Volein Agnes 
Published: December 2022

AbstractTheta oscillations (spectral power and connectivity) are sensitive to the social content of an experience in typically developing infants, providing a possible marker of early social brain development. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting early social behaviour, but links to underlying social brain function remain unclear. We explored whether modulations of theta spectral power and connectivity by naturalistic social content in infancy are related to family history for autism. Fourteen-month-old infants with (family history; FH; N = 75) and without (no family history; NFH; N = 26) a first-degree relative with autism watched social and non-social videos during EEG recording. We calculated theta (4–5 Hz) spectral power and connectivity modulations (social–non-social) and associated them with outcomes at 36 months. We replicated previous findings of increased theta power and connectivity during social compared to non-social videos. Theta modulations with social content were similar between groups, for both power and connectivity. Together, these findings suggest that neural responses to naturalistic social stimuli may not be strongly altered in 14-month-old infants with family history of autism.
Photons guided by axons may enable backpropagation-based learning in the brain
Authors: Zarkeshian Parisa , Kergan Taylor , Ghobadi Roohollah , Nicola Wilten , Simon Christoph 
Published: December 2022

AbstractDespite great advances in explaining synaptic plasticity and neuron function, a complete understanding of the brain’s learning algorithms is still missing. Artificial neural networks provide a powerful learning paradigm through the backpropagation algorithm which modifies synaptic weights by using feedback connections. Backpropagation requires extensive communication of information back through the layers of a network. This has been argued to be biologically implausible and it is not clear whether backpropagation can be realized in the brain. Here we suggest that biophotons guided by axons provide a potential channel for backward transmission of information in the brain. Biophotons have been experimentally shown to be produced in the brain, yet their purpose is not understood. We propose that biophotons can propagate from each post-synaptic neuron to its pre-synaptic one to carry the required information backward. To reflect the stochastic character of biophoton emissions, our model includes the stochastic backward transmission of teaching signals. We demonstrate that a three-layered network of neurons can learn the MNIST handwritten digit classification task using our proposed backpropagation-like algorithm with stochastic photonic feedback. We model realistic restrictions and show that our system still learns the task for low rates of biophoton emission, information-limited (one bit per photon) backward transmission, and in the presence of noise photons. Our results suggest a new functionality for biophotons and provide an alternate mechanism for backward transmission in the brain.
Genetic variants associated with glaucomatous visual field loss in primary open-angle glaucoma
Authors: Mabuchi Fumihiko , Mabuchi Nakako , Sakurada Yoichi , Yoneyama Seigo , Kashiwagi Kenji , Yamagata Zentaro , Takamoto Mitsuko , Aihara Makoto , Iwata Takeshi , Hashimoto Kazuki , Sato Kota , Shiga Yukihiro , Nakazawa Toru , Akiyama Masato , Kawase Kazuhide , Ozaki Mineo , Araie Makoto 
Published: December 2022

AbstractPrimary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is characterized by a progressive optic neuropathy with visual field loss. To investigate the genetic variants associated with visual field loss in POAG, Japanese POAG patients (n = 426) and control subjects (n = 246) were genotyped for 22 genetic variants predisposing to POAG that can be classified into those associated with intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation (IOP-related genetic variants) and optic nerve vulnerability independent of IOP (optic nerve-related genetic variants). The genetic risk score (GRS) of the 17 IOP-related and five optic nerve-related genetic variants was calculated, and the associations between the GRS and the mean deviation (MD) of automated static perimetry as an indicator of the severity of visual field loss and pattern standard deviation (PSD) as an indicator of the focal disturbance were evaluated. There was a significant association (Beta = − 0.51, P = 0.0012) between the IOP-related GRS and MD. The severity of visual field loss may depend on the magnitude of IOP elevation induced by additive effects of IOP-related genetic variants. A significant association (n = 135, Beta = 0.65, P = 0.0097) was found between the optic nerve-related, but not IOP-related, GRS and PSD. The optic nerve-related (optic nerve vulnerability) and IOP-related (IOP elevation) genetic variants may play an important role in the focal and diffuse visual field loss respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first report to show an association between additive effects of genetic variants predisposing to POAG and glaucomatous visual field loss, including severity and focal/diffuse disturbance of visual field loss, in POAG.
Risk of type 2 diabetes and KCNJ11 gene polymorphisms: a nested case–control study and meta-analysis
Authors: Moazzam-Jazi Maryam , Najd-Hassan-Bonab Leila , Masjoudi Sajedeh , Tohidi Maryam , Hedayati Mehdi , Azizi Fereidoun , Daneshpour Maryam S. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractDue to the central role in insulin secretion, the potassium inwardly-rectifying channel subfamily J member 11 (KCNJ11) gene is one of the essential genes for type 2 diabetes (T2D) predisposition. However, the relevance of this gene to T2D development is not consistent among diverse populations. In the current study, we aim to capture the possible association of common KCNJ11 variants across Iranian adults, followed by a meta-analysis. We found that the tested variants of KCNJ11 have not contributed to T2D incidence in Iranian adults, consistent with similar insulin secretion levels among individuals with different genotypes. The integration of our results with 72 eligible published case–control studies (41,372 cases and 47,570 controls) as a meta-analysis demonstrated rs5219 and rs5215 are significantly associated with the increased T2D susceptibility under different genetic models. Nevertheless, the stratified analysis according to ethnicity showed rs5219 is involved in the T2D risk among disparate populations, including American, East Asian, European, and Greater Middle Eastern, but not South Asian. Additionally, the meta-regression analysis demonstrated that the sample size of both case and control groups was significantly associated with the magnitude of pooled genetic effect size. The present study can expand our knowledge about the KCNJ11 common variant's contributions to T2D incidence, which is valuable for designing SNP-based panels for potential clinical applications in precision medicine. It also highlights the importance of similar sample sizes for avoiding high heterogeneity and conducting a more precise meta-analysis.
Emotions and arithmetic in children
Authors: Lemaire Patrick 
Published: December 2022

AbstractHow do negative emotions influence arithmetic performance and how such influence changes with age during childhood? To address these issues, I used a within-trial emotion induction procedure while children solve arithmetic problems. More specifically, 8–15 year-old participants (N = 207) solved arithmetic problems (8 + 4 = 13. True? False?) that were displayed superimposed on emotionally negative or neutral pictures. The main results showed (a) poorer performance in emotionally negative conditions in all age groups, (b) larger deleterious effects of negative emotions on harder problems, (c) decreased effects of emotions as children grow older, and (d) sequential carry-over effects of emotions in all age groups such that larger decreased performance under emotion condition relative to neutral condition occurred on current trials immediately preceded by emotional trials. These findings have important implications for furthering our understanding of how emotions influence arithmetic performance in children and how this influence changes during childhood.
Sexual dimorphism and reproductive biology of the Asian bockadam snake (Cerberus schneiderii) in West Java
Authors: Herlambang Alamsyah E. N. , Kusrini Mirza D. , Hamidy Amir , Arida Evy , Mumpuni  , Riyanto Awal , Shine Richard , Natusch Daniel 
Published: December 2022

AbstractAlthough they are among the most abundant snakes on Earth, and are heavily exploited for their skins and meat, Asian bockadams (or “dog-faced water snakes”, Cerberus schneiderii) have attracted relatively little study across their wide geographic range. Based on dissection of 3,382 snakes brought to processing facilities in and around the city of Cirebon in West Java, Indonesia, we document facets of the biology of these mangrove-dwelling aquatic homalopsids. Females attain larger body sizes than do males, and are heavier-bodied (due in part to greater fat reserves) but have shorter tails relative to snout-vent length. Males showed testicular enlargement late in the year (August-November) but both reproductive and non-reproductive females were found year-round. Litters were large (3 to 45 offspring), especially in larger females. The commercial harvest falls mainly on adult snakes of both sexes, with seasonal variation in sex ratios. Life-history traits such as early maturation and frequent production of large litters render this species resilient to commercial harvesting. Future research should explore reasons for strong variation among facilities in the sex ratios of snakes, potentially identifying ways to focus the harvest on the sex (males) whose numbers are less critical for population viability.
Inter-individual differences in baseline dynamic functional connectivity are linked to cognitive aftereffects of tDCS
Authors: Pupíková Monika , Šimko Patrik , Lamoš Martin , Gajdoš Martin , Rektorová Irena 
Published: December 2022

AbstractTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has the potential to modulate cognitive training in healthy aging; however, results from various studies have been inconsistent. We hypothesized that inter-individual differences in baseline brain state may contribute to the varied results. We aimed to explore whether baseline resting-state dynamic functional connectivity (rs-dFC) and/or conventional resting-state static functional connectivity (rs-sFC) may be related to the magnitude of cognitive aftereffects of tDCS. To achieve this aim, we used data from our double-blind randomized sham-controlled cross-over tDCS trial in 25 healthy seniors in which bifrontal tDCS combined with cognitive training had induced significant behavioral aftereffects. We performed a backward regression analysis including rs-sFC/rs-dFC measures to explain the variability in the magnitude of tDCS-induced improvements in visual object-matching task (VOMT) accuracy. Rs-dFC analysis revealed four rs-dFC states. The occurrence rate of a rs-dFC state 4, characterized by a high correlation between the left fronto-parietal control network and the language network, was significantly associated with tDCS-induced VOMT accuracy changes. The rs-sFC measure was not significantly associated with the cognitive outcome. We show that flexibility of the brain state representing readiness for top-down control of object identification implicated in the studied task is linked to the tDCS-enhanced task accuracy.
Association between real-time strategy video game learning outcomes and pre-training brain white matter structure: preliminary study
Authors: Lewandowska Paulina , Jakubowska Natalia , Hryniewicz Nikodem , Prusinowski Rafał , Kossowski Bartosz , Brzezicka Aneta , Kowalczyk-Grębska Natalia 
Published: December 2022

AbstractIn recent years the association between video games, cognition, and the brain has been actively investigated. However, it is still unclear how individual predispositions, such as brain structure characteristics, play a role in the process of acquiring new skills, such as video games. The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate whether acquisition of cognitive-motor skills from the real-time strategy video game (StarCraft II) is associated with pre-training measures of brain white matter integrity. Results show that higher white matter integrity in regions (anterior limb of internal capsule, cingulum/hippocampus) and tracts (inferior longitudinal fasciculus) related with motoric functions, set shifting and visual decision making was associated with better Star Craft II performance. The presented findings inline with previous results and suggest that structural brain predispositions of individuals are related to the video game skill acquisition. Our study highlights the importance of neuroimaging studies that focus on white matter in predicting the outcomes of intervention studies and has implications for understanding the neural basis of the skill learning process.
Effects of a mouthwash containing Lespedeza cuneata extract on risk of dental caries: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Authors: Kim Yu-Rin , Nam Seoul-Hee 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThis study aims to evaluate the anti-caries effect of a mouthwash containingLespedeza cuneataextract by confirming its effect on acid-producing capacity and bacteria causing dental caries in the oral cavity. For the same oral environments of 95 subjects who agreed to participate in this study, scaling was performed one week before the experiment. The final number of subjects included in the analysis was 82, excluding those who dropped out during the study period. A randomized placebo-controlled trial was conducted by dividing the subjects into theLespedeza cuneataextract gargle group (n = 42) and the saline gargle group (n = 40). Participants in each group gargled once every day before going to bed for 5 days, and data were collected by measuring 3 times: before gargling (Baseline), immediately after gargling (Treatment), and 5 days after gargling (After 5 Days). Two trained dental hygienists confirmed the dental caries activity through the Cariview test under the guidance of a dentist. Microbiological analysis was performed to evaluate the changes in bacteria causing dental caries. By confirming the anti-caries effect in the oral environment according to the application ofLespedeza cuneataextract gargle, dental caries activity was found to be significantly lower from Treatment to After 5 Days (p < 0.05). Dental caries-causing bacteria in the upper and lower jaws were also significantly reduced (p < 0.05). These results confirm thatLespedeza cuneataextract is a natural substance with an anti-caries effect. Gargling with a mouthwash containingLespedeza cuneataextract is useful in preventing dental caries and inhibiting its progression. The same mouthwash can also be used as an effective formulation for maintaining and promoting oral health.