bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Isolation and Identification of Nematode‐Infecting Microsporidia
Authors: Tamim El Jarkass Hala , Reinke Aaron W. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractNematodes are naturally infected by the fungal‐related pathogen microsporidia. These ubiquitous eukaryotic parasites are poorly understood, despite infecting most types of animals. Identifying novel species of microsporidia and studying them in an animal model can expedite our understanding of their infection biology and evolution. Nematodes present an excellent avenue for pursuing such work, as they are abundant in the environment and many species are easily culturable in the laboratory. The protocols presented here describe how to isolate bacterivorous nematodes from rotting substrates, screen them for microsporidia infection, and molecularly identify the nematode and microsporidia species. Additionally, we detail how to remove environmental contaminants and generate a spore preparation of microsporidia from infected samples. We also discuss potential pitfalls and provide suggestions on how to mitigate them. These protocols allow for the identification of novel microsporidia species, which can serve as an excellent starting point for genomic analysis, determination of host specificity, and infection characterization. © 2024 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.Basic Protocol 1: Gathering samplesSupport Protocol 1: Generating 10× and 40× Escherichia coli OP50 and seeding NGM platesBasic Protocol 2: Microsporidia screening, testing for Caenorhabditis elegans susceptibility, and sample freezingBasic Protocol 3: DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and sequencing to identify nematode and microsporidia speciesBasic Protocol 4: Removal of contaminating microbes and preparation of microsporidia sporesSupport Protocol 2: Bleach‐synchronizing nematodes
Unique dietary and oral hygiene behaviors in a cohort with clinically severe obesity: A cross sectional study
Authors: Malik Zanab , Sohn Woosung , Nanayakkara Shanika , Williams Kathryn 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundAn association between increased risk of dental caries with increased levels of clinically severe obesity has been reported. Data linking body mass index (BMI) and dietary behaviors, including at‐risk dietary factors and oral hygiene habits, are lacking in a cohort with clinically severe obesity. This study aimed to explore the dietary and oral hygiene behaviors in individuals with clinically severe obesity attending a hospital‐based obesity service.MethodsAdult patients attending a hospital‐based obesity service in Greater Western Sydney with clinically severe obesity were invited to participate in a self‐administered survey, which collected data on their nutritional and oral hygiene behaviors. Demographic data (age, gender) and BMI were extracted from the participants' medical records. The primary outcome was the relationship between BMI and frequency of toothbrushing.ResultsOf the 82 individuals who consented to participate, 81 (98.8%) completed the study questionnaire. The median BMI of the cohort was 49.1 kg/m2 (interquartile range [IQR]: 43.2–57.3 kg/m2) and median age 51 (IQR: 39–63) years. BMI was not significantly correlated with individual oral health behaviors (p > .05). Many participants reported dietary risk behaviors, which have the potential to influence their oral health.ConclusionsWhile oral health behaviors were not associated with increasing BMI, patients with clinically severe obesity in this study reported unique dietary behaviors and mixed oral hygiene habits that may complicate nutritional and dental management. Awareness of these behaviors among clinicians including dental professionals is required in this cohort.
A 1.65‐nW 11.14‐ppm/°C self‐biased subthreshold CMOS voltage reference with temperature compensation circuit
Authors: Huang Yuxuan , Liu Jingjing , Yan Feng , Wang Yuchen , Sun Kangkang , Ge Weijie 
Published: May 2024

SummaryThis paper presents a subthreshold CMOS voltage reference (VR) that utilizes self‐biased circuits. This voltage reference includes temperature compensation circuits to expand its operating temperature range and reduce its temperature coefficient. The proposed CMOS voltage reference is designed using a standard 0.18‐μm CMOS process and has a small area of only 0.005 mm2. Post‐layout simulation results demonstrate that the power consumption of the circuit at room temperature (25°C) is only 1.65 nW at a power supply voltage of 1 V. In this case, the voltage reference output is 316.56 mV, with an average temperature coefficient (TC) of 11.14 ppm/°C in a wide temperature range from −40°C to 140°C. Furthermore, the line sensitivity (LS) of the circuit is 0.024%/V, and the power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) of the circuit is −86.5 dB at 10 Hz. In summary, the subthreshold CMOS voltage reference structure proposed in this paper demonstrates excellent performance characteristics, such as low power consumption, a small area, and high‐temperature stability. These features make it a promising candidate for voltage reference for low‐power applications with significant changes in environmental temperature.
Hot‐spot aware multicost‐based energy‐efficient routing protocol for WBANs
Authors: Raed Sara , Alabady Salah Abdulghani 
Published: May 2024

SummaryWireless body area networks (WBANs) are becoming widely considered in remote healthcare monitoring applications. However, WBAN nodes have limited resources; therefore, effective and reliable routing protocols are pivotal research challenges. Furthermore, balancing the traffic load among sensor nodes is also highly required to increase network stability. In recent years, many interesting routing solutions have been proposed for WBANs; however, the significant feature in terms of stability and energy in these solutions has not been sufficiently addressed. Therefore, in this context, the Hot‐Sspot Aaware Multicost‐based Energy‐efficient Routing (H‐SAMER) protocol is proposed in this paper. The suggested protocol used multieffective cost function for next‐hop node selection based on the data type, where the patient's data are categorized into three classes: normal data, on‐demand data, and emergency data. Furthermore, the H‐SAMER protocol adds awareness to the transmission of control packets by adding the cost value to the RREQ packets. Thus, the simulation scenario shows that the H‐SAMER saves energy 8.57%, 88%, 98%, 97%, and 100% greater than E‐HARP, EH‐RCP, CO‐LAEEBA, EECBSR, and ELR‐W, respectively. Moreover, the first node death of the proposed H‐SAMER is delayed to round number 7500, which proves H‐SAMER to be a stable and reliable effective solution for WBANs.
CRISPR‐Cas9 delivery strategies and applications: Review and update
Authors: Severi Ali Alizadeh , Akbari Bahman 
Published: May 2024

SummaryNowadays, a significant part of the investigations carried out in the medical field belong to cancer treatment. Generally, conventional cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, which have been used for a long time, are not sufficient, especially in malignant cancers. Because genetic mutations cause cancers, researchers are trying to treat these diseases using genetic engineering tools. One of them is clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), a powerful tool in genetic engineering in the last decade. CRISPR, which forms the CRISPR‐Cas structure with its endonuclease protein, Cas, is known as a part of the immune system (adaptive immunity) in bacteria and archaea. Among the types of Cas proteins, Cas9 endonuclease has been used in many scientific studies due to its high accuracy and efficiency. This review reviews the CRISPR system, focusing on the history, classification, delivery methods, applications, new generations, and challenges of CRISPR‐Cas9 technology.
Land‐use homogenization reduces the occurrence and diversity of frugivorous birds in a tropical biodiversity hotspot
Authors: Bonfim Fernando César Gonçalves , Galetti Mauro , Benchimol Maíra , Morante‐Filho José Carlos , Magioli Marcelo , Cazetta Eliana 
Published: May 2024

AbstractUnderstanding how human‐modified landscapes maintain biodiversity and provide ecosystem services is crucial for establishing conservation practices. Given that responses to land‐use are species‐specific, it is crucial to understand how land‐use changes may shape patterns of species diversity and persistence in human‐modified landscapes. Here, we used a comprehensive data set on bird distribution from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest to understand how species richness and individual occurrences of frugivorous bird species responded to land‐use spatial predictors and, subsequently, assess how ecological traits and phylogeny modulated these responses. Using Bayesian hierarchical modeling, we reveal that the richness of frugivorous birds was positively associated with the amount of native forest and negatively with both agriculture and pasture amount at the landscape scale. Conversely, the effect of these predictors on species occurrence and ecological traits was highly variable and presented a weak phylogenetic signal. Furthermore, land‐use homogenization (i.e., the conversion of forest to pasture or agriculture) led to pervasive consequences for forest‐dependent bird species, whereas several generalist species thrived in deforested areas, replacing those sensitive to habitat disturbances.
Critical re‐evaluation of the identification of iron deficiency states and effective iron repletion strategies in patients with chronic heart failure
Authors: Packer Milton , Anker Stefan D. , Butler Javed , Cleland John G.F. , Kalra Paul R. , Mentz Robert J. , Ponikowski Piotr , Talha Khawaja M. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAccording to current guidelines, iron deficiency is defined by a serum ferritin level <100 ng/ml or a transferrin saturation (TSAT) <20% if the serum ferritin level is 100–299 μg/L. These criteria were developed to encourage the use of intravenous iron as an adjunct to erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents in the treatment of renal anaemia. However, in patients with heart failure, these criteria are not supported by any pathophysiological or clinical evidence that they identify an absolute or functional iron deficiency state. A low baseline TSAT—but not serum ferritin level—appears to be a reliable indicator of the effect of intravenous iron to reduce major heart failure events. In randomized controlled trials, intravenous iron decreased the risk of cardiovascular death or total heart failure hospitalization in patients with a TSAT <20% (risk ratio 0.67 [0.49–0.92]) but not in patients with a TSAT ≥20% (risk ratio 0.99 [0.74–1.30]), with the magnitude of the risk reduction being proportional to the severity of hypoferraemia. Patients who were enrolled in clinical trials solely because they had a serum ferritin level <100 μg/L showed no significant benefit on heart failure outcomes, and it is noteworthy that serum ferritin levels of 20–300 μg/L lie entirely within the range of normal values for healthy adults. Current guidelines reflect the eligibility criteria of clinical trials, which inadvertently adopted unvalidated criteria to define iron deficiency. Reliance on these guidelines would lead to the treatment of many patients who are not iron deficient (serum ferritin level <100 μg/L but normal TSAT) and ignores the possibility of iron deficiency in patients with a low TSAT but with serum ferritin level of >300 μg/L. Importantly, analyses of benefit based on trial eligibility‐driven guidelines substantially underestimate the magnitude of heart‐failure‐event risk reduction with intravenous iron in patients who are truly iron deficient. Based on all available data, we recommend a new mechanism‐based and trial‐tested approach that reflects the totality of evidence more faithfully than the historical process adopted by clinical investigators and by the guidelines. Until additional evidence is forthcoming, an iron deficiency state in patients with heart failure should be defined by a TSAT <20% (as long as the serum ferritin level is <400 μg/L), and furthermore, the use of a serum ferritin level <100 μg/L alone as a diagnostic criterion should be discarded.
HIV rebound in HIV controllers is associated with a specific fecal microbiome profile
Authors: Cai Yanhui , Podlaha Ondrej , Deeks Steven G. , Brinson Cynthia , Ramgopal Moti N. , DeJesus Edwin , Mills Anthony , Shalit Peter , Abdel‐Mohsen Mohamed , Zhang Liao , de Vries Christiaan R. , Vendrame Elena , SenGupta Devi , Wallin Jeffrey J. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractHIV infection is associated with gut dysbiosis, and microbiome variability may affect HIV control when antiretroviral therapy (ART) is stopped. The TLR7 agonist, vesatolimod, was previously associated with a modest delay in viral rebound following analytical treatment interruption in HIV controllers (HCs). Using a retrospective analysis of fecal samples from HCs treated with vesatolimod or placebo (NCT03060447), people with chronic HIV (CH; NCT02858401) or without HIV (PWOH), we examined fecal microbiome profile in HCs before/after treatment, and in CH and PWOH. Microbiome diversity and abundance were compared between groups to investigate the association between specific phyla/species, immune biomarkers, and viral outcomes during treatment interruption. Although there were no significant differences in gut microbiome diversity between people with and without HIV, HCs, and CH shared common features that distinguished them from PWOH. there was a trend toward greater microbiome diversity among HCs. Treatment with vesatolimod reduced dysbiosis in HCs. Firmicutes positively correlated with T‐cell activation, while Bacteroidetes and Euryarchaeota inversely correlated with TLR7‐mediated immune activation. Specific types of fecal microbiome abundance (e.g. Alistipes putredinis) positively correlated with HIV rebound. In conclusion, variability in the composition of the fecal microbiome is associated with markers of immune activation following vesatolimod treatment and ART interruption.
Regional difference and prevention strategy of farmland erosion induced by extreme rainstorms in the Loess area and Rocky mountain area of Northern China
Authors: Zhang Liang , Liu Yihang , Dong Yunyun , Liu Yuanhao , Jidai Jingqi , Jiao Juying , Liu Baoyuan , Chen Hao , Han Jianqiao 
Published: May 2024

AbstractElucidating the mechanism of soil erosion caused by extreme rainstorms could improve agroecosystems' resilience to the extreme climate. However, less attention has been paid to the regional difference of soil erosion during extreme rainstorms through multiple field investigations. Using six field surveys of extreme rainstorms, soil erosion and its driving mechanism were investigated on farmland in the Loess area and the Rocky mountain area. Conclusions are as follows: (1) Farmland was severely eroded in comparison with abandoned land and forest–grass land. The erosion modulus of farmland in the Loess area (51 606.51 t/km2) was greater than that in the Rocky mountain area (2582.75 t/km2). (2) In both the Loess area and the Rocky mountain area, the main erosion types on sloped cropland and terraced land were rills/gullies and embankment failure, respectively. Terracing is an appropriate measure that can effectively control farmland erosion in rainstorm events. (3) Concentrated flow is a major driver of soil erosion, with nearly all rills/gullies occurring in the flow paths. Drainage measures can prevent the formation of concentrated flow, weakening rills/gullies erosion in farmland. (4) Building bio‐embankment, planting high‐coverage crops, and implementing local protection measures could reduce the farmland erosion influenced by extremely heavy rainfall. Combining drainage and agronomic measures is the common strategy to combat extreme rainstorm events for reducing farmland erosion in the two regions. These results can be applied to improve the ability of agricultural systems to cope with extreme rainstorms.
Enhancing Sensitivity and Selectivity in Pesticide Detection: A Review of Cutting-Edge Techniques
Authors: Ortiz-Martínez Mónica , Molina González Jorge Alberto , Ramírez García Gonzalo , Luna Bugallo Andrés , Justo Guerrero Manuel Alejandro , Strupiechonski Elodie Claire 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
The primary goal of our review was to systematically explore and compare the state-of-the-art methodologies employed in the detection of pesticides, a critical component of global food safety initiatives. New approach methods in the fields of luminescent nanosensors, chromatography, terahertz spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy are discussed as precise, rapid, and versatile strategies for pesticide detection in food items and agroecological samples. Luminescent nanosensors emerge as powerful tools, noted for their portability and unparalleled sensitivity and real-time monitoring capabilities. Liquid and gas chromatography coupled to spectroscopic detectors, stalwarts in the analytical chemistry field, are lauded for their precision, wide applicability, and validation in diverse regulatory environments. Terahertz spectroscopy offers unique advantages such as noninvasive testing, profound penetration depth, and bulk sample handling. Meanwhile, Raman spectroscopy stands out with its nondestructive nature, its ability to detect even trace amounts of pesticides, and its minimal requirement for sample preparation. While acknowledging the maturity and robustness of these techniques, our review underscores the importance of persistent innovation. These methodologies' significance extends beyond their present functions, highlighting their adaptability to meet ever-evolving challenges. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1468–1484. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Can political ecology be decolonised? A dialogue with Paul Robbins
Authors: Malik Ishfaq Hussain 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIn the intricate tapestry of environmental discourse, the field of political ecology emerges as a powerful lens through which we scrutinise the interplay of power, nature and society. This paper stages a dialogue with Paul Robbins to examine environmental justice, the decolonisation of political ecology, colonialism, sovereignty, climate change and capitalism. The dialogue challenges the conventional narratives of sovereignty and underscores the imperative of genuine decolonisation—beyond metaphorical interpretations—calling for the restitution of land and authority to Indigenous Peoples and other historically marginalised communities. The dialogue highlights the importance of moving away from capitalist systems that exacerbate environmental degradation. The dialogue calls for decolonising political ecology by including diverse perspectives, methodologies and ontologies and underlines the importance of control over productive resources. It emphasises that addressing the impacts of colonialism requires recognising and honouring the sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples and suggests that political ecology can contribute to decolonisation by focusing on sovereignty and supporting legal and institutional frameworks that empower marginalised communities. The paper discusses the way forward and the future trajectory of political ecology by suggesting that future research in political ecology should focus on diverse economies, embrace emerging technologies and rework academic institutions to value knowledge co‐production.
Within‐subject reliability of brain networks during advanced meditation: An intensively sampled 7 Tesla MRI case study
Authors: Ganesan Saampras , Yang Winson F. Z. , Chowdhury Avijit , Zalesky Andrew , Sacchet Matthew D. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAdvanced meditation such as jhana meditation can produce various altered states of consciousness (jhanas) and cultivate rewarding psychological qualities including joy, peace, compassion, and attentional stability. Mapping the neurobiological substrates of jhana meditation can inform the development and application of advanced meditation to enhance well‐being. Only two prior studies have attempted to investigate the neural correlates of jhana meditation, and the rarity of adept practitioners has largely restricted the size and extent of these studies. Therefore, examining the consistency and reliability of observed brain responses associated with jhana meditation can be valuable. In this study, we aimed to characterize functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) reliability within a single subject over repeated runs in canonical brain networks during jhana meditation performed by an adept practitioner over 5 days (27 fMRI runs) inside an ultra‐high field 7 Tesla MRI scanner. We found that thalamus and several cortical networks, that is, the somatomotor, limbic, default‐mode, control, and temporo‐parietal, demonstrated good within‐subject reliability across all jhanas. Additionally, we found that several other relevant brain networks (e.g., attention, salience) showed noticeable increases in reliability when fMRI measurements were adjusted for variability in self‐reported phenomenology related to jhana meditation. Overall, we present a preliminary template of reliable brain areas likely underpinning core neurocognitive elements of jhana meditation, and highlight the utility of neurophenomenological experimental designs for better characterizing neuronal variability associated with advanced meditative states.
Prognostic relevance of circulating lymphoma cells at diagnosis in newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma patients
Authors: Annunzio Kaitlin , Bhatta Subodh , Hanel Walter , Zhao Qiuhong , Owen Mackenzie , Rosen Havi , Voorhees Timothy J. , Bond David A. , Sawalha Yazeed , Sigmund Audrey M. , Alinari Lapo , Baiocchi Robert A. , Maddocks Kami J. , Jones Daniel , Christian Beth , Epperla Narendranath 
Published: May 2024

AbstractFollicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common indolent B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma. Circulating lymphoma (CL) cells can be seen at diagnosis in some FL patients, however, previous studies evaluating this have shown mixed results. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the impact of CL at diagnosis on outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed FL using data from a single center. Patients were divided into CL+ and CL− based on immunophenotyping via peripheral blood (PB) flow cytometry. CL was defined as detectable clonally restricted B‐cells that matched the actual or expected B‐cell immunophenotype of FL. The primary endpoint was progression‐free survival (PFS) after first‐line treatment and secondary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), diagnosis to treatment interval (DTI), progression of disease within 2 years of diagnosis (POD24), and cumulative incidence of transformation between the two groups. Among the 541 patients with FL, 204 had PB flow cytometry performed at diagnosis, and after excluding patients not meeting the eligibility criteria, 147 cases remained with 24 (16%) CL+ at diagnosis. Patients in the CL+ group were younger (53 vs. 58 years, p = 0.02), had more extranodal involvement (83% vs. 44%, p < 0.01), follicular lymphoma international prognostic index 3–5 (55% vs. 31%, p = 0.01), and a higher proportion received first‐line immunochemotherapy (75% vs. 43%, p = 0.01) compared to the CL−group. The median PFS was not significantly different between CL+ (6.27 years, 95% CI = 3.61‐NR) and CL− (6.61 years, 95% CI = 5.10–9.82) cohorts regardless of the first‐line treatment or level of absolute PB CL cells. There was no significant difference in ORR, median OS, DTI, POD24, and cumulative incidence of transformation between the two groups. In our study, we found that the presence of CL cells at diagnosis in FL in the contemporary era did not impact outcomes and survival.