bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PAR2‐mediated cellular senescence promotes inflammation and fibrosis in aging and chronic kidney disease
Authors: Ha Sugyeong , Kim Hyun Woo , Kim Kyung Mok , Kim Byeong Moo , Kim Jeongwon , Son Minjung , Kim Doyeon , Kim Mi‐Jeong , Yoo Jian , Yu Hak Sun , Jung Young‐Suk , Lee Jaewon , Chung Hae Young , Chung Ki Wung 
Published: April 2024

AbstractCellular senescence contributes to inflammatory kidney disease via the secretion of inflammatory and profibrotic factors. Protease‐activating receptor 2 (PAR2) is a key regulator of inflammation in kidney diseases. However, the relationship between PAR2 and cellular senescence in kidney disease has not yet been described. In this study, we found that PAR2‐mediated metabolic changes in renal tubular epithelial cells induced cellular senescence and increased inflammatory responses. Using an aging and renal injury model, PAR2 expression was shown to be associated with cellular senescence. Under in vitro conditions in NRK52E cells, PAR2 activation induces tubular epithelial cell senescence and senescent cells showed defective fatty acid oxidation (FAO). Cpt1α inhibition showed similar senescent phenotype in the cells, implicating the important role of defective FAO in senescence. Finally, we subjected mice lacking PAR2 to aging and renal injury. PAR2‐deficient kidneys are protected from adenine‐ and cisplatin‐induced renal fibrosis and injury, respectively, by reducing senescence and inflammation. Moreover, kidneys lacking PAR2 exhibited reduced numbers of senescent cells and inflammation during aging. These findings offer fresh insights into the mechanisms underlying renal senescence and indicate that targeting PAR2 or FAO may be a promising therapeutic approach for managing kidney injury.
Will Australia's tightened prescription system reduce nicotine vaping among young people?
Authors: Hall Wayne D. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundAustralia introduced a prescription only policy for e‐cigarettes in 2011 to prevent uptake among youth while allowing smokers to access e‐cigarettes for cessation. This is one of the restrictive forms of regulation for e‐cigarettes recommended by the World Health Organisation.AimsTo assess whether the policy has prevented e‐cigarette youth uptake and facilitated smokers' access to e‐cigarettes for cessation; and to examine a proposed toughening of the policy.MethodsAn analysis of survey and administrative data on e‐cigarette use and smoking and a critical analysis of the contents of submissions to parliamentary inquiries into the policy.ResultsE‐cigarette use among youth and young adults has increased steeply since 2016 but very few of these products have been obtained through the prescription system, because medical authorities discourage their use. A policy change in 2021 to increase the prescription of e‐cigarettes has not reduced e‐cigarette use among youth and only marginally increased rates of prescribing. Australian policy makers have nonetheless tightened the prescription system by banning any use of e‐cigarettes unless prescribed by a doctor and dispensed by a pharmacist.ImplicationsAustralia's tightened prescription policy for e‐cigarettes may reduce adolescent vaping but at the risk of reducing smokers' access to e‐cigarettes and increasing the size of the illicit market for combustible cigarettes and e‐cigarettes. A more effective policy would allow vapes to be sold as consumer products by licensed tobacconists under regulations that require prior product approval, plain packaging, bans on their promotion and enforced age restrictions on purchases.
The effects of inhaled corticosteroids on healthy airways
Authors: Marchi Emanuele , Hinks Timothy S. C. , Richardson Matthew , Khalfaoui Latifa , Symon Fiona A. , Rajasekar Poojitha , Clifford Rachel , Hargadon Beverley , Austin Cary D. , MacIsaac Julia L. , Kobor Michael S. , Siddiqui Salman , Mar Jordan S. , Arron Joseph R. , Choy David F. , Bradding Peter 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe effects of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on healthy airways are poorly defined.ObjectivesTo delineate the effects of ICS on gene expression in healthy airways, without confounding caused by changes in disease‐related genes and disease‐related alterations in ICS responsiveness.MethodsRandomized open‐label bronchoscopy study of high‐dose ICS therapy in 30 healthy adult volunteers randomized 2:1 to (i) fluticasone propionate 500 mcg bd daily or (ii) no treatment, for 4 weeks. Laboratory staff were blinded to allocation. Biopsies and brushings were analysed by immunohistochemistry, bulk RNA sequencing, DNA methylation array and metagenomics.ResultsICS induced small between‐group differences in blood and lamina propria eosinophil numbers, but not in other immunopathological features, blood neutrophils, FeNO, FEV1, microbiome or DNA methylation. ICS treatment upregulated 72 genes in brushings and 53 genes in biopsies, and downregulated 82 genes in brushings and 416 genes in biopsies. The most downregulated genes in both tissues were canonical markers of type‐2 inflammation (FCER1A, CPA3, IL33, CLEC10A, SERPINB10 and CCR5), T cell‐mediated adaptive immunity (TARP, TRBC1, TRBC2, PTPN22, TRAC, CD2, CD8A, HLA‐DQB2, CD96, PTPN7), B‐cell immunity (CD20, immunoglobulin heavy and light chains) and innate immunity, including CD48, Hobit, RANTES, Langerin and GFI1. An IL‐17‐dependent gene signature was not upregulated by ICS.ConclusionsIn healthy airways, 4‐week ICS exposure reduces gene expression related to both innate and adaptive immunity, and reduces markers of type‐2 inflammation. This implies that homeostasis in health involves tonic type‐2 signalling in the airway mucosa, which is exquisitely sensitive to ICS.
Advancing Front Surface Mapping
Authors: Livesu M. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWe present Advancing Front Mapping (AFM), a novel algorithm for the computation of injective maps to simple planar domains. AFM is inspired by the advancing front meshing paradigm, which is here revisited to operate on two embeddings at once, becoming a tool for compatible mesh generation. AFM extends the capabilities of existing robust approaches, supporting a broader set of embeddings (star‐shaped polygons) with a direct approach, without resorting to intermediate constructions. Our method only relies on two topological operators (split and flip) and on the computation of segment intersections, thus permitting to compute a valid embedding without solving any numerical problem. AFM is therefore easy to implement, debug and deploy. This article is mainly focused on the presentation of the compatible advancing front idea and on the demonstration that the algorithm provably converges to an injective map. We also complement our theoretical analysis with an extensive practical validation, executing more than one billion advancing front moves on 36K mapping tasks.
Practical Methods to Estimate Fabric Mechanics from Metadata
Authors: Dominguez‐Elvira H. , Nicas A. , Cirio G. , Rodriguez A. , Garces E. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractEstimating fabric mechanical properties is crucial to create realistic digital twins. Existing methods typically require testing physical fabric samples with expensive devices or cumbersome capture setups. In this work, we propose a method to estimate fabric mechanics just from known manufacturer metadata such as the fabric family, the density, the composition, and the thickness. Further, to alleviate the need to know the fabric family –which might be ambiguous or unknown for nonspecialists–we propose an end‐to‐end neural method that works with planar images of the textile as input. We evaluate our methods using extensive tests that include the industry standard Cusick and demonstrate that both of them produce drapes that strongly correlate with the ground truth estimates provided by lab equipment. Our method is the first to propose such a simple capture method for mechanical properties outperforming other methods that require testing the fabric in specific setups.
A Survey on Realistic Virtual Human Animations: Definitions, Features and Evaluations
Authors: Rekik Rim , Wuhrer Stefanie , Hoyet Ludovic , Zibrek Katja , Olivier Anne‐Hélène 
Published: April 2024

AbstractGenerating realistic animated virtual humans is a problem that has been extensively studied with many applications in different types of virtual environments. However, the creation process of such realistic animations is challenging, especially because of the number and variety of influencing factors, that should then be identified and evaluated. In this paper, we attempt to provide a clearer understanding of how the multiple factors that have been studied in the literature impact the level of realism of animated virtual humans, by providing a survey of studies assessing their realism. This includes a review of features that have been manipulated to increase the realism of virtual humans, as well as evaluation approaches that have been developed. As the challenges of evaluating animated virtual humans in a way that agrees with human perception are still active research problems, this survey further identifies important open problems and directions for future research.
Features and behaviours for weight loss in the Chilean cohort with obesity from the ACTION study
Authors: Cuevas Ada , Pardo Fabián , Alonso Rodrigo , Barros Eric , Rendón Adriana 
Published: April 2024

SummaryIn Latin America, obesity rates are among the highest in the world. Currently, people with obesity (PWO) receive suboptimal care due to several challenges and barriers. The international ACTION‐IO study aimed to identify perceptions, attitudes and behaviours of PWO and healthcare providers (HCP), and to assess potential barriers to effective obesity care. The aim of this subanalysis of the Chilean cohort was to compare their characteristics, perceptions, attitudes and behaviours according to the percentage of weight loss (lower weight loss [LWL; ≤10%] or higher weight loss [HWL; >10%] of basal weight). The ACTION‐IO survey was completed by 1000 Chilean PWO and 200 HCPs. Mean age of PWO was 38 years (range 18–75); 62% were female. The majority had class I obesity. HWL subgroup represented 17.2% of all Chilean subset. Specific characteristics of patients with HWL were identified (higher educational level, lower proportion of class III obesity, preference for consulting obesity specialists, considering conversations with HCP as very helpful). HWL patients reported higher rates of favourable outcomes following HCP advice and a higher probability of attending scheduled follow‐up visits. Certain demographic and behavioural variables (educational level, consultation to obesity specialists, adherence to HCP advice, follow‐up scheduled visits and becoming aware of the obesity state) may identify PWO with a higher probability of a greater weight loss.
Expanding the access to kidney transplantation: Strategies for kidney transplant programs
Authors: Nishio Lucar Angie G. , Patel Ankita , Mehta Shikha , Yadav Anju , Doshi Mona , Urbanski Megan A. , Concepcion Beatrice P. , Singh Neeraj , Sanders M. Lee , Basu Arpita , Harding Jessica L. , Rossi Ana , Adebiyi Oluwafisayo O. , Samaniego‐Picota Milagros , Woodside Kenneth J. , Parsons Ronald F. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractKidney transplantation is the most successful kidney replacement therapy available, resulting in improved recipient survival and societal cost savings. Yet, nearly 70 years after the first successful kidney transplant, there are still numerous barriers and untapped opportunities that constrain the access to transplant. The literature describing these barriers is extensive, but the practices and processes to solve them are less clear. Solutions must be multidisciplinary and be the product of strong partnerships among patients, their networks, health care providers, and transplant programs. Transparency in the referral, evaluation, and listing process as well as organ selection are paramount to build such partnerships. Providing early culturally congruent and patient‐centered education as well as maximizing the use of local resources to facilitate the transplant work up should be prioritized. Every opportunity to facilitate pre‐emptive kidney transplantation and living donation must be taken. Promoting the use of telemedicine and kidney paired donation as standards of care can positively impact the work up completion and maximize the chances of a living donor kidney transplant.
Life history and overwintering in multi‐ and univoltine species of family Tephritidae in a subtropical region of northwestern Argentina
Authors: Moyano Andrea , Van Nieuwenhove Guido , Diaz Viviana , Abraham Solana , Ovruski Sergio , Rull Juan 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAmong phytophagous insects, life history often evolves as a strategy to cope with seasonality in host plant availability. Whereas specialization often leads to dormancy, aestivation, or longevity, polyphagous species bridge between periods of host availability by exploiting alternative host plants. The aim of the present work was to characterize the life histories of four species of specialist and generalist uni‐ and multivoltine frugivorous fruit flies – Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann, Anastrepha fraterculus Wiedemann, Rhagoletis blanchardi Aczel, and Rhagoletotrypeta pastranai Aczel (all Diptera: Tephritidae) – inhabiting in sympatry in Las Yungas phytogeographical province in Tucumán (northwestern Argentina). For this purpose, infested host plant fruits were sequentially collected during two consecutive years, and flies recovered from these fruits were subjected to demographic experiments to establish longevity and overwintering mechanisms. The results indicated that life cycles were tightly related to host fruit availability, where multivoltine species sequentially exploit different host plants over the year, whereas univoltine species must undergo pupal dormancy to reach the next host fructification period and may extend the duration of dormancy when climatic conditions are acyclic and unpredictable. The present study may broaden knowledge about diapausing Tephritidae in subtropical regions and may contribute to an increased conceptual basis for the improvement of pest control strategies, such as the sterile insect technique (SIT).
Clinical and neuroimaging characteristics of primary lateral sclerosis with overlapping features of progressive supranuclear palsy
Authors: Badihian Negin , Gatto Rodolfo G. , Satoh Ryota , Ali Farwa , Clark Heather M. , Pham Nha Trang Thu , Whitwell Jennifer L. , Josephs Keith A. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackground and purposePrimary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects the central motor system. In rare cases, clinical features of PLS may overlap with those of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). We investigate neuroimaging features that can help distinguish PLS with overlapping features of PSP (PLS‐PSP) from PSP.MethodsSix patients with PLS‐PSP were enrolled between 2019 and 2023. We compared their clinical and neuroimaging characteristics with 18 PSP–Richardson syndrome (PSP‐RS) patients and 20 healthy controls. Magnetic resonance imaging, 18F‐flortaucipir positron emission tomography (PET), quantitative susceptibility mapping, and diffusion tensor imaging tractography (DTI) were performed to evaluate eight brain regions of interest. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was calculated.ResultsFive of the six PLS‐PSP patients (83.3%) were male. Median age at symptom onset was 61.5 (52.5–63) years, and all had mixed features of PLS and PSP. Volumes of the pallidum, caudate, midbrain, and cerebellar dentate were smaller in PSP‐RS than PLS‐PSP, providing good discrimination (AUROC = 0.75 for all). The susceptibilities in pallidum, midbrain, and cerebellar dentate were greater in PSP‐RS compared to PLS‐PSP, providing excellent discrimination (AUROC ≥ 0.90 for all). On DTI, fractional anisotropy (FA) in the posterior limb of the internal capsule from the corticospinal tract was lower in PLS‐PSP compared to PSP‐RS (AUROC = 0.86), but FA in the superior cerebellar peduncle was lower in PSP‐RS (AUROC = 0.95). Pallidum flortaucipir PET uptake was greater in PSP‐RS compared to PLS‐PSP (AUROC = 0.74).ConclusionsRegional brain volume, tractography, and magnetic susceptibility, but not tau‐PET, are useful in distinguishing PLS‐PSP from PSP.
Emerging roles of long non‐coding RNAs in human epilepsy
Authors: Yazarlou Fatemeh , Lipovich Leonard , Loeb Jeffrey A. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractGenome‐scale biological studies conducted in the post‐genomic era have revealed that two‐thirds of human genes do not encode proteins. Most functional non‐coding RNA transcripts in humans are products of long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) genes, an abundant but still poorly understood class of human genes. As a result of their fundamental and multitasking regulatory roles, lncRNAs are associated with a wide range of human diseases, including neurological disorders. Approximately 40% of lncRNAs are specifically expressed in the brain, and many of them exhibit distinct spatiotemporal patterns of expression. Comparative genomics approaches have determined that 65%–75% of human lncRNA genes are primate‐specific and hence can be posited as a contributing potential cause of the higher‐order complexity of primates, including human, brains relative to those of other mammals. Although lncRNAs present important mechanistic examples of epileptogenic functions, the human/primate specificity of lncRNAs questions their relevance in rodent models. Here, we present an in‐depth review that supports the contention that human lncRNAs are direct contributors to the etiology and pathogenesis of human epilepsy, as a means to accelerate the integration of lncRNAs into clinical practice as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Meta‐analytically, the major finding of our review is the commonality of lncRNAs in epilepsy and cancer pathogenesis through mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK)‐related pathways. In addition, neuroinflammation may be a relevant part of the common pathophysiology of cancer and epilepsy. LncRNAs affect neuroinflammation‐related signaling pathways such as nuclear factor kappa‐ light‐ chain‐ enhancer of activated B cells (NF‐κB), Notch, and phosphatidylinositol 3‐ kinase/ protein kinase B (Akt) (PI3K/AKT), with the NF‐κB pathway being the most common. Besides the controversy over lncRNA research in non‐primate models, whether neuroinflammation is triggered by injury and/or central nervous system (CNS) toxicity during epilepsy modeling in animals or is a direct consequence of epilepsy pathophysiology needs to be considered meticulously in future studies.
Formulating new types of rice husk biochar‐based fertilizers for the simultaneous slow‐release of nutrients and immobilization of cadmium
Authors: Tan Tiansu , Xu Yi , Liao Xionghui , Yi Zili , Xue Shuai 
Published: April 2024

AbstractChina, as a significant global consumer of chemical fertilizers and a leading producer of rice, faces challenges associated with low fertilizer efficiency and fewer utilization options of rice husks. The development of rice husk biochar‐based fertilizers (RHBF) offers a strategic solution to address these issues. In this study, diverse biochar fertilizer production techniques were used to develop four types of fertilizers: blended RHBF, soaked RHBF, high‐pressure soaked RHBF, and pure rice husk biochar coated fertilizer. The nutrients slow‐releasing performance of these four RHBF were compared by hydrostatic and soil column intermittent leaching methods. Effects of their application on rice growth, yield, and cadmium reduction potential were analyzed and compared by the pot trial. Results demonstrated that nutrients of the four RHBF were generally released slower in the soil compared with the conventional compound fertilizer (CK). The slow nutrient release effect was more pronounced under high‐pressure soaked RHBF. Notably, in the soil column leaching experiment, the cumulative leaching rates of nitrogen and K2O for RHBF3 (12.0% and 13.9%) were greatly lower than those of CK (42.3% and 51.3%). Moreover, the application of RHBF induced a marked enhancement in the nutrient use efficiency, grain yield, harvest index, and photosynthetic characteristics compared to CK. The average agronomic efficiency of P2O5 for the four RHBF increased by 102.8% compared with CK, while the average grain yield of the four RHBF increased by 20.6%. In addition, RHBF showed a significant reduction in Cd mobilization by an average of 80.1% compared to CK. This study offers a promising model for enhancing the comprehensive performance of RHBF and optimizing traditional fertilizer application practices.
Shared decision‐making related to treatment of haemophilia: A scoping review of influential factors and available support tools
Authors: Sun Haowei (Linda) , Klaassen Robert J. , Anger Dana L. , Mendell Ari L. , Olatunde Shade 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIntroductionTreatment selection in haemophilia is increasingly challenging given evolving therapeutic options and the need for individualization. Shared decision‐making (SDM) approaches have recently gained interest, though a synthesis of available studies is lacking.AimA scoping review was conducted to summarize literature reporting on factors impacting treatment SDM in haemophilia and tools or models available to support such decisions.MethodsPubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science and grey literature were searched for studies published through August 2023. Original studies reporting on facilitators and barriers to haemophilia SDM and SDM tools were included and analyzed for themes, characteristics and gaps.ResultsA total of 625 records were identified and 14 unique studies were selected (factors influencing treatment SDM, n = 7; SDM tools, n = 7). The studies typically included input from persons with haemophilia, caregivers and healthcare practitioners (HCPs). Thematic organization of factors influencing SDM revealed three main categories: knowledge, patient characteristics and HCP‐patient interactions. Availability of information was a commonly reported facilitator of SDM, while poor HCP‐patient engagement was a commonly reported barrier. Tools varied in focus, with some facilitating general treatment SDM while others supported selection of certain therapy types. The studies underscored additional factors critical for SDM, such as alignment of HCP‐patient perceptions, shared language and tailoring of tools to specific subpopulations.ConclusionFew studies report on treatment SDM factors and tools in haemophilia; available tools vary considerably. It remains unclear whether published tools have been successfully implemented into clinical practice. Additional research is warranted.