bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Brain organoids: A new tool for modelling of neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Aili Yirizhati , Maimaitiming Nuersimanguli , Wang Zengliang , Wang Yongxin 
Published: September 2024

AbstractNeurodevelopmental disorders are mostly studied using mice as models. However, the mouse brain lacks similar cell types and structures as those of the human brain. In recent years, emergence of three‐dimensional brain organoids derived from human embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells allows for controlled monitoring and evaluation of early neurodevelopmental processes and has opened a window for studying various aspects of human brain development. However, such organoids lack original anatomical structure of the brain during maturation, and neurodevelopmental maturation processes that rely on unique cellular interactions and neural network connections are limited. Consequently, organoids are difficult to be used extensively and effectively while modelling later stages of human brain development and disease progression. To address this problem, several methods and technologies have emerged that aim to enhance the sophisticated regulation of brain organoids developmental processes through bioengineering approaches, which may alleviate some of the current limitations. This review discusses recent advances and application areas of human brain organoid culture methods, aiming to generalize optimization strategies for organoid systems, improve the ability to mimic human brain development, and enhance the application value of organoids.
Real‐world effectiveness of adjuvant octreotide therapy in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors at high recurrence risk: A multicenter retrospective cohort study
Authors: Guo Shiwei , Wu Heshui , Gao Suizhi , Hu Weiyu , Jiang Hui , Bian Yun , Zhang Yijie , Li Bo , Li Gang , Xu Xuefeng , Wang Min , Zhu Chenglin , Qu Linlin , Huang Qiang , Qin Renyi , Lou Wenhui , Jin Gang 
Published: September 2024

AbstractAdjuvant therapy for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) after radical resection lacks evidence‐based data and remains controversial. This study aimed to validate whether long‐acting octreotide is a potential candidate for adjuvant therapy in patients with G2 PanNETs at high recurrence risk by clustering real‐world data. A retrospective review of patients with nonmetastatic grade 2 PanNETs who underwent radical resection at six research centers between 2008 and 2020 was conducted. Propensity score matching and inverse probability of treatment weight analysis were used to control confounding factors. Overall, 357 patients (octreotide group, n = 82; control group, n = 275) were analyzed. Kaplan–Meier survival analyses showed that the octreotide group had longer disease‐free survival (DFS) compared with the control group (36 months: 93.3% vs. 79.0%, p = .0124; 60 months: 71% vs. 67.6%, p = .0596, respectively), as well as overall survival (OS) (60 months: 98% vs. 83.8%, p = .0117, respectively). Multivariate analyses indicated that octreotide long‐acting repeatable (LAR) adjuvant therapy was associated with higher OS (p = .0270) at 60 months. Propensity score matching analysis showed that octreotide adjuvant therapy was associated with higher DFS (p = .0455) and OS (p = .0190) at 60 months. Similar results were obtained via inverse probability of treatment weight analysis. Subgroup analysis indicated that octreotide LAR was associated with a high DFS in patients with lymph node metastasis or Ki‐67 <10% PanNETs. Adjuvant therapy with long‐acting octreotide following radical resection of nonmetastatic G2 PanNETs may be associated with improved DFS and OS in a real‐world setting.
‘Double vision’ in the interlegal: the situated pluri‐legal consciousness of British Muslim women
Authors: KALRA SIMRAN 
Published: September 2024

AbstractLegal pluralism scholarship has argued that co‐existing legal orders interact. Individuals draw on exogenous norms to strategically resist social and legal constraints. Integrating the concepts of ‘situated legal consciousness’ and ‘interlegality’, I explore how identities within intersecting legal orders influence legal consciousness. To this end, I draw on a case study of the plurality in marriage laws among British Muslim communities in England, where Islamic nikah ceremonies are not by themselves recognized as marriage. My analysis shows that marginalized individuals routinely rely on interlegality to make sense of their realities and choices. This engenders a ‘double vision’, as individuals perceive their identities, social arrangements, and the law through an integrated lens of intersecting laws. They resist the social locations to which they are relegated in plural legal orders and reposition themselves within these with the aid of a composite identity that allows them to see their lifeworlds through a double vision of the law.
Perspectives of Chinese nephrology nurses on discussing sexual dysfunction with patients receiving haemodialysis: A qualitative study
Authors: An Lei , Yodchai Kantaporn , Kongsuwan Waraporn 
Published: September 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe study underscores the crucial yet often neglected issue of sexual dysfunction in haemodialysis patients. Despite nephrology nurses'close relationships with patients, there is a significant communication gap on this topic. In China, limited research highlights the need for further study.ObjectiveTo describe the perspectives of Chinese nephrology nurses on discussing sexual dysfunction with patients receiving haemodialysis.DesignA qualitative descriptive study.ParticipantsTen Chinese nephrology nurses from a tertiary public hospital in Guizhou province, China.ApproachSemistructured interviews were conducted using an interview guide. Qualitative content analysis approach was utilised in analysis.ResultsThere were five themes described: (1) lack of training in sexual education, as nephrology nurses described never being trained to manage patients' sexual health issues; (2) discomfort when discussing sexual topics, Chinese nephrology nurses found the topic of sexual dysfunction embarrassing and avoided discussing it; (3) sexual dysfunction viewed as a nonurgent topic, nephrology nurses prioritise physical health to aid patient survival; (4) belief in physicians as ultimate care advisors, nephrology nurses believed that doctors should handle discussions on sexually related topics; and (5) lack of a suitable environment for discussing sexual dysfunction, nephrology nurses viewed sex as a private matter, inappropriate for discussion in a public unit.ConclusionThe study identifies barriers to discussing sexual dysfunction in healthcare, including provider knowledge deficits, discomfort and lack of supportive environments. It recommends specialised training and conducive settings to improve communication in renal care. Future research should evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions.
Natural Occurrence, Morpho‐Molecular Characteristics, and Pathogenicity of Fusarium spp. Associated With Chrysanthemum Wilt in Vietnam
Authors: Le Dung , Ta Tam Thi Thanh , Nguyen Phuong Van , Mai Huyen Thi Thu 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACTChrysanthemum Fusarium wilt (CFW) is a devastating soil‐borne disease affecting the cut chrysanthemum industry globally. In Vietnam, this disease has been occurring silently and is posing a risk of epidemic outbreaks in the southern provinces, especially Lam Dong. Results from a survey in 2023 showed that stunted growth, curved and small stems, dried‐rot roots, leaf drooping and green or yellow wilting of plants after transplanting or at their flower bud initiation were common symptoms observed across the main chrysanthemum‐growing farms in Lam Dong. The occurrence of CFW was recorded in relation with the host cultivar, irrigation method and fungicide‐spraying regime. Among the cultivars grown in Lam Dong, ‘Doa cu’ was the most susceptible to CFW. The use of sprinkler irrigation and infrequent application of fungicides were attributed to increase both disease incidence and severity. Thirty fungal isolates obtained from diseased plants were identified as Fusarium oxysporum and F. falciforme based on morphological features and molecular analysis of ITS and TEF‐1α genes. The detection frequency of these two species was almost equal, which shows their balanced role in the occurrence of CFW in Lam Dong. In‐planta pathogenicity assays of Fusarium isolates against plantlets grown from cuttings and invitro propagation showed a variation in pathogenicity and a specialisation of isolates for these planting materials. These results suggest that the profiles of population and aggressiveness of Fusarium isolates diverged with the type of planting material, and between the stock and the commercial farms.
Associations between real‐life light exposure patterns and sleep behaviour in adolescents
Authors: da Costa Lopes Luísa , Ribeiro da Silva Vallim Julia , Tufik Sergio , Louzada Fernando , D'Almeida Vânia 
Published: September 2024

SummaryOne of the most striking changes in the regulation of sleep–wake behaviour during adolescence is circadian phase delay. Light exposure synchronises circadian rhythms, impacting sleep regulation, however, the influence of real‐life light exposure on sleep variations remains less clear. We aimed to describe the sleep and light exposure patterns of high school students with comparable schedules and socio‐economic backgrounds, and to evaluate whether there was any association between them, considering chronotype. We analysed five school days and two free days of actigraphy records, from 35 adolescents (24 female, mean age: 16.23 ± 0.60). The sample was described using the Sleep Regularity Index (SRI), chronotype (actigraphy MSFsc), and self‐reported diurnal preference (Morning/Evening Scale). Regression models were constructed to assess the impact of light exposure (daytime and nighttime) on subsequent sleep episodes; and to confirm whether the associations could be an indirect consequence of chronotype. Despite following similar routines, the SRI varied considerably (48.25 to 88.28). There was compatibility between the actigraphy proxy for chronotype and the self‐reported diurnal preference, extracted using the circadian rhythm scale for adolescents. Less light exposure during the day was associated with later sleep onset and shorter sleep duration. An increase of 100 lux in average daytime light exposure advance of 8.08 minutes in sleep onset and 7.16 min in sleep offset. When the regressions were controlled for chronotype, these associations persisted. These findings facilitate discussions regarding the behavioural aspect of the impact of real‐life light exposure on sleep and its potential as a target for interventions aiming to enhance adolescents’ sleep quality.
The impact of a multifaceted program on fragile individuals. Evidence from an RCT in Italy
Authors: Del Boca Daniela , Pronzato Chiara 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe increase in poverty rates among families and individuals in Italy over the past two decades can be attributed largely to repeated periods of economic crisis. Growing concern over the problem has driven interest in the role of policy in supporting household welfare. Responding to the currently limited access to (or provision of) public aid and assistance, private institutions and philanthropic foundations have stepped up their efforts to create new initiatives for alleviating poverty. In this paper, we use a randomized control trial (RCT) to evaluate the impact of a new Italian program aimed at supporting vulnerable individuals in four separate but related areas of household welfare: employment, financial circumstances, family responsibilities and housing conditions. The program, known as Integro, was introduced by the Compagnia di San Paolo, one of Italy's largest philanthropic institutions. Our findings indicate a positive and statistically significant impact of Integro on three of the four target outcomes considered, with only the fourth (housing conditions) not being affected. We also sought to identify any initial conditions potentially influencing the extent to which participants benefit from the program. Is Integro equally effective for everyone? According to our data, the program provides the best outcomes for males reporting lower human capital and greater socio‐emotional stability.
The Impact of YabG Mutations on Clostridioides difficile Spore Germination and Processing of Spore Substrates
Authors: Osborne Morgan S. , Brehm Joshua N. , Olivença Carmen , Cochran Alicia M. , Serrano Mónica , Henriques Adriano O. , Sorg Joseph A. 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACTYabG is a sporulation‐specific protease that is conserved among sporulating bacteria. Clostridioides difficile YabG processes the cortex destined proteins preproSleC into proSleC and CspBA to CspB and CspA. YabG also affects synthesis of spore coat/exosporium proteins CotA and CdeM. In prior work that identified CspA as the co‐germinant receptor, mutations in yabG were found which altered the co‐germinants required to initiate spore germination. To understand how these mutations in the yabG locus contribute to C. difficile spore germination, we introduced these mutations into an isogenic background. Spores derived from C. difficile yabGC207A (a catalytically inactive allele), C. difficile yabGA46D, C. difficile yabGG37E, and C. difficile yabGP153L strains germinated in response to taurocholic acid alone. Recombinantly expressed and purified preproSleC incubated with E. coli lysate expressing wild type YabG resulted in the removal of the presequence from preproSleC. Interestingly, only YabGA46D showed any activity toward purified preproSleC. Mutation of the YabG processing site in preproSleC (R119A) led to YabG shifting its processing to R115 or R112. Finally, changes in yabG expression under the mutant promoters were analyzed using a SNAP‐tag and revealed expression differences at early and late stages of sporulation. Overall, our results support and expand upon the hypothesis that YabG is important for germination and spore assembly and, upon mutation of the processing site, can shift where it cleaves substrates.
A cross‐sectional study on phlebotomine sand flies in relation to disease transmission in the Republic of Kosovo
Authors: Xhekaj Betim , Hoxha Ina , Platzgummer Katharina , Stefanovska Jovana , Dvořák Vít , Milchram Markus , Obwaller Adelheid G. , Poeppl Wolfgang , Muja‐Bajraktari Nesade , Walochnik Julia , Trájer Attila J. , Sherifi Kurtesh , Cvetkovikj Aleksandar , Kniha Edwin 
Published: September 2024

AbstractSand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) are blood‐feeding insects that transmit the protozoan parasites Leishmania spp. and various arboviruses. The Balkan region, including the Republic of Kosovo, harbours a diverse sand fly fauna. Vector species of Leishmania infantum as well as phleboviruses are endemic; however, recent data are scarce. We performed a cross‐sectional study to update the current sand fly distribution in Kosovo and assess biological as well as environmental factors associated with sand fly presence. CDC light trapping was conducted at 46 locations in 2022 and 2023, specifically targeting understudied regions in Kosovo. Individual morphological species identification was supported by molecular barcoding. The occurrence data of sand flies was used to create distribution maps and perform environmental analyses, taking elevation, wind speed and climate‐related factors into account. In addition, PCR‐based blood meal analysis and pathogen screening were conducted. Overall, 303 specimens of six sand fly species were trapped, predominated by Phlebotomus neglectus (97%). Barcodes from eight of nine known endemic sand fly species were obtained. Combining our data with previous surveys, we mapped the currently known sand fly distribution based on more than 4000 specimens at 177 data points, identifying Ph. neglectus and Ph. perfiliewi as the predominant species. Environmental analyses depicted two geographical groups of sand flies in Kosovo, with notable differences between the species. In total, 223 blood meals of five sand fly species were analysed. Of seven identified host species, the predominant blood meal source was observed to be cattle, but the DNA of dogs and humans, among others, was also detected. This study assessed biological as well as ecological factors of sand fly occurrence, which should help better understand and evaluate potential hot spots of disease transmission in Kosovo.
Navigating household food insecurity and environmental sustainability on a low income: An exploration of Sheffield mothers
Authors: Garratt Elisabeth A. , Jackson‐Taylor Christine 
Published: September 2024

AbstractIn 2023, 25% of adults in England, Wales and Northern Ireland experienced food insecurity. The concentration of food insecurity in both socioeconomically disadvantaged groups and households containing children raises concerns about its uneven nutritional and health impacts across different groups. In parallel with rising food insecurity over the past decade, concerns about the environmental consequences of human diets are intensifying, where urgent changes are needed to people's diets to avoid irreversible environmental damage. It is generally assumed that cost has a significant impact on people's ability to adopt more environmentally sustainable food practices. This UK Research Council‐funded project seeks to gain insights into the ways in which low‐income mothers (are able to) engage with environmentally sustainable food practices. RQ1 will examine the day‐to‐day food practices that mothers undertake for their families to offer insights into everyday food insecurity and the relevance of environmentally sustainable food practices. RQ2 will explore biographical experiences to highlight how mothers' life histories influence their familial food practices, including their current household food security and engagement with environmentally sustainable food practices. Finally, RQ3 will explore mothers' upcoming prospects of food insecurity and environmentally sustainable food practices. These research questions will be explored through a qualitative longitudinal, feminist study of 15 low‐income mothers in Sheffield, UK, combining in‐depth interviews with ethnographic elements. Gaining improved knowledge of mothers' food practices on a low income will be valuable to influence realistic, effective and meaningful philosophies, policies and practical action that prioritises equity, good nutrition and environmentally sustainable food practices.
Phenotypes, Genetics, and Estimated Prevalence of Focal Dermal Hypoplasia (Goltz Syndrome): A Single‐Center Report
Authors: Herlin Laura Krogh , Herlin Morten Krogh , Vinter Hanne , Blechingberg Jenny , Andersen Brian Nauheimer , Kruse Casper , Sommerlund Mette 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundFocal dermal hypoplasia (FDH), also known as Goltz syndrome, is a rare ectodermal dysplasia that primarily affects the skin, skeleton, and eyes. It is an X‐linked dominant disorder, predominantly seen in females, caused by pathogenic variants in PORCN.MethodsWe characterized a case series of four genetically confirmed FDH patients (three females, one male) at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. We estimated the FDH prevalence from our local cohort and nationwide registry data.ResultsThree patients had characteristic dermatological findings suspicious for FDH and confirmed by targeted PORCN analysis. One patient had an atypical presentation with several malformations but only subtle skin changes and was diagnosed following trio exome‐sequencing analysis. Skin atrophy with fat herniations and telangiectasias were typical cutaneous findings. Limb malformations included oligodactyly (cleft foot), syndactyly, and polydactyly. Eye abnormalities included coloboma and microphthalmos. Facial dysmorphology was defined by asymmetry, thin upper lip, and malformed ears. One patient developed a giant cell bone tumor, which is a rare feature of FDH. Dental findings included enamel hypoplasia with vertical grooving and irregular crowns. Four PORCN variants were identified, including three not previously reported in the literature.We estimated a regional point prevalence in Western Denmark of 1.6 cases per million population (95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.7–3.7 per million) and a nationwide registry‐based point prevalence of 1.2 cases per million population (95% CI: 0.6–2.4 per million).ConclusionsFDH is an extremely rare and complex multisystem disorder of variable presentation, which requires close multidisciplinary collaboration for diagnosis and patient care.
The Matching Mechanism and Flow Mechanisms of Supersonic Through-Flow Variable-Pitch Tandem Cascade
Authors: Sheng Xiaoying , Lu Xingen , Li Ziliang , Wu Yunfeng , Yuan Hang , Yang Chengwu 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
The geometric structure of the supersonic through-flow variable-pitch tandem fan poses challenges in ensuring optimal relative blade positions across various operating modes. This study employed numerical simulations to investigate the impact of axial overlap and percent pitch on the aerodynamic performance of fan in typical modes. Furthermore, it delved into the intricate interplay between the front and rear blades, offering detailed insights into the selection principles governing the relative blade positions in the supersonic through-flow variable-pitch tandem fan. The findings underscored the pivotal role of percent pitch based on chord direction in fan's aerodynamic performance. Specifically, supersonic and transonic modes exhibited superior performance when chord direction percent pitch was set at 10% and 100%, respectively. The key factor contributing to these lower losses was the influence of low-speed fluid from the wake of the front blade, which weakened the shock boundary layer interaction on the rear blade's surface. In the high-speed windmilling mode, within the confines of geometric constraints, higher percent pitch based on chord direction values corresponded to reduced losses. This outcome was primarily attributable to the gap-blocking effect, which diminished the shock boundary layer interaction on the rear blade's pressure side and improved the wake of the rear blade. However, in this mode, the loss demonstrated a positive correlation with the pressure ratio. Consequently, the selection of the relative blade position required a delicate balance between the competing demands of these two factors.