bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of housing in blood pressure control: a review of evidence from the Smart Wellness Housing survey in Japan
Authors: Umishio Wataru , Ikaga Toshiharu , Kario Kazuomi , Fujino Yoshihisa , Suzuki Masaru , Ando Shintaro , Hoshi Tanji , Yoshimura Takesumi , Yoshino Hiroshi , Murakami Shuzo ,   on behalf of the SWH survey group
Published: October 2022

AbstractCurrent countermeasures for preventing hypertension emphasize only improvements to lifestyle. Recently, improving life environment has attracted attention, in parallel with publication of the WHO Housing and health guidelines. We quantitatively evaluated the relationship between housing thermal environment and blood pressure (BP) in a real-world setting. We conducted a nationwide, prospective intervention study—the Smart Wellness Housing survey—in Japan, as a non-randomized controlled trial. The intervention was the retrofitting of thermal insulation in houses. Participant recruitment was done by construction companies in all 47 prefectures of Japan. Measurements of home BP and indoor temperature at 1.0 m above the floor in the living room, changing room, and bedroom were taken for 2 weeks before and after the intervention each winter (November–March) of FY 2014–2019. As of July 2022, over 2500 households and 5000 participants were registered in the database. We found that (1) about 90% of Japanese lived in cold homes (minimum indoor temperature <18 °C), (2) indoor temperature was non-linearly associated with home BP, (3) morning systolic BP (SBP) was more sensitive than evening SBP to changes in indoor temperature, (4) SBP was influenced by indoor temperature change particularly in older participants and women, (5) unstable indoor temperature was associated with large BP variability, and (6) insulation retrofitting intervention significantly reduced home BP, especially in hypertensive patients. We proposed that the BP reduction effect of the life-environment is comparable to that achievable by lifestyle.
A consensus statement on detection of hippocampal sharp wave ripples and differentiation from other fast oscillations
Authors: Liu Anli A. , Henin Simon , Abbaspoor Saman , Bragin Anatol , Buffalo Elizabeth A. , Farrell Jordan S. , Foster David J. , Frank Loren M. , Gedankien Tamara , Gotman Jean , Guidera Jennifer A. , Hoffman Kari L. , Jacobs Joshua , Kahana Michael J. , Li Lin , Liao Zhenrui , Lin Jack J. , Losonczy Attila , Malach Rafael , van der Meer Matthijs A. , McClain Kathryn , McNaughton Bruce L. , Norman Yitzhak , Navas-Olive Andrea , de la Prida Liset M. , Rueckemann Jon W. , Sakon John J. , Skelin Ivan , Soltesz Ivan , Staresina Bernhard P. , Weiss Shennan A. , Wilson Matthew A. , Zaghloul Kareem A. , Zugaro Michaël , Buzsáki György 
Published: October 2022

AbstractDecades of rodent research have established the role of hippocampal sharp wave ripples (SPW-Rs) in consolidating and guiding experience. More recently, intracranial recordings in humans have suggested their role in episodic and semantic memory. Yet, common standards for recording, detection, and reporting do not exist. Here, we outline the methodological challenges involved in detecting ripple events and offer practical recommendations to improve separation from other high-frequency oscillations. We argue that shared experimental, detection, and reporting standards will provide a solid foundation for future translational discovery.
Rapid joule heating improves vitrification based cryopreservation
Authors: Zhan Li , Han Zonghu , Shao Qi , Etheridge Michael L. , Hays Thomas , Bischof John C. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractCryopreservation by vitrification has far-reaching implications. However, rewarming techniques that are rapid and scalable (both in throughput and biosystem size) for low concentrations of cryoprotective agent (CPA) for reduced toxicity are lacking, limiting the potential for translation. Here, we introduce a joule heating–based platform technology, whereby biosystems are rapidly rewarmed by contact with an electrical conductor that is fed a voltage pulse. We demonstrate successful cryopreservation of three model biosystems with thicknesses across three orders of magnitude, including adherent cells (~4 µm),Drosophila melanogasterembryos (~50 µm) and rat kidney slices (~1.2 mm) using low CPA concentrations (2–4 M). Using tunable voltage pulse widths from 10 µs to 100 ms, numerical simulation predicts that warming rates from 5 × 104to 6 × 108 °C/min can be achieved. Altogether, our results present a general solution to the cryopreservation of a broad spectrum of cellular, organismal and tissue-based biosystems.
Predicting the structure of large protein complexes using AlphaFold and Monte Carlo tree search
Authors: Bryant Patrick , Pozzati Gabriele , Zhu Wensi , Shenoy Aditi , Kundrotas Petras , Elofsson Arne 
Published: October 2022

AbstractAlphaFold can predict the structure of single- and multiple-chain proteins with very high accuracy. However, the accuracy decreases with the number of chains, and the available GPU memory limits the size of protein complexes which can be predicted. Here we show that one can predict the structure of large complexes starting from predictions of subcomponents. We assemble 91 out of 175 complexes with 10–30 chains from predicted subcomponents using Monte Carlo tree search, with a median TM-score of 0.51. There are 30 highly accurate complexes (TM-score ≥0.8, 33% of complete assemblies). We create a scoring function, mpDockQ, that can distinguish if assemblies are complete and predict their accuracy. We find that complexes containing symmetry are accurately assembled, while asymmetrical complexes remain challenging. The method is freely available and accesible as a Colab notebook https://colab.research.google.com/github/patrickbryant1/MoLPC/blob/master/MoLPC.ipynb.
Standardized measurement of dielectric materials’ intrinsic triboelectric charge density through the suppression of air breakdown
Authors: Liu Di , Zhou Linglin , Cui Shengnan , Gao Yikui , Li Shaoxin , Zhao Zhihao , Yi Zhiying , Zou Haiyang , Fan Youjun , Wang Jie , Wang Zhong Lin 
Published: October 2022

AbstractTriboelectric charge density and energy density are two crucial factors to assess the output capability of dielectric materials in a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). However, they are commonly limited by the breakdown effect, structural parameters, and environmental factors, failing to reflect the intrinsic triboelectric behavior of these materials. Moreover, a standardized strategy for quantifying their maximum values is needed. Here, by circumventing these limitations, we propose a standardized strategy employing a contact-separation TENG for assessing a dielectric material’s maximum triboelectric charge and energy densities based on both theoretical analyses and experimental results. We find that a material’s vacuum triboelectric charge density can be far higher than previously reported values, reaching a record-high of 1250 µC m−2 between polyvinyl chloride and copper. More importantly, the obtained values for a dielectric material through this method represent its intrinsic properties and correlates with its work function. This study provides a fundamental methodology for quantifying the triboelectric capability of dielectric materials and further highlights TENG’s promising applications for energy harvesting.
Three-dimensional hierarchically porous MoS2 foam as high-rate and stable lithium-ion battery anode
Authors: Wei Xuan , Lin Chia-Ching , Wu Chuanwan , Qaiser Nadeem , Cai Yichen , Lu Ang-Yu , Qi Kai , Fu Jui-Han , Chiang Yu-Hsiang , Yang Zheng , Ding Lianhui , Ali Ola. S. , Xu Wei , Zhang Wenli , Hassine Mohamed Ben , Kong Jing , Chen Han-Yi , Tung Vincent 
Published: October 2022

AbstractArchitected materials that actively respond to external stimuli hold tantalizing prospects for applications in energy storage, wearable electronics, and bioengineering. Molybdenum disulfide, an excellent two-dimensional building block, is a promising candidate for lithium-ion battery anode. However, the stacked and brittle two-dimensional layered structure limits its rate capability and electrochemical stability. Here we report the dewetting-induced manufacturing of two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide nanosheets into a three-dimensional foam with a structural hierarchy across seven orders of magnitude. Our molybdenum disulfide foam provides an interpenetrating network for efficient charge transport, rapid ion diffusion, and mechanically resilient and chemically stable support for electrochemical reactions. These features induce a pseudocapacitive energy storage mechanism involving molybdenum redox reactions, confirmed by in-situ X-ray absorption near edge structure. The extraordinary electrochemical performance of molybdenum disulfide foam outperforms most reported molybdenum disulfide-based Lithium-ion battery anodes and state-of-the-art materials. This work opens promising inroads for various applications where special properties arise from hierarchical architecture.
Radiation-driven acceleration in the expanding WR140 dust shell
Authors: Han Yinuo , Tuthill Peter G. , Lau Ryan M. , Soulain Anthony 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThe Wolf–Rayet (WR) binary system WR140 is a close (0.9–16.7 mas; ref.1) binary star consisting of an O5 primary and WC7 companion2and is known as the archetype of episodic dust-producing WRs. Dust in WR binaries is known to form in a confined stream originating from the collision of the two stellar winds, with orbital motion of the binary sculpting the large-scale dust structure into arcs as dust is swept radially outwards. It is understood that sensitive conditions required for dust production in WR140 are only met around periastron when the two stars are sufficiently close2–4. Here we present multiepoch imagery of the circumstellar dust shell of WR140. We constructed geometric models that closely trace the expansion of the intricately structured dust plume, showing that complex effects induced by orbital modulation may result in a ‘Goldilocks zone’ for dust production. We find that the expansion of the dust plume cannot be reproduced under the assumption of a simple uniform-speed outflow, finding instead the dust to be accelerating. This constitutes a direct kinematic record of dust motion under acceleration by radiation pressure and further highlights the complexity of the physical conditions in colliding-wind binaries.
Increased genetic variation of A(H3N2) virus from influenza surveillance at the end of the 2016/2017 season for Shanghai port, China
Authors: Zhang Zilong , Li Shenwei , Zhu Xiaolin , Hou Jian , Zhang Hong , Zhao Baihui , Tian Zhengan 
Published: October 2022

AbstractInfluenza A(H3N2) virus exhibited complex seasonal patterns to evade pre-existing antibodies, resulting in changes in the antigenicity of the viron surface protein hemagglutinin (HA). To monitor the currently imported influenza viruses as well as to assess the capacity of health emergencies at the Shanghai port, we collected respiratory specimens of passengers from different countries and regions including some of Europe with influenza-like illness at the Shanghai port during 2016/2017, examined amino acid substitutions, and calculated the perfect-match vaccine efficacy using the p epitope model. Phylogenetic analysis of the HA genes revealed that influenza A(H3N2) viruses belonging to eight subclades were detected, and three amino acid substitutions in the subclade 3C.2a.4 were also added. Besides, two epidemic influenza virus strains were found in the 2016/2017 winter and 2016 summer. The results of lower predicted vaccine effectiveness in summer suggest that the imported A(H3N2) strains were not a good match for the A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 vaccine strain since the summer of 2017. Therefore, the Shanghai Port might stop the risk of the international spread of influenza for the first time, and curb the entry of A(H3N2) from overseas at the earliest stage of a probable influenza pandemic.
Evaluation of corrosion performance of superhydrophobic PTFE and nanosilica coatings
Authors: Haji-Savameri Mohammad , Irannejad Ahmad , Norouzi-Apourvari Saeid , Schaffie Mahin , Hemmati-Sarapardeh Abdolhossein 
Published: October 2022

AbstractCorrosion protection of metals is of paramount importance in different sectors of industry. One of the emerging techniques to prevent or reduce the damaging effects of this phenomenon is to apply superhydrophobic coatings on the susceptible surfaces. In this study, corrosion protection of steel is investigated by fabricating superhydrophobic coatings, using one-step electrodeposition process of nanosilica hybrid film and spraying process of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) on steel surface and also preparation of micro/nano-composite coatings. The anti-corrosion behavior of the nanosilica hybrid film and PTFE coating with two types of microparticles including Al2O3 powder and glass beads in primer layer, and overcoat layer with and without SiO2 nanoparticles is studied. TOEFL polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests are conducted on coated steel samples to examine their corrosion performance in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution at a temperature of 25 °C. The results showed that the combination of superhydrophobic properties and low conductivity significantly improves the corrosion resistance. Evaluating the effect of adding SiO2 nanoparticles to the overcoat layer in PTFE coating showed that the nanoparticles improve the corrosion resistance of PTFE coatings by sealing up some defects and pores in the coating. Investigation of corrosion resistance of coatings showed that, the corrosion resistance of nanosilica film is lower than that of PTFE coatings. The best sample obtained in this study, namely the PTFE coating with glass beads microparticles in primer layer and SiO2 nanoparticles in overcoat layer, reduced the corrosion rate by nearly 80 times.
Metformin alleviates neurocognitive impairment in aging via activation of AMPK/BDNF/PI3K pathway
Authors: Ameen Omnia , Samaka Rehab M. , Abo-Elsoud Reda A. A. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractSlowing down age-related neurocognitive impairment has been a challenge. We evaluated the therapeutic effects of metformin in d-galactose-induced aging. Additionally, we studied the potential molecular mechanisms that could be responsible for metformin's anti-aging effects. Thirty male rats were equally divided into: 1—control group, which received saline solution, 2—d-galactose (D-gal) group, which received d-galactose (100 mg/kg/day) by gastric lavage for eight weeks, and 3—d-galactose + Metformin (D-gal + Met) treated group, which received d-galactose + metformin (200 mg/kg/day) by gastric lavage for eight weeks. Neurocognitive assessment was done. Measurement of inflammatory, oxidative stress, and BDNF biomarkers was performed. AMPK and PI3K genes expression were assessed. Hippocampal tissues were dissected for histopathological and immunohistochemical studies. D-gal resulted in neurocognitive impairments, elevation of inflammatory biomarkers, altered oxidative stress markers, decreased BDNF, decreased expression of synaptophysin and Bcl2 with increased expression of Caspase-3, and down-regulation of AMPK and PI3K genes. Neurodegenerative changes were present in the hippocampus. Metformin restored significantly D-gal induced neurodegenerative changes. We concluded that metformin could alleviate age-induced neurocognitive deficit via amelioration of neuroinflammation, attenuation of oxidative stress, reduction of apoptosis, as well as promotion of synaptic plasticity. These mechanisms could be mediated via the activation of the AMPK/BDNF/PI3K pathway.
Marine subsidies produce cactus forests on desert islands
Authors: Wilder Benjamin T. , Becker Amanda T. , Dettman David L. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractIn island systems, nitrogen-rich seabird guano is a marine subsidy that can shape terrestrial plant communities. In zones of nutrient upwelling such as the Gulf of California, copious seabird guano is commonplace on bird islands. Several bird islands host regionally unique cactus forests, especially of the large columnar cactus, cardón (Pachycereus pringlei). We show that a chain of interactions across the land-sea interface yields an allochthonous input of nitrogen in the form of seabird guano, fueling the production of some of the densest cactus populations in the world. Fish, seabird, guano, soil, and cactus samples were taken from the representative seabird island of San Pedro Mártir for nitrogen stable isotope ratio measurements, which were compared to soil and cactus samples from other seabird and non-seabird Gulf islands and terrestrial ecosystems throughout the range of the cardón. Isla San Pedro Mártir δ15N values are distinctively high, ranging from fish + 17.7, seabird + 19.7, guano + 14.8, soil + 34.3 and cactus + 30.3 compared to average values across non-bird sites of + 13.0 (N = 213, S.D. = 3.7) for soil and + 9.8 (N = 212, S.D. = 3.4) for cactus. These δ15N values are among the highest ever reported for plants. Seabird island soil and cactus δ15N values were consistently significantly enriched relative to mainland and non-bird islands, a relationship expected due to the progressive volatilization of14N rich ammonia from decomposing guano deposits. Our findings demonstrate that seabird-mediated marine nutrient deposits provide the source for solubilized nitrogen on desert islands, which stimulate terrestrial plant production in the cardón cactus beyond that seen in either mainland ecosystems or non-seabird islands.
A cross-cultural comparison of ethnocentrism and the intercultural willingness to communicate between two collectivistic cultures
Authors: Yousaf Muhammad , Ahmad Muneeb , Ji Deqiang , Huang Dianlin , Raza Syed Hassan 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThere is a prevalent notion regarding divergence in the extent of ethnocentrism and the intercultural willingness to communicate across cultures. Given this cultural divergence, research is replete with comparative studies of ethnocentrism and the intercultural willingness to communicate between individualistic and collectivistic cultures. However, to our knowledge, a comparison of these crucial cultural tendencies within and their consequences for collectivistic cultures has been overlooked. Thus, this study provides a cross-cultural comparison of ethnocentrism and the intercultural willingness to communicate among university students from two collectivist cultures, i.e., Pakistan and China. The researchers employed a cross-sectional design. A sample of 775 students was collected using a survey technique. The findings show that Pakistani students are more ethnocentric and have a lower intercultural willingness to communicate than Chinese students. Moreover, males were found to be more ethnocentric and less willing to communicate in intercultural settings than females in both countries. These findings validate the notion of ethnocentrism divergence across collectivistic countries and its influence on the intercultural willingness to communicate. Additionally, they demonstrate the role of demographic attributes in evolving ethnocentrism and the intercultural willingness to communicate. Accordingly, these findings also confirm the ecological assumption that contextual factors, such as demographic attributes (e.g., past interactions with foreigners), influence communication schemas. Therefore, concerning its management, these findings suggest that increased people-to-people interactions between the two focal countries can better foster their mutual understanding to reap an increased harvest of the fruits of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Five material tissue decomposition by dual energy computed tomography
Authors: Lochschmidt Maximilian E. , Gassenhuber Melina , Riederer Isabelle , Hammel Johannes , Birnbacher Lorenz , Busse Madleen , Boeckh-Behrens Tobias , Ikenberg Benno , Wunderlich Silke , Liesche-Starnecker Friederike , Schlegel Jürgen , Makowski Marcus R. , Zimmer Claus , Pfeiffer Franz , Pfeiffer Daniela 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThe separation of mixtures of substances into their individual components plays an important role in many areas of science. In medical imaging, one method is the established analysis using dual-energy computed tomography. However, when analyzing mixtures consisting of more than three individual basis materials, a physical limit is reached that no longer allows this standard analysis. In addition, the X-ray attenuation coefficients of chemically complicated basis materials may not be known and also cannot be determined by other or previous analyses. To address these issues, we developed a novel theoretical approach and algorithm and tested it on samples prepared in the laboratory as well as on ex-vivo medical samples. This method allowed both five-material decomposition and determination or optimization of the X-ray attenuation coefficients of the sample base materials via optimizations of objective functions. After implementation, this new multimodal method was successfully tested on self-mixed samples consisting of the aqueous base solutions iomeprol, eosin Y disodiumsalt, sodium chloride, and pure water. As a first proof of concept of this technique for detailed material decomposition in medicine we analyzed exact percentage composition of ex vivo clots from patients with acute ischemic stroke, using histological analysis as a reference standard.
Distribution and seasonal abundance of Biomphalaria snails and their infection status with Schistosoma mansoni in and around Lake Tana, northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Hailegebriel Tamirat , Nibret Endalkachew , Munshea Abaineh 
Published: October 2022

AbstractBiomphalaria snails, namely B. pfeifferi and B. sudanica, are the principal intermediate hosts for Schistosoma mansoni infection in Ethiopia. Epidemiological studies of Biomphalaria snails and their infection status with S. mansoni is vital for public health planning. This study aimed to assess the spatial and seasonal abundance of Biomphalaria snails as well as their infection status with S. mansoni around Lake Tana, northwest Ethiopia. Malacological survey was conducted from January 2021 to December 2021 in ten different collection sites in and around Lake Tana. Snail collection was performed for 20 min from each collection site seasonally (four times in a year) using a standard scoop and handpicking from aquatic vegetation. All collected snails were carefully examined based on their morphological features and all live Biomphalaria snails were subjected to cercariae shedding experiment. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of S. mansoni infection and its relationship with snail collection sites and seasons. A total of 3886 freshwater snails were collected from ten collection sites around Lake Tana. Out of the total snails collected, 1606 (41.3%; 95% CI 39.77–42.89%) were Biomphalaria spp. The highest (374) and the lowest numbers (98) of Biomphalaria snails were collected from Shinne River and Qunzela Lakeshore, respectively. Out of the 1375 live Biomphalaria snails, 14.4% (95% CI 12.59–16.37%) snails shed cercariae, but only 4.87% (95% CI 3.79–6.15%) were cercariae of S. mansoni. The infection prevalence of S. mansoni ranged from 10.59% at the Cherechera site to 1.49% at Gumara River. Biomphalaria snail infections with S. mansoni cercariae were observed throughout the season, the highest and the lowest infection rates being in the spring and summer seasons. Significant differences in the prevalence of S. mansoni infection in Biomphalaria snails were observed across study sites and seasons (p < 0.05). Biomphalaria snails were the most abundant freshwater snails found in nearly all of snail collection sites throughout the year. It was revealed that nearly five percent of Biomphalaria snails were infected with S. mansoni cercariae. This study highlights the importance of appropriate snail control strategies to support the ongoing prevention and control of schistosomiasis around Lake Tana.