bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus: bridging phylogeny, ontogeny and functional anatomy
Authors: Giampiccolo Davide , Herbet Guillaume , Duffau Hugues 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The inferior-fronto-occipital fasciculus is a long-range white matter tract that connects the prefrontal cortex with parietal, posterior temporal and occipital cortices. First identified in the nineteenth century through the pioneering studies of Mayo and Meynert using blunt dissection, its anatomy and function remain contentious topics. Structurally, its projections are well-documented in human blunt dissection and tractography literature, yet its existence has been questioned by tract-tracing studies in macaques. Functionally, while traditional results from direct white matter stimulation during awake surgery suggested a contribution to language, recent evidence from stimulation and lesion data may indicate a broader role in executive control, extending to attention, motor cognition, memory, reading, emotion recognition, and theory of mind.
This review begins by examining anatomical evidence suggesting that the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus evolved in non-human primates to connect temporal and occipital cortices to prefrontal regions involved in context-dependent selection of visual features for action. We then integrate developmental, electrophysiological, functional and anatomical evidence for the human inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus to propose it has a similar role in manipulation of visual features in our species—particularly when inhibition of overriding but task-irrelevant stimuli is required to prioritize a second, task-relevant stimulus.
Next, we introduce a graded model in which dorsal (orbitofrontal, superior and middle frontal to precuneal, angular and supero-occipital projections) and ventral (inferior frontal to posterotemporal, basal temporal and infero-occipital) projections of the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus support perceptual or conceptual control of visual representations for action, respectively. Leveraging this model, we address controversies in the current literature regarding language, motor cognition, attention and emotion under the unifying view of cognitive control. Finally, we discuss surgical implications for this model and its impact on predicting and preventing neurological deficits in neurosurgery.
Ventromedial prefrontal cortex lesions disrupt learning to reward others
Authors: Gueguen Margot , Cutler Jo , Drew Daniel , Apps Matthew A J , Jeyaretna Deva Sanjeeva , Husain Masud , Manohar Sanjay G , Lockwood Patricia L 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Reinforcement learning is a fundamental process for how humans and other animals attain rewards for themselves. However, to act prosocially, we must also learn how our choices reward others. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex has been independently linked to reinforcement learning and prosocial behaviour, yet its causal impact on prosocial reinforcement learning and the roles of its multiple subregions remain unknown.
Here, a large group of adults with rare focal ventromedial prefrontal cortex damage (n=28), and two carefully age- and gender-matched control groups (lesions elsewhere, n=21; healthy controls, n=124) completed a reinforcement learning task where they learnt to win rewards for another person (prosocial), for themselves (self), or in a control condition where participants saw points but they were not translated into rewards for either individual (no one, control condition) on separate trials.
A novel computational model which incorporated separate learning rates for positive and negative prediction errors best explained behaviour in all groups. Importantly, compared to both control groups, patients with ventromedial prefrontal cortex damage were less accurate and had lower learning rates from positive prediction errors when rewarding another person relative to when no one benefitted, and higher learning rates for negative prediction errors when learning for others relative to self. Unlike controls, ventromedial prefrontal cortex lesion patients also showed a reduced self-benefitting advantage. They were equally accurate and learnt at a similar rate from positive prediction errors for self and neither individual. Strikingly, voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping revealed that damage to subgenual anterior cingulate cortex and anterior cingulate cortex gyrus specifically disrupted prosocial reinforcement learning.
These findings highlight the importance of ventromedial prefrontal cortex integrity for multiple aspects of reinforcement learning, with damage to subgenual anterior cingulate cortex and anterior cingulate cortex gyrus critical for learning to reward others.
Machine learning reveals connections between preclinical type 2 diabetes subtypes and brain health
Authors: Yi Fan , Yuan Jing , Han Fei , Somekh Judith , Peleg Mor , Wu Fei , Jia Zhilong , Zhu Yi-Cheng , Huang Zhengxing 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Previous research has established Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus as a significant risk factor for various disorders, adversely impacting human health. While evidence increasingly links type 2 diabetes to cognitive impairment and brain disorders, understanding the causal effects of its preclinical stage on brain health is yet to be fully known. This knowledge gap hinders advancements in screening and preventing neurological and psychiatric diseases. To address this gap, we employed a robust machine learning algorithm (Subtype and Stage Inference, SuStaIn) with cross-sectional clinical data from the UK Biobank (20,277 preclinical type 2 diabetes participants and 20,277 controls) to identify underlying subtypes and stages for preclinical type 2 diabetes.
Our analysis revealed one subtype distinguished by elevated circulating leptin levels and decreased leptin receptor levels, coupled with increased body mass index, diminished lipid metabolism, and heightened susceptibility to psychiatric conditions such as anxiety disorder, depression disorder, and bipolar disorder. Conversely, individuals in the second subtype manifested typical abnormalities in glucose metabolism, including rising glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels, with observed correlations with neurodegenerative disorders. Over ten-year follow-up of these individuals revealed differential declines in brain health and significant clinical outcome disparities between subtypes. The first subtype exhibited a faster progression and higher risk for psychiatric conditions, while the second subtype was associated with more severe progression in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and a faster progression to type 2 diabetes. Our findings highlight that monitoring and addressing the brain health needs of individuals in the preclinical stage of type 2 diabetes is imperative.
Integrated primary and secondary care optimises the management of people with CKD - The LUCID project
Authors: Major Rupert W , Lakhani Niraj , Ahmed Yaseen , Atkin Jade , Baines Richard , Balment Rose , Cheung Chee Kay , Graham-Brown Matthew P , Ellwood Claire , Harding Laura , Iyasere Osasuyi , Jesa Tracy , Jesus-Silva Jorge , Jinadu Yusuf , Khalid Arshad , Khatri Jibran , Makkeyah Yahya , Martinez Maria , Mather Helen , Medcalf James F , Moore Kirk , Ogle James , Oseya Eleanor , Patel Dipesh , Patel Reena , Pollard Tracy , Priestman William , Rastogi Amit , Sanganee Nil , Shaffu Mark , Steiner Michael , Than Tun , Xu Gang , Rizvi Fahad , Burton James O 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Early diagnosis, risk stratification and medication optimisation are essential to improve the management of chronic kidney disease and other long-term conditions. The introduction of Integrated Care Systems in England provides the opportunity to revolutionise the management of these conditions. Annual NHS kidney disease costs are ∼£6.4 billion.
We designed, piloted and implemented at scale an Integrated Care System-level virtual care programme for chronic kidney disease, the ‘Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland Chronic Kidney Disease Integrated Care Delivery Project’ (LUCID), based on the principles of patient and professional education, early disease identification, medicines optimisation and disease surveillance.
In April 2022 virtual multi-disciplinary meetings were piloted in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, UK. Since April 2023 virtual MDT meetings have been available to all general practices in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland representing a population of approximately 1.2 million people . As of 31st March 2024, general practices representing an estimated population of 700 000 (58.3%) were participating in the LUCID programme. 1085 consultations took place for 821 patients, 590 (54.4%) of which were medicines optimisation consultations.
LUCID may represent an efficient and cost-effective model to deliver patient and professional education, medicine optimisation and risk stratification for people living with CKD at an Integrated Care System-wide population level. This model may be adaptable for other long-term physical and mental health conditions.
May Measurement Month 2022: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Kenya
Authors: Mbau Lilian , Samia Bernard , Nguchu Hellen , Onyango Elizabeth , Beaney Thomas , Kerr Gabriele , Poulter Neil R , Ogola Elijah 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Hypertension is the largest contributor to the burden of disease globally, but awareness, treatment and control rates remain low. In response to this, the annual global May Measurement Month campaign was initiated by the International Society of Hypertension in 2017. This paper summarizes the results of the 2022 MMM campaign in Kenya.
Adults aged ≥ 18 years were recruited across 8 counties in Kenya. Three seated blood pressure (BP) readings were taken for each participant, along with completion of a questionnaire on demographics, lifestyle factors, and comorbidities. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg or being on antihypertensive medication. Controlled BP was defined as being on antihypertensive medication with a BP &lt;140/90 mmHg. Multiple imputation was used to estimate any missing BP readings. In total, 9605 were screened, with a mean age of 43.0 years, 43.9% females and 3406 (35.5%) for the first time. Of all participants, 3167 (33.0%) had hypertension, of whom 982 (31.0%) were aware, and 936 (29.6%) were on antihypertensive medication. Of those on antihypertensive medication, 346 (37.0%) had controlled BP, and of all participants with hypertension, 10.9% had controlled BP. Of those on medication, the majority were on two (517; 55.2%) anti-hypertensive medication classes.
The campaign identified significant numbers of participants with either untreated or inadequately treated hypertension. Hypertension control remains alarmingly low necessitating critical evaluation of possible contributors including awareness and treatment optimization.
May Measurement Month 2022: an analysis of blood pressure screening results in Greece
Authors: Menti Ariadni , Kollias Anastasios , Milionis Haralampos , Liontos Angelos , Gkaliagkousi Eugenia , Kotsis Vasileios , Savopoulos Christos , Triantafyllou Areti , Zarifis Ioannis , Papadakis John A , Marketou Maria , Nikitas George , Maragkoudakis Spyridon , Makaris Emmanouil , Krokidis Xenophon , Goumenos Dimitrios , Papachristou Evangelos , Sarakis Vasilios , Lanaras Leonidas , Grassos Charalampos , Kalaitzidis Rigas G , Kallistratos Manolis S , Katsi Vasiliki , Konstantinidis Dimitrios , Kyriakoulis Konstantinos G , Makris Thomas , Manios Efstathios , Manolis Athanasios , Papadopoulos Dimitrios , Pikilidou Maria I , Protogerou Athanasios , Sarafidis Pantelis , Theodorakopoulou Marieta , Zebekakis Pantelis , Tsioufis Konstantinos , Doumas Michael , Stergiou George S 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Hypertension remains a major public health challenge with inadequate control globally. The May Measurement Month (MMM) global survey initiated by the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) was implemented in Greece in 2022 aiming to raise hypertension awareness and control.
Adult volunteers were recruited through opportunistic screening in 11 urban areas. Information on medical history and three sitting blood pressure (BP) measurements were obtained using validated automated upper-arm devices and the data were submitted online through a custom-designed app of the global MMM survey. Hypertension was defined as average systolic BP at least 140 mmHg and/or diastolic 90 mmHg, or self-reported use of drugs for hypertension. A total of 6353 individuals were included (mean age 54.8±16.2 years, 49% men, 30.5% current smokers, 11.5% had diabetes, 5.1% myocardial infarction). The prevalence of hypertension (42.6%) was higher in men (48.8%) and in older individuals (74%). Among individuals with hypertension, 27.5% were unaware of their diagnosis, 22.2% were treated but uncontrolled (≥140 mmHg systolic and/or ≥90 mmHg diastolic BP) and 47.9% were treated and controlled. Among treated hypertensives, 58.2% were on monotherapy and at least one-third of them were uncontrolled.
The prevalence of hypertension in Greece seems to be high, and is often undiagnosed, untreated, and uncontrolled. Public health initiatives and campaigns aiming at improving hypertension diagnosis and control need to be implemented.
Identification of CXCR4 inhibitory activity in natural compounds using cheminformatics-guided machine learning algorithms
Authors: Tripathi Rahul , Kumar Pravir 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders are characterised by progressive damage to neurons that leads to cognitive impairment and motor dysfunction. Current treatment options focus only on symptom management and palliative care, without addressing their root cause. In our previous study, we reported the upregulation of the CXC motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), in Alzheimer’s disease (ad) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). We reached this conclusion by analysing gene expression patterns of ad and PD patients, compared to healthy individuals of similar age. We used RNA sequencing data from Gene Expression Omnibus to carry out this analysis. Herein, we aim to identify natural compounds that have potential inhibitory activity against CXCR4 through cheminformatics-guided machine learning, to aid drug discovery for neurodegenerative disorders, especially ad and PD. Natural compounds are gaining prominence in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders due to their biocompatibility and potential neuroprotective properties, including their ability to modulate CXCR4 expression. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms have opened new avenues for drug discovery research across various therapeutic areas, including neurodegenerative disorders. We aim to produce an ML model using cheminformatics-guided machine learning algorithms using data of compounds with known CXCR4 activity, retrieved from the Binding Database, to analyse various physicochemical attributes of natural compounds obtained from the COCONUT Database and predict their inhibitory activity against CXCR4.
Insight Box This work extends our previous study published in Integrative Biology (DOI: 10.1093/intbio/zyad012). We aim to demonstrate the effectiveness of AI and ML in identifying potential treatment options for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. By analysing vast amounts of data and identifying patterns that may not be apparent to human researchers, AI-powered systems can provide valuable insight into potential treatment options that may have been overlooked through traditional research methods. Our study underscores the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration between computational and experimental scientists in drug discovery and in developing a robust pipeline to identify potential leads for drug development.
Marine spatial planning as a potential practical approach to manage setiu wetland as an ecologically sensitive area
Authors: Lua W Y , Aziz N , Idris I , Rahman M A A , Ghazali F , Talaat W I A W 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Using Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) as a management tool for long-term sustainability is relatively new in Malaysia. This paper addresses and discusses the potential MSP has to manage Setiu Wetland as an ecologically sensitive area. Setiu Wetland is the largest natural wetland in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The enabling environment for the adoption of MSP in Setiu Wetland is explored to foresee potential in managing the wetland’s conflicting uses. Located in Terengganu, the wetland provides various ecosystem services to humans, birds, reptiles, mammals, invertebrates, and bivalves. The Setiu Wetland ‘s coastal and marine natural ecosystems provide various benefits to the well-being of the population there. However, the human population growth in Setiu Wetland and the surrounding areas is increasingly contributing to the natural resource exploitation in this ecologically sensitive area causing detrimental effects on the wetland ecosystem. This paper aims to review the threats to the ecosystems in Setiu Wetland from multiple development activities and existing uses to examine the potential implementation of MSP in managing the wetland as an ecologically sensitive area. In conclusion, this study proposes the adoption of MSP as the best management process to protect the natural habitat and preserve the ecological functions of the wetland without compromising the local communities’ livelihood.
Agricultural practices and pollinators modulate the anthosphere microbiome
Authors: Temmermans Jari , Legein Marie , Checchia Ilaria , Felis Giovanna E , Smets Wenke , Karise Reet , Lebeer Sarah 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The flower microbiome is pivotal in plant health, influencing reproductive success, fruit quality, and pathogen vulnerability. However, the impact of intensified agricultural practices on these microbial communities remains to be understood. This study examines how specific agricultural practices influence the bacterial composition of the strawberry anthosphere, focusing on cultivation intensification. Intensified systems were defined by practices such as indoor glasshouse substrate-based cultivation, increased use of plant protection products, larger cultivation areas, and reliance on managed pollinators. Using citizen science and V4 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we found that flowers in these more intensively managed systems had lower bacterial diversity, more variable microbiomes, and loss of core taxa such as Sphingomonas and Pseudomonas. To determine if pollinators could help mitigate these effects, we conducted exclusion experiments. In a tunnel system, we observed that foraging pollinators facilitated the dispersal of specific bacteria, such as Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas, and increased flower bacterial richness. However, in an open field, foraging pollinators had no significant impact. Our findings highlight the significant impact of cultivation intensification on the anthosphere microbiome and suggest that pollinators may play a role in restoring microbiome diversity. This research fills a critical gap in understanding how agricultural practices shape plant microbiomes and underscores the potential for microbe-based strategies to improve plant health in intensively managed systems.
The role of CD57+γδ T cells in the immune pathogenesis of patients with sepsis
Authors: Li Liman , Jiang Nenggang , Jin Yongmei , Yang Chuan , Fu Yang 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The immune response goes haywire during sepsis. The aim of this study was to explore the role of CD57+γδ T cells in the immune pathogenesis of sepsis. We characterized the transcriptomic profile of peripheral γδ T cells obtained from patients with sepsis using the Smart RNA-Sequence. We also analyzed the cell count and the immune functional signatures of CD57+γδ T cells in sepsis using flow cytometry. Besides, the cytotoxicity capacity of CD57+γδ T cell subset and its responses to sepsis-related drug were validated in vitro. Here, we found that patients with sepsis exhibited a reduction in peripheral CD57+γδ T cells proportion, which was positively associated with clinical outcomes. Compared with CD57-γδ T cells, CD57+γδ T cells exhibited drastically altered immunophenotype, including decreased expression levels of costimulatory molecules, higher expression levels of pro-inflammatory factors and cytotoxic granules.
Pediatric Infectious Disease Outpatient Telehealth: An Accepted Model of Care
Authors: Zabalo Celisse , Tsalatsanis Athanasios , Kumar Ambuj , Espinosa Claudia , Purandare Amol , Rodriguez Carina A , Olson Christina , Gaviria-Agudelo Claudia 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
This retrospective cohort study assessed the differences between in person vs telehealth (TH) services in pediatric infectious diseases. TH was noted to be used more frequently by Hispanic patients and established patients. TH decreased travel distance and no-show/cancellation rates. TH offers a valuable outpatient option for pediatric infectious disease patients.
Development of a quantitative SYBR Green real-time PCR and microscopic slide culture for in vitro enumeration of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae
Authors: Jafari Jozani Raziallah , Al Khallawi Mauida F Hasoon , Mohammed Majed H , Nguyen Hanh Thi Hong , Trott Darren J , Petrovski Kiro , Hemmatzadeh Farhid 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae’s slow growth makes enumeration challenging using the traditional colony-forming unit (CFU) method. We introduced an innovative CFU-slide culture (CFU-SC) approach to address this issue. CFU-SC allows accurate counting of M. hyopneumoniae microcolonies, ranging from 7 to 50 µm, using high magnification. While comparing the accuracy of enumeration among CFU, CFU-SC, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and colour change unit (CCU), we found a robust positive correlation between qPCR and CFU-SC with colourCCU method for quantifying M. hyopneumoniae. Newly isolated strains exhibited the lowest Pearson correlation coefficient (r = 0.52) when comparing CFU and real-time PCR, while the highest coefficient (r = 0.86) was observed for the type strain J and new isolates using real-time PCR and CFU-SC. A consensus growth pattern was observed among all quantification methods, except CFU, between newly isolated strains and the type strain J. Notably, new isolates of M. hyopneumoniae showed no senescence phase after 228 h of cultivation, differing from the type strain J. The disparity in growth rate and pattern between new isolates and the type strain J is evident in the smaller agar microcolonies (7–10 µm) of the isolates, contrasting with the larger colonies (100–200 µm) of type strain J.