bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determination of relative dose of ionizing radiation in the thyroid gland using a panoramic device with different protocols
Authors: Vanni Jéssica Silvestre , Thomazi Eduardo , Zorzi Janete Eunice , Perottoni Cláudio Antônio , Gamba Thiago Oliveira 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe use of panoramic radiography (PR) is a complementary examination to aid in the diagnosis of cases in paediatric dentistry. The lack of specific protocols for these devices, however, can result in high doses of radiation, affecting critical organs such as the thyroid.AimTo evaluate the discrepancies in ionizing radiation received by the thyroid during PR examinations using anthropomorphic paediatric simulators built from computed tomography images.DesignTwo anthropomorphic paediatric phantoms were printed and used, representing children aged 6 and 11 years, with an opening in the thyroid region for the insertion of dosimetric radiographic films. The simulators were subjected to different pre‐existing protocols in the PR devices. The radiographic films were processed and analysed using a luxmeter.ResultsThe radiation dose to the thyroid was higher in the 6‐year‐old phantom than in the 11‐year‐old phantom, for given exposure factors. In addition, there was an increase in dose in children's protocols compared with small adult protocols.ConclusionTherefore, companies that develop PR equipment must develop child protocols for separate age groups that will consequently reduce the radiation dose in children, especially in their critical organs.
Deep burn surgery of the whole dorsum of the hand: Composite skin grafting over acellular dermal matrix versus thick split‐thickness skin grafting
Authors: Ling Xiang‐Wei , Jiang Xiaoqiong , Guo Hai‐Lei , Zhang Ting‐Ting 
Published: May 2024

AbstractPreservation and restoration of hand function after burn injuries are challenging yet imperative. This study aimed to assess the curative effect of a composite skin graft over an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) and a thick split‐thickness skin graft (STSG) for treating deep burns on the hand. Patients who met the inclusion criteria at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between September 2011 and January 2020 were retrospectively identified from the operative register. We investigated patient characteristics, time from operation to the start of active motion exercise, take rates of skin graft 7 days post‐surgery, donor site recovery, complications and days to complete healing. Patients were followed up for 12 months to evaluate scar quality using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and hand function through total active motion (TAM) and the Jebsen–Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT). A total of 38 patients (52 hands) who received thin STSG on top of the ADM or thick STSG were included. The location of the donor sites was significantly different between Group A (thick STSG) and Group B (thin STSG + ADM) (p = 0.03). There were no statistical differences in age, gender, underlying disease, cause of burn, burn area, dominant hand, patients with two hands operated on and time from burn to surgery between the two groups (p > 0.05). The time from operation to the start of active motion exercise, take rates of skin graft 7 days post‐surgery and days to complete healing were not significantly different between Group A and Group B (p > 0.05). The rate of donor sites requiring skin grafting was lower in Group B than in Group A (22.2% vs. 100%, p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in complications between the groups (p = 0.12). Moreover, 12 months postoperatively, the pliability subscore in the VSS was significantly lower in Group A than in Group B (p = 0.01). However, there were no statistically significant differences in vascularity (p = 0.42), pigmentation (p = 0.31) and height subscores (p = 0.13). The TAM and JTHFT results revealed no statistically significant differences between the two groups (p = 0.22 and 0.06, respectively). The ADM combined with thin STSG is a valuable approach for treating deep and extensive hand burns with low donor site morbidity. It has a good appearance and function in patients with hand burns, especially in patients with limited donor sites.
NR1D1‐transactivated lncRNA NUTM2A‐AS1 promotes chemoresistance and immune evasion in neuroblastoma via inhibiting B7‐H3 degradation
Authors: Xiang Tian , Li Yejing , Liu Gao , Li Xianyun 
Published: May 2024

AbstractNeuroblastoma (NB), a common solid tumour in young children originating from the sympathetic nervous system during embryonic development, poses challenges despite therapeutic advances like high‐dose chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Some survivors still grapple with severe side effects and drug resistance. The role of lncRNA NUTM2A‐AS1 has been explored in various cancers, but its function in drug‐resistant NB progression is unclear. Our study found that NUTM2A‐AS1 expression in cisplatin‐resistant NB cells increased in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. Knockdown of NUTM2A‐AS1 significantly improved NB cell sensitivity to cisplatin and inhibited metastatic abilities. Additionally, we identified B7‐H3, an immune checkpoint‐related protein, as a NUTM2A‐AS1‐associated protein in NB cells. NUTM2A‐AS1 was shown to inhibit the protein degradation of B7‐H3. Moreover, NUTM2A‐AS1 modulated immune evasion in cisplatin‐resistant NB cells through B7‐H3. Furthermore, NUTM2A‐AS1 expression in cisplatin‐resistant NB cells was transactivated by NR1D1. In summary, our results unveil the molecular or biological relationship within the NR1D1/NUTM2A‐AS1/B7‐H3 axis in NB cells under cisplatin treatment, providing an intriguing avenue for fundamental research into cisplatin‐resistant NB.
Identification of biomarkers for abdominal aortic aneurysm in Behçet's disease via mendelian randomization and integrated bioinformatics analyses
Authors: Liu Chunjiang , Wu Huadong , Li Kuan , Chi Yongxing , Wu Zhaoying , Xing Chungen 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBehçet's disease (BD) is a complex autoimmune disorder impacting several organ systems. Although the involvement of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in BD is rare, it can be associated with severe consequences. In the present study, we identified diagnostic biomarkers in patients with BD having AAA. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was initially used to explore the potential causal association between BD and AAA. The Limma package, WGCNA, PPI and machine learning algorithms were employed to identify potential diagnostic genes. A receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) for the nomogram was constructed to ascertain the diagnostic value of AAA in patients with BD. Finally, immune cell infiltration analyses and single‐sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) were conducted. The MR analysis indicated a suggestive association between BD and the risk of AAA (odds ratio [OR]: 1.0384, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0081–1.0696, p = 0.0126). Three hub genes (CD247, CD2 and CCR7) were identified using the integrated bioinformatics analyses, which were subsequently utilised to construct a nomogram (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.982, 95% CI: 0.944–1.000). Finally, the immune cell infiltration assay revealed that dysregulation immune cells were positively correlated with the three hub genes. Our MR analyses revealed a higher susceptibility of patients with BD to AAA. We used a systematic approach to identify three potential hub genes (CD247, CD2 and CCR7) and developed a nomogram to assist in the diagnosis of AAA among patients with BD. In addition, immune cell infiltration analysis indicated the dysregulation in immune cell proportions.
Responder analysis using clinically meaningful thresholds: Post hoc analyses from randomized dupilumab clinical trials in patients with prurigo nodularis
Authors: Kwatra Shawn G. , Yosipovitch Gil , Ständer Sonja , Guillemin Isabelle , Msihid Jérôme , Bansal Ashish , Makhija Melanie , Wiggins Simmi , Zahn Joseph , Thomas Ryan B. , Bahloul Donia 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundPrurigo nodularis (PN) is an intensely pruritic disease characterized by itchy nodules on the trunk/extremities; it is often accompanied by skin pain and sleep disruption with negative impacts on the quality of life (QoL). The patient‐reported outcome (PRO) instruments, Worst Itch‐Numeric Rating Scale (WI‐NRS), Skin Pain‐NRS, Sleep‐NRS and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) have been psychometrically validated and the clinically meaningful within‐patient improvement thresholds (responder definition) have been established through data pooled from the two Phase‐3 trials (PRIME, NCT04183335 and PRIME2, NCT04202679) of dupilumab in adults with PN uncontrolled on topical therapies.ObjectivesTo estimate the proportion of dupilumab‐treated patients (vs. placebo) achieving clinically meaningful improvement in itch, skin pain, sleep and QoL, either alone or in combination, from the data pooled from PRIME and PRIME2 trials.MethodsThe patient‐level data pooled from the two Phase‐3 trials (N = 311) were used for this post hoc analysis. Thresholds of clinically meaningful within‐patient improvement in PRO instrument scores from baseline at Week 24 used for defining responders were 4 (WI‐NRS and Skin Pain‐NRS), 2 (Sleep‐NRS) and 9 points (DLQI). The proportion of dupilumab‐treated patients, versus placebo, achieving the thresholds, and the time taken to achieve the thresholds were evaluated for the individual and combination of PROs.ResultsResponder rates were significantly higher with dupilumab, versus placebo at Week 24 for WI‐NRS (58.8% vs. 19.0%, p < 0.0001), Skin Pain‐NRS (49.7% vs. 20.9%, p < 0.0001), Sleep‐NRS (42.5% vs. 23.4%, p < 0.0001) and DLQI (64.7% vs. 22.8%, p < 0.0001). Proportion of patients achieving simultaneous improvement in symptoms and QoL (24.8% vs. 6.3%, p < 0.0001) were significantly higher in dupilumab‐treated patients versus placebo. The time needed for achieving clinically meaningful improvement in symptoms were significantly lower in dupilumab‐treated patients, versus placebo.ConclusionsSignificantly greater proportion of dupilumab‐treated patients with PN, versus placebo, demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in PRO measures of symptoms and QoL.
Stability of the Epstein–Zin problem
Authors: Monoyios Michael , Mostovyi Oleksii 
Published: May 2024

AbstractWe investigate the stability of the Epstein–Zin problem with respect to small distortions in the dynamics of the traded securities. We work in incomplete market model settings, where our parametrization of perturbations allows for joint distortions in returns and volatility of the risky assets and the interest rate. Considering empirically the most relevant specifications of risk aversion and elasticity of intertemporal substitution, we provide a condition that guarantees the convexity of the domain of the underlying problem and results in the existence and uniqueness of a solution to it. Then, we prove the convergence of the optimal consumption streams, the associated wealth processes, the indirect utility processes, and the value functions in the limit when the model perturbations vanish.
Endoscopy‐assisted dacryocystorhinostomy in a dog
Authors: Thompson Jalal , Delisser Peter J. , Sullivan Louise , Liddle Vicki 
Published: May 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo describe the use of an endoscope to assist in performing minimally invasive dacryocystorhinostomy in a dog to successfully manage a nasolacrimal duct cyst (dacryocyst).Animal StudiedA 4‐year‐old female spayed American Staffordshire Terrier with chronic epiphora and swelling ventromedial to the nasal canthus of the right eye and reverse sneezing.ProceduresComputed tomography revealed a fluid‐filled cystic lesion of the right nasolacrimal duct with extensive nasal extension and secondary obstructive frontal sinusitis. Aspiration of serosanguinous fluid with no growth of microbial organisms and histopathology confirmed the cystic nature of the structure. A 2.7 mm, 30 deg, 11 cm foreward‐oblique endoscope with arthroscopic cannula was passed through a mucosal stab incision in the dorsal buccal recess into the cyst to allow for exploration. A separate instrument portal was placed in the center of the cyst through the skin which allowed for transcutaneous dacryocystorhinostomy with a meniscal probe to be performed. No clear communication was evident caudodorsally into the frontal sinus on endoscope examination. A small frontal sinus trephination was performed and lavage flowed easily into the cystic cavity and out of the nostril.ResultsFollow‐up at 10 days and 17 months postoperatively showed complete resolution of clinical signs with an excellent cosmetic outcome.ConclusionEndoscopy‐assisted dacryocystorhinostomy demonstrated an effective minimally invasive technique to treat a functionally obstructive dacryocyst of the right nasolacrimal duct in a dog.
Efficacy of three EPA-registered antimicrobials and steam against two human norovirus surrogates on nylon carpets with two backing types
Authors: Huang Jinge , Fraser Angela , Jiang Xiuping 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

Carpet cleaning guidelines currently do not include the use of an antimicrobial, except after a bodily fluid event. To address this gap, we compared the efficacy of three antimicrobials—two hydrogen peroxide-based (H
2
O
2
) products (A and B) and one chlorine-based product (C)—and a steam treatment against two norovirus surrogates, specifically feline calicivirus (FCV) and Tulane virus (TuV). These tests were performed on nylon carpets with either water-permeable or waterproof backing types. The effect of repeated antimicrobial use on carpet properties was also evaluated. For a carpet with water-permeable backing, products A, B, and C achieved a 0.8, 3.1, and 0.9 log
10
PFU/coupon reduction of FCV and 0.3, 2.5, and 0.4 log
10
TCID
50
/coupon reduction of TuV, respectively, following a 30 min contact time. For carpet with waterproof backing, only product B achieved a 5.0 log
10
PFU/coupon reduction of FCV and >3.0 log
10
TCID
50
/coupon reduction of TuV, whereas products A and C achieved a 2.4 and 1.6 log
10
PFU/coupon reduction of FCV and a 1.2 and 1.2 log
10
TCID
50
/coupon reduction of TuV, respectively. Steam treatment achieved a ≥ 5.2 log
10
PFU/coupon reduction of FCV and a > 3.2 log
10
TCID
50
/coupon reduction of TuV in 15 seconds on the carpet with both backing types. The repeated use of products A and B decreased the tensile strength of the carpet backing, while use of product B resulted in cracks on carpet fibers. Overall, steam treatment for 15 seconds was efficacious on both carpet types, but only product B achieved efficacy after a 30-minute exposure on the carpet with waterproof backing.

IMPORTANCE
Carpets are common in long-term care facilities, despite its potential as a vehicle for transmission of agents associated with healthcare-associated infections, including human norovirus (NoV). Presently, our understanding of carpet disinfection is limited; hence, there are no commercial antimicrobials against norovirus available for use on carpets. Our findings showed that steam treatment, which minimally affected the properties of carpet fibers and backing, was more efficacious against human norovirus surrogates on carpets compared to the three chemical antimicrobials tested. Additionally, the two surrogates were more sensitive to chemical antimicrobials on the carpet with waterproof backing compared to carpets with water-permeable backing. These findings can inform development of antimicrobials for use on carpets contaminated with human norovirus.
Citrus psorosis virus 24K protein inhibits the processing of miRNA precursors by interacting with components of the biogenesis machinery
Authors: Marmisolle Facundo E. , Borniego María B. , Cambiagno Damián A. , Gonzalo Lucia , García María L. , Manavella Pablo A. , Hernández Carmen , Reyes Carina A. 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT

Sweet orange (
Citrus sinensis
) is one of the most important fruit crops worldwide. Virus infections in this crop can interfere with cellular processes, causing dramatic economic losses. By performing RT-qPCR analyses, we demonstrated that citrus psorosis virus (CPsV)-infected orange plants exhibited higher levels of unprocessed microRNA (miRNA) precursors than healthy plants. This result correlated with the reported reduction of mature miRNAs species. The protein 24K, the CPsV suppressor of RNA silencing (VSR), interacts with miRNA precursors
in vivo
. Thus, this protein becomes a candidate responsible for the increased accumulation of unprocessed miRNAs. We analyzed 24K RNA-binding and protein-protein interaction domains and described patterns of its subcellular localization. We also showed that 24K colocalizes within nuclear D-bodies with the miRNA biogenesis proteins DICER-LIKE 1 (DCL1), HYPONASTIC LEAVES 1 (HYL1), and SERRATE (SE). According to the results of bimolecular fluorescence complementation and co-immunoprecipitation assays, the 24K protein interacts with HYL1 and SE. Thus, 24K may inhibit miRNA processing in CPsV-infected citrus plants by direct interaction with the miRNA processing complex. This work contributes to the understanding of how a virus can alter the regulatory mechanisms of the host, particularly miRNA biogenesis and function.

IMPORTANCE
Sweet oranges can suffer from disease symptoms induced by virus infections, thus resulting in drastic economic losses. In sweet orange plants, CPsV alters the accumulation of some precursors from the regulatory molecules called miRNAs. This alteration leads to a decreased level of mature miRNA species. This misregulation may be due to a direct association of one of the viral proteins (24K) with miRNA precursors. On the other hand, 24K may act with components of the cell miRNA processing machinery through a series of predicted RNA-binding and protein-protein interaction domains.
Sexual satisfaction, an indicator of sexual health and well-being? Insights from STI/HIV prevention research in European men who have sex with men
Authors: Blondeel Karel , Mirandola Massimo , Gios Lorenzo , Folch Cinta , Noestlinger Christiana , Cordioli Maddalena , De Sutter Petra , Temmerman Marleen , Toskin Igor 
Published: May 2024

IntroductionAlthough sexual health has been holistically defined to include sexual satisfaction, it has been largely absent in health services and sexual and reproductive health and rights programmes in many parts of the world. We propose sexual satisfaction as a useful indicator, as one of the proxy measures for sexual health and well-being and as a component of well-being in general.MethodsThe Sialon II project is a multicentre biological and behavioural cross-sectional community-based survey implemented across 13 European cities during 2013–2014 among men who have sex with men. Sexual satisfaction was explored using one single item: ‘How satisfied are you with your sex life?’ A multivariable multilevel logistic random-intercept model was estimated to identify factors associated with reporting positive sexual satisfaction versus negative sexual satisfaction.ResultsAge, the number of partners and self-reported HIV status were not significantly associated with sexual satisfaction in the multivariate model. Participants reporting an insertive role or reported both an insertive and receptive role during the last anal intercourse were more likely to be sexually satisfied, compared with a receptive role. Participants reporting anal intercourse with a condom were more likely to be satisfied than those declaring no anal intercourse in the last 6 months, but no significant association was found compared with anal intercourse without condom. Knowledge of HIV-serostatus concordance with the last sexual partner was positively correlated with sexual satisfaction. Having had sexual intercourse with non-steady partners only in the last 6 months was negatively correlated. The more positive participants perceived their work/school, parents and friends/acquaintances’ attitudes towards gay or bisexual persons, the higher the odds they were satisfied with their sexual life.ConclusionUsing a single item on sexual satisfaction in a bio-behavioural study, our analysis has shown that it is associated with individual, interpersonal and social/structural factors and has proven its usefulness as a sexual health indicator among men who have sex with men.
Noether symmetries of $$F(T,X,\phi )$$ cosmology
Authors: Kucukakca Yusuf , Akbarieh Amin Rezaei , Amiri Maryam 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis article explores an analysis via the Noether symmetry approach to investigate an extended teleparallel $$F(T,X,\phi )$$

F
(
T
,
X
,
ϕ
)

gravity model in the context of a Friedmann–Robertson–Walker spacetime. The model incorporates the torsion scalar T, scalar field $$\phi $$
ϕ
and the kinetic term X of the scalar field. This approach allows us to select physically interesting models by restricting arbitrariness in the $$F(T,X,\phi )$$

F
(
T
,
X
,
ϕ
)

function. Thus we focus on two types of the function $$F(T,X,\phi )$$

F
(
T
,
X
,
ϕ
)

, namely models involving the generalized teleparallel dark energy and the nonlinear function of the kinetic term and analyze the Noether symmetry properties and demonstrate the presence of non-vanishing Noether vectors. In the first model, by specifically considering the $$\mathbf{X_{4}}$$

X
4

Noether symmetry, representing a scaling symmetry, we simplify the field equations and introduce a cyclic variable to enable a more workable formulation. Furthermore, we present a comprehensive graphical analysis, showcasing the time evolution of the scale factor and the scalar field by using the solutions obtained through these new variables. Additionally, we examine some fundamental cosmological parameters. For the second model, which includes the nonlinear form of the kinetic term, Noether symmetry results in obtaining simple power-law solutions for the dynamic variables. Our findings clearly show that the considered models represent an accelerating expansion of the Universe, which is consistent with observations. This study highlights the efficacy of the Noether symmetry approach in defining the functional form of $$F(T,X,\phi )$$

F
(
T
,
X
,
ϕ
)

and obtaining precise cosmological solutions. The analytical solutions and graphical analysis offer valuable insights into the dynamic behavior of the models, contributing to understanding the evolving nature of the Universe.
Precessing and periodic timelike orbits and their potential applications in Einsteinian cubic gravity
Authors: Li Yong-Zhuang , Kuang Xiao-Mei , Sang Yu 
Published: May 2024

AbstractEinsteinian cubic gravity (ECG) is the most general theory up to cubic order in curvature, which has the same graviton spectrum as the Einstein theory. In this paper, we investigate the geodesic motions of timelike particles around the four dimensional asymptotically flat black holes in ECG, and discuss their potential applications when connecting them with recent observational results. We first explore the effects of the cubic couplings on the marginally bound orbits (MBO), innermost stable circular orbits (ISCO) and on the periodic orbits around the Einsteinian cubic black hole. We find that comparing to Schwarzschild black hole in general relativity, the cubic coupling enhances the energy as well as the angular momentum for all the bound orbits of the particles. Then, we derive the relativistic periastron precessions of the particles and give a preliminary bound on the cubic coupling employing the observational result of the S2 star’s pericenter precession in SgrA*. Finally, after calculating the periodic orbits’ configurations, we preliminarily evaluate the gravitational waveform radiated from several periodic orbits in one complete period of a test object which orbits a supermassive Einsteinian cubic black hole. Our studies could be helpful for us to better understand the gravitational structure of the theory with high curvatures.