bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
“I like being autistic”: Assessing the benefit of autistic-led psychoeducation for autistic children
Authors: Mullally Sinéad L. , Edwards Cherice C. , Wood Alice E. , Connolly Sophie E. , Constable Hannah , Watson Stuart , Rodgers Jacqui 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBackgroundDespite receiving autism diagnoses in early life, autistic children are not routinely supported to understand these diagnoses post-diagnostically (1). Consequently, they typically grow-up lacking an accurate understanding of what it means to be autistic on both a collective and individual level (2). Without this foundational knowledge, children’s understanding of autism is garnered from how others perceive their autism, resulting in an understanding of autism, and of themselves, that is inherently negative (3). This lack of appreciation of their own individual needs, also denies them the important self-understanding afforded by the diagnosis in the first instance, alongside the opportunity to effectively self-advocate for themselves when these needs go unmet.AimsHere we sought to directly assess the benefit of a pre-recorded, online autistic-led psychoeducation course about autism and the lived experience of being autistic (i.e., ‘NeuroBears’https://www.pandasonline.org), for children’s understanding of autism and their autistic experiences, their feeling about being autistic, their communication with others about their autistic experiences, and their confidence to self-advocate for their needs.MethodsUsing a concurrent embedded mixed-methods, repeated-measures design, autistic children (aged 8-14 years), completed a bespoke questionnaire exploring the above topics, both before and after completing NeuroBears at home with a nominated safe adult. A total of 63 children (mean age=10.57 years) completed sufficient content to be included in the analysis.ResultsSignificant benefit was observed across a range of areas, including a significant improvement in the children’s knowledge and understanding of being autistic and of their unique strengths and challenges, a significant rebalancing of how the children viewed being autistic, evidence of emerging positive autistic identities and a growing sense of belongingness, a significant change in the children’s abilities to communicate about being autistic, and evidence of strengthening self-advocacy skills.ConclusionLearning about autism in a neutral and non-stigmatizing manner, and presented through the lens of autistic lived experience, conferred numerous benefits on autistic children’s self-understanding, emergent autistic identity, sense of belonging, and on their communication/self-advocacy skills. Future work is needed to establish the downstream benefits on wellbeing and quality of life.
Metformin reduces the risk of poor treatment outcomes among individuals with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis and type-2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Salindri Argita D. , Gujabidze Mariam , Kipiani Maia , Lomtadze Nino , Tukvadze Nestani , Avaliani Zaza , Blumberg Henry M. , Kornfeld Hardy , Kempker Russell R. , Magee Matthew J. 
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACTWe conducted a retrospective cohort study among individuals with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis and diabetes to determine the association between metformin use and tuberculosis treatment outcomes. We found that individuals with metformin use had a significantly lower risk of poor tuberculosis treatment outcomes (adjusted RR=0.25, 95%CI 0.06 – 0.95) compared to those without.
Quantification of Patent Foramen Ovale Shunt Severity by Transesophageal Echocardiogram and Transcranial Doppler in Routine Clinical Practice
Authors: Sun Philip Y. , Tobis Jonathan M. , Daneshvar Samuel A. , Alfonso Rodel C. , Liebeskind David S. , Saver Jeffrey L. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe presence of a large physiologic shunt, defined as >20 left atrial microbubbles within 3 cardiac cycles on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a randomized controlled trial- validated indication for patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure in patients with otherwise cryptogenic ischemic stroke. The frequency with which this information is available to treating physicians from clinical TEE reports has not been well delineated.MethodsAmong consecutive ischemic stroke patients admitted to an academic medical center undergoing TEE between October 2022 - September 2023, TEE reports were reviewed to determine frequency with which formal clinical-trial definition-adherent characterization of PFO shunt size was provided, the frequency of informal PFO shunt size descriptions, and correlations with transcranial Doppler (TCD) formal shunt grades (Spencer Grades 1-5).ResultsAmong 77 patients, the median age was 64 (IQR 56-73), and 33 (43%) were female. On TEE, shunt presence was assessed by bubble study in 60 (78%), direct Doppler alone in 5 (7%), and neither in 12 (16%). Among patients with bubble study, a right-to-left shunt (RLS) potentially due to PFO was present 25 (42%). RLS severity was quantified on the clinical report in 16% (4/25) of PFO patients, all with small (<20) shunts. For the remaining 21 (84%), reports informally characterized shunt severity with various descriptive terms, including “small/mild/trace” (13 cases), “moderate/medium” (6), and “large” (1). TCD bubble studies were performed in 76% (19/25) of the TEE RLS PFO patients. Shunt severity correlation between TEE and TCD was 100% (3/3) for the formally quantified TEE shunts, un- assessable in one patient with non-specific shunt size characterization on TEE, and poor (3/15, 20%) for the remaining 15 informally assessed TEE shunts, with 47% (7/15) of shunts categorized as larger on TCD and 33% (5/15) smaller on TCD than TEE.ConclusionsQuantified, evidence-based ratings of PFO shunt severity were present in less than 1 of every 6 TEE reports, and unquantified, informal size estimates correlated poorly with TCD quantification of shunt severity. Patient management would be aided by inclusion of formal PFO shunt size quantification in all clinical stroke patient TEE reports.
Muscle and intestine innexins with muscle Deg/Enac channels promote muscle coordination and embryo elongation
Authors: Llense Flora , Ferraro Teresa , Yang Xinyi , Song Hanla , Labouesse Michel 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBody axis elongation represents a fundamental morphogenetic process in development, which involves cell shape changes powered by mechanical forces. How mechanically interconnected tissues coordinate in organismal development remains largely unexplored. DuringC. eleganselongation, cyclic forces generated by muscle contractions induce remodeling of adherens junctions and the actin cytoskeleton in the epidermis, facilitating gradual embryo lengthening. While previous studies have identified key players in epidermal cells, understanding how muscle cells coordinate their activity for proper embryo elongation remains unsolved. Using a Calcium sensor to monitor muscle activity during elongation, we identified two cells in each muscle quadrant with a leader cell function that orchestrate muscle activity within their respective quadrants. Strikingly, ablation of these cells halted muscle contractions and delayed elongation. A targeted RNAi screen focusing on communication channels identified two innexins and two Deg channels regulating muscle activity, which proved required for normal embryonic elongation. Interestingly, one innexin exhibits specific expression in intestinal cells. Our findings provide novel insights into how embryonic body wall muscles coordinate their activity and how interconnected tissues ensure proper morphogenesis.
Acetate drives ovarian cancer quiescence via ACSS2-mediated acetyl-CoA production
Authors: Sharrow Allison C. , Megill Emily , Chen Amanda J. , Farooqi Afifa , McGonigal Stacy , Hempel Nadine , Snyder Nathaniel W. , Buckanovich Ronald J. , Aird Katherine M. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractQuiescence is a reversible cell cycle exit traditionally thought to be associated with a metabolically inactive state. Recent work in muscle cells indicates that metabolic reprogramming is associated with quiescence. Whether metabolic changes occur in cancer to drive quiescence is unclear. Using a multi-omics approach, we found that the metabolic enzyme ACSS2, which converts acetate into acetyl-CoA, is both highly upregulated in quiescent ovarian cancer cells and required for their survival. Indeed, quiescent ovarian cancer cells have increased levels of acetate-derived acetyl-CoA, confirming increased ACSS2 activity in these cells. Furthermore, either inducing ACSS2 expression or supplementing cells with acetate was sufficient to induce a reversible quiescent cell cycle exit. RNA-Seq of acetate treated cells confirmed negative enrichment in multiple cell cycle pathways as well as enrichment of genes in a published G0 gene signature. Finally, analysis of patient data showed that ACSS2 expression is upregulated in tumor cells from ascites, which are thought to be more quiescent, compared to matched primary tumors. Additionally, highACSS2expression is associated with platinum resistance and worse outcomes. Together, this study points to a previously unrecognized ACSS2-mediated metabolic reprogramming that drives quiescence in ovarian cancer. As chemotherapies to treat ovarian cancer, such as platinum, have increased efficacy in highly proliferative cells, our data give rise to the intriguing question that metabolically-driven quiescence may affect therapeutic response.
Perineal and rectal nerve recruitment order varies during pudendal neurostimulator implant surgery
Authors: Chen Po-Ju , Lagunas Amador C. , Soriano Vanessa , Gupta Priyanka , Bruns Tim M. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIntroductionPudendal nerve stimulation (PNS) is an off-label therapy for patients experiencing pelvic pain and voiding dysfunction. The pudendal nerve has two efferent branches to the rectum and perineum. Only the rectal branch is monitored via external anal sphincter electromyography during the implant procedure to help determine the lead position. We examined intraoperative PNS-driven urethral pressures to infer nerve recruitment order and tracked patient reported outcomes.MethodsPatients receiving PNS for pelvic pain and/or urinary symptoms were recruited. During the implant surgery, urethral pressure was measured with a multi-sensor pressure catheter placed in the lower urinary tract. PNS-driven changes in urethral pressure and external anal sphincter (EAS) electromyography were compared to determine the relative perineal and rectal nerve recruitment order. Participants completed pelvic pain, bladder, bowel, and sexual function surveys before and after the surgery. The primary outcome measure was the relative nerve recruitment order during PNS. Secondary outcome measures were the PNS-driven urethral responses and changes in survey symptom scores due to PNS.ResultsData was collected from thirteen intraoperative sessions. Seven participants had rectal nerve recruitment first, four participants had perineal nerve recruitment first, and two participants had mixed nerve recruitment during intraoperative PNS. The average normalized urethral pressure change was 4.7% at the EAS threshold, 59.2% at twice EAS threshold, and 68.2% at three times the EAS threshold. Urethral pressure changes for each participant often varied between different active PNS electrodes. Participants had significant improvements in pelvic pain and bladder function survey scores with PNS (p < 0.04). There was no relationship between nerve recruitment order and changes in any surveys.ConclusionPNS can recruit the perineal nerve before the rectal nerve. Each lead electrode may trigger different urethral response patterns within a participant. This study provided new insights into the effect of PNS on the recruitment of nerves in the pelvis and may help guide future surgical placement of PNS systems.
Biomarkers of High Flow Therapy Outcome in COVID-19 pneumonia: a single-center prospective study
Authors: Marín Toni. , Aldás Irene , Galdeano Marina , Hernández Agnes , Mendiluce Leire , Chirinos Roxana , Fernández Carmen , Martín Adriana , Roca Esther , Tebé Cristian , Paredes Roger , Rosell Antoni 
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACTPatients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) due to COVID-19 undergoing High Flow Therapy (HFT) before intubation presented an increased risk of mortality when intubation was delayed. We designed a prospective study seeking biomarkers for early prediction of HFT failure. An analytical value in blood could be more stable than the ROX index since it will not depend on the vital signs that the patient presents at that moment. We defined HFT failure as the need to scale the treatment to Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NPPV). The needs were respiratory rate >25, oxygen saturation of <90% despite being on flow of 60 l·min-1 and FiO2 1 or levels of PaO2/FiO2 ratio <100mmHg. The all-treatment population included all subjects enrolled in the trial. 139 patients were enrolled after starting HFT. The Pearson chi-squared test was used to compare the main study outcomes. These included the incidence of intubation, the cumulative incidence of mortality at 30 days, the cumulative incidence of mortality at 1 year, and the composite outcome of intubation or death at the end of the trial. Kaplan-Meyer plot was used to illustrate the time to HFT failure. The Cox regression model was used to estimate the hazard ratio for HFT failure for all the parameters. All were measured or collected at baseline. Lower levels of bicarbonate, thrombocytopenia, and higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine, and glucose are early blood biomarkers independently associated with HFT failure.SUMMARY AT A GLANCEHigher levels of C-reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia allow us to early detect patients requiring intubation with an apparent good response to high-flow oxygen therapy.
Age-Specific All-Cause Mortality Trends in the UK: Pre-Pandemic Increases and the Complex Impact of COVID-19
Authors: Pérez-Reche Francisco J. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractObjectivesThis study aims to analyse age-specific all-cause mortality trends in the UK before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic to determine if pre-pandemic trends contributed to increased mortality levels in the post-pandemic era.MethodsWe utilised age-structured population and mortality data for all UK countries from 2005 to 2023. Mortality rates were calculated for each age group, and excess mortality was estimated using the Office for National Statistics (ONS) method.ResultsOur most concerning finding is an increase in all-cause mortality rates for middle-aged adults (30-54 years) starting around 2012. The COVID-19 pandemic may have further impacted these rates, but the pre-existing upward trend suggests that current elevated mortality rates might have been reached regardless of the pandemic. This finding is more alarming than the slowdown in the decline of cardiovascular disease death rates for individuals under 75 noted by the British Heart Foundation.ConclusionOur results highlight the importance of considering both immediate pandemic impacts and long-term mortality trends in public health strategies. This underscores the need for targeted interventions and improved healthcare planning to address both ongoing and future challenges.
The role of interleukin-10 in immune response to hepatitis B virus and liver cancer co-existence dynamics
Authors: Chataa Paul , Naandam Samuel M. , Djankpa Francis T. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractExperimental evidence confirms that interleukin-10 plays a critical role in clearing acute hepatitis B virus infection. This paper aims to develops a mathematical model to explore the dynamics of how the immune system responds to hepatitis B virus (HBV) and coexisting liver cancer within the liver cell population. Unlike previous models; we categorize liver cells into various stages of infection. We determine the invasion probability for transmission dynamics, specifically the basic reproduction number, ℝ0, for populations of uninfected macrophages with and without cancer cells. Stability analyses of virus-free and virus equilibrium states are provided, along with numerical simulations to validate analytical findings. The impact of different branches of the immune response on model dynamics is assessed. Simulations predict the time at which T helper-1 cells surpass cytotoxic T cells (switching time), correlating positively with the proliferation rate of interleukin-10 (ρ3). Further numerical simulations demonstrate that interleukin-10 contributes to HBV persistence by inhibiting the immune response, thereby allowing the virus to evade immune surveillance and establish chronic infection through the suppression of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), which are essential for clearing infected cells.
Origin and stepwise improvement of vertebrate lungs
Authors: Li Ye , Hu Mingliang , Zhang Zhigang , Wu Baosheng , Zheng Jiangmin , Zhang Fenghua , Hao Jiaqi , Xue Tingfeng , Li Zhaohong , Zhu Chenglong , Zhao Lei , Xu Wenjie , Xin Peidong , Feng Chenguang , Wang Wen , Zhao Yilin , Qiu Qiang , Wang Kun 
Published: July 2024

AbstractLungs, essential for terrestrial vertebrates and present in bony fishes but absent in cartilaginous fishes, provide an ideal model for studying organ origination. Our study analyzed single-cell RNA sequencing data from mature and developing vertebrate lungs, revealing substantial similarities in cell composition, developmental trajectories and gene expression pattern across species. Notably, most lung-related genes are also present in cartilaginous fishes, indicating that gene presence alone does not guarantee lung development. We identified thousands of lung regulatory elements specific to bony fishes, with higher concentrations around genes such as tbx4 and the hoxb gene cluster. These regulatory changes might contribute to lung emergence as well as the unique co-expression patterns in lung epithelial cells, such as those related to pulmonary surfactants and cell morphology. Our research also revealed that AT1 cells are specific to mammals, and we identified a mammal-specific gene, sfta2. Knockout experiments demonstrated that sfta2 deletion causes severe respiratory defects in mice, underscoring its critical role in specialized mammalian lungs. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the origin and evolution of lungs are driven by a complex interplay of regulatory network modifications and the emergence of new genes, underscoring the multifaceted nature of organ evolution.
Model for bubble nucleation efficiency of low-energy nuclear recoils in bubble chambers for dark matter detection
Authors: Li Xiang , Piro Marie-Cécile 
Published: July 2024

Bubble chambers are promising technologies for detecting low-energy nuclear recoils from the elastic scattering of dark matter particle candidates. Bubble nucleation occurs when the energy deposition exceeds a specific threshold defined traditionally by the “heat-spike” Seitz threshold. In this paper, we report on a physical model that can account for observed discrepancies between the current Seitz model and the measured nucleation efficiency of low-energy nuclear recoils, which is necessary for interpreting dark matter signals. In our work, we combine molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations together with the Lindhard model to predict bubble nucleation efficiency and energy thresholds for C3F8, CF3I, and xenon with enhanced accuracy over the Seitz model when compared to existing experimental data. We use our model to determine the effect on cross-section limits for spin-dependent and spin-independent interactions and compare it to the current PICO dark matter experiment. Our technique can also be applied to estimate the efficiency of future target fluids where no experimental data are available. As an example, we predict the nucleation efficiency, the energy threshold, and the cross-section limits in the spin-independent channel for the Scintillating Bubble Chamber experiment filled with superheated liquid argon.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Gapless dynamic magnetic ground state in the charge-gapped trimer iridate
Ba4NbIr3O12
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Abhisek , Lee S. , Adroja D. T. , Lees M. R. , Stenning G. B. G. , Aich P. , Tortora Luca , Meneghini C. , Cibin G. , Berlie Adam , Saha R. A. , Takegami D. , Meléndez-Sans A. , Poelchen G. , Yoshimura M. , Tsuei K. D. , Hu Z. , Chan Ting-Shan , Chattopadhyay S. , Thakur G. S. , Choi Kwang-Yong 
Published: July 2024

We present an experimental investigation of the magnetic ground state in Ba4NbIr3O12, a fractional valent trimer iridate. X-ray absorption and photoemission spectroscopy show that the Ir valence lies between 3+ and 4+ while Nb is pentavalent. Combined dc/ac magnetization, specific heat, and muon spin rotation/relaxation (µSR) measurements reveal no magnetic phase transition down to 0.05 K. Despite a significant Weiss temperature (ΘW∼−15 to −25 K) indicating antiferromagnetic correlations, a quantum spin-liquid (QSL) phase emerges and persists down to 0.1 K. This state likely arises from geometric frustration in the edge-sharing equilateral triangle Ir network. Our µSR analysis reveals a two-component depolarization, arising from the coexistence of rapidly (90%) and slowly (10%) fluctuating Ir moments. Powder x-ray diffraction and Ir-L3edge x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy identify 8–10% Nb/Ir site-exchange, reducing frustration within part of the Ir network, and likely leading to the faster muon spin relaxation, while the structurally ordered Ir ions remain highly geometrically frustrated, giving rise to the rapidly spin-fluctuating QSL ground state. At low temperatures, the magnetic specific heat varies as γT+αT2, indicating gapless spinon excitations, and possible Dirac QSL features with linear spinon dispersion, respectively.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Is chair-CEO generational difference a substitute governance mechanism to debt financing?
Authors: Chow Yee Peng 
Published: July 2024

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine whether and how chair-chief executive officer (CEO) generational difference is related to debt financing.Design/methodology/approachThis paper adopts the pooled ordinary least squares and system generalized method of moments estimation procedures to analyze listed firms in Malaysia from 2013 to 2017.FindingsThe results reveal that chair-CEO generational difference is negatively associated with leverage. The evidence suggests that substantial age gaps between the chair and CEO precipitate cognitive conflicts, which lead to better monitoring and control. This results in better governance and less information asymmetry, causing firms to depend less on debt as a board monitoring mechanism. The findings provide support to the theory posited in this paper on the substitutability of chair-CEO generational difference and debt financing.Originality/valueThis is the first attempt to investigate the substitutability of chair-CEO generational difference and debt financing.