bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ultrastructure and Function of the Stalk Gland Complex of Pompholyx faciemlarva (Rotifera: Monogononta)
Authors: Araújo Thiago Quintão , Hochberg Rick 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTMany planktonic rotifers carry their oviposited eggs until hatching. In some species, the eggs are attached to the mother via secretions from her style gland, which forms a thread that extends from her cloaca. In species of Pompholyx, the mother possesses the rare ability to change the tension on the secreted thread, which alters the proximity of the egg with respect to her body. In this study, we used behavioral observations, confocal microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy to study the functional morphology of the stalk gland, which secretes a similar thread to the style gland. Our observations reveal that six longitudinal muscles insert on a stalk‐gland complex, which is a combination of a two‐headed gland and an epithelial duct that connects to the posterior cloaca. The gland secretes a single, long, electron‐dense thread that traverses the duct and attaches to the egg surface through the cloaca. Three retractor muscles insert on the stalk gland and function to pull the entire complex anteriorly, thereby increasing tension on the thread and moving the egg close to the mother's body. A set of three (two pairs and a single dorsal) protractor muscles antagonize these actions, and their contraction pulls the gland complex close to the cloaca, thereby releasing tension on the thread and allowing the egg to distance itself from the mother. The stalk gland complex does not appear to be homologous to the style glands of other rotifers, but we hypothesize that it functions as a form of maternal protection as is the case with style glands.
Application of mPEG‐PCL‐mPEG Micelles for Anti‐Zika Ribavirin Delivery
Authors: M. R. Blahove , J. A. Saviskas , J. Rodriguez , B. G. Santos‐Villalobos , M. A. Wallace , J. A. Culmer , J. R. Carter 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTNanoparticles are rapidly becoming the method of choice for a number of nanomedicine applications, especially drug delivery. Many current nanoparticle models for drug delivery include a metal base with a drug conjugated to its surface. However, this raises concerns regarding toxicity since the conjugated drug and metal‐based center of the nanoparticle are generally not biocompatible. A novel approach to solve this dilemma is the development of nanosized biocompatible polymer‐based micellar nanoparticles (MNPs), created from methoxy poly(ethylene‐glycol) poly(ɛ‐caprolactone)‐methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (i.e., mPEG‐PCL‐mPEG) triblock polymers formed around an antiviral drug of choice, ribavirin. The goal is to create a drug carrier triblock nanoparticle system that is labile at a specific intercellular pH resulting in drug release, leading to the suppression of viral pathogens, and without undue toxicity to the cell. Through this approach we created a drug‐loaded nanoparticle that dissociates when exposed to pH of 5.49 (endosomal pH), releasing ribavirin intercellularly, resulting in effective suppression of the mosquito‐borne virus, Zika, in JEG‐3 cells (gestational choriocarcinoma cells), in comparison to untreated and unencapsulated ribavirin controls as shown by plaque reduction assays and confirmation by RT‐PCR. The level of suppression observed by ribavirin‐loaded MNPs was achieved while requiring approximately 90% less ribavirin than in experiments utilizing unencapsulated ribavirin. The drug delivery system that is described here has shown significant suppression of Zika virus and suggests a role for this drug delivery system as an antiviral platform against additional viral pathogens.
EZH2 Activates HTLV‐1 bZIP Factor‐Mediated TGF‐β Signaling in Adult T‐Cell Leukemia
Authors: Zhang Xu , Yi Kaining , Wang Bingbing , Chu Kaifei , Liu Jie , Zhang Jie , Fang Jiaqi , Zhao Tiejun 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTAdult T‐cell leukemia (ATL) is an aggressive malignancy caused by human T‐cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV‐1) infection. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) has been implicated in the development and progression of multiple cancers, including virus‐induced malignancies. However, the potential function of EZH2 in HTLV‐1‐induced oncogenesis has not been clearly elucidated. In the present study, we showed that EZH2 was overexpressed and activated in HTLV‐1‐infected cell lines, potentially due to the activation of EZH2 promoter by HTLV‐1 Tax and NF‐κB p65 subunit. In addition, we found that EZH2 enhanced the HBZ‐induced activation of TGF‐β signaling in a histone methyltransferase‐independent manner. As a mechanism for these actions, we found that EZH2 targeted Smad3/Smad4 to form a ternary complex, and the association between Smad3 and Smad4 was markedly enhanced in the presence of EZH2. Knockdown of EZH2 in ATL cells indeed repressed the expressions of the TGF‐β target genes. In particular, EZH2 synergistically enhanced the HBZ/TGF‐β‐induced Foxp3 expression. Treatment of 3‐Deazaneplanocin A, a specific inhibitor of EZH2 significantly inhibited the Foxp3 expression. Taken together, our results suggest that EZH2 may be involved in the differentiation of regulatory T cells through activating the HBZ‐Smad3‐TGF‐β signaling axis, which is considered to be a key strategy for viral persistence.
Associations of Lipid Profiles With the Onset of HEV‐Related Acute Liver Failure: A Multicenter Cohort Study
Authors: Dong Rui , Xue Hong , Chen Lin , Jin Wenjuan , Luo Zhenghan , Shen Chao , Huang Lili , Shao Jianguo , Wang Jie 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTHepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the major etiologies for acute liver failure. This multicenter retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the associations of lipid profiles with the risk of HEV‐related acute liver failure (HEV‐ALF) among hospitalized patients with acute hepatitis E. A total of 1061 participants were obtained from three tertiary medical centers in Jiangsu, China, between February 2018 and May 2024. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were constructed to assess the associations between lipid profiles and the risk of HEV‐ALF onset. The time‐dependent area under the receiver‐operating‐characteristic curve (AUROC) and decision curve analysis were used to further evaluate the predictive value of blood lipids. After adjusting for potential confounders, total cholesterol (HR = 0.535, 95% CI: 0.437–0.656, p < 0.001), high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (HR = 0.065, 95% CI: 0.027–0.154, p < 0.001), low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (HR = 0.653, 95% CI: 0.512–0.833, p = 0.001), and apolipoprotein A (ApoA) (HR = 0.006, 95% CI: 0.002–0.020, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with a reduced risk of HEV‐ALF. Moreover, blood ApoA exhibited excellent discrimination ability and net benefit for predicting 7‐day (AUROC = 82.47%, 95% CI: 77.92–87.02) and 14‐day (AUROC = 78.81%, 95% CI: 74.13–83.49) HEV‐ALF onset. The findings may provide further evidence on the progression of HEV infection and future risk prediction.
Transmission Network and Phylogenetic Analysis Highlight the Role of Suburban Population in HIV‐1 Transmission Among Older Adults in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
Authors: Li Xin , Shi Hui , Shi Hongjie , Xu Yuanyuan , Wu Sushu , Wu Rong , Yuan Xin , Wang Jingwen , Zhu Zhengping 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTDescribing the transmission characteristics among older adults is essential for designing tailored interventions. An epidemiological investigation combined with phylogenetic analysis was conducted to reveal potential transmission linkages among older adults in Nanjing. Between 2018 and 2022, 188 pol sequences were successfully amplified. Multiple genotypes were identified, including CRF07_BC (55.3%), CRF01_AE (30.3%), CRF08_BC (8.0%), B (3.2%), CRF55_01B (1.1%), CRF67_01B (0.5%), CRF68_01B (0.5%), and unique recombinant forms (URF) (1.1%). Transmission network analysis identified 120 genetically linked patients forming 23 clusters, ranging from 2 to 26 individuals. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that compared with farmers and heterosexuals, patients with other occupations (OR = 0.404, 95% CI: 0.173−0.945) and MSM (OR = 0.193, 95% CI: 0.050−0.738) were less likely to have high linkage. Subjects who lived in suburban areas were more likely to have high linkage (OR = 10.932, 95% CI: 3.335−35.830). The Sankey diagram suggested that patients living in suburban areas primarily transmitted the disease within the local district (χ2 = 24.192, p < 0.001). Among the 188 pol sequences, the prevalence of pretreatment drug resistance was 8%. In suburban areas with a rising HIV‐1 epidemic, improving early detection and timely treatment is critical. More tailored interventions for this subgroup are urgently needed.
Memory B Cells Provide Long‐Term Protection to Vaccinated Kidney Transplant Recipients Against SARS‐CoV‐2 Variants
Authors: Espi Maxime , Charmetant Xavier , Benotmane Ilies , Lefsihane Katia , Barateau Véronique , Gallais Floriane , Boulenouar Hafsa , Ovize Anne , Barbry Alexia , Bouz Christine , Morelon Emmanuel , Defrance Thierry , Fafi‐Kremer Samira , Caillard Sophie , Thaunat Olivier 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTKidney transplant recipients (KTRs) are highly vulnerable to COVID‐19. An intensified scheme of vaccination offers short‐term protection to the 50%–75% of KTRs able to develop a germinal center reaction, required for the generation of neutralizing titers of antibodies (NAbs). However, the duration of this vaccinal protection is unknown. In‐depth longitudinal analysis of the immune response to vaccination of 33 KTRs demonstrates that the low peak of IgGs, the progressive decline in antibody titers, and the emergence of a variant of concerns (VOC) of SARS‐CoV2, synergize to let 2/3 of responders to vaccine without NAbs after only a few months. Yet, a retrospective study of an independent cohort of 274 KTRs, revealed that the risk of severe COVID‐19 in the latter was low, similar to that of patients with serum neutralizing capacity against VOC. Our work links this late vaccine protection with the presence of memory B cells, which are generated during the initial vaccine‐induced germinal center reaction, have a wide repertoire directed against conserved spike epitopes, and rapidly differentiate into IgG‐producing plasma cells upon antigenic rechallenge. We conclude that in contrast with a serological layer that goes fading rapidly, the cellular layer of humoral memory provides an efficient long‐term protection against VOC to KTRs. This illustration of the complementary roles of the two layers of the humoral memory has implications in immunopathology beyond the COVID‐19 in KTRs.
Systemic Immune‐Inflammation‐Based Biomarker and Fragility Fractures in People Living With HIV: A 10‐Year Follow‐Up Cohort Study in China
Authors: Liu Bo , Zhang Qiang 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTFragility fractures are a significant concern among people living with HIV(PLWH) due to the combined effects of chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and antiretroviral therapy. Traditional biomarkers have limited predictive value for fragility fractures in this population. This study aims to evaluate the systemic immune inflammation‐based scores as novel biomarkers for predicting fragility fractures in PLWH in China. We conducted a cohort study of PLWH in the orthopedic department of Beijing Ditan Hospital from January 2011 to September 2023. We monitored fragility fractures and collected data on demographics, clinical characteristics, and laboratory parameters. Multivariate Cox and logistic regression models were used to assess the predictive value of the neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (MLR), systemic immune‐inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) for fragility fractures. Restricted cubic splines (RCS) were employed to explore potential nonlinear relationships, and subgroup analyses were conducted to examine the stability of these associations. During a median follow‐up of 5.5 years, our study included 1148 PLWH patients, and 204 patients (17.8%) experienced fragility fractures. After adjusting for all covariates, SII and SIRI were identified as independent risk factors for fragility fractures in PLWH, whereas NLR, PLR, and MLR were not. Patients with higher levels of SII and SIRI had a significantly increased risk of fragility fractures compared to those with lower levels (HR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.24–3.10, p = 0.004; HR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.16–2.88, p = 0.009). RCS analysis indicated a stable linear relationship between SIRI and fragility fractures. Furthermore, KM curves demonstrated that patients with higher SII and SIRI scores had a higher likelihood of experiencing fragility fractures. Our research shows that SII and SIRI are promising biomarkers for predicting fragility fractures in PLWH. Clinicians should consider incorporating SIRI into clinical practice to improve fracture risk stratification and guide preventive strategies for this vulnerable population.
Highly Sensitive and Specific Diagnosis of Enterovirus A71 by Reverse Transcription Multiple Cross‐Displacement Amplification‐Labeled Nanoparticles Biosensor
Authors: Cheng Jinzhi , Zhou Yuhong , Tang Xiaomin , Lu Jingrun , Wang Yu 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTEnterovirus A71 (EVA71) is a leading causative agent of hand, foot, and mouth disease, posing a significant threat to the health of young children, particularly in the Asia‐Pacific region. Currently, there is no specific antiviral drug for EVA71 infection; therefore, early and rapid diagnosis is critical for disease prevention and control. Here, we report the development of a simple, rapid, and sensitive detection method for EVA71 infection using reverse transcription‐multiple cross displacement amplification (RT‐MCDA) combined with nanoparticle‐based lateral flow biosensors (LFB). In the RT‐MCDA system, a set of 10 primers was designed to target the highly conserved region of the VP1 gene of EVA71 and amplify the genes in an isothermal amplification device. The RT‐MCDA amplification reaction products could then be identified by visual detection reagent (VDR) and LFB without the need for specialized equipment. The results demonstrated that the optimal reaction condition for the EVA71‐RT‐MCDA assay was 65℃ for 40 min. The EVA71‐RT‐MCDA assay could detect as low as 40 copies of plasmid and 50 copies of pseudotyped virus in a reaction. No cross‐reaction was found between EVA71 strains and non‐EVA71 strains. For 125 clinical anal swab samples, with EVA71‐RT‐MCDA assay, 30 samples were positive, which was in consistent with the the conventional real‐time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays. The entire procedure, including a 15‐min specimen processing step, a 40‐min MCDA reaction, and result reporting within 2 min, was completed in less than 60 min. In conclusion, the EVA71‐RT‐MCDA‐LFB assay targeting the VP1 gene is a rapid, highly sensitive, simple, and specific test that could be widely applied in point‐of‐care settings and basic medical facilities in rural areas.
Numerical Technique Based on Operational Matrices of Fractional Integration Using ψ$$ \psi $$‐Shifted Chebyshev Polynomials
Authors: Sadiq Shazia , ur Rehman Mujeeb 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we present a numerical scheme based on a modified form of shifted Chebyshev polynomials to find the numerical solution of a class of fractional differential equations. For this purpose, we work out operational matrices of fractional integration of ‐shifted Chebyshev polynomials obtained from shifted Chebyshev polynomials. Finally, the solution to the problem under consideration is obtained by solving a system of algebraic equations that results from the use of operational matrices of integration. The analysis of integer and non‐integer order differential equations is presented to show the convergence of the solution of fractional order differential equation to the corresponding solution of the integer order differential equation. At the end, we present some linear and non‐linear examples to validate the theoretical analysis. Non‐linear examples are solved using Quasilinearization and proposed numerical technique.
Frequency‐Specific Alternations in the Amplitude of Fluctuations in Tension‐Type Headache: A Machine Learning Study
Authors: Jia Xize , Li Mengting , Zhang Shuxian , Antwi Collins Opoku , Zhan Linlin , Zhao Mengqi , Wen Jianjie , Hu Su , Hao Zeqi , Ren Jun 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTBrain neural signal at different frequency bands relates to different functions. However, the frequency‐specific properties of spontaneous brain activity in tension‐type headache (TTH)—the most rampant primary headache—remain largely unknown. We investigated the local neural activity of 33 TTH patients and 31 healthy controls (HCs) in the conventional frequency band and two sub‐frequency bands (slow‐4 and slow‐5 frequency band), employing fractional amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuations (fALFF), percent amplitude fluctuations (PerAF) and Wavelet‐ALFF analytic methods. Using age as covariate, we performed two sample t‐test to compare the between‐group differences of each metrics in each frequency band. Support vector machine (SVM) was conducted to classify TTH patients and HCs on the basis of altered spontaneous brain activities. TTH patients showed lower fALFF values in the left cerebellar lobule X, left parahippocampal gyrus, and right supplementary motor area in slow‐5 band. TTH patients showed lower PerAF in the left fusiform and cerebellar regions in three bands. Altered Wavelet‐ALFF values in the right thalamus, left anterior cingulum gyrus, superior parietal gyrus and middle and parietal frontal regions in three frequency bands were detected. And the SVM classifier obtained an overall accuracy of 77.38%, 82.38%, and 95% based on fALFF, PerAF, and Wavelet ALFF values, respectively. TTH patients exhibited abnormal neural activity in various brain regions. The abnormal brain activities serve as powerful features for distinguishing TTH patients. This preliminary exploration provides a novel insight into the underlying mechanism of TTH.
Building Narratives Through Empathy: The Role of Empathy Mechanisms and Associative Thinking in Creative Writing
Authors: Golab Dominik , Barbot Baptiste 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTEmpathy emerges as a pivotal skill in creative writing, yet previous studies lack an understanding of empathy's multidimensionality and specific impact of its facets on the capacity to generate narrative stories. This cross‐sectional study delved into the various cognitive and affective empathy facets—that is, perspective‐taking, online simulation, emotion contagion, proximal responsivity, and peripheral responsivity—and their contributions to creative writing. Further, it examined the mediating effects of associative thinking—conceptualized as a common empathy‐creativity resource—on the relationship between empathy facets and creative writing. Two‐hundred twenty participants (university students) completed performance‐based tasks and self‐report measures of creative writing, associative thinking, and empathy. A latent mediation model implemented in Structural Equation Modeling indicated two effects of empathy facets on creative writing, with perspective‐taking emerging as a positive predictor. Additionally, peripheral responsivity (i.e., affect sharing in indirect contexts) exhibited an indirect positive influence on creative writing, mediated by associative thinking. In summary, associative thinking appears to be an important ingredient in both empathy and creative writing, while cognitive empathy, specifically intuitive perspective‐taking, contributes significantly to creative writing skills. Future studies should further explore these connections and their causalities, possibly using experimental or longitudinal approaches.
Preoperative Anemia and Iron Deficiency in Elective Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery Patients
Authors: Skorupski Clarissa P. , Cheung Matthew C. , Hallet Julie , Kaliwal Yosuf , Nguyen Lena , Pavenski Katerina , Zuckerman Jesse S. , Lin Yulia 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACTBackground and ObjectivesPreoperative anemia can impact postoperative outcomes, but its importance in gastrointestinal cancer patients, and significance of anemia etiology remains unclear. We aimed to characterize the frequency and impact of preoperative anemia, and iron‐deficiency anemia (IDA), on perioperative outcomes.MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study of adult patients undergoing elective gastrointestinal cancer surgery. The primary outcome was the incidence of perioperative RBC transfusion. Secondary outcomes included 90‐day postoperative major morbidity, ICU admission, and 90‐day hospital readmission. Multivariable analyses were performed to assess the association between preoperative anemia and IDA and outcomes.ResultsPreoperative anemia was present in 55.5% of patients (n = 15 414), and 58.3% of anemic patients were iron deficient. Preoperative anemia was independently associated with increased risk of RBC transfusion (RR 2.88, 95% CI 2.60–3.20), and secondary outcomes. For every preoperative hemoglobin decrease of 1 g/dL, the adjusted risk of perioperative RBC transfusion increased by 40% (RR 1.39, 95% CI 1.37–1.42).ConclusionPreoperative anemia is prevalent, and an independent risk factor for adverse postoperative outcomes. Decreases in preoperative hemoglobin levels elevate the risk of transfusion and adverse outcomes, supporting further study to optimize management of treatable causes of preoperative anemia including IDA.
Reducing ACL injury risk: A meta‐analysis of prevention programme effectiveness
Authors: Clar Clemens , Fischerauer Stefan F. , Leithner Andreas , Rasic Laura , Ruckenstuhl Paul , Sadoghi Patrick 
Published: November 2024

AbstractPurposeThe aim of this study was to conduct a meta‐analysis of the literature regarding anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury prevention programmes (IPPs) in order to assess the effectiveness of ACL prevention programmes based on current high‐quality studies. The hypothesis was that the implementation of ACL IPPs significantly reduces the incidence of ACL ruptures compared to standard practice.MethodsA meta‐analysis of the literature was conducted using the databases PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINHAL and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The search terms utilized were ACL, injury, knee, control and prevention. The collected data and reported clinical outcomes were independently gathered by three different individuals. After evaluating the heterogeneity of the studies, the DerSimonian–Laird random effects models were employed to determine the pooled risk ratios (RRs) and the risk differences (RDs) regarding ACL Injuries. The RD was utilized to ascertain the number needed to treat.ResultsThe search strategy identified 743 studies, of which 11 met all inclusion and quality criteria for pooled analysis. The total number of study participants was 16,316. The overall RR of sustaining an ACL injury in the intervention group was 0.36 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.23 to 0.57) of the control group, showing a significant reduction in the ACL injury risk of the intervention group (p < 0.001). We identified an RD of −1.4% (95% CI: −2.4% to −0.4%) in favour of the intervention group. The number needed to treat in preventing one ACL rupture was 71.ConclusionIn conclusion, the study clearly demonstrates a significant positive preventive effect of training programmes concerning ACL injuries (p < 0.001). The pooled estimates indicate that such programmes result in a significant reduction of ACL injury risks (p < 0.001). Despite the moderate quality of the included literature, the results exhibit robustness. However, based on the literature examined, no definitive superior training programme could be identified.Level of EvidenceII.