bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evolving trends in the management of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) during SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic: A multicenter retrospective cohort study
Authors: Scutiero G. , Taliento C. , Vizzielli G. , Vitagliano A. , Soraci G. , Sabattini A. , Spelzini F. , Cappadona R. , Tormen M. , Arcieri M. , Ercoli A. , Greco P. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractBackground and AimPelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is usually managed by conservative treatment, but in selected cases, especially in the presence of a tubo‐ovarian abscess (TOA), surgical management is a recognized treatment option. We compared the trends in managing PID and short‐term outcomes before and during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic.MethodsThis is a retrospective study performed in three Italian gynecological centers. We included patients admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of PID. Demographic characteristics, management, time to diagnosis, and time to treatment were compared before versus during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic.ResultsOne hundred nineteen PID patients were screened, eighty‐one before the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic, and thirty‐eight after the onset. At admission, leukocytosis (median 19.73 vs. 13.99 WBC/mm3, p‐value = 0.02) was significantly higher in patients who underwent surgery after the onset of the pandemic. TOA incidence was higher in patients who underwent surgery during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic, but the difference did not reach statistically significance (p = 0.06). The proportion of patients treated with surgery dropped to 26.3% after the onset from 46% of patients before the onset of pandemic (p = 0.03). Furthermore, a higher percentage of emergency surgical procedures on day 0 of hospital admission were performed after the onset of the pandemic (50% vs. 13.1%, p = 0.01).ConclusionsIn this retrospective cohort study, we found that the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic influenced the clinical presentation and management of PID in favor of conservative treatment. Patients who underwent surgery during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic had higher inflammatory markers.
CD4+CD8αα+ is the dominant phenotype of intraepithelial lymphocytes and regulated by ThPOK and Runx3 in oral lichen planus
Authors: Bao Chao‐Fan , Wang Fang , Zhou Dong‐Yang , Zhou Gang 
Published: June 2024

AbstractBackgroundOral lichen planus (OLP) is a common T cell‐mediated oral mucosal immune inflammatory disease. Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) are a unique subset of T cells that play an important role in regulating immune response. This study aims to investigate the phenotype and the differentiation mechanism of IELs in OLP.MethodsThe expression of CD4, CD8α, CD8β, T‐helper‐inducing POZ/Krueppel‐like factor (ThPOK), and RUNX family transcription factor 3 (Runx3) in the epithelium and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of OLP was determined by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. Then, the correlations among them were analyzed. Naïve CD4+ T cells were sorted from blood of OLP patients and stimulated with retinoic acid (RA) and transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1). Then the expression of CD4, CD8α, CD8β, ThPOK, and Runx3 was investigated by immunocytochemistry.ResultsCD8α expression and CD8αα+ cells were upregulated in the epithelium of OLP, whereas they were downregulated in PBMCs of OLP. CD8β was not expressed in the epithelium of OLP. CD4, CD8α, and Runx3 expression and CD4+CD8α+ cells were increased, whereas ThPOK expression was decreased in the epithelium of OLP. CD8α expression was positively correlated with Runx3 expression, whereas ThPOK expression was negatively correlated with Runx3 expression. After RA and TGF‐β1 stimulation, CD8α and Runx3 expression was upregulated, and ThPOK expression was downregulated in naïve CD4+ T cells.ConclusionCD4+CD8αα+ IELs may be the dominant phenotype of IELs in OLP, and the differentiation of CD4+CD8αα+ IELs in OLP is negatively regulated by ThPOK and positively regulated by Runx3.
‘Because it reminds me of my culture.’ ‘Because I want to challenge myself.’ ‘Because I like all the stars and the swirls.’ What influences children's independent choice of text?
Authors: Reedy Alice , Reedy David 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThis paper examines the perspectives of children in two East London primary schools on what influences their independent choice of text, in the context of developing reading for pleasure in schools. All children in three selected year groups (ages approximately 6, 8 and 10) were invited to take part in the research, and from those that volunteered, six children per year group were randomly selected in each school. These focus groups were then observed choosing reading material from a range of pre‐determined texts which varied in genre, recommended age‐range and representation of diverse groups. The children were then interviewed, with the two researchers seeking to understand the factors that influenced their decisions. A thematic analysis was subsequently conducted to determine the most prevalent of these factors; the researchers identified seven key themes, which will be discussed in this paper. Practical implications that were identified for supporting children to read for pleasure are then suggested, based on these themes.
Genomic insights into hybrid zone formation: The role of climate, landscape, and demography in the emergence of a novel hybrid lineage
Authors: Bolte Constance E. , Phannareth Tommy , Zavala‐Paez Michelle , Sutara Brianna N. , Can Muhammed F. , Fitzpatrick Matthew C. , Holliday Jason A. , Keller Stephen R. , Hamilton Jill A. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractPopulation demographic changes, alongside landscape, geographic and climate heterogeneity, can influence the timing, stability and extent of introgression where species hybridise. Thus, quantifying interactions across diverged lineages, and the relative contributions of interspecific genetic exchange and selection to divergence at the genome‐wide level is needed to better understand the drivers of hybrid zone formation and maintenance. We used seven latitudinally arrayed transects to quantify the contributions of climate, geography and landscape features to broad patterns of genetic structure across the hybrid zone of Populus trichocarpa and P. balsamifera and evaluated the demographic context of hybridisation over time. We found genetic structure differed among the seven transects. While ancestry was structured by climate, landscape features influenced gene flow dynamics. Demographic models indicated a secondary contact event may have influenced contemporary hybrid zone formation with the origin of a putative hybrid lineage that inhabits regions with higher aridity than either of the ancestral groups. Phylogenetic relationships based on chloroplast genomes support the origin of this hybrid lineage inferred from demographic models based on the nuclear data. Our results point towards the importance of climate and landscape patterns in structuring the contact zones between P. trichocarpa and P. balsamifera and emphasise the value whole genome sequencing can have to advancing our understanding of how neutral processes influence divergence across space and time.
Expanding Kane's argument‐based validity framework: What can validation practices in language assessment offer health professions education?
Authors: Dai David Wei , Vu Thao , Knoch Ute , Lim Angelina S. , Malone Daniel Thomas , Mak Vivienne 
Published: June 2024

AbstractContextOne central consideration in health professions education (HPE) is to ensure we are making sound and justifiable decisions based on the assessment instruments we use on health professionals. To achieve this goal, HPE assessment researchers have drawn on Kane's argument‐based framework to ascertain the validity of their assessment tools. However, the original four‐inference model proposed by Kane – frequently used in HPE validation research – has its limitations in terms of what each inference entails and what claims and sources of backing are housed in each inference. The under‐specification in the four‐inference model has led to inconsistent practices in HPE validation research, posing challenges for (i) researchers who want to evaluate the validity of different HPE assessment tools and/or (ii) researchers who are new to test validation and need to establish a coherent understanding of argument‐based validation.MethodsTo address these identified concerns, this article introduces the expanded seven‐inference argument‐based validation framework that is established practice in the field of language testing and assessment (LTA). We explicate (i) why LTA researchers experienced the need to further specify the original four Kanean inferences; (ii) how LTA validation research defines each of their seven inferences and (iii) what claims, assumptions and sources of backing are associated with each inference. Sampling six representative validation studies in HPE, we demonstrate why an expanded model and a shared disciplinary validation framework can facilitate the examination of the validity evidence in diverse HPE validation contexts.ConclusionsWe invite HPE validation researchers to experiment with the seven‐inference argument‐based framework from LTA to evaluate its usefulness to HPE. We also call for greater interdisciplinary dialogue between HPE and LTA since both disciplines share many fundamental concerns about language use, communication skills, assessment practices and validity in assessment instruments.
Cortactin: A major cellular target of viral, protozoal, and fungal pathogens
Authors: Sharafutdinov Irshad , Friedrich Barbara , Rottner Klemens , Backert Steffen , Tegtmeyer Nicole 
Published: June 2024

AbstractMany viral, protozoal, and fungal pathogens represent major human and animal health problems due to their great potential of causing infectious diseases. Research on these pathogens has contributed substantially to our current understanding of both microbial virulence determinants and host key factors during infection. Countless studies have also shed light on the molecular mechanisms of host–pathogen interactions that are employed by these microbes. For example, actin cytoskeletal dynamics play critical roles in effective adhesion, host cell entry, and intracellular movements of intruding pathogens. Cortactin is an eminent host cell protein that stimulates actin polymerization and signal transduction, and recently emerged as fundamental player during host–pathogen crosstalk. Here we review the important role of cortactin as major target for various prominent viral, protozoal and fungal pathogens in humans, and its role in human disease development and cancer progression. Most if not all of these important classes of pathogens have been reported to hijack cortactin during infection through mediating up‐ or downregulation of cortactin mRNA and protein expression as well as signaling. In particular, pathogen‐induced changes in tyrosine and serine phosphorylation status of cortactin at its major phospho‐sites (Y‐421, Y‐470, Y‐486, S‐113, S‐298, S‐405, and S‐418) are addressed. As has been reported for various Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria, many pathogenic viruses, protozoa, and fungi also control these regulatory phospho‐sites, for example, by activating kinases such as Src, PAK, ERK1/2, and PKD, which are known to phosphorylate cortactin. In addition, the recruitment of cortactin and its interaction partners, like the Arp2/3 complex and F‐actin, to the contact sites between pathogens and host cells is highlighted, as this plays an important role in the infection process and internalization of several pathogens. However, there are also other ways in which the pathogens can exploit the function of cortactin for their needs, as the cortactin‐mediated regulation of cellular processes is complex and involves numerous different interaction partners. Here, the current state of knowledge is summarized.
Modal Design Optimization for Panel Flutter and Thermal Buckling
Authors: McHugh Kevin A. , Leszcz Catherine G. 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
This work investigates a new method to design aircraft skin panels to minimize weight while providing sufficient strength to withstand both buckling due to aerodynamic heating and flutter due to dynamic pressure over the panel. In this work, mass minimization is done via an optimization of panel thickness distribution as opposed to fill-void techniques or methods of adding discrete stiffeners found in the literature or in practice. The thickness distribution and therefore optimization problem is further reduced in numerical order by utilizing a Galerkin projection of global thickness basis functions. A comparison is made to available commercial optimization software. The developed tool results in a 6–17% reduction in weight for an optimized panel for thermal buckling stability when compared to the optimally thin flat panel.
Enhancing Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites by 3D Printing Optimization
Authors: Liu Xingyu , Billings Christopher , Sherwood Benjamin , Hall Joshua , Nimmo Caylin , Liu Yingtao 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
Additive Manufacturing (AM) has revolutionized the production of three-dimensional objects by utilizing a layer-by-layer approach. Among the materials used, carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites have gained significant attention. The integration of carbon fibers and a polymer matrix offers enhanced structural integrity, thermal stability, and corrosion resistance, making these composites appealing for aerospace, automotive, and a broad range of other engineering applications. AM of CFRP composites allows the precise alignment of carbon fibers during fabrication for the optimization of mechanical performance. Multiple AM methods have been developed for AM of CFRP, including fused deposition modeling (FDM), stereolithography (SLA), and continuous fiber printing. Challenges associated with the AM of CFRP include interfacial bonding, resin impregnation, printability and process control, and post-processing.
This presentation reported an investigation of the printability, material property, and geometrical accuracy of CFRP composites using the FDM method. Short carbon fiber and polylactic acid (PLA) are selected and prepared as the filament for 3D printing. The 3D printing capability of short carbon fiber reinforced composites is investigated using different layer heights, printing speeds, and nozzle and build-bed temperatures to determine the optimal printing parameters. Critical mechanical properties of the 3D printed composites, including tensile and flexural moduli and strengths, are characterized following ASTM standards. The interlayer adhesion within composites is studied by scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, and porosity tests. The microstructures, particularly porous size and shape can be visualized using microscopy technologies. The average porosity of 3D printed composites can be calculated by comparing the design of 3D printed composites and the original filament. This study can lead to an improved understanding of AM-processed structural composites for broad aerospace, automotive, and mechanical applications.
Dual-use research and research using enhanced pathogens in high-income countries: whose business?
Authors: Eyal Nir , Leshabari Melkizedeck , Sarker Malabika 
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT

U.S. regulation of dual-use research of concern and of research with enhanced pathogens of pandemic potential may alter soon. Much has been written on the best form for that regulation to take. Less was written on a procedural question: whose voices should shape that regulation? This commentary addresses the latter, the procedural question, regarding the appropriate parties to the deliberations and decisions on this matter. It proposes to U.S. virologists that it would be in the interests of their discipline and only appropriate if that regulation were shaped by many voices from outside the discipline and from outside the United States.
Distinct drivers of bacterial community assembly processes in riverine islands in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River
Authors: Yao Lu , Wu Junmei , Liu Shouzhuang , Xing Hao , Wang Pei , Gao Wenjuan , Wu Zhenbin , Zhou Qiaohong 
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT

Riverine islands are widespread alluvium wetlands developed in large rivers, and bacterial communities are crucial to their ecological function, yet their assembly processes are rarely addressed. The ecosystem services provided by the middle and the lower Yangtze are primarily threatened by pollution discharge from agricultural land use, and resource overutilization (e.g., embankments), respectively. Here, we assessed bacterial community assembly processes and their drivers within riverine islands in the middle Yangtze River (MR islands) and those in the lower reach (LR islands). A significant distance–decay relationship was observed, although the turnover rate was lower than that of the terrestrial ecosystem with less connectivity. Deterministic and stochastic processes jointly shaped community patterns, and the influence of stochastic increased from 26% in MR islands to 59% for those in LR islands. Meanwhile, the bacterial community in MR islands was controlled more by inorganic nitrogen availability, whereas those in LR islands were governed by pH and EC, although those factors explained a limited fraction of variation in the bacterial community. Potential indicator taxa (affiliated with
Nocardioides
and
Lysobacter
) characterized the waterway transport pollution. Overall, our study demonstrated that bacterial community dissimilarity and the importance of dispersal limitation increased concurrently along the flow direction, while distinct local factors further determined bacterial community compositions by selecting habitat-specificity taxa and particularly metabolism function. These findings enhanced our understanding of the mechanisms driving changes in bacterial communities of riverine islands subject to increased anthropogenic impacts.

IMPORTANCE
Rivers are among the most threatened ecosystems globally and face multiple stressors related to human activity. However, linkages between microbial diversity patterns and assembly processes in rivers remain unclear, especially in riverine islands developed in large rivers. Our findings reveal that distinct factors result in divergent bacterial community compositions and functional profiles in the riverine islands in the middle Yangtze and those in the lower Yangtze, with substantial differentiation in deterministic and stochastic processes that jointly contribute to bacterial community assemblages. Additionally, keystone species may play important metabolic roles in coping with human-related disturbances. This study provides an improved understanding of relationships between microbial diversity patterns and ecosystem functions under environmental changes in large river ecosystems.
Does voluntary assisted dying impact quality palliative care? A retrospective mixed-method study
Authors: Michael Natasha , Jones David , Kernick Lucy , Kissane David 
Published: June 2024

ObjectivesWe aimed to explore the relationship between the pursuit of voluntary assisted dying (VAD) and the delivery of quality palliative care in an Australian state where VAD was newly availableMethodsWe adopted a retrospective convergent mixed-methods design to gather and interpret data from records of 141 patients who expressed an interest in and did or did not pursue VAD over 2 years. Findings were correlated against quality domains.ResultsThe mean patient age was 72.4 years, with the majority male, married/partnered, with a cancer diagnosis and identifying with no religion. One-third had depression, anxiety or such symptoms, half were in the deteriorating phase, two-thirds required help with self-care and 83.7% reported moderate/severe symptoms. Patients sought VAD because of a desire for autonomy (68.1%), actual suffering (57.4%), fear of future suffering (51.1%) and social concerns (22.0%). VAD enquiries impacted multiple quality domains, both enhancing or impeding whole person care, family caregiving and the palliative care team. Open communication promoted adherence to therapeutic options and whole person care and allowed for timely access to palliative care. Patients sought VAD over palliative care as a solution to suffering, with the withholding of information impacting relationships.Significance of resultsAs legislation is expanded across jurisdictions, palliative care is challenged to accompany patients on their chosen path. Studies are necessary to explore how to ensure the quality of palliative care remains enhanced in those who pursue VAD and support continues for caregivers and staff in their accompaniment of patients.
Remote Field Application of Digital Technology for Hearing Assessments in a Cohort of Pediatric Germ Cell Tumor Survivors
Authors: Monterroso Pablo S. , Knight Kristin , Roesler Michelle A. , Sample Jeannette M. , Poynter Jenny N. 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background:
Childhood cancer survivors treated with platinum-based chemotherapy are at risk of treatment-induced hearing loss. Accurate evaluation of hearing thresholds has historically been limited to clinical audiometry, which is logistically challenging and expensive to include in epidemiologic studies. We evaluated the feasibility of using a remote, tablet-based hearing assessment in a cohort of pediatric germ cell tumor survivors treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.

Methods:
Survivors from the GCT Outcomes and Late effects Data (GOLD) study were recruited to the pilot study (n = 100). Study personnel conducted remote hearing assessments of standard and extended high frequency thresholds using validated tablet-based audiometry (SHOEBOX, Inc.). T tests and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests evaluated differences in assessment characteristics between children and adults. Agreement between self-reported and measured hearing loss was calculated using Cohen κ.

Results:
We were able to reach 136/168 (81%) eligible participants, of which 100 (74%) agreed to participate. Successful completion of the remote hearing assessment was high [97%; 20 children (ages 7–17), 77 adults (ages 18–31)]. The mean assessment length was 37.6 minutes, and the mean turnaround time was 8.3 days. We observed hearing loss at standard frequencies in 21% of participants. Agreement between self-reported and measured hearing loss was significant (P value = 1.41 × 10−7), with 83.5% concordance.

Conclusions:
Hearing loss measured using the remote assessment aligns with self-reporting and rates of hearing loss reported in the literature for this population.

Impact:
Remote application of tablet-based audiometry is a feasible and efficacious method for measuring hearing in epidemiologic studies with participants spread across large geographic areas.