bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pharmacokinetics of once-daily darunavir/ritonavir in second-line treatment in African children with HIV
Authors: Tsirizani Lufina , Mohsenian Naghani Shaghayegh , Waalewijn Hylke , Szubert Alexander , Mulenga Veronica , Chabala Chishala , Bwakura-Dangarembizi Mutsa , Chitsamatanga Moses , Rutebarika Diana A , Musiime Victor , Kasozi Mariam , Lugemwa Abbas , Monkiewicz Lara N , McIlleron Helen M , Burger David M , Gibb Diana M , Denti Paolo , Wasmann Roeland E , Colbers Angela 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Darunavir is a potent HIV protease inhibitor with a high barrier to resistance. We conducted a nested pharmacokinetic sub-study within CHAPAS-4 to evaluate darunavir exposure in African children with HIV, taking once-daily darunavir/ritonavir for second-line treatment.

Methods
We used data from the CHAPAS-4 pharmacokinetic sub-study treating children with once-daily darunavir/ritonavir (600/100 mg if 14–24.9 kg and 800/100 mg if ≥25 kg) with either tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF)/emtricitabine (FTC), abacavir/lamivudine or zidovudine/lamivudine. Steady-state pharmacokinetic sampling was done at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24 hours after observed darunavir/ritonavir intake. Non-compartmental and population pharmacokinetic analyses were used to describe the data and identify significant covariates. Reference adult pharmacokinetic data were used for comparison. We simulated the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended 600/100 mg darunavir/ritonavir dose for the 25–34.9 kg weight band.

Results
Data from 59 children with median age and weight 10.9 (range 3.8–14.7) years and 26.0 (14.5–47.0) kg, respectively, were available. A two-compartment disposition model with transit absorption compartments and weight-based allometric scaling of clearance and volume best described darunavir data. Our population achieved geometric mean (%CV) darunavir AUC0–24h, 94.3(50) mg·h/L and Cmax, 9.1(35) mg/L, above adult reference values and Ctrough, 1.5(111) mg/L, like adult values. The nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor backbone was not found to affect darunavir concentrations. Simulated WHO-recommended darunavir/ritonavir doses showed exposures equivalent to adults. Higher alpha-1-acid glycoprotein increased binding to darunavir and decreased apparent clearance of darunavir.

Conclusions
Darunavir exposures achieved in our trial are within safe range. Darunavir/ritonavir can safely be co-administered with TAF/FTC. Both WHO-recommended 600/100 mg and CHAPAS-4 800/100 mg darunavir/ritonavir doses for the 25–34.9 kg weight band offer favourable exposures. The choice between them can depend on tablet availability.
Speech production skills of bilingual children using cochlear implants
Authors: van der Straten Waillet Pauline , Crowe Kathryn , Charlier Brigitte , Colin Cécile 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Evidence is lacking on the impact of bilingualism on the speech skills of children with cochlear implants (CIs). This study described the speech production of children with CIs acquiring French and one or more additional spoken languages. Four groups of children aged 4–11 were included: bilinguals (n = 15) and monolinguals (n = 14) with CIs and bilinguals (n = 14) and monolinguals (n = 20) with typical hearing. Data were collected about the percentage of consonant correct (PCC) and vowel correct (PVC) produced in French and intelligibility in all languages they spoke. Bilingual and monolingual children with CIs had comparable speech accuracy in French, but the pattern differed, impacting PCC for bilinguals and PVC for monolinguals. Most children with CIs had accurate and intelligible speech in French, but few bilingual children with CIs were highly intelligible in their home language. Therefore, bilingualism did not impede the speech production outcomes of bilingual children with CIs in the language of the wider community.
In the presence of rivals, males allocate less ejaculate per mating in Japanese pygmy squid with female sperm rejection
Authors: Tanabe Ryohei , Akiyama Nobuhiko , Sato Noriyosi 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
When mating is promiscuous, the ejaculate volume allocated to each female is expected (intuitively) to be linked with the presence and number of rival males. Previous theories have indicated that, in the absence of rival males, males will allocate the minimum ejaculate volume sufficient for fertilization of all available oocytes. However, it is unclear if this ejaculation strategy is still effective where females have a mechanism to remove sperm after copulation (“female sperm rejection”). In the Japanese pygmy squid, Idiosepius paradoxus, female sperm rejection was observed to occur frequently, but males were able to increase the remaining sperm volume available for fertilization, suggesting that there is no significant impact of female sperm rejection on male ejaculation strategy. However, males decreased ejaculate volume in the presence of rival males and increased it in their absence, a pattern counterintuitive to predictions from previous theories. Females reject sperm at every copulation, so after copulation, the amount of a given male’s sperm remaining with the female may decrease after each subsequent rival copulates with the female. Perhaps in this species, the presence of rivals signals the risk of further sperm rejection, so males choose to conserve their resources and move on.
Survival prediction in sigmoid-Colon-cancer patients with liver metastasis: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Shao Shuai , Tian Dan , Li Mingyang , Wu Shanshan , Zhang Dong 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Purpose
Sigmoid colon cancer (SCC) is a common type of colorectal cancer, frequently leading to liver metastasis. Predicting cause-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) in SCC with liver metastasis (SCCLM) patients is challenging due to the lack of suitable models.

Methods
Data from SCCLM patients (2010-2017) in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program were recruited. Patients were split into training and validation groups (7:3). Prognostic factors were identified using competing risk and Cox proportional hazards models, and nomograms for CSS and OS were developed. Model performance was evaluated with the concordance index and calibration curves, with a two-sided p &lt; .05 was considered statistically significant.

Results
4,981 SCCLM patients were included, with a median follow-up of 20 months (IQR: 9-33 months). During follow-up, 72.25% of patients died (68.44% from SCC, 3.81% from other causes). Age, race, grade, T stage, N stage, surgery, chemotherapy, CEA, tumor deposits, lung metastasis, and tumor size were prognostic factors for both CSS and OS. The models demonstrated good discrimination and calibration performance, with C-index values of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.78-0.80) for CSS and 0.74 (95% CI: 0.73-0.75) for OS. A web-based application for real-time CSS predictions was created, accessible at https://shuaishao.shinyapps.io/SCCLM/.

Conclusion
Prognostic factors for SCCLM patients were identified basing on SEER database, and nomograms for CSS and OS showed good performance. A web-based application was developed to predict SCCLM-specific survival, aiding in survival risk stratification.
Intraspecific variation of multi-elements in seeds of Euptelea pleiospermum and its association with soils, climate, and leaf elements
Authors: Wu Hao , Meng Hongjie , Jiang Mingxi , Wei Xinzeng 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Seed mineral nutrition is essential for early seedling establishment, and varies under different environmental conditions. However, the intraspecific variation of multi-elements in seeds and the relative effects of climate and soil on seed elements remain unclear, even though understanding these factors is crucial for predicting plant reproductive responses to global changes. Here, we sampled seeds from Euptelea pleiospermum across 18 populations in China. We quantified the inter-population variation of 12 elements in the seeds and analysed their relationship with soil characteristics and climatic variables. We also explored the relationship of N and P concentrations between seeds and leaves. Results showed that seed elements were highly variable across different populations, with macroelements exhibiting lower variability than most of the microelements. Along the latitudinal gradient, the concentrations of K, Ca, Fe and Al in seeds increased, while the concentrations of C and Mn decreased. The stoichiometry of seed elements did not significantly correlate with latitude. Seed element concentrations were associated with both soil and climatic variables, and the influence of soil conditions on intraspecific variations is comparable to or even greater than climatic factors. However, seed stoichiometry was less related to environmental factors. Seeds had higher P but lower N than leaves, with no correlation between seed elements and leaf elements. Our findings suggest that mountain tree species respond to different local environments by adjusting seed element concentrations while maintaining relatively stable seed stoichiometry. We emphasize that, in addition to climate change, soil conditions should be considered when predicting the influence of environmental changes on the elemental composition of plant reproductive organs.
A Critical Assessment of Time-to-Antibiotics Recommendations in Pediatric Sepsis
Authors: Chiotos Kathleen , Balamuth Fran , Fitzgerald Julie C 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
The Pediatric Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines recommend delivery of antibiotics within 1 hour for children with septic shock and, for those without shock but with sepsis-related organ dysfunction, as soon as feasible within 3 hours. In this review, we summarize the available adult and pediatric literature supporting these recommendations. We also explore the implications of implementing time-to-antibiotic goals at the point of antibiotic initiation in clinical practice, as well as the potential downstream impacts of these goals on antibiotic de-escalation.
The effect of plerixafor on autologous stem cell mobilization, cell viability, and apheresis challenges
Authors: Puzo Christian J , Li Philippa , Tormey Christopher A , Siddon Alexa J 
Published: September 2024

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of plerixafor for hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) mobilization prior to autologous stem cell transplantation (aSCT) for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and various lymphomas, using an oncologist-guided HSC collection goal and markers of cell viability.MethodsA retrospective chart review of all aSCT patients at Yale New Haven Hospital between 2017 and 2021 who met diagnostic criteria for MM, non-Hodgkin, or Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 382) was undertaken. Logistic regression evaluated plerixafor’s effect on meeting the individual’s HSC goal. The use of t-tests determined plerixafor’s relationship to HSC yield and analysis of variance testing assessed its effect on cell viability.ResultsMobilization with granulocyte colony–stimulating factor (G-CSF) and plerixafor (odds ratio [OR] = 0.08; P &lt; .05) relative to G-CSF alone was negatively associated with meeting the individual’s HSC goal. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in patients mobilized with plerixafor yielded fewer HSCs than those without plerixafor (t = –2.78; P = .03). Mobilization regimen (P = .13) had no association with HSC viability. Mobilization failure with plerixafor was rare but occurred in patients with multiple risk factors, including exposure to several rounds of HSC-affecting chemotherapy.ConclusionPlerixafor is effective across multiple diagnoses using an oncologist-driven HSC collection endpoint. Its association with mobilization failure is likely attributable to its use in patients predicted to be poor mobilizers.
Antibacterial effect of Cu2O/TiO2 visible-light photocatalytic composite on Xanthomonas campestris
Authors: Jiang Ying , Zhou Shiyu , Chen Liuhong , Huo Yuning , Huang Guozheng , Cao Jianguo , Dai Xiling 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
In this study, a Cu2O/TiO2 (CuTi) visible-light photocatalytic composite was employed for the treatment of Xanthomonas campestris and X. campestris-infected Brassica napus seedlings. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values against X. campestris were determined to be 8 and 32 μg ml–1, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy analysis demonstrated a direct correlation between the extent of bacterial cell damage and the concentration of CuTi. Noteworthily, a bactericidal rate of 100% was achieved at a concentration of 150 μg ml–1 over a treatment duration of 120 min. Moreover, alterations in active oxidants and antioxidants, including reactive oxygen species, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase within the bacterial cells, were examined to elucidate the underlying mechanism of inhibition by the CuTi. The B. napus infected by X. campestris was treated with CuTi, and the efficacy was validated through determination of plant resistance indexes. The combined data confirmed that the CuTi is characterized by a low dose, fast onset, good effect, and higher safety for killing X. campestris, and it is expected to be developed as an antimicrobial agent for vegetables.
Micromorphological and Phytochemical Evaluation of Heliotropium rariflorum Stocks From Karak, Pakistan
Authors: Ul Uza Noor , Dastagir Ghulam 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Micromorphological and phytochemical studies play a major role in quality control and standardization of traditional or herbal medications. In the present research, micromorphological assessment of Heliotropium rarifloum stocks was performed through light and scanning electron microscopies (LM & SEM). The anatomy of leaves, stem and root showed salient histological features. Both surfaces of the leaves had setose glandular trichomes measuring 20–38 × 6–15 µm. The lower epidermis had comparatively a maximum anomocytic stomata (16–35) and stomatal index (12–33). The mature pollen grains were small (74 µm) and spheroidal shaped, with psilate exine (2 μm) sculpturing. Vein termination and vein islet number of the upper epidermis were 5–20 and 5–15, respectively. The palisade ratio of the leaf lamina for the upper and lower epidermis was 2–10 and 2–8. LM and SEM of the powdered samples displayed crystals, phloem fibers, xylem, vessels, sieve tube elements, companion cells, and tracheids. Extractive values determination, fluorescence, and phytochemical analysis were employed for quality control according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Phytochemical screening revealed various secondary metabolites. It is suggested that H. rariflorum might be a reliable source of nutrients and secondary metabolites and might be more medically effective. The current findings confirm its standardization and validation.
Taxidermy and the Environment in Cristina García’s The Agüero Sisters
Authors: Varela Fernando 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Cristina García’s novel The Agüero Sisters (1997) centers on Constancia and Reina Agüero, two sisters whose mother, Blanca Agüero, died in Cuba during their childhood years in the first half of the twentieth century. Their father, Ignacio Agüero, was a renowned ornithologist and taxidermist with an interest in Cuba’s endangered species before suddenly committing suicide after his wife’s death. Constancia moves to the United States soon after the Cuban Revolution while Reina remains on the island. Reunited in South Florida after Reina also leaves Cuba during its Special Period, the sisters once again begin to wonder what happened to their mother. This article examines The Agüero Sisters’ representation of Cuban environmental history in the twentieth century and, more specifically, of taxidermy. Using Giovanni Aloi and Rachel Poliquin’s respective studies on the cultural significance of taxidermy, it argues that Reina and Constancia process their parents’ death by coalescing their past with embalmed specimens from endangered species. In doing so, they generate a conception of the Cuban nation and its diaspora that extends beyond the human. This article also studies the novel’s allusion to naturalist Thomas Barbour and his involvement in the establishment of the Harvard Botanic Station for Tropical Research and Sugarcane Investigation/Atkins Institution in Cuba at the turn of the twentieth century. Ultimately, this article claims, Constancia and Reina reconfigure taxidermy as a literary device that enables them to understand their family tragedy in relation to their homeland’s history of environmental destruction.
Box replication effects in weak lensing light-cone construction
Authors: Chen Zhao , Yu Yu 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT
Weak gravitational lensing simulations serve as indispensable tools for obtaining precise cosmological constraints. In particular, it is crucial to address the systematic uncertainties in theoretical predictions, given the rapid increase in galaxy numbers and the reduction in observational noise. Both on-the-fly and post-processing methods for constructing lensing light-cones encounter limitations due to the finite simulated volume, necessitating the replication of the simulation box to encompass the volume to high redshifts. To address this issue, our primary focus lies on investigating and quantifying the impact of box replication on the convergence power spectrum and higher order moments of lensing fields. Subsequently, a univariate model is utilized to estimate the amplitude parameter A by fitting four statistics measured from partial sky light-cones along specific angles, to the averaged result from random directions. The investigation demonstrates that the systematic bias stemming from the box replication phenomenon falls within the bounds of statistical errors for the majority of cases. However, caution should be exercised when considering high-order statistics on a small sky coverage (${\lesssim} 25~\mathrm{deg^2}$). For this case, we have developed a code that facilitates the identification of optimal viewing angles for the light-cone construction. This code has been made publicly accessible at https://github.com/czymh/losf.
Characterising the contribution of dust-obscured star formation at z ≳ 5 using 18 serendipitously identified [C ii] emitters
Authors: van Leeuwen I F , Bouwens R J , van der Werf P P , Hodge J A , Schouws S , Stefanon M , Algera H S B , Aravena M , Boogaard L A , Bowler R A A , da Cunha E , Dayal P , Decarli R , Gonzalez V , Inami H , de Looze I , Sommovigo L , Venemans B P , Walter F , Barrufet L , Ferrara A , Graziani L , Hygate A P S , Oesch P , Palla M , Rowland L , Schneider R 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT
We present a new method to determine the star formation rate density (SFRD) of the Universe at $z \gtrsim 5$ that includes the contribution of dust-obscured star formation. For this purpose, we use a [C ii] (158 $\mu$m) selected sample of galaxies serendipitously identified in the fields of known $z\gtrsim 4.5$ objects to characterise the fraction of obscured star formation rate (SFR). The advantage of a [C ii] selection is that our sample is SFR-selected, in contrast to an ultraviolet (UV)-selection that would be biased towards unobscured star formation. We obtain a sample of 23 [C ii] emitters near star-forming (SF) galaxies and quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) – three of which we identify for the first time – using previous literature and archival Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array data. 18 of these serendipitously identified galaxies have sufficiently deep rest-UV data and are used to characterise the obscured fraction of the star formation in galaxies with SFRs $\gtrsim 30\ \text{M}_{\odot } \ \text{yr}^{-1}$. We find that [C ii] emitters identified around SF galaxies have $\approx$63 per cent of their SFR obscured, while [C ii] emitters around QSOs have $\approx$93 per cent of their SFR obscured. By forward modelling existing wide-area UV luminosity function (LF) determinations, we derive the intrinsic UV LF using our characterisation of the obscured SFR. Integrating the intrinsic LF to $M_{\mathrm{ UV}}$ = $-$20, we find that the obscured SFRD contributes to $\gt 3~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ and $\gt 10~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the total SFRD at $z \sim 5$ and $z \sim 6$ based on our sample of companions galaxies near SF galaxies and QSOs, respectively. Our results suggest that dust obscuration is not negligible at $z\gtrsim 5$, further underlining the importance of far-infrared observations of the $z\gtrsim 5$ Universe.
Modelling the non-linear power spectrum in low-redshift H i intensity mapping
Authors: Li Zhixing , Wolz Laura , Guo Hong , Cunnington Steven , Mao Yi 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT
Neutral hydrogen (H i) serves as a competitive tracer of the large scale structures, especially with the advent of more intensity mapping H i surveys. In this work, we present a simulation-based framework to forecast the H i power spectrum on non-linear scales ($k\gtrsim 1\ {\rm Mpc^{-1}}$), as measured by interferometer arrays like MeerKAT in the low-redshift ($z\le 1.0$) Universe. Building on a galaxy-based H i mock catalogue, we meticulously consider various factors, including the emission line profiles of H i discs and some observational settings, and explore their impacts on the H i power spectrum. We find that the H i power spectrum is relatively insensitive to the profile shape of H i emission line at these scales, while showing a strong correlation with the profile width. We propose an empirical model to simulate the emission line profile width for each H i source. The resulting H i power spectrum is consistent with the results from the IllustrisTNG hydrodynamical simulation and follows the trend of the measurements obtained by MeerKAT at $z\approx 0.44$, though with a significantly lower amplitude. We demonstrate how the H i abundance $\Omega _{\rm HI}$ and the amplitude parameter in our width model can be constrained with the MeerKAT measurements, though a strong degeneracy is uncovered. Our work shows the potential to constrain statistical properties of H i emission line profiles with future H i intensity mapping experiments.
Diversity in Recombination Hotspot Characteristics and Gene Structure Shape Fine-Scale Recombination Patterns in Plant Genomes
Authors: Brazier Thomas , Glémin Sylvain 
Published: September 2024

Abstract
During the meiosis of many eukaryote species, crossovers tend to occur within narrow regions called recombination hotspots. In plants, it is generally thought that gene regulatory sequences, especially promoters and 5′ to 3′ untranslated regions, are enriched in hotspots, but this has been characterized in a handful of species only. We also lack a clear description of fine-scale variation in recombination rates within genic regions and little is known about hotspot position and intensity in plants. To address this question, we constructed fine-scale recombination maps from genetic polymorphism data and inferred recombination hotspots in 11 plant species. We detected gradients of recombination in genic regions in most species, yet gradients varied in intensity and shape depending on specific hotspot locations and gene structure. To further characterize recombination gradients, we decomposed them according to gene structure by rank and number of exons. We generalized the previously observed pattern that recombination hotspots are organized around the boundaries of coding sequences, especially 5′ promoters. However, our results also provided new insight into the relative importance of the 3′ end of genes in some species and the possible location of hotspots away from genic regions in some species. Variation among species seemed driven more by hotspot location among and within genes than by differences in size or intensity among species. Our results shed light on the variation in recombination rates at a very fine scale, revealing the diversity and complexity of genic recombination gradients emerging from the interaction between hotspot location and gene structure.