bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of orally administered hormonal contraceptives on the musculoskeletal system of healthy premenopausal women—A systematic review
Authors: Römer Claudia , Czupajllo Julia , Wolfarth Bernd , Lerchbaumer Markus H. , Legerlotz Kirsten 
Published: August 2022

AbstractIntroductionThe musculoskeletal system (MSK) is one of the extragonadal target tissues of sex hormones: osteoblasts and osteocytes express estrogen receptors, while in fibroblasts of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and myocytes of the vastus lateralis muscle (MVL), estrogen and progesterone receptors can be detected by immunoassay. Indeed, upon binding of sex hormones to the extragonadal receptors, the MSK seems to respond to varying levels of sex hormones with structural adaptation. Hormonal contraceptives can affect the musculoskeletal system; however, there is a lack of high‐quality studies, and no recommendation for female athletes exists.Material and MethodsThis is a systematic review of publications on the effects of oral hormonal contraceptives on the biomechanical properties of tendons, muscles and ligaments, muscle strength, and soft tissue regeneration. A systematic database search was performed using MESH keywords and PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses) methodology in Pubmed and Cochrane to identify studies investigating the influence of oral hormonal contraceptives on muscles, tendons, and ligaments of healthy, adult, premenopausal women. The risk of bias in the studies included was assessed by two independent researchers using the ROBINS‐I Tool.ResultsNine comparative studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. Endpoints were muscle strength and biomechanical tissue properties. No significant influence of oral hormonal contraceptives on muscle strength was found, although general muscle growth and Type I fiber growth were found to be significantly increased in a dose‐dependent manner. There was a negative effect on regeneration of muscle strength after exercise. The stiffness of tendons remained unchanged, while their size adaptation to load increased.ConclusionThe anabolic effect could be beneficial for specific sports, whereas reduced muscle regeneration could be disadvantageous for women exercising with high‐performance demands. The different effects on tendons and ligaments and the functional consequences of altered ligament and muscle stiffness, especially with regard to synthetic hormones, should be further investigated.
Nighttime salivary cortisol as a biomarker of stress and an indicator of worsening quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Cruz Marla S. P. , Reis Tercio G. , Oliveira Antoniel C. , Macedo Marluce M. , de Bessa José , Oliveira Márcio C. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBackgroundHead and neck cancer (HNC) is a generic term defined on an anatomical–topographic basis to describe malignant tumors located in the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and thyroid. A situation commonly presented by individuals with cancer is stress, with evidence indicating a close relationship between stress, behavior, and the immune system with the development and progression of cancer.AimTo assess the association between stress levels and quality of life among individuals with HNC.MethodsThis was a cross‐sectional study involving 72 HNC patients. The University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life, while the Perceived Stress Scale and salivary cortisol were used to evaluate stress levels.ResultsA negative association was found between quality of life and stress levels as indicated by both the PSS and nighttime salivary cortisol. Nighttime salivary cortisol showed the best accuracy estimated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, slightly better than that of PSS.ConclusionAmong the time points for saliva sampling, nighttime cortisol was found to have the best accuracy, which was similar to that of the PSS, for the detection of patients with the worst quality of life.
Modelling stream nutrient source and yield by coupling hydrological processes and nutrient budgets from an experimental headwater catchment with orchard expansion in the Changjiang River Delta area
Authors: Zhang Peipei , Wang Fang , Wang Jianing , Yan Weijin , Li Yanqiang , Wang Dongsheng 
Published: August 2022

AbstractAlthough watershed nutrient exports have been well studied and modelled, the dynamic changes in the contributions of individual nutrient sources to reservoirs are less certain under changing land use and climate. The intensification of agriculture has led to expansion in plantation areas and the corresponding increased use of chemical and organic fertilisers in many headwater catchments in recent decades in China. Nutrient yields are potentially substantial because of the expansion of agricultural ecosystems. Here, in combination with biogeochemical nutrient budgets, we developed a synthesis model to quantify daily nutrient yields in terms of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) and dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP). We also identified their sources in an experimental headwater reservoir catchment based on high‐frequency observations of daily precipitation with nutrient concentrations in the stream outlets from January 2020 to December 2021. Annual DIN, DON, DIP and DOP yields were 31.68 ± 2.38, 5.98 ± 0.41, 1.12 ± 0.08 and 0.37 ± 0.27 kg ha−1 yr−1, respectively. All nutrient yields showed significant seasonal patterns, with over 60% of the total nutrient yield obtained from May to July. Our model suggests that over 70% of the annual nutrient yields were driven by rainfall exceeding 40 mm. Approximately 70% of catchment nutrient yields were from chemical and organic fertiliser applications. Triple nitrate isotopes (δ15N‐NO3−, δ18O‐NO3− and δ17O‐NO3−) revealed that stream nitrate sources and their contributions were almost consistent with the estimation from our model. The estimates demonstrated that orchard expansion by 25% of the total area led to a 63% increase in dissolved total nitrogen and an 88% increase in dissolved total phosphorus exports. Our results reveal that diffuse sources from orchard plantations are an important yet overlooked source of nutrients to the receiving headwater reservoir budget.
Multilayer‐neighbor local binary pattern for facial expression recognition
Authors: Hsu Wei‐Yen , Hsu Hsien‐Jen , Wang Yen‐Yao , Wang Tawei 
Published: August 2022

SummaryFacial expression recognition (FER) has drawn the interest of practitioners and researchers due to its potential in opening new business opportunities. One critical aspect of any successful FER system is a feature extraction method that can efficiently find sufficient facial features and characterize facial expressions. This paper proposes an appearance‐based feature extraction method by introducing a local feature descriptor, a multilayer‐neighbor local binary pattern (LBP), for recognizing facial expressions. This new LBP operator is an extension of the original one‐layer‐neighbor LBP to two‐layer‐neighbor and three‐layer‐neighbor LBPs. We extract features by comparing new center points with neighborhood points. In addition, based on facial landmark locations, we extract active facial blocks during emotional stimulations. These prominent facial blocks utilize facial symmetry to improve the accuracy and speed of expression recognition. After using principal component analysis to reduce the dimensionality of features, we use a support vector machine to assign expressions to seven categories. We evaluate the proposed method by comparing it with other commonly used methods, and the proposed method is more accurate. Implications for business researchers are discussed.
The sex‐specific prognostic utility of sarcopenia in cirrhosis
Authors: Lowe Ryan , Hey Penelope , Sinclair Marie 
Published: August 2022

AbstractSarcopenia is an increasingly recognized complication of cirrhosis that is associated with morbidity and mortality. Differences in the prevalence and prognosis of sarcopenia between men and women have been reported in other patient groups, but there is insufficient understanding of how sex impacts the prognostic value of sarcopenia in cirrhosis. A search of MEDLINE and Embase was conducted from earliest entries to April 2021. Studies were included if they examined sex‐stratified mortality impact of reduced muscle function or mass in outpatient populations with cirrhosis. We identified 700 studies of which 6 were deemed relevant for inclusion in this narrative review. Studies of interest were heterogeneous, precluding pooling of data and making interpretation of the literature challenging. Muscle mass was assessed in five studies (n = 2566, 1730 men, 836 women) and was reduced in 36–50% of men and 24–43% of women. All five studies found that reduced muscle mass determined by computed tomography, dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry, and bioelectrical impedance analysis was associated with increased mortality in men. Of these, two studies identified a corresponding relationship in women; reduced muscle mass defined by computed tomography was associated with increased mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 2.82, P = 0.001], while increasing muscle mass by bioelectrical impedance analysis likewise conferred a survival benefit (HR 0.45, P = 0.0016). Only one study assessed the relationship of muscle function with sex‐stratified mortality (n = 1405, 827 men, 578 women), concluding that reduced muscle function predicted mortality in both men and women (HR 1.65, P < 0.001 and HR 1.54, P < 0.001, respectively). Reduced muscle mass in cirrhosis is consistently associated with mortality in men, but lack of sex‐stratification of mortality analyses limits the ability to make strong conclusions about the impact of sarcopenia specifically in women, with even fewer data available for analysing muscle function. Improved understanding of the sex‐specific impacts of sarcopenia may help address patient deterioration and mortality while awaiting liver transplantation and allow for early intervention to mitigate mortality risk. Large, multicentre studies with adequate female participation and sex‐stratified mortality analyses are warranted.
Spectrum of fetal limb anomalies
Authors: Thakur Seema , Chaddha Vandana , Gupta Rachna , Singh Chanchal , Dagar Savita , Shastri Aditi , Tiwari Beena , Kavitha  , Sethia Vineet , Malik Manish , Jain Puneet , Kapoor Akriti , Kapoor Aakaar , Kapoor Tushar , Kapoor Apurva , Kapoor Ravi , Kumar Manisha , Uppal Rajesh 
Published: August 2022

AbstractPurposeAntenatal detection of limb anomalies is not uncommon, and pregnancies are usually terminated in view of the expected physical handicap. The aim of this retrospective observational study is to delineate the spectrum of fetal limb anomalies and provide evidence in support of complete postnatal evaluation in establishing recurrence risk.MethodsWe present 54 cases of limb malformations detected antenatally and discuss the spectrum of abnormalities, the utility of fetal autopsy, and genetic testing to establish recurrence risk in subsequent pregnancies.Results16/54 cases were isolated radial ray anomalies. There were five cases of amniotic band syndrome, five limb body wall complex cases, three VACTERL (vertebral defects, anal atresia, cardiac defects, tracheo‐esophageal fistula, renal anomalies, and limb abnormalities) associations, one case of sirenomelia, two cases of limb pelvis hypoplasia, and one case of OEIS (Omphalocele Exstrophy Imperforate anus and spinal defects). Four fetuses with non‐isolated radial ray anomaly had trisomy 18. One case with bilateral radial ray defect had a mutation in the FANC‐E gene confirming fanconi anemia. Twelve cases were unclassified.ConclusionAutopsy is the most important investigation in fetuses with limb anomalies. We suggest chromosomal microarray (CMA) as a first‐tier test after autopsy. However, in cases of bilaterally symmetrical limb anomalies, in case of previous similarly affected child, or history of consanguinity, whole exome sequencing (WES) can be offered as the primary investigation, followed by CMA if WES is normal.
ITO:n‐ZnO:p‐NiO and ITO:n‐ZnO:p‐NZO thin films: Study of crystalline structures, surface statistical metrics, and optical properties
Authors: Dejam Laya , Solaymani Shahram , Kulesza Slawomir , Ghaderi Atefeh , Ţălu Ştefan , Bramowicz Miroslaw 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe article presents results on fabrication and characterization of transparent, oxide‐based junction diodes on quartz substrates. The devices are made by radio frequency magnetron sputtering in the form of sandwich structures: ITO:n‐ZnO:p‐NiO (homojunction) and ITO:n‐ZnO:p‐NZO (heterojunction). The microstructure, crystalline structure, and micromorphology features of deposited samples are studied by means of X‐ray diffraction, Atomic Force Microscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Obtained results are used to derive statistical, fractal and functional surface characteristics that exhibited secondary alignment patterns. Apart from that, optical and electrical measurements are carried out as well. Optical transmittance peaked at 80% in visible range, but substantially increased after annealing. Due to structural differences, heterojunction was found to follow linear current–voltage dependence specific of ohmic contacts, whereas homojunction was found to follow non‐linear characteristics as in junction diode.
PMN-MDSC in newborns: Regulation of the regulators
Authors: Jablonska Jadwiga , Brandau Sven 
Published: August 2022

AbstractPMN-MDSC are pathologically activated neutrophils that acquire T cell (and NK cell) suppressive activity and thus function as negative regulators of effector lymphocytes in many disease conditions.[1] For many years, these PMN-MDSC have mainly been seen as contributors to disease progression and severity, best exemplified in the context of cancer. However, more recently, PMN-MDSC have also been described in newborn mice and humans.[2] This finding raised the question on the potential functional roles of these regulatory myeloid cells in neonate immunobiology. During the first days (mice) or weeks (human) of life, an initial seeding of microbiota in the gut takes place. The appearance of these microbiota triggers immune responses that could potentially lead to harmful inflammation and immunopathology. In this early phase of life, PMN-MDSC could be beneficial by limiting overshooting immune responses. Indeed, a recent paper by He et al.[3] describes the transient presence of PMN-MDSC during the first month of life. Such PMN-MDSC have been shown to suppress T cells in a contact-depended manner, but the mechanism behind the transitory nature of this phenomenon has not yet been elucidated. In this issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology Perego et al. describe molecular mechanisms that regulate this transient increase and subsequent decrease of PMN-MDSC in newborn mice.[4]
In vivo antioxidant activity of Cinnamomum cassia leaf residues and their effect on gut microbiota of d‐galactose‐induced aging model mice
Authors: Chen Lingqi , Hu Tenggen , Wu Ruiqing , Wang Hong , Wu Hong , Wen Peng 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBACKGROUNDTo thoroughly explore the values of Cinnamomum cassia leaf residues (CcLR), their antioxidant activity in vivo and the relationship with gut microbiota were investigated using d‐galactose‐induced aging mice.RESULTSResults showed that CcLR extract treatment exerted antioxidant activity by increasing the levels of superoxide dismutase (P < 0.01) and glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.05), as well as inhibiting the formation of malondialdehyde (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the inflammatory response was also alleviated as the ratio of pro‐inflammatory tumor necrosis factor‐α (P < 0.01) and interleukin‐1β (P < 0.01))/anti‐inflammatory cytokines (interleukin‐10; P < 0.05) in serum was decreased and the contents of inflammatory markers (induced nitrogen monoxide synthase and nitric oxide) in brain and liver tissues (P < 0.01) were reduced. Moreover, through inhibiting acetylcholinesterase activity and improving choline acetyltransferase activity, the cholinergic system in aging mice recovered to levels comparable to the normal control group. In addition, 16S rRNA sequencing results demonstrated that CcLR extract promoted the growth of beneficial bacteria. In particular, Spearman correlation analysis revealed that the abundance of Colidextribacter was negatively correlated with serum superoxide dismutase (P < 0.05, R = −0.943), and Helicobacter displayed a positive correlation with the content of brain nitric oxide (P < 0.05, R = 0.899), suggesting that regulating gut microbiota might be one of the mechanisms for reducing oxidative stress, thus postponing the aging process.CONCLUSIONIt is suggested that CcLR extract could be used as a novel antioxidant and anti‐aging resource in the pharmaceutical and food industries. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Transcranial Sonography as a Diagnostic Tool for Depressive Disorders
Authors: Li Yanping , Cao Qian , Hou Zhuo , Tang Boji , Shen Yu 
Published: August 2022

BackgroundTranscranial sonography (TCS) is an available and noninvasive neuroimaging method that has been found to reduce the echogenicity of the brainstem raphe (BR) in patients with depression. Applying the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders‐IV (DSM‐IV), we performed a meta‐analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of TCS.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The databases were searched from inception to December 2021. The quality of the included literature was assessed using the QUADAS‐2. Heterogeneity analysis was performed. A summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was generated to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of TCS.ResultsWe included 12 studies with 809 patients. The pooled sensitivity was 0.66 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.61–0.71), and the specificity was 0.84 (95% CI: 0.80–0.87). The combined positive likelihood ratio (LR) was 3.84 (95% CI: 2.68–5.51), the negative LR was 0.41 (95% CI: 0.29–0.57), and the diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was 11.45 (95% CI: 5.57–23.02). The area under the curve (AUC) of the plotted SROC curve was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.83–0.89). The meta‐regression and subgroup analyses found no source of heterogeneity.ConclusionTCS has high potential and efficacy in diagnosing depression and may be a reasonable test to perform clinically for the assessment of depression.
Hydrodynamic drivers of fine‐scale connectivity within a coral reef atoll
Authors: Grimaldi Camille M. , Lowe Ryan J. , Benthuysen Jessica A. , Cuttler Michael V. W. , Green Rebecca H. , Radford Ben , Ryan Nicole , Gilmour James 
Published: August 2022

AbstractAn accurate representation of physical and biological processes is crucial to resolve larval dispersal pathways and characterize connectivity of coral reef ecosystems. We investigate how hydrodynamic forcings drive larval retention rates during the bi‐annual mass coral spawning of the coral genus Acropora within a coral reef atoll (Mermaid Reef), located off northwestern Australia. By analyzing hydrodynamic conditions during 41 yr of historical spring and autumn coral spawning events, we identify typical and extreme hydrodynamic forcing conditions. Particle tracking using the output from a fine‐scale coupled wave‐flow hydrodynamic model forced with typical hydrodynamic conditions during coral spawning, revealed a mean transport of larvae eastward across the atoll. Transport was mainly driven by a combination of wave and tidal currents, where the residual tidal flow and unidirectional wave flow increased the net export of particles, and the oscillatory tidal (non‐residual) flow reduced the net export of particles from the reef. Importantly, however, numerical simulations forced with extreme hydrodynamic conditions generated by episodic tropical cyclones (11 out of 41 yr) showed large deviations from the typical eastward flow during autumn spawning, generating different connectivity pathways within the reef. Considering the substantial time larvae can be retained within reef systems, overlooking fine‐scale hydrodynamic processes may greatly overestimate larval transport distances between adjacent coral reef atolls. As a result, we emphasize the need to consider fine‐scale hydrodynamic processes within regional connectivity predictions, which is generally not considered yet critical to understand the capacity of reefs to recover following disturbances.
Topological Effects on Cyclic Co‐Poly(ionic liquid)s Self‐Assembly
Authors: Tang Qingquan , Ren Hao , Kochovski Zdravko , Cheng Lisheng , Zhang Ke , Yuan Jiayin , Zhang Weiyi 
Published: August 2022

AbstractTopological geometry of poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs), such as brush‐like, knot‐like, hyperbranched and randomly coiled, often exerts a strong influence on their self‐assembly behaviors. As a primary topological form, the cyclic topology‐derived effects have not been investigated on PILs, which concerns synergy of charges and zero chain end. Herein, linear and cyclic poly(ionic liquid) copolymers (co‐PILs) with randomly distributed counter anions of B(Ph)4− and Br− by a template method in combination with a follow‐up partial anion exchange is prepared. The self‐assembly phenomena of linear and cyclic co‐PILs are studied in selective solvents, where the hydrophobic counter anions B(Ph)4− and hydrophilic counter anions Br− aggregated to form cores and corona in the assembled nanospheres, showing the average size of cyclic co‐PILs nanospheres is 46.2% smaller (≈120 nm) than linear co‐PILs nano‐assemblies (≈176 nm). Based on the CGMD simulations, the authors speculate that the spherical aggregates are formed by transitioning from micelles with gradient block‐like structures, which formed by enriched hydrophobic counter anions in the core and enriched hydrophilic counter anions in the corona. These results indicate a novel synergy of topology effects and dynamic anion movements, as revealed by cyclic co‐PIL self‐assembly in this work.
Highly Conductive, Transparent, Adhesive, and Self‐Healable Ionogel Based on a Deep Eutectic Solvent with Widely Adjustable Mechanical Strength
Authors: Wu Yingxue , Jiang Wenxing , Zhang Xianhong , Wang Jiadong , Chen Dong , Ma Yuhong , Yang Wantai 
Published: August 2022

AbstractIonogels have attracted intensive attentions as promising flexible conductive materials. However, simultaneous integration of excellent mechanical properties, high conductivity, outstanding self‐healing ability, and strong adhesiveness is still challenging. Here, an ingenious composition design is proposed to address this long‐standing challenge of ionogels. High‐performance PEI/PAA/CMC ionogels, consist of a loosely cross‐linked poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) network, dynamically cross‐linked network based on polycationic polyethyleneimine (PEI) and polyanionic PAA, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) reinforcing filler, are formed in a deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of choline chloride and urea. Benefiting from the loose PAA network and dynamic noncovalent interactions, ionogels with both highly enhanced mechanical robustness and excellent conductivity are obtained at high loading of DES, overcoming the strength‐ductility/conductivity trade‐off dilemma. By adjusting PEI/PAA mass ratio, the tensile strength and strain of PEI/PAA/CMC ionogels are effectively controlled in a wide range of 0.15–7.9 MPa and 232–1161%, respectively, while maintaining the desirable conductivity of ≈10−4 S cm−1. Besides, healed tensile strength over 2.1 MPa and adhesion strength up to 0.2 MPa are achieved for the PEI0.06/PAA0.25/CMC0.01 ionogel. The delicate design strategy provides a feasible approach to prepare ionogels with outstanding comprehensive performance, which have potential for applications in flexible electronics.