bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of the direct and indirect effects of landscape fragmentation, via microclimate change, on animal locomotion
Authors: Tigreros Natasha , Kozhoridze Giorgi , Davidowitz Goggy , Ziv Yaron 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Intensive use of agricultural land often modifies the landscape by dividing continuous natural habitat into smaller and more isolated patches. While it is widely recognized that landscape fragmentation is a main cause of species extinction, less is known about how this impacts the function of organisms that do persist in the modified environment. Understanding these effects is complicated by the fact that fragmentation can affect organisms directly but also indirectly, by altering the patch microclimatic conditions. Here, we integrate satellite image analysis, behavioral assays, and patch analyses, to disentangling the direct and indirect effects of fragmentation on the locomotor behavior of a darkling beetle, Zophosis punctata (Tenebrionidae), in the Southern Judea Lowlands in Israel. Indeed, we found that although habitat fragmentation could affect beetle locomotion directly, fragmentation-related increases in patch temperature played an important role in explaining variation in beetle locomotion across an agricultural landscape. Specifically, beetles from highly fragmented landscapes, which included warmer habitat patches, showed high locomotor intermittence –frequent pausing events during locomotion. Intermittent locomotion, as opposite to steady locomotion, may provide various physiological and fitness benefits in fragmented landscapes, like mitigating performance limitations imposed by extreme thermal conditions. This study shows that the potential consequences of landscape fragmentation on the organism function are likely to be underestimated when fragmentation-related microclimate change is ignored.
Neuron-derived CCL17 Exerts Neuroprotection Through Activation of CCR4/mTORC2 Axis in Microglia After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats
Authors: Zhang Anke , Liu Yibo , Xu Houshi , Zhang Zeyu , Wang Xiaoyu , Yuan Ling , Lenahan Cameron , Zhang Chuan , Jiang Junkun , Fang Chaoyou , Fang Yuanjian , Zhang Jianmin , Chen Sheng 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background and purposeCCL17 has been proven to play a critical role in immune regulation. However, there is a lack of evidence to address the effect of CCL17 after subarachnoid hemorrhage。 Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of CCL17 and its underlying mechanism after SAH in rats.MethodsThe levels of secreted CCL17 from primary neurons after stimulation of OxyHb were examined in vitro. Rats were subjected to the endovascular perforation model of SAH and were randomly assigned to receive either recombinant CCL17 or vehicle, which were administered intranasally at 1 h after SAH. AZD2098 and JR-AB2-011 were applied to investigate the CCR4/mTORC2 axis in CCL17-mediated neuroprotection. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, the in vitro kinase assay was performed in primary microglia. Adeno-associated virus-CD68 knockout for mTORC2 in brain microglia was administered via intracerebroventricular injection 21 days before SAH. Brain water content, short-term neurobehavior evaluation, western blot, quantity RT-PCR, and immunofluorescence staining were performed.ResultsEndogenous CCL17 was increased and secreted from neurons, with CCR4 primarily expressed on microglia in both in vivo and in vitro models of SAH. Exogenous rCCL17 significantly alleviated neuronal apoptosis and brain edema, and improved short-term neurofunction in a dose-dependent manner at 24 h and 72 h after SAH in rats. The rCCL17 also increased M2-like polarization of microglia at 72 h after SAH in rats and in primary microglia culture. In addition, the rCCL17 treatment further activated mTORC2 signaling after SAH in rats and in primary microglia cultures. The neuroprotection of rCCL17 was abolished by inhibition of CCR4 or mTORC2.Conclusion﻿Neuron-derived CCL17 could alleviate SAH induced-neurological deficits by promoting M2-like polarization of microglia after SAH. The microglialCCR4/mTORC2 axis-mediated CCL17 involved neuroprotection.
Determinants of entrepreneurial performance of Return Migrants: A Study of Young Returnees from Gondar city, Ethiopia
Authors: Alene Endalew Terefe 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to examine determinants that influence entrepreneurial performance of return migrants in Gondar city of Ethiopia, and in turn contribute to the literature of migration and entrepreneurship by adding evidence from Ethiopia on the determinants of entrepreneurial performance of return migrants.
Design/methodology/approach:
The study employed a descriptive case study research design with quantitative research approach. The sample of this study was 195 male and female youth migrant returnees which are selected using multi-stage sampling technique.
Findings:
The findings of this study identified that accessibility of job, labor market policy, access to finance, working premises and government support are significant predictors in explaining entrepreneurial performance of return migrants in one hand. On the other hand, however, saving, education, business environment, sectoral and occupational experiences are found to be insignificant predictors in explaining entrepreneurial performance of return migrants.
Research limitations/implications:
Theoretically, the integration of determinants with returnee’s business performance has contributed to the theory of migration and entrepreneurship. The sample used in this study only concentrated on young migrant returnees with age category of 15–29 years old in Gondar city. Any future research will consider all returnees in the city.
Practical implications:
The findings is significantly benefit the field of development and management studies, offices in charge of following and regulating return migrants affairs, policymakers and practitioners at all levels of the government. In general, the findings of this study make meaningful contributions to return migrants by identifying determinants of entrepreneurial performance of returnees which will in turn helps to enhance the performance of their firm.
Originality/value:
This study contributes to the migration and entrepreneurship literature on the determinants of entrepreneurial performance of return migrants for developing countries. Specifically, in the context of African returnees, as they did not get much scholarly attention through testing predictor variables on the entrepreneurial performance of return migrants using logit model.
Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence Algorithms for the Prediction of Genetic Merit
Authors: Hamadani Ambreen , Ganai Nazir A , Andrabi Syed Mudasir , Shanaz Syed , Alam Safeer , HussainSher-e-Kashmir Ishraq 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
As the amount of data on farms grows, it is important to evaluate the potential of artificial intelligence for making farming predictions. Considering all this, this study was undertaken to evaluate various machine learning (ML) algorithms using 52-year data for sheep. Data preparation was done before analysis. Breeding values were estimated using Best Linear Unbiased Prediction. 13 ML algorithms were evaluated for their ability to predict the breeding values. The variance inflation factor for all features selected through PCA was 1. The correlation coefficients between true and predicted values for Artificial neural networks, Bayesian ridge regression, Classification and regression trees, Genetic Algorithms, Gradient boosting algorithm, K nearest neighbours, MARS algorithm, Polynomial regression, Principal component regression, Random forests, Support Vector Machines, XGBoost algorithm were 0.852, 0.742, 0.869, 0.762, 0.915, 0.781, 0.746, 0.742, 0.746, 0.917, 0.777, 0.915 respectively for breeding value prediction. Random forests had the highest correlation coefficients. A total of 13 machine learning models were developed from the prediction of breeding values in sheep in the present study. It may be said that machine learning techniques can perform predictions with reasonable accuracies and can thus be viable alternatives to conventional strategies for breeding value prediction.
miR-29a dynamically regulates the invasion and migration ability of residual A549 cells after radiation by inhibiting PER1-LAMR1 interaction
Authors: Chi Changxing , Jia Zuo , Chen Zhengting , Cao Ke , Li Shuo , Li Lan , Xia Yaoxiong , Li Chang , Li Wenhui 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Current studies have shown that the recent rhythm gene Per1 (Period 1) is expressed down-regulated in various malignancies and plays an important role in tumorigenesis and progression. However, the biological function and mechanism of action of Per1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is not clear. In this study, we demonstrated that miR-29a could inhibit the interaction between Per1 and laminin receptor 1 (LAMR1), and the invasion and migration ability of A549 cells after 8Gy X-ray irradiation showed dynamic changes, firstly weakened or enhanced. The inhibition or overexpression of miR-29a, Per1, and LAMR1 was performed to investigate their roles and mechanisms in vitro. We found that miR-29a was able to significantly inhibit the expression of Per1 gene, while the invasion and migration ability of residual A549 cells after radiation showed a dynamic change of diminished and then enhanced. Further study revealed that the reason for this dynamic change might be that miR-29a affected the binding of laminin (LN) to LAMR1 through the interaction of Per1 and LAMR1. In summary, our study demonstrates for the first time that it may be miR-29a that inhibits the interaction between Per1 and LAMR1, which causes a dynamic change in the invasive migration ability of residual A549 cells after radiation by competitively binding to LN, and that Per1 may serve as a valuable biological target for good or bad prognosis of NSCLC.
A Method for Intelligent Allocation of Diagnostic Testing by Leveraging Data from Commercial Wearable Devices: A Case Study on COVID-19
Authors: Dunn Jessilyn , Shandhi Md Mobashir Hasan , Cho Peter , Roghanizad Ali , Singh Karnika , Wang Will , Enache Oana , Stern Amanda , Sbahi Rami , Tatar Bilge , Fiscus Sean , Khoo Qi Xuan , Kuo Yvonne , Lu Xiao , Hsieh Joseph , Kalodzitsa Alena , Bahmani Amir , Alavi Arash , Ray Utsab , Snyder Michael , Ginsburg Geoffrey , Pasquale Dana , Woods Christopher , Shaw Ryan 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Mass surveillance testing can help control outbreaks of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. However, diagnostic test shortages are prevalent globally and continue to occur in the US with the onset of new COVID-19 variants, demonstrating an unprecedented need for improving our current methods for mass surveillance testing. By targeting surveillance testing towards individuals who are most likely to be infected and, thus, increasing testing positivity rate (i.e., percent positive in the surveillance group), fewer tests are needed to capture the same number of positive cases. Here, we developed an Intelligent Testing Allocation (ITA) method by leveraging data from the CovIdentify study (6,765 participants) and the MyPHD study (8,580 participants), including smartwatch data from 1,265 individuals of whom 126 tested positive for COVID-19. Our rigorous model and parameter search uncovered the optimal time periods and aggregate metrics for monitoring continuous digital biomarkers to increase the positivity rate of COVID-19 diagnostic testing. We found that resting heart rate features distinguished between COVID-19 positive and negative cases earlier in the course of the infection than steps features, as early as ten and five days prior to the diagnostic test, respectively. We also found that including steps features increased the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) by 7–11% when compared with RHR features alone, while including RHR features improved the AUC of the ITA model’s precision-recall curve (AUC-PR) by 38–50% when compared with steps features alone. The best AUC-ROC (0.73 ± 0.14 and 0.77 on the cross-validated training set and independent test set, respectively) and AUC-PR (0.55 ± 0.21 and 0.24) were achieved by using data from a single device type (Fitbit) with high-resolution (minute-level) data. Finally, we show that ITA generates up to a 6.5-fold increase in the positivity rate in the cross-validated training set and up to a 3-fold increase in the positivity rate in the independent test set, including both symptomatic and asymptomatic (up to 27%) individuals. Our findings suggest that, if deployed on a large scale and without needing self-reported symptoms, the ITA method could improve allocation of diagnostic testing resources and reduce the burden of test shortages.
A DFT study of hydrogen adsorption on metallic platinum: Associative or dissociative adsorption
Authors: Farzaneh Laleh , Pour Ali Nakhaei 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
In this study, the molecular and atomic adsorption energies, and total density of states (DOS) of the hydrogen on the on-top, bridge, and hollow positions of FCC (100), and FCC (111) surfaces of the metallic platinum were investigated using the DFT calculations. The total DOS result shows higher interaction between hydrogen molecule and metallic surface for the FCC (111) than the FCC (100) surface. Also, the intensity of the anti-bonding orbital for the bridge position is higher than two other positions on the FCC (100) surface, which shows that the hydrogen molecule in this position is ready to be dissociated into hydrogen atoms. In addition, the intensity of the anti-bonding orbital for hollow and bridge positions are higher than the on-top position on FCC (111) surface, which shows the hydrogen molecule in these positions are dissociated into hydrogen atoms. The results show that the comparison between the activation barrier energy (ΔEads) calculated from Lennard-Jones potential curves, and molecular adsorption energy determines whether the hydrogen molecule is dissociated on the surface. If the activation barrier energy (ΔEads) is higher than molecular adsorption energy, the probability that the hydrogen molecule will dissociate on the surface is very low.
Radiation Recall Pneumonitis Covid-19 Infection Induced After Adjuvant Breast Cancer Radiotherapy. A Known Phenomenon in a Unknown Pandemic Disease. A Case Report
Authors: Lazzari Grazia , Giua Renato , Verdolino Elisabetta , Solazzo Angela Pia , Benevento Ilaria , Montagna Antonia , Castaldo Giovanni , Rago Luciana , Silvano Giovanni 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
BACKGROUND Covid-19 pandemic has opened several new disease scenarios yielding novel syndromes which have never been seen before or resurrecting old inflammatory phenomenon no longer recorded, like radiation recall (RR) syndromes. Radiation recall syndrome is a limited field inflammatory reaction occurring in a previous irradiated volume several months or year before induced by a triggering factor. The most reported phenomena are skin reactions, although other organs could be involved, like the lung as in radiation recall pneumonitis (RRP). It is a well described inflammatory reaction, occurring within a previous irradiated pulmonary volume several months or years later radiotherapy (RT), triggered by factors like drugs, chemotherapy agents, immunotherapy or vaccination. Indeed in the Covid -19 pandemic, RRP following anti-Covid 19 vaccination administration or SARS-CoV2 virus have been just recorded. Herein, we describe a RRP triggered by COVID-19 pulmonary infection, in a woman previously treated with adjuvant breast cancer radiotherapy. CASE PRESENTATION A 65-year-old woman was diagnosed with invasive stage III A (pT2 pN2 M0) G2, Luminal B ductal carcinoma of the right breast, in 2016. After breast conserving surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy, postoperative radiotherapy was applied on the supraclavicular area and the remaining breast.In March 2020, she complained of fever, mild dyspnoea and cough. The real-time polymerase chain reaction on nasopharyngeal swab was positive for SARS-CoV2. The chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed radiologic features in the right lung, miming the previous radiation treatment fields. She was admitted to a Covid Unit and treated per protocol. Chest CT scan 3 months later showed a complete resolution, with a consolidated pulmonary fibrosis.CONCLUSIONRadiation recall pneumonitis is an inflammatory reaction occurring within a previous irradiation of lung volume induced by triggering factors (drugs, ultraviolet light, viruses). The precise underlying mechanism has not been defined yet. A fascinating hypothesis could be that a previous radiation due to a lung repaired damage, might induce an inflammatory response that can leave a kind of “damage cell memory” and can be triggered after many years by a strong immune activation, such as occurs in COVID19 pneumonia.
COI is not enough: integrative taxonomy reveals striking overestimation of species diversity in a Mediterranean freshwater amphipod
Authors: Hupalo Kamil , Copilaș-Ciocianu Denis , Leese Florian , Weiss Martina 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
BackgroundThe emergence of DNA taxonomy sparked a paradigm shift in biodiversity assessments and revealed the existence of many morphologically cryptic species in all ecosystems worldwide. For animals, DNA-based assessments of species diversity usually rely on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. However, an increasing number of studies report patterns of mito-nuclear discordance originating for example from shared ancestral polymorphisms or introgression, leading to an over- or underestimation of true species diversity. Therefore, reports of mitochondrial lineages should be verified by other methods. Freshwater amphipods are ideal model organisms since putative cryptic species have been reported in many of the nominal taxa. In this study, we investigated the species status of the numerous mitochondrial molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) found within the Mediterranean freshwater amphipod Echinogammarus sicilianus on Sicily. For validation, we used an integrative taxonomic approach combining DNA barcoding with behavioural data, detailed morphometrics and genome-wide double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq). Results Within a relatively small sampling area (approx. 200 km2), we detected 12 divergent COI MOTUs, with genetic distances ranging from 1.8% to 20.3% and a mean distance of 11%. At 17 of the 25 sampling sites up to six MOTUs occurred in syntopy. The four most common MOTUs were analysed with high resolution morphometric data (49 measurements per specimen), but we found no clear evidence of morphological differentiation among them. We also observed a high level of MOTU intermixing (38%) in precopulatory pairs. Similarly, ten of the mitochondrial MOTUs were not supported by the genome-wide ddRAD-seq data. However, for the two remaining mitochondrial MOTUs found at sites outside of the main river stretch, ddRAD-seq and COI data were congruent, indicating that those MOTUs might indeed represent cryptic species. Conclusions Our study on the amphipod E. sicilianus reveals another prominent example of mito-nuclear discordance indicating that species delimitation based solely on mitochondrial markers can significantly overestimate species diversity. The study highlights that integrative taxonomy approaches are important for validating species status, especially in hyperdiverse species complexes, where many mitochondrial MOTUs occur in close proximity or even syntopy.
Effect of ice formation on cross-section electrical resistance and stress wave velocity in living trees at low temperatureAuthorship
Authors: Xu Huadong , Guo Jiaxing , Wang Peng , Wang Yuting 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Accurate tree decay detection and quality evaluation at low temperature is a scientific problem. The electric resistance tomography (ERT) and stress wave tomography (SWT) are two widely recognized methods for decay detection, but the influence of ice formation on the detection has not been studied. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of ice formation on cross-section electrical resistance (ER) and stress wave velocity (SWV) in living trees at low temperature. Larix gmelinii and Populus simonii living tree specimens were conducted on moisture content (MC) measurement using time domain reflectometry (TDR), trunk ER and SWV test using ERT and SWT methods, respectively. Ice content (IC) was calculated based on the MC data. The effects of IC on ER and SWV were then explored. We find IC of both tree species shows a general trend that is first rising and then decreasing, it is opposite with ambient temperature. With the decrease of ambient temperature, daily average IC increases, but the variation range narrows gradually and both ER and SWV increase. The ER and SWV increase rapidly near 0℃, which is mainly caused by ice formation (phase change and freezing of free water) in living trees. Furthermore, the ER and SWV are both positively correlated with IC (R2 > 0.87, p < 0.01). The results suggest that IC should be considered as an important factor for improving the test accuracy in the process of tree decay detection and quality evaluation using ERT and SWT methods under low temperature.
Thyroid –pineal axis: Melatonin, circadian clock genes expression and vitamin D in Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients
Authors: Shaker Sara A. , Meghad Magda A. , Mahfouz Mahmoud , Hassanien Tamer E. , Mahmoud Bothina F , Salem Tarek M. 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Objective
Evaluate Melatonin, circadian clock genes; brain and muscle aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator-like 1 (BMAL-1), Period 2 (PER2) & nuclear factor kabba B (NF-Kb), sirtuin 1 (SIRT-1), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) genes expression and vitamin D in Egyptian patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT). Methods: 240 Egyptian volunteers (Egyptian healthy females and Egyptian females with HT). All participants were susceptible to laboratory investigations including and gene expressions.
Results
The current study revealed increased serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti TPO-Ab) and anti- thyroglobulin antibody (anti Tg-Ab) in the HT group. On the other hand, decreased serum concentration of melatonin, vitamin D, free tetraiodothyronine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), ionized calcium & blood hemoglobin in the HT group. Also, our results revealed that the gene expression of the BMAL-1, PER2 and SIRT-1 were downregulated in the HT group. On the contrary, the levels of gene expression of NF-kB, TLR-4,TNF-α genes were upregulated in the HT group.
Conclusions
We concluded that there is an association between HT and circadian rhythms approved by downregulation of Bmal-1 and PER2 genes expression Also, it may lead to an inflammatory response and oxidative stress. The significant decrease of serum melatonin levels in HT patients, strongly suggests an association between the melatonin pathway and HT. So, Melatonin may be recommended as supplementation for HT patients.