bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Novel spin‐lock time sampling strategies for improved reproducibility in quantitative T1ρ mapping
Authors: Jogi Sandeep Panwar , Peng Qi , Jafari Ramin , Otazo Ricardo , Wu Can 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThis study aimed to optimize the sampling of spin‐lock times (TSLs) in quantitative T1ρ mapping for improved reproducibility. Two new TSL sampling schemes were proposed: (i) reproducibility‐guided random sampling (RRS) and (ii) reproducibility‐guided optimal sampling (ROS). They were compared to the existing linear sampling (LS) and precision‐guided sampling (PS) schemes for T1ρ reproducibility through numerical simulations, phantom experiments, and volunteer studies. Each study evaluated the four sampling schemes with three commonly used T1ρ preparations based on composite and balanced spin‐locking. Additionally, the phantom and volunteer studies investigated the impact of B0 and B1 field inhomogeneities on T1ρ reproducibility, respectively. The reproducibility was assessed using the coefficient of variation (CoV) by repeating the T1ρ measurements eight times for phantom experiments and five times for volunteer studies. Numerical simulations resulted in lower mean CoVs for the proposed RRS (1.74%) and ROS (0.68%) compared to LS (2.93%) and PS (3.68%). In the phantom study, the mean CoVs were also lower for RRS (2.7%) and ROS (2.6%) compared to LS (4.1%) and PS (3.1%). Furthermore, the mean CoVs of the proposed RRS and ROS were statistically lower (P < 0.001) compared to existing LS and PS schemes at a B1 offset of 20%. In the volunteer study, consistently lower mean CoVs were observed in bilateral thigh muscles for RRS (9.3%) and ROS (9.2%) compared to LS (10.9%) and PS (10.2%), and the difference was more prominent at B0 offsets higher than 50 Hz. The proposed sampling schemes improve the reproducibility of quantitative T1ρ mapping by optimizing the selection of TSLs. This improvement is especially beneficial for longitudinal studies that track and monitor disease progression and treatment response.
Improved visualization of the chorda tympani with photon counting detector CT
Authors: Joseph Annie , Farnsworth Paul J. , Campeau Norbert G. , Leng Shuai , Carlson Matthew L. , Benson John C. , Madhavan Ajay , Lane John I. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBackground and PurposeTo compare the performance of the photon‐counting detector (PCD)‐CT against a cutting‐edge energy‐integrated detector (EID)‐CT to visualize different segments of the chorda tympani nerve.Materials and MethodsAn IRB‐approved protocol prospectively enrolled patients for temporal bone CT on both EID‐CT and PCD‐CT scanners. Fellowship‐trained neuroradiologists compared visualization of chorda tympani segments on each scanner using a 5‐point Likert scale (1 indicating EID is far superior to PCD, 3 indicating they are equivalent, and 5 indicating PCD is far superior to EID). Scores were averaged across segments and tested using a one‐sample Wilcoxon signed‐rank test with a one‐sided alternative hypothesis.ResultsForty temporal bones were evaluated. Average Likert scores for visualization of chorda tympani segments‐chorda tympani canal/proximal segment, middle ear/posterior tympanic segment, and petrotympanic fissure/distal segment‐ on the PCD compared to EID scanner were 4.2 (SD = 0.4), 4.4 (0.5), and 4 (0.0), respectively. The anterior tympanic segment of the chorda tympani was not well visualized on either platform or therefore not scored. PCD compared to the EID scanner had better overall performance (Median = 4.2, 95% CI: [4.1, 5.0], p‐value < .001).ConclusionPCD‐CT improves visualization of the petrous and intratympanic chorda tympani nerve segments, chorda tympani canaliculus, and petrotympanic fissure compared to comparable EID‐CT examinations. The improved visualization of the chorda tympani is important for the characterization of middle ear pathology involving this structure and presurgical planning to determine the size of the facial recess for cochlear implantation and to estimate the risk of nerve injury.
Ancient DNA reveals population trends of Lesser Rhea (Rhea pennata) in Northwestern Patagonia
Authors: Abbona Cinthia Carolina , Johnson Jeff A. , Giardina Miguel , Otaola Clara , Neme Gustavo A. , Wolverton Steve 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe Lesser Rhea (Rhea pennata), a large flightless bird native to South America, held historical significance as a vital resource for Patagonian hunter–gatherer societies. Despite the species' cultural and ecological importance, the historical population dynamics of R. pennata remain poorly understood. Although present in the archaeological record, its abundance is not consistently documented and the reasons remain unclear. This study investigates the late Holocene population trends of R. pennata using ancient DNA analysis. By analyzing complete mitochondrial genome sequences from dated archaeological specimens, we reveal a significant population increase from 700 to 500 years Before Present (BP), followed by a period of relative stability from 500 to 300 years BP. Subsequently, a subtle decline in population size is observed, coinciding with the arrival of European settlers; however, due to considerable uncertainty in population estimates, definitive conclusions regarding this decline are challenging to make. Historical records indicate heightened rhea hunting during this period, coterminous with a decrease in the abundance of rhea eggshell fragments. It is suggested that climatic factors may have influenced these population dynamics, particularly favoring rhea population growth from 700 to 500 years BP. This study contributes to our understanding of the historical ecology and human‐rhea interactions in Patagonia, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in reconstructing past population dynamics.
Characterisation of aphid antixenosis in aphid‐resistant ancestor wheat, Triticum monococcum
Authors: Borg Alexander N. , Vuts József , Caulfield John C. , Withall David M. , Foulkes M. John , Birkett Michael A 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDDue to the increasing presence of insecticide resistance across cereal aphid populations, new aphid management strategies, including the engineering of host resistance to aphids into commercial wheat varieties, are required. Previous studies have identified ancestor wheat, Triticum monococcum accessions MDR045 and MDR049, with resistance against the grain aphid, Sitobion avenae. To test the hypothesis that resistance can be accounted for by antixenosis (reduced attractiveness of host plants) via the release of repellent volatile organic compounds (VOCs), we explored the response of S. avenae to MDR045 and MDR049 following S. avenae herbivory, using behaviour and electrophysiology experiments.RESULTSIn four‐arm olfactometry assays, alate S. avenae showed aphid density‐dependent reduced preference to VOC extracts from T. monococcum MDR045 and MDR049. By contrast, alate S. avenae showed aphid density‐dependent increased preference to extracts from aphid‐susceptible hexaploid wheat, Triticum aestivum var. Solstice and T. monococcum MDR037. Coupled gas chromatography‐electroantennography (GC‐EAG), using the antennae of alate S. avenae, located 24 electrophysiologically active compounds across all tested accessions. Synthetic blends created from 21 identified EAG‐active compounds confirmed bioactivity of corresponding VOC extracts in four‐arm olfactometry assays against alate S. avenae.CONCLUSIONOur data suggest that resistance of T. monococcum MDR045 and MDR049 to S. avenae can be at least partially accounted for by antixenosis through antennal perception of specific repellent VOC blends induced by S. avenae feeding behaviour. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Determining microbial metabolic limitation under the influence of moss patch size from soil extracellular enzyme stoichiometry
Authors: Huang Yun‐jie , Li Yong‐gang , Yang Zi‐yue , Zhou Xiao‐bing , Yin Ben‐feng , Zhang Yuan‐ming 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBiological soil crusts (biocrusts) are crucial elements of desert ecosystems, exhibiting patchy distribution patterns across the soil surface and significantly impacting surface soil nutrient dynamics. However, the influence of biocrust patch units, serving as fundamental functional entities, on microbial nutrient restriction remains underexplored. This study conducted measurements on moss crust patches of varying sizes and subcrust soils. Stoichiometric analysis of extracellular enzyme activities (EEAs) related to carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus was performed, along with vector and redundancy analyses to evaluate microbial nutrient limitation and key influencing factors. The findings reveal that both patch size and soil layer of biocrusts collectively influence soil nutrients and enzyme dynamics, with heightened enzyme activity observed in the crust layer. Vector analysis based on EEA stoichiometry indicates that moss crust patch size insignificantly impacts microbial nutrient restriction within the crust layer. However, microbial nitrogen restriction in the subcrust layer demonstrates a “single‐peak” trend, initially increasing before gradually declining. This suggests that microorganisms in medium‐sized crust patches exhibit peak activity, intensifying nutrient competition. This research underscores the pivotal role of biocrust patch units as fundamental functional entities, offering comprehensive insights into microbial metabolic constraints under crust cover. The findings underscore the significant implications of enzyme stoichiometric characteristics for desert land management and conservation.
Experimental and numerical study on seismic behavior of shear wall with cast‐in situ concrete infilled walls
Authors: Zhou Bo , Si Qi , Li Bing , Zong Liang , Li Songlin 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe shear wall system with cast‐in situ concrete infilled walls has been widely used in high‐rise buildings due to its significant advantages in construction. In this paper, quasi‐static tests were conducted on the shear walls with and without cast‐in situ concrete infilled walls to analyze their failure modes, load‐bearing capacity, stiffness, energy dissipation capacity, and ductility. A simplified model of the shear wall with cast‐in situ concrete infilled walls was proposed based on the fiber element model in OpenSees. The test results showed that the shear wall specimens with cast‐in situ concrete infilled walls exhibited full‐section compression or tension failure, and the cast‐in situ concrete infilled walls did not show obvious damage. Compared with the shear wall without infilled walls, the overall stiffness, load bearing capacity, and energy dissipation capacity of the shear wall specimens with cast‐in situ concrete infilled walls improved, indicating better seismic performance than those without infilled walls. Comparison between the hysteresis and skeleton curves derived from the tests and those simulated by the proposed simplified model revealed errors within 15% for stiffness, yield bearing capacity, and ultimate bearing capacity for shear walls with cast‐in situ concrete infill walls, affirming the effectiveness and accuracy of the model.
Biosafe, rapid, and ultrahigh‐capacity endotoxin purification in blood by a sustainable and recyclable MOF‐functionalized chitin microsphere adsorbent
Authors: Liu Anxiong , Chen Lu , Qi Luhe , Huang Jing , Zou Yongkang , Hu Zhiwen , Yu Le , Zhong Zibiao , Ye Qifa , Chen Chaoji 
Published: August 2024

AbstractSepsis is responsible for approximately 5.3 million deaths globally each year. Here, we constructed hierarchical chitin microspheres loaded with MOF‐919 (Ch/metal–organic frameworks [MOFs]) for the rapid and efficient removal of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in complex blood environments. Furthermore, abundant active sites on MOF‐919(Sc) also enable a record‐high adsorption capacity of 9.56 mg/g in biomass‐based adsorbents due to the coordination interactions between endotoxin and MOF‐919(Sc). The LPS level of sepsis rabbits was less than 2 EU/mL (clearance rate >95%) after 90‐min hemoperfusion, showing no adverse effect on the rabbit organs. Additionally, compared to the commonly used LPS scrubber Toraymyxin (polymethyl methacrylate), the chitin adsorbent is significantly more cost‐effective and environmentally friendly. The preparation strategy for hierarchical porous microspheres offers notable advantages in designability, recyclability, and renewability, providing a new approach to sepsis treatment and promising prospects for the biomedical application of sustainable biomass materials.
Nasal exudate for diagnosis of stroke: fundamental studies through iron fractionation, total iron, and targeted protein determinations
Authors: Marina-Latorre Marta , Lobo Lara , García-Cabo Carmen , Benavente-Fernández Lorena , Calleja-Puerta Sergio , Fernández-Abedul M. Teresa , González-Iglesias Héctor , Pereiro Rosario 
Published: August 2024

AbstractDuring the last years, there has been an increasing research interest in the analysis of biological fluids requiring non-invasive sampling for biomedical and clinical applications. In this work, we have focused on the nasal exudate with the aim of investigating the potential use of this fluid to know the role of iron in stroke and also for diagnosis. Potential differences in the nasal exudate, collected in swabs, from diagnosed hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke, and control groups were investigated with regard to total iron by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, iron fractionation studies by size exclusion chromatography together with post-column isotope dilution analysis, and four proteins containing iron (ferritin, transferrin, lactoferrin, and ferroportin) with ELISA kits. All these analyses represent an analytical challenge, considering the rather limited amount of sample (10–40 mg) available, being the nasal exudate extracted from the swab with 300 µL 10 mM Tris/HCl, pH = 7.4. Studies to obtain reliable analytical information, such as the blank contribution of the sampling step, evaluation of the extraction efficiency of the nasal exudate from the swab, and normalization strategies for data treatment, have been carried out. Results showed that despite the limited number of investigated samples, fractionation studies as well as the concentrations of ferritin and ferroportin obtained with ELISA kits showed a differential behavior between the different cohorts.
Silver-based bimetallic nanozyme fabrics with peroxidase-mimic activity for urinary glucose detection
Authors: Naveen Prasad Sanjana , Mahasivam Sanje , Ramanathan Rajesh , Bansal Vipul 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe enhanced catalytic properties of bimetallic nanoparticles have been extensively investigated. In this study, bimetallic Ag-M (M = Au, Pt, or Pd) cotton fabrics were fabricated using a combination of electroless deposition and galvanic replacement reactions, and improvement in their peroxidase-mimicking catalytic activity compared to that of the parent Ag fabric was studied. The Ag-Pt bimetallic nanozyme fabric, which showed the highest catalytic activity and ability to simultaneously generate hydroxyl (•OH) and superoxide (O2•−) radicals, was assessed as a urine glucose sensor. This nanozyme fabric sensor could directly detect urinary glucose in the pathophysiologically relevant high millimolar range without requiring sample predilution. The sensor could achieve performance on par with that of the current clinical gold standard assay. These features of the Ag-Pt nanozyme sensor, particularly its ability to avoid interference effects from complex urinary matrices, position it as a viable candidate for point-of-care urinary glucose monitoring.
Graphical Abstract
Near-Optimal Auctions on Independence Systems
Authors: Ammann Sabrina C. L. , Stiller Sebastian 
Published: August 2024

AbstractA classical result by Myerson (Math. Oper. Res. 6(1), 58-73, 1981) gives a characterization of an optimal auction for any given distribution of valuations of the bidders. We consider the situation where the distribution is not explicitly given but can be observed in a sample of auction results from the same distribution. A seminal paper by Morgenstern and Roughgarden (Adv.Neural Inf. Process. Syst. 28, 2015) proposes to learn a near-optimal auction from the hypothesis class of t-level auctions. They prove a bound on the sample complexity, i.e., the function $$f(\varepsilon , \delta )$$

f
(
ε
,
δ
)

of required samples to guarantee a certain level of precision $$(1-\varepsilon )$$

(
1
-
ε
)

with a probability of at least $$(1-\delta )$$

(
1
-
δ
)

, for the general single-parameter case and a tighter bound for the very restricted matroid case. We show a new bound for the case of independence systems, that widely generalizes matroids and contains several important combinatorial optimization problems. This bound of $$\tilde{O}\left( \nicefrac {H^2n^4}{\varepsilon ^3}\right) $$

O
~

H
2

n
4

ε
3

falls neatly between those known for the general and the matroid case. The class of independence systems contains several well known NP-hard problems such as knapsack. Therefore, the allocation itself might in practice be limited to $$\alpha $$
α
-approximate solutions. In a second result we show that an approximation algorithm can be used without compromising the sample complexity. Also, the precision is affected only mildly, resulting in a factor of $$\alpha \cdot (1-\varepsilon )$$

α
·
(
1
-
ε
)

.
Adam19 Deficiency Impacts Pulmonary Function: Human GWAS Follow-up in a Mouse Knockout Model
Authors: Li Huiling , House John S. , Nichols Cody E. , Gruzdev Artiom , Ward James M. , Li Jian-Liang , Wyss Annah B. , Haque Ezazul , Edin Matthew L. , Elmore Susan A. , Mahler Beth W. , Degraff Laura M. , Shi Min , Zeldin Darryl C. , London Stephanie J. 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Over 550 loci have been associated with human pulmonary function in genome-wide association studies (GWAS); however, the causal role of most remains uncertain. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in a disintegrin and metalloprotease domain 19 (ADAM19) are consistently related to pulmonary function in GWAS. Thus, we used a mouse model to investigate the causal link between Adam19 and pulmonary function.

Methods
We created an Adam19 knockout (KO) mouse model and validated the gene targeting using RNA-Seq and RT-qPCR. Mouse body composition was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Mouse lung function was measured using flexiVent.

Results
Contrary to prior publications, the KO was not neonatal lethal. KO mice had lower body weight and shorter tibial length than wild-type (WT) mice. Their body composition revealed lower soft weight, fat weight, and bone mineral content. Adam19 KO had decreased baseline respiratory system elastance, minute work of breathing, tissue damping, tissue elastance, and forced expiratory flow at 50% forced vital capacity but higher FEV0.1 and FVC. Adam19 KO had attenuated tissue damping and tissue elastance in response to methacholine following LPS exposure. Adam19 KO also exhibited attenuated neutrophil extravasation into the airway after LPS administration compared to WT. RNA-Seq analysis of KO and WT lungs identified several differentially expressed genes (Cd300lg, Kpna2, and Pttg1) implicated in lung biology and pathogenesis. Gene set enrichment analysis identified negative enrichment for TNF pathways.

Conclusion
Our murine findings support a causal role of ADAM19, implicated in human GWAS, in regulating pulmonary function.
What factors influence cellular pathologists’ confidence in case reporting?
Authors: Evans Harriet , Kimani Peter K. , Hiller Louise , Tsang Yee Wah , Sah Shatrughan , Gopalakrishnan Kishore , Boyd Clinton , Loughrey Maurice B. , Kelly Paul J. , Boyle David P. , Clark David , Ellis Ian O. , Ilyas Mohammad , Rakha Emad , Bickers Adam , Roberts Ian S. D. , Soares Maria F. , Neil Desley A. H. , Dunn Janet A. , Azam Ayesha , Snead David 
Published: August 2024

AbstractHistopathology is a challenging interpretive discipline, and the level of confidence a pathologist has in their diagnosis is known to vary, which is conveyed descriptively in pathology reports. There has been little study to accurately quantify pathologists’ diagnostic confidence or the factors that influence it. In this study involving sixteen pathologists from six NHS trusts, we assessed diagnostic confidence across multiple variables and four specialties. Each case was reported by four pathologists, with each pathologist reporting each case twice (on light microscopy (LM) and digital pathology (DP)). For each diagnosis, pathologists recorded their confidence on a 7-point Likert scale. This provided 16,187 diagnoses and associated confidence scores for analysis. All variables investigated were found to be significantly predictive of diagnostic confidence, except level of pathologist experience. Confidence was lower for difficult to report cases, cases where there was inter- and intra-pathologist variation in the diagnosis, and cases where the pathologist made an incorrect diagnosis. Confidence was higher, although nominally, for LM diagnoses than DP (rate ratio 1.09 (95% CI 1.01–1.18), p = 0.035), although results indicate pathologists are confident to report on DP. Lowest confidence scores were seen in areas of known diagnostic complexity and cases with quality issues. High confidence in incorrect diagnoses were almost invariably attributed to interpretive diagnostic differences which occurred across both rare and common lesions. The results highlight the value of external quality control schemes and the benefits of selective peer review when reporting.
Efficacy and Safety of “Vacuum Swallowing” Based on a Strong Negative Esophageal Pressure in Healthy Individuals
Authors: Kunieda Kenjiro , Suzuki Saori , Naganuma Satoe , Okamoto Keishi , Ohno Tomohisa , Shigematsu Takashi , Yagi Naomi , Oku Yoshitaka , Fujishima Ichiro 
Published: August 2024

AbstractVacuum swallowing is a unique method for improving the pharyngeal passage of a bolus by creating subatmospheric negative pressure in the esophagus. However, whether healthy individuals and other patients with dysphagia can reproduce vacuum swallowing remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to assess whether healthy individuals verified using high-resolution manometry (HRM) could reproduce vacuum swallowing and evaluate its safety using a swallowing and breathing monitoring system (SBMS). Two healthy individuals who mastered vacuum swallowing taught this method to 12 healthy individuals, who performed normal and vacuum swallowing with 5 mL of water five times each. The minimum esophageal pressure and the maximum pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) were evaluated during each swallow using the HRM. Additionally, respiratory-swallowing coordination was evaluated using the SBMS. Ten individuals reproduced vacuum swallowing, and a total of 50 vacuum swallows were analyzed. The minimum esophageal pressure (-15.0 ± 4.9 vs. -46.6 ± 16.7 mmHg; P < 0.001) was significantly lower, and the maximum pressure of the LES (25.4 ± 37.7 vs. 159.5 ± 83.6 mmHg; P < 0.001) was significantly higher during vacuum swallowing. The frequencies of the I-SW and SW-I patterns in vacuum swallowing were 38.9% and 0%, respectively, using the SBMS. Vacuum swallowing could be reproduced safely in healthy participants with instruction. Therefore, instructing exhalation before and after vacuum swallowing is recommended to prevent aspiration.