bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Astragalus mongholicus Bunge and Curcuma aromatica Salisb. modulate gut microbiome and bile acid metabolism to inhibit colon cancer progression
Authors: Wang Xu , Zhu Boyang , Hua Yongzhi , Sun Ruolan , Tan Xiying , Chang Xiangwei , Tang Decai , Gu Junfei 
Published: June 2024

IntroductionAlterations in the gut microbiome and bile acid metabolism are known to play a role in the development and progression of colon cancer. Medicinal plants like Astragalus mongholicus Bunge and Curcuma aromatica Salisb. (AC) have shown preferable therapeutic effect on cancer therapy, especially digestive tract tumors like colon cancer. However, the precise mechanisms of AC inhibiting colon cancer, particularly in relation to the gut microbiome and bile acid dynamics, are not fully understood.MethodsOur research aimed to investigate the anti-tumor properties of AC in mice with CT26 colon cancer and further investigate its underlying mechanism via intestinal microbiota. The size and pathological changes of solid tumors in colon cancer are used to evaluate the inhibitory effect of AC on colon cancer. Metagenomics and 16s rRNA gene sequencing were employed to clarify the dysbiosis in the gut microbiome of colon cancer and its impact on colon cancer. The levels of bile acids (BAs) in the feces of mice from each group were measured using UPLC-Qtrap-MS/MS.ResultsAC effectively suppressed the growth of colon cancer and reduced histological damage. Notably, AC treatment led to changes in the gut microbiome composition, with a decrease in pathogenic species like Citrobacter and Candidatus_Arthromitus, and an increase in beneficial microbial populations including Adlercreutzia, Lachnospiraceae_UCG-001, and Parvibacter. Additionally, AC altered bile acid profiles, resulting in a significant decrease in pro-carcinogenic bile acids such as deoxycholic acid (DCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA), while increasing the concentration of the cancer-inhibitory bile acid, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Tracking and analyzing the data, AC may mainly upregulate FabG and baiA genes by increasing the relative abundance of Adlercreutzia and Parvibacter bacteria, which promoting the metabolism of pro-carcinogenic LCA.DiscussionThese findings provide strong evidence supporting the role of AC in regulating gut microbiome-mediated bile acid metabolism, which is crucial in impeding the progression of colon cancer.
The research landscape of ferroptosis in neurodegenerative disease: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Liu Yun , Feng Dan , Shui Ling , Wang Yu-jie , Yu Li , Liu Yu-qi , Tian Jin-yong 
Published: June 2024

BackgroundFerroptosis, a newly proposed concept of programmed cell death, has garnered significant attention in research across different diseases in the last decade. Despite thorough citation analyses in neuroscience, there is a scarcity of information on ferroptosis research specifically related to neurodegenerative diseases.MethodThe Web of Science Core Collection database retrieved relevant articles and reviews. Data on publications, countries, institutions, authors, journals, citations, and keywords in the included studies were systematically analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2019 and CiteSpace 6.2.R7 software.ResultA comprehensive analysis and visualization of 563 research papers on ferroptosis in neurodegenerative diseases from 2014 to 2023 revealed emerging research hotspots and trends. The number of annual publications in this field of study has displayed a pattern of stabilization in the early years of the decade, followed by a notable increase in the later years and peaking in 2023 with 196 publications. Regarding publication volume and total citations, notable research contributions were observed from countries, institutions, and authors in North America, Western Europe, and China. Current research endeavors primarily focus on understanding the intervention mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases through the ferroptosis pathway and exploring and identifying potential therapeutic targets.ConclusionThe study highlights key areas of interest and emerging trends in ferroptosis research on neurodegenerative diseases, offering valuable insights for further exploration and potential directions for diagnosing and treating such conditions.
Neural dynamics of delayed feedback in robot teleoperation: insights from fNIRS analysis
Authors: Zhou Tianyu , Ye Yang , Zhu Qi , Vann William , Du Jing 
Published: June 2024

IntroductionAs robot teleoperation increasingly becomes integral in executing tasks in distant, hazardous, or inaccessible environments, operational delays remain a significant obstacle. These delays, inherent in signal transmission and processing, adversely affect operator performance, particularly in tasks requiring precision and timeliness. While current research has made strides in mitigating these delays through advanced control strategies and training methods, a crucial gap persists in understanding the neurofunctional impacts of these delays and the efficacy of countermeasures from a cognitive perspective.MethodsThis study addresses the gap by leveraging functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine the neurofunctional implications of simulated haptic feedback on cognitive activity and motor coordination under delayed conditions. In a human-subject experiment (N = 41), sensory feedback was manipulated to observe its influences on various brain regions of interest (ROIs) during teleoperation tasks. The fNIRS data provided a detailed assessment of cerebral activity, particularly in ROIs implicated in time perception and the execution of precise movements.ResultsOur results reveal that the anchoring condition, which provided immediate simulated haptic feedback with a delayed visual cue, significantly optimized neural functions related to time perception and motor coordination. This condition also improved motor performance compared to the asynchronous condition, where visual and haptic feedback were misaligned.DiscussionThese findings provide empirical evidence about the neurofunctional basis of the enhanced motor performance with simulated synthetic force feedback in the presence of teleoperation delays. The study highlights the potential for immediate haptic feedback to mitigate the adverse effects of operational delays, thereby improving the efficacy of teleoperation in critical applications.
Effects of exoskeleton-assisted walking on bowel function in motor-complete spinal cord injury patients: involvement of the brain–gut axis, a pilot study
Authors: Hu Xiaomin , Feng Jing , Lu Jiachun , Pang Rizhao , Zhang Anren , Liu Jiancheng , Gou Xiang , Bai Xingang , Wang Junyu , Chang Cong , Yin Jie , Wang Yunyun , Xiao Hua , Wang Qian , Cheng Hong , Chang Youjun , Wang Wenchun 
Published: June 2024

Evidence has demonstrated that exoskeleton robots can improve intestinal function in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unelucidated. This study investigated the effects of exoskeleton-assisted walking (EAW) on intestinal function and intestinal flora structure in T2-L1 motor complete paraplegia patients. The results showed that five participants in the EAW group and three in the conventional group reported improvements in at least one bowel management index, including an increased frequency of bowel evacuations, less time spent on bowel management per day, and less external assistance (manual digital stimulation, medication, and enema usage). After 8 weeks of training, the amount of glycerol used in the EAW group decreased significantly (p &lt;0.05). The EAW group showed an increasing trend in the neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) score after 8 weeks of training, while the conventional group showed a worsening trend. Patients who received the EAW intervention exhibited a decreased abundance of Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia, while Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were upregulated. In addition, there were decreases in the abundances of Bacteroides, Prevotella, Parabacteroides, Akkermansia, Blautia, Ruminococcus 2, and Megamonas. In contrast, Ruminococcus 1, Ruminococcaceae UCG002, Faecalibacterium, Dialister, Ralstonia, Escherichia-Shigella, and Bifidobacterium showed upregulation among the top 15 genera. The abundance of Ralstonia was significantly higher in the EAW group than in the conventional group, and Dialister increased significantly in EAW individuals at 8 weeks. This study suggests that EAW can improve intestinal function of SCI patients in a limited way, and may be associated with changes in the abundance of intestinal flora, especially an increase in beneficial bacteria. In the future, we need to further understand the changes in microbial groups caused by EAW training and all related impact mechanisms, especially intestinal flora metabolites.Clinical trial registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn/.
Effect of repeated intraperitoneal injections of different concentrations of oxycodone on immune function in mice
Authors: Chen Sumeng , Liu Jingjing , Huang Shaoqiang 
Published: June 2024

BackgroundThe effect of oxycodone as an opioid receptor agonist on immune function is still controversial. In this study, we investigated the possible effects of oxycodone on immune function in mice and its possible mechanisms of action.MethodsBy repeated intraperitoneal injections of 25 mg/kg morphine and 5 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, and 60 mg/kg oxycodone, we assessed possible changes in the number of splenic lymphocytes and inflammatory cytokines in the serum of mice. CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells were sorted from the spleen to observe whether the expression levels of opioid receptors and downstream signals were altered.ResultsRepeated administration of oxycodone at a dose above 20 mg/kg resulted in significant weight loss. Repeated administration of oxycodone exhibits significant dose-dependent reduction in CD4+ T cells, with little effect on CD8+ T cells and little effect on inflammatory cytokine levels. Low- and intermediate-dose oxycodone increased the mRNA expression level of MOR, KOR, and DOR to varying degrees. Moreover, oxycodone increases the mRNA expression levels of the TLR4 signaling pathway to varying degrees.ConclusionRepeated intraperitoneal injection of oxycodone induces immunosuppression in mice.
Converging forms: an examination of sub-Arctic, circumarctic, and Central Asian Ranunculus auricomus agg. populations
Authors: Bradican John Paul , Tomasello Salvatore , Vollmer Judith , Hörandl Elvira 
Published: June 2024

IntroductionPhenotypic complexity in species complexes and recently radiated lineages has resulted in a diversity of forms that have historically been classified into separate taxa. Increasingly, with the proliferation of high-throughput sequencing methods, additional layers of complexity have been recognized, such as frequent hybridization and reticulation, which may call into question the previous morphological groupings of closely related organisms.MethodsWe investigated Northern European, Asian, and Beringian populations of Ranunculus auricomus agg. with phylogenomic analysis of 736 genes and 27,586 SNPs in order to deduce the interrelatedness and hybrid origin of this phenotypically and taxonomically complicated group from Europe characterized by a history of hybridization, polyploidy, apomixis, and recent radiation. The ploidy levels and the reproductive mode of the Northern European populations were assessed via flow cytometric seed screening. In addition, in order to examine the phenotypic plasticity of the dwarf forms previously described as species and summarized as the Ranunculus monophyllus group, we conducted climate chamber experiments under cold (northern) and warm (temperate) conditions.ResultsThe Northern European populations are tetra- to hexaploid and propagate primarily through apomixis. The complex is characterized by highly reticulate relationships. Genetic differentiation of the main clusters has occurred between the above-mentioned geographical regions. We find evidence for the hybrid origin of the taxa in these areas with differing genomic contributions from the geographically nearest European sexual progenitor species. Furthermore, polyphyly in the taxa of the R. monophyllus group is supported. Experiments show low lability in the traits associated with the R. monophyllus group.DiscussionWe conclude that multiple adaptations of hybrids to colder climates and shorter vegetation periods have shaped the phenotypes of the R. monophyllus group, and we suggest a formal classification as nothotaxa within the R. auricomus group.
Active aging and health among older adults in China: a perspective based on downward intergenerational economic support
Authors: Yuanfeng Liu , Xu Zhang 
Published: June 2024

IntroductionIn China, the rapid progression of population aging presents significant challenges to society and the economy, drawing widespread attention to the health conditions of older adults. While aging is often seen as a societal burden, the phenomenon of intergenerational economic support reveals the potential for older adults to continue playing an active role within their families. This study delves into how older parents’ financial support to their children can reciprocally influence their own health, exploring the potential non-linear relationships involved.MethodsThis research, utilizing data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, employs instrumental variable techniques and cross-sectional threshold models to examine how financial support provided by older adults to their children affects their health. It particularly highlights the varied impacts of economic support on older adults’ health at different levels of support.ResultsThe findings indicate that moderate intergenerational economic support significantly enhances the health of older adults, while either minimal or excessive financial support does not demonstrate the same positive effect. Additionally, subjective life expectancy plays a mediating role between intergenerational economic support and the health of older adults, further emphasizing the beneficial impact of economic support.DiscussionThe study underscores the importance of moderate intergenerational economic support in improving the health of older adults amidst aging challenges. Future policies and practices should consider how to encourage and optimize such support to address the challenges of an aging society, enhance the welfare of older adults, and promote healthy aging.
Barriers and facilitators to screen for and address social needs in primary care practices in Maryland: a qualitative study
Authors: Kazi Sadaf , Starling Claire , Milicia Arianna , Buckley Bryan , Grisham Rachel , Gruber Emily , Miller Kristen , Arem Hannah 
Published: June 2024

BackgroundSocial needs screening can help modify care delivery to meet patient needs and address non-medical barriers to optimal health. However, there is a need to understand how factors that exist at multiple levels of the healthcare ecosystem influence the collection of these data in primary care settings.MethodsWe conducted 20 semi-structured interviews involving healthcare providers and primary care clinic staff who represented 16 primary care practices. Interviews focused on barriers and facilitators to awareness of and assistance for patients' social needs in primary care settings in Maryland. The interviews were coded to abstract themes highlighting barriers and facilitators to conducting social needs screening. The themes were organized through an inductive approach using the socio-ecological model delineating individual-, clinic-, and system-level barriers and facilitators to identifying and addressing patients' social needs.ResultsWe identified several individual barriers to awareness, including patient stigma about verbalizing social needs, provider frustration at eliciting needs they were unable to address, and provider unfamiliarity with community-based resources to address social needs. Clinic-level barriers to awareness included limited appointment times and connecting patients to appropriate community-based organizations. System-level barriers to awareness included navigating documentation challenges on the electronic health record.ConclusionsOvercoming barriers to effective screening for social needs in primary care requires not only practice- and provider-level process change but also an alignment of community resources and advocacy of policies to redistribute community assets to address social needs.
Effects of multiple relaxation times in the annular flow of pulsatile electro-osmotic flow of a complex biological fluid: blood with low and high cholesterol
Authors: Herrera-Valencia Edtson Emilio , Ramírez-Torres Luis Antonio , Soriano-Correa Catalina , Sánchez-Villavicencio Mayra Luz , Bautista Oscar , Hernández-Abad Vicente Jesús , Calderas Fausto 
Published: June 2024

This study investigates the electro-osmotic flow of a biological fluid (blood with varying cholesterol levels) in annular flow to simulate a first approximation to arterial occlusion. The fluid´s rheology is characterized by a multi-modal convected Maxwell model equation. The charge density follows the Boltzmann distribution, governing the electrical field. Mathematically, this scenario can be modeled by the Poisson–Boltzmann partial differential equation. Assuming a small zeta potential (less than 25 mV) using the Debye–Huckel approximation and considering a pulsatile electrical field, analytical solutions are derived using the Fourier transform formalism. These solutions, expressed in terms of the modified Bessel function, provide transfer functions for axial velocity and volumetric flow as functions of material parameters represented by characteristic dimensionless numbers. This study further analyzes thermal, electric, inertial, viscoelastic, and various interactions within the plasma, hematocrit, hematocrit–cholesterol, and cholesterol–cholesterol as well as weight concentration through numerical simulations. Finally, the flow and rheology predictions are validated using experimental data on human blood with varying cholesterol levels. The obtained transfer functions reveal that the electric–thermal–viscoelastic effects and the multiple geometric relationships contribute to the dynamic response of the interactions between the input electrical field and output volumetric flow and shear stress functions, leading to and evolution of resonance curves. It is noteworthy that electro-osmotic flow in blood with pathologies associated with low and high cholesterol has been scarcely reported in the literature on rheology. Thus, this work represents a significant contribution to the field.
FFT-Based Probability Density Imaging of Euler Solutions
Authors: Cao Shujin , Chen Peng , Lu Guangyin , Ma Zhiyuan , Yang Bo , Chen Xinyue 
Published: June 2024

When using traditional Euler deconvolution optimization strategies, it is difficult to distinguish between anomalies and their corresponding Euler tails (those solutions are often distributed outside the anomaly source, forming “tail”-shaped spurious solutions, i.e., misplaced Euler solutions, which must be removed or marked) with only the structural index. The nonparametric estimation method based on the normalized B-spline probability density (BSS) is used to separate the Euler solution clusters and mark different anomaly sources according to the similarity and density characteristics of the Euler solutions. For display purposes, the BSS needs to map the samples onto the estimation grid at the points where density will be estimated in order to obtain the probability density distribution. However, if the size of the samples or the estimation grid is too large, this process can lead to high levels of memory consumption and excessive computation times. To address this issue, a fast linear binning approximation algorithm is introduced in the BSS to speed up the computation process and save time. Subsequently, the sample data are quickly projected onto the estimation grid to facilitate the discrete convolution between the grid and the density function using a fast Fourier transform. A method involving multivariate B-spline probability density estimation based on the FFT (BSSFFT), in conjunction with fast linear binning appropriation, is proposed in this paper. The results of two random normal distributions show the correctness of the BSS and BSSFFT algorithms, which is verified via a comparison with the true probability density function (pdf) and Gaussian kernel smoothing estimation algorithms. Then, the Euler solutions of the two synthetic models are analyzed using the BSS and BSSFFT algorithms. The results are consistent with their theoretical values, which verify their correctness regarding Euler solutions. Finally, the BSSFFT is applied to Bishop 5X data, and the numerical results show that the comprehensive analysis of the 3D probability density distributions using the BSSFFT algorithm, derived from the Euler solution subset of x0,y0,z0, can effectively separate and locate adjacent anomaly sources, demonstrating strong adaptability.
Mamluk Sacred Topography: Strategy and Practice of Power Representation
Authors: Илюшина М.Ю. 
Published: June 2024

Султанат мамлюков был образован рабами-воинами в Египте в середине XIII в. и просуществовал более 250 лет. Разгром армии Людовика IX в 1250 г. и победа при ʿАйн Джалуте в 1260 г. дали мамлюкам право считать себя подлинными владыками одной из самых могущественных держав Ближнего Востока. Период правления мамлюкских султанов (1250–1517) был отмечен строительством многочисленных и весьма заметных до сих пор в современном ландшафте Каира, который был столицей Султаната, погребальных сооружений – мавзолеев. Вокруг них формировались большие или малые религиозные комплексы, которые включали мечеть или медресе, суфийскую обитель, библиотеку. Мавзолеи становились местом сакрального притяжения для самих мамлюков, но вместе с тем участвовали в формировании пространства, имевшего сакральный характер для всего населения Египта. Особое значение приобрели погребальные религиозные комплексы в период правления черкесских султанов (1382–1517). Свергнув своих предшественников Бахритов-Калаунидов (1250–1382) и отступив от династийного принципа престолонаследия, они нуждались в дополнительных источниках укрепления легитимности власти и активно поддерживали деятельность исламских религиозных и образовательных учреждений, а величественные мавзолеи как ориентиры памяти и незыблемые городские доминанты отчасти компенсировали недостаток стабильности в условиях нединастийного перехода власти.
The Mamluk Sultanate was formed by slave warriors in Egypt in the mid-13th century and existed for more than 250 years. The defeat of the army of Louis IX in 1250 and the victory at Ain Jalut in 1260 gave the Mamluks the right to consider themselves the true rulers of one of the most powerful powers in the Middle East. The period of the reign of the Mamluk sultans (1250–1517) was marked by the construction of numerous mausoleums that are still very noticeable in the modern landscape of Cairo, which was the capital of the Sultanate. Large or small religious complexes were formed around them, which included a mosque or madrasah, a Sufi monastery, or a library. Mausoleums became a place of sacred attraction for the Mamluks themselves, but, at the same time, they participated in the formation of a space that had a sacred character for the entire population of Egypt. Funeral religious complexes acquired particular importance during the reign of the Circassian Mamluk sultans (1382–1517). Having overthrown their predecessors, the Bahri-Qalawnids (1250–1382) and retreated from the dynastic principle of succession to the throne, the Circassian Mamluks needed additional sources of strengthening the legitimacy of power and actively supported the activities of Islamic religious and educational institutions, and the majestic mausoleums as landmarks of memory and unshakable urban dominants partly compensated for the lack of stability in conditions of non-dynasty transition of power.