bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Resilience of Juvenile Freshwater Pearl Mussels to Thermal Stress
Authors: Wacker Sebastian , Sundt Katrine Åmdal , Mageroy Jon Hamner , Larsen Bjørn Mejdell , Hagen Chavindi Sophie , Horvli Torill , Robertsen Grethe 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTClimate change poses a significant threat to freshwater ecosystems by causing increases of average water temperatures, and more frequent and extreme heating events. Freshwater mussels are declining globally, and the distribution of the freshwater pearl mussel (Margeritifera margeritifera) has decreased dramatically over the past century. Even though it is likely that climate change is contributing to the decline of the species, little is known about the specific mechanisms involved. Here, we test how short episodes of water temperatures above the known thermotolerance range affect the survival and growth of the early post parasitic juvenile phase of freshwater pearl mussels. We also test if previous experience with elevated water temperatures can modify survival and growth responses to subsequent high‐temperatures exposure. Mortality was very low in all treatments (< 5%) and not affected by the temperature treatments, while growth rate was positively affected by temperature. Our results suggest that juvenile mussels can survive short periods of heat stress when other environmental conditions are favourable. Future studies should therefore address how heat stress affects survival in combination with other stressors, such as reduced availability of dissolved oxygen.
The primacy of density‐mediated indirect effects in a community of wolves, elk, and aspen
Authors: Brice Elaine M. , Larsen Eric J. , Stahler Daniel R. , MacNulty Daniel R. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe removal or addition of a predator in an ecosystem can trigger a trophic cascade, whereby the predator indirectly influences plants and/or abiotic processes via direct effects on its herbivore prey. A trophic cascade can operate through a density‐mediated indirect effect (DMIE), where the predator reduces herbivore density via predation, and/or through a trait‐mediated indirect effect (TMIE), where the predator induces an herbivore trait response that modifies the herbivore's effect on plants. Manipulative experiments suggest that TMIEs are an equivalent or more important driver of trophic cascades than are DMIEs. Whether this applies generally in nature is uncertain because few studies have directly compared the magnitudes of TMIEs and DMIEs on natural unmanipulated field patterns. A TMIE is often invoked to explain the textbook trophic cascade involving wolves (Canis lupus), elk (Cervus canadensis), and aspen (Populus tremuloides) in northern Yellowstone National Park. This hypothesis posits that wolves indirectly increase recruitment of young aspen into the overstory primarily through reduced elk browsing in response to spatial variation in wolf predation risk rather than through reduced elk population density. To test this hypothesis, we compared the effects of spatiotemporal variation in wolf predation risk and temporal variation in elk population density on unmanipulated patterns of browsing and recruitment of young aspen across 113 aspen stands over a 21‐year period (1999–2019) in northern Yellowstone National Park. Only 2 of 10 indices of wolf predation risk had statistically meaningful effects on browsing and recruitment of young aspen, and these effects were 8–28 times weaker than the effect of elk density. To the extent that temporal variation in elk density was attributable to wolf predation, our results suggest that the wolf–elk–aspen trophic cascade was primarily density‐mediated rather than trait‐mediated. This aligns with the alternative hypothesis that wolves and other actively hunting predators with broad habitat domains cause DMIEs to dominate whenever prey, such as elk, also have a broad habitat domain. For at least this type of predator–prey community, our study suggests that risk‐induced trait responses can be abstracted or ignored while still achieving an accurate understanding of trophic cascades.
Visit‐to‐visit changes in heart rate in heart failure: A pooled participant‐level analysis of the PARADIGM‐HF and PARAGON‐HF trials
Authors: Lu Henri , Claggett Brian L. , Packer Milton , Pfeffer Marc A. , Swedberg Karl , Rouleau Jean , Zile Michael R. , Lefkowitz Martin , Desai Akshay S. , Jhund Pardeep S. , McMurray John J.V. , Solomon Scott D. , Vaduganathan Muthiah 
Published: October 2024

AbstractAimsResting heart rate (HR) is a strong risk marker in patients with heart failure (HF), but the clinical implications of visit‐to‐visit changes in HR (ΔHR) are less well established. We aimed to explore the association between ΔHR and subsequent outcomes in a pooled dataset of two well‐characterized cohorts of patients with HF across the full range of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).Methods and resultsPARADIGM‐HF and PARAGON‐HF were randomized trials testing sacubitril/valsartan versus enalapril or valsartan, respectively, in patients with HF and LVEF ≤40% (PARADIGM‐HF) or LVEF ≥45% (PARAGON‐HF). We analysed the association between ΔHR from the preceding visit with the primary endpoint of HF hospitalization (HFH) or cardiovascular death using covariate‐adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. A total of 13 194 patients (mean age 67 ± 11 years, 67% men, mean LVEF 40 ± 15%) were included. Over a median follow‐up of 2.5 years, 3114 patients experienced a first HFH or cardiovascular death event (10.4 events per 100 patient‐years). An increase in HR from the preceding visit, compared with no change, was associated with a higher risk (hazard ratio 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10–1.15; p < 0.001 per 5 bpm increase). Conversely, a drop in HR was associated with a lower risk (hazard ratio 0.97; 95% CI 0.94–1.00; p = 0.044 per 5 bpm drop). The prognostic implications of ΔHR were consistent across the range of LVEF and observed regardless of β‐blocker use or presence of a permanent pacemaker. Visit‐to‐visit increases in HR were especially prognostic in patients without atrial fibrillation (pinteraction = 0.006).ConclusionAcross a broad spectrum of patients with chronic HF, increases in HR from a preceding visit independently predicted clinical outcomes. The detection of notable increases in HR between outpatient visits may help identify patients at heightened risk of adverse events.Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01035255 (PARADIGM‐HF), NCT01920711 (PARAGON‐HF).
AOP report: Development of an adverse outcome pathway for deposition of energy leading to abnormal vascular remodeling
Authors: Kozbenko Tatiana , Adam Nadine , Grybas Veronica S. , Smith Benjamin J. , Alomar Dalya , Hocking Robyn , Abdelaziz Janna , Pace Amanda , Boerma Marjan , Azimzadeh Omid , Blattnig Steve , Hamada Nobuyuki , Yauk Carole , Wilkins Ruth , Chauhan Vinita 
Published: October 2024

AbstractCardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are complex, encompassing many types of heart pathophysiologies and associated etiologies. Radiotherapy studies have shown that fractionated radiation exposure at high doses (3–17 Gy) to the heart increases the incidence of CVD. However, the effects of low doses of radiation on the cardiovascular system or the effects from space travel, where radiation and microgravity are important contributors to damage, are not clearly understood. Herein, the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework was applied to develop an AOP to abnormal vascular remodeling from the deposition of energy. Following the creation of a preliminary pathway with the guidance of field experts and authoritative reviews, a scoping review was conducted that informed final key event (KE) selection and evaluation of the Bradford Hill criteria for the KE relationships (KERs). The AOP begins with a molecular initiating event of deposition of energy; ionization events increase oxidative stress, which when persistent concurrently causes the release of pro‐inflammatory mediators, suppresses anti‐inflammatory mechanisms and alters stress response signaling pathways. These KEs alter nitric oxide levels leading to endothelial dysfunction, and subsequent abnormal vascular remodeling (the adverse outcome). The work identifies evidence needed to strengthen understanding of the causal associations for the KERs, emphasizing where there are knowledge gaps and uncertainties in both qualitative and quantitative understanding. The AOP is anticipated to direct future research to better understand the effects of space on the human body and potentially develop countermeasures to better protect future space travelers.
Deployment of Dedicative Nanoadditives to Enhance the Thermal Behavior and Effectiveness of Heat Transfer Performance of Eutectic Compound
Authors: Govindaraja Gururaj , Duraipandi Sruthi , A. Sreekumar 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTTwo nanoprecursors with capping agents were incorporated in stearyl alcohol–adipic acid combination phase change material (PCM) in this study. The addition of nanomaterials made the eutectic reliable in the manner of its thermal properties like higher enthalpy, degradation point, and more compatible with the metal encapsulation materials when compared with the pristane eutectic. The importance of nano‐metal oxides in parent material was shown by the reduced time frame of the PCM's thermal energy storing and releasing process for space heating applications. The specific heat capacity of both the aluminum and titanium oxide nanocomposites were greater than the eutectic, which indicates that the material can retain more energy. The thermal conductivities of base material and nanocomposite PCMs were 0.2686, 0.2815, and 0.4395 W/mK at 40°C, and the highest percentage increment of nanocomposites was seen as 9.19% and 63.62% at varied encircled temperatures. The crystal structure and chemical disintegration were evinced with the X‐ray diffractometer results of the composites.
Terpenoids from quinoa reverse chemoresistance in breast cancer by suppressing the stemness‐related lncRNA 667012
Authors: Fan Xiaxia , Feng Mangmang , Guo Dan , Li Songtao , An Yuxuan , Tian Jinmiao , Li Zhuoyu 
Published: October 2024

AbstractChemoresistance is a major cause of breast cancer (BC) recurrence and metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance comes from tumor stemness. Our previous study showed that quinoa bran terpenoids (QBT) exhibited significant antitumor activity. In this study, we found that QBT increased the sensitivity of drug‐resistant BC cells to the chemotherapeutic drugs adriamycin (ADR) and taxol (TAX). A novel lncRNA 667012 was identified along with QBT treatment. Moreover, overexpression of lncRNA 667012 promoted drug resistance, and the reduction of 667012 restored the drug sensitivity of resistant BC cells. More importantly, the findings revealed that lncRNA 667012 promoted stemness maintenance via the stemness‐related Wnt pathway. Furthermore, the result showed that QBT reduced 667012 expression and inhibited the activation of β‐catenin, thereby attenuating the stemness characteristics of BC and enhancing chemosensitivity. Consistently, the data were confirmed in the xenograft mice model. These results suggest that QBT could reverse chemoresistance by inhibiting stemness. It has the potential to be developed as a novel chemotherapeutic agent or chemosensitizer for BC treatment.
Comparative effect of olive oil and flaxseed oil on drug induced hepatotoxicity in rats
Authors: Khan Waqas Ahmad , Inam‐ur‐Raheem Muhammad , Rasheed Hina , Butt Muhammad Abdullah , Saeed Farhan , Afzaal Muhammad , Ahmed Faiyaz , Akram Noor , Asghar Aasma , Hailu Gebremichael Gebremedhin 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThis study investigates the hepatoprotective effects of olive oil and flaxseed oil on chemically induced hepatotoxicity in rats by evaluating key biochemical parameters, including free fatty acids, iodine value, liver enzymes (ALP, ALT, AST), cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL levels. The results demonstrated significant improvements in these markers with the administration of olive oil and flaxseed oil, either individually or in combination. The free fatty acid percentages and iodine values were consistent with the known nutritional properties of the oils. Notably, the combination of olive oil and flaxseed oil yielded the most substantial benefits, reducing ALP (115.53 ± 0.44 U/L), ALT (50.77 ± 1.46 U/L), and AST (52.12 ± 0.36 U/L) levels while improving lipid profiles by lowering cholesterol (135.4 ± 1.43 mg/dL) and triglyceride levels (57.14 ± 2.35 mg/dL) and increasing HDL levels (49.20 ± 0.45 mg/dL). These findings suggest that olive oil and flaxseed oil, due to their antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties, can effectively mitigate liver damage and promote lipid metabolism. The study supports the potential therapeutic application of these oils in managing liver health and preventing hepatotoxicity.
Sauerkraut‐derived LAB strains as potential probiotic candidates for modulating carbohydrate digestion attributing bacterial organic acid profiling to antidiabetic activity
Authors: Huligere Sujay S. , Kumari V. B. Chandana , Patil Shashank M. , M.K. Jayanthi , Wong Ling Shing , Kijsomporn Jureerat , Al‐Tamimi Jameel H. , Ramu Ramith 
Published: October 2024

AbstractSauerkraut‐derived lactic acid bacterial (LAB) strains have gained attention due to their potential health benefits. This study focuses on evaluating seven Sauerkraut‐derived RAMULAB strains isolated from sauerkraut, aiming to identify promising candidates for modulating α‐glucosidase (AG) and α‐amylase (AM) enzymatic functions. RAMULAB strains with remarkable probiotic potential can contribute to the digestive health and manage conditions like diabetes. Identifying robust candidates from sauerkraut, a fermented food, holds promise for natural and cost‐effective probiotic sources. The RAMULAB strains underwent extensive characterization, including identification through 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing. Their tolerance to harsh conditions, adherence properties, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant potential, and inhibition of AG and AM were assessed. In silico analyses explored their molecular interactions, particularly with hydroxycitric acid, a potential antidiabetic compound. Among the RAMULAB strains, RAMULAB48 emerged as a standout candidate. It displayed exceptional resilience to acidic bile (≥97%), and simulated gastrointestinal conditions (≥95%), highlighting its suitability for probiotic applications. RAMULAB48 exhibited robust adherence properties, including cell‐surface hydrophobicity (80%), autoaggregation (42%), coaggregation with pathogens (≥33%), and adhesion to epithelial cells. Additionally, all seven isolates demonstrated gamma‐hemolysis and resistance to antibiotics (Kanamycin, Methicillin, and Vancomycin), while displaying strong antibacterial properties against foodborne pathogens. These RAMULAB strains also exhibited varying degrees of antioxidant activity, with RAMULAB48 displaying the highest potential (≥41%). In terms of antidiabetic activity, cell‐free supernatant (CS) obtained from RAMULAB48 expressed the highest inhibition levels, notably inhibiting yeast AG by an impressive 59.55% and AM being by a remarkable 67.42%. RAMULAB48 produced organic acids, including hydroxycitric acid (28.024 mg/mL), which showed promising antidiabetic properties through in silico analyses, indicating favorable interactions with the target enzymes. This study identifies Lacticaseibacillus paracasei RAMULAB48, a Sauerkraut‐derived RAMULAB strain, as a promising probiotic candidate with exceptional tolerance, adherence properties, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant potential, and antidiabetic effects. The presence of hydroxycitric acid further underscores its potential in managing diabetes.
Inter‐Software Consistency on the Estimation of Subcortical Structure Volume in Different Age Groups
Authors: Zhang Lei , Hu Yang 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTThere is still little research on the consistency among the subcortical volume estimates of different software packages. It is also unclear whether there are age‐related differences in the inter‐software consistency. The current study aimed to examine the consistency of three commonly used automated software packages and the effect of age on inter‐software consistency. We analyzed T1‐weighted structural images from two public datasets, in which the subjects were divided into four age groups ranging from childhood and adolescence to late adulthood. We chose three mainstream automated software packages including FreeSurfer, CAT, and FSL, to estimate the volumes of seven subcortical structures, including thalamus, caudate, putamen, pallidum, hippocampus, amygdala, and accumbens. We used the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) to quantify inter‐software consistency and compared the consistency measures among the age groups. As a measure of validity, we additionally evaluated the predictive power of each software package's estimates for predicting age. The results showed good inter‐software consistency in the thalamus, caudate, putamen, and hippocampus, moderate consistency in the pallidum, and poor consistency in the amygdala and accumbens. Significant differences in the inter‐software consistency were not observed among the age groups in most cases. FreeSurfer exhibited higher age prediction accuracy than CAT and FSL. The current study showed that the inter‐software consistency on the subcortical volume estimation varies with structures but generally not with age groups, which has important implications for the interpretation and reproducibility of neuroimaging findings.
Optical Biosensors for Detection of Cancer Biomarkers: Current and Future Perspectives
Authors: Moorthy Dharsini Narayana , Dhinasekaran Durgalakshmi , Rebecca P. N. Blessy , Rajendran Ajay Rakkesh 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTOptical biosensors are emerging as a promising technique for the sensitive and accurate detection of cancer biomarkers, enabling significant advancements in the field of early diagnosis. This study elaborates on the latest developments in optical biosensors designed for detecting cancer biomarkers, highlighting their vital significance in early cancer diagnosis. When combined with targeted nanoparticles, the bio‐fluids can help in the molecular stage diagnosis of cancer. This enhances the discrimination of disease from the normal subjects drastically. The optical sensor methods that are involved in the disease diagnosis and imaging of cancer taken for the present review are surface plasmon resonance, localized surface plasmon resonance, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy and colorimetric sensing. The article meticulously describes the specific biomarkers and analytes that optical biosensors target. Beyond elucidating the underlying principles and applications, this article furnishes an overview of recent breakthroughs and emerging trends in the field. This encompasses the evolution of innovative nanomaterials and nanostructures designed to augment sensitivity and the incorporation of microfluidics for facilitating point‐of‐care testing, thereby charting a course towards prospective advancements.
3D Neurovascular Unit Tissue Model to Assess Responses to Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Power Liam , Shuhmaher Rita , Houtz Philip , Chen Jinpeng , Rudolph Sara , Yuen John , Machour Majd , Levy Emily , Wu Limin , Levenberg Shulamit , Whalen Michael , Chen Ying , Kaplan David L. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTThe neurovascular unit (NVU) is a critical interface in the central nervous system that links vascular interactions with glial and neural tissue. Disruption of the NVU has been linked to the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Despite its significance the NVU remains challenging to study in a physiologically relevant manner. Here, a 3D cell triculture model of the NVU is developed that incorporates human primary brain microvascular endothelial cells, astrocytes, and pericytes into a tissue system that can be sustained in vitro for several weeks. This tissue model helps recapitulate the complexity of the NVU and can be used to interrogate the mechanisms of disease and cell–cell interactions. The NVU tissue model displays elevated cell death and inflammatory responses following mechanical damage, to emulate traumatic brain injury (TBI) under controlled laboratory conditions, including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, elevated inflammatory markers TNF‐α and monocyte chemoattractant cytokines MCP‐2 and MCP‐3 and reduced expression of the tight junction marker ZO‐1. This 3D tissue model serves as a tool for deciphering mechanisms of TBIs and immune responses associated with the NVU.
CellSAM: Advancing Pathologic Image Cell Segmentation via Asymmetric Large‐Scale Vision Model Feature Distillation Aggregation Network
Authors: Ma Xiao , Huang Jin , Long Mengping , Li Xiaoxiao , Ye Zhaoyi , Hu Wanting , Yalikun Yaxiaer , Wang Du , Hu Taobo , Mei Liye , Lei Cheng 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTSegment anything model (SAM) has attracted extensive interest as a potent large‐scale image segmentation model, with prior efforts adapting it for use in medical imaging. However, the precise segmentation of cell nucleus instances remains a formidable challenge in computational pathology, given substantial morphological variations and the dense clustering of nuclei with unclear boundaries. This study presents an innovative cell segmentation algorithm named CellSAM. CellSAM has the potential to improve the effectiveness and precision of disease identification and therapy planning. As a variant of SAM, CellSAM integrates dual‐image encoders and employs techniques such as knowledge distillation and mask fusion. This innovative model exhibits promising capabilities in capturing intricate cell structures and ensuring adaptability in resource‐constrained scenarios. The experimental results indicate that this structure effectively enhances the quality and precision of cell segmentation. Remarkably, CellSAM demonstrates outstanding results even with minimal training data. In the evaluation of particular cell segmentation tasks, extensive comparative analyzes show that CellSAM outperforms both general fundamental models and state‐of‐the‐art (SOTA) task‐specific models. Comprehensive evaluation metrics yield scores of 0.884, 0.876, and 0.768 for mean accuracy, recall, and precision respectively. Extensive experiments show that CellSAM excels in capturing subtle details and complex structures and is capable of segmenting cells in images accurately. Additionally, CellSAM demonstrates excellent performance on clinical data, indicating its potential for robust applications in treatment planning and disease diagnosis, thereby further improving the efficiency of computer‐aided medicine.