bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using a weight of evidence approach to identify sources of microbiological contamination in a shellfish growing area with “Restricted” classification
Authors: Campos Carlos J. A. , Kelly Laura T. , Banks Jonathan C. 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Shellfish growing areas in rural catchments are occasionally affected by elevated faecal contamination from diffuse sources and may be subject to frequent harvest closures/classification downgrades. We combined traditional risk management methods based on sanitary surveys and monitoring of Escherichia coli in seawater and shellfish with faecal source tracking, bacterial source apportionment, and hydrometeorological modelling to determine the causes of elevated E. coli concentrations contributing to harvest closures in Papanui Inlet (Aotearoa New Zealand). These multiple lines of evidence were used to inform a weight of evidence assessment of bacterial contamination in the inlet. Ruminant livestock was estimated to contribute 80% of the faecal coliform loading. Concentrations of E. coli in seawater were low (≤ 87 MPN 100 ml− 1) while those in tuaki (Austrovenus stutchburyi) occasionally exceeded the “Approved” classification limit (230 MPN 100 g− 1). The most frequent positive genetic markers in seawater were the seagull (Catellicoccus marimammalium) (54% of seawater samples), and in shellfish, the bovine and seagull markers (both 12.5% of shellfish samples). Solar radiation was negatively correlated with E. coli in tuaki. We found that the growing area is affected by faecal inputs from animal and, to a lesser extent, human (septic tank discharges) sources which elevate contamination to levels detectable in tuaki but not in seawater, particularly in the summer months. The innovative approach can enhance the management of shellfish growing areas affected by intermittent contamination and enables more targeted action to reduce pollution to improve shellfish water quality.
Minocycline protects against lipopolysaccharide-induced cognitive impairment and oxidative stress: possible role of the CREB-BDNF signaling pathway
Authors: Qaid Entesar Yaseen Abdo , Abdullah Zuraidah , Zakaria Rahimah , Long Idris 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Introduction: The oxidative stress-induced dysregulation of the cyclic AMP response element-binding protein- brain-derived neurotrophic factor (CREB-BDNF) cascade has been linked to cognitive impairment in several studies. This study aimed to investigate the effect of minocycline on the levels of oxidative stress markers, CREB, and BDNF in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cognitive impairment. Methods: Fifty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were divided randomly into five groups. Group 1 was an untreated control group. Groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 were treated concurrently with LPS (5 mg/kg, i.p) once on day 5 and normal saline (0.7 ml/rat, i.p) or minocycline (25 and 50 mg/kg, i.p) or memantine (10 mg/kg, i.p) once daily from day 1 until day 14, respectively. From day 15 to day 22 of the experiment, Morris Water Maze (MWM) was used to evaluate learning and reference memory in rats. The levels of protein carbonyl (PCO), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). CREB and BDNF expression and density were measured by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis, respectively. Results: LPS administration significantly increased escape latency to the hidden platform with decreased travelled distance, swimming speed, target crossings and time spent in the target quadrant. Besides, the hippocampal tissue of LPS rats showed increased levels of PCO and MDA, decreased levels of CAT and SOD, and reduced expression and density of BDNF and CREB. Treatment with minocycline reversed these effects in a dose-dependent manner, comparable to the effects of memantine.Conclusion: Both doses of minocycline treatment protect against LPS-induced cognitive impairment by reducing oxidative stress and upregulating the CREB-BDNF signalling pathway in the rat hippocampus.
Hypoxia induces early neurogenesis in human fetal neural stem cells by activating the WNT pathway
Authors: Dey Devanjan , Shrivastava Vadanya , Joshi Diksha , Singal Chitra Mohinder Singh , Tyagi Sagar , Bhat Muzaffer Ahmed , Jaiswal Paritosh , Sharma Jai Bhagwan , Palanichamy Jayanth Kumar , Sinha Subrata , Seth Pankaj , Sen Sudip 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Fetal neural stem cells (FNSCs) present in the human fetal brain, differentiate into cells of neuronal and glial lineages. The developing fetus is exposed to lower oxygen concentrations compared to adults and this physiological hypoxia may influence the growth and differentiation of the FNSCs. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of hypoxia on the differentiation potential of human FNSCs isolated from the sub-ventricular zone of aborted fetal brains (n = 5). FNSCs were isolated, expanded, and characterized by Nestin and Sox2 expression, using immunocytochemistry and flowcytometry respectively. These FNSCs were exposed to 20% oxygen (normoxia) and 0.2% oxygen (hypoxia) concentrations for 48 hours, and hypoxia exposure (n = 5) was validated. Whole transcriptome analyses (Genespring GX13) of FNSCs exposed to hypoxia (Agilent 4x44K human array slides), highlighted that genes associated with neurogenesis were enriched on exposure to hypoxia. The pathway analysis of these enriched genes (using Metacore) showed that the involvement of WNT signaling pathway. Microarray analyses was validated using neuronal and glial lineage commitment markers, namely NEUROG1, NEUROG2, ASCL1, DCX, GFAP, OLIG2 and NKX2.2 using qPCR (n = 9). DCX and GFAP protein expression were analysed by western blotting (n = 3). This demonstrated upregulation of the neuronal commitment markers on hypoxia exposure, while no change was observed in astrocytic and oligodendrocyte lineage commitment markers. Increased expression of downstream targets of the WNT signaling pathway, TCF4 and ID2, by qPCR (n = 9), and increased protein expression of CTNNB1 (β-catenin) and ID2 by western blot (n = 3), indicated its involvement in mediating neuronal differentiation on exposure to hypoxia.
Histopathological Analysis of Cerebral Microvasculature Pathology with Alzheimer’s Disease Neuropathological Changes: An Autopsy Study
Authors: Cao Yuan , Huang Mei-Ying , Mao Chen-Hui , Wang Xue , Xu Yuan-Yuan , Qian Xiao-Jing , Ma Chao , Qiu Wen-Ying , Zhu Yi-Cheng 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Background: Cerebrovascular lesions are associated with cognitive impairment. However, the implication of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) neuropathological changes (ADNC) on cerebral microvasculature is not completely understood. This study aimed to investigate the changes in the median tunica and basement membrane-related extracellular matrix (ECM) contents of the microvasculature and correlate this finding between the ADNC-impaired individuals and healthy controls.Methods: In this study, 12 decedents with high or intermediate ADNC and 15 matched controls without ADNC were selected from a local brain bank. Tissue blocks were systematically collected from white matter regions of the cortex, putamen, and hippocampus. The proportions of small vessels affected by arteriolosclerosis and venular collagenosis, and the levels of collagen IV, laminin, fibronectin, perlecan, and agrin in the ECM were quantified by immunohistochemistry and compared between the two groups.Results: Venular collagenosis was significantly more severe in AD patients than in controls across all selected brain regions (p < 0.001 for all regions). Although arteriolosclerosis was substantially severe in the AD group, only arteriolosclerosis in putamen was significantly more severe (0.63 vs. 0.42, p = 0.040). Similar correlation patterns were observed between these changes in the media tunica and specific AD pathology scores. We found that the levels of collagen IV and fibronectin were decreased and agrin was increased in AD cases, showing that changes in ECM components were significantly correlated with ADNC.Conclusions: Our data indicate that venular injuries with severe collagenosis in the media tunica and significant basement membrane-related ECM changes are important contributors to ADNC, providing potential new targets for investigation.
Inhibitory effect of TCF7L2 on pancreatic β-cell dedifferentiation via ERK/MAPK signaling pathway in diabetes
Authors: Wu Hui-Hui , Ma Qian-Wen , Liu Yi-Meng , Wu Xia , Wang Chun , Lu Bin , Zhang Zhao-Yun , Wen Jie 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Background
Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) variants seem to affect diabetes susceptibility through β-cell dysfunction, underlying basis of which has been considered to be β-cell dedifferentiation rather than apoptotic β-cell death. However, little is known about how TCF7L2 variation contributes to β-cell dedifferentiation and how pancreatic β-cell dedifferentiation changes during diabetes progression.
Methods
To clarify the effects of TCF7L2 on β-cell dedifferentiation and insulin secretion, MIN6 cells were transfected with TCF7L2 shRNA or lenti-TCF7L2 virus for 48h and then the degree of β-cells dedifferentiation and insulin concentrations in supernatant were measured respectively. To further determine whether the effects are mediated by ERK/MAPK signal pathway, MIN6 cells were administrated with ERK phosphorylation inhibitor U0126 prior to TCF7L2 shRNA virus transfection. Subsequently, changes of TCF7L2 expression and pancreatic β-cell dedifferentiation were measured respectively in db/db mice after 2, 6 and 10 weeks of ND or HFD feeding.
Results
Our present study demonstrated that stable shRNA-mediated knockdown of TCF7L2 significantly increased β-cell dedifferentiation and drastically decreased insulin secretion of MIN6 cells. The opposite results were observed following lenti-TCF7L2 virus transfection. Interestingly, TCF7L2 exerted an inhibitory effect on the activation of ERK/MAPK signal and the effects of TCF7L2 on β-cells dedifferentiation and insulin secretion were totally attenuated when the phosphorylation of ERK was blocked using its chemical inhibitor U0126. Additionally, the declined TCF7L2 expression in paralleled with sustained activation of ERK/MAPK signal and increased pancreatic β-cell dedifferentiation were observed simultaneously in db/db mice. All animals showed impaired glucose tolerance during intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests.
Conclusion
The pancreatic β-cell dedifferentiation which mediated by ERK/MAPK signaling pathway might be the essential component of TCF7L2 variants to develop diabetes.
Approximating Fixed Points for Enriched Suzuki Generalized Nonexpansive Multivalued Mappings in Banach Spaces
Authors: Agwu Imo Kalu , Saleem Naeem , Ishtiaq Umar , Igbokwe Donatus Ikechi 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
In this manuscript, we establish a novel class of nonlinear mappings called β-enriched Suzuki generalized multivalued non-expansive mappings and prove a new existence of common fixed points for a commuting pair comprising an enriched single-valued and an enriched multivalued mapping both satisfying condition (C) in the setup of a uniformly convex Banach space. Further, weak and strong convergence results are obtained for an infinite family of this new class of mappings in the framework of uniformly convex Banach spaces. A nontrivial numerical example is presented to validate the main results of this paper. Our results extend, improve and generalize many well known results currently in literature.
An improved approach to tool life promotion concerning cutting edge microgeometry
Authors: Zhuang Kejia , Huang Yujian , Hu Cheng , Wang Jue , Zou Lingli 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
The severe wear of cemented carbide tool can lead to problems such as short tool life and poor part surface integrity. Fortunately, it has been found that the tool wear may be reduced by modifying the cutting edge microgeometry. However, there is a few studies that offer specific instructions for this modification. In addition, it is costly to realize this for machining tools through merely experiments. Therefore, in this paper, an improved approach is proposed by combining the finite-element (FE) simulation method with a user-defined wear rate model. To achieve this, a new wear rate model was proposed at first, regarding the wear mechanisms of the carbide tool during machining of Inconel 718 alloy. Then, four sets of carefully designed cutting tests and FE simulations were carried out to calibrate and verify the new model. At last, extensive FE simulations were conducted to investigate the influence of tool edge microgeometry on tool life. The simulated results indicate that the tool life increases with the increase of the form factor K within a given range. This finding on optimized tool edge was further verified by performing a group of cylindrical turning experiments. The experimental measurements reveal that the tool life has increased by 24% and 50% maximum when increasing K from 0.9 to 2.8 under the two given cutting conditions.
Early Childhood Development, Family Structure, and Electronic Device Usage: Evidence from Thailand
Authors: Damrongplasit Kannika , Komonpaisarn Touchanun 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
This paper assesses the interaction of family structure and electronic device usage on cognitive and non-cognitive development of children under the age of 5 years old. The study uses the 2015 Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey of Thailand to conduct the analysis. We adopt endogenous probit switching, bivariate probit, and binary probit models in this study. Specification analyses point out that the endogenous probit switching model provides the best fit for our data. Our results demonstrate that when children use electronic device it can increase the probability of having good cognitive development by 28.6% while lower the probability of having good non-cognitive ability by 6.1%. Furthermore, it is found that children residing in skipped generation family may experience 26.1% higher probability of being cognitively on track comparing to their complete family counterparts if there is no electronic device use. Conversely, children living with single mothers are the most vulnerable group in that the probability of achieving good non-cognitive skills drops by 6.3% if they report using any electronic device. Given that Thailand has experienced the fastest growing use of internet in South East Asia during the past two decades as well as having one of the most rapid demographic transition in the region, other developing countries should be able to learn from this unique setting to see strong interplay of electronic device use and family structure towards early childhood development. JEL Classification: I31, J12, J13
Low Temperature Structural Dynamics of Isatin in Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) Using Dielectric Spectroscopy
Authors: Kabara Komal B. , Karale Ravikant , Alwaleedy Suad , Roy Bunty Rani , Kumbharkhane Ashok C. , Sarode Arvind V. 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Structural and dynamical properties of heterocyclic organic compound Isatin in the solution state with DMSO has been studied in the frequency region of 10 MHz to 50 GHz over the temperature range of 273.15 K-298.15 K with the help of Time domain Reflectometry. Some of the dielectric parameters like relaxation time (τi), static dielectric constant (εi), dipole moment (\(\widehat{\mu }\)), correlation factor (gi), number of irrotationaly bound DMSO molecule (Zib) and effective volume of rotation (Veff) has been evaluated and expressed in terms of molecular interaction and hydrogen bonding. Beside these thermodynamic parameters such as molar entropy of activation (\({\varDelta S}_{\tau i}\)), molar enthalpy of activation (\({\varDelta H}_{\tau i}\)), molar free energy of activation (\({ \varDelta F}_{\tau i}\) ) has also been calculated. The dielectric permittivity spectra and relaxation behaviour of Isatin at different DMSO concentrations was analyzed using Cole-Davidson model. Two relaxation peaks i.e. high frequency relaxation and low frequency relaxation has been observed for Isatin + DMSO. The low frequency relaxation peak observed in the range of about 4–5 GHz is attributed to the rotation of Isatin molecule while high frequency relaxation peak observed in the range of about 18–21 GHz is attributed to the reorientation of DMSO molecule. With increasing isatin concentration dielectric loss peaks shifted towards lower frequency side at all the studied temperature and concentrations. Dielectric constant was found to be increasing with increasing concentrations except at 0.2265M. For all the studied temperatures dielectric constant was found to be decreasing with temperature. Dipole moment calculated using Cavell’s equation was found to be decreasing with increasing concentrations, \(\widehat{\mu }\) was found to be increasing towards lower temperature, whereas, the variation in the magnitude is very small towards higher concentration.
Prediction of severe thunderstorm events with ensemble deep learning and radar data
Authors: Guastavino Sabrina , Piana Michele , Tizzi Marco , Cassola Federico , Iengo Antonio , Sacchetti Davide , Solazzo Enrico , Benvenuto Federico 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
The problem of nowcasting extreme weather events can be addressed by applying either numerical methods for the solution of dynamic model equations or data-driven artificial intelligence algorithms. Within this latter framework, the present paper illustrates how a deep learning method, exploiting videos of radar reflectivity frames as input, can be used to realize a warning machine able to sound timely alarms of possible severe thunderstorm events. From a technical viewpoint, the computational core of this approach is an ensemble learning method based on the recently introduced value-weighted skill scores for both transforming the probabilistic outcomes of the neural network into binary predictions and assessing the forecasting performance. The result of this study is a warning machine validated against weather radar data recorded in the Liguria region, in Italy.
Low Incidence of Postoperative Pneumonia and Intra-abdominal Abscess Following Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy for Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer in Elderly Patients above 75 Years: Propensity Score Matched Comparison to Open Distal Gastrectomy
Authors: Morimoto Yosuke , Sakuramoto Shinichi , Sugita Hirofumi , Nishibeppu Keiji , Ebara Gen , Fujita Shohei , Fujihata Shiro , Oya Shuichiro , Miyawaki Yutaka , Hiroshi Sato , Yamashita Keishi 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Background:
Some randomized clinical trials demonstrated that laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) is technically safe for locally advanced gastric cancer (GC) without compromising the quality of lymph node dissection. However, whether LDG can be indicated for elderly people in general practice remains to be elucidated. To the best of our knowledge, no study has compared open distal gastrectomy (ODG) and LDG for locally advanced GC in elderly patients with matched backgrounds. Therefore, this study compared the short-term outcomes of elderly patients with locally advanced GC who underwent ODG with those of patients with locally advanced GC who underwent LDG using propensity score matching analysis.
Methods:
A total of 341 consecutive elderly patients aged 75 years with GC who underwent ODG or LDG between January 2013 and December 2020 were retrospectively assessed. Among them, 121 patients with locally advanced GC were extracted. A 1:1 propensity score matching analysis was performed to compare short-term outcomes between ODG and LDG.
Results:
After matching, 35 patients were included in the ODG and LDG groups, respectively. The LDG group had a significantly longer operative time (p < 0.0001) and lesser intraoperative blood loss than the ODG group (p < 0.0001). The overall postoperative complication (Clavien–Dindo grade II or higher) rates of ODG and LDG were 37% and 9% (p = 0.003), respectively. The incidence rates of postoperative pneumonia and intra-abdominal abscess were significantly lower in patients who underwent LDG (0%) than in those who underwent ODG (9%) (p = 0.038). Furthermore, in multivariate analysis, LDG was an independent protective factor against postoperative complications (p = 0.027).
Conclusions:
LDG was safe and feasible for locally advanced GC in patients aged ≥ 75 years. Moreover, it may be a promising alternative to ODG with better short-term outcomes, including significantly lower incidence rates of postoperative pneumonia and intra-abdominal abscess.
Analyzing the financial risk of billion-dollar disasters in the United States: Simulating the frequency and economic costs of U.S. natural disasters
Authors: Shukla Charchit , MacKenzie Cameron A. 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
The number of billion-dollar natural disasters in the United States has increased from 28 in 1980-1989 to 105 in 2010-2018. During these same time periods, the total cost of these natural disasters increased from $172 billion to $755 billion. Generating probabilistic assessments of the cost of these billion-dollar natural disasters can provide insight into the financial risks posed by these disasters while accounting for the uncertainty and variation in these disasters. This article simulates the frequency and cost of billion-dollar disasters and analyzes the financial risk of these disasters in the United States. We use a probabilistic approach to quantify and create five models. These models are created by fitting probability distributions to the historical cost of billion-dollar disasters. The cost of each billion-dollar natural disaster and U.S. GDP from 1980 to 2018 are analyzed and used. The model that perhaps fits the data best and accounts for the recent increase in the cost and frequency of billion-dollar disasters forecasts that the expected annual cost of these disasters is $91 billion, with about a 1% chance that the annual costs could exceed $500 billion. Simulating the costs and frequency of natural disasters provides an understanding of the risks of different types of disasters to the United States. It helps policymakers allocate resources effectively to build a resilient nation.
Polynomial stability of thermoelastic Timoshenko system with fractional derivative boundary control
Authors: Hao Jianghao , Song Chaojing 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
In this paper, we consider a thermoelastic Timoshenko system with control boundary conditions of fractional derivative type. By introducing two new equations to deal with the control boundary conditions of fractional derivative type, we obtain a new system equivalent to the original thermoelastic Timoshenko system. The well-posedness of solution of system follows from the semigroup method. The polynomial stability result of system are given by frequency domain method and multiplier technique, while the decay rate depending on the order of fractional derivative is optimal than the previous literatures.
Simplified Paralinear Oxidation Analyses
Authors: Smialek James 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Paralinear oxidative behavior, i.e., concurrent parabolic scale growth (kp) and linear scale volatility (kl or kv), was analyzed by an alternative to the Tedmon equation. A convenient COSP for Windows cyclic oxidation program analyzed published data for Cr, NiCr, Pb, SiC, Si3N4, and BN, all exhibiting scale volatility due to CrO3, CrO(OH)2, PbCl2, Si(OH)4, and HBO2. The ‘cyclic’ model used an iterative constant outer layer loss formalism, whereby a normalized spall constant, Q0 /Δt, defines the scale volatility rate, kl (or kv). Optimized trial inputs (fitting maximum mass gain (ΔWmax, tmax) and time to cross zero) generated accurate kp and kl and replicated ideal paralinear form. Initial approximations for kp and kl can now be obtained directly as ~ 4.1 (ΔWmax2/ tmax) and ~ 1.2 (ΔWmax / tmax), respectively. However, high or low kl extremes, (e.g., burner rig tests of SiC and Ti2AlC), may elude classic paralinear behavior. Inconsistencies between Tedmon’s stated model parameters and actual data are also discussed.