bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ribs with Anterior Protrusion (Winged Ribs) Treated Using Percutaneous Chondroplasty
Authors: Manzaneda Cipriani Raúl M. , Adrianzen Gerardo A. 
Published: September 2024

Background:
Thoracic features play a significant role in determining various plastic surgery techniques. Particularly, the thorax has potential for excessive anterior projection, commonly referred to as winged ribs. This study aimed to describe a treatment method for addressing winged ribs for aesthetic purposes using percutaneous chondral management.

Methods:
Thirty-two female patients underwent FrontXribs from February to March 2023. Two angular measurements were obtained: (1) the angle formed by lines intersecting tangentially to the shoulder and the lower gluteal border; and (2) the angle formed by a line tangential to the greatest anterior projection, intersected by a vertical line on the standing axis. Length measurements were obtained using a tape measure at the position of the greatest thoracic projection. Pulmonary function studies were conducted. All variables were measured before surgery and 6 months postoperatively.

Results:
On average, patients were 25 years old. The average operative time was 51.1 minutes, and all patients underwent general anesthesia. The average increase for angular measurement 1 was 26.1 degrees, whereas that for angular measurement 2 was 3.43 degrees. The average decrease in anterior chest length during the postoperative period was 9.66 cm (P < 0.001). Spirometric tests showed no significant changes 6 months postoperatively.

Conclusions:
The FrontXribs technique for treating winged ribs effectively reduces anterior costal protrusion, as evidenced by the angular variation of projections and the reduction in thoracic length at this level. No adverse effects on respiratory function were observed 6 months postoperatively.
Use of Fascia Lata as Matrix for Subpectoral Breast Reconstruction
Authors: Spyropoulou Georgia-Alexandra , Koukouritaki Zambia , Kokkonis Dimitris 
Published: September 2024

Summary:
Matrices are used with increased frequency to assist with tissue expander or implant-based breast reconstruction. These devices usually have a high cost, especially when they are human-derived. We present the use of fascia lata for implant and expander-based subpectoral reconstruction. According to our review of the literature, this is the first report of the use of a patient’s own fascia lata instead of a matrix.
Learned Symptom-Specific Fear Toward a Visceral Sensation and Its Impact on Perceptual Habituation
Authors: Pattyn Lauren , Zaman Jonas , van de Pavert Iris , Jelinčić Valentina , von Leupoldt Andreas , Van Oudenhove Lukas , Van Diest Ilse 
Published: September 2024

Objective
Impaired habituation of bodily sensations has been suggested as a contributing factor to chronic pain. We examined in healthy volunteers the influence of fear learning toward a nonpainful sensation in the esophagus on the perceptual habituation of this sensation.

Methods
In a homoreflexive fear learning paradigm, nonpainful electrical sensations in the esophagus were used as a conditioned stimulus (CS). This sensation was presented 42 times before, during, and after fear learning. In the fear learning group (n = 41), the CS was paired with a painful electrical sensation in the esophagus (unconditioned stimulus [US]). In the control group (n = 41), the CS was not paired with the US. Ratings for CS intensity, US expectancy, startle electromyogram (EMG), skin conductance responses (SCR), and event-related potentials (ERPs) to the CS were assessed.

Results
Compared to the control group, fear learning was observed in the fear learning group as evidenced by potentiated startle responses after the CS relative to ITI (t(1327) = 3.231, p = .001) and higher US expectancy ratings (t(196) = 3.17, p = .002). SCRs did not differ between groups (F
1,817 = 1.241, p = .33). Despite successful fear learning, the fear learning group did not show a distinct pattern of habituation to the visceral CS relative to the control group (intensity ratings: F
1,77.731 = 0.532, p = .47; ERPs: F
1,520.78 = 0.059, p = .94).

Conclusion
Acquired fear to nonpainful esophageal sensations does not affect their perceptual habituation patterns.
Development of a Surgery-Specific Comorbidity Score for Use in Administrative Data
Authors: Chervu Nikhil L. , Balian Jeff , Verma Arjun , Sakowitz Sara , Cho Nam Yong , Mallick Saad , Russell Tara A. , Benharash Peyman 
Published: September 2024

Objective:
To create a novel comorbidity score tailored for surgical database research.

Summary Background Data:
Despite their use in surgical research, the Elixhauser (ECI) and Charlson Comorbidity Indices (CCI) were developed nearly four decades ago utilizing primarily non-surgical cohorts.

Methods:
Adults undergoing 62 operations across 14 specialties were queried from the 2019 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes. ICD-10 codes for chronic diseases were sorted into Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) groups. CCSR with non-zero feature importance across four machine learning algorithms predicting in-hospital mortality were used for logistic regression; resultant coefficients were used to calculate the Comorbid Operative Risk Evaluation (CORE) score based on previously validated methodology. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were used to compare model performance in predicting in-hospital mortality for the CORE score, ECI, and CCI. Validation was performed using the 2016-2018 NIS, combined 2018-2019 Florida and New York State Inpatient Databases (SID), and 2016-2022 institutional data.

Results:
699,155 records from the 2019 NIS were used for model development. The CORE score better predicted in-hospital mortality compared to the ECI within the NIS (0.90, 95%CI:0.90-0.90 vs. 0.84, 95%CI:0.84-0.84), SID (0.91, 95%CI:0.90-0.91 vs. 0.86, 95%CI:0.86-0.87), and institutional (0.88, 95%CI:0.87-0.89 vs. 0.84, 95%CI:0.83-0.85) databases (all P<0.001). Likewise, it outperformed the CCI for the NIS (0.76, 95%CI:0.76-0.76), SID (0.78, 95%CI:0.77-0.78), and institutional (0.62, 95%CI:0.60-0.64) cohorts (all P<0.001).

Conclusions:
The CORE score may better predict in-hospital mortality after surgery due to comorbid diseases in outcome-based research.
Association Analysis ofPAEP,KRT10 andBMP7 Genes SNPs with Reproductive Traits in Kele Pigs
Authors: Zhao Yong , Wang Chunyuan , Wu Yan , Xiang Jin , Zhang Yiyu 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe aims of this study were to investigate the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in progestogen-associated endometrial protein (PAEP), keratin 10 (KRT10), and bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) genes on reproductive traits (total number of piglets born, number of piglets born alive, litter birth weight, number of piglets weaned and litter weight weaned) in Kele pigs. We used a total of 255 multiparous Kele sow (2-4 parities) as research materials. SNPs were identified by PCR amplification instrument and sequence alignment software DANMAN. The population genetic characteristics of SNPs were analyzed using the SHEsis online software. Bioinformatics analysis of SNPs were conducted using RNAfold, SOPMA, SWISS-MODEL, and Swiss-PdbViewer programs. The associations between the SNPs and reproductive traits in Kele pigs were analyzed through SPSS 22.0 software. In this study, nine SNPs were identified in the three genes: g.1884992 T>C (exon 4), g.1885152 G>C (intron 4) and g.1887834 G>A (intron 4) inPAEP, g.21643703 C>T (intron 4), g.21643714 G>A (intron 4) and g.21643741 G>A (exon 5) inKRT10, and g.57647887 G>A (intron 3), g.57647990 C>T (intron 3) and g.57648145 C>G (intron 3) inBMP7. In SNPs g.1884992 T>C ofPAEP,missense mutation eventuated structural changes in mRNA and proteins secondary structure. In SNPs g.21643741 G>A ofKRT10, synonymous mutation led to alteration in mRNA secondary structure. ForPAEP,the CC genotype in SNPs g.1885152 G>C and the AA genotype in SNPs g.1887834 G>A showed significantly higher values than other genotypes in all reproduction traits except for litter birth weight, preliminarily identified as favorable genotypes. ForKRT10, the GG genotype in SNPs g.21648641 G>A showed significant superiority than AA genotype (P<0.05) in all aspects except for litter birth weight, and notably surpassed the GA genotype in total number of piglets born (P<0.05), preliminarily recognized as a favorable genotype. RegardingBMP7, the GA genotype in SNPs g.57647887 G>A and the CT genotype in SNPs g.57647990 C>T exhibited significantly higher number of piglets born alive and number of piglets born alive compared to other genotypes (P<0.05). And the GG genotype in SNPs g.57648145 C>G was significantly associated with higher litter birth weight (P<0.05). The result of diplotype analyses indicated that the H3H3 (CCGGGG) ofPAEPand H3H3 (CCGGAA) ofKRT10 had a significant effect on the five traits. ForBMP7, the H4H4 (AATTGG) diplotype showed a significant influence on all genotypes except litter birth weight.
Next-generation snow leopard population assessment tool: multiplex-PCR SNP panel for individual identification from feces
Authors: Solari Katherine A. , Ahmad Shakeel , Armstrong Ellie E. , Campana Michael G. , Ali Hussain , Hameed Shoaib , Ullah Jami , Khan Barkat Ullah , Nawaz Muhammad A. , Petrov Dmitri A. 
Published: September 2024

AbstractSnow leopards,Panthera uncia, are under threat from numerous pressures and are the focus of a great deal of conservation efforts. However, their elusive nature makes it difficult to estimate population sizes. Current methods used to monitor local population sizes include visually identifying individuals from camera trap photos and genetically identifying individuals from fecal samples using microsatellite loci. Here, we present a new method for identifying snow leopard individuals from fecal samples using a multiplex PCR single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel method. The SNP panel we present consists of 144 SNPs and utilizes next-generation sequencing technology, making it cheaper and easier than current microsatellite methods. We validate our SNP panel with paired tissue and fecal samples from zoo individuals, showing a minimum of 96.7% accuracy in allele calls per run. We then generate SNP data from 235 field-collected fecal samples from across Pakistan to show that the panel can reliably identify individuals from low-quality fecal samples of unknown age and is robust to contamination. We also show that our SNP panel has the capability to identify first-order relatives and provides insights into the geographic origin of samples. This SNP panel will empower the snow leopard research community in their efforts to assess local and global snow leopard population sizes. More broadly, we present a method for developing a SNP panel that utilizes open source software for SNP selection and primer design, Illumina sequencing technology, and a streamlined lab and bioinformatics protocol which can be used to create similar SNP panels for any species of interest for which adequate genomic reference data is available.
BiMultiNetPlot: An R package for visualizing ecological bipartite multilayer networks
Authors: Li Hai-Dong 
Published: September 2024

AbstractWith the increasing study of ecological multilayer bipartite networks, the visualization of these networks has become more important. However, tools for visualizing multilayer networks are still lacking.I present BiMultiNetPlot, an R package designed for visualizing ecological bipartite multilayer networks.I demonstrate how to use BiMultiNetPlot through a series of examples that represent the most common types of ecological multilayer networks.BiMultiNetPlot is an open-source, flexible package within the ggplot2 environment, helping ecologists better understand the multilayer nature of ecological networks.
Hyperspectral imaging has a limited ability to remotely sense the onset of beech bark disease
Authors: Tougas Guillaume , Wallis Christine I. B. , Laliberté Etienne , Vellend Mark 
Published: September 2024

AbstractInsect and pathogen outbreaks have a major impact on northern forest ecosystems. Even for pathogens that have been present in a region for decades, such as beech bark disease (BBD), new waves of mortality are expected in host populations. Hence, there is a need for innovative approaches to monitor their advancement extensively in real-time. Here we test whether airborne hyperspectral imaging – involving data from 344 wavelengths in the visible, near infrared (NIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) – can be used to assess beech bark disease severity in southern Quebec, Canada. Field data on disease severity were linked to the airborne hyperspectral data for individual beech crowns. Partial least-squares regression (PLSR) models using airborne imaging spectroscopy data predicted a small proportion of the variance in beech bark disease severity: the best model had an R2of only 0.10. Wavelengths with the strongest contributions were from the NIR (∼719 nm) and the SWIR (∼1287 nm), which may suggest mediation by canopy greenness, water content and canopy architecture. Similar models using hyperspectral data taken directly on individual leaves had no explanatory power (R2= 0). In addition, airborne and leaf-level hyperspectral datasets were uncorrelated. The failure of leaf-level models suggests that canopy structure was likely responsible for the limited predictive ability of the airborne model. Somewhat better performance in predicting disease severity was found using common band ratios for canopy greenness assessment (the Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, gNDVI, the Red-edge Inflexion Point, REIP, and the Normalized Phaeophytinization Index, NPQI); these variables explained up to 19% of the variation in disease severity. Overall, we argue that the complexity of hyperspectral data is not necessary for assessing BBD spread and that spectral data in general may not provide an efficient means of improving BBD monitoring on a larger scale.
Ancient inversion polymorphisms are locally adaptive in a widespread butterfly species
Authors: Seixas Fernando , Dendy Sarah , Guan Shuzhe , Rosser Neil , Grishin Nick , Davies Neil , Gilbert Lawrence E. , Owen McMillan W. , Mallet James 
Published: September 2024

AbstractWide-ranging species are subject to varying biotic and abiotic selection pressures across their distribution. While local adaptation does not manifest in obvious morphological changes, population genomic studies can reveal cryptic diversity and provide insights into local adaptive processes. In this study, we investigated the biogeographic history and genomic diversity across the range of the zebra longwing butterflyHeliconius charithonia,a species with a widespread distribution in the Neotropics, but which is phenotypically homogenous across its range. We examined whole genome sequence data from 55 individuals from the eight described subspecies. We infer that there were at least two distinct colonization events of the Caribbean islands from the mainland. The second colonization wave occurred relatively recently, accounting for the genetic homogeneity observed across the species’ range. Despite low divergence across most of the genome, two large non-recombining genomic regions showed deeply divergent haplotypes that correspond to chromosomal inversions. Phylogenetic analyses indicate ancient origins of these inversion polymorphisms, and there is no evidence that they were introgressed from another extant lineage ofHeliconius. These ancient polymorphisms are likely maintained by heterogeneous selection across the landscape, with the inversion on chromosome 19 likely playing a role in local adaptation to cold and desiccation. Our findings underscore the importance of genomic analysis in uncovering hidden diversity and adaptation in phenotypically homogenous species and highlight the significant role of chromosomal inversions in driving local adaptation.
Cognition-Associated Protein Structural Changes in a Rat Model of Aging are Related to Reduced Refolding Capacity
Authors: Tarbox Haley E. , Branch Audrey , Fried Stephen D. 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACTCognitive decline during aging represents a major societal burden, causing both personal and economic hardship in an increasingly aging population. There are a few well-known proteins that can misfold and aggregate in an age-dependent manner, such as amyloid β and α-synuclein. However, many studies have found that the proteostasis network, which functions to keep proteins properly folded, is impaired with age, suggesting that there may be many more proteins that incur structural alterations with age. Here, we used limited-proteolysis mass spectrometry (LiP-MS), a structural proteomic method, to globally interrogate protein conformational changes in a rat model of cognitive aging. Specifically, we compared soluble hippocampal proteins from aged rats with preserved cognition to those from aged rats with impaired cognition. We identified several hundred proteins as having undergone cognition-associated structural changes (CASCs). We report that CASC proteins are substantially more likely to be nonrefoldable than non-CASC proteins, meaning they typically cannot spontaneously refold to their native conformations after being chemically denatured. The potentially cofounding variable of post-translational modifications is systematically addressed, and we find that oxidation and phosphorylation cannot significantly explain the limited proteolysis signal. These findings suggest that noncovalent, conformational alterations may be general features in cognitive decline, and more broadly, that proteins need not form amyloids for their misfolded states to be relevant to age-related deterioration in cognitive abilities.TEASERUp to 10% of rat hippocampal proteins can undergo structural changes that associate with age-related decline in spatial learning.
Limited population structure but signals of recent selection in introduced African Fig Fly(Zaprionus indianus) in North America
Authors: Erickson Priscilla A. , Bangerter Alyssa , Gunter Ansleigh , Polizos Nikolaos T. , Bergland Alan O. 
Published: September 2024

AbstractInvasive species have devastating consequences for human health, food security, and the environment. Many invasive species adapt to new ecological niches following invasion, but little is known about the early steps of adaptation. Here we examine population genomics of a recently introduced drosophilid in North America, the African Fig Fly,Zaprionus indianus. This species is likely intolerant of subfreezing temperatures and recolonizes temperate environments yearly. We generated a new chromosome-level genome assembly forZ. indianus. Using resequencing of over 200 North American individuals collected over four years in temperate Virginia, plus a single collection from subtropical Florida, we tested for signatures of recolonization, population structure, and adaptation within invasive populations. We show founding populations are sometimes small and contain close genetic relatives, yet temporal population structure and differentiation of populations is mostly absent across recurrent recolonization events. Although we find limited signals of genome-wide spatial or temporal population structure, we identify haplotypes on the X chromosome that are repeatedly differentiated between Virginia and Florida populations. These haplotypes show signatures of natural selection and are not found in African populations. We also find evidence for several large structural polymorphisms segregating within North America populations and show X chromosome evolution in invasive populations is strikingly different from the autosomes. These results show that despite limited population structure, populations may rapidly evolve genetic differences early in an invasion. Further uncovering how these genomic regions influence invasive potential and success in new environments will advance our understanding of how organisms evolve in changing environments.Article SummaryInvasive species (organisms that have been moved outside their natural range by human activities) can cause problems for both humans and the environment. We studied the genomes of over 200 individuals of a newly invasive fruit fly in North America, the African Fig Fly. We found genetic evidence that these recently introduced flies may be evolving in their new environments, which could make them stronger competitors and more likely to become pests.
Small mammals and their burrows shape the distribution ofCoccidioidesin soils: a long-term ecological experiment
Authors: Head Jennifer R. , Camponuri Simon K. , Weaver Amanda K. , Montoya Lilliam , Lee Erika , Radosevich Molly , Jones Isabel , Wagner Robert , Bhattachan Abinash , Campbell Grace , Keeney Nicole , Collender Philip A. , Heaney Alexandra K. , Couper Lisa , Colvin Kate A. , Larios Loralee , Bean William T. , Taylor John , Remais Justin V. 
Published: September 2024

AbstractBackgroundFor nearly all human fungal pathogens, the environmental constraints on their distributions remain poorly understood, hindering disease management. Here, we investigated the role of zoonotic host presence, soil conditions, and their interaction on the presence ofCoccidioides immitis– an emerging fungal pathogen and causative agent of coccidioidomycosis.MethodsA long-term experimental study initiated in 2007 in the Carrizo Plain National Monument, California excluded rodents from certain areas (20 by 20-meter exclosures; n = 20) via the installation of submerged mesh fences, leaving emptied burrows intact. We collected 1,988 soil samples over four sampling periods spanning April 2021 to April 2022 using a factorial design that crossed burrows and surface soils (i.e., top 10 cm of soil) with exclosures (i.e., rodent absence) and non-exclosures (i.e., rodent presence). We measuredin situsoil moisture, temperature, and vegetation, and analyzed soils forC. immitisDNA.ResultsThe proportion of samples containingC. immitiswas significantly higher (p <0.0001) in burrow samples taken from outside rodent exclosures (i.e., rodents present; 28.5% positive) compared to burrow samples taken from within exclosures (i.e., rodents absent; 19.7%), surface soils outside of exclosures (3.6%) and surface soils within exclosures (0.5%). In generalized linear mixed models adjusting for soil conditions, rodent presence, and sample type (burrow vs. surface soil), we estimated that the odds of detectingC. immitiswere 19.2 (95% CI: 11.3 – 36.7, p < 0.0001) times higher in soils taken from burrows compared to surface soils, and 2.6 (95% CI: 1.0 – 5.6, p = 0.049) times higher in soils where rodents were present compared to absent. Soil moisture was the only abiotic factor associated withC. immitisdetection (odds ratio per 1% increase in water content: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.70 – 0.89, p = 0.0002). In mediation analyses, we estimated that 73.7% (95% CI: 68.9, 78.5) of the total association between rodents andCoccidioidesdetection effect was attributable to rodent creation of burrows.ConclusionsRodent creation and occupation of burrows substantially increasesC. immitisdetection. Synergy between reservoir host presence and environmental conditions may exist for other human fungal pathogens.