bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with health-related quality of life among community-dwelling older adults: the APPCARE study
Authors: Bally Esmée L. S. , Korenhof Sophie A. , Ye Lizhen , van Grieken Amy , Tan Siok Swan , Mattace-Raso Francesco , Procaccini Elena , Alhambra-Borrás Tamara , Raat Hein 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThis study aimed to identify the factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among community-dwelling older adults. Physical and mental HRQOL were measured by the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) at baseline and follow-up. Linear regression models were used to evaluate associations between socio-demographic, health, and lifestyle factors and HRQOL. The sample included 661 participants (mean age = 77.4 years). Frailty was negatively associated with physical HRQOL (B = − 5.56; P < 0.001) and mental HRQOL (B = − 6.65; P < 0.001). Participants with a higher score on activities of daily living (ADL) limitations had lower physical HRQOL (B = − 0.63; P < 0.001) and mental HRQOL (B = − 0.18; P = 0.001). Female sex (B = − 2.38; P < 0.001), multi-morbidity (B = − 2.59; P = 0.001), and a high risk of medication-related problems (B = − 2.84; P < 0.001) were associated with lower physical HRQOL, and loneliness (B = − 3.64; P < 0.001) with lower mental HRQOL. In contrast, higher age (B = 2.07; P = 0.011) and living alone (B = 3.43; P < 0.001) were associated with better mental HRQOL in the multivariate models. Future interventions could be tailored to subpopulations with relatively poor self-reported HRQOL, such as frail or lonely older adults to improve their HRQOL.
Detecting and monitoring concerns against HPV vaccination on social media using large language models
Authors: Rai Sunny , Kornides Melanie , Morgan Jennifer , Kumar Aman , Cappella Joseph , Guntuku Sharath Chandra 
Published: June 2024

AbstractHealth risks due to preventable infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV) are exacerbated by persistent vaccine hesitancy. Due to limited sample sizes and the time needed to roll out, traditional methodologies like surveys and interviews offer restricted insights into quickly evolving vaccine concerns. Social media platforms can serve as fertile ground for monitoring vaccine-related conversations and detecting emerging concerns in a scalable and dynamic manner. Using state-of-the-art large language models, we propose a minimally supervised end-to-end approach to identify concerns against HPV vaccination from social media posts. We detect and characterize the concerns against HPV vaccination pre- and post-2020 to understand the evolution of HPV vaccine discourse. Upon analyzing 653 k HPV-related post-2020 tweets, adverse effects, personal anecdotes, and vaccine mandates emerged as the dominant themes. Compared to pre-2020, there is a shift towards personal anecdotes of vaccine injury with a growing call for parental consent and transparency. The proposed approach provides an end-to-end system, i.e. given a collection of tweets, a list of prevalent concerns is returned, providing critical insights for crafting targeted interventions, debunking messages, and informing public health campaigns.
Proof-of-concept study evaluating humoral primary immunodeficiencies via CJ:KREC ratio and serum BAFF level
Authors: Ochfeld Elisa , Khojah Amer , Marin Wilfredo , Morgan Gabrielle , Pachman Lauren M. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractHumoral primary immunodeficiencies are the most prevalent form of primary immunodeficiency (PID). Currently, there is no convenient method to quantify newly formed B cells. The aim of this proof-of-concept study was to quantitate the ratio of coding joints (CJs) to Kappa-deleting recombination excision circles (KRECs) and serum B cell activating factor (BAFF) in patients with humoral primary immunodeficiency and assess if they correlate with disease severity. This IRB-approved study was conducted at one academic children’s hospital. Patients with humoral PIDs and healthy controls were included. CJ and KREC levels were measured via qPCR. Serum BAFF levels were measured using Mesoscale. 16 patients with humoral PID and 5 healthy controls were included. The mean CJ:KREC ratio in the CVID, antibody deficiency syndromes, and controls groups, respectively were 13.04 ± 9.5, 5.25 ± 4.1, and 4.38 ± 2.5 (p = 0.059). The mean serum BAFF levels in CVID, antibody deficiency syndromes and controls were 216.3 ± 290 pg/mL, 107.9 ± 94 pg/mL and 50.9 ± 12 pg/mL, respectively (p = 0.271). When the CVID patients were subdivided into CVID with or without lymphoproliferative features, the BAFF level was substantially higher in the CVID with lymphoproliferation cohort (mean 372.4 ± 361 pg/mL, p = 0.031). Elevated CJ:KREC ratio was observed in CVID, although statistical significance was not achieved, likely due to the small sample size. Serum BAFF levels were significantly higher in CVID patients with lymphoproliferative features. We speculate that the CJ:KREC ratio and serum BAFF levels can be utilized in patients with humoral PID, once more extensive studies confirm this exploratory investigation.
A pilot study of a joint outdoor exercise program for dog owners and dogs
Authors: Smedberg K. , Lundbeck E. , Roman E. , Eriksson J. W. , Spörndly-Nees S. , Kallings L. V. , Bergh A. , Söder J. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIncreasing levels of physical inactivity is a global burden for mankind and is also an emerging problem in companion dogs. In both humans and dogs, insufficient physical activity is associated with increased risk for noncommunicable diseases and impaired quality of life (QoL). The aim of the current pilot study was to evaluate effects of a joint outdoor exercise program for dog owners (n = 22) and dogs (n = 22) with focus on QoL and body measurements. Results indicate that an eight-week exercise intervention alone, with a target distance of at least 2 km twice a week, may be sufficient to significantly increase self-reported QoL and acceptance of bodily appearance in dog owners despite no reductions in body measurements. In dogs, a significantly reduced body condition score (BCS) was registered, despite no considerable changes in feeding. The increased owner motivation for continued joint exercise suggests potential for lifestyle changes, which could be investigated in future studies including control groups and long-term follow-ups. The importance of the human-animal bond as a success factor for increased mutual physical activity and health benefits in both dog owners and dogs is recommended to be studied in a more in-depth manner.
Boswellia carterii n-hexane extract suppresses breast cancer growth via induction of ferroptosis by downregulated GPX4 and upregulated transferrin
Authors: Xie Jinxin , Huang Huiming , Wei Xuejiao , Tan Peng , Ouyang Lishan , Wang Longyan , Liu Dongxiao , Wang Fei , Wang Zhuguo , Tu Pengfei , Li Jun , Zha Xiaojun , Hu Zhongdong 
Published: June 2024

AbstractBreast cancer (BC) remains a significant health concern for women globally, prompting the relentless pursuit of novel therapeutic modalities. As a traditional Chinese medicine, Boswellia carterii has been extensively used to treat various cancers, such as BC. However, the anti-BC effect and underlying mechanism of Boswellia carterii remain largely unclear. The aim of this study is to explore the therapeutic effect of Boswellia carterii n-hexane extract (BCHE) against BC as well as its underlying mechanism. The present study showed that BCHE significantly suppressed the viability of human BC cells. Moreover, BCHE exhibited potent anti-BC activity in vivo with no significant toxic effects. Additionally, BCHE induced ferroptosis via increased Transferrin expression and the intracellular accumulation of Fe2+, as well as decreased glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) expression and the upregulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced lipid peroxidation in BC cells. In vivo experimental results also demonstrated that BCHE effectively induced ferroptosis through GPX4 downregulation and Transferrin upregulation in tumor-bearing mice. Overall, BCHE inhibited the growth of BC cells by inducing ferroptosis mediated by modulating the iron accumulation pathway and the lipid peroxidation pathway. Therefore, BCHE could serve as a potential ferroptosis-targeting drug for treating BC.
Progressive degeneration in a new Drosophila model of spinocerebellar ataxia type 7
Authors: Sujkowski Alyson , Ranxhi Bedri , Bangash Zoya R. , Chbihi Zachary M. , Prifti Matthew V. , Qadri Zaina , Alam Nadir , Todi Sokol V. , Tsou Wei-Ling 
Published: June 2024

AbstractSpinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder resulting from abnormal expansion of an uninterrupted polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat in its disease protein, ataxin-7 (ATXN7). ATXN7 is part of Spt-Ada-Gcn5 acetyltransferase (SAGA), an evolutionarily conserved transcriptional coactivation complex with critical roles in chromatin remodeling, cell signaling, neurodifferentiation, mitochondrial health and autophagy. SCA7 is dominantly inherited and characterized by genetic anticipation and high repeat-length instability. Patients with SCA7 experience progressive ataxia, atrophy, spasticity, and blindness. There is currently no cure for SCA7, and therapies are aimed at alleviating symptoms to increase quality of life. Here, we report novel Drosophila lines of SCA7 with polyQ repeats in wild-type and human disease patient range. We find that ATXN7 expression has age- and polyQ repeat length-dependent reduction in fruit fly survival and retinal instability, concomitant with increased ATXN7 protein aggregation. These new lines will provide important insight on disease progression that can be used in the future to identify therapeutic targets for SCA7 patients.
The risk of herpes zoster is positively associated with obesity, especially morbid obesity
Authors: Chen Hsiao-Lan , Chen Chia-Hung , Hsieh Wen-Che , Huang Yu-Han , Hsu Tzu-Ju , Tsai Fuu-Jen , Cheng Yung-Chi , Hsu Chao-Yu 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the association between obesity and herpes zoster (HZ) occurrence. This study used data covering 2 million people in Taiwan in 2000, which were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database. The cohort study observed aged 20–100 years with obesity from 2000 to 2017 (tracking to 2018). Obesity was indicated by the presence of two or more outpatient diagnoses or at least one admission record. And, obesity was categorized into non-morbid obesity and morbid obesity. Patients with HZ before the index date were excluded. The obesity cohort and control cohort were matched 1:1 according to age, sex, comorbidities, and index year. There were 18,855 patients in both the obesity and control cohorts. The obesity cohort [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.09] had a higher risk of HZ than the control cohort. Further analysis, the morbid obesity group (aHR 1.47), had a significantly higher risk of HZ than the non-morbid obesity group. Among the patients without any comorbidities, the patients with obesity had a significantly higher risk of developing HZ than the patients without obesity (aHR 1.18). Obese patients are at a higher risk of HZ development, especially in the patients with morbid obesity. Weight reduction is critical for preventing the onset of chronic diseases and decreasing the risk of HZ in patients with obesity.
The impact of astrocytic NF-κB on healthy and Alzheimer’s disease brains
Authors: Jong Huat Tee , Camats-Perna Judith , Newcombe Estella A. , Onraet Tessa , Campbell Daniel , Sucic Josiah T. , Martini Alessandra , Forner Stefânia , Mirzaei Mehdi , Poon Wayne , LaFerla Frank M. , Medeiros Rodrigo 
Published: June 2024

AbstractAstrocytes play a role in healthy cognitive function and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The transcriptional factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) drives astrocyte diversity, but the mechanisms are not fully understood. By combining studies in human brains and animal models and selectively manipulating NF-κB function in astrocytes, we deepened the understanding of the role of astrocytic NF-κB in brain health and AD. In silico analysis of bulk and cell-specific transcriptomic data revealed the association of NF-κB and astrocytes in AD. Confocal studies validated the higher level of p50 NF-κB and phosphorylated-p65 NF-κB in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)+-astrocytes in AD versus non-AD subjects. In the healthy mouse brain, chronic activation of astrocytic NF-κB disturbed the proteomic milieu, causing a loss of mitochondrial-associated proteins and the rise of inflammatory-related proteins. Sustained NF-κB signaling also led to microglial reactivity, production of pro-inflammatory mediators, and buildup of senescence-related protein p16INK4A in neurons. However, in an AD mouse model, NF-κB inhibition accelerated β-amyloid and tau accumulation. Molecular biology studies revealed that astrocytic NF-κB activation drives the increase in GFAP and inflammatory proteins and aquaporin-4, a glymphatic system protein that assists in mitigating AD. Our investigation uncovered fundamental mechanisms by which NF-κB enables astrocytes' neuroprotective and neurotoxic responses in the brain.
Experimental investigation of the influence of mine water on mechanical properties of resin grout
Authors: He Yafei , Liu Shaowei , Zhai Xinxian , Li Xiaopeng , Hou Biao , Wang Baohua 
Published: June 2024

AbstractResin grout is widely used in geotechnical and underground engineering, and is often affected by different mine water solutions. This study considered the effects of different mine water solutions and soaking times on resin grout. Soaking tests and uniaxial compression tests were conducted to investigate the changes in the solution pH, relative specimen mass, and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), and the deterioration of the resin grout’s mechanical properties caused by the mine water solution was analyzed. The corrosion mechanism of resin grout under the action of different mine water solutions was investigated through scanning electron microscopy tests. The results reveal that the pH value of the solution and the relative mass of the specimen gradually stabilized as the soaking time was extended, and the final solution was weakly alkaline. The increase in the acidity and alkalinity of the solution and the extension of the soaking time led to a gradual decrease in the UCS and elastic modulus of resin grout under the action of mine water. As the soaking was prolonged, the resin grout properties deteriorated to different degrees and Poisson’s ratio increased. Moreover, owing to the different types and degrees of mine water action on resin grout in different mine water environments, the changes in the resin grout microstructure were also different. The defined damage parameters can express the damage process of the resin grout’s UCS quantitatively under the action of mine water solution. Finally, beneficial engineering application countermeasures are proposed for different resin grout types used in roadway support applications in coal mines.
Temozolomide promotes matrix metalloproteinase 9 expression through p38 MAPK and JNK pathways in glioblastoma cells
Authors: Thanh Hien Duong , Lee Sueun , Nguyen Thuy Thi , Huu Thang Nguyen , Ahn Eun-Jung , Cho Sang-Hee , Kim Min Soo , Moon Kyung-Sub , Jung Chaeyong 
Published: June 2024

AbstractGlioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive and deadly brain cancer. Temozolomide (TMZ) is the standard chemotherapeutic agent for GBM, but the majority of patients experience recurrence and invasion of tumor cells. We investigated whether TMZ treatment of GBM cells regulates matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which have the main function to promote tumor cell invasion. TMZ effectively killed GL261, U343, and U87MG cells at a concentration of 500 µM, and surviving cells upregulated MMP9 expression and its activity but not those of MMP2. TMZ also elevated levels of MMP9 mRNA and MMP9 promoter activity. Subcutaneous graft tumors survived from TMZ treatment also exhibited increased expression of MMP9 and enhanced gelatinolytic activity. TMZ-mediated MMP9 upregulation was specifically mediated through the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK. This then stimulates AP-1 activity through the upregulation of c-Fos and c-Jun. Inhibition of the p38, JNK, or both pathways counteracted the TMZ-induced upregulation of MMP9 and AP-1. This study proposes a potential adverse effect of TMZ treatment for GBM: upregulation of MMP9 expression potentially associated with increased invasion and poor prognosis. This study also provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms by which TMZ treatment leads to increased MMP9 expression in GBM cells.
Validation and application of computer vision algorithms for video-based tremor analysis
Authors: Friedrich Maximilian U. , Roenn Anna-Julia , Palmisano Chiara , Alty Jane , Paschen Steffen , Deuschl Guenther , Ip Chi Wang , Volkmann Jens , Muthuraman Muthuraman , Peach Robert , Reich Martin M. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractTremor is one of the most common neurological symptoms. Its clinical and neurobiological complexity necessitates novel approaches for granular phenotyping. Instrumented neurophysiological analyses have proven useful, but are highly resource-intensive and lack broad accessibility. In contrast, bedside scores are simple to administer, but lack the granularity to capture subtle but relevant tremor features. We utilise the open-source computer vision pose tracking algorithm Mediapipe to track hands in clinical video recordings and use the resulting time series to compute canonical tremor features. This approach is compared to marker-based 3D motion capture, wrist-worn accelerometry, clinical scoring and a second, specifically trained tremor-specific algorithm in two independent clinical cohorts. These cohorts consisted of 66 patients diagnosed with essential tremor, assessed in different task conditions and states of deep brain stimulation therapy. We find that Mediapipe-derived tremor metrics exhibit high convergent clinical validity to scores (Spearman’s ρ = 0.55–0.86, p≤ .01) as well as an accuracy of up to 2.60 mm (95% CI [−3.13, 8.23]) and ≤0.21 Hz (95% CI [−0.05, 0.46]) for tremor amplitude and frequency measurements, matching gold-standard equipment. Mediapipe, but not the disease-specific algorithm, was capable of analysing videos involving complex configurational changes of the hands. Moreover, it enabled the extraction of tremor features with diagnostic and prognostic relevance, a dimension which conventional tremor scores were unable to provide. Collectively, this demonstrates that current computer vision algorithms can be transformed into an accurate and highly accessible tool for video-based tremor analysis, yielding comparable results to gold standard tremor recordings.
Dynamic control of active droplets using light-responsive chiral liquid crystal environment
Authors: Jirón Vanessa , Rajabi Mojtaba , Wang Hao , Lavrentovich Oleg D. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractMicroscopic active droplets are of interest since they can be used to transport matter from one point to another. In this work, we demonstrate an approach to control the direction of active droplet propulsion by a photoresponsive cholesteric liquid crystal environment. The active droplet represents a water dispersion of bacterial Bacillus subtilis microswimmers. When placed in a cholesteric, a surfactant-stabilized active droplet distorts the local director field, producing a point defect-hedgehog, with fore-aft asymmetry, and allows for the chaotic motion of the bacteria inside the droplet to be rectified into directional motion. When the pitch of the cholesteric confined in a sandwich-like cell is altered by light irradiation, the droplet trajectory realigns along a new direction. The strategy allows for a non-contact dynamic control of active droplets trajectories and demonstrates the advantage of orientationally ordered media in control of active matter over their isotropic counterparts.
Pd-catalysed direct β-C(sp3)–H fluorination of aliphatic carboxylic acids
Authors: Mal Sourjya , Jurk Friedrich , Hiesinger Kerstin , van Gemmeren Manuel 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe ever-increasing demand for fluorinated molecules due to their widespread applications has raised substantial interest in the development of new synthetic methodologies that selectively introduce fluorine into molecular scaffolds. While transition-metal-catalysed fluorination reactions in principle provide a direct means to convert inert C–H bonds into C–F bonds, fundamental challenges such as the high energetic barriers associated with the formation of C–F bonds by reductive elimination, among others, remain to be systematically addressed. Carboxylic acids, owing to their versatile synthetic utility in organic synthesis, serve as ideal model substrates in this context. Here we report a protocol that enables the β-C(sp3)–H fluorination of free carboxylic acids, giving access to a wide range of fluorinated carboxylic acids. The rational design of the oxidizing reagent proved to be crucial in establishing the protocol and introduces an additional design dimension to the field of C–H activation.
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER): a crucial cellular hub in flavivirus infection and potential target site for antiviral interventions
Authors: Verhaegen Marijke , Vermeire Kurt 
Published: June 2024

AbstractDengue virus (DENV) is the most prevalent arthropod-borne flavivirus and imposes a significant healthcare threat worldwide. At present no FDA-approved specific antiviral treatment is available, and the safety of a vaccine against DENV is still on debate. Following its entry into the host cell, DENV takes advantage of the cellular secretory pathway to produce new infectious particles. The key organelle of the host cell in DENV infections is the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) which supports various stages throughout the entire life cycle of flaviviruses. This review delves into the intricate interplay between flaviviruses and the ER during their life cycle with a focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying viral replication, protein processing and virion assembly. Emphasizing the significance of the ER in the flavivirus life cycle, we highlight potential antiviral targets in ER-related steps during DENV replication and summarize the current antiviral drugs that are in (pre)clinical developmental stage. Insights into the exploitation of the ER by DENV offer promising avenues for the development of targeted antiviral strategies, providing a foundation for future research and therapeutic interventions against flaviviruses.
Time‐optimal finite control set model predictive control of non‐isolated DC–DC converters
Authors: Harzig Thibaut , Grainger Brandon 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe authors propose a time‐optimal finite control‐set model predictive control (FCS‐MPC) formulation, generalised to the three most common non‐isolated DC–DC converters (buck, boost, buck–boost) tracking a constant switching frequency. The generalised switching model is used to formulate natural trajectories and the internal dynamic model for all three converters. The proposed FCS‐MPC also allows the control designer to implement current and voltage constraints to limit current spikes and voltage deviations, respectively. The proposed FCS‐MPC is compared to classical FCS‐MPC and boundary controllers that also use natural trajectories for time optimality but at the cost of large voltage deviations. Classical FCS‐MPC, time‐optimal boundary control and the proposed FCS‐MPC have been implemented in PLECS for all three converters. The current constraint does not impact control performance while the voltage constraint improves voltage deviation performances without significantly impacting the control speed compared to time‐optimal boundary control. Finally, a hardware implementation of the proposed FCS‐MPC on a buck converter proves that the control scheme is time optimal and mitigates current spikes while operating at a constant switching frequency at steady‐state.