bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparing outcomes of Aquablation versus holmium laser enucleation of prostate in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: A network meta‐analysis
Authors: Bhatia Ansh , Titus Renil , Porto Joao G. , Goradia Rajvi , Shah Khushi , Lopategui Diana , Herrmann Thomas R. W. , Shah Hemendra N. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractIntroductionWater Jet Ablation Therapy (WJAT) and Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) represent two common surgical treatments for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Despite their increasing use, there is no study between these two methods. We aim to evaluate their efficacy and safety through a network meta‐analysis (NMA), providing critical insights for clinical decision‐making in the management of moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to BPH.MethodsPubmed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library were searched. Randomized controlled trials and prospective single‐arm studies comparing WJAT and HoLEP with TURP, reporting symptom scores, flow rates and adverse events. Data extraction and quality assessments were independently performed. Bayesian modelling in RStudio was used for statistical analysis, evaluating continuous outcomes through mean difference and categorical variables via risk ratios. Risk‐of‐Bias (RoB) and GRADE assessments were performed.FindingsTwenty‐three studies were included (WJAT‐11, HoLEP‐12). Most studies were at some or high risk of bias. At 12 months, the IPSS, Qol, PVR and Qmax improvements were 4.14 points (95% CI: ‐0.34 to 8.64, not‐significant [NS], GRADE‐rating: Low), 0.32‐points (95% CI:‐10.70 to 3.27, NS, GRADE‐rating: Low), 2.45 ml/s (95% CI: ‐1.85 to 7.05, NS, GRADE‐rating: Low), 63.10 ml (95% CI: 39.80 to 87.30, statistically‐significant [SS], GRADE‐rating: Moderate), respectively, all in favour of HoLEP. Haemoglobin‐loss was lower with HoLEP, 1.16 g/dl (95% CI: ‐2.56 to 0.54 mg/dl, NS, GRADE‐rating: Moderate) than WJAT. The risk of incontinence was higher with HoLEP; 4.48 (95% CI: 0.22 to 168.50, NS, GRADE‐rating: Very Low) than WJAT in single–arm analysis. The risk of blood transfusion was higher with WJAT (RR = 0.14; 95% CI: 0.00 to 4.21, NS, GRADE‐rating: Low) than HoLEP. Risk of Total Serious Adverse Events (Clavien‐Dindo grade>3) was higher with HoLEP (RR = 1.12, higher with HoLEP, 95% CI: 0.20 to 12.71, NS, GRADE‐rating: Low) than WJAT. Retreatment was lower with HoLEP (RR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.02 to 10.54 GRADE‐rating: Low) than WJAT.InterpretationOur study suggests that both HoLEP and WJAT are effective treatments for BPH, both with similar IPSS and QoL improvements. HoLEP excels in functional outcomes, particularly in improving Qmax and PVR. Conversely, WJAT, with its shorter operation time and hospital stays, presents a compelling alternative, particularly for outpatient settings.
Unveiling the Substrate‐Dependent Dynamics of Mycotoxin Production in Fusarium verticillioides Using an OSMAC‐Metabolomics Approach
Authors: Groppi Emie , Haddad Mohamed , Cristofoli Valérie , Vansteelandt Marieke , Gadea Alice 
Published: October 2024

AbstractFusarium verticillioides is a prevalent plant pathogenic fungus known to produce harmful mycotoxins, including fumonisins and emerging toxins. This study aimed to investigate the influence of substrate on the temporal patterns of mycotoxin biosynthesis by F. verticillioides, employing a combined OSMAC (One Strain‐Many Compounds) strategy and metabolomics approach. The fungus was cultured under various media conditions, and samples were collected over time. LC–MS/MS analyses and a dereplicative workflow were used to profile the secondary metabolite production, focusing on mycotoxins. The results demonstrated that modifying the culture conditions led to significant variations in fungal growth and the nature and relative concentrations of mycotoxins produced. Corn meal agar (CMA) medium was favorable for fumonisins A1 and B1, while malt extract agar (MEA) favored fumonisins A2 and B2. The study also identified the production of other mycotoxins related compounds as fusarins, bikaverin derivatives and fumonisins analogs, under different growth conditions. This study highlights the potential of combining OSMAC and metabolomics to unravel the substrate‐dependent and time‐dependent variations in mycotoxin biosynthesis by F. verticillioides. The insights gained provide a better understanding of the ecophysiology of this fungus and the occurrence of its mycotoxins, which can inform targeted mitigation strategies to ensure food and feed safety.
Distinct Effects of SARS‐CoV‐2 Protein Segments on Structural Stability, Amyloidogenic Potential, and α‐Synuclein Aggregation
Authors: St. Dollente Mesias Vince , Zhang Jianing , Zhu Hongni , Dai Xin , Li Jixi , Huang Jinqing 
Published: October 2024

AbstractAmyloidosis is characterized by the abnormal accumulation of misfolded proteins, called amyloid fibrils, leading to diverse clinical manifestations. Recent studies on the amyloidogenesis of SARS‐CoV‐2 protein segments have raised concerns on their potential link to post‐infection neurodegeneration, however, the mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we investigated the structure, stability, and amyloidogenic propensity of a nine‐residue segment (SK9) of the SARS‐CoV‐2 envelope protein and their impact on neuronal protein α‐synuclein (αSyn) aggregation. Specifically, the amino acid sequence of the SK9 wildtype has been modified from a basic and positively charged peptide (SFYVYSRVK), to a nearly neutral and more hydrophobic peptide (SAAVASAVK, labelled as SK9 var1), and to an acidic and negatively charged peptide (SDAVANAVK, labelled as SK9 var2). Our findings reveal that the SK9 wildtype exhibited a pronounced amyloidogenic propensity due to its disordered and unstable nature, while the SK9 variants possessed more ordered and stable structures preventing the amyloid formation. Significantly, the SK9 wildtype demonstrated distinct effect on αSyn aggregation kinetics and aggregate morphology to facilitate the formation of αSyn aggregates with enhanced resistance against enzymatic degradation. This study highlights the potential of modifying short peptide sequences to fine‐tune their properties, providing insights into understanding and regulating viral‐induced amyloid aggregations.
Moving Horizon Parameter Estimation for an Enzyme‐Catalyzed Transamination Reaction with Integrated Product Removal
Authors: Behrens Jessica , Tiedemann Sven , Kunde Tom , von Langermann Jan , Kienle Achim 
Published: October 2024

AbstractChiral amines are key building blocks in producing active pharmaceutical ingredients and can be synthesized via the amine transaminase pathway under mild conditions with eco‐friendly solvents. For model‐based design and control, mathematical models can be utilized. This requires reliable parameterization of the model. In this study, a model for the production of (S)‐(3 methoxyphenyl)‐ethylamine is presented. Parameter identifiability is analyzed using the method of profile likelihoods. The parameter identifiability is then tested in two different batch operation scenarios by using moving horizon estimation, which can be applied for on‐line model adaption and control purposes. In a batch process, identifiability decreases over time. A repetitive batch strategy improves parameter identifiability.
Styrylchromones: Biological Activities and Structure‐Activity Relationship
Authors: Lucas Mariana , Freitas Marisa , Silva Artur M. S. , Fernandes Eduarda , Ribeiro Daniela 
Published: October 2024

AbstractStyrylchromones (SC) are a group of oxygen‐containing heterocyclic compounds, which are characterized by the attachment of a styryl group to the chromone core. SC can be found in nature or can be chemically synthesized in the laboratory. As their presence in nature is scarce, the synthetic origin is the most common. Two types of SC are known: 2‐styrylchromones and 3‐styrylchromones. However, 2‐styrylchromones are the most common, being more broadly found in nature and whose chemical synthesis is more commonly described. A wide variety of SC has been described in the literature, with different substituents in different positions, the majority of which are distributed on the A‐ and/or B‐rings. Over the years, several biological activities have been attributed to SC. This work presents a comprehensive review of the biological activities attributed to SC and their structure‐activity relationship, based on a published literature search, since 1989. The following biological activities are thoroughly reviewed and discussed in this review: antioxidant, antiallergic, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anti‐inflammatory and antitumoral, affinity and selectivity for A3 adenosine receptors, neuroprotective, and α‐glucosidase inhibition. In general, SC are composed by a promising scaffold with great potential for the development of new drugs.
Controlling Soliton Pulse Propagation in Inhomogeneous Optical Waveguides With Dual‐Power Law Refractive Index
Authors: Mrzog Alaofi Zaki , Shaalan M. A. , Ali Khalid K. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTThis study focuses on the manipulation of soliton parameters within optical waveguides characterized by a dual‐power law refractive index, drawing similarities with published papers. The precise management of solitons holds significant importance in the field of fiber‐optical communication. While previous research has primarily concentrated on modifying soliton attributes such as amplitude and width, comparatively less attention has been dedicated to controlling the wave speed of solitons. In order to bridge this gap, the researchers adopted the employment of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with time‐dependent dispersion and two power‐law nonlinearities, mirroring similar approaches found in published literature. By employing this methodology, the researchers successfully achieved active control over the wave speed of solitons in non‐uniform optical waveguides. To effectively handle the inherent complexities of the nonlinear system, two well‐established techniques, namely, the generalized Kudryashov method and the simple equation method, were utilized to derive solutions. These techniques have been previously employed and demonstrated in published papers, further enhancing the validity and reliability of the research findings. We discuss the traveling wave solutions by finding the fixed points of the dynamical planar system.
Advanced Beamforming and Multi‐Access Edge Computing: Empowering Ultra‐Reliable and Low‐Latency Applications in 6G Networks
Authors: Gunasekaran K. , Dhanasekaran S. , Kumar R. Vinod , Aswath S. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACT6G technology is expected to transform communications by allowing the Internet of Everything, representing a huge advance in 2030. While B5G has not yet been established, various nations are actively working on 5G, but certain research groups are presently devoting their attention to the creation of 6G technologies. The upcoming 6G networks promise higher quality of service (QoS) features, including virtual reality and holographic communications. Multi‐Access Edge Computing (MEC) and, in particular, the offloading idea are key components of 6G innovation that enable resource‐intensive application design. If the wireless link used for computational offloading is inefficient, MEC's true potential can be impeded. Intelligent beamforming and MEC have garnered attention recently. Systematically optimizing the wireless communication environment, these developments improve connectivity between user equipment (UE) and base station (BS). By increasing the electrical charge of the reflectable signal, intelligent beamforming increases the range and efficacy of Back Communication. Particularly, this study assesses how well the MEC structure performs in urban microcellular settings when intelligent beamforming is used in communications. It has been demonstrated that the use of Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces (IRS) greatly reduces spectrum and energy usage. This study's results are implemented in Python software. Our suggested strategy shows better latency compared to other optimization methods and shorter task completion times than traditional methods. When compared to conventional techniques, the suggested MEC‐enabled network showcasing lower latency (4.9 ms) and efficient network congestion management and task completion time (30 ms) demonstrates a significant performance. These results highlight how intelligent beamforming and MEC have a lot of potential to shape the architecture of 6G networks in the future.
Metabolic Characterization of Vamorolone in Human Liver Microsomes: Implications for Anti‐Doping
Authors: Li Zhongquan , Liu Bing , Wang Yirang , Yu Chunyang , Xu Xin , Chen Peijie 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTVamorolone, a potential alternative to conventional glucocorticoids, shows significant promise in sports medicine due to its reduced side effects and superior pharmacodynamic properties. This study aims to investigate the metabolic characteristics of this novel synthetic cyclodextrin‐steroid anti‐inflammatory drug and elucidate the metabolic pathways in human liver microsomes (HLMs) in vitro, thereby providing a scientific basis for assessing its potential risks for athletes. All compounds are detected by liquid chromatography‐high resolution mass spectrometry (LC‐HRMS) and metabolite identification was performed using Compound Discoverer 3.3 software. In the HLMs model, 12 metabolites of vamorolone are successfully identified, including 10 phase I metabolites and 2 phase II metabolites. Among these, the reduction metabolite M1 exhibited the highest peak area, indicating it as one of the primary metabolic pathways. The dehydrogenated compound M2 had the second highest peak area, further elucidating the metabolic characteristics of vamorolone. This study systematically identifies the metabolite structures of vamorolone in HLMs and provide crucial data for the pharmacokinetics and biomarker research of this drug. The findings not only enhance the understanding of its metabolic mechanisms but also offer a scientific basis for evaluating its safety and efficacy in sports medicine. Meanwhile, these discoveries can contribute to better regulation and control of Vamorolone's use in competitive sports, ensuring fairness in competitions.
Does Clade Density Constrain Geographical Range Evolution?
Authors: Pie Marcio R. , Divieso Raquel , Caron Fernanda S. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTThe role of biotic interactions, such as interspecific competition, in driving geographical range evolution is still poorly understood. For instance, lineages distributed across regions with a large number of potential competitors might experience some level of geographical packing of their range limits, so that changes in their geographical distributions are hampered. Conversely, a large number of competitors could instead lead to accelerated rates of geographical range evolution, with lineages shifting their ranges to avoid competition. We recently introduced the concept of clade density (CD; the sum of the areas of overlap between a species and other members of its higher taxon, weighted by their phylogenetic distance) as a proxy of the potential for interspecific competition across the geographical distribution of a given species. In this study, we used a large dataset with 5936 terrestrial vertebrate species to test whether CD is significantly associated with variation in the rate of geographical range evolution using two alternative approaches. First, we tested if there is a significant relationship between CD and the geographical distance between sister species. In addition, we estimated tip rates of geographical range evolution and tested if they were consistently associated with variation in CD. We found no evidence for an effect of CD on geographical range evolution in either of the tested approaches, even after accounting for phylogenetic uncertainty. These results are inconsistent with equilibrial models of species diversification and suggest that interspecific competition might not play a pervasive role in geographical range evolution of terrestrial vertebrates.
Co‐Occurrence Patterns Do Not Predict Mutualistic Interactions Between Plant and Butterfly Species
Authors: Menares Esteban , Saíz Hugo , Schenk Noëlle , de la Riva Enrique G. , Krauss Jochen , Birkhofer Klaus 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTBiotic interactions are crucial for determining the structure and dynamics of communities; however, direct measurement of these interactions can be challenging in terms of time and resources, especially when numerous species are involved. Inferring species interactions from species co‐occurrence patterns is increasingly being used; however, recent studies have highlighted some limitations. To our knowledge, no attempt has been made to test the accuracy of the existing methods for detecting mutualistic interactions in terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we compiled two literature‐based, long‐term datasets of interactions between butterflies and herbaceous plant species in two regions of Germany and compared them with observational abundance and presence/absence data collected within a year in the same regions. We tested how well the species associations generated by three different co‐occurrence analysis methods matched those of empirically measured mutualistic associations using sensitivity and specificity analyses and compared the strength of associations. We also checked whether flower abundance data (instead of plant abundance data) increased the accuracy of the co‐occurrence models and validated our results using empirical flower visitation data. The results revealed that, although all methods exhibited low sensitivity, our implementation of the Relative Interaction Intensity index with pairwise null models performed the best, followed by the probabilistic method and Spearman's rank correlation method. However, empirical data showed a significant number of interactions that were not detected using co‐occurrence methods. Incorporating flower abundance data did not improve sensitivity but enhanced specificity in one region. Further analysis demonstrated incongruence between the predicted co‐occurrence associations and actual interaction strengths, with many pairs exhibiting high interaction strength but low co‐occurrence or vice versa. These findings underscore the complexity of ecological dynamics and highlight the limitations of current co‐occurrence methods for accurately capturing species interactions.
Myocardial inflammation is associated with impaired mitochondrial oxidative capacity in ischaemic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Borger Julius , Zweck Elric , Moos Constanze , Horn Patrick , Voß Fabian , Schultheiss Heinz‐Peter , Møller Jacob Eifer , Boeken Udo , Aubin Hug , Lichtenberg Artur , Kelm Malte , Roden Michael , Polzin Amin , Westenfeld Ralf , Szendroedi Julia , Scheiber Daniel 
Published: October 2024

AbstractAimsMyocardial inflammation and impaired mitochondrial oxidative capacity are hallmarks of heart failure (HF) pathophysiology. The extent of myocardial inflammation in patients suffering from ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) or dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and its association with mitochondrial energy metabolism are unknown. We aimed at establishing a relevant role of cardiac inflammation in the impairment of mitochondrial energy production in advanced ischaemic and non‐ischaemic HF.MethodsWe included 81 patients with stage D HF (ICM, n = 44; DCM, n = 37) undergoing left ventricular assist device implantation (n = 59) or heart transplantation (n = 22) and obtained left ventricular tissue samples during open heart surgery. We quantified mitochondrial oxidative capacity, citrate synthase activity (CSA) and fibrosis and lymphocytic infiltration. We considered infiltration of >14 CD3+ cells/mm2 relevant inflammation.ResultsPatients with ICM or DCM did not differ regarding age (61.5 ± 5.7 vs. 56.5 ± 12.7 years, P = 0.164), sex (86% vs. 84% male, P = 0.725), type 2 diabetes mellitus (34% vs. 18%, P = 0.126) or chronic kidney disease (8% vs. 11%, P = 0.994). ICM exhibited oxidative capacity reduced by 23% compared to DCM (108.6 ± 41.4 vs. 141.9 ± 59.9 pmol/(s*mg), P = 0.006). Maximum production of reactive oxygen species was not significantly different between ICM and DCM (0.59 ± 0.28 vs. 0.69 ± 0.36 pmol/(s*ml), P = 0.196). Mitochondrial content, detected by CSA, was lower in ICM (359.6 ± 164.1 vs. 503.0 ± 198.5 nmol/min/mg protein, P = 0.002). Notably, relevant inflammation was more common in ICM (27% vs. 6%, P = 0.024), and the absolute number of infiltrating leucocytes correlated with lower oxidative capacity (r = −0.296, P = 0.019). Fibrosis was more prevalent in ICM (20.9 ± 21.2 vs. 7.2 ± 5.6% of area, P = 0.002), but not associated with oxidative capacity (r = −0.13, P = 0.327).ConclusionsMore than every fourth ICM patient with advanced HF displays myocardial inflammation in the range of inflammatory cardiomyopathy associated with reduced mitochondrial oxidative capacity. Future studies may evaluate inflammation in ICM at earlier stages in standardised fashion to explore the therapeutic potential of immunosuppression to influence trajectories of HF in ICM.
Characterizing dynamic tumor–immune interactions in lung adenocarcinoma through orthotopic allograft modeling
Authors: Shi Mingjun , Dong Tianqi , Lin Jiaming , Huang Liu , Zhang Huixia , Sun Shuguo 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe major clinical challenge in lung cancer immunotherapy is drug resistance. Therefore, establishing efficient orthotopic lung cancer mouse models to explore the mechanisms of drug immunotherapy resistance is highly important. In this study, we generated multiple fluorescently labeled lung adenocarcinoma cell lines from a genetically engineered KPZ mice model. Orthotopic transplantation of the primary 1F3 cell line induced a strong immune response, causing many small tumors to disappear, but some tumors evaded the immune attack and eventually formed large tumors. Tumor microenvironment analysis demonstrated that M2 macrophages play key roles in the immune response. Further mechanistic studies revealed that the chemokine CCL7 promoted the infiltration of M2 macrophages to facilitate immune escape, thereby promoting tumor growth in the orthotopic mouse model. Moreover, CCL7 levels were elevated in human lung cancer biopsies and positively correlated with M2 macrophage infiltration, and high CCL7 levels predicted advanced pathological stage and poor survival in lung cancer patients. Overall, we established a visualized and orthotopic mouse model with fluorescently labeled cells to better dissect the tumor microenvironment of lung cancer and define the critical role of CCL7 in promoting M2 macrophage polarization and tumorigenesis, providing new preclinical tools and potential targets for lung cancer immunotherapy.