bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epilepsy research in Africa: A scoping review by the ILAE Pediatric Commission Research Advocacy Task Force
Authors: Samia Pauline , Hassell Jane , Hudson Jessica , Ahmed Azim , Shah Jasmit , Hammond Charles , Kija Edward , Auvin Stéphane , Wilmshurst Jo 
Published: June 2022

AbstractObjectiveDespite the high prevalence of epilepsy in Africa, evaluation of epilepsy research trends on the continent is lacking. Without establishing effective research, improvement in care for people with epilepsy cannot be effectively strategized or targeted.MethodsA scoping review of the peer‐reviewed literature on epilepsy from Africa (1989–2019) was conducted. The aim was to understand from this what areas are well researched versus underresearched based on published epilepsy topics.ResultsA total of 1227 publications were identified and assessed. A significant increase in publications occurred over the 30 years assessed. African author leadership was evident in most reports. Nine countries had >50 publications identified; the remaining 45 countries had <50 or no publications. Research studies were typically of lower quality (case series and observational studies). Research themes were more focused on clinical epilepsy (descriptive observational studies) and social aspects (qualitative surveys). However, there were a number of unique and strong themes, specifically for neurocysticercosis and nodding syndrome, where strong research collaborations were evident, basic science understandings were explored, and interventional models were established.SignificanceDespite Africa being the continent with the most countries, it is lacking in the quantity, quality, and for some areas, relevance of research on epilepsy. Targeted approaches are needed to upskill the strength of research undertaken with more basic science, interventional, and randomized controlled studies. Themes of research need to promote those with unique African content but also to align with current international research areas that have impact on care delivery, such as epilepsy surgery and epilepsy genetics. For this to be possible, it is important to strengthen research hubs with collaborations that empower Africa to own its epilepsy research journey.
When in Rome: Local social norms and income differences
Authors: Burns Natasha , Keithley Andrew , Minnick Kristina , Rivolta Mia L. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractWe investigate whether social capital influences tournament incentives and income differences between the chief executive officer (CEO) and median worker. We find that firms headquartered in US counties with stronger norms of cooperation or social capital have lower tournament and income differences. Firm value is higher when compensation is consistent with local norms. The results hold for alternative measures of social capital, instrumental variables, and quasi‐experiments related to the legalization of marijuana and firm headquarter relocation. These findings suggest that local social norms influence income differences and firm performance.
Biomass, community composition and N:P recycling ratios of zooplankton in northern high‐latitude lakes with contrasting levels of N deposition and dissolved organic carbon
Authors: Bergström Ann‐Kristin , Lau Danny C. P. , Isles Peter D. F. , Jonsson Anders , Creed Irena F. 
Published: June 2022

Abstract

Global changes are causing decreases in inorganic nitrogen (N) concentrations, increases in coloured dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, and decreases in dissolved inorganic N to total phosphorus ratios (DIN:TP) in northern lakes. The effects of these changes on phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass and the N:P recycling ratio of zooplankton remain unresolved.

In 33 Swedish headwater lakes across subarctic‐to‐boreal gradients with different levels of N deposition (low N in the north [Västerbotten, boreal; Abisko, subarctic] vs. high N in the south [Värmland, boreal; Jämtland, subarctic]), we measured water chemistry, phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll‐a [Chl‐a], Chl‐a:TP), seston mineral quality (C:P, N:P), as well as zooplankton biomass, community composition, and C:N:P stoichiometry. We estimated nutrient imbalances and the N:P recycling ratios of zooplankton using ecological stoichiometry models.

There was a large‐scale gradient from low lake DIN and DIN:TP in the north to high DIN and DIN:TP in the south, with lower DIN:TP in lakes coinciding with higher DOC within each region. Lower lake DIN was associated with lower phytoplankton biomass (lower Chl‐a:TP). Lower lake DIN:TP was associated with richer seston mineral quality (lower seston C:P and N:P) and higher zooplankton biomass.

Zooplankton community composition differed in the north vs. south, with a dominance of N‐requiring calanoid copepods with high N:P in the north and P‐requiring cladocerans with low N:P in the south. Also, greater differences in zooplankton community composition were found between subarctic regions (with lower DOC) than between boreal regions (with higher DOC), suggesting that increases in lake DOC and associated declines in lake DIN:TP reduce differences in zooplankton community composition.

The combination of lower lake DIN, higher lake DOC, and lower lake DIN:TP led to reduced zooplankton N:P recycling ratios, possibly by reducing seston N:P and/or by enhancing calanoid copepod dominance in the zooplankton community.

Our findings suggest that the combination of declining N deposition and increasing lake browning in northern high‐latitude lakes will reduce phytoplankton biomass, but will concurrently enhance seston mineral quality and probably also zooplankton biomass and their recycling efficiency of P relative to N.
r2ogs5: Calibration of Numerical Groundwater Flow Models with Bayesian Optimization in R
Authors: Schad Philipp , Boog Johannes , Kalbacher Thomas 
Published: June 2022

AbstractLarge‐scale and high‐resolution groundwater models are currently becoming increasingly important in order to clarify the extent to which climate trends and extreme weather affect the groundwater balance regionally. As a result, the parameterization of groundwater models is becoming more detailed and more complex, making conventional calibration methods too time‐consuming. Moderating the computational demand to find optimal solutions for the resulting potentially multi‐modal objective function requires intelligent and efficient global optimization methods. Moreover, the increasing use of modern scripting languages R and Python to craft environmental analysis workflows calls to integrate groundwater flow simulators in such. Here we introduce and exemplify r2ogs5, a tool that integrates version 5 of the open‐source simulation software OpenGeoSys into the programming language R. r2ogs5 allows for calibration of numerical groundwater flow models with a sequential model‐based optimization approach that combines Bayesian optimization (BO) with surrogate modeling. Here, we describe the structure and function of r2ogs5 as well as the implemented calibration method. We then demonstrate the calibration method by calibrating 4 and 12 parameters of two simple groundwater flow models. The results indicate that this method needs fewer runs of the groundwater flow model than conventional gradient search and Latin hypercube sampling in case of the 12 parameter model. We believe that our method offers the potential to calibrate computationally expensive groundwater flow models. r2ogs5 supports groundwater flow modelers to access the statistical analysis and visualization capabilities of the R language and is a valuable tool for geoscientists already using R.
Coping styles and mental health outcomes of community members affected by black summer 2019–20 bushfires in Australia
Authors: Usher Kim , Durkin Joanne , Douglas Lesley , Coffey Yumiko , Bhullar Navjot 
Published: June 2022

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate coping styles, posttraumatic stress, and mental health symptoms among a sample of community members affected by 2019–20 Australian bushfires. Using a convenience sampling approach, an online survey was used to assess a range of coping strategies, posttraumatic stress and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among the affected community members of Black Summer bushfires. The results revealed that study participants reported moderate symptoms of depression and stress, and severe levels of anxiety. Additionally, participants reported use of both approach and avoidance coping strategies following the bushfire event as well as experiencing symptoms of posttraumatic stress, such as having intrusive thoughts and symptoms of avoidance and hyperarousal. Despite the durability of many individuals, others remain affected by the event and there is evidence there may be longer term mental health consequences of the bushfires for some people. Given these findings, it is imperative that mental health services be readily available for people in the bushfire‐affected areas. Mental health nurses have an important role to play in supporting individuals affected by disasters. Awareness of the short‐ and long‐term impacts of disasters on the mental health of people is paramount for mental health nurses.
Research on entropy weight multiple criteria decision‐making evaluation of metro network vulnerability
Authors: Chen Minggao , Mao Jun , Xi Yanhong 
Published: June 2022

AbstractWhen the subway network system has insufficient resilience and strong vulnerability, the network operation function will be greatly attenuated or even lost due to the failure of key nodes or lines. Evaluating the vulnerability of the metro network is one of the keys to prevent and control risks. This paper proposes an entropy weight multiple criteria decision‐making evaluation method that combines the vulnerability indexes of agglomeration, network efficiency, and network traffic with the multiple criteria decision‐making method, classifies the vulnerability of subway stations with a clustering idea, and analyzes the most vulnerable area of the Beijing Metro network with the Newman fast algorithm. The results show that this method can evaluate the node vulnerability of metro networks more accurately and effectively by considering the topological vulnerability, functional vulnerability, and human flow function vulnerability of the networks. According to the node vulnerability value, the stations can be divided into five grades: The station at the intersection of the loop and radial lines and its adjacent stations have a higher vulnerability level. The vulnerability level of the downtown core area and suburban line terminal stations is relatively low, and the areas with the greatest vulnerability of the Beijing Metro network are mainly located on the east and west sides of the core city.
Assessment of the frequency of Mycobacterium bovis shedding in the faeces of naturally and experimentally TB infected cattle
Authors: Palmer Si , Williams Gareth A. , Brady Colm , Ryan Eoin , Malczewska Karolina , Bull Tim J. , Hogarth Philip J. , Sawyer Jason 
Published: June 2022

Abstract

Aims
To assess the prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis bacilli in faecal samples of tuberculous cattle, and to better understand the risk of environmental dissemination of bovine tuberculosis (TB) through the spreading of manure or slurry.

Methods and Results
Faecal samples were collected from 72 naturally infected cattle with visible lesions of TB that had reacted to the tuberculin skin test and 12 cattle experimentally infected with M. bovis. These were examined by microbial culture and PCR to assess the presence of M. bovis bacilli. There were no positive cultures from any naturally infected test reactor animal. A single M. bovis colony was cultured from a faecal sample from one of the experimentally infected animals. A single PCR positive result was obtained from the faecal sample of one naturally infected test reactor.

Conclusions
The prevalence of M. bovis in the faecal samples of TB-infected cattle was extremely low.

Significance and Impact of the Study
The results suggest that the risk of spreading TB through the use of slurry or manure as an agricultural fertilizer is lower than that suggested in some historical literature. The results could inform a reconsideration of current risk assessments and guidelines on the disposal of manure and slurry from TB-infected herds.
Plant sterol hyperabsorption caused by uncontrolled diabetes in a patient with a heterozygous ABCG5 variant
Authors: Hasebe Masashi , Iwasaki Yorihiro , Keidai Yamato , Iwasaki Kanako , Honjo Sachiko , Hamasaki Akihiro 
Published: June 2022

ABSTRACTPlant sterol intake is widely recommended for patients with cardiovascular risk factors based on the inhibitory effect on intestinal cholesterol absorption. Although plant sterols, once absorbed, can promote atherosclerosis, their intake is believed to be safe because of poor absorption, except in rare hyperabsorbers with homozygous ABCG5/8 mutations. We report a case of new‐onset type 1 diabetes accompanied by hypercholesterolemia. At the initial presentation with diabetic ketoacidosis, the patient showed marked hypercholesterolemia. Whole‐exome sequencing revealed a heterozygous pathogenic variant in ABCG5 (p.R419H). The initial serum plant sterol levels were markedly high (sitosterol 32.5 μg/mL, campesterol 66.0 μg/mL), close to the range observed in patients with homozygous ABCG5/8 mutations, which were largely reduced by insulin treatment without ezetimibe. The addition of ezetimibe normalized plant sterol levels. These findings provide the first evidence that uncontrolled diabetes plays a causal role in the pathogenesis of phytosterolemia.
Changes in the height of minute tubercles on the skin of Korean bitterling embryos (Acheilognathus signifer) and embryo movement in the host mussels
Authors: Kim Hyeong Su , Kim Hyun Tae , Park Jun Seong , Im Jae Hyun 
Published: June 2022

AbstractBitterlings are freshwater fish that have developed morphological adaptations to improve the survival of their embryos in host mussels. The most well‐known adaptation is the development of minute tubercles, which develop in the early embryonic stage when the embryos have poor swimming ability, and disappear when the embryos reach the free‐swimming stage and leave the host mussels. In this study, the embryonic developmental stages of Acheilognathus signifer were analysed to elucidate the relationship between the changes in the height of the minute tubercles and their movement. The height changes in the minute tubercles in the embryos can be divided into five stages, i.e., formation, growth, peak, reduction and disappearance. The authors found that the embryos lived in the gill demibranch of the host mussel until day 6 after hatching. The movement of embryos to the suprabranchial cavity in the gill demibranch was firstly observed on day 7. At this point, the embryos showed a heartbeat and movement. From day 13, the minute tubercles had almost disappeared, and the hatchlings started swimming outside the host mussels from day 16. These observations highlight the different adaptations of minute tubercles among bitterling groups without wing‐like projections.
Optimization of pulsed mode sonication and in silico molecular docking study for antioxidant properties of mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) peels
Authors: Kumar Ankit , Rout Rahul Kumar , Rao Pavuluri Srinivasa , Prabhakar Pawan 
Published: June 2022

AbstractThe present study is aimed to investigate the extractability of bioactive compounds from mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) peel using a pulsed mode of ultrasonic treatment. Box–Behnken experimental design associated with response surface methodology (RSM) was used for the process optimization. Ultrasound amplitude (60%–80%), time (5–15 min), and duty cycle (.30–.90) were the independent variables investigated to maximize the yield of total phenolic content (TPC), total saponin content (TSC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total condensed tannin (TCT), and antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP methods). The optimum predicted values of the TPC (27.23 g GAE/100 g dry weight [DW]), TFC (5.64 g QE/100 g DW), TCT (3.17 mg CE/g DW), TSC (42.36 mg EE/g DW), DPPH (4.01 mg GAE/g DW) and FRAP (13.71 mg TE/g DW) were obtained at conditions: 11.19 min of sonication at a duty cycle of .30 and 77.70% amplitude. Furthermore, in silico investigations of anti‐oxidant properties of major flavonoids were done using molecular docking. The analysis showed a better binding affinity of narirutin for Cytochrome P450 and myeloperoxidase, while hesperidin showed a better binding affinity with lipoxygenase. The results obtained from the study showed better phenolic extraction and high antioxidant activity using pulsed mode sonication. The high binding scores of hesperidin and narirutin for all three key enzymes, as obtained by molecular docking, have shown their therapeutic potential in the development of antioxidant drugs.Practical ApplicationsA practical insight of the present research suggests the applicability of optimized pulsed mode extraction conditions for industrial processing of Citrus reticulata Blanco peel, a green technology useful in terms of its biomedical application. The optimized extraction conditions will give a higher yield with reduced time and with less use of extraction solvents. The in silico analysis provides scope for predictive modeling of novel antioxidative drug development using major flavonoid compounds of Citrus reticulata Blanco peel.
The microbiota in eosinophilic esophagitis: A systematic review
Authors: Angerami Almeida Kaylani , de Queiroz Andrade Ediane , Burns Grace , Hoedt Emily C , Mattes Joerg , Keely Simon , Collison Adam 
Published: June 2022

AbstractEosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an atopic disease of the esophagus that has shown a significant increase in incidence and prevalence in the last 20 years. The etiology of EoE is unclear, and few studies explore the esophageal microbiota in EoE. The local microbiome has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several allergic and inflammatory diseases, such as asthma and eczema. In this study, we performed a systematic review to evaluate differences in the microbiota profile of patients with EoE compared with controls. MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) databases were searched to identify studies investigating the microbiota composition in EoE. Three reviewers screened the articles for eligibility and quality. Seven articles underwent full‐text review, and a narrative synthesis was undertaken. The microbiota of the mouth and esophagus are correlated. Patients with active EoE present increased esophageal microbial load and increased abundance in particular species, such as Haemophilus and Aggregatibacter. On the other hand, EoE patients present a decrease in Firmicutes. High microbial load and abundance of Haemophilus are observed in EoE patients, but little evidence exists to demonstrate their influence on inflammation and disease. Understanding microbial signatures in EoE might contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
Transcriptional regulation of fleshy fruit texture
Authors: Shi Yanna , Li Bai‐Jun , Su Guanqing , Zhang Mengxue , Grierson Donald , Chen Kun‐Song 
Published: June 2022

AbstractFleshy fruit texture is a critically important quality characteristic of ripe fruit. Softening is an irreversible process which operates in most fleshy fruits during ripening which, together with changes in color and taste, contributes to improvements in mouthfeel and general attractiveness. Softening results mainly from the expression of genes encoding enzymes responsible for cell wall modifications but starch degradation and high levels of flavonoids can also contribute to texture change. Some fleshy fruit undergo lignification during development and post‐harvest, which negatively affects eating quality. Excessive softening can also lead to physical damage and infection, particularly during transport and storage which causes severe supply chain losses. Many transcription factors (TFs) that regulate fruit texture by controlling the expression of genes involved in cell wall and starch metabolism have been characterized. Some TFs directly regulate cell wall targets, while others act as part of a broader regulatory program governing several aspects of the ripening process. In this review, we focus on advances in our understanding of the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms governing fruit textural change during fruit development, ripening and post‐harvest. Potential targets for breeding and future research directions for the control of texture and quality improvement are discussed.
Therapeutic potential of progesterone in spinal cord injury‐induced neuropathic pain: At the crossroads between neuroinflammation and N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor
Authors: Ferreyra Sol , González Susana 
Published: June 2022

AbstractIn recent decades, an area of active research has supported the notion that progesterone promotes a wide range of remarkable protective actions in experimental models of nervous system trauma or disease, and has also provided a strong basis for considering this steroid as a promising molecule for modulating the complex maladaptive changes that lead to neuropathic pain, especially after spinal cord injury. In this review, we intend to give the readers a brief appraisal of the main mechanisms underlying the increased excitability of the spinal circuit in the pain pathway after trauma, with particular emphasis on those mediated by the activation of resident glial cells, the subsequent release of proinflammatory cytokines and their impact on N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor function. We then summarize the available preclinical data pointing to progesterone as a valuable repurposing molecule for blocking critical cellular and molecular events that occur in the dorsal horn of the injured spinal cord and are related to the development of chronic pain. Since the treatment and management of neuropathic pain after spinal injury remains challenging, the potential therapeutic value of progesterone opens new traslational perspectives to prevent central pain.