bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nurse‐Led Physical Screening of Patients With Substance Use Disorders: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Middeldorp J. F. M. , Krijnen‐de Bruin E. , Buwalda V. J. A. , Goudriaan A. E. , van Meijel B. 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTIntroductionSomatic comorbidity is the main cause of reduced life expectancy in patients with substance use disorders (SUDs).AimThis study aims to investigate somatic health challenges in patients with SUDs using the USS. Patient self‐management of somatic health and quality of life were also assessed.MethodIn our study, a stratified random sample of 136 clients who received treatment at a specialist addiction facility was drawn to investigate their physical health and lifestyle behaviours using the Utrecht Somatic Screening 2.0 (USS 2.0). The sample included three subgroups, that is, patients receiving outpatient treatment through Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (FACT), Heroin‐Assisted Treatment (HAT) and Opioid Replacement Therapy (ORT). Pain, self‐management and quality of life were also measured. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data.ResultsThe findings indicate that many patients experience a large number of somatic health problems, including pain and exhaustion. The most prevalent conditions in this study are cardiovascular disease (25%) and COPD (20%), underweight and poor oral health. Tobacco smoking is prevalent among 88% of patients. Fifty percent of the patients expressed a need for support in managing their physical health.Implications for PracticeSomatic health care and lifestyle promotion should be tailored to the specific characteristics of patients.ConclusionPatients with SUDs suffer from poor physical health and show unhealthy lifestyle behaviours, which demand the promotion of tailored somatic health.
PdbCRF5 Overexpression Negatively Regulates Salt Tolerance by Downregulating PdbbZIP61 to Mediate Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging and ABA Synthesis in Populus davidiana × P. bolleana
Authors: Lei Xiaojin , Fang Jiaru , Zhang Ziqian , Li Zhengyang , Xu Yumeng , Xie Qingjun , Wang Yuanyuan , Liu Zhongyuan , Wang Yanmin , Gao Caiqiu 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTSalt stress is the main factor limiting the large‐scale cultivation of Shanxin poplar; therefore, improving its salt tolerance is crucial. In this study, we identified and characterized a CRF gene (PdbCRF5) in Shanxin poplar. Compared with the wild‐type poplar, the Shanxin poplar overexpressing PdbCRF5 were more sensitive to salt stress. The PdbCRF5‐silenced plants exhibited improved salt tolerance. ChIP‒PCR, EMSA, and Y1H confirmed that PdbCRF5 can regulate the expression of the PdbbZIP61 by binding to ABRE element. Further analysis revealed that the overexpression of PdbbZIP61 can reduce cell damage by increasing ROS scavenging, and on the other hand, overexpression of PdbbZIP61 can improve the salt tolerance of Shanxin poplar by regulating the expression of the PdbNCED genes to increase the ABA content. In addition, we also demonstrated that PdbCRF5 can inhibit the expression of the PdbbZIP61 in combination with PdbCRF6. The overexpression of PdbCRF6 also reduced the salt tolerance of Shanxin poplar. Therefore, we found that PdbCRF5 negatively regulates the salt tolerance of Shanxin poplar by inhibiting the PdbbZIP61, indicating that PdbCRF5 plays an important role in the tolerance of Shanxin poplar to salt stress and is an important candidate gene for gene editing and breeding in forest trees.
Political identity and risk politics: Evidence from a pandemic
Authors: Raile Eric D. , Haines Pavielle , Raile Amber N. W. , Shanahan Elizabeth A. , Parker David C. W. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe way political identity serves as a foundation for political polarization in the United States permits elites to extend conflict rapidly to new issue areas. Further, the types of cognitive mechanisms and shortcuts used in the politically polarized information environment are similar to some of those used in risk perception. Consequently, political elites may easily create partisan risk positions, largely through politically focused social amplification of risk. The COVID‐19 pandemic provided a natural experiment for testing predictions about such risk politics. We asked questions about pandemic‐related views, behaviors, and policies at the outset of the pandemic in April 2020 and again in September 2020 via public opinion surveys. Our data and analyses focus primarily on a single state, with some analysis extended to four states. We begin by demonstrating strong linkages between political partisan identification on the one hand and support for co‐partisan elites, use of partisan information sources, and support for co‐partisan policies on the other hand. We then find evidence that pandemic risk positions correspond with partisan information sources and find support for a mechanism involving partisan‐tinted evaluation of elite cues. Partisan risk positions quickly became part of the larger polarized structure of political support and views. Finally, our evidence shows on the balance that partisan risk positions related to the pandemic coalesced and strengthened over time. Overall, while self‐identified Democrats consistently viewed the coronavirus as the primary threat, self‐identified Republicans quickly pivoted toward threats to their freedoms and to the economy.
Autonomous nervous system responses to environmental‐level exposure to 5G's first deployed band (3.5 GHz) in healthy human volunteers
Authors: Jamal Layla , Michelant Lisa , Delanaud Stéphane , Hugueville Laurent , Mazet Paul , Lévêque Philippe , Baz Tamara , Bach Véronique , Selmaoui Brahim 
Published: October 2024

AbstractFollowing the global progressive deployment of 5G networks, considerable attention has focused on assessing their potential impact on human health. This study aims to investigate autonomous nervous system changes by exploring skin temperature and electrodermal activity (EDA) among 44 healthy young individuals of both sexes during and after exposure to 3.5 GHz antenna‐emitted signals, with an electrical field intensity ranging from 1 to 2 V/m. The study employed a randomized, cross‐over design with triple‐blinding, encompassing both ‘real’ and ‘sham’ exposure sessions, separated by a maximum interval of 1 week. Each session comprised baseline, exposure and postexposure phases, resulting in the acquisition of seven runs. Each run initiated with a 150 s segment of EDA recordings stimulated by 10 repeated beeps. Subsequently, the collected data underwent continuous decomposition analysis, generating specific indicators assessed alongside standard metrics such as trough‐to‐peak measurements, global skin conductance and maximum positive peak deflection. Additionally, non‐invasive, real‐time skin temperature measurements were conducted to evaluate specific anatomical points (hand, head and neck). The study suggests that exposure to 3.5 GHz signals may potentially affect head and neck temperature, indicating a slight increase in this parameter. Furthermore, there was a minimal modulation of certain electrodermal metrics after the exposure, suggesting a potentially faster physiological response to auditory stimulation. However, while the results are significant, they remain within the normal physiological range and could be a consequence of an uncontrolled variable. Given the preliminary nature of this pilot study, further research is needed to confirm the effects of 5G exposure.
Stage-Wise Kinetic Analysis of Ammonia Addition Effects on Two-Stage Ignition in Dimethyl Ether
Authors: Ou Juan , Yang Ruomiao , Yan Yuchao , Xie Tianfang , Liu Zhentao , Liu Jinlong 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Ammonia (NH3) has gained considerable attention as a promising carbon-free hydrogen carrier fuel for internal combustion engines, but its direct use in compression-ignition engines presents challenges, often requiring high-reactivity fuels to ignite the premixed NH3/air mixture and initiate combustion. This study focuses on the ignition process of binary NH3 and dimethyl ether (DME) mixtures, as DME is a carbon-neutral, high-reactivity fuel. A key novelty of this paper is the comparison of the ignition processes of DME and NH3/DME mixtures from a temporal, process-oriented perspective, analyzing chemical kinetics across distinct ignition phases rather than focusing solely on instantaneous reactions at discrete time points. The stage-wise analysis reveals that NH3 has minimal impact on the control mechanism governing the two-stage ignition process of DME. Specifically, DME still largely depends on OH radical proliferation during low-temperature oxidation (LTO), which releases heat as the reaction progresses. As the temperature increases, LTO branching pathways gradually shift to chain-propagation pathways, reducing overall reaction activity. The reactivity and temperature rise rate of the system are then governed by the H2O2 loop mechanism before thermal ignition. However, ammonia significantly extends the ignition delay of DME by competing with OH radicals, which are critical for DME oxidation, thus inhibiting ignition. As the ignition reaction proceeds, ammonia kinetics become more involved. For example, nitrogen-containing species from NH3 oxidation, such as NO, NO2, and NH2, react with CH3OCH2 to form CH3OCHO, reducing the flux through the LTO pathway of DME. While ammonia reaction pathways also produce OH radicals, this occurs at the expense of HO2 and H radicals, leading to H2O2 formation. Overall, these findings demonstrate the substantial impact of ammonia addition on DME ignition, highlighting the need for further research to better understand NH3/DME binary fuel ignition and to optimize the design and operation of NH3/DME dual-fuel engines for improved efficiency and reliability.
Evaluation of a distribution, education and awareness intervention for child passenger safety in Lebanon: a low-income and middle-income country setting
Authors: Price Michelle , Shebbo Fadia M. , Mroueh Salman , Brown Rebeccah L , Al-Hajj Samar 
Published: October 2024

BackgroundThe Eastern Mediterranean Region suffers disproportionately from paediatric traffic-related injuries. Despite governmental laws, Lebanon—an eastern Mediterranean country—has low child restraint (CR) use prevalence. This study examined the impact of using car seat distribution, and child passenger safety education and awareness intervention to improve child passenger safety knowledge and practices among caregivers.MethodsThis study recruited Lebanese caregivers with one child or more, using a 4-wheel motor vehicle, and not using a car seat. The intervention comprised an educational session followed by a car seat or booster seat distribution and installation check by a certified child passenger safety technician. A baseline assessment questionnaire was used to identify reasons for prior CR non-use. A child passenger safety knowledge test was administered before, immediately after and 3 months postintervention to assess child passenger safety knowledge retention and compare it to the baseline using the conditional logit model for pre–post interventions.ResultsFifty-eight participants underwent the intervention. Affordability was identified as the primary reason for car seat non-use. Three months after the intervention, compliance with CRs use was reported at 100%, and correct responses on the knowledge test significantly increased (p<0.05) for all items except for harness tightness (p=0.673).ConclusionOur child passenger safety intervention resulted in improved knowledge and increased self-reported use of CRs in a caregivers’ cohort in Lebanon. Further efforts should address sociocultural and economic barriers and the lack of local child passenger safety technicians to mitigate the region’s paediatric road traffic injury and death toll.
Validation Strategy for Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Patients With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Long‐Term Maintaining Sinus Rhythm: A Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Li Xinyu , Yu Houdeng , Lai Shihuang , Liao Yaqi , Yang Yihong , Tian Kejun , Zhong Yiming , Chen Xinguang 
Published: October 2024

Background: Data comparing the outcomes of loose versus rigorous validation strategies for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) are limited. We aimed to prospectively assess the effectiveness of loose versus rigorous validation for PVI in patients with PAF with a maintained sinus rhythm.Methods: Patients (n = 117) with PAF were randomized to receive either loose validation (n = 59) or rigorous validation (n = 58) after PVI. The presence of dormant conduction in loose validation was assessed only by adenosine administration followed by isoproterenol infusion. The complete absence of pulmonary vein (PV) potentials in rigorous validation was confirmed by the combination of the Lasso catheter with isoproterenol plus adenosine. Dormant conduction, revealed by validation after PVI, was ablated until all reconnections were eliminated.Results: The procedure time in the rigorous validation group was greater than that in the loose validation group (161.3 ± 52.7 min vs. 142.5 ± 37.6 min, p = 0.03, respectively). After successful PVI, the detection of dormant PV reconnections in the rigorous validation group was significantly greater than that in the loose validation group (69.0% vs. 37.3%, p = 0.001). However, after reisolation of the sites of dormant PV conduction, the postablation recurrence rates in 1.3 years were similar between the groups (79.2% vs. 83.6%, p = 0.67).Conclusion: Rigorous validation can reveal dormant conduction in more than two‐thirds of patients with PAF undergoing PVI. However, rigorous validation and additional ablation of the resulting connections do not improve long‐term outcomes when a protocol that includes electrophysiological confirmation and pharmacological validation is used.
Evaluation of urinary volatile organic compounds as a novel metabolomic biomarker to assess chronic kidney disease progression
Authors: Wu Henry H. L. , Possell Malcolm , Nguyen Long The , Peng Wenbo , Pollock Carol A. , Saad Sonia 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Background
There is a need to develop accurate and reliable non-invasive methods to evaluate chronic kidney disease (CKD) status and assess disease progression. Given it is recognized that dysregulation in metabolic pathways occur from early CKD, there is a basis in utilizing metabolomic biomarkers to monitor CKD progression. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), a form of metabolomic biomarker, are gaseous products of metabolic processes in organisms which are typically released with greater abundance in disease conditions when there is dysregulation in metabolism. How urinary VOCs reflect the abnormal metabolic profile of patients with CKD status is unknown. Our study aimed to explore this.

Methods
Individuals aged 18–75 years undergoing kidney biopsy were included. Pre-biopsy urine samples were collected. All biopsy samples had an interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA) grade scored by standardized assessment. Urine supernatant was extracted from residue and sampled for stir bar sorptive extraction followed by Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Post-processing of GC-MS data separated complex mixtures of VOCs based on their volatility and polarity. Mass-to-charge ratios and fragment patterns were measured for individual VOCs identification and quantification. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was performed to assess the ability of urinary VOCs in discriminating between IFTA 0 (‘no or minimal IFTA’ i.e. <10%, IFTA), IFTA 1 (‘mild IFTA’ i.e. 10–25% IFTA) and IFTA ≥ 2 (‘moderate or severe IFTA’ i.e. >25% IFTA). Linear regression analysis adjusting for age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate, diabetes mellitus (DM) status, and albuminuria was conducted to determine significantly regulated urinary VOCs amongst the groups.

Results
64 study participants (22 individuals IFTA 0, 15 individuals IFTA 1, 27 individuals IFTA ≥ 2) were included. There were 34 VOCs identified from GC-MS which were statistically associated with correct classification between the IFTA groups, and LDA demonstrated individuals with IFTA 0, IFTA 1 and IFTA ≥ 2 could be significantly separated by their urinary VOCs profile (p < 0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis reported 4 VOCs significantly upregulated in the IFTA 1 compared to the IFTA 0 group, and 2 VOCs significantly upregulated in the IFTA ≥ 2 compared to the IFTA 1 group (p < 0.05). Significantly upregulated urinary VOCs belonged to one of four functional groups - aldehydes, ketones, hydrocarbons, or alcohols.

Conclusions
We report novel links between urinary VOCs and tubulointerstitial histopathology. Our findings suggest the application of urinary VOCs as a metabolomic biomarker may have a useful clinical role to non-invasively assess CKD status during disease progression.
Microcavity-assisted cloning (MAC) of hard-to-clone HepG2 cell lines: cloning made easy
Authors: Mlakar Vid , Lesne Laurence , Vossio Stefania , Dupanloup Isabelle , Gloor Yvonne , Moreau Dimitri , Ansari Marc 
Published: October 2024

AbstractCloning is a key molecular biology procedure for obtaining a genetically homogenous population of organisms or cell lines. It requires the expansion of new cell populations starting from single genetically modified cells. Despite the technical progress, cloning of many cell lines remains difficult. Cloning often fails either due to the strenuous conditions associated with manipulating cells or because many cells don’t tolerate a single-cell state. Here we describe a new cloning method utilizing low adhesion microcavity plates. This new technique, named microcavity-assisted cloning (MAC) was developed to clone difficult-to-clone HepG2 cells. The clones were produced following CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of the GSTA1 gene by a random distribution of 200, 400, and 800 cells into 550 microcavities of a 24-well low adhesion plate originally designed for the culture of spheroids. The knockout of GSTA1 was verified at the protein level using Western blotting. The advantages of the MAC method are its low cost, ease of the procedure, and the possibility of scaling up the throughput and automatization.
CD81-guided heterologous EVs present heterogeneous interactions with breast cancer cells
Authors: Gurrieri Elena , Carradori Giulia , Roccuzzo Michela , Pancher Michael , Peroni Daniele , Belli Romina , Trevisan Caterina , Notarangelo Michela , Huang Wen-Qiu , Carreira Agata S. A. , Quattrone Alessandro , Jenster Guido , Hagen Timo L. M. Ten , D’Agostino Vito Giuseppe 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Background
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-secreted particles conceived as natural vehicles for intercellular communication. The capacity to entrap heterogeneous molecular cargoes and target specific cell populations through EV functionalization promises advancements in biomedical applications. However, the efficiency of the obtained EVs, the contribution of cell-exposed receptors to EV interactions, and the predictability of functional cargo release with potential sharing of high molecular weight recombinant mRNAs are crucial for advancing heterologous EVs in targeted therapy applications.

Methods
In this work, we selected the popular EV marker CD81 as a transmembrane guide for fusion proteins with a C-terminal GFP reporter encompassing or not Trastuzumab light chains targeting the HER2 receptor. We performed high-content imaging analyses to track EV-cell interactions, including isogenic breast cancer cells with manipulated HER2 expression. We validated the functional cargo delivery of recombinant EVs carrying doxorubicin upon EV-donor cell treatment. Then, we performed an in vivo study using JIMT-1 cells commonly used as HER2-refractory, trastuzumab-resistant model to detect a more than 2000 nt length recombinant mRNA in engrafted tumors.

Results
Fusion proteins participated in vesicular trafficking dynamics and accumulated on secreted EVs according to their expression levels in HEK293T cells. Despite the presence of GFP, secreted EV populations retained a HER2 receptor-binding capacity and were used to track EV-cell interactions. In time-frames where the global EV distribution did not change between HER2-positive (SK-BR-3) or -negative (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cell lines, the HER2 exposure in isogenic cells remarkably affected the tropism of heterologous EVs, demonstrating the specificity of antiHER2 EVs representing about 20% of secreted bulk vesicles. The specific interaction strongly correlated with improved cell-killing activity of doxorubicin-EVs in MDA-MB-231 ectopically expressing HER2 and reduced toxicity in SK-BR-3 with a knocked-out HER2 receptor, overcoming the effects of the free drug. Interestingly, the fusion protein-corresponding transcripts present as full-length mRNAs in recombinant EVs could reach orthotopic breast tumors in JIMT-1-xenografted mice, improving our sensitivity in detecting penetrant cargoes in tissue biopsies.

Conclusions
This study highlights the quantitative aspects underlying the creation of a platform for secreted heterologous EVs and shows the limits of single receptor-ligand interactions behind EV-cell engagement mechanisms, which now become the pivotal step to predict functional tropism and design new generations of EV-based nanovehicles.
Evaluation of Loopamp Leishmania detection kit for the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ethiopia
Authors: Taye Behailu , Melkamu Roma , Tajebe Fitsumbrhan , Ibarra-Meneses Ana Victoria , Adane Desalegn , Atnafu Saba , Adem Mohammed , Adane Gashaw , Kassa Mekibib , Asres Mezgebu Silamsaw , van Griensven Johan , van Henten Saskia , Pareyn Myrthe 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Background
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Ethiopia and some parts of Kenya is predominantly caused by Leishmania aethiopica. While skin-slit (SS) microscopy is routinely used for CL diagnosis, more sensitive molecular tests are available. The Loopamp™ Leishmania detection kit (Loopamp) is a robust loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay with the potential for implementation in primary healthcare facilities. In this study, we comparatively assessed the diagnostic accuracy of four methods currently used to diagnose CL: Loopamp, kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) PCR, spliced leader RNA (SL-RNA) PCR and SS microscopy.

Methods
A study on 122 stored tape disc samples of suspected CL patients was conducted in Gondar, northwestern Ethiopia. Routine SS microscopy results were obtained from all patients. Total nucleic acids were extracted from the tapes and subjected to PCR testing targeting kDNA and SL-RNA, and Loopamp. Diagnostic accuracy was calculated with SS microscopy as a reference test. The limit of detection (LoD) of Loopamp and kDNA PCR were determined for cultured L. aethiopica and Leishmania donovani.

Results
Of the 122 patients, 64 (52.5%) were identified as CL cases based on SS microscopy. Although the PCR tests showed a sensitivity of 95.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 91.6–99.1), Loopamp only had 48.4% (95% CI 39.6–57.3) sensitivity and 87.9% (95% CI 82.1–93.7) specificity. The LoD of Loopamp for L. donovani was 100-fold lower (20 fg/µl) than that for L. aethiopica (2 pg/µl).

Conclusions
The Loopamp™ Leishmania detection kit is not suitable for the diagnosis of CL in Ethiopia, presumably due to a primer mismatch with the L. aethiopica 18S rRNA target. Further research is needed to develop a simple and sensitive point-of-care test that allows the decentralization of CL diagnosis in Ethiopia.

Graphical Abstract