bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Executive Functioning and Processing Speed as Predictors of Global Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer Disease
Authors: Haran John P. , Barrett A M , Lai YuShuan , Odjidja Samuel N. , Dutta Protiva , McGrath Patrick M , Samari Imane , Romeiro Lethycia , Lopes Abigail , Bucci Vanni , McCormick Beth A. 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTINTRODUCTIONThere is a lack of cognitive tools to predict disease progression in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).METHODSWe assessed patients with MCI, AD, and cognitively healthy controls (cHC) using NIH toolbox assessments for attention/concentration and executive functioning and overall cognitive decline by the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog).RESULTSAmong 183 participants over a median follow-up of 540 days, both between- and within-subjects variance in NIH toolbox and ADAS-Cog assessments increased from cHC to MCI to AD patients. Among patients with AD, pattern comparison processing speed (PCPS) and dimensional change card sort tests (DCCS) declined at 3 and 6 months prior to global cognitive decline (p=0.008 & 0.0012). A 5-point decrease in either PCPS or DCCS increased risk of global cognitive decline (HR 1.32 (1.08-1.60) and 1.62 (1.16-2.26)).DISCUSSIONTesting for cognitive domains of attention/concentration and executive functioning may predict subsequent global cognitive, and functional decline.
Immune history shapes human antibody responses to H5N1 influenza viruses
Authors: Garretson Tyler A. , Liu Jiaojiao , Li Shuk Hang , Scher Gabrielle , Santos Jefferson J.S. , Hogan Glenn , Vieira Marcos Costa , Furey Colleen , Atkinson Reilly K. , Ye Naiqing , Ort Jordan , Kim Kangchon , Hernandez Kevin A. , Eilola Theresa , Schultz David C. , Cherry Sara , Cobey Sarah , Hensley Scott E. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractAvian H5N1 influenza viruses are circulating widely in cattle and other mammals and pose a risk for a human pandemic. Previous studies suggest that older humans are more resistant to H5N1 infections due to childhood imprinting with other group 1 viruses (H1N1 and H2N2); however, the immunological basis for this is incompletely understood. Here we show that antibody titers to historical and recent H5N1 strains are highest in older individuals and correlate more strongly with year of birth than with age, consistent with immune imprinting. After vaccination with an A/Vietnam/1203/2004 H5N1 vaccine, both younger and older humans produced H5-reactive antibodies to the vaccine strain and to a clade 2.3.4.4b isolate currently circulating in cattle, with higher seroconversion rates in young children who had lower levels of antibodies before vaccination. These studies suggest that younger individuals might benefit more from vaccination than older individuals in the event of an H5N1 pandemic.
Are there mortality improvements with newer interventions in adult cardiac surgery? Evidence from 73 meta-analyses
Authors: Parish Austin , Tolis George , Ioannidis John P.A. 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundIn the last two decades, many new interventions have been introduced with the ultimate goal of improving overall postoperative outcomes after cardiac operations in adults. We aimed to assess how often randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in adult cardiac surgery found significant mortality benefits for newer interventions versus older ones, whether observed treatment effect estimates changed over time and whether RCTs and non-randomized observational studies gave similar results.MethodsWe searched journals likely to publish systematic reviews on adult cardiac surgery for meta-analyses of mortality outcomes and that included at least one RCT, with or without observational studies. Relative treatment effect sizes were evaluated overall, over time, and per study design.Results73 meta-analysis comparisons (824 study outcomes on mortality, 519 from RCTs, 305 from observational studies) were eligible. The median mortality effect size was 1.00, IQR 0.54-1.30 (1.00 among RCTs, 0.91 among observational studies, p=0.039). 4 RCTs and 6 observational studies reached p<0.005 favoring newer interventions. 2/73 meta-analyses reached p<0.005 favoring the newer interventions. Effect size for experimental interventions relative to controls did not change over time overall (p=0.64) or for RCTs (p=0.30), and there was a trend for increase in observational studies (p=0.027). In 34 meta-analyses with both RCTs (n=95) and observational studies (n=305), the median relative summary effect (summary effect in observational studies divided by summary effect in RCTs) was 0.87 (IQR, 0.55-1.29); meta-analysis of the relative summary effects yielded a summary of 0.93 (95% CI, 0.74-1.18).ConclusionsThe vast majority of newer interventions had no mortality differences over older ones both overall and in RCTs in particular, while benefits for newer interventions were reported more frequently in observational studies.
Perceptions and willingness of patients and caregivers on the utilization of patient-generated health data: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Park Ye-Eun , Beck Sang Sook , Lee Yura 
Published: November 2024

AbstractBackgroundPatient-generated health data (PGHD) are increasingly recognized for their potential to complement traditional healthcare data by offering continuous monitoring and enhanced patient management. Despite the growing interest in PGHD however, the perceptions and willingness of patients and caregivers to utilize this information in a clinical setting remain underexplored.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the perceptions, expectations, and concerns of patients and caregivers regarding the clinical utilization of PGHD. The influence of demographic factors such as age and health status on these perceptions was also explored.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted of 400 participants, including both patients and caregivers. The survey collected data on attitudes towards PGHD, experiences with health information management, and the willingness to share PGHD for clinical and secondary purposes. Statistical analysis was used to identify significant differences in perceptions based on demographics and health-related roles.ResultsThe analysis revealed significant variations in attitudes towards PGHD that were based on the participants’ health-related roles, age, and gender. Older patients and male caregivers exhibited higher concerns about data privacy and security, while younger participants showed greater enthusiasm for using PGHD in managing their health. These findings highlighted diverse needs and expectations across different demographic groups.ConclusionConsideration of demographics and role-based differences is very important when designing and implementing PGHD systems. Tailored approaches that address specific concerns and expectations can enhance the acceptance and effectiveness of PGHD in clinical practice, ultimately fostering more patient-centered care.
Evaluation of clinical characteristics of Legionella pneumophila pneumonia diagnosed by metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing:A Retrospective Study
Authors: He Zhixiong , Chu Ruixiang , Ke Junyi , Li Qinglan , Wu Qi , Sheng Jiao , Liu Ping , Duan Minchao 
Published: November 2024

AbstractPurposeThis study aimed to summarize the clinical characteristics and outcomes of Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila) pneumonia to assist clinicians in accurately and early identifying this disease. The findings provide evidence to guide decision-making for L. pneumophila infection and improve treatment success rates.Patients and methodsA retrospective analysis of clinical data was conducted on 19 patients diagnosed with L. pneumophila infection at our hospital using Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS).ResultsThe study included 16 male and 3 female participants, with an average age of 59.5±16.2 years. The majority of participants were immunocompromised (13/19). The most common symptoms included fever (n=11) with a median peak value of 39.5°C, cough (n = 15), expectoration (n = 14), dyspnea (n = 10), poor appetite (n = 9), fatigue (n = 8), and headache (n = 3). Elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were observed in all patients, while procalcitonin (PCT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were significantly higher in the severe group compared to the non-severe group. Lymphocyte count levels were also significantly lower in the severe group (P<0.05). Common CT manifestations included flake high-density shadows (n = 17), pleural effusion (n = 11), consolidation (n = 4), ground-glass exudation (n = 4), and bronchial inflation signs (n = 3). The most prevalent underlying diseases were hypertension (n = 9), diabetes (n = 8), AIDS (n = 6), COPD (n = 5), and malignancies (n = 3). Common complications included acute liver injury (n=7), acute respiratory failure (n=6), electrolyte disorders (n=5), sepsis (n=3), MODS (n=2), and ARDS (n=1). The majority of patients received treatment with quinolones (16/19), with six patients requiring mechanical ventilation therapy. Tragically, 2 patients in the severe pneumonia group succumbed to sepsis and multiple organ failure.ConclusionL. pneumophila pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection. If not promptly diagnosed, patients may develop severe pneumonia, multiorgan failure, or face fatal outcomes. mNGS can be used for rapid and accurate diagnosis of L. pneumophila infections, thereby improving treatment outcomes. Early initiation of quinolones or combination therapy with other medications has demonstrated a significant therapeutic benefit for patients with L. pneumophila pneumonia.
Assessing phylogenetic information content and redundancy in hominin craniodental traits
Authors: Raskin Levi Yoder , Šešelj Maja , Bitarello Bárbara Domingues 
Published: November 2024

AbstractPaleoanthropological phylogenetic inference is based on characters assumed to be phylogenetically informative and independent. Yet, our understanding of whether these criteria are met in published character supermatrices is limited. We assess the phylogenetic information content (PHIC) of 107 discrete craniodental traits from a widely-used hominin character matrix. We compare test topologies — inferred by permuting single traits or removing single traits, anatomical units (AUs), and operational taxonomic units — to the baseline topology, inferred from the unmodified matrix. In this dataset, only 31 traits have some degree of PHIC: 23 uniquely informative traits — sufficient, as a set, to closely approach the baseline topology — and eight redundant traits. No single AU, nor the combination of mandibular and dentition AUs, contains sufficient PHIC to approach the baseline topology, and only the maxilla contains more PHIC than expected. Therefore, phylogenetic placements of fossil hominins represented by isolated AUs should be regarded as putative until better-preserved specimens and more informative traits can be incorporated. Given the ubiquity of discrete morphological data in paleontology and that most of the history of life on Earth was only recorded through fossils, our methods should be broadly applicable to phylogenetic inference involving other paleontological clades.
Systematic dissection of epigenetic age acceleration in normal breast tissue reveals its link to estrogen signaling and cancer risk
Authors: Sehl Mary E. , Guo Wenbin , Farrell Collin , Marino Natascia , Henry Jill E. , Storniolo Anna Maria , Papp Jeanette , Li Jingyi Jessica , Horvath Steve , Pellegrini Matteo , Ganz Patricia A. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractBreast aging encompasses intricate molecular and cellular changes that elevate cancer risk. Our study profiled DNA methylation and gene expression of 181 normal breast samples and systematically evaluated eight epigenetic clocks. We found that clocks trained using breast tissues demonstrate improved age prediction in normal breast tissue, and bias universally exists in epigenetic clocks, necessitating a proper definition of age acceleration. Cell composition analysis revealed significant age-related alterations and highlighted its distinct associations with age acceleration, including increased luminal epithelial and myoepithelial cells and reduced adipocytes and immune cells, connecting age acceleration to carcinogenesis from a cell compositional perspective. Additionally, CpG sites associated with age acceleration were enriched for estrogen receptor binding sites, providing a mechanistic link between estrogen exposure, accelerated aging, and cancer. These findings highlight the importance of cellular heterogeneity in epigenetic age estimates and the potential of age acceleration to guide for risk stratification and prevention strategies.
London taxi drivers leverage regional boundaries to optimise route choices and improve their navigation skill across three decades
Authors: Gahnstrom Christoffer J. , Goodroe Sarah C. , de Silva Stephanie , Griesbauer Eva-Maria , Morley Jeremy , Manley Ed , Spiers Hugo J. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThe world is defined by boundaries. They segment our experience of time and space, and in virtual environments have been shown to impact navigational choices. Here, we test the impact of boundaries on route choices in a real-world environment (London, UK) with a group of expert navigators: licensed London taxi drivers who are required to memorise the layout of over 26,000 streets to obtain their licence. After presenting photographs of a start location and a goal location, taxi drivers were asked to either accept or reject a third target street as forming part of the direct route or not. Performance increased across the adult life-span period in this group (age: 34 to 67). Taxi drivers were faster and more accurate when the target location formed part of a street network boundary (e.g. streets on the edge of the London neighbourhood Soho). Our results are consistent with taxi drivers exploiting the graph structure of the street network to plan routes, as well as consistent with the formation of hierarchical state representations to reduce the dimensionality of the planning problem. Taken together, we show that navigational skill can improve over decades of exposure and that experts exploit regional boundaries for optimal choices, providing a scaffolding over which to form action plans.
Cytotoxicity and Characterization of 3D-Printable Resins Using a Low-Cost Printer for Muscle-based Biohybrid Devices
Authors: Liao Ashlee S. , Dai Kevin , Irez Alaeddin Burak , Sun Anika , Bennington Michael J. , Schaffer Saul , Chopra Bhavya , Seok Ji Min , Adams Rebekah , Zhang Yongjie Jessica , Webster-Wood Victoria A. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractBiohybrid devices integrate biological and synthetic materials. The selection of an appropriate synthetic material to interface with living cells and tissues is crucial due to cellular chemical and mechanical sensitivities. As such, the stiffness of the material and its biocompatibility while in direct contact must be considered. In this study, the material properties and biocompatibility of six commercially available, 3D printable resins (three rigid and three elastomeric) were assessed for their suitability for biohybrid actuators. To characterize the material, uniaxial tension and compression tests with post-hoc Hookean and Yeoh model analyses were conducted for both nonsterile and sterilized (ethanol-soaking or autoclaved) samples. The mechanical properties of the elastomeric resins were minimally impacted by the different sterilization techniques. However, both Phrozen AquaGray 8K and Liqcreate Bio-Med Clear rigid resins were significantly softer in tensile tests after sterilization, and AquaGray became far more ductile. Asiga DentaGUIDE was much more stable in its mechanical properties than the other rigid resins. It was also shown that long-term exposure to saline solutions leads to a decrease in the Young’s moduli of these rigid resins before any sterilization has occurred. The print fidelity was also assessed for nonsterile and sterilized samples via manual scoring to determine the impacts of the sterilization processes on the part fidelity. Sterilization techniques had a minimal impact on print fidelity for both elastomeric and ridged resins with two exceptions. In both Formlabs Silicone 40A IPA/BuOAc post-treatment and Phrozen AquaGrey 8K groups, ethanol/UV-sterilization caused more degradation compared to autoclave-sterilization. In addition to the material analyses, cytotoxicity analyses using calcein AM and ethidium homodimer-1 fluorescence markers were conducted by directly culturing C2C12, a common myoblast cell line used in bioactuators, with sterilized resin samples. Of the elastomeric resins, only Formlabs Silicone 40A was shown to have minimal impacts on cell viability. For the rigid resins, Asiga DentaGUIDE, Liqcreate Bio-Med Clear, and ethanol-sterilized Phrozen AquaGray 8K demonstrated minimal impacts on cell viability. Based on these analyses, Asiga DentaGUIDE and Formlabs Silicone 40A demonstrate potential for applications in biohybrid muscle-based actuators when using low-cost 3D printers.
Extreme fatigue-resistance in a brood parasite parallels a war of attrition in begging competition with hosts
Authors: Antonson Nicholas D. , Hauber Mark E. , Schelsky Wendy M. , Kallembach Carly , Fuxjager Matthew J. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractFood-solicitation displays are critical to the survival of dependent young. These signals often evolve in extreme ways in response to familial conflict among siblings and between parents and offspring. Avian brood parasites demonstrate how these signals can become exaggerated by engaging in a begging arms race with host offspring. However, despite hypotheses about how begging displays in brood parasites are adapted to support the demands of early parasitic life, we know little about the physiological specializations that support exaggerated parasitic traits. Here, we investigate display performance in the begging competition between brood parasitic brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) and host prothonotary warblers (Protonotaria citrea). Usingin situmuscle stimulation, we test the performance limits of the musculus complexus (MC), which actuates begging displays. Our results show that nestlings of each species initiate their begging display at similar speeds, but cowbirds beg far longer than warblers. We trace these effects to species differences in muscle performance, with the cowbirdMCshowing dramatically greater fatigue-resistance than warblers, while other facets of muscle performance remained similar between species. Altogether, these findings suggest that intra-brood conflict in host-parasite interactions selects for extreme fatigue-resistance in skeletal muscles to support a “war of attrition” in begging behavior and nestling survival.
Adaptation and acclimation of gametophytic traits to heat stress in a widely distributed wild plant along a steep climatic gradient
Authors: Tushabe Donam , Altmann Franziska , Koehler Erik , Woods Sebastian , Kahl Sandra , Rosbakh Sergey 
Published: November 2024

AbstractClimate change-induced heat waves often result in reduced seed yields and quality via high-temperature effects in the gametophytic phase. Surprisingly, the ability of pollen and ovules, particularly among wild plant populations, to adapt or acclimate to heat stress remains poorly understood.To address this gap, we examined the adaptive and acclimation potential of six gametophytic traits in eleven distinct populations of wildSilene vulgarisacross a temperature gradient in Europe. First, we cultivated plants in a common garden to reveal differences in gametophytic traits indicative of adaptation. Next, we assessed the acclimation potential of these traits to heat stress by subjecting flowering plants to two chronic heat stress (CHS) treatments: moderate (35/30 °C) and severe (40/35 °C), for 18 days.Findings from the common garden experiment indicated no intraspecific variation in gametophytic traits across the temperature gradient, suggesting that these traits may not influence the plant’s sexual adaptation to its local habitat. Plants originating from colder climates produced more and larger seeds than those from warmer climates. During CHS treatments, the female gametophyte was less temperature sensitive compared to the male gametophyte. Moderate CHS led to larger ovaries with more, large-sized ovules, while severe CHS reduced ovule numbers but increased their size. In contrast, both CHS treatments decreased pollen grain numbers, size, and anther length, with severe CHS causing more significant reductions. These reductions in gametophytic traits ultimately translated to lower seed yield and quality, which may threaten the sustained existence of natural plant populations over time. Under both CHS treatments, the acclimation potential did not vary among plant populations along the temperature gradient, except for pollen size under severe CHS, with larger pollen size in warmer climates than in colder regions.Our findings suggest that the lack of adaptation and acclimation mechanisms in the gametophytic traits (except for pollen size) of wildSilene vulgarispopulations along the temperature gradient indicates that these plants may rely on alternative strategies, such as shifts in flowering time, to respond to thermal stress.
COSMOS: COmmunity and Single Microbe Optimisation System
Authors: Raajaraam Lavanya , Raman Karthik 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTBioprocessing harnesses the potential of microbial communities and monocultures to convert renewable resources like agricultural by-products and wastewater into valuable products. While monocultures offer simplicity and control, microbial communities provide metabolic diversity, enabling complex substrate breakdown and cooperative biosynthesis. However, balancing efficiency with stability requires a nuanced approach, as each system presents unique advantages and limitations, particularly under different environmental conditions. To systematically explore the potential of these systems, we developed the COmmunity and Single Microbe Optimisation System (COSMOS), a dynamic computational framework that compares microbial monocultures and communities across diverse fermentation conditions. COSMOS identifies optimal microbial systems tailored to specific carbon sources and environments. Our findings highlight the impact of key factors such as environment, microbial interactions, and carbon sources on the biosynthetic capabilities of both communities and monocultures. A key result is the identification of theShewanella oneidensis–Klebsiella pneumoniaecommunity as the most efficient producer of 1,3-propanediol under anaerobic conditions. Notably, this aligns with previous experimental findings, with COSMOS accurately predicting the optimal carbon source concentration and inoculum ratio used. Additional findings highlight the value of communities for nutrient-limited processes and emphasise the importance of computational screening to balance productivity with ease of control. The insights gained from this study offer a roadmap toward optimising microbial systems for sustainable bioprocesses and circular bio-economies.ImportanceThe transition to sustainable biomanufacturing is vital for reducing reliance on fossil-based resources in industries such as biofuels, wastewater treatment, and pharmaceuticals. While monocultures are preferred for their predictability, microbial communities offer greater metabolic versatility, particularly in nutrient-limited environments. However, their complexity and the lack of systematic evaluation tools have hindered wider adoption. Identifying the most efficient microbial system—whether monoculture or community—and optimizing it for resource efficiency is key to sustainability and aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 9 and SDG 12). COSMOS addresses this gap by providing a computational framework to assess microbial systems, minimizing the need for extensive experimental testing. By enabling data-driven selection of scalable and efficient bioprocessing strategies, COSMOS supports the transition to circular bio-economies and sustainable manufacturing, ensuring resource-efficient production while reducing environmental impact.