bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Potential Platform for Future Vaccine Trials Identifies a High Incidence of Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Influenza Infection Among Children Aged 6 to 23 Months in South Africa
Authors: Cohen Cheryl , du Plessis Mignon , Martinson Neil , Moyes Jocelyn , Walaza Sibongile , Wolter Nicole , Makhasi Mvuyo , Moosa Fahima , Charles Myrna , Samuels Aaron M , Tempia Stefano , Moloantoa Tumelo , Ncwana Bekiwe , Phalatse Louisa , Buys Amelia , Fry Alicia , Baumgartner Eduardo Azziz , von Gottberg Anne , Kleynhans Jackie 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background
Approaches for determining whether influenza vaccination prevents infection, attenuates illness, or both are important for developing improved vaccines. We estimated influenza infection incidence and evaluated symptom ascertainment methodologies in children to inform future vaccine trial design.

Methods
We conducted a prospective cohort study among children aged 6 to 23 months from May to October 2022. Study nurses collected symptom and temperature data and midturbinate nasal swabs twice weekly irrespective of symptoms; caregivers entered symptom data daily and collected nasal swabs weekly. Samples were tested for influenza with polymerase chain reaction.

Results
Of 230 healthy screened children, 93 were enrolled, of whom 87 (94%) completed 6-month follow-up. In total, 95% (4245/4476) of scheduled nurses, 90% (2045/2276) of caregiver swabs, 99% (92/93) of baseline blood collections, and 67% (9245/13 768) of scheduled symptom diaries were completed. Polymerase chain reaction–confirmed influenza incidence was 65% (60/93) for ≥1 infection; 11 (18%) individuals had 2 episodes and 1 (2%) had 3. Of 73 episodes, 55 (75%) had ≥1 symptom and 37 (51%) had fever (measured and/or reported). Median infection duration was 7 days (IQR, 4–9). Human RNase P gene was detected in 99% (2032/2045) of caregiver-collected swabs, through which 5 additional episodes were identified. Per episode, caregivers' diaries of reported and measured fever were 19% (25/73, 34%) and 11% (15/73, 21%) higher than nurse-reported (11/73, 15%) and nurse-measured (7/73, 10%) fever, respectively.

Conclusions
The incidence of influenza infection was high and mainly symptomatic, suggesting that this platform could be suitable for future trials of vaccine efficacy and correlates of protection against infection and illness in children.
Putative past, present, and future spatial distributions of deep-sea coral and sponge microbiomes revealed by predictive models
Authors: Busch Kathrin , Murillo Francisco Javier , Lirette Camille , Wang Zeliang , Kenchington Ellen 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Knowledge of spatial distribution patterns of biodiversity is key to evaluate and ensure ocean integrity and resilience. Especially for the deep ocean, where in situ monitoring requires sophisticated instruments and considerable financial investments, modeling approaches are crucial to move from scattered data points to predictive continuous maps. Those modeling approaches are commonly run on the macrobial level, but spatio-temporal predictions of host-associated microbiomes are not being targeted. This is especially problematic as previous research has highlighted that host-associated microbes may display distribution patterns that are not perfectly correlated not only with host biogeographies, but also with other factors, such as prevailing environmental conditions. We here establish a new simulation approach and present predicted spatio-temporal distribution patterns of deep-sea sponge and coral microbiomes, making use of a combination of environmental data, host data, and microbiome data. This approach allows predictions of microbiome spatio-temporal distribution patterns on scales that are currently not covered by classical sampling approaches at sea. In summary, our presented predictions allow (i) identification of microbial biodiversity hotspots in the past, present, and future, (ii) trait-based predictions to link microbial with macrobial biodiversity, and (iii) identification of shifts in microbial community composition (key taxa) across environmental gradients and shifting environmental conditions.
A Critical Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial Quality in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Authors: Wong Gordon C. , Cullen Clara M. , Kim H. Myra , Colwell Amy S. , Chung Kevin C. 
Published: November 2024

Background:
Assessing the methodological and reporting quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in plastic surgery is crucial in maintaining the standards of evidence-based practice. Previous evaluations underscored deficiencies in reporting and methodology, prompting a call for improvement. This review scrutinizes the methodological and reporting standards of RCTs published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS) from 2013 to 2022.

Methods:
We conducted a review of RCTs published in PRS from 2013 to 2022. Methodological quality of RCTs was assessed using the Jadad score and a modified Cochrane risk-of-bias (RoB) tool. Additional relevant data were gathered to assess reporting quality, ascertain predictors of methodological quality, and identify temporal trends.

Results:
A total of 146 RCTs were reviewed. The mean Jadad score was 2.96 ± 1.21, and the average RoB score was 5.65 ± 2.14, indicating moderate methodological quality. Trials assessing surgical techniques or medical devices were associated with poorer methodological quality compared to drug interventions. Breast trials showed one of the highest methodological scores but this declined over time. Overall reporting standards were suboptimal, with nearly half of the trials failing to explicitly state primary outcomes or analysis sets. No significant temporal trends were observed.

Conclusion:
RCTs published in PRS between 2013 and 2022 exhibited moderate methodological quality. Our findings underscore the importance of transparent reporting and methodological rigor in advancing evidence-based practices in plastic surgery. By adhering to established methodological standards and reporting guidelines, researchers can enhance the reliability and impact of their studies.
Comparative Efficacy of Masseteric-to-Facial Nerve Transfer With and Without Fascia Lata Grafts in Reanimating Facial Paralysis
Authors: Zhou Yu-lu , Chen Gang , Wang Wen-jin , Ma Hao , Wen Hui-cai , Wang Wei 
Published: November 2024

Background:
Masseteric-to-facial nerve transfer excels in dynamic reanimation but lacks in restoring baseline resting tone. Combining with fascia lata grafts is expected to more fully enhance facial symmetry. Comprehensive comparison of the results of masseteric-to-facial nerve transfer versus combined static suspension may providing valuable insights for patients with subacute facial paralysis to select the most appropriate treatment.

Methods:
In this retrospective study, 104 facial paralysis patients were categorized by surgical procedure: 39 received masseteric-to-facial nerve transfer (Group A) and 65 underwent combined with fascia lata graft (Group B), further divided by oral commissure drooping severity into slight (A1, B1) and severe (A2, B2) asymmetry.

Results:
Patients in Group B2 exhibited significantly better static symmetry than those in Group A2, with improvements of 87.87% versus 40% (p < 0.001). No significant difference was observed in slight-asymmetry patients between Groups A1 and B1. The Terzis Smile Function Grading System showed no dynamic symmetry differences (p > 0.05). For objective evaluation, postoperative outcomes indicated better static symmetry in both Group B, while Group A1 showed improved dynamic symmetry, with no statistical difference between Groups A2 and B2.

Conclusions:
Masseteric-to-facial nerve transfer combined with fascia lata grafts significantly enhanced both static and dynamic symmetry for patients with varying degree of asymmetry, particularly benefitting those with severe asymmetry. Patients with slight asymmetry who underwent the combined procedure achieved satisfactory static symmetry, although with a minor compromise of approximately 1mm in dynamic symmetry compared to those underwent masseteric-to-facial nerve transfer alone.
Higher Mortality Risk From Ovarian Carcinomas, Small Bowel Neoplasms, and B-Cell and Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphomas in Sjögren Syndrome Patients
Authors: Vázquez-Comendador José Manuel , Mateos Seirul-lo María , Martínez-Urbistondo María , Miguel-Ontañón Nuria , González-Guzmán Antonio , Fernández-Guitián Román , Castejón Raquel , Durán-del Campo Pedro , Tutor Pablo , Mellor-Pita Susana , Moreno-Torres Víctor 
Published: November 2024

Objective
To evaluate the impact of the different types of neoplasms and lineages on Sjögren syndrome (SjS) patient mortality.

Methods
Medical records review study based on the Spanish Hospital Discharge Database and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification coding list. The neoplasm-related deaths in SjS patients with the general population during the period 2016–2019 were compared. A binary logistic regression analysis considering age, sex, tobacco use, and alcohol use was performed to determine the impact of SjS on the risk of dying from each neoplasm group and lineage.

Results
In the period studied, 705,557 in-hospital deaths were certified in Spain, 139,531 (19.8%) from neoplasms. Neoplasms surpassed SjS activity as a cause of mortality in primary SjS patients (11.3% vs. 1.6%, p < 0.001). SjS patients presented higher mortality rates from small bowel carcinoma (0.3% vs. 1.8%; odds ratio [OR], 5.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.33–22) and gynecological neoplasms (6.4% vs. 3%; OR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.01–4.58), related to ovarian carcinomas (4.6% vs. 1.3%; OR, 3.65; 95% CI, 1.48–8.97), than the general population. Hematological neoplasm–related deaths were more prevalent in SjS patients than in the non-SjS population (18.3% vs. 8.9%; OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.25–3.31), mostly attributable to the higher proportion of deaths from B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (8.3% vs. 2.5%; OR, 3.04; 95% CI, 1.54–6.03) and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (1.8% vs. 0.1%; OR, 70.17; 95% CI, 16.61–296.36).

Conclusion
SjS patients face an elevated risk of mortality from small bowel neoplasms, ovarian carcinomas, and B-cell and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma compared with the general Spanish population. Apart from developing approaches to mitigate their occurrence, it is crucial to explore thoroughly and consider the implementation of targeted early-detection programs for these specific conditions.
On the structure of multiple stable equilibria in competitive ecological systems
Authors: Taylor Washington , O’Dwyer James 
Published: November 2024

AbstractFor some ecological systems with a large pool of possible species, there can be multiple stable equilibria with different species composition. Natural or anthropogenic disruption can induce a shift between different such equilibria. While some work has been done on ecological systems with multiple equilibria, there is no general theory governing the distribution of equilibria or characterizing the basins of attraction of different equilibria. This article addresses these questions in a simple class of Lotka-Volterra models. We focus on competitive systems of species on a niche axis with multiple equilibria. We find that basins of attraction are generally larger for equilibria with greater biomass; in many cases, the basin of attraction size scales roughly exponentially with the net biomass of equilibria. This is illustrated in two ecologically relevant limits. In a continuous limit with species spaced arbitrarily closely on the niche axis, equilibria with different numbers of species provide new perspective on the notion of limiting similarity. In another limit, akin to a statistical mechanical model, the niche axis becomes infinite while the range of interactions remains fixed; in this limit we prove the exponential relation between basin size and biomass using the Markov chain central limit theorem.
Back-to-the-future motion analysis using machine intelligence predicts the potential risk of mood disorders
Authors: Jung Wongyo , Lee Junesu , Chae Sujin , Kim Daegun , Kim Daesoo 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTMotion encodes emotional value. Decoding the hidden information within the complexity and randomness of motion may aid in the early diagnosis and prevention of mood disorders. In this study, we utilized machine intelligence to predict the risk of mood disorders by analyzing random motion patterns in mice. The support vector machine, trained on motion data collected before chronic social defeat stress (CSDS), predicted a significant correlation between these data and the degree of CSDS-induced social avoidance. Unsupervised clustering revealed key motion biomarkers of stress susceptibility, accounting for approximately 70% of the onset of social avoidance in a new group of mice before exposure to CSDS. These findings suggest that motion analysis using machine intelligence could provide a non-invasive approach for predicting the risk of mood disorders.
Pith cell responses to low red: far-red light in dicot stems
Authors: Li Linge , van de Kaa Yorrit , van der Krabben Lotte , Pierik Ronald , Kajala Kaisa 
Published: November 2024

AbstractIn dense canopies light becomes a limiting factor for plant growth. Many plants respond to neighbor cues by growing taller to improve light capture, a phenomenon known as the shade avoidance syndrome (SAS). The major neighbor detection is via enrichment of far-red (FR) light that leads to a low red : far-red light ratio (R:FR), suppressing phytochrome activity. In tomato, low R:FR induces elongation of the internodes, but study into the role of different cell types in this response has remained limited.We characterized changes in cellular anatomy of the tomato internode in response to low R:FR, and its accompanying changes in gene expression. We observed changes to the pith traits, including increases in pith layer number, pith cell diameter and longitudinal cell length. We profiled the transcriptome in the entire internodes and in the hand-dissected pith in the central cylinder of the internode in response to low R:FR treatment and identified transcription factors (TFs) of interest that were upregulated in the central cylinder, mostly GATA, TCP, and bZIPs. We then characterized FR-responses in eight dicotyledonous species. Significant pith elongation was observed in species that exhibited a strong internode elongation response. The FR-responsive expression of homologs of target GATA, TCP and bZIP TFs in the central cylinder was conserved within the Solanaceae family.Overall, we discovered central cylinder gene expression patterns in SAS that are distinct from those of the entire internode, suggesting that some responses are unique and likely specific to vascular cell types such as pith. These patterns were conserved with close relatives of tomato but not in other dicot families we sampled, indicating that different molecular mechanisms drive FR responses in different dicots.
scMoE: single-cell Multi-Modal Multi-Task Learning via Sparse Mixture-of-Experts
Authors: Yun Sukwon , Peng Jie , Lee Namkyeong , Zhang Yanyong , Park Chanyoung , Liu Zunpeng , Chen Tianlong 
Published: November 2024

AbstractRecent advances in measuring high-dimensional modalities, including protein levels and DNA accessibility, at the single-cell level have prompted the need for frameworks capable of handling multi-modal data while simultaneously addressing multiple tasks. Despite these advancements, much of the work in the single-cell domain remains limited, often focusing on either a single-modal or single-task perspective. A few recent studies have ventured into multimodal, multi-task learning, but we identified a ①Optimization Conflictissue, leading to suboptimal results when integrating additional modalities, which is undesirable. Furthermore, there is a ②Costly Interpretabilitychallenge, as current approaches predominantly rely on costly post-hoc methods like SHAP. Motivated by these challenges, we introducescMoE1, a novel framework that, for the first time, applies Sparse Mixture-of-Experts (SMoE) within the single-cell domain. This is achieved by incorporating an SMoE layer into a transformer block with a cross-attention module. Thanks to its design,scMoEinherently possesses mechanistic interpretability, a critical aspect for understanding underlying mechanisms when handling biological data. Furthermore, from a post-hoc perspective, we enhance interpretability by extending the concept of activation vectors (CAVs). Extensive experiments on simulated datasets, such asDyngen, and real-world multi-modal single-cell datasets, including {DBiT-seq, Patch-seq, ATAC-seq}, demonstrate the effectiveness ofscMoE. Source code ofscMoEis available at:https://github.com/UNITES-Lab/scMoE.
Heat Acclimation in Mice Requires Preoptic BDNF Neurons and Postsynaptic Potentiation
Authors: Chen Baoting , Gao Cuicui , Liu Changhao , Guo Tongtong , Hu Junwei , Xue Jialiang , Tang Kangmin , Chen Yuelai , Yu Tian , Shen Qiwei , Sun Hongbin , Yang Wen Z. , Shen WeiL. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractHeat acclimation (HA) is a key adaptive response in mammals to repeated heat exposure, essential for fitness and survival1-3. HA improves cardiovascular function, thermal comfort, and exercise capacity4, 5. However, the lack of a genetically tractable model has hindered understanding of the molecular and neural mechanisms underlying HA. Here, we show that 10 days of daily 38°C exposure lowers core body temperature (Tcore) and reduces anxiety during subsequent heat exposures in mice. HA increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the medial preoptic area (MPO). BDNF-expressing MPO neurons (MPOBDNF) show increased intrinsic heat sensitivity after HA. These neurons orchestrate downstream targets in the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) and rostral raphe pallidus (rRPa) to mediate HA effects. BDNF, acting through its receptor tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) in the DMH, facilitates the anxiolytic effect of HA by enhancing excitatory synaptic connections between MPOBDNFand DMH neurons. This study provides new insights into HA mechanisms, setting the stage for future research on heat stress reduction and exercise optimization.
Low-dose calcium supplementation during pregnancy in low and middle-income countries: a cost-effectiveness analysis
Authors: Saronga Happiness P. , Dwarkanath Pratibha , Cui Hening , Muhihi Alfa , Kurpad Anura V. , Sri Poornima V. , Sando Mary M. , Poornima R. , Yelverton Cara , Masanja Honorati M. , Sudfeld Christopher R. , Pembe Andrea B. , Fawzi Wafaie W. , Menzies Nicolas A. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractBackgroundCalcium supplementation during pregnancy can reduce the risk of preeclampsia and preterm birth. Few countries have implemented WHO-recommended high-dose calcium supplementation (1500-2000mg/day), due to adherence and cost concerns. However, low-dose calcium supplementation (one 500mg tablet daily) has recently been shown to be similarly efficacious as high-dose supplementation. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of low-dose calcium supplementation during pregnancy, in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with low dietary calcium intake.MethodsUsing a mathematical model, we estimated the lifetime health outcomes (cases, deaths and DALYs averted) and costs of low-dose calcium supplementation provided through routine antenatal care to women giving birth in 2024, as compared to no supplementation. We assessed costs (2022 USD) from a health system perspective, including cost-savings from averted care for preeclampsia and preterm birth.FindingsLow-dose calcium supplementation was estimated to prevent 1.3 (95% uncertainty interval: 0.2, 2.6) million preterm births (a 10% (2, 18) reduction), 1.8 (1.0, 2.8) million preeclampsia cases (a 23% (14, 32) reduction), as well as 5.9 (1.3, 12.9) million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Intervention costs would be $267 (220, 318) million and produce cost-savings of $56 (26, 86) million, with incremental costs per DALY averted of $90 (38, 389) across all countries, and a return on investment of 19.1 (3.8, 39.5). The intervention was cost-effective in 119 of 129 countries modeled when compared to setting-specific cost-effectiveness thresholds. While there was substantial uncertainty in several inputs, cost-effeciveness conclusions were robust to parameter uncertainty and alternative analytic assumptions.InterpretationLow-dose calcium supplementation provided during pregnancy is cost-effective for prevention of preeclampsia and preterm birth in most LMICs.
Relatingin vivoRSV infection kinetics to host infectiousness in different age groups
Authors: Li Ke , Bont Louis J. , Weinberger Daniel M. , Pitzer Virginia E. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections are a major public health concern for pediatric populations and older adults. Viral kinetics, the dynamic processes of viral infection within an individual over time, vary across different populations. However, RSV transmission in different age groups is incompletely understood from the perspective of individual-level viral kinetics. To explore how individual viral kinetics can be related to RSV transmission, we first fitted a mathematical model to longitudinal viral kinetic data from 53 individuals in pediatric, adult, and elderly age groups using a hierarchical Bayesian framework to estimate important viral kinetic parameters. Using a probabilistic model, we then related the within-host viral load to the probability of transmission for each age group. We found that children had higher peak viral loads and longer shedding periods compared to other age groups, suggesting a higher transmission probability in children over the infectious period. We validated our findings by comparing the estimated secondary attack rate across different age groups to empirical estimates from household transmission studies. Our work highlights the importance of age-specific considerations in understanding and managing RSV infections, suggesting that age-targeted interventions will be more effective in controlling RSV transmission.SummaryWe utilized within-host viral load kinetics data to infer the transmission potential of RSV infection across different age groups, revealing the highest transmission probability in the pediatric group.
Mechanism of Arrhythmogenesis Driven by Early After Depolarizations in Cardiac Tissue
Authors: Stein Jack , Greene D’Artagnan , Fenton Flavio , Shiferaw Yohannes 
Published: November 2024

AbstractEarly-after depolarizations (EADs) are changes in the action potential plateau that can lead to cardiac arrhythmia. At the cellular level, these oscillations are irregular and change from beat to beat due to the sensitivity of voltage repolarization to subcellular stochastic processes. However, the behavior of EADs in tissue, where cells are strongly coupled by gap junctions, is less understood. In this study, we develop a computational model of EADs caused by a reduction in the rate of calcium-induced inactivation of the L-type calcium channel. We find that, as inactivation decreases EADs occur with durations varying randomly from beat to beat. In cardiac tissue, however, gap junction coupling between cells dampens these fluctuations, and it is unclear what dictates the formation of EADs. In this study we show that EADs in cardiac tissue can be modeled by the deterministic limit of a stochastic single-cell model. Analysis of this deterministic model reveals that EADs emerge in tissue after an abrupt transition to alternans, where large populations of cells suddenly synchronize, causing EADs on every other beat. We analyze this transition and show that it is due to a discontinuous bifurcation that leads to a large change in the action potential duration in response to very small changes in pacing rate. We further demonstrate that this transition is highly arrhythmogenic, as the sudden onset of EADs in cardiac tissue promotes conduction block and reentry. Our results highlight the importance of EAD alternans in arrhythmogenesis and suggests that ectopic beats are not required.