bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reasons for Missed Appointments
Authors: Ghandour Rachan , Miranne Jeannine M. , Shen Julia , Murphy Rachel , Taboada Mireya , Plummer Melissa , Schatzman-Bone Steph , Minassian Vatche A. 
Published: December 2024

Importance
Little is known about reasons behind missed appointments in subspecialty settings, particularly in urogynecology practices.

Objective
The aim of the study was to understand patient-perceived barriers to appointment attendance at an academic urban multisite urogynecology practice.

Study Design
This was a prospective, qualitative study of patients who missed their appointments at a urogynecology practice from April to September 2023. Patients were invited to participate in semistructured interviews. Nonrandom, purposive sampling ensured a reflective sample. The interview guide addressed attendance barriers, reasons for missed appointments, and clinic accessibility. Inductive coding was applied to interview text fragments and a codebook was developed.

Results
Of the 230 eligible patients, 110 (48%) were contacted and 26/110 (24%) consented and completed interviews. Patients identified the following 3 major barriers to appointment attendance: (1) community and environmental barriers, (2) patient-related factors, and (3) clinic-related factors. Community and environmental barriers (n = 20 [77%]) included unforeseen circumstances and transportation issues, with 52% citing transportation difficulties. Patient-related factors (n = 16 [62%]) included family obligations, personal illness, mental health concerns, confusion with appointments, or competing job responsibilities. Clinic-related factors (n = 9 [35%]) included scheduling and timing issues. Participants proposed changes to facilitate attendance, which included clinics offering transportation assistance, providing interpersonal support through support groups, and improving the internet-based portal to make patient communication easier.

Conclusions
Identifying the reasons why patients miss appointments is pivotal to providing patient-centered care. Our findings provide a deeper understanding of issues underlying missed urogynecology appointments. Future research to develop an algorithm to identify barriers to attending appointments and provide interventions such as transportation support could result in more accessible, equitable care.
Implementation and sustainability of best practice guidelines: a tale of three hospitals
Authors: Qin Peiwei , Wang Haixia , Tao Zhenhui , Zhang Wenxin , Wang Juan , Ma Peifen 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

Objective:
This study explores factors that affect the sustainable implementation of best practice guidelines (BPGs) and provides a basis for developing corresponding action strategies to promote project sustainability.

Methods:
Using the NHS (National Health Service) questionnaire scoring system, surveys were conducted among nurses who implemented BPGs in three hospitals in China. Data were analyzed using statistical analysis. We adhered to the STROBE guidelines for cross-sectional studies.

Results:
The average total score was 85.18/100, while the average scores of the process dimension, staff dimension, and organization dimension were 25.85, 45.88, and 13.45, respectively. The average score of the three dimensions was 83.12%, 87.56%, and 81.52%, respectively. This means that the three dimensions of the NHS SM had high scores and the implemented BPGs had a high likelihood of being sustained. The sustainable implementation of guidelines involves three factors: project characteristics, staff dimensions, and organizational environment.

Conclusion:
Important factors that influence project sustainability include the clinical value of the project, a supportive environment provided by human resources and project infrastructure, and the degree of cooperation between interprofessional teams.

Spanish abstract:

http://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A305
Molecular Positron Emission Tomography and Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography Imaging for Understanding the Neurobiological Mechanisms of Electroconvulsive Therapy
Authors: Laroy Maarten , Van Laere Koen , Vandenbulcke Mathieu , Emsell Louise , Bouckaert Filip 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) effectively treats severe psychiatric disorders such as depression, mania, catatonia, and schizophrenia. Although its exact mechanism remains unclear, ECT is thought to induce neurochemical and neuroendocrine changes. Positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) have provided vital insights into ECT's neurobiological effects. This scoping review investigates the role of molecular imaging in understanding these effects. A systematic search across PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus databases yielded 857 unique records, from which 45 peer-reviewed articles in English with longitudinal PET or SPECT measures in ECT patients were included. The review identifies 2 main research directions: ECT's impact on brain activity and neurotransmitters. Initial research assessed regional cerebral blood flow and regional glucose metabolism during ictal (during ECT), postictal (within 24 hours), short-term (within a week), and long-term (beyond a week) follow-up as markers of brain activity. Initial findings showed an anterior-posterior regional cerebral blood flow gradient during the ictal phase, with subsequent normalization of hypoperfusion in frontal and parietal regions, and persistent long-term effects. Later, research shifted to the monoamine hypothesis of depression, examining ECT's impact on serotonin and dopamine systems via PET imaging. Results on receptor availability post-ECT were mixed, showing both reductions and no significant changes, indicating variable effects. This scoping review further highlights the need to explore new targets, tailor methodologies for patient populations, and foster multicenter studies. Although SPECT has been valuable, advances in PET imaging now make it preferable, offering unparalleled insights into ECT's molecular and neurobiological mechanisms.
Unravelling traits with complex inheritance mode: a gene panel perspective
Authors: Szyda Joanna , Suchocki Tomasz , Gołąb Monika , Budny Bartłomiej , Mielczarek Magda , Liu Jakub , Kotlarz Krzysztof , Wrotkowska Elżbieta , Ruchała Marek , Ziemnicka Katarzyna 
Published: December 2024

AbstractAlthough gene panels for complex phenotypes target genes contributing significantly to phenotypic variation, identifying causal mutations remains challenging. We aimed to define the process of analysing gene panel data to uncover genomic insights for traits with complex inheritance. The implemented procedure included the exploration of (i) the association between phenotypic variability and the variability of SNPs within genes, (ii) the association attributed to specific variants, (iii) causality potential by analysing the genomic context in the vicinity of the significantly associated SNPs (iii_a) either through clustering – to identify variants with genotypic patterns similar to the significant SNPs, or (iii_b) through smoothing the set of original P values to incorporate the information on the impact of the particular mutations, as expressed by the SNP-specific PhRED-CADD scores. This procedure was applied to the data from the obesity gene panel. No significant gene-level associations were found. However, the SNP-level results were promising in narrowing down the initially available set of variants to determine the true causal mutations. We introduced a procedure for analysing gene panel data to identify potentially causal mutations for phenotypes with complex inheritance patterns. The procedure allows for narrowing down the originally available set of variants offered by a gene panel, consisting of genes important for the phenotype under study, to SNPs that have a statistically and genomically validated potential to be causal in modifying protein structure.
Motivation, community, and resilience in older adults’ exercise: a three-year qualitative follow-up to the BELL trial
Authors: Meigh Neil , Davidson Alexandra , Thomson Oliver P. , Keogh Justin , Hing Wayne , Schram Ben , Mickan Sharon 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThis qualitative study explores the long-term impact of the BELL trial’s weekly group kettlebell training on older adults’ engagement, community building, and intrinsic motivation. Three years post-trial, participants from the ‘Wednesday Friends’ group were interviewed to understand how social bonds, shared leadership, adaptability, and health benefits contributed to their sustained participation. Applying the COM-B model and the four C’s model of thematic analysis, findings reveal that social support, resilience, and self-efficacy were central to continued engagement, underscoring key motivators for older adults’ adherence to group-based exercise. These insights offer healthcare providers data-driven strategies to foster long-term engagement in community exercise programs for older adults.
Visual and vestibular processing of vertical motion: a psychophysical study
Authors: Delle Monache Sergio , La Scaleia Barbara , Agrò Anna Finazzi , Lacquaniti Francesco , Zago Myrka 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThe motion of objects and ourselves along the vertical is affected by gravitational acceleration. However, the visual system is poorly sensitive to accelerations, and the vestibular otoliths do not disassociate gravitational and inertial accelerations of ego-motion. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the brain resolves visual and vestibular ambiguities about vertical motion with internal models of gravity, which predict that downward motions are accelerated and upward motions are decelerated by gravity. In visual sessions, a target moved up or down while participants remained stationary. In vestibular sessions, participants were moved up or down, while they fixated an imaginary target moving along. In visual-vestibular sessions, participants were moved up or down while the visual target remained fixed. We found that downward motions of either the visual target or the participant were systematically perceived as lasting less than upward motions of the same duration, and vice-versa for the opposite direction of motion, consistent with the prior assumption that downward motion is accelerated and upward motion is decelerated by gravity. In visual-vestibular sessions, there was no significant difference in the average estimates of duration of downward and upward motion of the participant. However, there was large inter-subject variability of these estimates.
CRISPR-Cas9 RALA knockout and reconstitution. Detection and role of RALA S194 phosphorylation in RAS-dependent and RAS-independent cancers
Authors: Konde Mayuresh , Inchanalkar Siddhi , Deshpande Nilesh , Sherkhane Tushar , Virmani Mishika , Singh Kajal , Balasubramanian Nagaraj 
Published: December 2024

AbstractDownstream of oncogenic RAS, RALA is critical for cancer tumorigenesis, possibly regulated by phosphorylation of its Serine194 residue. We made CRISPR-Cas9 RALA knockout (RALA KO) in three RAS-dependent and two RAS-independent cancer cells. Detection of RALA S194 phosphorylation using the commercial anti-phospho-RALA antibody lacks specificity in all three RAS-dependent cancers. siRNA knockdown of RALA and AURKA inhibition by MLN8237 (VMLN) also did not affect pS194RALA detection in these cancers. RALA KO MiaPaCa2 (RAS-dependent) and MCF7 (RAS-independent) cells, stably reconstituted with WT-RALA and S194A-RALA mutants, showed no effect on RALA activation. Tumour growth was, however, restored partly by WT-RALA, but not S194A-RALA mutant. Thus, RALA S194 phosphorylation is needed for tumor formation, not affecting its activation but possibly through its localization.
A fully 3D-printed optical microscope for low-cost histological imaging
Authors: Christopher Jay , Craig Rebecca , McHugh Rebecca E. , Roe Andrew J. , Bauer Ralf , Patton Brian , McConnell Gail , Rooney Liam M. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractWe present the manufacture and characterisation of a fully 3D printed, low-cost optical microscope using both a 3D printed chassis and 3D printed illumination and imaging optics. The required commercial components, consisting of a basic camera for image acquisition and light emitting diode controlled by a Raspberry Pi for illumination, are integrated into the 3D printed microscope with the full design shown for ease of replication. Our 3D printed microscope uses a single 3D printed objective lens with a 2.9x magnification and a numerical aperture of 0.07. To benchmark the imaging performance of the system, we used standard test targets and histological specimens, namely, a Giemsa-stained blood smear sample and a thin section of mouse kidney stained with Haemotoxylin and Eosin. We demonstrated that sub-cellular resolution was obtained, and we corroborated this by imaging individual red blood cells and intricate anatomical details of the stained mouse kidney section. All of this was achieved using entirely 3D printed hardware and optics, at a fraction of the cost of a commercial brightfield microscope, while presenting remarkable potential for customisation and increased accessibility for diagnostic imaging applications.
De novodesign and structure of a peptide-centric TCR mimic binding module
Authors: Householder Karsten D. , Xiang Xinyu , Jude Kevin M. , Deng Arthur , Obenaus Matthias , Wilson Steven C. , Chen Xiaojing , Wang Nan , Garcia K. Christopher 
Published: December 2024

AbstractT cell receptor (TCR) mimics offer a promising platform for tumor-specific targeting of peptide-MHC in cancer immunotherapy. Here, we designed ade novoα-helical TCR mimic (TCRm) specific for the NY-ESO-1 peptide presented by HLA-A*02, achieving high on-target specificity with nanomolar affinity (Kd= 9.5 nM). The structure of the TCRm/pMHC complex at Å resolution revealed a rigid TCR-like docking mode with an unusual degree of focus on the up-facing NY-ESO-1 side chains, suggesting the potential for reduced off-target reactivity. Indeed, a structure-informedin silicoscreen of 14,363 HLA-A*02 peptides correctly predicted two off-target peptides, yet our TCRm maintained a wide therapeutic window as a T cell engager. These results represent a path for precision targeting of tumor antigens with peptide-focused α-helical TCR mimics.
Development of a novel peripherally acting alpha2A-adrenergic receptor antagonist for anti-diabetic
Authors: Hong Feng , Wang Jingyi , Chen Dongsheng , Wang Qian , Gan Shiyi , Ye Fang , Chen Lihua , Ren Huixia , Zhang Tongran , Xie Yinfang , Jing Xiaoyuan , Wang Ruoxi , Xu Zhibin , Ren Jiayan , Shi Cuihan , Jia Shuhui , Huang Xiaoting , Xu Xiawei , Lu Jing , Zheng Yunhua , Lin Wanhua , Dai Ji , Wang Liping , Chen Liangyi , Tang Chao , Liu Huisheng , Xu Tao , Xie Xin , Liu Xin-an , Du Yang , Nan Fajun , Chen Zuxin 
Published: December 2024

SummaryYohimbine, a potent alpha2A-adrenergic receptor (α2AAR) antagonist, was found therapeutic potential for type 2 diabetes through improving insulin release. However, the adverse side effects mediated by its actions in the brain hampered its use. Here, based on molecular docking analysis and structural modification, we have developed a novel peripherally acting yohimbine derivative (CDS479-2). CryoEM data found that yohimbine and CDS479-2 have similar interactions with the structure of α2AAR. Importantly, CDS479-2 shows similar α2AAR antagonist activity as yohimbine, but with very limited access to the brain, and thus avoiding the unwanted central effects such as hypertension and anxiety. Acute administration of CDS479-2 by injection or gavage lowered blood glucose levels and improved glucose tolerance in the high-fat diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice, an animal model for human type 2 diabetes. Remarkably, DIO mice received 2 weeks of daily administration of CDS479-2, but not yohimbine, exhibited sustained normoglycaemia, and increased density of the insulin-producing beta cells, in which important proliferation genes were found upregulated. Moreover, the overall protein expression levels of their pancreas were more similar to that of the healthy chow-fed mice. Thus, CDS479-2 may indicate a new direction for type 2 diabetes treatment. Importantly, the strategy we employed in this study will inspire the optimization for drugs that with both peripheral and central targets.Graphic abstract
Imaging the dancing brain: Decoding sensory, motor and social processes during dyadic dance
Authors: Bigand Félix , Bianco Roberta , Abalde Sara F. , Nguyen Trinh , Novembre Giacomo 
Published: December 2024

AbstractReal-world social cognition requires processing and adapting to multiple dynamic information streams. Interpreting neural activity in such ecological conditions remains a key challenge for neuroscience. This study leverages advancements in de-noising techniques and multivariate modeling to extract interpretable EEG signals from pairs of participants engaged in spontaneous dyadic dance. Using multivariate temporal response functions (mTRFs), we investigated how music acoustics, self-generated kinematics, other-generated kinematics, and social coordination each uniquely contributed to EEG activity. Electromyogram recordings from ocular, face, and neck muscles were also modelled to control for muscle artifacts. The mTRFs effectively disentangled neural signals associated with four key processes: (I) auditory tracking of music, (II) control of self-generated movements, (III) visual monitoring of partner movements, and (IV) visual tracking of social coordination accuracy. We show that the first three neural signals are driven by event-related potentials: the P50-N100-P200 triggered by acoustic events, the central lateralized readiness potential triggered by movement initiation, and the occipital N170 triggered by movement observation. Notably, the (previously unknown) neural marker of social coordination encodes the spatiotemporal alignment between dancers, surpassing the encoding of self-or partner-related kinematics taken alone. This marker emerges when partners make visual contact, relies on visual cortical areas, and is specifically driven by movement observation rather than initiation. Using data-driven kinematic decomposition, we further show that vertical movements best drive observers’ EEG activity. These findings highlight the potential of real-world neuroimaging, combined with multivariate modelling, to uncover the mechanisms underlying complex yet natural social behaviors.Significance statementReal-world brain function involves integrating multiple information streams simultaneously. However, due to a shortfall of computational methods, laboratory-based neuroscience often examines neural processes in isolation. Using multivariate modelling of EEG data from pairs of participants freely dancing to music, we demonstrate that it is possible to tease apart physiologically-established neural processes associated with music perception, motor control and observation of movement produced by a dance partner. Crucially, we identify a previously unknown neural marker that encodes coordination accuracy between dancers, beyond the contributions of self-or partner-related kinematics alone. These findings highlight the potential of computational neuroscience to uncover the biological mechanisms underlying real-world social and motor behaviors, advancing our understanding of how the brain supports dynamic and interactive activities.
Aperiodic exponent of brain field potentials is dependent on the frequency range it is estimated
Authors: Boncompte Gonzalo , Medel Vicente , Irani Martin , Lachaux Jean Phillip , Ossandon Tomas 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe aperiodic component of brain field potentials, like EEG, LFP and intracortical recordings, has shown to be a valuable tool in basic neuroscience and in clinical applications. Aperiodic activity is modeled as a power law of the power spectral density, with the aperiodic exponent as the key parameter. Part of the interest in this parameter lies in its proposed role as a marker of the balance between excitatory and inhibitory cortical activity. In theory, a perfect power law would imply that the same behaviour exists across all frequencies, however recent evidence has suggested that low and high frequency ranges could present different aperiodic exponents. To elucidate this, we systematically evaluated the relation between frequency range and aperiodic parameters using human resting-state intracortical recordings from 62 patients. We employed two distinct estimation methods, Specparam and IRASA. We found that aperiodic parameters were indeed dependent on frequency range. Specifically, we found that low frequency ranges displayed, on average, lower aperiodic exponents (flatter power spectral density) than high frequency ranges. This behaviour was consistent for Specparam and IRASA estimations in all frequency ranges compatible with EEG. Given that there is currently no consensus for a single frequency range to be used in either clinical or basic neuroscience, our results show that care should be taken when comparing aperiodic exponents derived from different frequency ranges. We believe our results also encourage further research into the possible roles that aperiodic exponents estimated from different frequency ranges could have in reflecting distinct aspects of cortical systems.
Homogeneously crosslinkedin situhydrogel enclosing high-density human-cancer cells promotes vascularizedin vivotumor modeling for immune cell therapy
Authors: Huang Ziqi , Tsun Yip Ming , Liang Chao , Wu Zhenzhen , Aurich Theo , Liu Lu , Sugimura Rio Ryohichi , Lee Sang Jin 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTCancer models in animal studies play a central role in cancer research, particularly in investigating vascularized tumor tissues for the validation of immune cell therapies. However, xenografts relying solely on cancer cells are ineffective for optimal tumor tissue formation. Additionally, tumor modeling using hydrogels with cancer cells to promote vascularization often leaves behind residual biomaterials that inhibit integration with surrounding tissues. To address these issues, we utilized a straightforwardin vivovascularized tumor modeling method with a completely degradable, crosslinker-free carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCTS)/oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA) hydrogel that encapsulates high-density human cancer cells forin situinjection. The CMCTS/oHA hydrogel was fully degraded within 3 weeks, enabling three-dimensional (3D) cell condensationin vitro. 2 weeks after subcutaneous injection in mice, solid tumors formed, with native host vasculature infiltrating the transplanted human cancer cells, confirming spontaneous hydrogel degradation. Following this, human macrophages were administered via tail vein injection, enhancing the accumulation of mouse immune cells in the humanized tumor twofold and showing murine macrophages adjacent to the vasculature. This study thus provides proof-of-concept for a facile and fully vascularized humanized tumor model in mice for validating immune cell therapies.HIGHLIGHTSThe oHA was prepared using sodium periodate treatment, which facilitated the formation ofin situCMCTS/oHA hydrogelsCMCTS/oHA hydrogels completely degraded within a short period, allowing for 3D cell condensationHigh-density cell-laden CMCTS/oHA hydrogels were injected subcutaneously in mice, resulting in the generation of a vascularized solid tumorThe transplanted therapeutic cell was observed to adhere to the tumor tissue through the bloodstream