bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Postnatal Outcome After Ultrasound Findings of an Abnormal Fetal Gallbladder: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Markova Desislava , Markova Tsvetomira , Pandya Pranav , David Anna L. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo describe postnatal outcome following the prenatal diagnosis of an abnormal fetal gallbladder.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review of studies from January 1980 to January 2023 that described FGB abnormalities, which included agenesis or non‐visualisation, abnormal content presence of sludge, abnormal shape or size and abnormal position, and postnatal outcome to determine the association with pathology.ResultsIn 51 studies, 842 fetuses had abnormal FGB. Non‐visualisation of the FGB was the most common diagnosis (521 fetuses, mean gestational age 21.6 weeks, range 14–29). The FGB was subsequently visualised prenatally in 128 out of 521 cases (24.6%; 95% CI, 20.9%–28.3%). Of the 393 cases with persistent FGB non‐visualisation (75.4%; 95% CI, 71.7–79.1), 48 cases (12.2%; 95% CI, 9.0–15.5) underwent termination of pregnancy (TOP) with FGB agenesis confirmed in 16 out of 26 fetuses that had a postmortem examination (61.5%; 95% CI, 42.8–80.2). After excluding cases with missing outcomes (n = 121), postnatal ultrasound was performed in 82.4% of cases with persistent non‐visualised FGB (224/272; 95% CI, 77.8%–86.9%). The gallbladder was not visualised in 63.4% (142/224; 95% CI, 57.1–69.7), confirming GB agenesis. This was an isolated finding in 41.1% of cases (92/224; 95% CI, 34.6–47.5). Of 272 known outcomes, biliary atresia, cystic fibrosis, and structural or chromosomal abnormalities were diagnosed in 8.5% (n = 23), 12.5% (n = 34), 18.0% (n = 49) and 6.3% (n = 17) cases, respectively. The sensitivity (true positive rate) of ultrasound for GB agenesis in fetuses with persistently non‐visualised FGB was 58.1% (158/272; 95% CI, 52.2%–64.0%). Fetal gallbladder stones/sludge were described in 100 fetuses mainly in the third trimester of pregnancy (mean gestational age 33.8 weeks). Resolution of postnatally followed up cases occurred in around one‐third of the cases (37.3%) within 1 month after birth. There was a low reported association with severe conditions (2%).ConclusionsThis systematic review and meta‐analysis found that when the fetal gallbladder was absent in mid‐trimester, it was visualised in subsequent fetal ultrasound examinations in around 25% of cases. If persistently absent on prenatal ultrasound, the confirmed rate of GB agenesis was around 50%, with the neonates having biliary atresia, cystic fibrosis, or structural abnormalities. Because of the association with severe conditions, if persistent FGB agenesis is suspected, prenatal diagnosis should be offered. FGB abnormalities such as stones/sludge tended to resolve by 1 year of age with around half of all cases resolving by 1 month postnatal.
Protein stability models fail to capture epistatic interactions of double point mutations
Authors: Dieckhaus Henry , Kuhlman Brian 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThere is strong interest in accurate methods for predicting changes in protein stability resulting from amino acid mutations to the protein sequence. Recombinant proteins must often be stabilized to be used as therapeutics or reagents, and destabilizing mutations are implicated in a variety of diseases. Due to increased data availability and improved modeling techniques, recent studies have shown advancements in predicting changes in protein stability when a single‐point mutation is made. Less focus has been directed toward predicting changes in protein stability when there are two or more mutations. Here, we analyze the largest available dataset of double point mutation stability and benchmark several widely used protein stability models on this and other datasets. We find that additive models of protein stability perform surprisingly well on this task, achieving similar performance to comparable non‐additive predictors according to most metrics. Accordingly, we find that neither artificial intelligence‐based nor physics‐based protein stability models consistently capture epistatic interactions between single mutations. We observe one notable deviation from this trend, which is that epistasis‐aware models provide marginally better predictions than additive models on stabilizing double point mutations. We develop an extension of the ThermoMPNN framework for double mutant modeling, as well as a novel data augmentation scheme, which mitigates some of the limitations in currently available datasets. Collectively, our findings indicate that current protein stability models fail to capture the nuanced epistatic interactions between concurrent mutations due to several factors, including training dataset limitations and insufficient model sensitivity.
Metarhizium acridum transcription factor MaFTF1 negatively regulates virulence of the entomopathogenic fungus by controlling cuticle penetration of locusts
Authors: Hong Geng , Yang Man , Wang Shanjun , Xia Yuxian , Peng Guoxiong 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) Metarhizium acridum, a typical filamentous fungus, has been utilized for the biological control of migratory locusts (Locusta migratoria manilensis). Fungal‐specific transcription factors (TFs) play a crucial role in governing various cellular processes in fungi, although TFs with only the Fungal_trans domain remain poorly understood.RESULTSIn this study, we identified a unique fungal‐specific TF in M. acridum, named MaFTF1, which contains only a Fungal_trans domain and functions as a negative regulator of M. acridum virulence by influencing cuticle penetration. The virulence of the MaFTF1 knockout strain (ΔMaFTF1) against L. migratoria was increased, with a median lethal time (LT50) ~0.91 days shorter than that of the wild‐type (WT) strain when inoculated topically, mimicking natural infection conditions. Correspondingly, ΔMaFTF1 penetrated the cuticle earlier than did the WT strain. Our investigation revealed that the development of appressoria was accelerated in ΔMaFTF1 compared with the WT strain. Furthermore, the appressoria of the ΔMaFTF1 displayed higher turgor pressure and an upregulated expression of fungal hydrolases active toward the insect cuticle. RNA sequencing analysis indicated that the differences in appressorium behavior between the strains were due to MaFTF1 regulating a complex metabolism pathway.CONCLUSIONThis study revealed that MaFTF1 acts as a negative regulator of virulence, impacting the process of cuticle penetration by slowing the formation of appressoria, decreasing their turgor pressure, and reducing the expression of hydrolases in appressoria, revealing an unexpected strategy in the EPFs. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Echocardiographic Grading of Right Ventricular Afterload in Left Heart Disease: Relation to Right Ventricular Function, Pulsatile and Resistant Load, and Outcome
Authors: Bech‐Hanssen Odd , Lindow Thomas , Astengo Marco , Bollano Entela , Ricksten Sven‐Erik 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThe hemodynamic definitions of pulmonary hypertension consider resistive loading (pulmonary vascular resistance [PVR]), but there are increasing evidence that pulsatile loading (pulmonary artery compliance [PAC]) has functional and prognostic importance. The aims of the present study on patients with left heart disease, were to evaluate a novel echocardiographic right ventricular (RV) afterload score and to investigate its relation to risk of mortality or implantation of a left ventricular assist device. Patients (n = 220) with left ventricular ejection fraction < 50% consecutively referred for heart transplant or heart failure workup underwent echocardiography and right heart catheterization. Four metrics were included in the afterload score: the systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAPDoppler) and three variables related to pressure reflection in the pulmonary circulation. Two points were allocated for sPAPDoppler ≥ 60 mmHg and for each pressure reflection variable indicating PVR > 3 Wood units (WU). One point was allocated for sPAPDoppler 36–59 mmHg and for pressure reflection variables above the upper normal limit. Low afterload was defined as 0‐to‐1 points, intermediate as 2‐to‐4 points, and high as 5‐to‐8 points. There were in‐between the groups significant differences in PAC and PVR. A 5‐point RV dysfunction score showed with stepwise increased RV afterload more severe dysfunction. Unadjusted hazard ratio for endpoint was 3.34 (1.69–6.79) for intermediate score, and 5.11 (2.52–10.40) for patients with high score. In conclusion, in patients with severe heart failure, a novel echocardiographic RV afterload score is related to increased pulsatile and resistant load, more severe RV dysfunction, and increased risk of adverse outcome.
Analysis of Longitudinal Lupus Data Using Multivariate t‐Linear Models
Authors: Jang Eun Jin , Rhee Anbin , Cho Soo‐Kyung , Lee Keunbaik 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTAnalysis of healthcare utilization, such as hospitalization duration and medical costs, is crucial for policymakers and doctors in experimental and epidemiological investigations. Herein, we examine the healthcare utilization data of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The characteristics of the SLE data were measured over a 10‐year period with outliers. Multivariate linear models with multivariate normal error distributions are commonly used to evaluate long series of multivariate longitudinal data. However, when there are outliers or heavy tails in the data, such as those based on healthcare utilization, the assumption of multivariate normality may be too strong, resulting in biased estimates. To address this, we propose multivariate t‐linear models (MTLMs) with an autoregressive moving‐average (ARMA) covariance matrix. Modeling the covariance matrix for multivariate longitudinal data is difficult since the covariance matrix is high dimensional and must be positive‐definite. To address these, we employ a modified ARMA Cholesky decomposition and hypersphere decomposition. Several simulation studies are conducted to demonstrate the performance, robustness, and flexibility of the proposed models. The proposed MTLMs with ARMA structured covariance matrix are applied to analyze the healthcare utilization data of patients with SLE.
Tellurium/Bismuth Selenide van der Waals Heterojunction for Self‐Driven, Broadband Photodetection and Polarization‐Sensitive Application
Authors: Yu Yiye , Zhao Tiange , Peng Meng , Xu Tengfei , Duan Shikun , She Yihong , Jian Pengcheng , Chen Maohua , Chen Yue , Wang Zhen , Wu Feng , Martyniuk Piotr , Tsang Yuen Hong , Yao Bimu , Zeng Longhui , Dai Jiangnan , Chen Changqing , Hu Weida 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBroadband detection technology is crucial in the fields of astronomy and environmental surveying. Two dimensional (2D) materials have emerged as promising candidates for next‐generation broadband photodetectors with the characteristics of high integration, multi‐dimensional sensing, and low power consumption. Among these, 2D tellurium (Te) is particularly noteworthy due to its excellent mobility, tunable bandgap, and air stability. However, the performance of the Te‐based photodetector has been hindered by high dark current and cut‐off wavelength limitations associated with its intrinsic bandgap. Here, the Te / bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3) van der Waals (vdWs) p‐n heterojunction with a clean interface and type‐II band alignment, designed to address these challenges are presented. The Te/Bi2Se3 heterojunction photodetectors demonstrate an ultra‐broadband photodetection range from Ultraviolet (UV) to Mid‐infrared (MIR) (365 nm–4.3 µm) and a high responsivity up to 880 mA W−1 at 1550 nm under zero bias. Moreover, benefiting from the anisotropy crystal structure of Te, the photodetector shows an obvious polarization‐sensitive photoresponse and enormous potential in optical communication and polarization imaging. This work hereby provides significant insight into low‐powered, high‐performance, and broadband vdWs heterojunction photodetectors and their functional applications.
Synergic Cellulose Nanofiber/Tourmaline Nanoparticle–Assembled Layered Piezoelectric Cryogels for High‐Performance Airborne Particulate Filtration
Authors: Lyu Chao , Laitinen Ossi , Zhu Mian , Li Pengze , Shen Ruiqing , Suopajärvi Terhi , Zhou Xiaotong , Liu Chenming , Li Xiaoyu , Yang Faguang , Liu Jingxian , Liimatainen Henrikki 
Published: December 2024

AbstractHere, hybrid stimuli‐responsive (exhibiting pyroelectricity and piezoelectricity) porous cryogels are engineered by embedding tourmaline nanoparticles (TNs) in a cellulose nanofiber (CNF) skeleton to generate high‐performance CNF–TN‐based airborne particulate matter (PM) filters. First, single‐layer hybrid cryogels with varying TN contents (0–5% w v−1) are assembled, and the design principles for multilayered filters are established based on a novel sequential pre‐freezing and freeze‐drying technique. As observed, the embedded TNs transformed the CNF network into a more homogeneous, isotropic, and firm structure, thus improving the structural integrity and thermal stability of the assembled cryogels while maintaining their ultrahigh porosity and low density. The TN induced piezoelectric voltage in the cryogels during filtration significantly enhanced the filtration performance. Furthermore, the patterned surface texture of the cryogels notably improved quality factor (Qf) and the reusability of the layered filters overall. The explored hybrid cryogels, particularly those exhibiting multilayered configurations, can be deployed for high‐performance airborne particulates filtration owing to the synergistic effect of their mechanical robustness, stability, and high filtration efficiency. As far as it is known that, the Qf values (>0.04) obtained by the three‐layered cryogels are similar to or even higher than those of the reported best aerosol filters.
Triacylphosphines as a Novel Class of Phosphorus Sources for the Synthesis of Transition Metal Phosphide Nanoparticles
Authors: Antanovich Artsiom , Iodchik Andrey , Li Jing , Khavlyuk Pavel , Shamraienko Volodymyr , Lesnyak Vladimir 
Published: December 2024

AbstractTransition metal phosphide (TMP) nanoparticles (NPs) are versatile materials for energy conversion/storage applications due to their robustness and many possibilities to tailor NPs’ electronic, physical, and chemical properties. One of the hurdles toward their broader implementation is their challenging synthesis exacerbated by the limited choice of phosphorus precursors. On the one hand, the synthesis of TMP NPs can employ various alkyl‐ or arylphosphines requiring prolonged heating at high temperatures, while on the other hand, highly reactive P(SiMe3)3, white phosphorus, or PH3 pose additional obstacles associated with their hazardous nature, high cost, and limited availability. This work introduces the use of acylphosphines as a new class of phosphorus sources for synthesizing phosphide NPs. They are shown to react with respective metal chlorides at moderate temperatures as low as 250 °C yielding poorly crystalline NPs, which can later be crystallized at 305 °C. After ligand stripping with HPF6, NPs are found to be an effective electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction in the acidic medium exhibiting overpotentials as low as 50 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, which is among the lowest overpotentials for these materials and is quite competitive to commercial platinum‐based catalysts.
Oxytocin misuse: A pitfall in the management of canine dystocia
Authors: Ajani Olumide Samuel , Agbugba Linda Chinyere , Oguntoye Cecilia Omowumi , Eyarefe Oghenemega David 
Published: December 2024

AbstractOxytocin misuse poses significant risks in the management of canine dystocia, potentially leading to adverse outcomes. Understanding the implications of oxytocin misuse is essential for promoting safe and effective interventions in dystocia cases. A 4‐year‐old female Neapolitan Mastiff was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Ibadan, exhibiting signs of prolonged labour. The owner confessed to having administered up to 30 IU of oxytocin intramuscularly at once to the bitch. Physical and clinical examinations revealed weakness, recumbency and a foul‐smelling discharge suggestive of fetal death or infection. Despite a patent cervix, no fetus was presented in the birth canal, indicating a dystocia. Management included surgical intervention, which revealed severe intra‐uterine haemorrhage and the presence of a dead putrefying fetus. The over‐reliance on oxytocin for fetal evacuation without investigating the causation of dystocia, emphasises the urgent need for proper education of dog breeders.
Equilibrium of nonlinearly elastic shells of rotation with isolated disclination
Authors: Zubov Leonid M. , Karyakin Mikhail I. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe problem of large strains of shells of revolution containing disclinations is studied based on the 6‐parameter nonlinear theory of elastic shells known as the Cosserat model. The concept of isolated disclination in a shell of revolution is introduced by applying the general theory of Volterra dislocations in multi‐connected elastic shells. The Frank vector of this disclination is oriented along the revolution axis of the shell. A special substitution in the general system of nonlinear equilibrium equations is proposed to reduce the problem of large strains of rotational shells with disclination to a nonlinear boundary value problem for a system of ordinary differential equations. This allows us to find for the first time an exact analytical solution to the problem of equilibrium for a shell with disclination in the framework of the membrane theory of Cosserat shells. In the case of a general 6‐parameter model, a numerical solution to the problem of disclination in a closed spherical shell loaded with internal pressure is given. The peculiarities of the stress‐strain state of the shell due to the influence of disclination are analysed.
Automated Anomaly and Outlier Detection in GRACE and GRACE Follow-On Post-Fit Residuals Using Machine Learning
Authors: Lasser Martin , Zbinden Jonas , Meyer Ulrich , Panos Brandon , Arnold Daniel , Jäggi Adrian 
Published: December 2024

AbstractGRACE and GRACE Follow-On inter-satellite ranges and thereof derived range-rates are the main observables for the determination of monthly snapshots of the Earth’s gravity field. These observations are sensitive to the mass distribution on the Earth, and as a consequence, the relative motion between the missions’ satellite pairs. The range-rate observations exhibit a number of difficult-to-identify error sources and efficient screening of the data is not trivial. Therefore, we apply machine learning based outlier detection methods such as isolation forests, to flag outliers in an unsupervised fully automated way. We apply the technique to post-fit residuals of monthly, joint orbit and gravity field determination processes, combined with the geographical position of each observation. The flagged outliers are investigated for local geographical correlations to distinguish between unfitted signal from gravitational sources and artefacts caused by the satellites’ instrumentation. For that purpose we train a mutual information neural network, learning the mutual information between the post-fit residuals and the geographical location. Outliers flagged as artefacts are removed from the original inter-satellite range-rate data and the orbit and gravity field determination process is repeated to investigate for improvements. The automated outlier detection with isolation forests performs similar, at times slightly better, to empirical screenings by visual inspection of post-fit residuals. In addition, the mutual information can be taken as a valuable source to detect geophysical signal remaining in the post-fit residuals.
Design and fabrication of an affordable, high-performance life-size humanoid robotic hand with integrated nanocomposite strain sensors
Authors: Attaoui Ahmed , Naifar Slim , Bradai Sonia , Ben Atitallah Bilel , Kanoun Olfa 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThis paper presents the design and fabrication of Fil3D-Hand, a humanoid robotic hand with five fingers integrating nanocomposite filament strain sensors to monitor finger movements. The objective is to replicate the functionality of the human hand through an affordable design, with potential applications in humanoid robotics and prosthetic rehabilitation. Based on the investigation of the human hand’s anatomical structure and existing robotic hands, the mechanical design of Fil3D-Hand is elaborated. The kinematics analysis and finger workspace are formulated and illustrated using the Denavit-Hartenberg (D-H) convention and numerical simulations. The proposed design features 17 degrees of freedom, weighs 2.4 kg (including the forearm and 12 servo motors), and achieves a fabrication cost of less than $350. The Fil3D hand’s size is approximately 1.2 the size of the real human hand, allowing for enhanced versatility while maintaining a naturalistic appearance. This design strategy ensures a cost-effective, tendon-driven underactuated mechanism, utilizing servo motors for precise control of finger joints. It also integrates 14 filament strain sensors for accurate monitoring of finger positions. Experimental results demonstrate the performance of these sensors, revealing a highly linear correlation ($$ R^2 = 0.9964 $$

R
2

=
0.9964

) between the finger’s proximal angles and the strain sensor resistance, guaranteeing precise real-time monitoring of finger movements. Evaluation of the Fil3D-Hand’s performance highlights its excellent grasping capabilities, showcasing its potential in practical applications.
Regional sea level budget around Taiwan and Philippines over 2002‒2021 inferred from GRACE, altimetry, and in-situ hydrographic data
Authors: Lan Wen-Hau , Lee Chi-Ming , Kuo Chung-Yen , Lin Li-Ching , Handoko Eko Yuli 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
The regional sea level budget and interannual sea level changes around Taiwan and Philippines are studied using altimetry, GRACE, and in-situ hydrographic data during 1993‒2021. Results show that the average sea level trend around Taiwan and Philippines during 1993–2021 derived from the altimetric data is 3.6 ± 0.2 mm/yr. Over 2002–2021, the study shows closure of sea level budget in the eastern ocean of Taiwan and Philippines within the observed data uncertainties, and the ocean mass accounts for 88%–100% of the observed sea level rise. In contrast, the sea level budget is not closed in the western ocean of Taiwan and Philippines, probably due to the lack of complete coverage by in-situ ocean observing systems. In addition, both regional sea level anomalies and their steric component around Taiwan and Philippines exhibit pronounced interannual and decadal variabilities. The trade wind stress associated with El Niño–Southern Oscillation and Pacific Decadal Oscillation offers a compelling explanation for the interannual and decadal signals of sea level anomalies in the southern ocean of Taiwan, with negative correlations of − 0.78 to − 0.64, indicating that trade wind stress makes a negative contribution to interannual-to-decadal sea level variability. In the northwestern ocean of Taiwan, the sea level variation is strongly influenced by the local monsoon system and shallow bathymetry with an annual amplitude of 90.3 ± 2.9 mm, larger than those in other regions around Taiwan and Philippines, where ocean mass is dominant with a high correlation with the sea level (+ 0.75 to + 0.78).