bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Former landfills as environmental liabilities in central Chile: Evidence from a pilot study in Lepanto
Authors: Saa Jennifer , Valdivia María José , Ruiz Joaquín , Manzano Carlos A. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe former Lepanto landfill in the Santiago Metropolitan Region in Central Chile ceased operations in 2002 after 24 years. Currently, a biogas recovery center operates on this site. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the atmospheric concentrations of two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, i.e., phenanthrene and fluoranthene) at three points downwind from the former Lepanto landfill using passive air samplers and polyurethane foam disks to provide 3‐month average concentrations of contaminants during winter months. The results showed concentrations ranging between 2 and 65 ng m−3 and decreasing with distance from the former landfill. Given that the distance to other potential sources was similar in all sampling sites, the evidence found suggested that the former Lepanto landfill may contribute to the local PAH inventory. Thus, we suggest that former landfills are potential candidates for long‐term monitoring as they can represent a less‐known environmental liability for residents. Additionally, we provide insights on how the Chilean environmental protection system can establish reclamation steps for their management after closure.
Environmental DNA for monitoring the impact of offshore wind farms on fish and invertebrate community structures
Authors: Cornelis Isolde , De Backer Annelies , Maes Sara , Vanhollebeke Joran , Brys Rein , Ruttink Tom , Hostens Kris , Derycke Sofie 
Published: July 2024

AbstractTo reach the renewable energy targets set by the European Commission, a tenfold expansion of the installed offshore wind farms is needed. Since the construction of offshore wind farms may affect local soft‐sediment fauna, an efficient monitoring technique is needed to monitor the potential effects on the marine ecosystem. Here, we assess whether eDNA metabarcoding is a suitable alternative to monitor fish and epibenthos biodiversity in these difficult to access marine habitats. Water sampling and trawl surveys were conducted in parallel in 12 coastal and 18 offshore sites, the latter located inside and outside two offshore wind farms in the Belgian part of the North Sea. 12S eDNA metabarcoding retrieved 85.7% of the fish species caught in the beam trawls, whereas the COI eDNA metabarcoding only identified 31.4% of the epibenthic invertebrate species. Furthermore, the 12S marker resulted in an additional detection of 26 unique fish species, whereas the COI marker detected an additional 90 invertebrate species. Spatial patterns in alpha diversity recovered with eDNA metabarcoding were not significantly different from those observed with morphological determination. Significant differences were found in fish and invertebrate community structures between the coastal, transition and offshore zones as well as on the smaller wind farm scales, which agreed with the morphological beam trawl data. Indicator species found with morphological beam trawl monitoring for each of the three zones (coastal, transition, offshore) were also detected with 12S eDNA metabarcoding, and the latter method detected an additional 31 indicator species. Our findings show the need for adequate quality control of the obtained species lists and reveal that 12S eDNA metabarcoding analyses offers a useful survey tool for the monitoring of fish communities in offshore wind farms, but the used COI assay did not adequately capture the epibenthic communities as observed with beam trawl data.
Flavonoid profiling of Plumula nelumbinis and evaluation of their anti‐inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide‐induced RAW 264.7 macrophages
Authors: Li Zhiqiang , Wu Weijie , Liu Ruiling , Niu Ben , Chen Huizhi , Shentu Xuping , Gao Haiyan , Chen Hangjun 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe lotus seed embryo, known as “Plumula nelumbinis,” holds significance in Chinese culture as a traditional medicinal and edible herb rich in beneficial bioactive compounds like flavonoids, alkaloids, and polyphenols. Using ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography‐quadrupole‐exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry, we meticulously analyzed the total flavonoids in Plumula nelumbinis (PNF) sourced from Hangzhou's West Lake. Our investigation preliminarily identified 29 flavonoid compounds, including 21 flavonoid O‐glycosides, five flavonoid C‐glycosides, and three aglycones, through comparisons with standards and literature references. Subsequent cellular anti‐inflammatory experiments using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced RAW264.7 cells demonstrated that treatment with 300 μg/mL of lotus seed flavonoids significantly reduced inflammatory factors' production, such as nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor, interleukin‐6, and interleukin‐1β. Additionally, PNF effectively lowered intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, mitigated LPS‐induced cell apoptosis, and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) p65 protein, collectively suppressing the NF‐κB p65 inflammatory pathway and demonstrating potent anti‐inflammatory properties. Crucially, the observed gene expression patterns of inflammatory factors aligned with their respective protein secretion levels. This study provides a comprehensive exploration of lotus seed flavonoids' anti‐inflammatory potential, highlighting their significance in potential therapeutic applications and laying the groundwork for future advancements in related functional foods.
Effects of endogenous testosterone on oscillatory activity during verbal working memory in youth
Authors: Killanin Abraham D. , Ward Thomas W. , Embury Christine M. , Calhoun Vince D. , Wang Yu‐Ping , Stephen Julia M. , Picci Giorgia , Heinrichs‐Graham Elizabeth , Wilson Tony W. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractTestosterone levels sharply rise during the transition from childhood to adolescence and these changes are known to be associated with changes in human brain structure. During this same developmental window, there are also robust changes in the neural oscillatory dynamics serving verbal working memory processing. Surprisingly, whereas many studies have investigated the effects of chronological age on the neural oscillations supporting verbal working memory, none have probed the impact of endogenous testosterone levels during this developmental period. Using a sample of 89 youth aged 6–14 years‐old, we collected salivary testosterone samples and recorded magnetoencephalography during a modified Sternberg verbal working memory task. Significant oscillatory responses were identified and imaged using a beamforming approach and the resulting maps were subjected to whole‐brain ANCOVAs examining the effects of testosterone and sex, controlling for age, during verbal working memory encoding and maintenance. Our primary results indicated robust testosterone‐related effects in theta (4–7 Hz) and alpha (8–14 Hz) oscillatory activity, controlling for age. During encoding, females exhibited weaker theta oscillations than males in right cerebellar cortices and stronger alpha oscillations in left temporal cortices. During maintenance, youth with greater testosterone exhibited weaker alpha oscillations in right parahippocampal and cerebellar cortices, as well as regions across the left‐lateralized language network. These results extend the existing literature on the development of verbal working memory processing by showing region and sex‐specific effects of testosterone, and are the first results to link endogenous testosterone levels to the neural oscillatory activity serving verbal working memory, above and beyond the effects of chronological age.
Art on the skin, lifesaving within: Exploring the role of tattoo artists in suicide prevention
Authors: Kohlbeck Sara A. , Kant Jacey M. , Glassford Rachel , Monroe Tricia 
Published: July 2024

AbstractDifferent populations experience suicide at different rates. Some studies have found an increased risk of suicide among individuals with tattoos. Studies indicate a higher prevalence of mental health disorders among individuals with one or more tattoos. These findings signal a need to explore suicide prevention in tattoo shops. The aim of this project is to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and interest of providing education on suicide prevention among tattoo artists. We conducted a cross‐sectional survey with tattoo artists. Survey items assessed artists' experiences with clients expressing mental health issues or suicidal thoughts, their comfort level assisting clients, and general perceptions around suicide and stigma. Seventy‐nine surveys were collected. Most artists reported that they have had at least one situation in which a client mentioned something that made them concerned about that client's mental health. Most respondents reported that a client has expressed suicidal thoughts to them at least once. Our study demonstrated that tattoo artists encounter clients who express mental health challenges as well as suicidal ideation, underscoring the potential role for tattoo artists in supporting individuals at risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
P7C3 ameliorates barium chloride‐induced skeletal muscle injury activating transcriptomic and epigenetic modulation of myogenic regulatory factors
Authors: Kim Joung W. , Manickam Ravikumar , Sinha Puja , Xuan Wanling , Huang Jian , Awad Kamal , Brotto Marco , Tipparaju Srinivas M. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractSkeletal muscle injury affects the quality of life in many pathologies, including volumetric muscle loss, contusion injury, and aging. We hypothesized that the nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt) activator P7C3 improves muscle repair following injury. In the present study, we tested the effect of P7C3 (1‐anilino‐3‐(3,6‐dibromocarbazol‐9‐yl) propan‐2‐ol) on chemically induced muscle injury. Muscle injury was induced by injecting 50 µL 1.2% barium chloride (BaCl2) into the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle in C57Bl/6J wild‐type male mice. Mice were then treated with either 10 mg/kg body weight of P7C3 or Vehicle intraperitoneally for 7 days and assessed for histological, biochemical, and molecular changes. In the present study, we show that the acute BaCl2‐induced TA muscle injury was robust and the P7C3‐treated mice displayed a significant increase in the total number of myonuclei and blood vessels, and decreased serum CK activity compared with vehicle‐treated mice. The specificity of P7C3 was evaluated using Nampt+/− mice, which did not display any significant difference in muscle repair capacity among treated groups. RNA‐sequencing analysis of the injured TA muscles displayed 368 and 212 genes to be exclusively expressed in P7C3 and Veh‐treated mice, respectively. There was an increase in the expression of genes involved in cellular processes, inflammatory response, angiogenesis, and muscle development in P7C3 versus Veh‐treated mice. Conversely, there is a decrease in muscle structure and function, myeloid cell differentiation, glutathione, and oxidation–reduction, drug metabolism, and circadian rhythm signaling pathways. Chromatin immunoprecipitation‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and reverse transcription‐qPCR analyses identified increased Pax7, Myf5, MyoD, and Myogenin expression in P7C3‐treated mice. Increased histone lysine (H3K) methylation and acetylation were observed in P7C3‐treated mice, with significant upregulation in inflammatory markers. Moreover, P7C3 treatment significantly increased the myotube fusion index in the BaCl2‐injured human skeletal muscle in vitro. P7C3 also inhibited the lipopolysaccharide‐induced inflammatory response and mitochondrial membrane potential of RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Overall, we demonstrate that P7C3 activates muscle stem cells and enhances muscle injury repair with increased angiogenesis.
Genetic variations and clinical features associated with burning sensation due to topical tacrolimus in patients with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Lee Ju Yeong , Kang Hyun , Kim Eunjung , Noh Shinae , Lee Hyeyoung , Choi Eung Ho 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBackgroundTopical tacrolimus has been used as one of the treatment options for atopic dermatitis (AD). A burning sensation is the most common side effect of topical tacrolimus.ObjectivesThis study was designed to identify genetic variations and clinical features to predict burning sensation by topical tacrolimus in patients with AD.MethodsPatients with AD who had applied topical tacrolimus were classified according to the presence of a burning sensation. We compared the patients' demographics and blood test results, including serum eosinophil, serum immunoglobulin E and multiple allergen simultaneous test. Furthermore, the frequency of variations in barrier‐ (KLK7, FLG 3321delA, FLG K4022X, SPINK5 1156, SPINK5 1188, SPINK5 2475) and immune response‐ (DEFB1, KDR, CDKAL1, IL‐5RA, IL‐9, IL‐12RB1, IL‐12RB2, IL‐17RA) related genes was compared between two groups by reverse blot hybridization assay of the buccal mucosa.ResultsAmong 206 patients with AD using topical tacrolimus, 34 (16.5%) complained of a burning sensation. The burning sensation was associated with severe AD and a family history of atopic disease. Furthermore, with statistical significance, a heterozygous mutation in the filaggrin gene (FLG K4022X) was more frequent in AD patients with a burning sensation due to topical tacrolimus. However, no other significant genetic differences were observed between them.ConclusionsA burning sensation caused by topical tacrolimus can be expected in AD patients with severe symptoms, a family history of atopy and a genetic variation such as FLG K4022X.
The efficiency of different mulch types and dose applications on runoff, soil, and nutrient losses under simulated rainfall
Authors: Yaşar Korkanç Selma , Şahin Halil 
Published: July 2024

AbstractMulching is one of the best management practices used in soil and water conservation studies. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of different mulch types and doses on runoff coefficient (Rc), soil loss (Er), sediment concentration (Sc), time to ponding (tp), runoff generation time (tr), percolated (pw) and retained (rw) water and total losses of nitrate‐nitrogen (NO3−), ammonium‐nitrogen (NH4+), total nitrogen (TN), phosphate‐phosphorus (PO43−), and total organic carbon (TOC) under simulated rainfall in the laboratory. Three different mulch materials (dry weed, peanut hay, and wheat straw) were applied at four different doses (0, 2, 4, and 6 t/ha) on the experimental plots. A simulated rainfall intensity of 97 mm/s was applied for an hour. All mulch types and doses reduced Rc, and the most effective reduction was found in 2 t/ha dry weed mulch applied plots. The most effective application for reducing soil loss was 6 t/ha peanut hay mulch. The most effective application for delaying the ponding time and runoff generation time was the 4 t/ha application of wheat straw mulch. The highest pw and rw were found in 6 t/ha and 4 t/ha doses of dry weed mulch applications, respectively. The most effective application for reducing NH4+ losses was found in 4 t/ha wheat straw application plots. The most effective mulch type and dose for reducing NO3− loss was 6 t/ha of dry weed mulch. The lowest TN loss was found in the plots where 6 t/ha of peanut hay mulch was applied. In terms of PO43− losses, the lowest loss was in 6 t/ha of dry weed mulch plots. The lowest TOC loss was at 4 t/ha of straw mulch applications. Mulching can be a good natural‐based solution for reducing soil, water, and nutrient loss. However, different mulch types and doses should be tested for different environmental conditions to determine the most cost‐effective mulch type and dose.
A Clustering Study of Sociodemographic Data, Dietary Patterns, and Gut Microbiota in Healthy and Breast Cancer Women Participating in the MICROMA Study
Authors: Ruiz‐Marín Carmen María , Isabel Álvarez‐Mercado Ana , Plaza‐Díaz Julio , Rodríguez‐Lara Avilene , Gallart‐Aragón Tania , Sánchez‐Barrón María Teresa , Lartategui Saturnino de Reyes , Alcaide‐Lucena Miriam , Fernández Mariana F. , Fontana Luis 
Published: July 2024

ScopeThis work is part of the clinical study NCT03885648 registered in ClinicalTrials.gov, aimed at studying the relationship among breast cancer, microbiota, and exposure to environmental pollutants. As a first step, we characterized and evaluated risk factors of the participants.Methods and resultsA case–control study was designed with breast cancer (cases, n = 122) and healthy women (controls, n = 56) recruited in two hospitals of Andalusia (Southern Spain). Participants answered questionnaires of Mediterranean diet adherence and food frequency. Data were collected from medical histories and microbiota was analyzed on stool samples. Most cases (78.2%) were diagnosed as stages I and II. Cases had higher age, body mass index (BMI), glucose, cholesterol, and potassium values than controls. Cases exhibited higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet and their food consumption was closer to that dietary pattern. A hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that the Bacillota/Bacteroidota ratio was the most relevant variable in women with breast cancer, which was higher in this group compared with controls.ConclusionAlthough cases exhibited higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet compared with controls, they presented features and microbiota alterations typical of the metabolic syndrome, probably due to their higher BMI and reflecting changes in their lifestyle around the time of diagnosis.
A data‐driven intravoxel mean diffusivities distribution approach for molecular classifications and MIB‐1 prediction of gliomas
Authors: Xu Junqi , Sheng Yaru , Li Hao , Yang Zidong , Ren Yan , Wang He 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBackgroundMeasuring non‐parametric intravoxel mean diffusivity distributions (MDDs) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a sensitive method for detecting intracellular diffusivity changes during physiological alterations. Histological and molecular glioma classifications are essential for prognosis and treatment, with distinct water diffusion dynamics among subtypes.PurposeWe developed a data‐driven approach using a fully connected network (FCN) to enhance the speed and stability of calculating MDDs across varying SNRs, enable tumor microstructural mapping, and test its reliability in identifying MIB‐1 labeling index (LI) levels and molecular status of gliomas.MethodsAn FCN was trained to learn the mapping between the simulated diffusion decay curves and the ground truth MDDs. We performed 5 000 000 simulation curves with various diffusivity components and random SNR . Eighty percent of simulation curves were used for the FCN training, 10% for validation, and the others were external tests for the FCN performance evaluation. In vivo data were collected to evaluate its clinical reliability. One hundred one patients (44 years 14, 67 men) with gliomas and six healthy controls underwent a 3.0 T MRI examination with a spin echo–echo planar imaging (SE‐EPI) diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) sequence. The trained FCN was employed to calculate MDDs of each brain voxel by voxel. We used the Fuzzy C‐means algorithm to cluster the MDDs of tumor voxels, facilitating the characterization of distinct glioma tissues. Quantitative assessments were conducted through sectional integrals of the MDDs, demarcated by six bands to derive signal fractions () and diffusivities of the maximum peaks (). Cosine similarity scores (CSS) were used for MDD similarity. ANOVA and Mann–Whitney U test were used for difference analysis. Logistic regression and area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) were used for classification evaluation.ResultsThe simulation results showed that the FCN‐based MDD approach (FCN‐MDD) achieved higher CSS than non‐negative least squares‐based MDD (NNLS‐MDD). For in vivo data, the spectra of ET and NET obtained by FCN‐MDD are more distinguishable than NNLS‐MDD. Fraction maps delineate the characteristics of different tumor tissues (enhancing and non‐enhancing tumor, edema, and necrosis). showed a positive and negative correlation with MIB‐1 respectively (, all ). The AUC of for predicting MIB‐1 LI levels was 0.900 (95% CI, 0.826–0.974), versus 0.781 (0.677–0.886) of ADC. The highest AUC of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status, assessed by a logistic regression model () was 0.873 (95% CI, 0.802–0.944).ConclusionThe proposed FCN‐MDD method was more robust to variations in SNR and less reliant on empirically set regularization values than the NNLS‐MDD method. FCN‐MDD also enabled qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the composition of gliomas.
Effect of Aging on Long‐Term Functional Outcomes After Open Partial Laryngectomy
Authors: Cantaffa Carla , Donvito Sara , Manto Alfredo L. , Serafini Edoardo , Caffagni Rebecca , Luppi Maria P. , Tonelli Roberto , Daniele Marchioni , Francesco Mattioli 
Published: July 2024

AbstractObjectiveOpen partial horizontal laryngectomies (OPHLs) represent a comparable alternative to total laryngectomy and nonsurgical protocols in selected cases. While short‐term functional outcomes of OPHLs have been widely investigated, few have focused on the effect of aging on residual laryngeal structures.Study DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingTertiary care academic center.MethodsPatients who underwent OPHLs after at least 1 year follow‐up and optimal functional rehabilitation were included in the study.Swallowing function was assessed according to PAS (Penetration aspiration scale) and Pooling scores. Spectrogram analysis of voice was conducted according to Yanagihara classification and acoustic parameters were also recorded. Subjective questionnaire data about phonation and swallowing were also recorded. Data obtained were compared among patients according to age at time of surgery, evaluation and duration of follow‐up.ResultsNinety‐seven patients were enrolled with a mean age at surgery and evaluation of 63 and 70 years old, respectively. Median follow‐up length was 5 years. OPHL type II was mostly performed. No significant correlation was observed between most of the analyzed variables and patient's age at the time of surgery and at the time of evaluation. Some acoustic parameters were negatively correlated with follow‐up length, while Jitter, NHR (Noise‐Harmonic Ratio), and Global grade and Roughness were significantly higher in patients >65 years old.ConclusionPatients who complete rehabilitation reach equally good results as their younger peers with stability over time. Finally, the effects of aging on residual larynx are of minor entity compared to the nonoperated patients.Level of EvidenceLevel IV‐retrospective cohort study.