bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Community structure and functional diversity of aquatic fungi are correlated with water quality: Insights from multi‐marker analysis of environmental DNA in a coastal watershed
Authors: French Lauren Cortez , Jusino Michelle A. , Chambers Randolph M. , Skelton James 
Published: June 2024

AbstractAquatic fungi drive important ecosystem processes, which may be affected by anthropogenic stressors, including changes in water quality. However, due to the great diversity of aquatic fungi, our understanding of the relationships among water quality variables, fungal community composition, and ecosystem function remains incomplete. Here, we show that aquatic fungal community structure and functional diversity correlate strongly with water quality. We used a multi‐marker survey of environmental DNA and long‐term water quality data to survey 17 stream, pond, and tidal creek sites within a coastal drainage network in southeastern Virginia, USA, targeting both the ITS2 and LSU barcoding regions. The community composition of Chytridiomycota and Ascomycota (fungal phyla) and aquatic hyphomycetes (a functional group) were strongly correlated with habitat type and water quality variables. Functional diversity of aquatic fungi decreased with warmer water, due mainly to the reduced richness of saprotrophic groups, and increased with total particulate phosphorus, due to the richness of algal parasites. Community dissimilarity analyses of samples using both ITS2 and LSU yielded consistent results, but per‐sample alpha diversity differed. This work reveals a surprising degree of local variation in aquatic fungal community composition and functional diversity within a coastal watershed, which was coupled with variation in water quality variables. Furthermore, eDNA sampling is an effective and efficient means to accurately characterize diverse aquatic fungal communities with exciting implications for addressing basic and applied research questions. Our work supports the prediction that community composition and functional diversity of aquatic fungi are impacted by impaired water quality and global change.
Prognostic value of estimated plasma volume status at discharge in acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Nogi Kazutaka , Ueda Tomoya , Nogi Maki , Ishihara Satomi , Nakada Yasuki , Hashimoto Yukihiro , Nakagawa Hitoshi , Nishida Taku , Seno Ayako , Onoue Kenji , Watanabe Makoto , Saito Yoshihiko , Hikoso Shungo 
Published: June 2024

AbstractAimsCongestive heart failure (HF) is a common complication in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The estimated plasma volume status [ePVS = (100 − haematocrit)/haemoglobin] is used as the blood plasma volume index to determine the presence of congestion in patients with HF. However, the clinical impact of ePVS at discharge in patients with AMI remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether ePVS at discharge could determine the long‐term prognosis in patients with AMI.Methods and resultsWe retrospectively identified patients with AMI with ePVS measured at discharge between January 2012 and December 2020. The primary endpoint was post‐discharge all‐cause death. The patients were divided into two groups according to an ePVS cut‐off value of 5.5%, which is commonly used in HF. In total, 1012 patients with AMI were included. The median age was 70 years (range, 61–78 years), and 76.4% of the patients were male. The ePVS > 5.5% (high‐ePVS) group included 365 patients (36.1%), and the all‐cause mortality rate in the total cohort was 17.7%. The log‐rank test revealed that the high‐ePVS group had a significantly higher rate of all‐cause death than the ePVS ≤ 5.5% (low‐ePVS) group (P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analysis revealed that high ePVS was associated with post‐discharge all‐cause death, independent of other risk factors (hazard ratio = 1.879; 95% confidence interval = 1.343–2.629, P < 0.001).ConclusionsHigh ePVS at discharge was independently associated with high post‐discharge all‐cause mortality in patients with AMI. Our study suggests that ePVS at discharge in patients with AMI could serve as a novel prognostic marker.
Design and optimization of metformin solid lipid microparticles for topical application
Authors: Mancer Daya , Agouillal Farid , Daoud Kamel 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThis study aimed to improve metformin skin administration by creating solid lipid microparticles (SLMs). To obtain optimal metformin delivery, SLMs were created using a double emulsion hot homogenization technique with a rotor‐stator. The effects of the two surfactants and homogenization time on particle characteristics and performance were studied using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Tween 60 concentration had the most significant effect on particle size. The simple effects of the studied factors did not significantly affect encapsulation efficiency. However, the interactions between these parameters influenced this response. Moreover, the particle size was affected more by the surfactant concentration. After optimizing the three factors, the results showed an optimum encapsulation efficiency of 82% and a particle size of 2 µm with a desirability of 0.915. The topical drug release profile of lipid microparticle suspensions is characterized by an early burst, followed by sustained drug release. The release of metformin from solid lipid particles followed the Higuchi release model, whereas it followed the Weibull model for release from the gel formulation. Based on the in vitro drug release results, we can conclude that the particles containing the drug are in the shape of a matrix.Practical Applications: The SLM formulation produces a film on the cutaneous surface, retaining the active component in the skin's superficial layer. Furthermore, owing to their micron size, SLM increases the contact surface of the encapsulated drug with the stratum corneum, which might improve cutaneous delivery and provide sustained release of the drug.
Muscle morphological changes and enhanced sprint running performance: A 1‐year observational study of well‐trained sprinters
Authors: Kawama Raki , Takahashi Katsuki , Tozawa Hironoshin , Obata Takafumi , Fujii Norifumi , Arai Aya , Hojo Tatsuya , Wakahara Taku 
Published: June 2024

AbstractNumerous cross‐sectional studies have attempted to identify the muscle morphology required to achieve high sprint velocity. Our longitudinal study addressed an unanswered question of cross‐sectional studies: whether hypertrophy of the individual trunk and thigh muscles induced by daily training (e.g., sprint, jump, and resistance training) is linked to an improvement in sprint performance within well‐trained sprinters. Twenty‐three collegiate male sprinters (100‐m best time of 11.36 ± 0.44 s) completed their daily training for 1 year without our intervention. Before and after the observation period, the sprint velocities at 0–100 m, 0–10 m, and 50–60 m intervals were measured using timing gates. The volumes of 14 trunk and thigh muscles were measured using magnetic resonance imaging. Muscle volumes were normalized to the participants' body mass at each time point. Sprint velocities increased at the 0–100 m (p < 0.001), 0–10 m (p = 0.019), and 50–60 m (p = 0.018) intervals after the observation period. The relative volumes of the tensor fasciae latae, sartorius, biceps femoris long head, biceps femoris short head, semitendinosus, and iliacus were increased (all p < 0.050). Among the hypertrophied muscles, only the change in the relative volume of the semitendinosus was positively correlated with the change in sprint velocity at the 50–60 m interval (p = 0.018 and ρ = 0.591). These findings suggest that semitendinosus hypertrophy seems to be associated with sprint performance improvement within well‐trained sprinters during the maximal velocity phase.
Electrochemical study and simultaneous square‐wave voltammetric determination of tyramine and spermidine in wines
Authors: Nóbrega Rossana O. , Ramo Luciano B. , Silva Amanda C. , Araujo Mario C. U. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe quantification of tyramine (Tyr) and spermidine (Spd) is essential to protect and ensure quality and safety for food and beverage consumers. In this work, an electrochemical study was carried out, and a new, rapid, sensitive, reliable, and selective square‐wave voltammetric method for simultaneously determining Tyr and Spd in wines was developed. A Chemically Modified Carbon Paste electrode with Zinc PhthaloCyanine (CMCPE‐ZnPC) was used as a sensor in the electrochemical study, and a standard addition procedure (SAP) was employed to solve the matrix effect in the quantification of Tyr and Spd in wines. These analytes were electroactive on the stable, sensitive, and selective CMCPE‐ZnPC sensor under study using SWV technique, displaying peak anodic potentials at around 400 mV for Tyr and 860 mV for Spd. Wine samples were analyzed using the proposed and reference methods. No statistically significant differences were observed among the results obtained for Tyr and Spd determinations, applying the paired t‐test at a confidence level of 95 %. The proposed method yielded low limits of detection (6.8 nmol L−1 for Tyr and 10.8 nmol L−1 for Spd), good recovery rates (from 86.1 to 107.5 %), and reproducibility (overall RSD of 2.6 %). The proposed method contributes to green analytical chemistry since it uses no chemical pretreatment of the wine samples.
Efficacy of anti‐seizure medications and alternative therapies (ketogenic diet, CBD, and quinidine) in KCNT1‐related epilepsy: A systematic review
Authors: Gras Mathilde , Bearden David , West Justin , Nabbout Rima 
Published: June 2024

AbstractObjectiveKCNT1‐related epilepsies encompass three main phenotypes: (i) epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures (EIMFS), (ii) autosomal dominant or sporadic sleep‐related hypermotor epilepsy [(AD)SHE], and (iii) different types of developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE). Many patients present with drug‐resistant seizures and global developmental delays. In addition to conventional anti‐seizure medications (ASM), multiple alternative therapies have been tested including the ketogenic diet (KD), cannabidiol (CBD—including Epidyolex © and other CBD derivatives) and quinidine (QUIN). We aimed to clarify the current state of the art concerning the benefits of those therapies administered to the three groups of patients.MethodsWe performed a literature review on PubMed and EMBase with the keyword “KCNT1” and selected articles reporting qualitative and/or quantitative information on responses to these treatments. A treatment was considered beneficial if it improved seizure frequency and/or intensity and/or quality of life. Patients were grouped by phenotype.ResultsA total of 43 studies including 197 patients were reviewed. For EIMFS patients (32 studies, 135 patients), KD resulted in benefit in 62.5% (25/40), all types of CBD resulted in benefit in 50% (6/12), and QUIN resulted in benefit in 44.6% (25/56). For (AD)SHE patients (10 studies, 32 patients), we found only one report of treatment with KD, with no benefit noted. QUIN was trialed in 8 patients with no reported benefit. For DEE patients (10 studies, 30 patients), KD resulted in benefit for 4/7, CBD for 1/2, and QUIN for 6/9. In all groups, conventional ASM are rarely reported as beneficial (in 5%–25% of patients).SignificanceKetogenic diet, CBD, and QUIN treatments appear to be beneficial in a subset of patient with drug‐resistant epilepsy. The KD and CBD are reasonable to trial in patients with KCNT1‐related epilepsy. Further studies are needed to identify optimal treatment strategies and to establish predictive response factors.Plain Language SummaryWe performed an extensive review of scientific articles providing information about the therapeutic management of epilepsy in patients with epilepsy linked to a mutation in the KCNT1 gene. Conventional anti‐seizure treatments were rarely reported to be beneficial. The ketogenic diet (a medical diet with very high fat, adequate protein and very low carbohydrate intake) and cannabidiol appeared to be useful, but larger studies are needed to reach a conclusion.
Twin graphene as an anode material for potassium‐ion battery: A first principle study
Authors: Barman Nirmal , Sarkar Utpal 
Published: June 2024

AbstractUsing density functional theory, we have investigated the usage of twin graphene as an anode material for potassium‐ion batteries (KIBs). Twin graphene demonstrates excellent structural and cycling stability, with minimal changes in lattice parameters and negative cohesive energy during K charge/discharge cycles. Notably, the host material (twin graphene) offers multiple stable adsorption sites for potassium ions. We even observed that the pristine twin graphene, which is a semiconductor, consequently becomes metallic upon potassium adsorption. Twin graphene provides a high theoretical capacity of 495.84 mAh/g, along with low diffusion barrier of 0.290 V for K diffusion. Furthermore, the high electrical conductivity and low open‐circuit voltage of the chosen host will definitely enhance its performance as a KIB material. The structural integrity of twin graphene is also retained with the adsorption of potassium ion, as checked through ab initio molecular dynamics simulation. These findings suggest that twin graphene may be considered as a promising anode material for KIBs.
A Novel JAK2 Fusion in T‐Cell Prolymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Eren Ozgur Can , Stuver Robert , Zhou Ting , Zaidinski Michael , Moskowitz Alison J. , Horwitz Steven M. , Ewalt Mark D. , Zhang Yanming , Lim Megan S. 
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACTT‐cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T‐PLL) is a rare and aggressive mature T‐cell malignancy characterized by marked lymphocytosis, B symptoms, lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly. There is no standard treatment approach, and in the absence of an allogeneic transplant, the prognosis remains poor. The disease‐defining cytogenetic abnormality in T‐PLL is the juxtaposition of the TCL1‐family oncogene to the TCR gene enhancer locus primarily due to an inversion of chromosome 14, that is, inv(14). The application of next‐generation sequencing technologies led to the discovery of highly recurrent gain‐of‐function mutations in JAK1/3 and STAT5B in over 70% of T‐PLL providing opportunities for therapeutic intervention using small molecule inhibitors. Additional genetic mechanisms that may contribute to the pathogenesis of T‐PLL remain unknown. Herein we describe the identification of a novel gene fusion SMCHD1::JAK2 resulting from a translocation between chromosome 9 and 18 involving SMCHD1 exon 45 and JAK2 exon 14 (t(9;18)(p24.1;p11.32)(chr9:g.5080171::chr18:g.2793269)), a previously undescribed genetic event in a patient with T‐PLL harboring the key disease defining inv(14) resulting in rearrangement of TCL1 and TRA/D. In this manuscript, we describe the clinical and genetic features of the patient's disease course over a 25‐month post‐treatment duration using ruxolitinib and duvelisib.
The likelihood of admission to an intensive care bed dramatically decreased in elderly patients during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic in Spain
Authors: Miró Òscar , Burillo Guillermo , López‐Ayala Pedro , Aguiló Sira , Fernández Cesáreo , Alquézar Aitor , González del Castillo Juan 
Published: June 2024

AbstractBackgroundDuring the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic, the availability of mechanical ventilators was very limited and ad hoc recommendations establishing age to be used for patient triage for having access to intensive care beds (ICBs) were proposed. No reports have evaluated how this policy impacted ICB admission in Western countries.AimsWe analyzed the age‐related probability of ICB admission during first COVID‐19 pandemic wave.Materials and MethodsWe included all patients ≥65 years attended in 42 Spanish emergency departments (EDs) covering around 22% of the Spanish population during 1‐week of the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic (9128 ED visits) and compared the probability of ICB admission respect to patients coming to these EDs 1‐week of 1‐year earlier (24,128 ED visits).ResultsWe found that compared with patients aged 65, the probability of ICB admission was significantly reduced from 79 years and up during the pandemic period (odds ratio [OR] = 0.60 for patients aged 79, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.39–0.94), while a significant reduction of ICB admission probabilities was found from 88 years and up during the pre‐COVID‐19 period (OR = 0.66 for patients aged 88, 95% CI = 0.45–0.95) (p < 0.001 for interaction). Similar results were found when analyses were limited to hospitalized or deceased patients and also after adjustment using sex and several baseline status covariates.ConclusionThere was a real limitation in clinical practice of ICB admission based on age during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic.
SOCR‐YOLO: Small Objects Detection Algorithm in Medical Images
Authors: Liu Yongjie , Li Yang , Jiang Mingfeng , Wang Shuchao , Ye Shitai , Walsh Simon , Yang Guang 
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACTIn the field of medical image analysis, object detection plays a crucial role by providing interpretable diagnostic information to healthcare professionals. Although current object detection models have achieved remarkable success in conventional images, their performance in detecting abnormalities in medical images has not been as satisfactory. This is primarily due to the complexity of anatomical structures in medical images, and the fact that some lesions may have subtle features, particularly in the case of early‐stage, small‐scale abnormalities. To address this challenge, we introduce SOCR‐YOLO, a novel lesion detection model with online convolutional reparameterization based on channel shuffling. First, it employs the SOCR (Shuffled Channel with Online Convolutional Re‐parameterization) module to establish a connection between feature concatenation and computational efficiency, aiming to extract more comprehensive information while reducing time consumption. Second, it incorporates the Bi‐FPN structure to achieve multiscale feature fusion. Lastly, the loss function has been optimized to improve the model training process. We evaluated two datasets, chest x‐ray (Vindr‐CXR) and brain tumor (Br35H), provided by the Kaggle competition. Experimental results show that the proposed method has outperformed several state‐of‐the‐art models, including YOLOv8, YOLO‐NAS, and RT‐DETR, in both speed and accuracy. Notably, in the context of chest x‐ray anomaly detection, SOCR‐YOLO exhibits a 1.8% enhancement in accuracy over YOLOv8 while simultaneously reducing floating‐point operations by 26.3%. Additionally, a similar 1.8% improvement in accuracy is observed in the detection of brain tumors. The results indicate the superior ability of our model to detect multiscale variations and small lesions.
Deep Learning‐Based Automated Detection and Grading of Papilledema From OCT Images: A Promising Approach for Improved Clinical Diagnosis and Management
Authors: Salaheldin Ahmed M. , Abdel Wahed Manal , Talaat Manar , Saleh Neven 
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACTPapilledema is a prevalent neuro‐ophthalmic condition characterized by optic disk swelling. It is known to pose a significant risk of vision loss in its advanced stages. To address the pressing need for accurate detection and grading of papilledema, this study introduces a novel approach utilizing optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans. A cascaded model that combines four transfer learning models—SqueezeNet, AlexNet, GoogleNet, and ResNet‐50—for both the detection and grading phases was proposed. Additionally, a specialized convolutional neural network (CNN) model is meticulously designed to cater specifically to the complexities of papilledema analysis. Unlike the fundus camera‐based models, this study integrates deep learning models for the diagnosis of papilledema from OCT scans. A new dataset of OCT scans was collected to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the models. It encompasses a wide range of papilledema, pseudopapilledema, and normal cases. This dataset serves as a valuable resource for training and testing of the proposed models. In addition, two validation strategies have been adopted to ensure the model's generalizability and robustness. Furthermore, it enhances the model's accuracy and reliability. The results are highly promising; remarkable accuracy rates have been achieved. Specifically, the SqueezeNet, AlexNet, GoogleNet, ResNet‐50, and customized CNN models achieved accuracy levels of 98.44%, 98.50%, 98.28%, 98.30%, and 96.26%, respectively, for the handout validation strategy. These findings not only demonstrate the efficacy of using deep learning in papilledema detection and grading but also establish the superiority of the proposed models when compared with other relevant studies. By addressing the challenges associated with papilledema, the study significantly contributes to the advancement of neuro‐ophthalmic diagnostics. The accurate and efficient detection of papilledema from OCT scans holds immense potential for guiding timely interventions and preserving patients' visual health.
Therapeutic plasma exchange as treatment modality in pediatric patients with neurologic and nonneurologic diseases at the Philippine Children's Medical Center: A 12‐year single center experience
Authors: Suplico Jr Alexander B. , Gepte Maria Beatriz P. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the clinical characteristics, indications, technical aspects, complications, and outcomes of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) procedures performed in pediatric patients with neurologic and nonneurologic diseases at the Philippine Children's Medical Center during a 12‐year period (January 2010–March 2023).Materials and MethodsAll TPE performed between January 2010 and March 2023 were retrospectively evaluated. The indications for TPE were classified according to the 2019 American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) categorization.ResultsFifty‐seven patients underwent a total of 297 TPE procedures. The median age was 12 years (2–18), with 51% male (n = 29) and 49% female (n = 28). The most common indication was N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor antibody encephalitis, accounting for 54% of cases (n = 31), followed by Guillain‐Barré syndrome at 16% (n = 9), Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome at 7% (n = 4), and Sepsis with multiorgan failure at 7% (n = 4). Forty‐one patients (71.8%) were classified under ASFA category 1, seven (12.4%) as category II, and nine (15.8%) as category III. All TPE procedures were conducted using the centrifugation technique and citrate anticoagulation. Ninety‐nine percent of the procedures were performed through the internal jugular vein. Albumin was utilized as a replacement fluid in 88% of the procedures. Most complications were related to patient factors and occurred in 10% of cases (n = 31), while problems associated with the extracorporeal circuit were observed in only 4.37% of cases (n = 13). Overall response rate was 91% and there was no TPE‐related deaths. No clear association was found between clinical responses to TPE and specific diagnoses within ASFA categories.ConclusionTPE is a safe and effective adjuvant treatment for pediatric patients with neurologic and nonneurologic diseases. The outcome in these patients requiring TPE is excellent. However, response varies with failed organs and the need for life‐sustaining therapies.