bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of abnormal placental cord insertion on hemodynamic change of umbilical cord in a tertiary center: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Wu Xiu-Qin , Miao Ying , Yang Xiao-Feng , Hong Yong-Qiang , Wang Liang-Cheng , Chiu Wei-Hsiu
Published: January 2025

Background

Our study aims to evaluate the umbilical vein (UV) hemodynamic change in the prenatal cohort of pregnancies diagnosed with abnormal placental cord insertion (aPCI).

Methods

From January 2022 to December 2022, the fetal umbilical cord insertion site was sonographically examined in singleton fetuses, and umbilical cord blood flow was calculated. The umbilical artery and UV Doppler flow indexes were assessed in cases of normal and abnormal cord insertion.

Results

Among 570 singleton fetuses between 18 + 0 and 40 + 6 weeks of gestation in the final study, the umbilical vein blood flow (UVBF) in the 3 groups of normal umbilical cord insertions, marginal umbilical cord insertions, and velamentous umbilical cord insertions was 145.39 ml/min, 146.18 ml/min, and 93.96 ml/min, respectively. UVBF was significantly lower in the velamentous cord insertion (VCI) group than in the other groups (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal cord insertions group, lower birth weight (2820 ± 527 g vs. 3144 ± 577 g, P < 0.05), delivery at an earlier gestational age (38.0 ± 1.55 weeks vs. 38.8 ± 2.34 weeks, P < 0.05), higher bicarbonate (25.08 ± 1.72 mmol/L vs. 22.66 ± 4.05 mmol/L, P < 0.05), and higher standard base excess (−1.14 ± 1.50 mmol/L vs. −3.30 ± 3.22 mmol/L, P < 0.05) were found in the VCI group.

Conclusions

We observed lower UVBF volume with aPCI. Hence, we propose UVBF analysis to evaluate fetal aPCI according to UV hemodynamics as an advisory in prenatal care. This would be useful and improve obstetricians’ clinical explanation about the potential prenatal consequences so that parents can opt for future prenatal care during pregnancy.
Higher dietary zinc intake increases the risk of autoimmune thyroiditis
Authors: Chen Lijun , Yan Changjian , Huang Chunling , Jiang Zhengrong , Lin Ruhai , Wu Xiaohong , Huang Huibin
Published: January 2025

Background

Autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT), encompassing Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), is a prevalent chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by lymphocytic infiltration and the presence of anti-thyroid antibodies. It is the primary cause of primary hypothyroidism and affects women more frequently than men. Nearly 95% of individuals with HT exhibit thyroid peroxidase antibodies or thyroglobulin antibodies. Dietary factors, including vitamins and trace elements such as zinc, play a significant role in thyroid health; yet, clinical guidelines lack explicit dietary recommendations for AIT.

Methods

This study investigates the relationship between dietary zinc intake (Zinc) and AIT using data from the 2007–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 5467 participants were analyzed, including 273 individuals with AIT and 5194 without AIT. Clinical characteristics, dietary Zinc, and other relevant variables were assessed. Multivariate logistic bidirectional stepwise regression analysis was conducted to identify independent risk factors for AIT, and a risk prediction model was developed.

Results

The prevalence of AIT was 5%. Individuals with AIT were older, had a higher proportion of females, and showed elevated levels of various biomarkers, including zinc. Dietary Zinc was significantly higher in the AIT group (22.6 mg vs. 15.3 mg, P < .001). The regression analysis identified dietary Zinc, along with other factors, as an independent risk factor for AIT. The risk prediction model, including zinc, demonstrated a better performance (area under the curve = 0.8) compared to the model without zinc.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that higher dietary Zinc is positively correlated with the risk of AIT and serves as an independent risk factor. Excessive Zinc may disrupt immune balance, potentially increasing the risk of autoimmune diseases. These results suggest that dietary Zinc should be carefully considered in the management of AIT, and further research is needed to explore the causal relationship and determine safe zinc consumption levels to avoid increasing the risk of autoimmune diseases.
Assessing the Implementation of ARPA Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds: The View from City Officials
Authors: Ke Laiyang , Kwon Eunjoo , Hong Minji , Jimenez Benedict
Published: January 2025

The 2021 American Rescue Plan Act created the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), which provided $350 billion for state and local governments to aid with pandemic recovery efforts. This research examines the local implementation of SLFRF from the point of view of city officials. We assess the effectiveness of grant implementation on two dimensions: funding allocation (the ease or difficulty of selecting and prioritizing projects to be funded) and project management (the ability to complete projects on time and within budget). Our research focuses on the contributions of three general groups of factors on grant implementation performance: federal control and oversight, local capacities, and the role of local political actors. We conducted a national survey of cities that received SLFRF grants and gathered information from city officials responsible for administering the grant on different aspects of SLFRF implementation. Using ordinary least squares and ordered logit regressions to analyze the survey data, the empirical results uncover some consistent patterns. Specifically, local management discretion, perceived clarity of federal rules, a centralized local grant administration structure, and mayoral involvement are positively associated with grant implementation effectiveness.
Adjuvant effect of green tea intake on treatment of patients with acute venous thromboembolism
Authors: Xiong Wei , Deng Zhenzhong , Song Xiaoyang , Cheng Yi , Yao Qihuan , Qu Jianmin , Xu Mei , Luo Yong , Guo Xuejun , Han Fengfeng
Published: January 2025

Background

Although there have been reports that green tea intake has a thromboprophylactic effect, it was still unknown whether it had adjuvant effect on the basis of conventional anticoagulation for patients diagnosed with venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Methods

VTE patients were retrospectively classified into green tea group and no green tea group in a 1:1 ratio using propensity score matching, based on whether they drank green tea during the 3 months’ period after VTE diagnosis. Primary outcomes were VTE recurrence at 3 months after VTE diagnosis and VTE-related death during 3 months after VTE diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were all-cause death and major bleeding during 3 months after VTE diagnosis. The primary and secondary outcomes were compared between the green tea and no green tea groups, in all patients, PE patients, and patients with cancer-associated VTE, respectively.

Results

The VTE recurrence at 3-month after VTE diagnosis occurred less in the green tea group (N = 1102) than in the no green tea group (N = 1102) (19 [1.7%] vs 55 [5.0%], P < 0.001). The VTE-related mortality during 3 months after VTE diagnosis occurred similarly between the two groups (13 [1.2%] vs 21 [1.9%], P = 0.187). The all-cause mortality (82 [7.4%] vs 78 [7.1%], P = 0.682) and major bleeding (55 [5.0%] vs 40 [3.6%], P = 0.142) during 3 months after VTE diagnosis both occurred similarly between the two groups. The results of VTE recurrence analysis in PE and cancer-associated VTE subgroups were both consistent with the main findings.

Conclusions

Green tea intake on the basis of conventional anticoagulation can lead to a lower short-term VTE recurrence rate without safety concern, compared with isolated conventional anticoagulation.
Poor prognostic factors and unmet needs in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Smolen Josef S
Published: January 2025

Prognostic factors in rheumatoid arthritis relate to several aspects, such as prediction of joint damage and loss of function or prediction of response to a particular therapy. For many decades it has been well established that high disease activity, especially exemplified by swollen joint counts and acute phase reactants, is associated with progression of joint damage. In addition, rheumatoid factor (RF) positive patients, but not patients with anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) are particularly prone to high disease activity and joint destruction. Newer studies have looked at molecular markers, but they have either not shown better results than those seen with the long-established ones or have not been sufficiently validated. Most recent insights suggest that high C-reactive protein levels may predict a particularly good response to IL-6 blockade, but not to other therapies, and that high RF-levels may be associated with better responses to Fc-free monoclonal antibodies than molecules containing an Fc-region. It is hoped, however, that with newer techniques and better insight into RA pathogenesis research may come up with even better molecular markers than currently available to predict responses to specific drugs in the not-too-distant future.
Anti-C1q antibodies in IgG4-related disease are common and associated with renal involvement and cutaneous small-vessel vasculitis
Authors: Martín-Nares Eduardo , Nuñez-Álvarez Carlos A , Hernández-Molina Gabriela
Published: January 2025

Objectives

To evaluate the prevalence and clinical associations of anti-C1q antibodies in IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), focusing on renal involvement and cutaneous small-vessel vasculitis (CSVV).

Methods

We enrolled patients who met the revised 2020 Comprehensive Diagnostic Criteria and/or the 2019 ACR/EULAR Classification Criteria for IgG4-RD. Variables included demographics, organ involvement, clinical phenotypes, disease activity, serum biomarkers, follow-up duration, remission and relapses. Anti-C1q antibodies were measured using a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cut-off <10 U/ml).

Results

Seventy patients with a mean age of 52.1 years were included. Thirty-four patients (48.6%) were male. Anti-C1q antibodies were positive in 74.3%, with a median level of 19.8 U/ml. Patients with active disease had higher anti-C1q antibody levels than inactive patients (P = 0.03). Renal involvement was more frequent in anti-C1q positive patients (P = 0.01). Six patients (8.6%) had CSVV, and all had positive anti-C1q levels. All exhibited palpable purpura and one patient had urticarial-like lesions. These patients had multi-organ involvement, and most had high IgG, IgG1, IgG4 and hypocomplementemia. Skin biopsies in three patients showed leukocytoclastic vasculitis with lymphocytic and eosinophilic infiltrates. Anti-C1q antibody levels correlated negatively with levels of C3 and C4, and positively with levels of IgG1, IgG4, and serum free light chains. Anti-C1q positivity did not predict relapse-free survival.

Conclusions

This study is the first to evaluate anti-C1q antibodies in IgG4-RD, finding a high prevalence, particularly in patients with renal involvement and CSVV. The results support the hypothesis that immune complex-mediated complement activation contributes to IgG4-RD pathogenesis.
Competing frames of STI policy: uncovering ‘fragmented cohesion’ in reorganization of public research funding
Authors: Vase Susanna
Published: January 2025

Despite variation across Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policies, project-based public research funding allocation models, characterized by a complexity of policy objectives, are becoming increasingly prevalent. This article examines the emergence of such a development within a specific context through a case study on the policy process leading to the establishment of Finland’s Strategic Research funding instrument. Drawing on the policy proposal, organizational responses, and interviews, it explores five frames for and against the proposal and its development into a decision. Based on the empirical analysis, I propose the notion of ‘fragmented cohesion’ to characterize how several stakeholder organizations employed framing as an argumentative tool to valorize the proposal’s objectives, while selectively justifying and opposing the proposed methods of achieving them. I argue that this dynamic increased the likelihood of policymakers embracing one-size-fits-all models across diverse sectors, as originally outlined, rather than case-by-case consideration.
Diurnal fluctuations of subthalamic nucleus local field potentials follow naturalistic sleep-wake behavior in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Baumgartner Alexander J , Hirt Lisa , Amara Amy W , Kern Drew S , Thompson John A
Published: January 2025

Study Objectives

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) may improve sleep dysfunction, a common non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Improvement in motor symptoms correlates with DBS-suppressed local field potential (LFP) activity, particularly in the beta frequency (13–30 Hz). Although well-characterized in the short term, little is known about the innate progression of these oscillations across the sleep–wake cycle. We sought to characterize LFP fluctuations over several days and nights in the home setting in patients chronically treated with DBS.

Methods

LFPs in the beta and alpha frequency range were recorded from the STN in 13 PD subjects (18 hemispheres) over 14.6 (interquartile range 4) days. Sleep and wake were determined by validated actigraphy. We calculated the mean difference between sleep and wakefulness in LFP power (µVp), probability density functions of normalized LFP, and the fraction of overlap between probability density histograms.

Results

STN LFPs showed a consistent fluctuation based on behavioral state. LFP power was higher during wakefulness than during sleep, with little overlap in the magnitude of LFP power between these two states. Delineation of subject activity patterns revealed that LFP variance by time of day was more strongly correlated at night.

Conclusions

STN LFP fluctuations represent a useful measure to distinguish between sleep and wakefulness in PD. These fluctuations can be detected in the home setting using commercially available devices, including in patients who have been treated with DBS for years. This technology may lead to opportunities for closed-loop DBS therapy.
Shaping the structural dynamics of motor learning through cueing during sleep
Authors: Stee Whitney , Legouhy Antoine , Guerreri Michele , Foti Michael-Christopher , Lina Jean-Marc , Zhang Hui , Peigneux Philippe
Published: January 2025

Enhancing the retention of recent memory traces through sleep reactivation is possible via Targeted memory reactivation (TMR), involving cueing learned material during posttraining sleep. Evidence indicates detectable short-term microstructural changes in the brain within an hour after motor sequence learning, and posttraining sleep is believed to contribute to the consolidation of these motor memories, potentially leading to enduring microstructural changes. In this study, we explored how TMR during posttraining sleep affects performance gains and delayed microstructural remodeling, using both standard diffusion tensor imaging and advanced neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging. Sixty healthy young adults participated in a 5 days protocol, undergoing five diffusion-weighted imaging sessions, pre- and post-two motor sequence training sessions, and after a posttraining night of either regular sleep (RS) or TMR. Results demonstrated rapid skill acquisition on day 1, followed by performance stabilization on day 2, and improvement on day 5, in both RS and TMR groups. (Re)training induced widespread microstructural changes in motor-related areas, initially involving the hippocampus, followed by a delayed engagement of the caudate nucleus. Mean Diffusivity changes were accompanied by increased neurite density index in the putamen, suggesting increased neurite density, while free water fraction reduction indicated glial reorganization. TMR-related structural differences emerged in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on day 2 and the right cuneus on day 5, suggesting unique sleep TMR-related neural reorganization patterns. Persistence of practice-related structural changes, although moderated over time, suggests a lasting neural network reorganization, partially mediated by sleep TMR.
Workplace Climates, Workplace Structures, and LGBTQ People’s Identity Disclosure: A Longitudinal Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Ueno Koji , Bastow Skyler , Dominguez Rachael , D’Amours Jason V
Published: January 2025

Past research shows that workplace conditions influence the degree to which LGBTQ people disclose their sexual and gender identities at work. This suggests that LGBTQ workers may shift their levels of identity disclosure if workplace conditions change, but other research conceptualizes identity disclosure as a political action or a developmental milestone and indicates that disclosure levels are irresponsive to contextual changes. To reconcile these opposing views, this study examines changes in disclosure levels by analyzing qualitative data from young LGBTQ workers who participated in two to five in-depth interviews in two-year intervals. The analysis shows that a majority of LGBTQ workers experienced changes in disclosure levels, especially during job changes. Consistent with previous research that emphasized the importance of workplace climates, transitions to workplaces with friendlier climates promoted identity disclosure. In many cases, however, changes in disclosure levels represented LGBTQ workers’ responses to shifts in workplace structures, which defined relationships among workers and specified formal rules and informal routines about work procedures. Overall, the study brought an insight from broader organization research to LGBTQ research that workplace structures designed to ensure worker contributions to organizational goals and increase efficiency may inadvertently constrain workers’ expressions of social identities.
Chronic Radium-226 toxicity to and oxidative stress in the aquatic invertebrate Chironomus dilutus
Authors: Lacroix-Durand Charlotte , Janz David , Liber Karsten
Published: January 2025

The mining industry, including uranium mining and milling, is of high importance in Canada. It is, however, important to consider that ore processing can result in the creation of by-products that contain radionuclides such as radium-226 (226Ra). Even with the strict discharge regulations in place, there is limited evidence to suggest that the current Canadian regulatory thresholds for 226Ra are protective for aquatic life. This concern underscores the importance of generating toxicity data for 226Ra, as no federal Canadian water quality guidelines for 226Ra currently exist to safeguard aquatic ecosystems. The potential ecological risks of 226Ra are significant due to its high mobility under typical environmental conditions, long half-life (t1/2 ~ 1,600 years), bioaccumulative properties, and similarity to calcium (Ca2+). Considering this, the primary objective of this research was to gather data on the toxicity of 226Ra to the aquatic invertebrate Chironomus dilutus. For this purpose, a partial life cycle experiment was conducted, with larval growth, survival and pupation, and emergence and sex ratio of emerged adults, as the experimental endpoints. In addition, an assessment of oxidative stress as a potential cause of toxicity was performed. These experiments revealed that elevated activity concentrations of 226Ra (25.5 Bq/L) can significantly impact the growth of C. dilutus. However, none of the other nonlethal endpoints were significantly affected by 226Ra exposure, and there was no evidence of oxidative stress in exposed C. dilutus. Finally, 226Ra was shown to adsorb onto the silica sand used as a substrate for all experiments and desorbed following acid extraction.
Inhaled ozone induces distinct alterations in pulmonary function in models of acute and episodic exposure in female mice
Authors: Lee Jordan M , Meshanni Jaclynn A , Vayas Kinal N , Sunil Vasanthi R , Radbel Jared , Laskin Jeffrey D , Laskin Debra L , Gow Andrew J
Published: January 2025

Ozone is an urban air pollutant known to cause lung injury and altered function. Using established models of acute (0.8 ppm, 3 h) and episodic (1.5 ppm, 2 h, 2 times/wk, 6 wk) inhalation exposure, we observed distinct structural changes in the lung; whereas acutely, ozone primarily disrupts the bronchiolar epithelial barrier, episodic exposure causes airway remodeling. Herein we examined how these responses altered pulmonary function. A SCIREQ small animal ventilator was used to assess lung function; impedance was used to conditionally model resistance and elastance. Episodic, but not acute ozone exposure reduced the inherent and frequency-dependent tissue recoil (elastance) of the lung. Episodic ozone also increased central and high-frequency resistance relative to air control after methacholine challenge, indicating airway hyperresponsiveness. Pressure-volume (PV)-loops showed that episodic ozone increased maximum lung volume, whereas acute ozone decreased lung volume. Episodic ozone-induced functional changes were accompanied by increases in alveolar circularization; conversely, minimal histopathology was observed after acute exposure. However, acute ozone exposure caused increases in total phospholipids, total surfactant protein D (SP-D), and low-molecular weight SP-D in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Episodic ozone exposure only increased total SP-D. These findings demonstrate that acute and episodic ozone exposure caused distinct alterations in surfactant composition and pulmonary function. Whereas loss in PV-loop area following acute ozone exposure is likely driven by increases in SP-D and inflammation, emphysematous pathology and airway hyperresponsiveness after episodic ozone appear to be the result of alterations in lung structure.
Cold exposure and thermoneutrality similarly reduce supraclavicular brown adipose tissue fat fraction in fasted young lean adults
Authors: van Eenige Robin , Hoekx Carlijn A. , Sardjoe Mishre Aashley S. D. , Straat Maaike E. , Boon Mariëtte R. , Martinez‐Tellez Borja , Rensen Patrick C. N. , Kan Hermien E.
Published: January 2025

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a metabolically highly active tissue that dissipates energy stored within its intracellular triglyceride droplets as heat. Others have previously utilized MRI to show that the fat fraction of human supraclavicular BAT (scBAT) decreases upon cold exposure, compared with baseline (i.e., pre‐cooling). However, comparisons to a control group that was not exposed to cold are largely lacking. We recently developed a non‐invasive dynamic MRI protocol that allows for quantifying scBAT fat fraction changes over time. Here, we aimed to study the effect of cold exposure versus thermoneutrality on fat fraction changes in human scBAT. Ten young (mean age: 21.5 ± 0.7 years), lean (mean BMI: 21.7 ± 0.5 kg/m2), 12 h‐fasted volunteers (9 females; 1 male) underwent up to 70 consecutive MRI scans each on two separate study visits in a cross‐over design. Participants were exposed to a temperature of 32°C for 10 scans (i.e., ±16 min), which was then either lowered to 18°C (i.e., cold exposure) or was maintained at 32°C (i.e., thermoneutrality). Dynamic fat fraction changes were quantified, and self‐reported thermal perception scores were monitored. The fat fraction in scBAT decreased over time upon cold exposure (r = −.222, p < .001). Interestingly however, we also observed a decrease in scBAT fat fraction over time upon thermoneutrality (r = −.212, p < .001). No difference was observed between the two temperature conditions (p = .55), while self‐reported thermal perception scores were consistently higher (i.e., colder) upon cold exposure. In the trapezius muscle and the humerus bone as control tissues, the fat fraction was unaffected in both temperature conditions. The fat fraction in subcutaneous white adipose tissue (sWAT) however, also decreased over time upon cold exposure (r = −.270, p < .001) and during thermoneutrality (r = −.190, p < .001), again with no difference (p = .92) between the two temperature conditions. In conclusion, our results show that in 12 h‐fasted, healthy individuals cold exposure and thermoneutrality similarly reduce the fat fraction within scBAT and sWAT. While we interpret that the cold exposure was sufficient to induce thermogenesis, we suggest that an increased lipolytic activity within adipocytes, as a consequence of fasting, may be the primary cause of the decreased fat fraction in both sWAT and scBAT in our study. The current study highlights the potential influence of fasting on the fat fraction in scBAT and stresses the importance of inclusion of a thermoneutral control group in studies investigating the BAT‐modulating effect of cold exposure.
Treatment Response Evaluation in Necrotizing Otitis Externa Using 18F-FDG-PET Imaging
Authors: Jansen Robin W. , Kemp Pieter , Wiegers Sanne E. , de Graaf Pim , van Schie Annelies , Martens Roland M. , Boellaard Ronald , Zwezerijnen Gerben J.C. , Goderie Thadé
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study aims to identify 18F-FDG-PET imaging features for improving treatment response evaluation in patients with necrotizing otitis externa (NOE), aiding in the difficult differentiation between sterile inflammation and active infection.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary hospital.

Patients

Patients diagnosed with NOE between 2011 and 2022. NOE criteria included otalgia, otorrhea, granulation, and radiological features consistent with osteomyelitis.

Intervention

18F-FDG-PET/computed tomography (CT) parameters were derived from manually delineated regions of interest and were evaluated on both pretreatment and end-of-treatment scans.

Main outcome measures

Recurrent disease of NOE after end-of-treatment 18F-FDG-PET scans.

Results

This study comprised 20 NOE patients, including 5 (25%) experiencing recurrent disease after the end-of-treatment scan. The end-of-treatment 18F-FDG-PET parameters of maximal and peak standardized uptake value (SUVmax and SUVpeak) were significantly higher in recurrent cases (p = 0.025 and p = 0.025, respectively). Both parameters demonstrated good discrimination ability in predicting recurrence, with optimal cutoffs yielding 100% sensitivity and 67% specificity. Other parameters, including mean SUV and total lesion glycolysis (TLG), did not yield significant results, neither did the calculated difference in uptake between end-of-treatment and pretreatment scans.

Conclusions

SUVpeak on 18F-FDG-PET was the preferred parameter for treatment response evaluation of NOE at the end-of-treatment scan. A high residual SUVpeak may adequately detect patients at risk for recurrent disease, which may necessitate prolonged treatment, while low SUVpeak is found in patients with low risk for recurrent disease permitting safe treatment cessation.
Hearing Preservation Outcomes in 230 Consecutive Patients with Small Vestibular Schwannomas Treated with Microsurgery
Authors: Jiramongkolchai Pawina , Vacaru Alexandra , Wahlin Tamara , Schwartz Marc S. , Friedman Rick A.
Published: January 2025

Objective

To evaluate hearing preservation (HP) outcomes for patients with small sporadic vestibular schwannomas (VS) who elect to undergo microsurgical resection.

Study Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

Tertiary single-academic institution.

Patients

Individuals 18 years or older with small sporadic VS (≤15 mm) who underwent microsurgical resection from 2018 to 2023.

Interventions

Microsurgical resection via a middle cranial fossa (MCF) or retrosigmoid (RS) approach.

Main Outcome Measures

Postoperative HP (word recognition score ≥ 50%) and facial nerve function.

Results

Of the 230 consecutive patients with small sporadic VS who elected to undergo microsurgical resection, hearing was preserved in 61% of patients. When stratified by tumor size, patients with tumors ≤10 mm had a 72% hearing preservation rate. On multivariate analysis, the most important prognostic factors for hearing preservation were the presence of preoperative vertigo (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.17–0.52) and tumor size. Patients with tumors between 0 to 5 mm and 5.1 to 10 mm had 3.62 higher odds (95% CI, 1.39–9.4) and 2.52 higher odds (95% CI, 1.30–4.9) of hearing preservation, respectively, when compared to patients with tumors that were larger than 10 mm. At the time of last follow-up, a House–Brackmann (HB) 1 or 2 was maintained in 95% (n = 218) patients.

Conclusions

Microsurgical resection for patients with small VS is associated with good hearing preservation and excellent facial nerve outcomes. Because larger tumor size portends poorer hearing outcomes, for patients who elect to undergo microsurgical resection for hearing preservation, proactive surgical intervention when tumors are ≤10 mm should be considered to increase the likelihood of hearing preservation.
Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Recording of Simultaneous Electric–Acoustic Stimulation between Round Window Membrane and Basal Part of Cochlear Bone in guinea Pigs
Authors: Lin Yi-Chen , Huang Nai-Hsin , Chou Yu-Fu , Chen Bo-Cheng , Lin Lian-Jie , Hsu Wei-Chung , Lee Chia-Fone
Published: January 2025

Hypothesis

Extracochlear electric–acoustic stimulation (EAS) between the round window membrane and the basal part of the cochlear bone exhibits distinct auditory brainstem response (ABR) characteristics.

Background

The use of EAS in individuals with residual hearing is becoming increasingly common in clinical settings. Ongoing research has explored the characteristics of EAS-induced responses in hearing cochleae.

Methods

This study explored a novel extracochlear EAS approach using round window membrane–cochlear bone stimulation to maintain cochlear integrity. The electrodes stimulate the basal part of the cochlea and spare the apex, making the model ideal for EAS candidates with profound high-frequency hearing loss and residual low-frequency hearing. ABR analyses of EAS were conducted to compare responses to acoustic, electrical, and combined stimulations.

Results

The threshold of EAS was higher than that of acoustic stimulation (AS) or electric stimulation (ES). The maximum peak height of the amplitude (MPHA) in the EAS showed sound pressure level (SPL)- and electric current-dependent changes, with superior performance at higher SPLs. The MPHA latency shift index analysis demonstrated significant differences between the EAS and the AS or ES only. In the context of EAS, neural responses occurring before 4 ms are defined as early responses, which are related to the stimulus. Late responses, occurring after 4 ms, suggest distinct physiological mechanisms that may involve synaptic actions or specific interactions within the EAS.

Conclusion

Extracochlear EAS provides insights into its physiological implications, proposes a method for clinical application, and offers a potential avenue for improving hearing preservation and performance.
Codon Usage Bias Analysis of theWRKYGene Family inMusa acuminata
Authors: Sun Jiaman , Zhang Ji , Zhang Jinzhong , Ferguson Brett J. , Chen Andrew
Published: January 2025

Codon usage bias (CUB) is a universal phenomenon across all organisms and species, providing valuable insights into codon usage patterns to understand evolutionary mechanisms. TheWRKYtranscription factor family plays a pivotal role in regulating plant responses to various stresses at both physiological and biochemical levels. Bananas (Musaspp.), widely consumed as a fruit or staple food, are an important horticulture crop in the tropical and subtropical regions around the world. A total of 151WRKYtranscription factors were identified across the genome of theMusa acuminatabanana cultivar ‘Guijiao 9’, which has been shown to be resistant to the Tropical Race 4 of the Fusarium wilt of banana. The codons of these transcription factors, selected based on their expression from RNA-Seq data, were analysed to investigate the evolutionary patterns of WRKY genes inMusa acuminata. The average GC content ofMaWRKYgenes was 55.49%, with a GC3 content of 62.13%, indicating a preference for G/C-ending codons. Among the codons, 27 were identified as high frequency, with 22 ending in G or C. The high effective number of codons (ENC) values (34.53–60.79) and low codon adaptation index (CAI) values (0.143–0.3) suggested weak CUB and that was associated with low gene expression levels. ENC-plot, PR2-plot, and neutrality analysis revealed that both natural selection and mutation pressure contributed to the observed CUB, with natural selection being the dominant factor influencing the codon usage ofMaWRKYgenes inM. acuminata‘Guijiao 9’. Fourteen optimal codons, all ending in G or C, were identified. This analysis provides a theoretical foundation for further understanding the evolutionary mechanisms ofWRKYgenes and identifying key genes involved in resistance to biotic stress inMusa. Analysing the evolution ofWRKYfamily genes can offer valuable genetic insights into banana growth and development, supporting the phenotypic selection of banana hybrids in breeding programs.
Testing for changes in population trends from low-cost ecological count data
Authors: Singer Liam , Caduff Madleina , Aebischer Thierry , Tabiti Primaël , Freiberg Aimée , Ingensand Jens , Leuenberger Christoph , Wegmann Daniel
Published: January 2025

Accurate and up-to-date knowledge of population trends is essential for effective biodiversity conservation, as is assessing the impact of conservation measures designed to alter these trends. Estimating population trends is challenging, however, either due to altogether insufficient data or due to so-called noisy data that do not readily allow for standard statistical analyses. In addition, many existing methods require monitoring data over long periods of time, which is in contrast to the quick interventions needed by conservation projects, especially when endangered species are involved.

To address these issues, we here presentbirp, a novel Bayesian tool that maximizes the power to test for population trends and changes in trends under arbitrary designs, including the canonical before-after (BA), control-intervention (CI) and before-after-control-intervention (BACI) designs often used to assess conservation impact. Our model builds on classic Poisson and negative binomial models for ecological count data and infers changes in population trends jointly from data obtained with multiple survey methods such as track counts, camera trap surveys, or distance sampling, and also from limited and noisy data not necessarily collected in standardized ecological surveys. By focusing on the change itself, our method side-steps common challenges of estimating population trends and does not need to know about absolute population densities or detection probabilities.birpis open-source and available as both a standalone command line tool as well as an R-package for fast and easy use.

We illustrate the power of our tool through extensive simulations and show that changes in trends are accurately estimated under various designs, even when data are noisy and sparse, and thereby enables biodiversity research also in regions that are remote and difficult to access.

Usingbirp, we further test for changes in population trends of Tasmanian devils in Australia and of apex predators and their main prey in the Central African Republic. Based on these results we give general guidelines on survey designs that maximize the power to detect trends.
Large extracellular vesicles containing mitochondria (EVMs) derived from Alzheimer’s disease cells harbor pathologic functional and molecular profiles and spread mitochondrial dysfunctions
Authors: Eysert Fanny , Legros Véronique , Gay Anne-Sophie , Debayle Delphine , Lacas-Gervais Sandra , Kaidi Khouloud , Chevreux Guillaume , Lagarde Julien , Checler Fréderic , Sarazin Marie , Potier Marie-Claude , Chami Mounia
Published: January 2025

In addition to small extracellular vesicles known as exosomes, cells release large extracellular vesicles containing mitochondria (EVMs). However, the molecular and functional characteristics of EVMs, as well as the impact of EVM secretion on the spreading of mitochondrial dysfunction between cells, remain unknown in the context of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Here, we provide an ultrastructural, biochemical, and functional characterization of EVMs isolated from cells expressing the amyloid precursor protein (APP) with the familial Swedish mutation (APPswe). We identified differential proteomic and lipidomic signatures in APPswe-derived EVMs compared to control EVMs and revealed a specific proteomic profile in EVMs isolated from conditioned media of fibroblasts from AD patients at the prodromal stage of the disease. Our findings show that APP-C terminal fragments (APP-CTFs) pathogenic accumulation in cells potentiates EVM secretion through the budding of the plasma membrane. We lastly demonstrated that APP-CTFs loaded EVMs are active carriers of dysfunctional mitochondria that transfer mitochondrial pathology to naïve control recipient cells.
Natural body-selective motion processing in humans: Evidence from event-related potentials
Authors: Chesley Jane , Riecke Lars , de Gelder Beatrice
Published: January 2025

As social species, perception of body motion is crucial to daily interactions, yet the underlying neural processes and their dynamics are not fully understood. While well-established EEG evidence has identified temporal markers of biological body motion, and recent fMRI research points to naturalistic body networks, the temporal markers of higher-level, naturalistic body motion processes remain unknown. The present study bridges this gap, showing that at the stage of P2, the cortex may already distinguish between the global motion of naturalistic bodies compared to objects. Exploratory analyses point to a similar body-specific modulation across stimulus species, namely human and monkey. The findings of the present study expand our understanding of body motion processes, in line with emerging, integrative models of multi-faceted body processes.
Mapping cancer gene dynamics through state-specific interactions
Authors: Maqueda-Real Adrián , Ollé-Monràs Laia , Park Solip
Published: January 2025

Metastatic cancer, a major cause of mortality, has been understudied compared to primary tumors, leaving gaps in our understanding of how cancer genes adapt between these states. We analyzed the association between mutations and copy-number alterations in 25,000 tumor samples from both primary and metastatic cancers. Our findings show that cancer genes display distinct interaction strengths across these states, with 27.45% of genes, includingARID1A,FBXW7, andSMARCA4, shifting between one-hit and two-hit drivers. Interaction strengths varied by cancer state and treatment conditions, revealing seven state-specific interactions. We also identified 38 primary-specific and 21 metastatic-specific high-order interactions, enriched in cancer hallmarks, indicating unique tumor progression mechanisms. These findings highlight dynamic tumor progression mechanisms and underscore the importance of considering cancer state in research and treatment strategies for precise therapeutic interventions.
Phosphoproteomics reveals novel BCR::ABL1-independent mechanisms of resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia
Authors: Bica Valeria , Venafra Veronica , Massacci Giorgia , Graziosi Simone , Gualdi Sara , Minnella Gessica , Sorà Federica , Chiusolo Patrizia , Brunetti Maria Elsa , Napolitano Gennaro , Breccia Massimo , Mougiakakos Dimitrios , Böettcher Martin , Fischer Thomas , Perfetto Livia , Sacco Francesca
Published: January 2025

BCR::ABL1 drives chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) disease and treatment, as revealed by the success of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. However, additional poorly characterized molecular pathways, acting as BCR::ABL1 independent mechanisms, play crucial roles in CML, contributing to leukemic stem cells (LSCs) persistence, TKI resistance and disease progression. Here, by combining high sensitive mass spectrometry (MS)-based phosphoproteomics with theSignalingProfilerpipeline, we obtained two signaling maps offering a comprehensive description of the BCR::ABL1 dependent and independent pro-survival signalling mechanisms. We leveraged these maps to unbiasedly and systematically discover therapeutic vulnerabilities, by implementing theDruggability Scorecomputational algorithm. By this strategy, and in combination within vitroand inex vivofunctional assays, we show a crucial role of acquired FLT3-dependency in resistant CML models. In conclusion, we reposition FLT3, one of the most frequently mutated drivers of acute leukemia, as a potential therapeutic target for TKI resistant CML patients.
Inferring resource competition in microbial communities from time series
Authors: Chen Xiaowen , Crocker Kyle , Kuehn Seppe , Walczak Aleksandra M. , Mora Thierry
Published: January 2025

The competition for resources is a defining feature of microbial communities. In many contexts, from soils to host-associated communities, highly diverse microbes are organized into metabolic groups or guilds with similar resource preferences. The resource preferences of individual taxa that give rise to these guilds are critical for understanding fluxes of resources through the community and the structure of diversity in the system. However, inferring the metabolic capabilities of individual taxa, and their competition with other taxa, within a community is challenging and unresolved. Here we address this gap in knowledge by leveraging dynamic measurements of abundances in communities. We show that simple correlations are often misleading in predicting resource competition. We show that spectral methods such as the cross-power spectral density (CPSD) and coherence that account for time-delayed effects are superior metrics for inferring the structure of resource competition in communities. We first demonstrate this fact on synthetic data generated from consumer-resource models with time-dependent resource availability, where taxa are organized into groups or guilds with similar resource preferences. By applying spectral methods to oceanic plankton time-series data, we demonstrate that these methods detect interaction structures among species with similar genomic sequences. Our results indicate that analyzing temporal data across multiple timescales can reveal the underlying structure of resource competition within communities.
Spatial density and habitat associations of Atlantic Cod on the Northeastern US Continental Shelf
Authors: Lankowicz Katie , Sherwood Graham D. , Grabowski Jonathan H. , Kerr Lisa
Published: January 2025

The spatial distribution of the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) stock is shaped in part by several habitat and oceanographic variables. In this study, Vector Autoregressive Spatio-Temporal (VAST) models were used to combine data from multiple survey programs to hindcast seasonal spatial densities of three size classes of cod within the Northeast US Continental Shelf from 1982 to 2021. Bottom habitat characteristics, bottom water temperature, depth, and basin-averaged climate indices were included as density covariates. Depth, bottom temperature, and gravel sediments were strongly associated with spatial density. The relative abundance of all size classes generally decreased throughout the time series. Model outputs highlighted patches with persistently high spatial density despite range losses and declining abundance. This aligns with the basin model, a spatial dynamic frequently reported in collapsed fish stocks. The availability of habitat with suitable depth and temperature will likely be reduced under current projections of bottom water temperature, further endangering the recovery of the stock. Improving our understanding of cod habitat preferences and variation in spatial density will be important for future management efforts.
Perceived risk of forward versus backward balance disturbances while walking in young and older adults
Authors: Jain Shreya , Schweighofer Nicolas , Finley James M.
Published: January 2025

Falls, which often result from trips or slips, pose a major health concern, particularly among older adults. Experiencing falls or near-falls from balance disturbances can shape subsequent gait-related decisions, as individuals may avoid situations they perceive as risky. Here, we explore whether perceptions of risk are sensitive to the direction of previously experienced balance disturbances – forward or backward – and whether these perceptions change with age. Twenty young and twenty older adults walked on a split-belt treadmill while performing a two-alternative forced-choice task, where they indicated their preference between a forward-falling trip and a backward-falling slip. We varied the perturbation magnitudes using an adaptive staircase algorithm to obtain multiple trip-slip equivalence points. Using a mixed- effects linear model, we estimated the slope of the trip-slip relationship, which quantified the direction and strength of the sensitivity of perceived risk to perturbation type. To assess reliability, we repeated the procedure on a second day. Additionally, we investigated two potential reasons underlying any observed sensitivity – 1) emotional responses measured by state anxiety, and 2) physical responses measured by peak center of mass velocity. We found that both young and older adults perceived slips to be riskier than trips, with no group difference in sensitivity. The relative sensitivity to slips versus trips was moderately reliable across two days of testing, though most participants were less sensitive to perturbation direction on the second day. Neither state anxiety responses nor peak center of mass (CoM) velocity explained the directional sensitivity, though CoM velocity was higher during slips than trips for both age groups. These results suggest that the characteristics of experienced balance disturbances may influence behavioral decisions. Objectively measuring individual differences in the perceived risk of balance disturbances and the ability to recover from these disturbances, can potentially improve fall risk assessment and inform personalized training interventions.
Brain dynamics during architectural experience: prefrontal and hippocampal regions track aesthetics and spatial complexity
Authors: Gregorians Lara , Patai Zita , Velasco Pablo Fernandez , Zisch Fiona E. , Spiers Hugo J.
Published: January 2025

Architectural experience involves processing the spatial layout of an environment and our emotional reaction to it. However, these two processes are largely studied separately. Here we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and first-person movies of journeys through buildings and cities to determine the contribution of different brain regions to spatial and aesthetic aspects of the built environment. During scanning, participants watched 48 movies that show first-person-view travel through different spaces; immediately after each video, they either judged the spatial layout complexity or valence of the environment. After scanning, participants also reported the memorability of the spaces encountered. Activity in brain regions previously linked to valence processing (e.g. ventromedial prefrontal cortex) were modulated by aesthetic qualities of the stimuli (i.e. increased for pleasant spaces compared to unpleasant spaces) and the task (more active when judging valence), whereas activity in brain regions linked with spatial processing (e.g. parahippocampal regions) increased in complex layouts compared to simple layouts. The hippocampus and parahippocampal cortex were associated with the memorability of spaces and were modulated by both aesthetic and spatial qualities. We also tested for curvature, fascination, coherence and hominess - qualities linked to aesthetic judgement in architecture. We replicated findings activating right lingual gyrus for fascination, left inferior occipital gyrus for coherence, and left cuneus for hominess, and found inverse curvature (increasing rectilinearity) activated spatial, valence and visual processing regions. Overall, these findings provide important insights into how different brain regions respond whilst experiencing new buildings and city spaces, which is needed to advance the field of neuroarchitecture.