bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variability in the summer movements, habitat use and thermal biology of two fish species in a temperate river
Authors: Amat-Trigo Fatima , Tarkan Ali Serhan , Andreou Demetra , Aksu Sadi , Bolland Jonathan D. , Gillingham Phillipa K. , Roberts Catherine Gutmann , Yeldham Mark I. A. , Britton J. Robert
Published: April 2024

The ability of fish to cope with warm water temperatures in summer depends on factors including their thermal traits and the ability of individuals to access cool-water refugia. Knowledge is highly limited on the in situ responses of many fishes to elevated summer temperatures, including whether they express behavioural thermoregulation. The responses of two riverine species to summer water temperatures were tested here using the movement metrics, spatial habitat use and body temperatures of individual European barbel Barbus barbus (‘barbel’) and common bream Abramis brama (‘bream’) versus river temperatures. Acoustic biotelemetry was applied in the lower River Severn basin, western Britain, in summer 2021 (barbel) and 2022 (bream), where individuals could move across > 150 km of river, including a tributary of cooler water. Across all individuals, bream occupied 37 km of river length (mainstem only), with low inter-individual variability in their spatial habitat use, movements and body temperatures. In contrast, barbel occupied 62 km of river (main river/tributary), with relatively high inter-individual variability in spatial habitat use, movements and body temperatures, with higher variation in body temperatures as river temperatures increased (maximum mean daily temperature difference between individuals on the same day: 4.2 °C). Although warmer individuals generally moved more, their activity was greatest at relatively low temperatures and higher flows, and neither species revealed any evidence of behavioural thermoregulation during elevated temperatures. Enabling phenotypically diverse fish populations to express their natural behaviours and thermal preferences in summer water temperatures thus requires maintaining their free-ranging in thermally heterogenous habitats.
Novel dummy molecularly imprinted polymer for simultaneous solid-phase extraction of stanozolol metabolites from urine
Authors: Farag Yomna G. , Hanafi Rasha S. , Hammam Mennatallah A.
Published: April 2024

Stanozolol, a synthetic derivative of testosterone, is one of the common doping drugs among athletes and bodybuilders. It is metabolized to a large extent and metabolites are detected in urine for a longer duration than the parent compound. In this study, a novel dummy molecularly imprinted polymer (DMIP) is developed as a sorbent for solid-phase extraction of stanozolol metabolites from spiked human urine samples. The optimized DMIP is composed of stanozolol as the dummy template, methacrylic acid as the functional monomer, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linker in a ratio of 1:10:80. The extracted analytes were quantitively determined using a newly developed and validated ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method, where the limits of detection and quantitation were 0.91 and 1.81 ng mL−1, respectively, fulfilling the minimum required performance limit decided on by the World Anti-Doping Agency. The mean percentage extraction recoveries for 3’-hydroxystanozolol, 4β-hydroxystanozolol, and 16β-hydroxystanozolol are 97.80% ± 13.80, 83.16% ± 7.50, and 69.98% ± 2.02, respectively. As such, the developed DMISPE can serve as an efficient cost-effective tool for doping and regulatory agencies for simultaneous clean-up of the stanozolol metabolites prior to their quantification.

Graphical abstract
Investigating the complete replacement of conventional fat with oleogel on the structural behavior of five different pastry products
Authors: Tanislav Anda E. , Șandru Bianca , Man Simona M. , Pușcaș Andreea , Mureșan Andruța E. , Păucean Adriana , Mureșan Vlad , Mudura Elena
Published: April 2024

Saturated and trans fat intake have been linked to an increased risk of developing diseases such as cardiovascular and coronary heart disease, obesity, and myocardial infarction. As a result of the actions and regulations proposed to reduce and eliminate the content of saturated and trans fats, it is necessary to develop and implement new structuring technologies, such as oleogelation. Oleogelation is a promising strategy for structuring liquid oil, that allows the incorporation of vegetable oils rich in unsaturated fatty acids into food matrix and which can provide the functionality of solid fats and improved nutritional characteristics. The partial or total replacement of conventional fats with oleogels in pastry products is of great interest due to their larger consumption. In this research paper, the puff (jam-filled puff pastry) and tender pastries (bow tie cookies, cheese crackers, apple pie, and cookies) have been reformulated by totally replacing of conventional fats with oleogel and the structural behavior in the dynamics of the technological process was evaluated. The textural properties of oleogel were comparable to those of some conventional fats, but frequency sweep measurements showed that the oleogel formulated with refined sunflower oil and carnauba wax (10% w/w) had the highest storage modulus G’ and loss modulus G’’ values when compared to conventional fats (commercial margarine, butter, a mixture of 73% margarine and 27% lard, and puff pastry margarine). The textural properties of oleogel (2.34 N and 2.30 mJ) were significantly different from those of puff pastry margarine (9.78 N and 21.73 mJ), but compared to other conventional fats, the values of hardness (1.42–2.70 N) and adhesiveness (4.40–5.17 mJ) were similar. For conventional and oleogel doughs the storage modulus (Gʹ) were higher than loss modulus (G″) and both increased with the applied frequency (Hz). In terms of the products textural profile, the prototypes formed with oleogel exhibited lower hardness values (2.37–15.64 N) than the conventional products (8.83–19.89 N), indicating the tenderizing effect produced by the oleogel. The fat losses determined during 14 days of storage showed a lower physical stability of the doughs and products formulated with oleogel, most probably due to the destabilization kinetics of the lipid system during the operations of the technological process.
Metabolic modeling of Halomonas campaniensis improves polyhydroxybutyrate production under nitrogen limitation
Authors: Deantas-Jahn Carolina , Mendoza Sebastián N. , Licona-Cassani Cuauhtemoc , Orellana Camila , Saa Pedro A.
Published: April 2024

Poly-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) is an environmentally friendly alternative for conventional fossil fuel-based plastics that is produced by various microorganisms. Large-scale PHB production is challenging due to the comparatively higher biomanufacturing costs. A PHB overproducer is the haloalkaliphilic bacterium Halomonas campaniensis, which has low nutritional requirements and can grow in cultures with high salt concentrations, rendering it resistant to contamination. Despite its virtues, the metabolic capabilities of H. campaniensis as well as the limitations hindering higher PHB production remain poorly studied. To address this limitation, we present HaloGEM, the first high-quality genome-scale metabolic network reconstruction, which encompasses 888 genes, 1528 reactions (1257 gene-associated), and 1274 metabolites. HaloGEM not only displays excellent agreement with previous growth data and experiments from this study, but it also revealed nitrogen as a limiting nutrient when growing aerobically under high salt concentrations using glucose as carbon source. Among different nitrogen source mixtures for optimal growth, HaloGEM predicted glutamate and arginine as a promising mixture producing increases of 54.2% and 153.4% in the biomass yield and PHB titer, respectively. Furthermore, the model was used to predict genetic interventions for increasing PHB yield, which were consistent with the rationale of previously reported strategies. Overall, the presented reconstruction advances our understanding of the metabolic capabilities of H. campaniensis for rationally engineering this next-generation industrial biotechnology platform.

Key points

A comprehensive genome-scale metabolic reconstruction of H. campaniensis was developed.

Experiments and simulations predict N limitation in minimal media under aerobiosis.

In silico media design increased experimental biomass yield and PHB titer.
Radiological diagnosis of prevalent osteoporotic vertebral fracture on radiographs: an interim consensus from a group of experts of the ESSR osteoporosis and metabolism subcommittee
Authors: Wáng Yì Xiáng J. , Diacinti Daniele , Aparisi Gómez Maria Pilar , Santiago Fernando Ruiz , Becce Fabio , Tagliafico Alberto Stefano , Prakash Mahesh , Isaac Amanda , Dalili Danoob , Griffith James F. , Guglielmi Giuseppe , Bazzocchi Alberto
Published: April 2024

When a low-energy trauma induces an acute vertebral fracture (VF) with clinical symptoms, a definitive diagnosis of osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) can be made. Beyond that, a “gold” radiographic standard to distinguish osteoporotic from non-osteoporotic VFs does not exist. Fracture-shaped vertebral deformity (FSVD) is defined as a deformity radiographically indistinguishable from vertebral fracture according to the best of the reading radiologist’s knowledge. FSVD is not uncommon among young populations with normal bone strength. FSVD among an older population is called osteoporotic-like vertebral fracture (OLVF) when the FSVD is likely to be associated with compromised bone strength. In more severe grade deformities or when a vertebra is collapsed, OVF diagnosis can be made with a relatively high degree of certainty by experienced readers. In “milder” cases, OVF is often diagnosed based on a high probability rather than an absolute diagnosis. After excluding known mimickers, singular vertebral wedging in older women is statistically most likely an OLVF. For older women, three non-adjacent minimal grade OLVF (< 20% height loss), one minimal grade OLVF and one mild OLVF (20–25% height loss), or one OLVF with ≥ 25% height loss, meet the diagnosis of osteoporosis. For older men, a single OLVF with < 40% height loss may be insufficient to suggest the subject is osteoporotic. Common OLVF differential diagnoses include X-ray projection artifacts and scoliosis, acquired and developmental short vertebrae, osteoarthritic wedging, oncological deformities, deformity due to high-energy trauma VF, lateral hyperosteogeny of a vertebral body, Cupid’s bow, and expansive endplate, among others.
Using telemetry data and the sea ice satellite record to identify vulnerabilities in critical moult habitat for emperor penguins in West Antarctica
Authors: Trathan Philip N. , Wienecke Barbara , Fleming Andrew , Ireland Louise
Published: April 2024

We tracked adult emperor penguins from Rothschild Island, west Antarctic Peninsula in 2015/2016 during a summer with extensive sea ice of long duration, contrasting with past years of reduced sea ice extent associated with the recent, rapid, warming trend across the region. We fitted ARGOS PTT devices to penguins of unknown breeding status. Of 33 penguins tracked, nine returned to the colony, presumably to provision offspring. Their foraging trips lasted 9.6 ± 3.7 days, with maximum distances of 75 ± 45 km from the colony within coastal waters. Also, 18 instruments transmitted until the initiation of the annual moult. Penguins travelled at ~ 2.3 km h−1 before slowing for moult. Post-moult, some devices continued to transmit, with speeds of ~ 0.8 km h−1, plausibly due to ice drift, which is rapid in this region. Penguins remained within the seasonal sea ice throughout, staying within 100 km of land, and generally within 5 to 10 km of features (open water, polynyas, leads, icebergs) that offered potential access to the ocean. Penguins were unlikely to have been constrained by the extensive sea ice habitat in 2015/2016. Similar habitats would also have been available in most years of the satellite record (since 1979); however, the moult locations in 2015/2016 would not have been available in many years, and penguins would have needed to find alternative moult locations during some years. Despite uncertainties, the moult period is a critical time for emperor penguins, particularly as sea ice declines, potentially affecting adult survival.
Cotrimoxazole and targeted antibiotic prophylaxis for transrectal prostate biopsy: a single-center study
Authors: Jahnen Matthias , Amiel Thomas , Kirchoff Florian , Büchler Jacob W. , Herkommer Kathleen , Rothe Kathrin , Meissner Valentin H. , Gschwend Jürgen E. , Lunger Lukas
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The recent restriction on the use of fluoroquinolones for prophylaxis by the European Commission has left a gap in clear recommendations for practical antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) for transrectal prostate biopsy (TRPB). This analysis investigated the viability of cotrimoxazole for PAP in TRPB.

Methods

This analysis included n = 697 patients who underwent TRPB for suspected prostate cancer (PCa). All patients received either empiric PAP with four doses of cotrimoxazole 960 mg or targeted antibiotic prophylaxis in case of a positive rectal or urine screening for multiresistant gram-negatives. Infectious complications after TRPB, microbiological findings, and clinical characteristics were evaluated. A multivariable logistic regression model was calculated to identify variables associated with infectious complications.

Results

Of the cohort, 86% (600/697) received PAP with cotrimoxazole, 1% (8/697) received cotrimoxazole plus an additional antibiotic, 4% (28/697) received amoxicillin + clavulanic acid, 4% (28/697) received fluoroquinolones, and 5% (33/697) received a single shot intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis with meropenem or piperacillin + tazobactam due to multiresistant microbiological findings in either pre-interventional urine culture or rectal swab. Infectious complications occurred in 2.6% (18/697) of patients. Fever was noted in 89% (16/18) of cases. Inpatient treatment was given to 67% (12/18) of affected patients, with 38% (7/18) having positive blood cultures, identifying cotrimoxazole-resistant E. coli strains in six out of seven cases. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed no clinically significant variables, including PAP with cotrimoxazole, as independent risk factors for an infectious complication.

Conclusions

Using cotrimoxazole as PAP for TRPB in cases without multiresistant gram-negatives in pre-interventional urine cultures or rectal swabs seems feasible and practical.
Do high-protein diets have the potential to reduce gut barrier function in a sex-dependent manner?
Authors: James Daniel , Poveda Carlos , Walton Gemma E. , Elmore J. Stephen , Linden Brandon , Gibson John , Griffin Bruce A. , Robertson M. Denise , Lewis Marie C.
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Impaired gut barrier function is associated with systemic inflammation and many chronic diseases. Undigested dietary proteins are fermented in the colon by the gut microbiota which produces nitrogenous metabolites shown to reduce barrier function in vitro. With growing evidence of sex-based differences in gut microbiotas, we determined whether there were sex by dietary protein interactions which could differentially impact barrier function via microbiota modification.

Methods

Fermentation systems were inoculated with faeces from healthy males (n = 5) and females (n = 5) and supplemented with 0.9 g of non-hydrolysed proteins sourced from whey, fish, milk, soya, egg, pea, or mycoprotein. Microbial populations were quantified using fluorescence in situ hybridisation with flow cytometry. Metabolite concentrations were analysed using gas chromatography, solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and ELISA.

Results

Increased protein availability resulted in increased proteolytic Bacteroides spp (p < 0.01) and Clostridium coccoides (p < 0.01), along with increased phenol (p < 0.01), p-cresol (p < 0.01), indole (p = 0.018) and ammonia (p < 0.01), varying by protein type. Counts of Clostridium cluster IX (p = 0.03) and concentration of p-cresol (p = 0.025) increased in males, while females produced more ammonia (p = 0.02), irrespective of protein type. Further, we observed significant sex-protein interactions affecting bacterial populations and metabolites (p < 0.005).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that protein fermentation by the gut microbiota in vitro is influenced by both protein source and the donor’s sex. Should these results be confirmed through human studies, they could have major implications for developing dietary recommendations tailored by sex to prevent chronic illnesses.
Statistical analysis of effective crack properties by microstructure reconstruction and phase-field modeling
Authors: Seibert Paul , Hirsch Franz , Kluge Melvin , Kalina Martha , Kalina Karl , Kästner Markus
Published: April 2024

Understanding the relation between the microstructure and the material’s effective behavior is an important aspect in inverse computational materials engineering. Especially in the context of localized, inelastic phenomena like plasticity and crack growth, the microstructure morphology plays a crucial role. Due to the stochastic nature of heterogeneous media, a statistical analysis over multiple simulations is necessary, since even with the same material, the simulated crack paths and effective crack lengths are highly dependent on the specific locations of microstructural features. A relevant factor that limits this type of investigation is the high cost of real microstructure data. This work presents a digital workflow for exploring the fracture properties of materials. Therein, the required statistical analyses are facilitated by an algorithm that reconstructs multiple realization of a material structure given a single example. The reconstructed structures are discretized with a regular non-conforming mesh with a diffuse interface and crack representation. Crack phase-field simulations are conducted in order to analyze the effective response. An in-depth introduction to the required methods is given together with a statistical evaluation of the conducted numerical experiments. It is concluded that the statistical variation of the effective material behavior overshadows morphological trends in the presented case. This confirms the relevance and utility of complementing simulation-based workflows with microstructure reconstruction and statistical analyses.
Noni enhances the anticancer activity of cyclophosphamide and suppresses myelotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in tumor-bearing mice
Authors: Ali Mohammad , Manjula S. N. , Mohiuddin Ishfaq , Mruthunjaya K. , Shakeel Faiyaz , Mir Suhail Ahmad , Wani Shahid Ud Din
Published: April 2024

Background and aim

Morinda citrifolia fruit juice (noni) is an herbal remedy documented to have antioxidant properties. It has been suggested that prevention of carcinogen-DNA adduct formation and the antioxidant activity of NJ may contribute to the cancer preventive effect. In the present study, the antitumor activity of noni was investigated in the presence of cyclophosphamide (CYL) in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

In vitro breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-468) were used to measure the percentage of inhibition and the IC50. The in vivo antitumor activity of noni was studied by monitoring the mean survival time (MST), percentage increase in life span (%ILS), viable and non-viable cell count, tumor volume, body weight, and hematological and serum biochemical parameters in mice. Treatment with noni and CYL exhibited dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity toward breast cancer cells.

Results

Individual treatment of noni and CYL exhibited dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity on breast cancer cell lines, while in combination therapy of noni and CYL, noni enhances cytotoxic effect of CYL at 48 h than that at 24 h. Similar result was found in in vivo studies, the results of which revealed that alone treatment of CYL and noni suppressed tumor growth. However, combination treatment with CYL and noni presented better tumor inhibition than that of alone treatment of CYL and noni. On the contrary, CYL alone drastically attenuated hematological parameters, i.e., RBC, WBC, and Hb compared to normal and control groups, and this change was reversed and normalized by noni when given as combination therapy with CYL. Moreover, the levels of serum biochemical markers, i.e., AST, ALP, and ALT, were significantly increased in the control and CYL-treated groups than those in the normal group. In the combination treatment of noni and CYL, the above biochemical marker levels significantly decreased compared to CYL alone-treated group.

Conclusions

The present study suggested that CYL treatment can cause serious myelotoxicity and hepatic injury in cancer patients. In conclusion, the combined use of noni with CYL potentially enhances the antitumor activity of CYL and suppresses myelotoxicity and hepatotoxicity induced by CYL in tumor-bearing mice.
Anti-Anisakis antibodies in colon cancer patients and their relationship with γδ T-cells
Authors: Andreu-Ballester Juan C. , Cuéllar Carmen , Colmena-Zaragoza Javier , Galindo-Regal Lorena , Hurtado-Marcos Carolina , González-Fernández Juan , Balciscueta Zutoia , García-Ballesteros Carlos , López-Chuliá Francisca , Jiménez Ana I. , Llombart-Cussac Antonio
Published: April 2024

Many pathogens are related to carcinogenesis. Chronic inflammation, as a result of persistent infection, leads to DNA damage, higher expression of oncogenes, decreased apoptosis and immunosuppression, which are some of the reasons for cancer induction. Among parasites, Schistosoma, Opistorchis and Clonorchis are recognised as infectious agents which contribute to cancer. A relationship between Anisakis and cancer was hypothesised because cellular responses to Anisakis products could result in inflammation and DNA damage. Previous research has shown a decrease in CD8+ γδ T-cells and an increase in αβ and γδ T-cell apoptosis in colon cancer (CC) samples. Ninety-two CC patients and 60 healthy subjects were recruited. γδ and αβ T-cells were analysed, and their apoptosis was evaluated. Anti-Anisakis antibodies were tested in sera from CC patients and controls. Anti-Anisakis IgG, IgM, IgA and IgE antibodies were significantly higher in CC patients. A significant increase in anti-Anisakis IgA levels was observed in patients with angiolymphatic invasion. The number of all γδ T-cells, as well as CD3+ CD4+ αβ T-cells, was significantly lower in CC patients. The apoptosis of all T-cells was significantly increased in patients with CC. We observed a significantly higher percentage of anti-Anisakis IgE positive patients having a deficit of CD3+ γδ T-cells. Our results suggest a relationship between Anisakis and CC.
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of immune-complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and C3 glomerulopathy in Japanese children
Authors: Ueda Chika , Horinouchi Tomoko , Inoki Yuta , Ichikawa Yuta , Tanaka Yu , Kitakado Hideaki , Kondo Atsushi , Sakakibara Nana , Nagano China , Yamamura Tomohiko , Fujimura Junya , Kamiyoshi Naohiro , Ishimori Shingo , Ninchoji Takeshi , Kaito Hiroshi , Shima Yuko , Iijima Kazumoto , Nozu Kandai , Yoshikawa Norishige
Published: April 2024

Background

Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) can be divided into immune-complex MPGN (IC-MPGN) and C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), which includes dense deposit disease (DDD) and C3 glomerulonephritis (C3GN). These conditions result from abnormalities in different complement pathways and may lead to different prognoses. However, there are limited studies describing the respective clinical courses.

Methods

In this study, Japanese pediatric patients diagnosed with MPGN based on kidney biopsies conducted between February 2002 and December 2022 were reclassified as having IC-MPGN or C3G (DDD or C3GN). We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of these patients.

Results

Out of 25 patients with MPGN, three (12.0%) were diagnosed with DDD, 20 (80.0%) with C3GN, and two (8.0%) with IC-MPGN. There were 13 (65.0%) patients and one (33.3%) patient in remission after treatment for C3GN and DDD, respectively, and no patients with IC-MPGN achieved remission. The median follow-up period was 5.3 (2.5–8.9) years, and none of the patients in either group progressed to an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 15 ml/min/1.73 m2. Patients with C3GN presenting mild to moderate proteinuria (n = 8) received a renin-angiotensin system inhibitor (RAS-I) alone, and these patients exhibited a significant decrease in the urinary protein creatinine ratio and a notable increase in serum C3 levels at the last follow-up.

Conclusions

Most patients with MPGN were diagnosed with C3GN. The remission rate for C3GN was high, and no patients developed kidney failure during the approximately 5-year follow-up. Additionally, patients with C3GN with mild to moderate proteinuria had good outcomes with RAS-I alone, but continued vigilance is necessary to determine long-term prognosis.

Graphical abstract
Vibration analysis and control of aircraft landing systems using proposed neural controllers
Authors: Yıldırım Şahin , Durmuşoğlu Aslı
Published: April 2024

Nowadays, landing gears used in aircraft are the basic systems that carry the weight of aircraft systems and provide them to move on the ground. During the landing of aircraft, big and sudden vibrations occur as soon as the wheels come into contact with the runway. This situation negatively affects human safety, comfort and also the life of the landing gear system. Therefore, it is important to keep this vibration at permissible levels. This paper presents an improved vibration control method that controls the amplitudes of vibrations of landing systems. This paper presents proposed vibration control method that controls the angular position variables of the landing gear mechanism to control the vibrations occurring during landing. For different runway conditions and 200 km/h landing speed, the angular joint variables of the landing gear mechanism links are controlled using standard controller and a proposed neural controller structure. The simulation results are shown that the proposed neural controllers have better performance at vibration control of landing systems during landing.
Sphagnoid spores as tracers of environmental and climatic changes in peatland habitats of the early Eocene
Authors: Riegel Walter , Lenz Olaf K. , Wilde Volker
Published: April 2024

Peat mosses have been an important part of the lignite forming vegetation in the early Eocene of the Helmstedt Lignite Mining District. Three genera of Sphagnum-type spores can be distinguished: Tripunctisporis, Distancoraesporis and Sphagnumsporites. The distribution of these sphagnoid spores is traced through seven lignite seams including most of the known hyperthermal events from the PETM to the EECO. In general, Sphagnum-type spores increase in importance from base to top in each seam as a result of acidification and nutrient depletion during peat accumulation. The proportion of Tripunctisporis increases from Main Seam to Seam 6. The lower three seams are characterized by assemblages typical for coastal plain swamp forests including tree stumps and charcoal in distinct layers and lenses. The upper seams, in which Tripunctisporis is dominant and woody material is rare, are thin-bedded with charcoal in numerous thin drapes on bedding planes. The palynomorph assemblages here indicate a low growing mainly herbaceous vegetation typical of ombrogenous bogs. The change from topogenous swamp forests to open ombrogenous bogs takes place along with the hyperthermals of the early Eocene from the PETM to the EECO. The change from a swamp forest to a shrub forest in the middle of the Main Seam coincides with the isotope excursion of the PETM. Similar changes in other seams independent of thermal events indicate that thermal events merely amplify changes in vegetation, which are primarily imposed by edaphic constraints. It is rather the rapid accumulation of hyperthermals during the EECO that exerts sufficient environmental stress to fundamentally alter the peat forming vegetation.

Graphical abstract
Altered domain-specific striatal functional connectivity in patients with Parkinson’s disease and urinary symptoms
Authors: Piramide Noemi , De Micco Rosa , Di Nardo Federica , Caiazzo Giuseppina , Siciliano Mattia , Cirillo Mario , Russo Antonio , Tedeschi Gioacchino , Esposito Fabrizio , Tessitore Alessandro
Published: April 2024

Background

In this study, we aimed at investigating the possible association of urinary symptoms with whole-brain MRI resting-state functional connectivity (FC) alterations from distinct striatal subregions in a large cohort of early PD patients.

Methods

Seventy-nine drug-naive PD patients (45 PD-urinary+/34 PD-urinary−) and 38 healthy controls (HCs) were consecutively enrolled. Presence/absence of urinary symptoms were assessed by means of the Nonmotor Symptom Scale - domain 7. Using an a priori connectivity-based domain-specific parcellation, we defined three ROIs (per each hemisphere) for different striatal functional subregions (sensorimotor, limbic and cognitive) from which seed-based FC voxel-wise analyses were conducted over the whole brain.

Results

Compared to PD-urinary−, PD-urinary+ patients showed increased FC between striatal regions and motor and premotor/supplementary motor areas as well as insula/anterior dorsolateral PFC. Compared to HC, PD-urinary+ patients presented decreased FC between striatal regions and parietal, insular and cingulate cortices.

Conclusions

Our findings revealed a specific pattern of striatal FC alteration in PD patients with urinary symptoms, potentially associated to altered stimuli perception and sensorimotor integration even in the early stages. These results may potentially help clinicians to design more effective and tailored rehabilitation and neuromodulation protocols for PD patients.
Oxidative Stress and FOXO-1 Relationship in Stage III Periodontitis
Authors: Gurbuz Elif Selin , Guney Zeliha , Kurgan Sivge , Balci Nur , Serdar Muhittin Abdulkadir , Gunhan Meral
Published: April 2024

Objectives

8-Hydroxideoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is a marker of oxidative stress, and Forkhead Box-O1 (FOXO1) is a transcription factor and signaling integrator in cell and tissue homeostasis. This study aims to determine FOXO1 and 8-OHdG levels in serum and saliva samples of periodontitis patients and to evaluate their relationship with clinical periodontal parameters.

Materials and Methods

Twenty healthy individuals, twenty generalized Stage III Grade B periodontitis patients, and nineteen generalized Stage III Grade C periodontitis patients were included in the study. Clinical periodontal parameters (plaque index (PI), probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and clinical attachment level (CAL)) were recorded. Salivary and serum 8-OHdG and FOX-O1 levels were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

Clinical periodontal parameters showed a statistically significant increase in periodontitis groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). 8-OHdG salivary levels were significantly higher in both periodontitis groups compared to the control group. The salivary FOXO1 levels were significantly lower in both periodontitis groups compared to the control group. Salivary FOXO1 level had a low-grade negative correlation with BOP and salivary 8-OHdG level.

Conclusions

While reactive oxygen species increase in periodontal inflammation, low expression of FOXO1, an important transcription factor for antioxidant enzymes, supports that this molecule plays a vital role in tissue destruction, and FOXO1 can be seen as a potential immune modulator.

Clinical relevance

The role of FOXO1 in supporting antioxidant defense may suggest that FOXO1 is a candidate target for periodontitis treatment.
The underlying neuropsychological and neural correlates of the impaired Chinese reading skills in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Wu Zhao-Min , Wang Peng , Zhong Yun-Yu , Liu Yun , Liu Xue-Chun , Wang Jiu-Ju , Cao Xiao-Lan , Liu Lu , Sun Li , Yang Li , Zang Yu-Feng , Qian Ying , Cao Qing-Jiu , Wang Yu-Feng , Yang Bin-Rang
Published: April 2024

Impaired basic academic skills (e.g., word recognition) are common in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The underlying neuropsychological and neural correlates of impaired Chinese reading skills in children with ADHD have not been substantially explored. Three hundred and two children with ADHD (all medication-naïve) and 105 healthy controls underwent the Chinese language skill assessment, and 175 also underwent fMRI scans (84 ADHD and 91 controls). Between-group and mediation analyses were applied to explore the interrelationships of the diagnosis of ADHD, cognitive dysfunction, and impaired reading skills. Five ADHD-related brain functional networks, including the default mode network (DMN) and the dorsal attention network (DAN), were built using predefined regions of interest. Voxel-based group-wise comparisons were performed. The ADHD group performed worse than the control group in word-level reading ability tests, with lower scores in Chinese character recognition (CR) and word chains (WS) (all P < 0.05). With full-scale IQ and sustained attention in the mediation model, the direct effect of ADHD status on the CR score became insignificant (P = 0.066). The underlying neural correlates for the orthographic knowledge (OT) and CR differed between the ADHD and the control group. The ADHD group tended to recruit more DMN regions to maintain their reading performance, while the control group seemed to utilize more DAN regions. Children with ADHD generally presented impaired word-level reading skills, which might be caused by impaired sustained attention and lower IQ. According to the brain functional results, we infer that ADHD children might utilize a different strategy to maintain their orthographic knowledge and character recognition performance.
Disclosure services and welfare gains in matching markets for indivisible assets
Authors: Kawakami Kei
Published: April 2024

We present a competitive matching model in which indivisible assets are reallocated among many traders. The model has three features: (i) traders are heterogeneous in their prospects as buyers, sellers, and also in their stand-alone values with endowed assets, (ii) buyers do not know true values of assets sold, (iii) sellers can disclose values of their assets by paying fees. Despite its complexity, the model admits closed-form solutions. Two main results emerge. First, if full Disclosure is facilitated by a monopolist, it captures a large fraction of the welfare gains. Second, adding the option of minimum disclosure, when combined with a cap regulation on price-dependent fees for full disclosure, significantly weakens the monopolist’s power.
Opioid use surrounding diagnosis and follow-up in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis: Results from US claims databases
Authors: Sheahan Anna , Anjohrin Suzanne , Suruki Robert , Stark Jeffrey L. , Sloan Victor S.
Published: April 2024

Objective

To describe patients’ use of opioids in the year preceding and year following new diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), or rheumatoid arthritis (RA), compared with patients without the/se diseases.

Methods

This study used US IBM® MarketScan® Commercial Claims and Encounters (CCAE) and Medicaid data and included three cohorts, comprised of incident cases of AS, PsA, or RA (2010–2017). Three matched comparator patients (without the incident disease) were selected for each patient within the disease cohort. Opioid use and appropriate treatment exposure (as defined by US guideline recommendations) in the 12-month baseline and follow-up periods were evaluated using descriptive analyses.

Results

Prevalence of claims for opioids was higher for disease cohorts vs. comparators in CCAE; 36.4% of patients with AS, 29.5% with PsA, and 44.4% with RA did not have any claim for guideline-appropriate therapy in follow-up. Prevalence of claims for opioids was also higher for disease cohorts vs. comparators in Medicaid; 30.6% of patients with AS, 36.6% with PsA, and 65.4% with RA did not have any claim for guideline-appropriate therapy in follow-up.

Conclusions

In patients with AS, PsA, or RA, there was high reliance on opioids at and around the time of diagnosis. Significant proportions of patients were not on appropriate treatment as defined by professional society post-diagnosis guidelines; this discordance between actual patient therapies and treatment recommendations may suggest a need for better awareness of appropriate pain management and treatment strategies in rheumatic diseases.

Key Points

• This study analysed opioid use among patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), or rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and adds to current knowledge by expanding beyond assessment of opioid use at diagnosis, to the year before and after diagnosis.• Opioid use was found to be highly prevalent in AS, PsA, and RA in the year prior to diagnosis and, interestingly, was still seen during the year after diagnosis.• Opioids are neither disease modifying, nor a targeted/recommended treatment for chronic autoimmune diseases. In addition to their association with significant economic costs, opioids are potentially hazardous and are not better than alternative treatments with superior safety profiles.• The reasons behind opioid prescribing patterns should be explored further to support movement to targeted therapies.
Predictors of atrial fibrillation after embolic stroke of undetermined source in patients with implantable loop recorders
Authors: Kreimer Fabienne , Aweimer Assem , El-Battrawy Ibrahim , Labedi Adnan , Schneider Ruth , Haghikia Arash , Mügge Andreas , Gotzmann Michael
Published: April 2024

Background

In patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS), underlying subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) is often suspected. Previous studies identifying predictors of AF have been limited in their ability to diagnose episodes of AF. Implantable loop recorders enable prolonged, continuous, and therefore more reliable detection of AF. The aim of this study was to identify clinical and ECG parameters as predictors of AF in ESUS patients with implantable loop recorders.

Methods

101 ESUS patients who received an implantable loop recorder between 2012 and 2020 were included in this study. Patients were followed up regularly on a three-monthly outpatient interval.

Results

During a mean follow-up of 647 ± 385 days, AF was detected in 26 patients (26%). Independent risk factors of AF were age ≥ 60 years (HR 2.753, CI 1.129–6.713, p = 0.026), P-wave amplitude in lead II ≤ 0.075 mV (HR 3.751, CI 1.606–8.761, p = 0.002), and P-wave duration ≥ 125 ms (HR 4.299, CI 1.844–10.021, p < 0.001). In patients without risk factors, the risk of developing AF was 16%. In the presence of one risk factor, the probability increased only slightly to 18%. With two or three risk factors, the risk of AF increased to 70%.

Conclusion

AF was detected in about one in four patients after ESUS in this study. A comprehensive evaluation involving multiple parameters and the existence of multiple risk factors yields the highest predictive accuracy for detecting AF in patients with ESUS.
Calcium oxalate crystals as a cause of multiple punctate echogenic foci in benign thyroid lesions
Authors: Suzuki Ayana , Hirokawa Mitsuyoshi , Otsuka Izumi , Miyauchi Akira , Akamizu Takashi
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Multiple punctate echogenic foci (MPEF) on thyroid ultrasonography reflects psammoma bodies in papillary thyroid carcinomas. However, MPEF is also observed in benign thyroid lesions. The aim of this study was to determine the origin of MPEF in patients with benign thyroid lesions.

Methods

We enrolled 26 patients with Graves’ disease (GD) and 24 with follicular nodular disease (FND) who exhibited MPEF and underwent surgery. As controls, we enrolled 40 patients with GD and 32 with FND, but without MPEF, who underwent surgery.

Results

MPEF was observed in both lobes in 80.8% of GDs with MPEF, but was limited to a single lobe in the remaining cases. MPEF was diffusely distributed in 72.3% of the cases and focally distributed in the remaining cases. On ultrasonography, most (92.3%) FNDs with MPEF were solid lesions, and seven nodules (26.9%) were interpreted as intermediate suspicion and their frequencies were higher than in those without MPEF (p < 0.01). Microscopically, calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals were observed more frequently in GDs and FNDs with MPEF (100% and 88.5%, respectively) than in those without MPEF (p < 0.001). These differences were particularly significant for CaOx crystals > 100 μm. In GD cases, large CaOx crystals were observed more frequently in the lobes with MPEF than in those without (p < 0.05). No psammoma bodies were present in any of the cases.

Conclusion

Appearance of MPEF in GDs and FNDs is not because of psammoma bodies; it is attributable to CaOx crystals larger than 100 μm. Therefore, MPEF is not an indicator of malignancy.
A Comparison of Internal Mandrel Designs for Rotary Draw Bend Forming of Carbon-fibre/Thermoplastic (PA6) Tubular Structures
Authors: Li Mengyuan , Stokes-Griffin Chris , Holmes John , Sommacal Silvano , Compston Paul
Published: April 2024

Carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic tubular structures can be post-formed into desired curvatures via rotary draw bending (RDB) at elevated temperatures. During this process, a rigid internal mandrel is required to support the walls of the tubes to maintain their ovality and minimise unwanted geometrical distortions. This paper investigates four internal mandrel designs for post-forming carbon fiber reinforced polyamide 6 (CF/PA6) thermoplastic tubes. Mandrel designs include silicone rod, bullet, wire, and coil spring, were evaluated through RDB-forming experiments with [± 60°]4 CF/PA6 tubes formed to 90° bends. The designs were evaluated for their effectiveness on minimising distortions resulted from induced stresses during post-forming by measuring the post-formed tube diameter and extrados strains. The mandrel designs were also evaluated for their usability when integrated into the RDB process. Results from optical measurements and micro-computed tomography showed the spring mandrel outperformed others, producing tubes with the least geometrical distortions and no defects during the forming process. As compared to other designs, the spring mandrel is a reusable unibody design that is easy to assemble and remove from the tubes.
Comparing the effectiveness of real-time PCRs to simultaneously detect and identify viable Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis
Authors: Lombard L. , Dekker-Nooren C. C. E. M. , Wuijster B. , van Kessel S. P. , van Duivenbode I. , van Bruggen A. S. , van Heese E. Y. J.
Published: April 2024

Recently, the Commission Implementation Regulation (CIR) 2022/1192 was published by the European Union, prescribing regulations on eradication measures for quarantine potato cyst nematodes, including mandated assays for species identification. The CIR 2022/1192 provides a derogation on the use of Beniers et al. (2014) real-time PCR as the validation process was still ongoing. In this study, the validation of a modified version of the Beniers real-time PCR was carried out, following EPPO Standard PM 7/98. Furthermore, the performance was compared to the conventional PCR of Bulman & Marshall (1997) and the Gamel et al. (2017) real-time PCR, both DNA based, which are mandated by CIR 2022/1192. Additionally, the effect of cyst viability was compared with the two real-time PCR assays. The modified Beniers real-time PCR met all validation performance criteria for both target Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis. The viability assays showed that the DNA based Gamel real-time PCR provided positive results for non-viable, non-infectious cysts, in contrast to the modified RNA based Beniers real-time PCR. Based on the results of this study, the modified Beniers qualifies for the detection and identification of viable Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis and performs at least equally as well as the other two PCR assays. To encourage the development and improvement of diagnostic protocols, it is suggested that diagnostic laboratories performing official surveys are allowed to use internationally recognized diagnostic protocols when validated in-house according to EPPO standards and accredited by the EU bodies (EPPO, 2021).
The renoprotective activity of amikacin–gamma-amino butyric acid–chitosan nanoparticles: a comparative study
Authors: Madbouly Neveen , Ooda Adham , Nabil Ahmed , Nasser Areej , Ahmed Esraa , Ali Fatma , Mohamed Fatma , Faried Habiba , Badran Mai , Ahmed Mariam , Ibrahim Mariam , Rasmy Mariam , Saleeb Martina , Riad Vereena , Ibrahim Yousr , Farid Alyaa
Published: April 2024

The development of nanoparticles (NPs) with active components with upgraded stability, and prolonged release helps in enhanced tissue regeneration. In addition, NPs are feasible strategy to boost antibiotic effectiveness and reduce drug side effects. Our study focuses on the use of amikacin (AMK) and gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) unloaded combinations or loaded on chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) for kidney protection. The AMK–GABA–CSNPs were prepared with the ionic gelation method, the morphology was studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zetasizer and the Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectrum of the synthesized NPs was observed. The average size of AMK–GABA–CSNPs was 77.5 ± 16.5 nm. Zeta potential was + 38.94 ± 2.65 mV. AMK–GABA–CSNPs revealed significant in vitro antioxidant, anti-coagulation, non-hemolytic properties and good cell compatibility. To compare the effects of the unloaded AMK–GABA combination and AMK–GABA–CSNPs on the renal tissue, 42 healthy Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into seven groups. G1: normal control (NC), normal saline; G2: low-dose nephrotoxic group (LDN), AMK (20 mg/kg/day; i.p.); G3: unloaded AMK (20 mg/kg/day; i.p.) and GABA (50 mg/kg/day; i.p.); G4: AMK–GABA–CSNPs (20 mg/kg/day; i.p.); G5: high-dose nephrotoxic group (HDN), AMK (30 mg/kg/day; i.p.); G6: unloaded AMK (30 mg/kg/day; i.p.) and GABA (50 mg/kg/day; i.p.) and G7: AMK–GABA–CSNPs (30 mg/kg/day; i.p.). The results showed that AMK–GABA–CSNPs formulation is superior to unloaded AMK–GABA combination as it ameliorated kidney functions, oxidative stress and displayed a significant homeostatic role via suppression of inflammatory cytokines of Th1, Th2 and Th17 types. Hence, AMK–GABA–CSNPs could afford a potential nano-based therapeutic formula for the management of AMK-nephrotoxicity.