bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Examining Outcomes of Cochlear Implantation in Children With Bilateral Cochlear Nerve Deficiency
Authors: Maturi Jay R. , Noij Kimberley S. , Babu Vidya , Creighton Francis X. , Galaiya Deepa , Jenks Carolyn M. 
Published: September 2024

Objective
To assess hearing and speech outcomes in pediatric patients with bilateral cochlear nerve deficiency (CND) who underwent cochlear implantation (CI) and to identify factors associated with improved outcomes.

Databases reviewed
PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochran databases were searched following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Methods
Studies that reported hearing and speech outcomes of pediatric patients with bilateral CND who underwent CI were included. Demographics, comorbidities, inner ear abnormalities, CND classification (aplasia or hypoplasia), details of diagnostic workup, and outcomes data were extracted. Outcomes were assessed using the four-level auditory performance level (APL) scale. Meta-analysis, using Cochran–Armitage tests, was performed on patients with individual data to assess factors associated with performance.

Results
A total of 314 papers were screened, and 40 papers with 378 total patients met inclusion criteria. A total of 339 patients had patient-level data and were included in the meta-analysis. Of the 339 patients, 19% (n = 63) of patients had no measurable stimulation, 28% (n = 95) had improved detection, 22% (n = 76) achieved closed-set speech perception, and 31% (n = 105) achieved open-set speech perception. Patients with cochlear nerve aplasia (p = 0.016) and syndromes (p < 0.001) had significantly worse APL scores relative to patients with cochlear nerve hypoplasia and patients without syndromes, respectively.

Conclusions
While most patients with bilateral CND benefit from CI and almost one-third of patients achieved open-set speech perception, outcomes were heterogenous and one-fifth of patients did not experience measurable benefit from CI.
Correlation of Endolysmphatic Duct Signal Intensity With Clinical Features in Otological Diseases
Authors: Matsui Kosumo , Yoshida Tadao , Sugimoto Satofumi , Kobayashi Masumi , Naganawa Shinji , Sone Michihiko 
Published: September 2024

Objective
Bilateral high signal intensity (SI) in the endolymphatic duct (ED) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been reported as a common characteristic in ears with large vestibular aqueduct syndrome (LVAS). However, the significance of bilateral high SI in the ED remains unknown. The present study aimed to compare the correlation between SI in the ED and the clinical manifestations in various otological disorders and consider the significance of the MRI findings.

Study Design
Retrospective study.

Setting
University hospital.

Patients
The study included 2,450 ears from 1,225 patients with various otological disorders.

Intervention
All ears underwent 3T enhanced MRI and were evaluated for the degree of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) and the SI ratios (SIRs; i.e., the calculation between SIs in the ED and those in the cerebellum).

Main Outcome Measure
The imaging findings were compared with their clinical symptoms.

Results
Ears with bilateral high SIRs in the ED tended to have considerably less occurrence of EH in both the cochlea and vestibule than those with bilateral low SIRs. Ears with SIR ≥8 showed significantly elevated hearing thresholds at lower frequencies on pure-tone audiometry, although they exhibited a markedly lower incidence of cochlear EH than those with SIR <8. Moreover, ears with vertigo exhibited notably higher SIRs than those without vertigo.

Conclusion
Bilateral high SI in the ED on MRI may reflect pathophysiology underlying sensorineural hearing loss and vestibular symptoms, which are not associated with EH formation.
Molecular Docking Analysis Reveals the Promising Role of Apigenin as a Potential Treatment for Neurological Disorders
Authors: Wasim Muhammad , Zia Syeda Rehana , Ahmad Saara 
Published: September 2024

Objectives
Neurological disorders represent a significant global health challenge, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic agents. Apigenin, a natural flavonoid abundantly found in various plants, has garnered attention for its potential neuroprotective properties. In this study, we employed molecular docking simulations to investigate the interaction between apigenin and key molecular targets associated with neurological disorders.

Methods
The molecular docking analysis focused on receptors implicated in neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neurotransmission regulation.

Results
Our results reveal a high binding affinity of apigenin towards critical targets, including GABA, mACh, nACh, NMDA, 5HTA, AMPA, insulin, and dopamine receptors. The findings suggest that apigenin may exert its neuroprotective effects through multifaceted mechanisms, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neurotransmission regulatory pathways. Additionally, the absence of adverse binding poses emphasizes the safety profile of apigenin.

Conclusions
This molecular docking study provides valuable insights into the potential therapeutic role of apigenin in mitigating molecular pathways implicated in neurological disorders. Further in vitro and in vivo investigations are warranted to validate and elucidate the neuroprotective mechanisms of apigenin, paving the way for its development as a promising treatment option for various neurological conditions.
Improving Functional Muscle Regeneration in Volumetric Muscle Loss Injuries by Shifting the Balance of Inflammatory and Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediators
Authors: Turner Thomas C. , Pittman Frank S. , Zhang Hongmanlin , Hymel Lauren A. , Zheng Tianyi , Behara Monica , Anderson Shannon E. , Harrer Julia Andraca , Link Kaitlyn A. , Ahammed Mashoor Al , Maner-Smith Kristal , Liu Xueyun , Yin Xuanzhi , Lim Hong S. , Spite Matthew , Qiu Peng , García Andrés J. , Mortensen Luke J. , Jang Young C. , Willett Nick J. , Botchwey Edward A. 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACTSevere tissue loss resulting from extremity trauma, such as volumetric muscle loss (VML), poses significant clinical challenges for both general and military populations. VML disrupts the endogenous tissue repair mechanisms, resulting in acute and unresolved chronic inflammation and immune cell presence, impaired muscle healing, scar tissue formation, persistent pain, and permanent functional deficits. The aberrant healing response is preceded by acute inflammation and immune cell infiltration which does not resolve. We analyzed the biosynthesis of inflammatory and specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs) after VML injury in two different models; muscle with critical-sized defects had a decreased capacity to biosynthesize SPMs, leading to dysregulated and persistent inflammation. We developed a modular poly(ethylene glycol)-maleimide hydrogel platform to locally release a stable isomer of Resolvin D1 (AT-RvD1) and promote endogenous pathways of inflammation resolution in the two muscle models. The local delivery of AT-RvD1 enhanced muscle regeneration, improved muscle function, and reduced pain sensitivity after VML by promoting molecular and cellular resolution of inflammation. These findings provide new insights into the pathogenesis of VML and establish a pro-resolving hydrogel therapeutic as a promising strategy for promoting functional muscle regeneration after traumatic injury.
Predictive Prioritization of Enhancers Associated with Pancreas Disease Risk
Authors: Wang Li , Baek Songjoon , Prasad Gauri , Wildenthal John , Guo Konnie , Sturgill David , Truongvo Thucnhi , Char Erin , Pegoraro Gianluca , McKinnon Katherine ,   The Pancreatic Cancer Cohort Consortium, The Pancreatic Cancer Case-Control Consortium, Hoskins Jason W. , Amundadottir Laufey T. , Arda H. Efsun 
Published: September 2024

SUMMARYGenetic and epigenetic variations in regulatory enhancer elements increase susceptibility to a range of pathologies. Despite recent advances, linking enhancer elements to target genes and predicting transcriptional outcomes of enhancer dysfunction remain significant challenges. Using 3D chromatin conformation assays, we generated an extensive enhancer interaction dataset for the human pancreas, encompassing more than 20 donors and five major cell types, including both exocrine and endocrine compartments. We employed a network approach to parse chromatin interactions into enhancer-promoter tree models, facilitating a quantitative, genome-wide analysis of enhancer connectivity. With these tree models, we developed a machine learning algorithm to estimate the impact of enhancer perturbations on cell type-specific gene expression in the human pancreas. Orthogonal to our computational approach, we perturbed enhancer function in primary human pancreas cells using CRISPR interference and quantified the effects at the single-cell level through RNA FISH coupled with high-throughput imaging. Our enhancer tree models enabled the annotation of common germline risk variants associated with pancreas diseases, linking them to putative target genes in specific cell types. For pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, we found a stronger enrichment of disease susceptibility variants within acinar cell regulatory elements, despite ductal cells historically being assumed as the primary cell-of-origin. Our integrative approach—combining cell type-specific enhancer-promoter interaction mapping, computational models, and single-cell enhancer perturbation assays—produced a robust resource for studying the genetic basis of pancreas disorders.
Predicting speech-in-noise ability with static and dynamic auditory figure-ground analysis using structural equation modelling
Authors: Guo Xiaoxuan , Benzaquén Ester , Holmes Emma , Berger Joel I , Brühl Inga , Sedley William , Rushton Steven P , Griffiths Timothy D 
Published: September 2024

AbstractAuditory figure-ground paradigms assess the ability to extract a foreground figure from a random background, a crucial part of central hearing. Previous studies have shown that the ability to extract static figures (with fixed frequencies) predicts real-life listening: speech-in-noise ability. In this study we assessed both fixed and dynamic figures: the latter comprised component frequencies that vary over time like natural speech. 159 participants (aged 18-79) with a range of peripheral hearing sensitivity were studied. We used hierarchal linear regression and structural equation modelling to examine how well speech-in-noise ability (for words and sentences) could be predicted by age, peripheral hearing, and static and dynamic figure-ground. Regression demonstrated that in addition to the audiogram and age, the low-frequency dynamic figure-ground accounted for significant variance of speech-in-noise, higher than the static figure-ground. The structural models showed that a combination of all types of figure-ground tasks predicted speech-in-noise with a higher effect size than the audiogram or age. Age influenced word perception in noise directly but sentence perception indirectly via effects on peripheral and central hearing. Overall, this study demonstrates that dynamic figure-ground explains more variance of real-life listening than static figure-ground, and the combination of both predicts real-life listening better than hearing sensitivity or age.
Wilting Wildflowers and Bummed-Out Bees: Climate Change Threatens U.S. State Symbols
Authors: Ge Xuezhen , Zou Ya , Hager Heather A , Newman Jonathan A 
Published: September 2024

Species designated as state symbols in the United States carry cultural importance and embody historical heritage. However, they are threatened by climate change and even face the risk of local or global extinction. The responses of these species to climate change have received little attention. In this study, we examine the effects of climate change on state flowers and insects in the United States by employing correlative species distribution models (SDMs). We select a variety of commonly used SDM algorithms to construct an ensemble forecasting framework aimed at predicting the potential habitats for each species under both historical and future climate scenarios, and how these changes might influence the distributions of state flower and insect species. Our results show that more than half of the state flowers (∼ 66%) and insects (∼ 51%) are predicted to experience a substantial decrease in regions with favorable climates within the states they represent. Conversely, only a small number (Flowers: ∼ 2%; Insects: ∼ 10%) are projected to see an increase in habitat suitability in the future. Certain states may no longer possess suitable habitats for their state-designated species. Our findings indicate that cultural heritage might be at risk due to reduced habitat suitability and local extinctions driven by climate change. These findings can provide guidance regarding the protection or replacement of state species to preserve cultural heritage.Significance StatementWe have known for decades that climate change may lead to species’ local or global extinction. However, the vast majority of such research has focused on species of ecological or economic importance. Only recently have researchers begun to seriously consider the impacts of climate change on our cultural heritage, and that research has mainly focused on tangible cultural assests such as buildings and anthropological sites. Here, we consider the impacts of climate change on species of cultural significance, namely U.S. state flowers and insects. We find that the majority of these species are threatened with local extinction from climate change, and the loss of these species will take with them important aspects of our history and culture.
Differential Impact of Multiple Sensory Deprivation on Spatial-coding Cells in Medial Entorhinal Cortex
Authors: Tian Jiayi , Wen Shidan , Zhou Yuqian , Yao Shuyang , Zhang Xuan , Miao Chenglin 
Published: September 2024

SummarySpatial navigation depends on anchoring internal spatial maps to external environments, guided by sensory cues such as visual and tactile stimuli. The Medial Entorhinal Cortex (MEC) is crucial for integrating these sensory inputs during the formation of spatial maps. While the responsiveness of many spatial-coding cells to visual stimuli is well-established, the role of tactile sensation in spatial representation is less understood. Rodents primarily gather tactile information through their whiskers, which provide essential spatial and textural details via whisking movements, potentially vital for constructing accurate spatial map. In our study, we employed advanced miniature two-photon microscopy to monitor neural activity in the MEC of freely moving mice subjected to sensory deprivation. Our findings revealed that head direction cells and border cells exhibited impaired spatial representation after either light deprivation or whisker trimming. In contrast, grid cells and speed cells were less affected by whisker trimming compared to visual deprivation, suggesting a stronger dependence on visual cues for these cell types. Notably, distinct subpopulations within each type of spatial-coding cell exhibited varying sensitivity to sensory deprivation—some neurons significantly changed their spatial-coding patterns, while others remained unaffected. This indicates that cells within the MEC may differ in their spatial-coding based on their sensitivity to external sensory inputs. Additionally, we observed a strong correlation between the activity of certain MEC neurons and whisker movement. Collectively, these findings enhance our understanding of how the MEC processes spatial information, particularly in relation to tactile sensation.
Idiosyncrasy in gestural communication: a case study of hand-clapping in a Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus)
Authors: Bosshard Tiffany Claire , Hirel Marie , Meunier Hélène , Fischer Julia 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACTWhile it is well established that apes invent or individually learn new gestures, cases of development and use of novel gestures in monkeys are more rarely described. We report a case of a novel, idiosyncratic gesture in a Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus) at ‘La Forêt des Singes’, Rocamadour, France. One adult male, Jomanix, was observed hand-clapping. To our knowledge, hand-clapping has never been described before in this species. To hand-clap, the male briefly shifted his weight onto his legs, lifted his upper body, and clapped both hands together. We recorded 30 instances of hand-clapping. Twenty-five of these hand-claps occurred in combination with other agonistic signals, such as lunges and open mouth threats. Recipients either responded with counter-aggression (N= 9) or a submissive response (N= 16). In five of the 30 events, the context was unclear. These observations suggest that the gesture constitutes an agonistic signal. According to the staff at ‘La Forêt des Singes’, the hand-clapping may have been copied from staff members who occasionally hand-clap to shoo the animals away from areas where they were not supposed to be, but that notion remains speculative. In the meantime, another subject from the same group reportedly started to hand-clap, but the subject had passed away before we could document the behaviour. The observations show that Jomanix can flexibly combine a novel gesture with other established communicative signals. The hand-clap is goal-directed and fulfils the criteria for first-order intentional communication. This case, as well as anecdotal reports from a Tonkean macaque (Macaca tonkeana) hand-clapping to get attention, reveals greater flexibility in the gestural communication of this genus than previously assumed but also underscores that social learning of the production of communicative gestures occurs rarely in this taxon.
Crop productivity of Central European Permaculture is within the range of organic and conventional agriculture
Authors: Reiff Julius , Jungkunst Hermann F. , Antes Nicole , Entling Martin H 
Published: September 2024

1AbstractPermaculture is a promising framework to design and manage sustainable food production systems based on mimicking ecosystems. However, there is still a lack of scientific evidence especially on the crop productivity of permaculture systems. In this first study on permaculture yield, we collected yield data of eleven permaculture sites in Germany and surrounding countries, that also work according to organic guidelines. We used the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) as index to compare mixed cropping systems of permaculture sites with average monoculture yield data of the overall German agricultural sector, as well as that of only organic German agriculture. An LER of 1 indicates equal yields of the compared polyculture and monoculture, while an LER of 1.2 would indicate a 20% higher productivity of the polyculture. Mean permaculture LER as compared to total German agriculture was 0.80 ± 0.27 and 1.44 ± 0.52 as compared to German organic agriculture, both with no significant difference to 1. Our results imply, that yields of permaculture sites are comparable to predominant industrial agriculture. The observed productivity may result from the application of key permaculture principles, such as utilizing diversity and mutually supportive species and improving soil health, which contribute to system stability and resource efficiency. Provided that future studies will support our findings, permaculture could combine soil, biodiversity and climate protection with agricultural productivity. Most importantly, the variables that determine the difference in crop productivity among permaculture sites need to be identified and evaluated.
IL-34 empowers regulatory T cells with novel non-canonical function to safeguard brain barrier integrity during neuro-inflammation
Authors: Van Hoecke Lien , Verreycken Janne , Van Acker Lore , Amelinck Laura , Xie Junhua , Castelein Jonas , Van Wonterghem Elien , Van Imschoot Griet , Burgelman Marlies , Vanherle Sarah , Dewachter Ilse , Baeten Paulien , Broux Bieke , Vandenbroucke Roosmarijn E. 
Published: September 2024

AbstractIn efforts to find reparative strategies for brain damage, brain-associated regulatory T cells (Tregs) have gained increasing attention in recent years. Beyond their textbook immunoregulatory function, Tregs have emerged as key players in the response to brain trauma and the restoration of damaged brain tissue. Here, we are the first to describe a novel, non-canonical function of Tregs in maintaining the sealing capacity of both the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier. Moreover, we identified the cytokine IL-34 as a critical determinant in this newly unveiled Treg function. Mechanistically, IL-34 exerts its influence by modulating the expression and localization of the tight junction protein ZO-1 in both BBB endothelial cells and choroid plexus epithelial cells, thereby reinforcing the strength of the brain barriers. Given the well-established notion of leaky brain barriers and the involvement of immunological components in neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS), we further demonstrate diminished IL-34 expression in Tregs derived from patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS) and patients with AD and even mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Remarkably, our study reveals the potential of IL-34 treatment in reinstating the integrity of brain barriers within murine models mimicking these neurological disorders. These ground-breaking findings shed light on the intricate relationship between Tregs, IL-34, and the integrity of brain barriers. They offer novel avenues for therapeutic approaches to ameliorate brain barrier dysfunction in the context of neurological disorders.