bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incorporating patient‐reported outcome data into a predictive calculator for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients
Authors: Shaw Bronwen E. , Flynn Kathryn E. , He Naya , Cusatis Rachel , D'Souza Anita , Hamilton Betty K. , Horowitz Mary M. , Mattila Deborah , Phelan Rachel , Lee Stephanie J. , Brazauskas Ruta
Published: January 2024

Background

The Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) provides a 1‐year overall survival calculator to estimate outcomes for individual patients before they undergo allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) to inform risk. The calculator considers pre‐HCT clinical and demographic characteristics, but not patient‐reported outcomes (PROs). Because pre‐HCT PRO scores have been associated with post‐HCT outcomes, the authors hypothesized that adding PRO scores to the calculator would enhance its predictive power.

Methods

Clinical data were obtained from the CIBMTR and the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network. The PRO measures used were the 36‐Item Short Form Survey (SF‐36) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐Bone Marrow Transplantation. One thousand thirty‐three adult patients were included.

Results

When adjusted for clinical characteristics, the SF‐36 physical component score was significantly predictive of 1‐year survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81–0.95; p = .0015), whereas the mental component score was not (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.95–1.10; p = 0.6396). The baseline single general health question on the SF‐36 was also significantly associated with mortality (HR, 1.91 for those reporting fair/poor health vs. good, very good, or excellent health; 95% CI, 1.33–2.76; p = .0005). The addition of PRO scores to the calculator did not result in a significant change in the model’s predictive ability. Self‐reported pre‐HCT scores were strongly predictive of self‐reported health status (odds ratio, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.66–6.75; p = .0007) and quality of life (odds ratio, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.93–5.41; p < .0001) after HCT.

Conclusions

The authors confirmed the significant, independent association of pre‐HCT PRO scores with overall survival, although adding PRO scores to the survival calculator did not improve its performance. They also demonstrated that a single general health question was as accurate as the full measure for predicting survival, an important finding that may reduce respondent burden and promote its inclusion in routine clinical practice. Validation of these findings should be performed.
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis induced by nivolumab/ipilimumab combination therapy: A case of lung adenocarcinoma that responded to early steroid pulse therapy
Authors: Hagiwara Satoru , Tanizaki Junko , Hayashi Hidetoshi , Komeda Yoriaki , Nishida Naoshi , Yoshida Akihiro , Yamamoto Tomoki , Matsubara Takuya , Kudo Masatoshi
Published: January 2024

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been reported to have excellent therapeutic effects on various malignant tumors. However, immune‐related adverse events can occur, targeting various organs.

Case presentation

A 49‐year‐old male with lung carcinoma was started on carboplatin + pemetrexed + nivolumab (every 3 weeks) + ipilimumab (every 6 weeks), and nivolumab/ipilimumab was administered in the 3rd course. Subsequently, fever and fatigue developed, and grade 3 liver damage was also noted, so he was admitted to Kindai University Hospital. A bone marrow aspirate examination was performed on the third day of illness, and a definitive diagnosis of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) was made. It was determined that immediate therapeutic intervention was necessary, and pulse therapy with methylprednisolone was started on the third day of illness. After 3 days of pulse treatment, a rapid recovery of platelet values, a decrease in ferritin levels, and a decrease in lactate dehydrogenase were observed. Subjective symptoms such as fever and fatigue also quickly improved.

Conclusion

Early diagnosis and treatment for HLH resulted in a positive response. The number of HLH cases may increase in the future due to the expansion of immune checkpoint inhibitor indications.
Bloom filter empowered smart storage/access in IoMT [edge‐fog‐cloud] hierarchy for health‐care data ingestion
Authors: Kumar Mandeep , Singh Amritpal
Published: January 2024

Today's era of smart technologies has shifted the paradigm of how things work in almost every domain. This change has also affected the utmost need of human beings, that is, sustainability in healthcare. With the help of technologies like the Internet of medical things (IoMT) devices and cloud‐based applications, doctors can now monitor and diagnoses their patients remotely. In the data analytics process for health‐care data, more precision and challenges are present. Data must be transferred from a lower layer to final storage (cloud‐based) during data ingestion so that subsequent operations such as mining, accessing, and streaming can be performed on these data. This article addresses some of the important issues to maintain sustainability in healthcare like authentication, smart scheduling of devices, the removal of redundant data on the final layer, and improving access times for stored data. Bloom filter (a probabilistic data structure)‐based solutions are proposed at different layers of IoMT (edge‐fog‐cloud). The comparative analysis of state‐of‐art techniques with the proposed has shown significant improvement over various metrics. The proposed framework has been evaluated experimentally on real health‐care datasets.
Confucianism and employee treatment: Evidence from China
Authors: Xu Xixiong , Wang Maochuan
Published: January 2024

This study examines the effect of Confucianism, an influential cultural belief and ethical philosophy in East Asia, on employee treatment policies within Chinese listed companies from 2010 to 2020. Our key finding is that Confucianism is positively associated with employee‐friendly practices. We further identify three plausible economic channels through which Confucianism shapes employee‐friendly treatment: valuing human‐centric ethics, mitigating managerial myopia, and alleviating agency conflicts. Cross‐sectionally, the documented impact is more prominent for firms operating with weaker union power and those with executives lacking overseas experience. Additionally, employee‐friendly firms exhibit higher employee efficiency, innovation output, and firm value, indicating that investing in employee benefits ultimately translates into better financial performance. Collectively, we shed light on the unique role of cultural norms in fostering employee treatment policies and their consequential effects on organizational value.
Polygenic risk for Alzheimer's disease is associated with neuroaxonal damage before onset of clinical symptoms
Authors: Kagerer Sonja M. , Awasthi Swapnil , Ripke Stephan , Maceski Aleksandra , Benkert Pascal , Fall Aïda B. , Riederer Peter , Fischer Peter , Walitza Susanne , Grünblatt Edna , Kuhle Jens , Unschuld Paul G.
Published: January 2024

INTRODUCTION

Establishing valid diagnostic strategies is a precondition for successful therapeutic intervention in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS

One hundred forty‐four healthy 75‐year‐old participants from the Vienna‐Transdanube‐Aging longitudinal cohort study were tested for neuroaxonal damage by single molecular array (Simoa) plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels at baseline, 30, 60, and 90 months, and onset of AD dementia. Individual risk for sporadic AD was estimated by continuous shrinkage polygenic risk score (PRS‐CS, genome‐wide association study).

RESULTS

Nineteen participants developed AD after a median of 60 months (interquartile range 30). In participants with AD, baseline NfL plasma levels correlated with PRS‐CS (r = 0.75,p < 0.001; difference to controls: Fisher'sr‐to‐z:z = 3.89,p < 0.001). PRS‐CS combined with baseline plasma NfL predicted onset of AD (p < 0.01).

DISCUSSION

Our data suggest that polygenic risk for AD and plasma NfL closely interact years before onset of clinical symptoms. Peripheral NfL may serve as a diagnostic measure supporting early therapeutic intervention and secondary prevention in AD.
Developmental windows for effects of choline and folate on excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission during human gestation
Authors: Hunter Sharon K. , Hoffman M. Camille , D'Alessandro Angelo , Freedman Robert
Published: January 2024

Choline and folate are critical nutrients for fetal brain development, but the timing of their influence during gestation has not been previously characterized. At different periods during gestation, choline stimulation of α7‐nicotinic receptors facilitates the conversion of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors from excitatory to inhibitory and recruitment of GluR1‐R2 receptors for faster excitatory responses to glutamate. The outcome of the fetal development of inhibition and excitation was assessed in 159 newborns by P50 cerebral auditory‐evoked responses. Paired stimuli, S1 and S2, were presented 500 ms apart. Higher P50 amplitude in response to S1 (P50S1microV) assesses excitation, and lower P50S2microV assesses inhibition in this paired‐stimulus paradigm. The development of inhibition was related solely to maternal choline plasma concentration and folate supplementation at 16 weeks’ gestation. The development of excitation was related only to maternal choline at 28 weeks. Higher maternal choline concentrations later in gestation did not compensate for earlier lower concentrations. At 4 years of age, increased behavior problems on the Child Behavior Checklist 1.5–5 years were related to both newborn inhibition and excitation. The incomplete development of inhibition and excitation associated with lower choline and folate during relatively brief periods of gestation thus has enduring effects on child development.
Significant Effect of 2nd Sphere Interactions on the Reductive Activation of O2 by non‐heme Iron(II) Complexes – Application to the Electroassisted Oxidation of Thioanisole
Authors: Robinson Amanda Lyn , Bannerman Eva , Guillot Régis , Herrero Christian , Sénéchal‐David Katell , Rivière Eric , Banse Frédéric , Rebilly Jean‐Noël
Published: January 2024

New mononuclear non‐heme FeII complexes derived from a well‐known pentadentate amine/pyridine ligand were synthesized. The new ligand bears an additional OH group on one pyridyl aimed at developing second sphere hydrogen bonds. Two binding modes of the ligand were observed that can be selectively obtained through the choice of the counterion: the OH group develops an intramolecular H‐bond with the 6th exogenous ligand in the classical mode, or an intermolecular one with the unbound triflate counterion in the alternative mode. The complexes were studied by cyclic voltammetry in the reductive activation of O2. The addition of an H‐bond improves the O2 activation potential with a gain of 90 mV in the classical case and 220 mV in the alternative one. The difference is ascribed to the development of stabilizing H‐bonds within the FeIII‐peroxo intermediate with the proximal O atom of peroxo (classical mode) or the distal one (alternative mode). Ultimately, the complex in the alternative mode activates O2 at −0.5 V vs SCE (500 mV gain compared to free O2). We took advantage of this significantly reduced energetic cost to carry out and achieve the electroassisted oxidation of thioanisole by O2 at −0.5 V vs SCE.
How are elite tennis matches won at Wimbledon? A comparison of close and one‐sided contests
Authors: Fitzpatrick Anna , Stone Joseph A. , Choppin Simon , Kelley John
Published: January 2024

Notational analysis investigations of several sports have suggested that the performance characteristics associated with success differ by match closeness. It is not known whether this is the case in tennis. Therefore, this study aimed to first develop operational definitions for closely contested and one‐sided tennis matches, then establish whether the important performance characteristics in elite grass court tennis differ by match closeness. Data from 365 men and 374 women's Wimbledon single matches played between 2015 and 2017 were analyzed. Irrespective of match closeness, points won of 0–4 shot rally length, first serve points won and baseline points won were associated with winning matches, and forced errors and unforced errors were associated with losing matches, for both sexes. Spearman's rank‐order correlations demonstrated excellent agreement between the importance of the performance characteristics in closely contested and one‐sided men (rs = 0.89, p < 0.001) and women's matches (rs = 0.90, p < 0.001), respectively. Findings suggest that expected match closeness (of an upcoming match) should not necessarily influence decision‐making around practice design and match‐play strategy. Additionally, the operational definitions developed for closely contested and one‐sided matches developed here could be used in future studies to investigate different competitive contexts.
A Novel Bilevel Electromechanical Compound Braking Coordinated Control Strategy for Electric Vehicles
Authors: Zhao Bingquan , Li Hongcai , Yang Chao , Wang Weida , Sun Tonglin , Chen Ruihu
Published: January 2024

Due to the difference of response time and braking type between the motor and the pneumatic braking system, it is still difficult to coordinate the motor braking and the pneumatic braking to ensure the vehicle stability and maximal energy regeneration. To address this challenge, a bilevel electromechanical compound braking coordinated control strategy for electric vehicles is proposed considering general and emergency braking state. First, in general braking state, considering the delay characteristics of the pneumatic braking system, a Lagrange quadratic interpolation prediction algorithm is designed to start the pneumatic braking system in advance. Second, in emergency braking state, a model predictive control method is proposed to optimize the braking torque distribution while controlling the wheel slip ratio in a stable range. In order to obtain the optimal control effect, a modified adaptive cuckoo search algorithm is put forward, in which three adaptive impact factors are added. Finally, the proposed control strategy is verified under three road conditions and compared with the conventional control strategy. The results demonstrate significant improvements under gravel road condition, including a 7% increase in energy recovery efficiency, a 92.1% enhancement in the following effect of pneumatic braking torque, and a 43.5% reduction in wheel fluctuation.
Synthesis strategies of smart 3D nanoarchitectures and their applications in energy storage and conversion
Authors: Loura Nisha , Mor Sumit , Nandal Deepak , Nandal Vikas , Dhull Vikas
Published: January 2024

The creation of effective and clean energy storage technologies has advanced dramatically due to growing worldwide worries over the depletion of fossil fuels and environmental issues. Energy storage and conversion systems have emerged as a crucial component with the development of numerous electronic devices, enabling the devices to function for extended periods of time. Due to their enormous surface area, strong electrical conductivity, and ion transport, 3D self‐supported nanoarchitectures associated with electrochemical energy storage (EES) devices can offer alternatives for enhancing the performance and advancement of existing EES systems. Here, we present the results of our findings regarding the design, production, and use of self‐supported 3D nanostructures in energy storage and conversion systems such as supercapacitors, batteries, solar cells, and fuel cells. A variety of advanced 3D nanomaterials may be readily created on an immense scale using various synthetic techniques, and they have a great deal of potential for use as electrodes in energy storage and conversion devices with much better performance. These fabrication techniques include electrochemical deposition, electrospinning, chemical precipitation, spray pyrolysis, sol‐gel method, hydrothermal method, chemical vapor deposition, and so forth.
Microencapsulation of anthocyanins extracted from black soybean peels by whey protein/fructo‐oligosaccharide contributes to improved stability, bioavailability, and ability to regulate glycolipid metabolism
Authors: Zhang Wenbao , Li Xusheng , Ma Xiaoqiang , Li Haoyu , Liu Jia , Zeng Yingyu , Cai Dongbao , Xu Qingjie , Chen Guobing , Tian Lingmin , Sun Jianxia , Bai Weibin
Published: January 2024

Black soybean peels (BSPs) are rich in anthocyanins (ANCs), a naturally active substance added to manufactured foods. However, the instability of the ANC structure limits its application in the food industry. In the present study, an efficient and simple microencapsulation method to improve the stability of ANC was successfully established. BSP ANCs were encapsulated in a microencapsulated complex with fructo‐oligosaccharide (FOS) and whey protein (WP) associated with a high encapsulation rate (65.41%) and drug‐loading capacity (6.13%). The particle size and polydispersity index of anthocyanin‐loaded microencapsulation (ALM) were 4.648 ± 0.350 µm and 0.405 ± 0.107, respectively. The ANC stability test showed that ALM performed enhanced thermostability, pH stability, storage stability, and light stability. Meanwhile, in vitro release experiments indicated that ALM dramatically delayed the contact time of ANC with the environment and reduced the degradation. Moreover, animal experiments demonstrated that ALM better improved blood glucose homeostasis and lipid homeostasis in high‐fat‐ and high‐fructose‐treated mice and reduced liver lipid accumulation and damage. Additionally, the better in vivo bioactivity could be attributed to the extended bioavailability that was proved by a pharmacokinetics test. These results suggested that the microencapsulation employed WP‐FOS complexes as the wall materials are of great potential to improve the stability and health‐promoting properties of ANC, providing a promising solution as dietary supplementation.
Danish consumers’ knowledge about and willingness to buy dairy products close to the best‐before‐date
Authors: Melgaard Carina V. , Voss Emily , Hansen Majken F. , Lassen Marlene , Hvidtfeldt Michelle , Pandey Sujita , Rasmussen Morten Arendt , Thomsen Marianne
Published: January 2024

More than 700,000 tons of food are wasted annually in Denmark where dairy products are among the 10 most wasted food products. Therefore, this study aims to analyze Danish consumers’ understanding of the best‐before‐date label and relational patterns for different knowledge‐attitude‐behavior factors influencing their willingness to buy (WTB) dairy products close to the best‐before‐date. Respondents (n = 436) from an online survey were segmented into four segments based on (i) their frequency of purchasing and (ii) their WTB dairy products close to the best‐before‐date: low/low (n = 53), medium/low (n149), medium/high (n = 190), and high/high (n = 44). All four segments had a relatively high understanding of the best‐before‐date label (total mean score = 2.43). For the medium/high and high/high segments, drivers for buying dairy products close to the best‐before‐date were avoidance of food waste, reduced price, and organic certification. However, the low/low and medium/low segments refrained from purchasing dairy products close to the best‐before‐date due to health concerns and low‐quality perception and found them unappetizing. Furthermore, there seems to be a tendency for an age‐dependent pattern. Older respondents (low/low and medium/low) had a higher risk perception than the younger respondents (medium/high and high/high). Consumers’ level of risk perception and food disgust sensitivity are the actual drivers or barriers for consumers’ WTB dairy products close to the best‐before‐date and not their level of knowledge. The results obtained from this study contribute valuable insights into consumer values and can be crucial for developing strategies to reduce food waste in an environment where consumers make their purchasing decisions.
Paternal preconceptional supplementation of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids alleviates offspring nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in high‐fat diet‐induced obese mice
Authors: Shi Qiaoyu , Fan Xiuqin , Yang Mengyi , Tang Tiantian , Wang Rui , Li Ping , Qi Kemin
Published: January 2024

Exposure to nutritional or environmental factors in early life determines susceptibility to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The effect of paternal preconceptional n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 PUFAs) on offspring NAFLD development remains unknown. Herein, a mouse model that weaning male mice (F0) received diet supplementation of normal n‐3 PUFA content (n‐6:n‐3 PUFA ratio = 4.3:1) or high n‐3 PUFA content (n‐6:n‐3 ratio = 1.5:1) for 12 weeks, and an n‐3 PUFA‐deficient diet as control, was used for the production of next generation. The F1 and F2 offspring were generated by mating F0 and F1 male mice with virgin female mice, respectively, and after weaning, were fed a high‐fat diet to induce NAFLD. The paternal n‐3 PUFA supplementation improved the scores of steatosis, inflammation and ballooning, and the fibrosis in the liver of two generations, with expressional upregulation of genes associated with fat oxidation (Atgl, Ppara, or Cpt1a), and downregulation of inflammatory genes (Ccl2, Tnf‐α, F4/80, CD206, or CD11c) and fibrosis genes (Tgf‐β, Timp1, or Col1a1). The lessened brown adipose tissue whitening, altered gut bacterial compositions, and altered expression of the imprinted genes (H19, Igf2, and Plagl1) might mediate the impact of paternal n‐3 PUFAs on offspring's NAFLD development, which was dose‐dependent. The data indicate that preconceptional higher paternal intake of n‐3 PUFAs might have intergenerational and transgenerational alleviating impact on obesity‐associated NAFLD development in the offspring through multiple pathways.
Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals the contribution of amino acid transporters to acid tolerance in Lactococcus lactis
Authors: Zhu Zhengming , Zhang Tongrong , Yang Zhihan , Zhang Juan
Published: January 2024

Amino acid transporters are promising targets for engineering acid‐tolerant strains of Lactococcus lactis. However, the simple overexpression of transporters alone is insufficient to achieve a highly acid‐resistant phenotype. This study investigated the effects of amino acid transporters on the acid‐stress tolerance of L. lactis. Here, we first verified the contribution of amino acid transporters to acid tolerance by overexpressing the ctrA, glnP, and glnQ genes in L. lactis. Transcriptome analysis revealed that most genes associated with specific amino acid transport, pyrimidine metabolism, and functional proteins, were upregulated in the overexpression strains. Among them, arginine biosynthesis (argG and argH), amino acid transport (yjeM and azlC), and pyrimidine metabolism were considered to be the most important regulatory mechanisms. Importantly, metabolite profiling revealed that the overexpression strains had higher intracellular levels of amino acids, particularly aspartate, glutamate, and arginine at low pH, as well as higher intracellular ATP levels, which was consistent with the corresponding gene‐expression levels. Finally, the simultaneous overexpression of glnP and glnQ led to a further improvement of acid tolerance in L. lactis. This study reveals the regulatory mechanisms of amino acid transporters, and provides a novel strategy for achieving higher acid tolerance via positive tandem expression approaches.
Sea bass (Lateolabrax maculatus) exerts anti‐ulcerative colitis effects through gut microbiota modulation
Authors: Chen Jiali , Xiao Yuhang , Wang Kejian , Fu Xiuqiong , Fan Yueyao , Hossen Muhammad Jahangir , Chen Yingjie , Bai Weibin , Yu Zhiling , Xu Baojun
Published: January 2024

Traditional Chinese medicinal books have noted that sea bass (Lateolabrax maculatus) may effectively manage inflammation‐linked conditions. The folk use of sea bass during pregnancy as nutritional care is also popular in China. However, scientific verification of health benefits of sea bass remains a lack of report. Our previous studies have proven that sea bass has therapeutic benefits for ulcerative colitis (UC). However, a further investigation on the interacted mechanism among sea bass, UC, and gut microbiota has still not been fully explored and clarified. Hence, gut microbiota as the crucial mechanism of UC was evaluated. Gut ecosystem was analyzed by 16sRNA sequencing. The potential microbial biomarker was found through LEfSe analysis. Flow cytometry was then further applied to verify the identified biomarker. Results revealed that sea bass could effectively recover the abundance of UC‐mediated microbiota. LEfSe analysis found that Christensenellaceae could be identified as the potential biomarker for sea bass‐mediated gut microbiota in UC. Further in vitro study conjointly confirmed that the identified bioactive constituent of sea bass could significantly promote the growth of Christensenella minuta. Sufficient results derived that sea bass could ameliorate UC through gut microbiota modulation. C. minuta was identified as the promising microbial biomarker for the mechanism of sea bass in treating intestinal inflammation. It provided further elucidation on the pharmacological mechanism of sea bass in alleviating UC through gut microbiota modulation. It is a crucial driving force for the progress of scientific research on the dietary therapy of sea bass.
Research on optimization of spray drying conditions, characteristics of anthocyanins extracted from Hibiscus sabdariffa L. flower, and application to marshmallows
Authors: Hoang Nhon Thi Ngoc , Nguyen Nga Ngoc Kieu , Nguyen Ly Thi Kim , Le Anh Thi Hong , Dong Dao Thi Anh
Published: January 2024

Anthocyanin, a main‐colored bioactive compound found in Hibiscus sabdariffa L., is well‐known for a varied range of applications as food additives in foodstuff, and natural colorants in food, pharmaceutical, and printing industries. The study aimed to find out the suitable conditions for the spray‐drying process to obtain anthocyanin powder from the extract as well as characterized the powder. In addition, the obtained powder was applied to marshmallows and determined the acceptability of appearance, quality, and scavenging capacity of the candy. The carrier of maltodextrin and gum arabic was selected for spray‐drying, which had optimal conditions at 144°C and 7 mL/min, resulting in 100.22 mg/g anthocyanin content with an encapsulation efficiency of 93.87%. The obtained anthocyanin has appropriate moisture of 5.14%, quite appropriate bulk density, and tapped density, it also was high solubility, and poor flowability but easy compression. The shape of the particle by SEM analysis was low particle size (2–10 μm), wrinkled, unequal spherical size, rough surfaces with indentations, and slight cracks. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum of the sample had very low crystallinity and diffuse wide peaks revealing that anthocyanin still exists inside maltodextrin particles. The FT‐IR spectrum had oscillations of characteristic groups of anthocyanin structure. Marshmallow samples added 5% anthocyanin powder gained high acceptability of appearance and maintained the scavenging capacity (DPPH) with an IC50 value of 7368.31 ppm after a month of storage.
Characterization of Salmonella phages isolated from poultry coops and its effect with nisin on food bio‐control
Authors: Unverdi Aysegul , Erol Hilal Basak , Kaskatepe Banu , Babacan Orkun
Published: January 2024

Salmonella is a bacterium associated with food contaminated by various animals, primarily poultry. Interest and research on bacteriophages are increasing because they can be used as an alternative against increasing antibiotic resistance. In our study, eight Salmonella‐specific lytic bacteriophages were isolated from chicken feces. Two of the isolated phages (AUFM_Sc1 and AUFM_Sc3) were chosen for their characterization due to their broader host range. Based on morphological and genomic analysis, AUFM_Sc1 was identified to be close to similar Enterobacteria spp. CC31 (Myoviridae) and AUFM_Sc3 was identified to be close to Salmonella phage vB_Sen_I1 (Demerecviridae (formerly Siphoviridae)). Although these phages have shown promise for use in phage therapy applications for chickens, further studies are needed on their suitability. When a cocktail of these phages (AUFM_Sc1 + AUFM_Sc3) and nisin combination was applied on chicken breast meat, it was determined that it was effective against Salmonella contamination and while a good inhibitory effect was observed on the food, especially during the first 48 h, the effect decreased later, but the bacterial concentration was still low compared to the control group. Therefore, it is considered that the combination of AUFM_Sc1 + AUFM_Sc3 + nisin can be used as a food preservative against Salmonella.
Antioxidant, antidiabetic effects and polyphenolic contents of propolis from Siirt, Turkey
Authors: Ören Eda , Tuncay Salih , Toprak Yunus Emre , Fırat Muhammet , Toptancı İsra , Karasakal Ömer Faruk , Işık Mesut , Karahan Mesut
Published: January 2024

Propolis, a natural product collected by honeybees from various plant sources, has gained significant attention due to its diverse bioactive compounds and potential therapeutic properties. To further explore its contents and biological activities, this study aimed to analyze the phenolic compounds in Siirt propolis extracts obtained using different solvents, namely ethanol, water, and ethanol‐water mixtures. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the phenolic profile, as well as the antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of the propolis extracts. Chemical profiling of extracts was performed using LC–MS/MS. The antioxidant potential of the propolis extracts was evaluated through free radical scavenging methods, including DPPH and ABTS assays. As a result of these analyses, propolis extracts showed moderate radical scavenging potential with 13.86%–35.72% for DPPH and 33.62%–62.50% for ABTS at a concentration of 30 μg mL−1, respectively. This radical scavenging potential of the extracts sheds light on its ability to combat oxidative stress, which is implicated in the development of diabetes, and its potential effects on cellular health. Additionally, the study assessed the antidiabetic properties of the propolis extracts by examining their inhibition effects on α‐amylase and α‐glycosidase enzymes. Extracts with high phenolic content showed a high inhibitory effect against α‐glucosidase with an IC50 of 5.72 ± 0.83 μg mL−1. This research provided significant findings regarding the potential use of propolis in the treatment of diabetes and related metabolic disorders.
A multi‐method approach for the identification and quantification of water balance components of two lentic small water bodies
Authors: Loose Lukas P. , Lange Jens , Budde Aaron , Herbstritt Barbara , Fohrer Nicola , Ulrich Uta
Published: January 2024

The protection of the globally widespread lentic small water bodies (LSWB) must be based on detailed knowledge about their hydrological connectivity and water balance. The study aimed to identify and quantify water balance components as well as surface‐groundwater interaction of two LSWB in a characteristic lowland region with a combination of different methods. This includes the collection of hydrological data and the use of bromide and water stable isotopes (δ2H and δ18O) as tracers. With their help, mixing models were established, and daily water balances were assessed. The results show a strong bidirectional interaction of both LSWB systems with shallow groundwater. Bromide and stable isotope tracers allowed for the identification of the most relevant in‐ and outflow sources and pathways. Thereby, isotope data revealed isotopic enrichment typical for open‐water bodies and only minor precipitation inputs mainly relevant at the end of the dry season. Water balance calculations suggested accentuated seasonal dynamics that were strongly influenced by shallow groundwater, which represented large inputs into both LSWB. By that, different phases could be identified, with high inflow rates in winter and spring and decreasing fluxes in summer. In one LSWB, a drainage system was found to have a major impact next to the shallow groundwater interaction. The findings of this research provide detailed insights into the influence and importance of shallow groundwater for LSWB in lowland regions. This impacts the diffuse input of agricultural pollutants into these ecologically important landscape features.
Spatiotemporal distribution and influencing factors of impervious surface evaporation in the Baiyangdian catchment from 1980 to 2020
Authors: Liu Xiaoyu , Mo Xingguo , Liu Suxia , Hu Shi
Published: January 2024

Evaporation from impervious surfaces plays a vital role in the catchment water cycle. Exploring the spatiotemporal variation patterns and influencing mechanisms of impervious surface evaporation at the catchment scale can improve the understanding and evaluation of the evaporation process. This study downloaded 0.5 m resolution images of the Baiyangdian catchment (BYD) from Google Earth and used deep learning to identify impervious surfaces. This was used to revise impervious surfaces of the China land cover dataset in 1985 and 1990–2020. Potential evaporation (PET) from three types of impervious surfaces (roofs, ground affected or not affected by the building height) was calculated by modifying the parameters of the Penman–Monteith equation, and daily precipitation and water‐storage capacity of impervious surfaces were taken into account to estimate impervious surface evaporation (E). The results showed that E values of the three types of impervious surfaces were between 72.1 and 178.2 mm/year and all exhibited the spatial distribution of high in the northwest and low in the southeast of the BYD in 1980–2020. Compared with that in 1980, in 2020, the cumulative evaporation (EAP) increased by 134.4%. The ratio of EAP to cumulative precipitation ranged from 3.0% to 6.9%, increasing significantly in a fluctuating manner. The increments in precipitation days and impervious surface area played a major role in the increase of EAP, and the decrease in precipitation was the fundamental reason for the increase in the proportion of impervious surface evaporation and water resource pressure in the BYD. Excluding the continuous evaporation from the remaining water can likely lead to underestimating the impervious surface evaporation. This study provides an efficient and reasonable novel approach for calculating impervious surface evaporation in long series and large‐scale catchments.
Isotopic and hydrochemical insights into the groundwater characteristics along an arid to semi‐humid climate gradient in China
Authors: Chen Peiyuan , Ma Jinzhu , Ma Xiaoyi , Zhou Ying , Duan Zhihua , Wang Yueyue , Li Jisheng
Published: January 2024

In arid to semi‐arid regions, groundwater is a critical water resource heavily relied upon, with the recharge sources and patterns being predominantly shaped by climate change and regional disparities. To compare the characteristics of groundwater in the endorheic and exorheic river basins with the climate transition zone of Gansu Province, this study uses isotopic hydrochemical analyses. This study summarizes the differences in regional groundwater recharge and evolutionary patterns. The results shows that the distribution patterns of precipitation isotopes in endorheic and exorheic river basins are opposite to those of groundwater isotopes. Specifically, the precipitation in the endorheic areas is more depleted in heavy isotopes, whereas the groundwater is more enriched. Both endorheic areas and exorheic areas exhibit similar characteristics of groundwater hydrochemical evolution, evolving from low‐mineralization Mg2+HC recharge water to Na+Cl− type water with saline characteristics. The former is primarily replenished by surface water, whereas the latter is primarily replenished by precipitation. Variations in recharge patterns along with the differences in climatic conditions lead to distinct groundwater conditions in the two regions.
Interannual dynamics and controlling factors of the ratio of actual to potential evapotranspiration across typical ecosystems within the Heihe River Basin
Authors: Li Siying , Zhang Dapeng , Xing Yuhua , Zhang Chunlai , Wang Zhen‐ting , Ma Rui , He Kejian , Wang Pei
Published: January 2024

The ratio of actual to potential evapotranspiration (AET/PET) represents the water supply of terrestrial ecosystems and can be used to assess the water stress level of plants or ecosystems. This study quantified the control of meteorological, hydrological, and biological factors on AET/PET variations using variance partitioning analysis and path analysis. A soil–plant–atmosphere continuum model was validated and used to simulate AET and PET, as well as the interannual dynamics of AET/PET in typical ecosystems in the upper, middle, and downstream reaches of the Heihe River Basin from 2014 to 2016. The good agreement between measurements and simulations indicates that the model accurately represents the water/heat transfer process in various ecosystems within the Heihe River Basin. The study found that the alpine meadow ecosystem had the highest annual average AET/PET (0.89 ± 0.12), followed by the Populus euphratica ecosystem (0.72 ± 0.17) and cropland ecosystem (0.65 ± 0.15). AET/PET variation characteristics were comparable across the three ecosystems, showing apparent seasonality and interannual fluctuations. Plant transpiration stress was found to be a dominant indicator of ecosystem water availability. Changes in AET/PET were attributed to diverse environmental conditions in the three distinct ecosystems. While the relationship between soil water (SW) content and AET/PET weakened in cropland ecosystems with low water stress, the study demonstrates that SW content remains the most important factor governing AET/PET. The leaf are index and vapour pressure deficiency had significant indirect effects on AET/PET by influencing SW content. Overall, this study provides scientific support for optimizing water resource management in the Heihe River Basin by revealing the interannual variations and controlling factors of AET/PET in typical ecosystems.
Groundwater levels, climate and anthropogenic factors affect the hydrology and water quality of an intermittent and a regulated subtropical stream
Authors: Kim Donghwan , Lu Jing , Roberts Melanie E. , Roberts David T. , Orr David N. , Hamilton David P.
Published: January 2024

Stream hydrology and water quality are highly interconnected and impacted by climate, land use and geology. We examined this connection using monitoring data from 2000 to 2019 for two streams with contrasting hydrological regimes—intermittent and regulated perennial—in subtropical Queensland, Australia. Our main objective was to evaluate relationships between groundwater levels, climate and flow regulation on the hydrology and water quality of an intermittent and a regulated subtropical stream. In intermittently flowing Lockyer Creek, flow was highly dependent on groundwater levels and occurred when the aquifer was recharged to elevations exceeding the upper 90‐percentile value. With 9.4% of the catchment area in irrigated horticulture, flow in Lockyer Creek was also likely to be reduced by drawdown of the aquifer for irrigation, with no flow for 30% to 81% of days over the observation period for stations in Lockyer Creek. In contrast, flow in the mid‐Brisbane River was continuous, regulated by discharge from a large upstream dam. Nutrient and suspended sediment concentrations in Lockyer Creek were generally higher than in the mid‐Brisbane River, likely associated with runoff from agricultural areas adjacent to the stream, while the upstream dam likely reduced the concentration and variability of nutrients and suspended sediment in the mid‐Brisbane River. During periods of low flow in the mid‐Brisbane River, longitudinal changes in nutrient and suspended sediment concentrations occurred, notably a significant decrease in total and dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations downstream (p < 0.05), indicating a possible effect of in‐stream algal uptake and denitrification. This study highlights the impact of human modifications on stream hydrology and water quality in the face of climate change. The findings can inform decision‐making on groundwater irrigation or dam release control for water security.
Anti‐Candida activity and in vitro toxicity screening of antifungals complexed with β‐cyclodextrin
Authors: Moraes Gustavo Simão , Tozetto Nathaly Mayer , Pedroso Thaynara Aparecida Alves , de Mattos Marcela Alves , Urban Amanda Migliorini , Paludo Katia Sabrina , dos Santos Fábio André , Neppelenbroek Karin Hermana , Urban Vanessa Migliorini
Published: January 2024

The emergence of resistant fungal species and the toxicity of currently available antifungal drugs are relevant issues that require special consideration. Cyclodextrins inclusion complexes could optimize the antimicrobial activity of such drugs and create a controlled release system with few side effects. This study aimed to assess the in vitro toxicity and antifungal effectiveness of nystatin (Nys) and chlorhexidine (Chx) complexed or not with β‐cyclodextrin (βCD). First, a drug toxicity screening was performed through the Artemia salina bioassay. Then, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against Candida albicans were determined with the broth microdilution test. After MICs determination, the cytotoxicity of the drugs was evaluated through the methyl‐thiazolyl‐tetrazolium (MTT) and neutral red (NR) assays and through cell morphology analysis. The PROBIT analysis was used to determine the median lethal concentration (LC50), and the cell viability values were submitted to one‐way analysis of variance(ANOVA)/Tukey (α = 0.05). Overall, the βCD‐complexed antifungals were less toxic against A. salina than their raw forms, suggesting that inclusion complexes can reduce the toxicity of drugs. The MICs obtained were as follows: Nys 0.5 mg/L; Nys:βCD 4 mg/L; Chx 4 mg/L; and Chx:βCD 8 mg/L. Chx showed significant cytotoxicity (MTT: 12.9 ± 9.6%; NR: 10.6 ± 12.5%) and promoted important morphological changes. Cells exposed to the other drugs showed viability above 70% with no cellular damage. These results suggest that antifungals complexed with βCD might be a biocompatible option for the treatment of Candida‐related infections.
Atypical meningeal localization of classical hairy cell leukemia with an impressive response to rituximab and cladribine association. A case report and literature review
Authors: Claves Fabien , Carras Sylvain , Burroni Barbara , Maitre Elsa , Boutonnat Jean , Troussard Xavier , Molina Lysiane
Published: January 2024

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder classically presenting with cytopenia and recurrent infections but atypical manifestations such as bone lesions, skin lesions and effusion have been described.

We report here an unusual meningeal localization in a 33 years old man who presented with headache, hand paresthesia and visual symptoms. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed an occipital meningeal lesion. Diagnostic explorations led to the diagnosis of classical HCL with meningeal localization. After treatment by cladribine and rituximab the patient rapidly improved and is still in complete remission 12 months after end of treatment.

The literature review identified 9 other cases of HCL with central nervous system localization (CNS) presenting with brain parenchyma and/or meninges localization. Four out of 9 patients presented with hyperleukocytosis. Most patients experienced good responses with various treatments. Cladribine alone or with rituximab led to complete responses similar to our patient. In our patient, molecular biology revealed KLF2 mutations, which implication in the atypical localization could be suspected but would need dedicated studies.

In conclusion, CNS localizations of HCL are rare but can be observed and treatment with cladribine alone or with rituximab appears as an effective strategy.
Periodontists and stem cell‐based therapy for alveolar bone regeneration: A national survey
Authors: Kaigler Darnell , Misch Jonathan , Alrmali Abdusalam , Inglehart Marita R.
Published: January 2024

Background

Stem cell‐based therapy for bone regeneration has received attention in medical settings but has not yet been used in clinical practice for treating alveolar bone defects. The objectives of this study were to explore whether periodontists had heard about this approach, and if so how, how interested they were to learn about it, which attitudes and behavioral intentions they had related to using stem cell‐based grafting, and what they would like to know before using this approach.

Methods

Anonymous survey data were collected from 481 members of the American Academy of Periodontology (response rate: 19.41%).

Results

Responses showed 35.3% had heard about stem cell‐based therapy, mostly from publications (9.6%) and meetings (8.3%); 76.1% wanted to learn about it through in‐person continuing education (CE) courses, 68.6% in online CE courses, and 57.1% from manuals; 73% considered this approach promising; and 54.9% preferred it to traditional approaches. It was important to them that it would result in more bone volume (93%), better bone quality (90.4%), and accelerated healing (83.2%). Also, 60.1% considered it likely/very likely that they would adopt this approach, 54% that patients would prefer it, and 62.1% that it would benefit their practice. When asked what they would like to know about this approach, information about short‐ and long‐term outcomes, cost, and logistical considerations were most frequently named.

Conclusions

These findings provide the basis to develop educational interventions for periodontists about this novel approach and inform future research activities aimed to translate this approach to clinical practice.
Artificial intelligence in dental education: ChatGPT's performance on the periodontic in‐service examination
Authors: Danesh Arman , Pazouki Hirad , Danesh Farzad , Danesh Arsalan , Vardar‐Sengul Saynur
Published: January 2024

Background

ChatGPT's (Chat Generative Pre‐Trained Transformer) remarkable capacity to generate human‐like output makes it an appealing learning tool for healthcare students worldwide. Nevertheless, the chatbot's responses may be subject to inaccuracies, putting forth an intense risk of misinformation. ChatGPT's capabilities should be examined in every corner of healthcare education, including dentistry and its specialties, to understand the potential of misinformation associated with the chatbot's use as a learning tool. Our investigation aims to explore ChatGPT's foundation of knowledge in the field of periodontology by evaluating the chatbot's performance on questions obtained from an in‐service examination administered by the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP).

Methods

ChatGPT3.5 and ChatGPT4 were evaluated on 311 multiple‐choice questions obtained from the 2023 in‐service examination administered by the AAP. The dataset of in‐service examination questions was accessed through Nova Southeastern University's Department of Periodontology. Our study excluded questions containing an image as ChatGPT does not accept image inputs.

Results

ChatGPT3.5 and ChatGPT4 answered 57.9% and 73.6% of in‐service questions correctly on the 2023 Periodontics In‐Service Written Examination, respectively. A two‐tailed t test was incorporated to compare independent sample means, and sample proportions were compared using a two‐tailed χ2 test. A p value below the threshold of 0.05 was deemed statistically significant.

Conclusion

While ChatGPT4 showed a higher proficiency compared to ChatGPT3.5, both chatbot models leave considerable room for misinformation with their responses relating to periodontology. The findings of the study encourage residents to scrutinize the periodontic information generated by ChatGPT to account for the chatbot's current limitations.