bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neuroprotective Effect of Sonic Hedgehog Mediated PI3K/AKT Pathway in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Model Mice
Authors: Qi Yan , Yang Chen , Zhao Hui , Deng Zhanjin , Xu Jin , Liang Weijing , Sun Zhitang , Nieland John Dirk Vestergaard 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

The Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway is related to the progression of various tumors and nervous system diseases. Still, its specific role in neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), remains studied. This research investigates the role of SHH and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway proteins on ALS development in a SOD1-G93A transgenic mouse model. After injection of SHH and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway inhibitors or agonists in hSOD1-G93A (9 weeks of age) transgenic mice, we studied skeletal muscle pathology using immunohistochemical staining and Western blot methods. In addition, recorded data on rotation time, weight, and survival were analyzed for these mice. Our study showed that the expression of SHH, Gli-1 and p-AKT in ALS mice decreased with the progression of the disease. The expression of p-AKT changed together with Gli-1 while injecting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway inhibitor or agonist; SHH and Gli-1 protein expression remained unchanged; p-AKT protein expression significantly decreased while injecting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway inhibitor. These results indicate that SHH has a regulatory effect on PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In behavioral experiments, we found that the survival time of hSOD1-G93A mice was prolonged by injection of SHH agonist while shortened by injection of SHH inhibitor. In conclusion, we confirmed that the SHH pathway played a neuroprotective role in ALS by mediating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Arthroscopic surgery or exercise therapy for degenerative meniscal lesions: a systematic review of systematic reviews
Authors: Rotini M. , Papalia G. , Setaro N. , Luciani P. , Marinelli M. , Specchia N. , Gigante A. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) is widely applied for the treatment of degenerative meniscal lesions in middle-aged patients; however, such injury is often associated with mild or moderate osteoarthritis and has been reported by MRI in asymptomatic knees. Previous studies suggested, in most patients, a lack of benefit of surgical approach over conservative treatment, yet many controversies remain in clinical practice. Our aims were to assess the functional and pain scores between exercise therapy and arthroscopic surgery for degenerative meniscal lesions and to evaluate the methodological quality of the most recent systematic reviews (SRs).

Methods
Two authors independently searched PubMed and Google Scholar for SRs comparing the outcome (in knee pain and functionality) of arthroscopic treatment and exercise therapy or placebo for degenerative meniscal lesions. The timeframe set was from 2009 to 2019 included.

Results
A total of 13 SRs were selected. Two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality of each paper using the AMSTAR 2 tool: seven scored as “moderate,” four obtained a “low” grade while the remaining two were evaluated as “critically low.” SRs agreed that in middle-aged patients with degenerative meniscal lesions arthroscopic surgery appears to grant no long-term improvement in pain and function over exercise therapy or placebo.

Conclusions
Conservative treatment based on physical therapy should be the first-line management. However, most SRs revealed subgroups of patients that fail to improve after conservative treatment and find relief when undergoing surgery. In the future, randomized controlled trials, evidence should be looked for that APM can be successful in case of the unsatisfactory results after physical therapy.
„Frieden verbessert das Klima“ – Zivile Konfliktbearbeitung als Beitrag zur sozial-ökologischen Transformation
Authors: Pastoors Daniela , Drees Lukas , Fickel Thomas , Scheffran Jürgen 
Published: September 2022

ZusammenfassungDie Zusammenhänge zwischen Klimawandel und Konflikten sind vielfältig und werden in Politik und Forschung zunehmend thematisiert. Die Verbindung von nachhaltigem Frieden und Klimagerechtigkeit ist hingegen wenig erforscht. Dieser Beitrag adressiert diese Lücke konzeptionell und zeigt auf, dass Zivile Konfliktbearbeitung wirksame Mittel zu Bewältigung der Klimakrise bereithält. Klimaschutz, Klimaanpassung und Konfliktbearbeitung müssen genauso wie Frieden, Umwelt und Entwicklung zusammengedacht werden, um sozial-ökologische Transformationen zu gestalten.
Biological indicators as tools for monitoring water quality of a hot spot area on the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast
Authors: Shams El-Din Nihal G. , El-Sheekh Mostafa M. , El-Kassas Hala Y. , Essa D. I. , El-Sherbiny Basma A. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractEl-Mex Bay is a semi-sheltered coastal embayment located west of Alexandria, the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea. It is considered as a hot spot area receiving industrial, agricultural, and domestic wastes from the adjacent Lake Mariut through El-Umum Drain. To evaluate the water quality of the bay, phytoplankton and macroalgae as biological tools were investigated seasonally concerning physicochemical parameters from 2018 to 2019. The results indicated that the Bay harbored a diversified phytoplankton community (162 species), comprising 99 freshwater forms, 38 marine, 22 euryhaline, and only 3 brackish forms. The total average phytoplankton abundance was 419,414 unit/L. Few species were responsible for the main bulk of phytoplankton namelyMerismopedia tenuissima,Cylindrotheca closterium,Cyclotellasp.,Skeletonema costatum, Scenedesmus quadricauda,Scenedesmus bijugus, andTetradesmus dimorphus.During the study period, El-Mex Bay was affected by the presence of 13 harmful and /or toxic algal species, among which the mediophyte speciesSkeletonema costatumwas responsible for the peak occurring during autumn (2018). The results of the recorded nutrients indicated that the Bay is highly loaded, where NH4,NO2,NO3, PO4, and SiO4attained 141.68 µM, 25.61 µM, 151.16 µM, 10.73 µM, and 232.86 µM, respectively. The macroalgal flora was represented only by the two opportunistic species (Ulva fasciataandUlva intestinalis). Both species could survive in freshwater conditions exhibiting very broad salinity tolerance (6.51–38.41‰) and a high level of nitrogenous compounds. Those results revealed that El-Mex Bay suffers from pollution and deterioration of water quality.
Petrochemical attributes of glazed architectural elements from Middle-Elamite to Achaemenid excavation sites in Iran
Authors: Raith Michael M. , Abdali Negar , Yule Paul A. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractGlazed decoration in Iran from the Middle Elamite to the Achaemenid periods includes world art milestones. With the exception of Hasanlu IVB, for most sites, comprehensive chemical and mineralogical data are lacking, owing to the generally profound alteration of the vitreous material. To bridge the information gap, and to enable to reconstruct operation production chains in a diachronic fashion, thirty-six glazed artefacts from Qalaichi, Rabat, Hasanlu, Ziwiye, Chogha Zanbil, Susa and Persepolis are studied. The microstructural make-up and alteration phenomena of glazes are characterized by petrographic microscopy, back-scattered electron (BSE) imaging and electron probe microanalysis (WDS-EPMA) on high-quality polished thin sections. Pristine glaze domains at all sites show plant ash soda-lime glass compositions and indicate the use of regionally specific halophyte species for soda production. A distinct feature in the composition of white and turquoise glazes from Qalaichi, Ziwiye and Achaemenid Susa is the employment of sodium-antimonate as white colourant and opacifier. Inter-diffusion and dissolution-precipitation are identified as regionally and temporally contrasting alteration processes.
Multi-analytical study of the medieval wall paintings from the rupestrian church Grotta del Crocifisso at Lentini (eastern Sicily): new evidence of the use of woad (Isatis tinctoria)
Authors: Montana Giuseppe , Giarrusso Renato , D’Amico Raffaella , Di Natale Barbara , Vizzini Mirko Andrea , Ilardi Vincenzo , Mulone Angelo , Randazzo Luciana , Bordenca Claudio Ventura 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThis study presents the results of the examination and characterisation of the wall paintings that decorate the rupestrian church named Grotta del Crocifisso, which is located in the territory of Lentini (eastern Sicily, few tens of kilometres from Catania and Syracuse). The earliest mural paintings in the church date back to the twelfth century AD. A multi-analytical approach was adopted for the characterisation of stone materials, secondary degradation products, and pigments. For this purpose, the following techniques were used: reflected light microscopy (RLM), polarised light microscopy on thin sections (PLM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), portable X-ray fluorescence (p-XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy (RS). The lithic substrate and the plaster’s coating layers were thoroughly characterised from compositional and textural points of view, and the use of locally available raw materials was established. Similarly, the newly formed crystalline phases produced by alteration processes of the original materials were recognised. The red, yellow, brown, and green pigments were easily identified by p-XRF and SEM-EDS. The use of “earth pigments” widely available in the surrounding area (various types of ochre) was thus highlighted. The recognition of the dark blue pigment created some additional issues in its identification, making further diagnostic methods necessary. In fact, the use of the most common mineral pigments was categorically excluded by both p-XRF and SEM-EDS, since no chromophore metallic elements were highlighted with the exception of trace amounts of iron. A combination of detailed microscopic observations together with the application of FTIR and RS supported the use of an organic pigment obtained from the maceration of woad (Isatis tinctoria). The green pigment is the result of a mixture between woad and yellow ochre. Woad is even today easily available in Sicily, and some additional experimental tests were carried out on Isatis tinctoria that had been freshly collected in the area (treated with traditional procedures). Over the past centuries, woad was widely used for dyeing fabrics, but its practice for wall paintings has only been sporadically proven. The identification reported in this case study could be considered a novelty at least in the Sicilian panorama.
Effects of Mindful Practices on Terror of Mortality: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Anālayo Bhikkhu , Medvedev Oleg N. , Singh Nirbhay N. , Dhaussy Marie R. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Objectives
Early Buddhist thought clearly recognizes the need for learning how to face one’s own mortality, for which purpose mindfulness practice has a central role to play. Fear of death has also been studied in cognitive psychology, leading to what is known as the terror management theory. Actual research evidence in psychology has already shown that mindfulness practice may reduce fear and anxiety in general. However, there is a lack of research examining the specific effects of brief mindfulness practices on the fear of death and dying. In this study we tested the hypothesis that brief mindfulness practices used daily over a period of 6 weeks will result in a reduction of the fear of death and dying when compared to brief contemplative practices used as an active control condition.

Methods
Participants (n = 89) were randomly assigned to the mindfulness (n = 44) and the contemplation (n = 45) conditions and completed validated scales measuring four distinct fears related to either the process of dying or the final event of death (dying of oneself, death of oneself, dying of others, and death of others), mindfulness, and self-compassion at baseline, post-intervention (at 6 weeks) and follow up (1‒3 weeks after the end of the 6-week intervention). ANOVA was used to investigate the effects of both interventions on outcome variables over time and between groups.

Results
Both mindfulness and contemplative practices were equally effective in reducing fear related to dying of oneself and death of others while increasing fear of dying of others, mindfulness, and self-compassion. No significant intervention effects were found for fear related to death of oneself only.

Conclusions
These results suggest that fears related to dying of oneself and death of others can be reduced using both mindfulness and contemplative practices that may simultaneously increase mindfulness and self-compassion.
Energy-optimized approaches: a challenge from the perspectives of pilots and air traffic controllers
Authors: Gerber Martin , Schreiber York , Abdelmoula Fethi , Kühne Christoph G. , Jäger D. , Wunderli J. M. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractCarrying out an approach that is as economical and safe as possible remains a challenge for flight crews, with a multitude of requirements to meet simultaneously. For an aircraft to descend from cruise altitude to touchdown with the lowest possible fuel consumption and noise signature, an approach is required that is both at idle thrust in the ideal speed and follows an ideal vertical profile without using speed brakes, extending the landing gear too early, or flying unnecessary horizontal segments with high thrust settings. In September 2019, a total of 90 test approaches were carried out at Zurich Airport on DLR's Airbus A320 Advanced Technology Research Aircraft (ATRA) using the low noise augmentation system (LNAS) pilot assistance system for the most economical and quiet approaches possible. The aim of this paper is to present the challenges from the pilots' and controllers' point of view for an idle approach and its execution by means of LNAS, to show the potential for fuel savings and noise reduction on the basis of flight test data and to discuss the next development steps. The assistance system reduces the crew's workload and provides support for all these tasks during an approach. The key information needed to perform optimum approaches is the expected distance from the actual aircraft position to the runway. The approaches carried out with the assistance system were significantly more economical and quieter on average than the approaches performed by a pilot group tasked with conducting minimum-fuel and low-noise approaches without the assistance system.
Clinical effectiveness of restorative materials for the restoration of carious lesions in pulp treated primary teeth: a systematic review
Authors: Amend S. , Boutsiouki C. , Bekes K. , Kloukos D. , Gizani S. , Lygidakis N. N. , Frankenberger R. , Krämer N. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Purpose
To systematically review the clinical performance of restorative materials after pulp therapy of carious primary teeth. It is part 2 of a systematic review on the clinical effectiveness of restorative materials for the management of carious primary teeth supporting the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD) guideline development.

Methods
Four electronic databases were systematically searched up to December 28th, 2020. Randomised controlled clinical trials (RCTs) on restorative materials for the restoration of carious primary teeth after pulp therapy were included. Failure rate, annual failure rate (AFR) and reasons for failure were recorded. Studies were sorted by restorative materials. The Cochrane Risk of bias tool for randomised trials (RoB 2.0) was used for quality assessment.

Results
After identification of 1685 articles and screening of 41 papers from EAPD review group 1, 5 RCTs were included. Restored primary molars with pulpotomy presented the following AFRs: composite resin (CR) 0%, preformed metal crowns (PMCs) 2.4–2.5%, resin-modified glass-ionomer cement combined with CR 3.8%, compomer 8.9%, and amalgam 14.3%. Maxillary primary incisors receiving pulpectomy exhibited AFRs of 0–2.3% for composite strip crowns (CSCs) depending on the post chosen. Reasons for failure were secondary caries, poor marginal adaptation, loss of retention and fracture of restoration. All studies were classified as high risk of bias. Meta-analyses were not feasible given the clinical/methodological heterogeneity amongst studies.

Conclusion
Considering any limitations of this review, CR and PMCs can be recommended for primary molars after pulpotomy, and CSCs for primary incisors receiving pulpectomy. However, a need for further well-designed RCTs was observed.
Thyroid hormones and platelet activation in COVID-19 patients
Authors: Colonnello E. , Criniti A. , Lorusso E. , Curreli M. , Santulli M. , Angeloni A. , Gnessi L. , Gandini O. , Lubrano C. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Purpose
To retrospectively describe the association between thyroid hormones (TH) and platelet activation, as represented by mean platelet volume (MPV), in a cohort of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 with no known thyroid disease, and to correlate these data with the severity of COVID-19 and the occurrence of death/ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome).

Methods
103 patients with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing-confirmed COVID-19 and hospitalized were enrolled. Serum samples were collected from patients upon admission before starting any treatment. Chi-squared test was used to determine the association between euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS) and COVID-19 severity. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to evaluate the best independent predictors of COVID-19 deaths/ARDS.

Results
39/103 (37.9%) of patients were found to have ESS, and this condition was an independent predictor for the severity of COVID-19 (p = 0.003). Lower TSH and lower FT3/FT4 ratio correlated with higher MPV (p = 0,001 and p = 0.010), with an opposite trend with respect to what has been documented in non-COVID patients. Increasing MPV and lower FT3 significantly increased the risk, in COVID-19 patients, of an adverse outcome of death/ARDS.

Conclusion
Increased platelet activation, as represented by increased MPV, has already been reported to correlate with COVID-19 severity, possibly as a consequence of cytokine release. We demonstrated, in a cohort of 103 patients with COVID-19, that MPV is inversely correlated to TH levels, in particular in the case of ESS, where downregulation of TH axis may occur in case of systemic cytokine inflammation and more severe outcomes (death/ARDS). That ESS itself may directly cause platelet activation, as demonstrated by higher MPV in these patients, is an interesting hypothesis which deserves further investigation.
Pull–push: a measure of over- or underpersonalization in recommendation
Authors: Gebremeskel Gebrekirstos G. , de Vries Arjen P. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractA recommender system imposes differences between users, by presenting to them different recommendation lists, which they respond to, resulting in different “reaction” lists. Comparison of the differences in the recommendation and reaction lists can indicate different user states. Users can approve the imposed difference, end up narrowing the difference between them (pulling each other closer) by consuming more of the items in common or enlarge the difference between them (pushing each other further apart) by consuming the items not in common. When users do not approve the differences, they are either in a push state (implicitly disapproving under-personalization) or in a pull state (implicitly disapproving over-personalization). We offer the pull–push metric to quantify the magnitude of pull or push—measures of disapproval by the users of, respectively, over-personalization and under-personalization. Application on simulated datasets shows that users can push each other away up to disjoint sets or pull each other closer up to identical sets. On real-world datasets, we find that the particular recommender system was under-personalizing its recommendations. We show how the pull–push metric can be merged with another metric of personalization to come up with a measure of the potential for improvement in a recommender system and discuss its relationship to popularity bias.
Market Inefficiency, Entry Order and Coordination
Authors: Kultti Klaus , Zheng Yi 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe causes of market inefficiency are many. We suggest an additional cause — buyers’ random entry order. In a market where identical sellers compete for buyers of heterogeneous valuations, first come first served is the norm. Since all buyers choose the cheapest available good, a low-valuation buyer who enters the market late may find the remaining goods unaffordable, which causes markets not to clear. We therefore propose a coordination solution to the market inefficiency problem. We find that in a market where all the high-valuation buyers enter first and all the low-valuation buyers enter afterwards, the market clears effectively. Moreover, we find the inefficiency arising from buyers’ entry order becomes less of a problem in larger economies and vanishes in the limit.
Mismatch repair is a double-edged sword in the battle against microsatellite instability
Authors: Miller Carson J. , Usdin Karen 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Roughly 3% of the human genome consists of microsatellites or tracts of short tandem repeats (STRs). These STRs are often unstable, undergoing high-frequency expansions (increases) or contractions (decreases) in the number of repeat units. Some microsatellite instability (MSI) is seen at multiple STRs within a single cell and is associated with certain types of cancer. A second form of MSI is characterised by expansion of a single gene-specific STR and such expansions are responsible for a group of 40+ human genetic disorders known as the repeat expansion diseases (REDs). While the mismatch repair (MMR) pathway prevents genome-wide MSI, emerging evidence suggests that some MMR factors are directly involved in generating expansions in the REDs. Thus, MMR suppresses some forms of expansion while some MMR factors promote expansion in other contexts. This review will cover what is known about the paradoxical effect of MMR on microsatellite expansion in mammalian cells.
Observational constraints on the sensitivity of two calving glaciers to external forcings
Authors: Kneib-Walter Andrea , Lüthi Martin P. , Funk Martin , Jouvet Guillaume , Vieli Andreas 
Published: September 2022

AbstractFuture mass loss projections of the Greenland ice sheet require understanding of the processes at a glacier terminus, especially of iceberg calving. We present detailed and high-rate terrestrial radar interferometer observations of Eqip Sermia and Bowdoin Glacier, two outlet glaciers in Greenland with comparable dimensions and investigate iceberg calving, surface elevation, velocity, strain rates and their links to air temperature, tides and topography. The results reveal that the two glaciers exhibit very different flow and calving behaviour on different timescales. Ice flow driven by a steep surface slope with several topographic steps leads to high velocities, areas of extension and intense crevassing, which triggers frequent but small calving events independent of local velocity gradients. In contrast, ice flow under smooth surface slopes leaves the ice relatively intact, such that sporadic large-scale calving events dominate, which initiate in areas with high shearing. Flow acceleration caused by enhanced meltwater input and tidal velocity variations were observed for terminus sections close to floatation. Firmly grounded terminus sections showed no tidal signal and a weak short-term reaction to air temperature. These results demonstrate reaction timescales to external forcings from hours to months, which are, however, strongly dependent on local terminus geometry.