bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Shear stress effects on epididymal epithelial cell via primary cilia mechanosensory signaling
Authors: Fakhari Sepideh , Campolina‐Silva Gabriel , Asayesh Farnaz , Girardet Laura , Scott‐Boyer Marie‐Pier , Droit Arnaud , Soulet Denis , Greener Jesse , Belleannée Clémence 
Published: November 2024

AbstractShear stress, resulting from fluid flow, is a fundamental mechanical stimulus affecting various cellular functions. The epididymis, essential for sperm maturation, offers a compelling model to study the effects of shear stress on cellular behavior. This organ undergoes extensive proliferation and differentiation until puberty, achieving full functionality as spermatozoa commence their post‐testicular maturation. Although the mechanical tension exerted by testicular fluid is hypothesized to drive epithelial proliferation and differentiation, the precise mechanisms remain unclear. Here we assessed whether the responsiveness of the epididymal cells to shear stress depends on functional primary cilia by combining microfluidic strategies on immortalized epididymal cells, calcium signaling assays, and high‐throughput gene expression analysis. We identified 97 genes overexpressed in response to shear stress, including early growth response (Egr) 2/3, cellular communication network factor (Ccn) 1/2, and Fos proto‐oncogene (Fos). While shear stress triggered a rapid increase of intracellular Ca2+, this response was abrogated following the impairment of primary ciliogenesis through pharmacological and siRNA approaches. Overall, our findings provide valuable insights into how mechanical forces influence the development of the male reproductive system, a requisite to sperm maturation.
Breaking the Silence: Critical discussion of a youth participatory action research project
Authors: Khawaja Jaspar , Bagley Christopher , Taylor Becky 
Published: November 2024

AbstractBackgroundThis paper aims to inform practice for educational psychologists and other professionals who seek to facilitate youth participatory action research (YPAR) in schools. Youth participatory action research is founded on the assumption that young people are capable of being researchers who can co‐create knowledge and act to change the world. It is a worldview as well as a research approach and can be initiated to co‐produce knowledge, facilitate critical thinking, promote the evaluation of social systems and/or act against social oppression.MethodsWe (a) outline the origins of YPAR and review crucial methodological elements of YPAR found in the literature, (b) support practitioners to use a YPAR approach in UK schools using a real‐world example to apply theory to practice and (c) critically discuss outcomes and challenges of facilitating YPAR. An ongoing YPAR project, Breaking the Silence (BtS), facilitated by social enterprise States of Mind and IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society will be outlined within the paper.ResultsBtS demonstrates the power of YPAR to promote the voices of young people, and to allow them to democratically develop action plans that challenge existing education structures. Youth researchers have presented their findings at several conferences and through a national newspaper. They continue to work alongside trade unions and other organisations to push for educational reform. However, the project has demonstrated several challenges and risks of facilitating YPAR. For example, facilitators were not always aware when youth researchers felt they had less meaningful involvement. Facilitators also found it challenging to collaboratively analyse data.ConclusionsThe project indicates that YPAR has the potential to be a democratic, empowering approach that can be brought more widely into the field of education. However, careful considerations are needed by facilitators to mitigate the challenges of the process.
Pennycress reduces potential for nutrient loss in Illinois
Authors: Meyer Ryan T. , Heller Nicholas J. , Rhykerd Robert L. , Perry William L. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractNutrient export of nitrogen and phosphorus from row crop agriculture in the Upper US Midwest is a threat to the structure and function of aquatic systems. To meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nutrient reduction goals, the Upper US Midwest needs to implement strategies to reduce nutrient export from agriculture. Studies demonstrate the potential of cover crops to reduce the export of nitrate‐nitrogen from the Upper US Midwest. We investigated the impact of the economically viable winter cash cover crop pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) on soil porewater nutrients and soil nutrients and characteristics. We used nine replicated 0.8 ha plots (n = 3 per treatment) at a production scale research farm over 4 years with pennycress and fertilized pennycress (56 kg ha−1 of urea) treatments compared to a fallow reference. Over the study period, soil porewater nitrate‐nitrogen was reduced by 53% in pennycress plots and 34% in fertilized pennycress plots relative to the fallow reference at a depth of 45 cm. Early season establishment was crucial in providing nutrient reduction potential. In 2021, poor pennycress establishment resulted in porewater nitrate‐nitrogen concentrations 141% higher than in 2022 with excellent pennycress establishment. Following pennycress termination, soil nitrate‐nitrogen was reduced by 24% in pennycress and 26% in fertilized pennycress compared to the fallow reference in the top 30 cm of soil. Following 4 years of pennycress planting, nitrate‐nitrogen concentrations were significantly reduced with no broad effect on soil characteristics. We conclude that the novel pennycress crop has potential to reduce nutrient loss from row crop agriculture in the Upper US Midwest.
The fate of atenolol in wastewater treatment plants of representative densely urban agglomerations in China
Authors: Xu Qiuxiang , Luo Liwen , Zhu Zhi , Liu Xuran , Ong Tala Victoria , Wong Jonathan W. C. , Pan Min 
Published: November 2024

AbstractAtenolol (ATL) that can decrease heart rate and reduce renin release is extensively used in the treatment of hypertension, angina, and other diseases. ATL's popularity has therefore drawn attention to its environmental behavior and potential impacts. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are the main collection point for ATL entering the water environment, highlighting the necessity of studying its fate in the environment. In this study, five WWTPs with different processes in China's representative densely urban agglomerations (Pearl River Delta [PRD] region) were selected as certain representative sampling sites to investigate the fate of ATL in the WWTPs over four seasons. Results showed that ATL concentration in the influent of these WWTPs was 146.5–918.6 ng/L and the corresponding concentration in the effluent was 43.0–534.1 ng/L, achieving a certain degree of removal. The seasonal ATL removal performance varied greatly among these WWTPs, Liede, Tai Po, and Sha Tin WWTPs showed better removal stability. Meanwhile, the average ATL removal rates in Tai Po (83.36%) and Sha Tin (81.67%) were higher than those in the Futian (71.24%), Liede (55.44%), and Stonecutters Island WWTPs (44.96%). The primary treatment capacity of Futian WWTP was better than that of Tai Po and Sha Tin WWTPs in removing ATL, while the performance of secondary treatment was opposite. Moreover, Zahn–Wellens test demonstrated that ATL could be almost completely degraded after 30 days and some protonated molecules (e.g., m/z 145 and m/z 190) metabolites were formed, indicating that degradation may play a role in ATL removal in WWTPs.
Efficient enzyme‐free isolation of brain‐derived extracellular vesicles
Authors: Matamoros‐Angles Andreu , Karadjuzovic Emina , Mohammadi Behnam , Song Feizhi , Brenna Santra , Meister Susanne Caroline , Siebels Bente , Voß Hannah , Seuring Carolin , Ferrer Isidre , Schlüter Hartmut , Kneussel Matthias , Altmeppen Hermann Clemens , Schweizer Michaela , Puig Berta , Shafiq Mohsin , Glatzel Markus 
Published: November 2024

AbstractExtracellular vesicles (EVs) have gained significant attention as pathology mediators and potential diagnostic tools for neurodegenerative diseases. However, isolation of brain‐derived EVs (BDEVs) from tissue remains challenging, often involving enzymatic digestion steps that may compromise the integrity of EV proteins and overall functionality. Here, we describe that collagenase digestion, commonly used for BDEV isolation, produces undesired protein cleavage of EV‐associated proteins in brain tissue homogenates and cell‐derived EVs. In order to avoid this effect, we studied the possibility of isolating BDEVs with a reduced amount of collagenase or without any protease. Characterization of the isolated BDEVs from mouse and human samples (both female and male) revealed their characteristic morphology and size distribution with both approaches. However, we show that even minor enzymatic digestion induces ‘artificial’ proteolytic processing in key BDEV markers, such as Flotillin‐1, CD81, and the cellular prion protein (PrPC), whereas avoiding enzymatic treatment completely preserves their integrity. We found no major differences in mRNA and protein content between non‐enzymatically and enzymatically isolated BDEVs, suggesting that the same BDEV populations are purified with both approaches. Intriguingly, the lack of Golgi marker GM130 signal, often referred to as contamination indicator (or negative marker) in EV preparations, seems to result from enzymatic digestion rather than from its actual absence in BDEV samples. Overall, we show that non‐enzymatic isolation of EVs from brain tissue is possible and avoids artificial pruning of proteins while achieving an overall high BDEV yield and purity. This protocol will help to understand the functions of BDEV and their associated proteins in a near‐physiological setting, thus opening new research approaches.
Free Water MRI of White Matter in Wilson's Disease
Authors: Jing Xiao‐Zhong , Li Gai‐Ying , Wu Yu‐Peng , Yuan Xiang‐Zhen , Yang Hui‐Jia , Chen Jia‐Lin , Wang Shu‐Hong , Wang Xiao‐Ping , Li Jian‐Qi 
Published: November 2024

BackgroundDiffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is susceptible to partial volume effects from free water, which can be corrected by using bi‐tensor free water imaging (FWI). This approach may improve the evaluation of microstructural changes associated with Wilson's disease (WD).PurposeTo investigate microstructural changes in white matter of WD using DTI and FWI.Study TypeProspective.SubjectsNineteen neurological WD (7 female, 31.68 ± 7.89 years), 10 hepatic WD (3 female, 29.67 ± 13.37 years), and 25 healthy controls (13 female, 29.5 ± 7.7 years).Field Strength/Sequence3‐T, spin‐echo echo‐planar imaging diffusion‐weighted imaging, T1‐weighted, T2‐weighted, fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery.AssessmentVarious diffusion metrics, including mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD), fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), free water, and free water‐corrected metrics (MDT, RDT, FAT, and ADT) were estimated and compared across entire white matter skeleton among neurological WD, hepatic WD, and controls. Voxel‐wise tract‐based spatial statistics and region of interest (ROI) analysis based on white matter atlas were performed. Additionally, partial correlation analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between FWI indices in ROIs and clinical indicators.Statistical TestsOne‐way analysis of variance, family‐wise error correction for multiple comparisons, and Bonferroni correction for post hoc comparisons. A P‐value <0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons, was considered statistically significant.ResultsOur study found significantly lower FA and higher MD, AD, and RD across most of white matter skeleton in neurological WD. Decreased FAT and increased MDT, ADT, and RDT were observed only in limited white matter areas compared to DTI indices. Additionally, a significant relationship was found between Unified WD Rating Scale neurological subscale of neurological WD and free water (r = 0.613) in middle cerebellar peduncle, ADT (r = −0.555) in superior cerebellar peduncle, RDT (r = 0.655), and FAT (r = −0.660) in posterior limb in internal capsule.Data ConclusionFWI may allow a more precise evaluation of microstructural changes in WD than conventional DTI, with FWI metrics potentially correlating with clinical severity scores of WD patients.Level of Evidence2Technical EfficacyStage 2
Identification of Rotavirus Genotypes in Children under Five Years in the United Arab Emirates Using Nanopore Sequencing Technology
Authors: George Junu A. , Al‐Marzooq Farah , Narchi Hassib , Alsuwaidi Ahmed R. 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTGroup A rotaviruses (RVA) remain a principal cause of childhood diarrhea in the UAE, despite universal vaccine use. Monitoring genetic diversity is important for identifying prevalent genotypes and escape mutants. Although real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) is widely used for RVA genotyping, it may not detect some new strains. This study evaluates nanopore sequencing and RT‐PCR for RVA genotyping. Thirty‐three RVA strains from children under 5 years presenting with diarrhea were genotyped using both methods. Thirteen strains were genotyped by RT‐PCR and confirmed by nanopore sequencing. Fifteen strains were genotyped by nanopore method alone. Most PCR‐genotyped strains (56%) had the VP7 G9 genotype, with G3 in five strains and G12 in two. For VP4, P8 (n = 8) and P4 (n = 7) were dominant. The most frequent combinations were G9P[8] (31%) and G9P[4] (25%). Nanopore sequencing of 28 strains revealed G3P[8] (29%) as the most prevalent, followed by G8P[8] (18%). G9P[8] and G2P[4] were present in 14% of samples with G12P[6] being the rarest (7%). Other combinations were detected in 4% the specimens with one nontypeable. Nanopore sequencing was superior to PCR in identifying diverse and emerging genotypes like G8P[8]. This method may enhance surveillance studies and guide preventive measures for RVA gastroenteritis.
A 4D time‐lapse morphometry method to quantify bone formation and resorption during distraction osteogenesis
Authors: Pu Sishun , Fu Ruisen , Bertrand David , Willie Bettina M. , Yang Haisheng 
Published: November 2024

AbstractDistraction osteogenesis (DO) is widely utilized for treating limb length discrepancy, nonunion, bone deformities and defects. This study sought to develop a 4D time‐lapse morphometry method to quantify bone formation and resorption in mouse femur during DO based on image registration of longitudinal in vivo micro‐CT scans. Female C57BL/6 mice (n = 7) underwent osteotomy, followed by 5 days of latency, 10 days of distraction and 35 days of consolidation. The mice were scanned with micro‐CT at Days 5, 15, 25, 35, 45, and 50. Histological sectioning and Movat Pentachrome straining were performed at Day 50. After registration of two consecutive micro‐CT images of the same bone (day x and day y), the spatially‐ and temporally‐linked sequences of formation, resorption and quiescent bones at the distraction gap were identified and bone formation and resorption rates (BFRdayx‐y and BRRdayx‐y) were calculated. The overall percentage error of the registration method was 2.98% ± 0.89% and there was a strong correlation between histologically‐measured bone area fraction and micro‐CT‐determined bone volume fraction at Day 50 (r = 0.89, p < 0.05). The 4D time‐lapse morphometry indicated a rapid bone formation during the first 10 days of the consolidation phase (BFRday15–25 = 0.14 ± 0.05 mm3/day), followed by callus reshaping via equivalent bone formation and resorption rates. The 4D time‐lapse morphometry method developed in this study allows for a continuous quantitative monitoring of the dynamic process of bone formation and resorption following distraction, which may offer a better understanding of the mechanism for mechano‐regulated bone regeneration and aid for development of new treatment strategies of DO.
The Australian Injectable Drugs Handbook (AIDH): Experience of artificial intelligence translations of non‐English product information
Authors: Wong Emma , Symons Keli 
Published: November 2024

AbstractBackgroundIn June 2022, the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) Specialty Practice Medicines Information Leadership Committee formally requested an expanded range of imported medicines to be included in the latest edition of the Australian Injectable Drugs Handbook (AIDH), developed and published by SHPA. This request was to aid medication safety and reduce the duplication of work required by tertiary hospital staff when producing local guidance. This study describes the challenges faced by the AIDH editorial team in obtaining information in English for imported medicines.AimThe purpose of this study was to determine whether machine translation is suitable for translating foreign language product information (PI) documents into English.MethodThree sources (one machine and two human sources) were used to translate the PI provided for five imported medicines from four languages into English. We compared the quality of the translations for obtaining information suitable to inform a medicine administration guideline. Ethical approval was not required for this research article as it involved no experimental investigations on humans and did not involve human participants or cohort comparisons.ResultsOur study found machine translation and human translations to be very similar in terms of readability and adequacy. Machine translation was found to be more time‐saving and cost‐effective.ConclusionOur results suggest that it may be appropriate for pharmacists to harness the time‐ and cost‐saving benefits of machine translation. However, pharmacists must apply their critical evaluation skills to the information provided regardless of the source of the translation. Information translated from another language relating to the administration of an injectable medicine must be verified against an English language source.
Gastrostomy tube placement for children with autism spectrum disorders and functional constipation
Authors: Srinivas Shruthi , Halaweish Ihab , Griffin Kristine L. , Rodriguez Cameron , Pruitt Liese C. C. , Stephenson Kevin G. , Yossef Lina , Wood Richard J. , Williams Kent C. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractObjectivesChildren with functional constipation (FC) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face sensory and behavioral conditions that prevent giving oral medical therapy to improve constipation and incontinence. We aimed to assess whether children with ASD and FC who had difficulty in taking oral medications could benefit from gastrostomy tube (GT) placement.MethodsA single‐institution retrospective review was performed in children diagnosed with ASD and FC from 2020 to 2023. Children were considered candidates for GT if they suffered from constipation that adversely affected daily function and refused adequate oral medical therapy. Data were collected on ASD severity and FC symptoms before GT and after GT placement.ResultsThere were nine patients who underwent GT placement. Median age was 7.4 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 4.8–9.7). Of the five with available ASD evaluations, four had extremely low intelligence quotient and extremely low adaptive skills; only one child of the nine was verbal. Before GT placement, most patients had Bristol 1 or 2 consistency stool (66.7%); following placement, most had Bristol 5 or 6 consistency stool (66.7%). Seven children strained with bowel movements before GT; only one child strained after GT. There were no tube dislodgements or site infections. Gastrointestinal quality of life scores improved for both constipation (+38.5, IQR: 27.5–54.3) and medication administration (+31.5, IQR: 0.0–75.0).ConclusionsGT placement may be a viable option in children with FC and ASD with minimal complications, improvement in constipation, and improvement in quality of life. Further prospective study will ensure generalizability of these results.
Insight into the conformational changes and allergenic reactivity of coarse wheat bran induced by ozone treatment
Authors: Zhu Wenyan , Yao Yaya , Tao Peijun , Li Huijing 
Published: November 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDWhole grain food has gradually come into view because of its high nutritional value, but the incidence of wheat allergies has been increasing year by year. Ozone is a new non‐thermal desensitization technology in food processing, and its effect on coarse wheat bran protein has received little study. We investigated the effects of different ozone airflow rates and treatment times on wheat bran allergenic property and protein structure.RESULTSThe ozone treatment time of 30 min at an airflow rate of 5 L min−1 reduced the coarse wheat bran allergenic property by 61.14%; subunits of 33, 46, 48 and 68 kDa were significantly less allergenic via western blotting; and the lowest releasing rate of β‐hexosaminidase was 25.32% in the cell model of rat basophilic leukaemia 2H3. According to secondary structure and chemical interaction determination, the protein molecules were reorganized and aggregated by disulfide bonds and hydrophobic contacts following ozone exposure.CONCLUSIONOzone treatment has a beneficial potential in reducing the allergenic property of coarse wheat bran and improving the safety of whole wheat products. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Simultaneous Determination of Methotrexate and 7‐Hydroxy‐Methotrexate by UHPLC‐MS3 Assay Coupled With Multiple Stage Fragmentation to Enhance Sensitivity
Authors: Li Huaqiang , Duan Xujian , Wu Feifei , Yin Lei 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTA selective ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry cubed (UHPLC/MS3) assay for simultaneous determination of methotrexate (MTX) and 7‐hydroxy‐methotrexate (7‐OH‐MTX) in human plasma was developed and validated. After protein precipitation with methanol, chromatographic separation of MTX, MTX‐d3, and 7‐OH‐MTX was performed on a Waters AcQuity UPLC‐BEH column (2.1 × 50 mm I.D., 1.7 µm) with gradient elution. MRM3 transition was used for the detection of MTX (m/z 455.2→308.0→175.1) and 7‐OH‐MTX (m/z 471.3→191.0→148.1). The linear range of UHPLC/MS3 assay for the determination of MTX and 7‐OH‐MTX was 0.5–300 ng/mL (R2 ≥ 0.99) and 5–1500 ng/mL (R2 ≥ 0.99), respectively. The enhanced selectivity and sensitivity are the novelties of the developed UHPLC/MS3 assay. The analytical method was successfully applied to simultaneous determination of MTX and its major metabolite 7‐OH‐MTX in real human plasma samples.
Effervescent‐assisted Liquid‐phase Microextraction Employing Switchable Hydrophilicity Solvent for the Determination of Cortisol and Testosterone in Oral Fluid by High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography‐Diode Array Detection
Authors: Dalanhol Carolina Silveira , Scheid Camila , Merib Josias 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTCortisol and testosterone are important biomarkers for diagnosing complex disorders, including polycystic ovary syndrome and Cushing's syndrome, where symptomatology usually overlaps with other prevalent disorders. This work proposes, for the first time, an analytical method based on a switchable hydrophilicity solvent as an extraction phase for the determination of cortisol and testosterone in oral fluid (OF) by high‐performance liquid chromatography with diode‐array detection. The optimized extraction conditions consisted of 1000 µL of OF, 100 µL of decanoic acid solution (65 mg/mL), 170 µL of Na2CO3, 900 µL of H2SO4 and 150 µL of acetonitrile for dilution. The method was validated, and coefficients of determination higher than 0.9926, the limit of detection of 4.55 ng/mL and the limit of quantification of 15.00 ng/mL were obtained. Intra‐day precision varied from 5.6% to 11.9%, inter‐day precision ranged from 6.1% to 13.5%, and relative recoveries ranged from 98.9% to 104.6% for cortisol, and 89.1% to 103.9% for testosterone. This methodology was successfully applied to five OF samples from volunteers. Moreover, the greenness of this methodology was evaluated based on the sample preparation metric of sustainability achieving a global score of 7.37 which can be considered sustainable.