bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Care manager role for older multimorbid heart failure patients’ needs in relation to psychological distress and quality of life: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Gostoli Sara , Subach Regina , Guolo Francesco , Bernardini Francesco , Cammarata Alessandra , Gigante Graziano , Herbeck Belnap Birgit , Della Riva Diego , Urbinati Stefano , Rafanelli Chiara 
Published: September 2024

BackgroundThere are few studies investigating patients’ needs in healthcare focusing on disease severity and psychological characteristics of elderly heart failure (HF) patients with multimorbidity, specifically addressed by a care manager (CM).AimsTo explore the role of a CM dealing with elderly multimorbid HF patients’ needs/preferences according to NYHA class, ejection fraction, psychological/psychosomatic distress and quality of life (QoL), utilizing a Blended Collaborative Care (BCC) approach (ESCAPE; Grant agreement No 945377).MethodsCue cards, self-reported questionnaires, and a semi-structured interview were used to collect data.ResultsTwenty-five Italian patients (mean age ± SD = 77.5 ± 6.68) were enrolled between June 2021 and March 2022. The most relevant patients’ needs to be addressed by a CM were: education (e.g., on medical comorbidities), individual treatment tailoring (e.g., higher number of appointments with cardiologists) and symptom monitoring.ConclusionThe study highlights the importance of targeting HF patients’ needs according to psychological characteristics, whose healthcare requires person-centered care with CM assistance. In view of ESCAPE BCC intervention, a CM should consider specific patients’ needs of elderly multimorbid HF patients with psychological, psychosomatic distress, particularly somatization, and lower QoL to achieve a more personalized health care pathway.Study registrationThe «Evaluation of a patient-centred biopsychosocial blended collaborative care pathway for the treatment of multi-morbid elderly patients» (ESCAPE) study has been registered at the University of Göttingen Medical Centre (UMG Reg. No 02853) and the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00025120).
Depression, anxiety and self-esteem in adolescent girls with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Yuxin , Zhang Jiayu , Zheng Xuanling , Lu Wenjing , Guo Jinru , Chen Fuhong , Liu Changqin 
Published: September 2024

ObjectiveStudies have shown the adverse psychological impact of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but the state of mental health in adolescents with PCOS remains unclear. Thus, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the prevalence and severity of depression and anxiety, as well as potential effects on self-esteem and quality of life (QoL) in this specific population.MethodsWe systematically searched four electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Reviews database for articles published until 25/8/2024. We considered observational studies in which the subjects were adolescent girls with PCOS who had reported symptoms including anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and QoL. The Review Manager version 5.4 was used to analyze the available data extracted. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS) to evaluate the quality of selected studies. A funnel plot was utilized to assess the risk of literature bias, and a forest plot was used to represent the combined outcomes. This systematic review was previously registered in PROSPERO with the registration number CRD42022382036.ResultsWe included 11 studies in the systematic review and conducted meta-analyses on 10 of them. Adolescents with PCOS reported a higher risk of depression (OR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.23 to 4.00, p = 0.008) and a higher level of depression scores (SMD = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.71, p = 0.002) than controls. There were no significant differences in anxiety (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 0.52 to 6.96, p = 0.33; SMD = 0.19, 95% CI: -0.21 to 0.59, p = 0.36), self-esteem (SMD = -0.17, 95% CI: -0.85 to 0.52, p = 0.64), and QoL (SMD = -0.15, 95% CI: -0.42 to 0.11, p = 0.26) between the two groups.ConclusionsOur research indicated that adolescents with PCOS experienced more severe depressive symptoms than those without PCOS. This highlights the importance of evaluation and early treatment of mental health in PCOS. More clinicians should pay attention to the mental health of adolescent girls with PCOS through this study.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42022382036.
Androgen-mediated maternal effects and trade-offs: postnatal hormone development, growth, and survivorship in wild meerkats
Authors: Davies Charli S. , Shearer Caroline L. , Greene Lydia K. , Mitchell Jessica , Walsh Debbie , Goerlich Vivian C. , Clutton-Brock Tim H. , Drea Christine M. 
Published: September 2024

IntroductionMammalian reproductive and somatic development is regulated by steroid hormones, growth hormone (GH), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Based largely on information from humans, model organisms, and domesticated animals, testosterone (T) and the GH/IGF-1 system activate sexually differentiated development, promoting male-biased growth, often at a cost to health and survivorship. To test if augmented prenatal androgen exposure in females produces similar developmental patterns and trade-offs, we examine maternal effects in wild meerkats (Suricata suricatta), a non-model species in which adult females naturally, albeit differentially by status, express exceptionally high androgen concentrations, particularly during pregnancy. In this cooperative breeder, the early growth of daughters predicts future breeding status and reproductive success.MethodsWe examine effects of normative and experimentally induced variation in maternal androgens on the ontogenetic patterns in offspring reproductive hormones (androstenedione, A4; T; estradiol, E2), IGF-1, growth from pup emergence at 1 month to puberty at 1 year, and survivorship. Specifically, we compare the male and female offspring of dominant control (DC or high-T), subordinate control (SC or lower-T), and dominant treated (DT or blocked-T) dams, the latter having experienced antiandrogen treatment in late gestation.ResultsMeerkat offspring showed sex differences in absolute T and IGF-1 concentrations, developmental rates of A4 and E2 expression, and survivorship — effects that were sometimes socially or environmentally modulated. Atypical for mammals were the early male bias in T that disappeared by puberty, the absence of sex differences in A4 and E2, and the female bias in IGF-1. Food availability was linked to steroid concentrations in females and to IGF-1, potentially growth, and survival in both sexes. Maternal treatment significantly affected rates of T, E2, and IGF-1 expression, and weight, with marginal effects on survivorship; offspring of DT dams showed peak IGF-1 concentrations and the best survivorship.DiscussionMaternal effects thus impact offspring development in meerkats, with associated trade-offs: Whereas prenatal androgens modify postnatal reproductive and somatic physiology, benefits associated with enhanced competitiveness in DC lineages may have initial costs of reduced IGF-1, delay in weight gain, and decreased survivorship. These novel data further confirm the different evolutionary and mechanistic pathways to cooperative breeding and call for greater consideration of natural endocrine variation in both sexes.
Blastocysts originated from oocytes with smooth endoplasmic reticulum aggregates have a reduced euploidy rate: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Kong Pengcheng , Pan Jiaping , Liang Shanshan , Yin Mingru , Teng Xiaoming 
Published: September 2024

Research questionDoes the presence of smooth endoplasmic reticulum aggregates (SERa) in oocytes adversely impact the euploidy rate of subsequent blastocysts?DesignWe performed a retrospective cohort study with 671 young patients (&lt; 38 years) undergoing their first preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) between January 2019 and October 2022 at a reproductive medical center of university affiliated teaching hospitals in China. Cycles were categorized as either SERa(+) cycles (containing at least one SERa(+) oocyte) or SERa(-) cycles (all oocytes without SERa). In SERa(+) cycles, oocytes were further subdivided into the SERa(+) oocyte group and the sibling SERa(-) oocyte group, comprising oocytes with normal morphology.ResultsNo significant differences were observed in the normal fertilization rate (72.9% vs. 75.4% vs. 72.6%, P=0.343), and cleavage rate (96.8% vs. 97.1% vs. 96.4%, P=0.839) among the SERa(-) cycle group, the SERa(-) oocyte group, and the SERa(+) oocyte group. Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences in the rates of good quality embryos (44.7% vs. 48.8% vs. 46.2%, P=0.177) or blastocyst formation (60.1% vs. 60.9% vs. 60.5%, P=0.893) among the groups. However, the euploidy rate of blastocysts derived from SERa(+) oocytes was significantly lower compared to those from SERa(-) oocytes in SERa(+) cycles and normal oocytes in SERa(-) cycles (39.3% vs. 51.2% vs. 54.5%, P=0.005). Despite this, there were no significant differences in pregnancy and neonatal outcomes after euploid embryo transfer among the three groups.ConclusionsBlastocysts derived from SERa(+) oocytes have a lower euploidy rate than those derived from SERa(-) oocytes. Nevertheless, comparable reproductive outcomes were achieved following euploid embryo transfer from both SERa(+) and SERa(-) oocytes.
Green synthesis of CaO nanoparticles from chicken eggshells: antibacterial, antifungal, and heavy metal (Pb2⁺, Cr2⁺, Cd2⁺ and Hg2⁺) adsorption properties
Authors: Hemmami Hadia , Zeghoud Soumeia , Ben Amor Ilham , Alnazza Alhamad Ali , Tliba Ali , Alsalme Ali , Cornu David , Bechelany Mikhael , Barhoum Ahmed 
Published: September 2024

BackgroundChicken eggshells, a common poultry byproduct, are rich in calcium and provide a sustainable source for producing calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO NPs). Their use in eco-friendly synthesis aligns with the growing emphasis on sustainable materials for environmental and biomedical applications. Objectives: This study develops an eco-friendly method for synthesizing CaO NPs from chicken eggshells, characterizes their physicochemical properties, and evaluates their antibacterial and antifungal activities. It also tests their effectiveness in removing heavy metal ions (Pb2⁺, Cr2⁺, Cd2⁺, and Hg2⁺) from aqueous solutions.MethodsCaO NPs were synthesized by calcining chicken eggshells at 700°C for 7 h. Comprehensive characterization included analysis of crystalline structure, morphology, optical properties, bandgap energy, chemical composition, and thermal stability. Antibacterial and antifungal activities were tested using the well-agar diffusion method. Batch adsorption experiments evaluated heavy metal ion removal under varying conditions of pH, temperature, stirring time, and adsorbent concentrationResultsThe synthesis produced spherical, single-crystal CaO NPs with diameters ranging from 5 to 30 nm and a crystalline size of approximately 20 nm. The nanoparticles had a bandgap energy of about 4.7 eV. Significant antibacterial activity was observed against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli, with increasing inhibition zones correlating with nanoparticle concentration. The CaO NPs also effectively inhibited Candida albicans. For efficient metal ion removal, the optimal conditions were found to be 30 min at pH 6 with 40 mg of CaO NPs at 25°C, achieving recovery rates of 98% for Pb2⁺, 97% for Cd2⁺, 97% for Cr2⁺, and 97% for Hg2⁺. For near-complete removal, extending the process to 70 min at pH 6 with 40 mg of CaO NPs at 45°C achieved the highest recovery rates: 99% for Pb2⁺, 98% for Cd2⁺, 99% for Cr2⁺, and 99% for Hg2⁺, though this approach involves higher energy and cost.ConclusionCaO NPs derived from chicken eggshells are effective antibacterial agents and adsorbents for heavy metal removal. These findings highlight their potential for sustainable applications in environmental and biomedical fields.
Impact of winch-assisted logging machinery on soil disturbance in the mountainous forests of Western Carpathians
Authors: Allman Michal , Dudáková Zuzana , Duchan Martin , Jankovský Martin , Juško Vladimír 
Published: September 2024

IntroductionTimber harvesting on steep terrain is a challenge in terms of economic viability, safety, and environmental performance. Felling with chainsaws and use of yarders seems optimal in this environment. However, using mobile traction winches allows for the safe work of ground-based technologies even in these challenging conditions.MethodsOur study assessed the impact of winch-assisted cut-to-length harvesting on soil disturbance in young forest stands (up to 40 years old) across slopes of 14.9°-27.4° (27–52%). Utilizing 78 measurement points (i.e., 234 measurements), we analyzed soil samples from trail ruts, between ruts, and undisturbed areas for soil bulk density (g.cm−3) and soil moisture content (%), simultaneously measuring penetration resistance (MPa), penetration depth (cm) and rut depth (cm).ResultsThe results highlighted that areas without winch assistance experienced the most significant increases in soil bulk density (up to 22.35%) and penetration resistance (up to 26.8%), though these differences were not statistically significant. Linear mixed effects models did not confirm a significant effect (p &gt; 0.05) of a traction winch on the soil bulk density (g cm−3) and penetration resistance (MPa) in the ruts of the forwarding trails. Mean forwarding trail profile depths ranged from 4.63 to 7.28 cm, with the maximum depths between 10.86 and 17.25 cm, showing deeper ruts in non-assisted areas. Moreover, the presence of the traction winch (p &lt; 0.05) significantly affected the maximal depth of the forwarding trail rut.ConclusionThe findings suggest that winch-assisted harvesting may mitigate soil disturbance (rut depths) on steep slopes, offering a sustainable option for utilizing ground-based machinery with reduced environmental impact.
Assessment of whole-body vibration and development of mitigation intervention for single-axle tractor–trailer combination
Authors: Naveen Rachamalla , Kumar Adarsh , Kumar Rajeev , Kushwaha H. L. , Khanna Manoj , Ramasubramanian V. , Poojith Sajja 
Published: September 2024

IntroductionTractarization is synonymous with farm mechanization in India. Tractor-trailers are extensively used for the transportation of farm inputs and produce on and off-road, exposing drivers to excessive vibration.ObjectivesThe study was undertaken to assess tractor drivers’ vibration exposure while using trailers and to develop low-cost mitigation interventions.MethodologyThe whole-body vibrations were measured at the tractor seat during the transportation with a no, half (3715 kg soil) and full payload (5910 kg soil) trailer on two terrain conditions, namely, asphalt and farm terrains. The speeds recommended by ISO 5008-1979 of 10, 12 and 14 km/h on asphalt roads and 4, 5 and 7 km/h on farm roads, as well as actual working speeds preferred by the operator (18, 20 and 22 km/h on asphalt road and 8, 10 and 12 km/h on farm terrain), were selected for experiments. Two vibration reduction interventions, namely spring suspended single point hitch (I1) and polyurethane (PU) bush (I2), were developed and installed between the tractor and trailer. Whole-body vibration (WBV) was measured by repeating the experiments.ResultsThe maximum vibration reduction on asphalt road at 22 km/h with I1 was found as 14.3, 19.03 and 23.1%, whereas on-farm terrain at 12 km/h was found as 15.16, 22.43, and 25.56% for no, half and full payload. Similarly, with I1 + I2 interventions, the maximum total vibration reduction at 22 km/h was 16.86, 21.12 and 25.51% on asphalt roads, whereas on-farm tertian at 12 km/h was 17.07, 23.77 and 28.67%. The average value of lower health guidance caution zone (HGCZ) limits on asphalt roads increased by 1.11, 0.95 and 0.92 h and on-farm tertian 1.55, 1.14 and 0.83 h with no, half, and full payload. The average value of upper HGCZ limits on asphalt roads increased by 3.13, 3.21 and 3.68 h and on-farm tertian by 2.24, 2.94 and 3.31 h with intervention.ConclusionsThis infers that with developed interventions an operator can safely perform for a longer duration and at higher operational speeds because of the reduced vibration.
Whole-body PET image denoising for reduced acquisition time
Authors: Kruzhilov Ivan , Kudin Stepan , Vetoshkin Luka , Sokolova Elena , Kokh Vladimir 
Published: September 2024

PurposeA reduced acquisition time positively impacts the patient's comfort and the PET scanner's throughput. AI methods may allow for reducing PET acquisition time without sacrificing image quality. The study aims to compare various neural networks to find the best models for PET denoising.MethodsOur experiments consider 212 studies (56,908 images) for 7MBq/kg injected activity and evaluate the models using 2D (RMSE, SSIM) and 3D (SUVpeak and SUVmax error for the regions of interest) metrics. We tested 2D and 2.5D ResNet, Unet, SwinIR, 3D MedNeXt, and 3D UX-Net. We have also compared supervised methods with the unsupervised CycleGAN approach.Results and conclusionThe best model for PET denoising is 3D MedNeXt. It improved SSIM on 38.2% and RMSE on 28.1% in 30-s PET denoising and on 16.9% and 11.4% in 60-s PET denoising when compared to the original 90-s PET reducing at the same time SUVmax discrepancy dispersion.
Seminal plasma microbiomes, sperm parameters, and cryopreservation in a healthy fertile population
Authors: Fu Longlong , Lou Yuanlei , Guo Ying , Zhou Fang , Ma Jing , Wang Shusong , Gu Yiqun , Fu Bin , Lu Wenhong 
Published: September 2024

BackgroundRecent advances in microbiome research have revealed the presence of diverse microbial communities in human tissues previously thought to be sterile. The present study delves into the emerging field of seminal plasma microbiomics, examining the relationship between semen microbes and semen parameters and post-freezing tolerance.MethodsThe study involved a cohort of healthy fertility males and microbial genome analysis using 16S rRNA to characterize the microbial diversity of seminal plasma. Microbial diversity analysis identified unique amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) and genera dominant in seminal plasma. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between flora and semen parameters. A paired t-test was used to compare the changes in microbiome expression in seminal plasma before and after cryo-resuscitation.ResultsThe relevant results show that the top five phyla in terms of abundance of seminal plasma microbiome were Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Campylobacterota. Spearman correlation analysis highlighted the association between specific microbial species and semen parameters, between Porphyromonas_asaccharolytica and sperm concentration. Microbial changed significantly after cryo-resuscitation, affecting taxonomic units such as Campylobacter and Muribaculaceae, and KEGG enrichment analyses, suggesting that metabolic pathways are associated with sperm freezing. Eubacterium_coprostanoligenes and Eptoniphilus_duerdenii exhibited a potential impact, while Orynebacterium_tuberculostearicum demonstrated a positive correlation with the recovery rate of progressive motile sperm.ConclusionThe semen of normal fertile individuals contains a microflora component that is closely related to semen quality, including the sperm’s ability to withstand freezing.
Genetic causality of lipidomic and immune cell profiles in ischemic stroke
Authors: Chen Haohao , Zheng Zequn , Cai Xiaorui , Li Shunxian , Chen Manli , Wu Jiaming , He Wenzhen , Gao Fenfei 
Published: September 2024

BackgroundIschemic stroke (IS) is a global health issue linked to lipid metabolism and immune cell responses. This study uses Mendelian randomization (MR) to identify genetic risk factors for IS subtypes using comprehensive genetic data from lipidomic and immune cell profiles.MethodsWe assessed genetic susceptibility to IS across 179 lipids and 731 immune cell phenotypes using instrumental variables (IVs) from recent genome-wide association studies. A two-sample MR approach evaluated correlations, and a two-step MR mediation analysis explored the role of immune cell phenotypes in the lipid-IS pathway. Sensitivity analyses, including MR-Egger and Cochran Q tests, ensured robust results.ResultsGenetic IVs for 162 lipids and 614 immune cell phenotypes were identified. Significant genetic causality was found between 35 lipids and large artery stroke (LAS), with 12 as risk factors (sterol esters, phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines) and 23 as protective factors (phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylinositols). For small vessel stroke (SVS), 8 as risk factors (sterol esters, phosphatidylcholines), and 2 as protective factors (phosphatidylinositol, sphingomyelin). For cardioembolic stroke (CS), 2 as risk factors, and 4 as protective factors. Mediation analysis revealed that CCR2 on granulocytes, CD11c on CD62L+ myeloid dendritic cells, and FSC-A on granulocytes mediated the lipid-immune cell-LAS pathway, while CD4 on activated CD4 regulatory T cells and CD4 on activated &amp; secreting CD4 regulatory T cells mediated the lipid-immune cell-SVS pathway.ConclusionThis study identifies genetic links between specific lipids and IS subtypes, highlights immune cells’ role in IS risk and mediation, suggests new therapeutic targets, and uncovers IS genetic drivers.