bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring the relaxation effects of Coptis chinensis and berberine on the lower esophageal sphincter: potential strategies for LES motility disorders
Authors: Koh Wen-Harn , Lin Li-Wei , Lin Ting-I , Liu Ching-Wen , Chang Li-Ching , Lin I-Chun , Wu Ming-Shiang , Tsai Ching-Chung 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
Esophageal achalasia, a primary disorder impacting the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), presents symptoms such as dysphagia, regurgitation, chest pain, and weight loss. Traditional treatments, including calcium channel blockers and nitrates, offer limited relief, prompting exploration into alternative therapies. This study examines the efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), focusing on Coptis chinensis (C. chinensis) and its principal component, berberine, for modulating LES relaxation, offering a new perspective on treatment possibilities.

Methods
This research evaluated the impact of C. chinensis extract and berberine on the relaxation of LES contraction pre-induced by carbachol, observing the effects across different concentrations. We employed a series of inhibitors, including tetrodotoxin, ω-conotoxin GVIA, rolipram, vardenafil, KT5823, KT5720, NG-nitro-L-arginine, tetraethylammonium (TEA), apamine, iberiotoxin, and glibenclamide, to investigate the underlying mechanisms of berberine-induced LES relaxation.

Results
Both C. chinensis extract and berberine induced significant, concentration-dependent relaxation of the LES. The relaxation effect of berberine was significantly reduced by TEA, indicating the involvement of potassium channels in this process.

Conclusions
This study demonstrates that C. chinensis and berberine significantly promote LES relaxation, primarily through potassium channel activation. These findings provide a foundation for further investigation of these compounds’ potential therapeutic applications in esophageal motility disorders, such as achalasia.

Graphical Abstract
Assessing the need for a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Endodontics: perspective and implication for advancing dental education and research in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alsofi Loai 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Aim
This study aims to evaluate the necessity and feasibility of integrating a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree into Endodontic programs at the Faculty of Dentistry King Abdulaziz University, (KAUFD), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and to gather insights from key stakeholders regarding the value and necessity of a Ph.D. in enhancing the field of Endodontics.

Materials and Methods
An online questionnaire link was distributed among potential Ph.D. candidates and key decision-makers in Endodontics in Saudi Arabia through social media and emails to members of the Saudi Endodontic Society and the Saudi Endodontic Journal. The questionnaire assessed demographics, professional background, interest in Ph.D. programs, program preferences, perceived need for Ph.D. programs in various sectors, and university selection criteria. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 23).

Results
141 responses were received. Most respondents were aged 31–40, with an almost equal gender distribution. In terms of current position, a significant number were Endodontic consultants (35.7%) and Endodontic residents/Master students (28.6%) (P = 0.006). Additionally, a considerable proportion of probable prospective students had less than 5 years of expertise (45.7%) (p = 0.013), and the highest degree held by many was a bachelor’s degree (35.7%) (P = 0.007). Key considerations for prospective students were program duration, Saudi Commission for Health Specialists (SCFHS) recognition, part-time options, and cost. The importance of acquiring research skills, such as learning new research technologies and gaining publication experience, was also highlighted.

Conclusion
The findings strongly suggest a need for a Ph.D. program in Endodontics in Saudi Arabia. The results provide valuable insights for developing a program that aligns with potential candidates’ and key stakeholders’ needs and preferences, thereby advancing Endodontic research and education within the country.
The perception of facilitators and barriers to the use of e-health solutions in Poland: a qualitative study
Authors: Smoła Paulina , Młoźniak Iwona , Wojcieszko Monika , Zwierczyk Urszula , Kobryn Mateusz , Rzepecka Elżbieta , Duplaga Mariusz 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
E-health entails the use of information and communication technologies in support of health and health-related activities. E-health increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland. The pandemic showed that the e-health environment may be an important element of the response to epidemiological challenges. Polish citizens were provided with an array of e-health tools supporting the provision of health services.

Methods
The main aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, use, and opinions about e-health solutions in Polish society. Fifty participants representing the general population took part in in-depth interviews. The interviews were conducted face-to-face with participants in their homes or via a teleconferencing platform from November 2023 to January 2024. At first, the interviewees were recruited by convenience, and at a later stage, a snowballing approach was applied. A semi-structured guide covered the knowledge about and use of e-health solutions, attitudes toward new technologies, and opinions about artificial intelligence and robots in healthcare. The interviewers interviewed 50 participants, of whom 26 were females. The interview transcriptions were analyzed with MAXQDA Analytics Pro 2022 (Release 22.7.0). An approach based on thematic analysis was employed to evaluate the interviews’ content.

Results
Thematic analysis of the interviews resulted in the identification of three main themes: (1) knowledge about e-health, (2) barriers, and (3) facilitators of e-health use. Recognition of the term ‘e-health’ was limited among study participants, although they used e-health solutions frequently. The main barriers included limited digital skills and unfavorable attitudes to new technologies. Some of the participants complained about technical difficulties, e.g., poor Internet access. The main facilitators identified based on the interviews include saving time and reducing costs, as well as the ability to access medical records in one repository, as in the case of the Internet Patient Account. Some people believed e-health to be an element of progress. Overall, the study participants supported sharing their medical data for research.

Conclusions
Implementing e-health solutions seems to be perceived as an inevitable consequence of technological progress. However, a lack of adequate technical skills remains one of the major obstacles to efficiently utilizing e-health’s potential.
Norwegian adaptation of the Quality in Psychiatric Care – In-Patient instrument: psychometric properties and factor structure
Authors: Fossum Siri Ødegaard , Gonzalez Marianne Thorsen , Lundqvist Lars-Olov , Moen Øyfrid Larsen , Schröder Agneta , Skundberg-Kletthagen Hege 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
Validated instruments measuring the quality of mental healthcare from patients’ perspectives are scarce, and available instruments have been requested. One of the few instruments measuring the quality of care from a patient’s perspective is the Swedish Quality in Psychiatric Care–In–Patient (QPC-IP). This cross-sectional study aimed to translate and adapt the QPC-IP instrument for a Norwegian context and assess its psychometric properties.

Methods
The QPC-IP was translated and adapted to a Norwegian context using a translation back-translation process model. A total of 169 inpatients from specialised mental health services responded to the questionnaire. The QPC-IP comprises six dimensions: Encounter (eight items), Participation (eight items), Discharge (four items), Support (four items), Secluded Environment (three items), and Secure Environment (three items), totalling 30 items. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to assess the instrument’s factor structure. Additionally, Cronbach’s alpha was used to establish the instrument's internal consistency.

Results
The results indicated that the Norwegian adaptation of the QPC-IP possesses good psychometric properties, including internal consistency, content, and construct validity, as confirmed by the confirmatory factor analysis results. The confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated an adequate fit for the six-factor structure, consistent with the original Swedish instrument.

Conclusions
The QPC-IP is a user-friendly and easily implementable tool that assesses various dimensions of the quality of inpatient mental healthcare from a patient’s perspective. Moreover, the Norwegian QPC-IP holds potential for use in comparative, cross-cultural studies within mental healthcare services to monitor the quality of the provided services.
Psychogenic fever and neurodevelopmental disorders among Japanese children
Authors: Okada Ayumi , Shigeyasu Yoshie , Fujii Chikako , Tanaka Chie , Hanzawa Mana , Sugihara Akiko , Horiuchi Makiko , Tsukahara Hirokazu 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
Psychosocial stress can induce various physical symptoms, including fever, which is a commonly seen symptom in pediatric practice. In cases of unexplained fever, psychogenic fever should be considered as a potential cause. Children with neurodevelopmental disorders may be more vulnerable to stress and therefore more prone to developing somatic symptoms than their peers. This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of children with psychogenic fever and comorbidity.

Methods
This study included 21 patients with psychogenic fever who visited the Department of Pediatric Psychosomatic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital. Information on age, sex, disease onset, final estimated diagnosis, comorbidities, treatment course, and outcome was obtained from the patients’ medical records.

Results
Of the 21 patients included, 7 were boys and 14 were girls, and their median age was 13.0 (range: 8.6–14.6) years. A total of 19 patients had no attendance at school, and all patients showed signs of maladjustment in school. The comorbidities included orthostatic dysregulation (n = 4) and migraine (n = 3). Neurodevelopmental disorders were observed in nine patients, eight of whom were diagnosed after the initial visit. The mean treatment duration was 37.2 months. The outcomes were complete remission (n = 9), improvement (n = 4), discontinuation (n = 1), and referral to another physician (n = 7).

Conclusion
Various comorbidities were observed in the patients of this study with psychogenic fever, including the coexistence of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autistic spectrum disorder. Children with neurodevelopmental disorders are prone to psychological stress resulting from difficulties in social adjustment. It is crucial to understand the developmental characteristics and environmental adaptation of patients to facilitate accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Novelty triggers time-dependent theta oscillatory dynamics in cortical-hippocampal-midbrain circuitry
Authors: Park Alan Jung 
Published: December 2024

AbstractRapid adaptation to novel environments is crucial for survival, and this ability is impaired in many neuropsychiatric disorders. Understanding neural adaptation to novelty exposure therefore has therapeutic implications. Here, I found that novelty induces time-dependent theta (4-12Hz) oscillatory dynamics in brain circuits including the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), ventral hippocampus (vHPC), and ventral tegmental area (VTA), but not dorsal hippocampus (dHPC), as mice adapt to a novel environment. Local field potential (LFP) recordings were performed while mice were freely behaving in a novel or a familiar arena for 10 min. Initially, mice exhibited increased exploratory behavior upon exposure to novelty, which gradually decreased to levels observed in mice exposed to the familiar arena. Over the same time course, the mPFC, vHPC, and VTA displayed progressively increasing theta power through novelty exposure. Additionally, theta coherence and theta phase synchrony measures demonstrated that novelty weakened the connectivity between these areas, which then gradually strengthened to the level observed in the familiar group. Conversely, mice exposed to the familiar arena showed steady and consistent behavior as well as theta dynamics in all areas. Treatment with a dopamine D1-receptor (D1R) antagonist in the vHPC disrupted neurophysiological adaptation to novelty specifically in the vHPC-mPFC and vHPC-VTA circuits, without affecting behavior. Thus, novelty induces distinct theta dynamics that are not readily dictated by behavior in the mPFC, vHPC, and VTA circuits, a process mediated by D1Rs in the vHPC. The observed time-dependent circuit dynamics in the key learning and memory circuit would provide new insights for treating neuropsychiatric disorders that often show impaired novelty processing.
Biofilm application for anaerobic digestion: a systematic review and an industrial scale case
Authors: Abera Getachew Birhanu , Trømborg Erik , Solli Linn , Walter Juline M. , Wahid Radziah , Govasmark Espen , Horn Svein Jarle , Aryal Nabin , Feng Lu 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBiofilm is a syntrophic community of microorganisms enveloped by extracellular polymeric substances and displays remarkable adaptability to dynamic environments. Implementing biofilm in anaerobic digestion has been widely investigated and applied as it promotes microbial retention time and enhances the efficiency. Previous studies on anaerobic biofilm primarily focused on application in wastewater treatment, while its role has been significantly extended to accelerate the degradation of lignocellulosic biomass, improve gas–liquid mass transfer for biogas upgrading, or enhance resistance to inhibitors or toxic pollutants. This work comprehensively reviewed the current applications of biofilm in anaerobic digestion and focused on impacting factors, optimization strategies, reactor set-up, and microbial communities. Moreover, a full-scale biofilm reactor case from Norway is also reported. This review provides a state of-the- art insight on the role of biofilm in anaerobic digestion.
Graphical Abstract
Epigenome-wide mediation analysis of the relationship between psychosocial stress and cardiometabolic risk factors in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS)
Authors: Opsasnick Lauren A. , Zhao Wei , Ratliff Scott M. , Du Jiacong , Faul Jessica D. , Schmitz Lauren L. , Zhou Xiang , Needham Belinda L. , Smith Jennifer A. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
Exposure to psychosocial stress is linked to a variety of negative health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease and its cardiometabolic risk factors. DNA methylation has been associated with both psychosocial stress and cardiometabolic disease; however, little is known about the mediating role of DNA methylation on the association between stress and cardiometabolic risk. Thus, using the high-dimensional mediation testing method, we conducted an epigenome-wide mediation analysis of the relationship between psychosocial stress and ten cardiometabolic risk factors in a multi-racial/ethnic population of older adults (n = 2668) from the Health and Retirement Study (mean age = 70.4 years).

Results
A total of 50, 46, 7, and 12 CpG sites across the epigenome mediated the total effects of stress on body mass index, waist circumference, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and C-reactive protein, respectively. When reducing the dimensionality of the CpG mediators to their top 10 uncorrelated principal components (PC), the cumulative effect of the PCs explained between 35.8 and 46.3% of these associations.

Conclusions
A subset of the mediating CpG sites were associated with the expression of genes enriched in pathways related to cytokine binding and receptor activity, as well as neuron development. Findings from this study help to elucidate the underlying mechanisms through which DNA methylation partially mediates the relationship between psychosocial stress and cardiometabolic risk factors.
Sex differences in mitochondrial gene expression during viral myocarditis
Authors: Di Florio Damian N. , Weigel Gabriel J. , Gorelov David J. , McCabe Elizabeth J. , Beetler Danielle J. , Shapiro Katie A. , Bruno Katelyn A. , Chekuri Isha , Jain Angita , Whelan Emily R. , Salomon Gary R. , Khatib Sami , Bonvie-Hill Natalie E. , Fliess Jessica J. , Giresi Presley G. , Hamilton Charwan , Hartmoyer Cameron J. , Balamurugan Varsini , Darakjian Ashley A. , Edenfield Brandy H. , Kocsis S. Christian , McLeod Christopher J. , Cooper Leslie T. , Audet-Walsh Étienne , Coronado Michael J. , Sin Jon , Fairweather DeLisa 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle most often caused by viral infections. Sex differences in the immune response during myocarditis have been well described but upstream mechanisms in the heart that might influence sex differences in disease are not completely understood.

Methods
Male and female BALB/c wild type mice received an intraperitoneal injection of heart-passaged coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) or vehicle control. Bulk-tissue RNA-sequencing was conducted to better understand sex differences in CVB3 myocarditis. We performed enrichment analysis and functional validation to understand sex differences in the transcriptional landscape of myocarditis and identify factors that might drive sex differences in myocarditis.

Results
As expected, the hearts of male and female mice with myocarditis were significantly enriched for pathways related to an innate and adaptive immune response compared to uninfected controls. Unique to this study, we found that males were enriched for inflammatory pathways and gene changes that suggested worse mitochondrial electron transport function while females were enriched for pathways related to mitochondrial homeostasis. Mitochondria isolated from the heart of males were confirmed to have worse mitochondrial respiration than females during myocarditis. Unbiased TRANSFAC analysis identified estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRα) as a transcription factor that may mediate sex differences in mitochondrial function during myocarditis. Transcript and protein levels of ERRα were confirmed as elevated in females with myocarditis compared to males. Differential binding analysis from chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) sequencing confirmed that ERRα bound highly to select predicted respiratory chain genes in females more than males during myocarditis.

Conclusions
Females with viral myocarditis regulate mitochondrial homeostasis by upregulating master regulators of mitochondrial transcription including ERRα.
Grayken Lessons: a patient who developed opioid use disorder after traumatic brain injury
Authors: Reed Gabriela , Lugo Hansel , Adams Rachel Sayko , Walley Alexander Y. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Background
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common in people with substance use disorders (SUDs). TBI often results in cognitive deficits which can affect the clinical course of SUD.

Case presentation
Here we present the case of a 34-year-old Spanish-speaking man with severe opioid use disorder and two prior TBIs affecting his cognitive abilities. He was linked to outpatient addiction specialty care at a community health center. After identification of his TBI history, his care team, which included a language-concordant physician and peer recovery coach, worked to develop a treatment plan that accounted for his unique cognitive deficits and behavioral challenges. He was also connected with community resources including a rehabilitation program designed for people with TBI. These individualized aspects of treatment helped to better engage and retain the patient in quality care for his SUD.

Conclusions
By identifying TBI history in people with SUDs, the treatment plan can be tailored to accommodate TBI-related deficits. An effective care plan should incorporate not only medical providers, but also resources such as peer recovery supports and TBI-focused rehabilitation programs when and where they are available, with an emphasis on improving functional capacity.
AtGATA5 acts as a novel regulator in secondary cell wall biosynthesis by modulating NAC-domain transcription factors in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Kim Byeonggyu , Kim Kihwan , Kim Won-Chan 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe plant cell wall is composed of a primary and secondary cell wall. The secondary cell wall (SCW) plays a crucial role in the movement of nutrients and water and serves as a barrier against pathogens and environmental stresses. However, the biosynthesis of the SCW is complex, involving a network of genes regulated by environmental factors, including light. In this study, we investigated the nuclear localization of AtGATA5 to determine its potential role as a transcription factor and its involvement in SCW formation. To explore changes in leaf phenotypes in overexpression AtGATA5 and the thickening of interfascicular fiber cells, we conducted a transient activity assay using Arabidopsis protoplasts. The results demonstrated that AtGATA5 can up-regulate NAC-domain transcription factors, which are master regulators of the SCW biosynthesis pathway. Furthermore, gene expression analysis in plants confirmed that as AtGATA5 expression increased, the expression levels of NAC-domain transcription factors also increased. These findings suggest that AtGATA5 plays a functional role in SCW formation by up-regulating master regulators in the SCW biosynthesis pathway. Overall, AtGATA5 may act as a novel regulator of SCW biosynthesis, offering insights into potential application.
Data-driven material modeling based on the Constitutive Relation Error
Authors: Ladevèze Pierre , Chamoin Ludovic 
Published: December 2024

AbstractPrior to any numerical development, the paper objective is to answer first to a fundamental question: what is the mathematical form of the most general data-driven constitutive model for stable materials, taking maximum account of knowledge from physics and materials science? Here we restrict ourselves to elasto-(visco-)plastic materials under the small displacement assumption. The experimental data consists of full-field measurements from a family of tested mechanical structures. In this framework, a general data-driven approach is proposed to learn the constitutive model (in terms of thermodynamic potentials) from data. A key element that defines the proposed data-driven approach is a tool: the Constitutive Relation Error (CRE); the data-driven model is then the minimizer of the CRE. A notable aspect of this procedure is that it leads to quasi-explicit formulations of the optimal constitutive model. Eventually, a modified Constitutive Relation Error is introduced to take measurement noise into account.
AXL in myeloid malignancies – an elusive target?
Authors: Aehnlich Pia , Leuchte Katharina , Schöllkopf Claudia , Salo Sara Fresnillo , Seremet Tina J. , Høgdall Estrid , Met Özcan , Grønbaek Kirsten , Straten Per thor 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe TAM receptor tyrosine kinase family member AXL plays critical roles in tissue homeostasis, survival, chemoresistance, and motility. This study investigates the receptor expression in six AML cell lines and bone marrow myeloblasts from 25 patients with myeloid neoplasms. We found that AXL expression was generally absent or very low in AML myeloblasts. These findings suggest that the efficacy of AXL inhibitors may not depend on AXL positivity but rather on alternative therapeutic mechanisms, such as inducing significant immune responses.