bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Unveiling the Impact of Smoking on Allergic Rhinitis: Disease Severity and Efficacy of Subcutaneous Immunotherapy
Authors: Yuan Xuan , Liu Liyuan , Zhang Benjian , Xie Shaobing , Meng Lai , Zhong Wei , Jia Jiaxin , Zhang Hua , Jiang Weihong , Xie Zhihai 
Published: August 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of smoking statuses on disease severity and subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) efficacy in allergic rhinitis (AR).Study DesignOpen observational cohort study.SettingTertiary referral center.MethodsFive hundred and five AR patients undergoing dust mite allergen SCIT were categorized into never smokers, former smokers, and current smokers. AR severity was assessed using widely employed questionnaires. The changes in questionnaire scores pre‐ and post‐SCIT were evaluated for SCIT efficacy. The differences in disease severity and SCIT efficacy were compared for different smoking statuses among AR patients.ResultsCompared to never smokers, former and current smokers exhibited higher proportion of male, alcohol, and asthma (P < .05). Current smokers had a greater prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis than former smokers (P < .05). Before SCIT, AR severity was similar across 3 groups, even after adjusting for confounders (P > .05). Current smokers reported lower SCIT efficacy in the first year (P < .05). By the third year, 3 groups showed comparable long‐term efficacy (P > .05). However, current smokers experienced a significant decrease in benefits 2 years post‐SCIT (P < .05) and lower improvement rates at the end of the 3‐years SCIT period and 2 years following SCIT (P < .05).ConclusionAR patients across different smoking statuses demonstrated similar baseline disease severity and long‐time SCIT efficacy. Active smoking was associated with increased asthma risk, delayed early SCIT efficacy perception, reduced improvement over 3 years, and diminished benefits 2 years after SCIT. Prompt smoking cessation is crucial to mitigate these effects.
Cost‐effectiveness of treating childhood acute myeloid leukemia at a tertiary care center in North India
Authors: Srinivasan Shyam , Bolous Nancy S. , Batra Akshay , Bharti Sujit , Singh Neha , Shaikh Tanveer , Yadav Anil , Kanwar Vikramjit 
Published: August 2024

AbstractIntroductionChildhood cancers are a significant global health concern, particularly in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs), where over 80% of childhood cancer patients reside. In India, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) constitutes a significant portion of childhood cancers; however, the data on the cost‐effectiveness of childhood AML treatment in India and other LMICs remain limited.MethodsThe study focused on children (<15 years of age) diagnosed with AML at a tertiary care cancer center in North India. Data, including treatment outcome, treatment‐related morbidity, mortality, and costs were retrospectively collected from the electronic medical record and hospital database. Cost‐effectiveness was assessed using disability‐adjusted life years (DALY) averted in relation to the country‐specific cost‐effectiveness threshold.ResultsAmong 59 AML patients, treatment‐related high mortality rates, abandonment, and limited access to bone marrow transplantation were notable challenges. Intensive chemotherapy resulted in substantial sepsis‐related complications, with treatment‐related mortality reaching 30%. The 3‐year event‐free survival and overall survival of the 43 patients who received intensive therapy were 24.5% ± 7.6% and 27.9% ± 8.3%, respectively. Despite these challenges, treating childhood AML was still found to be cost‐effective. The total cost per newly diagnosed patient treated with curative intent was $4454. Cost per DALY averted accounted for 24% of the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, rendering the treatment to be cost‐effective with a stringent cost‐effectiveness threshold utilized.ConclusionThe study underscores the challenges faced while treating childhood AML in LMICs, including treatment‐induced high sepsis‐related mortality and abandonment. Despite these challenges, it remains cost‐effective to treat childhood AML in India. Future efforts should focus on reducing treatment‐related morbidity and mortality to further improve outcomes and cost‐effectiveness.
Fertility preservation in pediatric central nervous system tumors: A report from the Children's Oncology Group
Authors: Felker James , Bjornard Kari , Close Allison , Chavez Josuah , Chow Eric J. , Meacham Lillian R. , Burns Karen 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe Oncofertility Consortium Pediatric Initiative Network has published recommendations about the risks of infertility due to gonadotoxic therapy. We abstracted gonadotoxic therapies from central nervous system (CNS) Children's Oncology Group (COG) protocols between 2000 and 2022. We assigned them as unknown, minimal, significant, or high levels of increased risk for gonadal dysfunction/infertility. Seven of 11 CNS protocols placed patients at a high level of risk in at least one treatment arm. Males (7/11) were most commonly at a high level of risk, followed by pubertal females (6/11) and prepubertal females (5/11), highlighting the importance of pre‐treatment counseling regarding fertility preservation interventions in this population.
Comparison of Amnio‐Exchange With a Novel Synthetic Amniotic Fluid Versus Commercially Used Fluids for Fetal Therapy: An In Vivo Rodent Model
Authors: Martin Samuel , Peiro Jose L. , Oria Marc , Forde Braxton 
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACTObjectiveNormal Saline (NS) and Lactated Ringer's (LR) damage human amniotic epithelium in vitro when compared with a synthetic amniotic fluid (Amnio‐well, AW). We sought to evaluate the effect of amnio‐exchange with NS, LR, and AW in vivo.MethodsOn day E17.5, pregnant rats underwent amnio‐exchange with NS, LR, or AW. Fetuses in each pregnant rat that did not undergo amnio‐exchange acted as controls. Amnions were harvested at E20.5 and ultrastructure evaluated via electron microscopy. Protein levels of cleaved matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and collagen 1 (Col1a) were evaluated via Western Blot. Connexin‐43 expression was evaluated via immunofluorescence (IF).ResultsThere was an increase in amnion microfractures and epithelial cellular shrinkage with NS and LR compared with control and AW. The cleaved MMP9/Col1 ratio was increased 3.9‐fold in NS (p < 0.001) and 4.5‐fold LR (p = 0.0201) relative to control, whereas AW expression was similar to control (p = 0.636). Connexin‐43 was also increased on IF in NS and LR relative to AW (mean gray intensity 26.5 ± 4.5, 26.5 ± 6.7, 19.2 ± 3.4, p < 0.001).ConclusionAmnio‐exchange with NS and LR led to increased amniotic microfractures and collagen degradation compared with synthetic amniotic fluid. Larger models are warranted to validate or refute these findings.
Cardiomyocyte proliferation and regeneration in congenital heart disease
Authors: Liang Jialiang , He Xingyu , Wang Yigang 
Published: August 2024

AbstractDespite advances in prenatal screening and a notable decrease in mortality rates, congenital heart disease (CHD) remains the most prevalent congenital disorder in newborns globally. Current therapeutic surgical approaches face challenges due to the significant rise in complications and disabilities. Emerging cardiac regenerative therapies offer promising adjuncts for CHD treatment. One novel avenue involves investigating methods to stimulate cardiomyocyte proliferation. However, the mechanism of altered cardiomyocyte proliferation in CHD is not fully understood, and there are few feasible approaches to stimulate cardiomyocyte cell cycling for optimal healing in CHD patients. In this review, we explore recent progress in understanding genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying defective cardiomyocyte proliferation in CHD from development through birth. Targeting cell cycle pathways shows promise for enhancing cardiomyocyte cytokinesis, division, and regeneration to repair heart defects. Advancements in human disease modeling techniques, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats ‐based genome and epigenome editing, and next‐generation sequencing technologies will expedite the exploration of abnormal machinery governing cardiomyocyte differentiation, proliferation, and maturation across diverse genetic backgrounds of CHD. Ongoing studies on screening drugs that regulate cell cycling are poised to translate this nascent technology of enhancing cardiomyocyte proliferation into a new therapeutic paradigm for CHD surgical interventions.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal diversity increases across a plant productivity gradient driven by soil nitrogen availability
Authors: McPherson Morgan R. , Zak Donald R. , Ibáñez Inés , Upchurch Rima A. , Argiroff William A. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractArbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widespread obligate symbionts of plants. This dynamic symbiosis plays a large role in successful plant performance, given that AMF help to ameliorate plant responses to abiotic and biotic stressors. Although the importance of this symbiosis is clear, less is known about what may be driving this symbiosis, the plant's need for nutrients or the excess of plant photosynthate being transferred to the AMF, information critical to assess the functionality of this relationship. Characterizing the AMF community along a natural plant productivity gradient is a first step in understanding how this symbiosis may vary across the landscape. We surveyed the AMF community diversity at 12 sites along a plant productivity gradient driven by soil nitrogen availability. We found that AMF diversity in soil environmental DNA significantly increased along with the growth of the host plants Acer rubrum and A. saccharum., a widespread tree genus. These increases also coincided with a natural soil inorganic N availability gradient. We hypothesize photosynthate from the increased tree growth is being allocated to the belowground AMF community, leading to an increase in diversity. These findings contribute to understanding this complex symbiosis through the lens of AMF turnover and suggest that a more diverse AMF community is associated with increased host–plant performance.
Sleep Composition of Patients With Colorectal Cancer and Their Sleep‐Partner Caregivers: Physical Health Correlates of Sleep Diary and Actigraphy Measurements
Authors: Ting Amanda , Tsai Thomas C. , Zeitzer Jamie M. , Mendez Armando , Kim Youngmee 
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundDisturbed sleep is frequently identified in adult patients with cancer and their caregivers, with detrimental impact on physical health. Less known is the extent to which self‐reported and actigraph‐measured sleep patterns are similar between patients and their sleep‐partner caregivers, and how these different modes of sleep measurements are related to physical health.MethodsPatients diagnosed with colorectal cancer and their sleep‐partner caregivers (81 dyads) completed a questionnaire for physical functioning and collected saliva samples for seven consecutive days, from which cortisol slope was quantified. Additionally, participants completed a daily sleep diary and wore actigraph for 14 consecutive days, from which sleep duration, sleep onset latency (SOL), and duration of wake after sleep onset (WASO) were calculated.ResultsParticipants reported sleep patterns that fell within or close to the optimal range, which were similar between patients and their caregivers. Self‐reported and actigraph‐measured sleep duration had moderate levels of agreement (ICC = 0.604), whereas SOL and WASO had poor agreement (ICC = 0.269). Among patients, longer self‐reported WASO was associated with poorer physical health and flatter cortisol slope (p ≤ 0.013). Among caregivers, longer self‐reported SOL was associated with poorer physical functioning, actigraph‐measured WASO was associated with steeper cortisol slope, and longer self‐reported sleep markers studied than actigraph‐measured were associated with poorer physical functioning (p ≤ 0.042).ConclusionFindings suggest that employing multiple assessment modes for sleep and physical health is vital for comprehensive understanding of sleep health. Furthermore, when addressing patients' sleep health, it may be beneficial to include their sleep‐partner caregivers who may experience similar disturbed sleep.
Effects of Wildfires on Soil Organic Carbon in Boreal Permafrost Regions: A Review
Authors: Li Xiaoying , Sun Long , Han Yilun 
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACTWildfire strongly influences permafrost environment and soil organic carbon (SOC) pool. In this study, we reviewed the effects of fire severity, time after a fire, and frequency on SOC in boreal permafrost regions. This review highlighted several key points: the effect of wildfires on SOC increased with an increase of fire severity, and the amount of vegetation returned and surface organic matter replenished was less in a short term, which resulted in a significantly lower SOC content compared to that of before the fire. Within a short period after fire, the SOC in near‐surface permafrost and the active layer decreased significantly due to the loss of above ground biomass, permafrost thaw, and increased microbial decomposition; as the years pass after a fire, the SOC gradually accumulates due to the contributions of litter layer accumulation and rooting systems from different stages of succession. The increase in fire frequency accelerated permafrost thawing and the formation of thermokarst, resulting in the rapid release of a large amount of soil carbon and reduced SOC storage. Therefore, the study on the effects of wildfires on SOC in the boreal permafrost region is of great significance to understanding and quantifying the carbon balance of the ecosystem.
Receptor interactions of protoxin and activated Vip3Aa structural conformations in Spodoptera exigua
Authors: Lázaro‐Berenguer Maria , Ferré Juan , Hernández‐Martínez Patricia 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe Vip3Aa insecticidal protein, produced by Bacillus thuringiensis, has been effectively used in commercial Bt‐crops to manage lepidopteran pests. Upon ingestion by larvae, the protoxin is processed by midgut proteases into the activated protein and binds specifically to its receptors in the midgut, leading to insect mortality. Cryo‐EM resolution of the trypsin‐processed Vip3Aa protein unveiled structural remodelling of the N‐terminal region during the transition from protoxin to activated protein. This conformational change has been demonstrated to be crucial for toxicity against Spodoptera exigua larvae, a major global lepidopteran pest. In this study, we investigated the relevance of the structural remodelling for the specific binding to midgut receptors.RESULTSWe conducted in vitro binding assays with radiolabelled proteins and brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) from S. exigua, employing structural mutants that lock the protein in either its protoxin or its activated conformation. Our results indicate that both structural stages of the protein share binding sites in the midgut epithelium. Moreover, in vivo competition assays revealed that Vip3Aa is able to bind to functional receptors in S. exigua larvae both as protoxin and as activated protein.CONCLUSIONAltogether, our findings point to both structural conformations contributing to receptor binding. In vivo, either spontaneous structural shift upon proteolytic cleavage or receptor‐mediated remodelling could be occurring. However, the timing and context in which the conformational change occurs could influence membrane insertion and toxicity. Our results show the complex interplay between proteolytic processing, protein structure and receptor interactions in Vip3Aa's toxicity. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Low Thermal Conductivity and High Thermoelectric Figure of Merit of Two‐Dimensional Ba2ZnAs2 and Ba2ZnSb2
Authors: Xia Chenliang , Sheng Xiaofei , Qun Qin , Fang Wenyu , Zhou Bilei 
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACTThermoelectric (TE) technology can effectively alleviate energy shortage and environmental pollution problems and has thus attracted extensive attention. In this work, we designed two unexplored two‐dimensional materials, Ba2ZnAs2 and Ba2ZnSb2, and investigated their stability, mechanical characteristics, and TE properties using first‐principles calculations and by solving the Boltzmann transport equation. We revealed that the two materials possess high stability and moderate cleavage energies of 0.84 and 0.76 J m−2. Moreover, they are indirect semiconductors with band‐gaps of 1.26 and 0.97 eV and show flat energy dispersion near the valence band maximum, resulting in a high p‐type Seebeck coefficient of approximately 0.72 and 0.29 mV K−1 at 300 K. Furthermore, they have significant anisotropic TE power factor along the a‐ and b‐axis, with maxima of 1.19 and 0.75 mW m−1 K−2 at 300 K. Owing to the strong coupling between the acoustic and optical phonons, as well as the low frequency for low‐lying phonons, the materials have high phonon scattering rates and low lattice thermal conductivities of 0.54/0.52 and 0.81/0.43 W mK−1 along the a‐/b‐axis. Ultimately, Ba2ZnAs2 and Ba2ZnSb2 can deliver high‐performance TE transport with high figures‐of‐merit of 0.32 and 0.19 at 300 K, which increase further to 1.67 and 0.91, respectively, at 700 K.
The use of overlapping self‐expandable covered stents in the management of long‐segment tracheobronchomalacia: A case report
Authors: Yap Therese Pauline F. , Soong Wen‐Jue 
Published: August 2024

AbstractTracheomalacia is a condition where the tracheal wall is abnormally soft and prone to collapse during increased respiratory efforts. Airway malacia can manifest as segmental conditions like laryngomalacia, tracheomalacia and bronchomalacia, or as diffuse conditions such as tracheobronchomalacia (TBM). Unlike long‐segment congenital tracheal stenosis, where surgery may be the preferred treatment, the management of long‐segment TBM remains controversial.
Addressing the challenges of loop detection in agricultural environments
Authors: Soncini Nicolas , Civera Javier , Pire Taihú 
Published: August 2024

AbstractWhile visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping systems are well studied and achieve impressive results in indoor and urban settings, natural, outdoor, and open‐field environments are much less explored and still present relevant research challenges. Visual navigation and local mapping have shown a relatively good performance in open‐field environments. However, globally consistent mapping and long‐term localization still depend on the robustness of loop detection and closure, for which the literature is scarce. In this work, we propose a novel method to pave the way towards robust loop detection in open fields, particularly in agricultural settings, based on local feature search and stereo geometric refinement, with a final stage of relative pose estimation. Our method consistently achieves good loop detections, with a median error of 15 cm. We aim to characterize open fields as a novel environment for loop detection, understanding the limitations and problems that arise when dealing with them. Code is available at: https://github.com/CIFASIS/StereoLoopDetector
Comparison of 3D Facial Photographs and Clinical Documentation in Patients with Craniofacial Morphea
Authors: Nguyen Tyler T. , Cohen Stephanie M. , Shaw Katharina S. , Dedeoglu Fatma , Vleugels Ruth Ann , Ganske Ingrid M. 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Diagnosis of craniofacial morphea (CM) relies upon clinical examination of progressive craniofacial changes. We assess the utility of 3D stereophotogrammetry in documenting asymmetry of the face compared to clinical notetaking. This retrospective study of 3D images and clinical documentation included 32 patients (mean age 15.7 years) with CM. A panel of specialists identified additional areas of asymmetry (those highlighted in 3D photographs that were not noted in clinical documentation) and categorised them as likely, ambiguously or unlikely related to CM. 28 patients (87.5%) had asymmetries noted on 3D photos that were not documented in clinical notes. In 46.4% of them, additional areas were deemed consistent with CM. In the remaining patients, additional asymmetries were ambiguous (42.9%) or not thought to be related to CM (10.7%). Our results suggest that adjunctive use of 3D stereophotogrammetry enhances the documentation of CM at discrete clinical time points and therefore could be a better comparative reference during later re-examination.
Electrical Stimulation Promotes Endocytosis of Magnetic Nanoparticles by Cancer Cells
Authors: Wang Chao , Zhou Guanlin , Guo Xu , Zhang Wei , Wu Chengwei 
Published: August 2024

AbstractNanomaterials are increasingly used in biomedical imaging and cancer therapy, and how to improve the endocytosis of nanomaterials by cells is a key issue. The application of alternating current (AC) electrical stimulation to osteosarcoma cells (MG‐63) here can increase the cellular endocytosis of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (diameter: 50 nm) by 52.46% via macropinocytosis. This can be ascribed to the decrease in F‐actin content and the increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Transmission electron microscope, immunofluorescence staining, western blot, flow cytometry, and inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer analyses support this interpretation. The application of electrical stimulation decreases the cell viability in magnetic hyperthermia by 47.6% and increases the signal intensity of magnetic resonance imaging by 29%. Similar enhanced endocytosis is observed for breast cancer cells (MCF‐7), glioblastoma cells (U‐87 MG), melanoma cells (A‐375), and bladder cancer cells (TCCSUP), and also for Fe3O4 nanoparticles with the diameters of 20 and 100 nm, and Zn0.54Co0.46Cr0.65Fe1.35O4 nanoparticles with the diameter of 70 nm. It seems the electrical stimulation has the potential to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic effects of magnetic nanoparticles by promoting endocytosis.
High‐Entropy Fluorite Oxide‐Modified CaO‐Based Sorbent Pellets for Enhanced High‐Temperature CO2 Capture
Authors: Long Yun , Gu Quan , Wang Changqing , Zhang Xingqiang , Liu Hongyi , Liu Lei , Zhou Zijian 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe calcium looping technology employing CaO‐based sorbents is pivotal for capturing CO2 from flue gas. However, the intrinsic low thermodynamic stability of CaO‐based sorbents and the requisite molding step induce severe sintering issues, diminishing their cyclic stability. Herein, a high‐entropy fluorite oxide (HEFO) inert stabilizer premised on entropy stabilization and synergistic effect strategies is introduced. HEFO‐modified, CaO‐based sorbent pellets are synthesized via a rapid cigarette butt‐assisted combustion process (15 min) combined with the graphite molding method. Post‐multiple cycles, their CO2 capture capacity reaches 0.373 g g−1, which is 2.6‐fold superior to that of pure CaO, demonstrating markedly enhanced anti‐sintering properties. First, the subtle morphological and crystallographic modifications suggest that the inherent entropy stability of HEFO imparts robust thermal resistance. Concurrently, the disordered structure of single‐phase HEFO exhibits a high affinity for CaO, resulting in an interface binding energy of −1.83 eV, in sharp contrast to the −0.112 eV of pure CaO, thereby restricting CaO migration. Additionally, the multi‐element synergistic effect of HEFO reduces the energy barrier by 0.15 eV, leading to a 40% and 140% increase in carbonation and calcination rates, respectively. This work presents highly efficient and rapidly synthesized CaO‐based sorbent pellets, showcasing promising potential for industrial application.