bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Facilitation cascades across space: Monitoring estuarine foundation species from satellites to the microscope
Authors: Clemente Ken Joseph E. , Thomsen Mads S. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractEstuaries are productive ecosystems that are vulnerable to human impacts and environmental disturbances. Estuaries are often inhabited by foundation species that facilitate other organisms by creating and modifying habitats. However, spatiotemporal variability and underpinning drivers of facilitation from estuarine foundation species are poorly studied, especially in the context of monitoring and conservation. Here, we combined the analyses of satellite, drone, and camera images, close‐up field sampling of quadrats and individuals, and laboratory microscopy, to quantify co‐occurrences between the cockle Austrovenus stutchburyi and green macroalga Ulva spp., and their associated invertebrate communities, across spatial resolutions and environmental gradients in a New Zealand estuary. We found higher abundance of Ulva in winter and higher abundance of Austrovenus at a site near the ocean. Furthermore, Ulva was, across space and time, often attached to Austrovenus, either live or dead shells, suggesting a hierarchy between a primary (cockle) and secondary (macroalgae) foundation species. Finally, Ulva provided a better habitat for mobile invertebrates than Austrovenus, and thereby increased estuarine diversity through a density‐dependent facilitation cascade, which also was consistent in space and time. Overall, our study showed that facilitation cascades can be indirectly inferred and monitored through remote sensing of foundation species using supplementary imaging methods, and that integration of data across scales allows researchers to better understand the drivers and consequences of facilitation from foundation species. These insights may aid in the development of efficient monitoring strategies and ultimately improve the management of estuarine ecosystems.
Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent kinase IIδC‐induced chronic heart failure does not depend on sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ leak
Authors: Dewenter Matthias , Seitz Tilmann , Steinbrecher Julia H. , Westenbrink B. Daan , Ling Haiyun , Lehnart Stephan E. , Wehrens Xander H.T. , Backs Johannes , Brown Joan Heller , Maier Lars S. , Neef Stefan 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAimsHyperactivity of Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) has emerged as a central cause of pathologic remodelling in heart failure. It has been suggested that CaMKII‐induced hyperphosphorylation of the ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2) and consequently increased diastolic Ca2+ leak from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is a crucial mechanism by which increased CaMKII activity leads to contractile dysfunction. We aim to evaluate the relevance of CaMKII‐dependent RyR2 phosphorylation for CaMKII‐induced heart failure development in vivo.Methods and resultsWe crossbred CaMKIIδC overexpressing [transgenic (TG)] mice with RyR2‐S2814A knock‐in mice that are resistant to CaMKII‐dependent RyR2 phosphorylation. Ca2+‐spark measurements on isolated ventricular myocytes confirmed the severe diastolic SR Ca2+ leak previously reported in CaMKIIδC TG [4.65 ± 0.73 mF/F0 vs. 1.88 ± 0.30 mF/F0 in wild type (WT)]. Crossing in the S2814A mutation completely prevented SR Ca2+‐leak induction in the CaMKIIδC TG, both regarding Ca2+‐spark size and frequency, demonstrating that the CaMKIIδC‐induced SR Ca2+ leak entirely depends on the CaMKII‐specific RyR2‐S2814 phosphorylation. Yet, the RyR2‐S2814A mutation did not affect the massive contractile dysfunction (ejection fraction = 12.17 ± 2.05% vs. 45.15 ± 3.46% in WT), cardiac hypertrophy (heart weight/tibia length = 24.84 ± 3.00 vs. 9.81 ± 0.50 mg/mm in WT), or severe premature mortality (median survival of 12 weeks) associated with cardiac CaMKIIδC overexpression. In the face of a prevented SR Ca2+ leak, the phosphorylation status of other critical CaMKII downstream targets that can drive heart failure, including transcriptional regulator histone deacetylase 4, as well as markers of pathological gene expression including Xirp2, Il6, and Col1a1, was equally increased in hearts from CaMKIIδC TG on a RyR WT and S2814A background.ConclusionsS2814 phosphoresistance of RyR2 prevents the CaMKII‐dependent SR Ca2+ leak induction but does not prevent the cardiomyopathic phenotype caused by enhanced CaMKIIδC activity. Our data indicate that additional mechanisms—independent of SR Ca2+ leak—are critical for the maladaptive effects of chronically increased CaMKIIδC activity with respect to heart failure.
Genetic predisposition in chemotherapy‐induced cardiomyopathy in a 65‐year‐old female with metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Lee So‐Young , Kim Hoon Seok , Jung Mi‐Hyang , Chang Suyon , Kim Myungshin , Youn Jong‐Chan , Chung Woo‐Baek , Jung Hae Ok 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe prevention and management of cancer therapy‐related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) have become increasingly important. Recent studies have revealed the crucial role of genetics in determining the susceptibility to development of CTRCD. We present a case of a 65‐year‐old woman with breast cancer who developed recurrent CTRCD following low‐dose chemotherapy, despite lacking conventional cardiovascular risk factors. Her medical history included anthracycline‐associated cardiomyopathy, and her condition deteriorated significantly after treatment with HER2‐targeted therapies. Through the use of multimodal imaging, we detected severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Further investigation with genetic testing revealed a likely pathogenic variant in the TNNT2 gene, suggesting a genetic predisposition to CTRCD. This case implies the potential role of genetic screening in identifying patients at risk for CTRCD and advocates for personalized chemotherapy and cardioprotective strategies.
Empowering γδ T‐cell functionality with vitamin C
Authors: Kabelitz Dieter , Cierna Lea , Juraske Claudia , Zarobkiewicz Michal , Schamel Wolfgang W. , Peters Christian 
Published: April 2024

AbstractVitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a potent antioxidant and a cofactor for various enzymes including histone demethylases and methylcytosine dioxygenases. Vitamin C also exerts direct cytotoxicity toward selected tumor cells including colorectal carcinoma. Moreover, vitamin C has been shown to impact immune cell differentiation at various levels including maturation and/or functionality of T cells and their progenitors, dendritic cells, B cells, and NK cells. γδ T cells have recently attracted great interest as effector cells for cell‐based cancer immunotherapy, due to their HLA‐independent recognition of a large variety of tumor cells. While γδ T cells can thus be also applied as an allogeneic off‐the‐shelf product, it is obvious that the effector function of γδ T cells needs to be optimized to ensure the best possible clinical efficacy. Here we review the immunomodulatory mechanisms of vitamin C with a special focus on how vitamin C enhances the effector function of γδ T cells. We also discuss future directions of how vitamin C can be used in the clinical setting to boost the efficacy of adoptive cell therapies.
Cyclopropanation of Aryl and Styryl Acetonitriles With Selenium‐Based Dielectrophiles
Authors: Coelho Dias Italo Franco , Allegrini Giulia , Wielgus Ewelina , Drabowicz Józef , Lenardão Eder João , Bagnoli Luana , Santi Claudio , Marini Francesca 
Published: April 2024

AbstractEfficient cyclopropanation reactions of aryl or styrylacetonitriles with vinyl selenones under mild conditions were described. By this approach, synthetically challenging 1‐vinylcyclopropane‐1‐carbonitriles were accessible in good yields. This methodology features the advantage of operational simplicity, broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, transition‐metal‐free conditions, mild temperature, and a high level of regio‐ and diastereo‐control.
Generalized index and mode modulatedOFDMwith improved spectral and energy efficiency
Authors: Sengupta Ipsita , Dasgupta Shounak , Das Barman Abhirup 
Published: April 2024

AbstractRecently developed trends in wireless communication encounter extremely high surge in data traffic, which makes it inevitable to employ energy efficient techniques to reduce detrimental consequence of carbon emission over society. This concern has motivated us to upgrade our previous work on index and mode modulated orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (IMM‐OFDM) for achieving dual benefits in terms of spectral and energy efficiency. In this paper, we have proposed a generalized index and mode modulated OFDM scheme with variable number of subcarrier activation. Novelty of this generalized scheme is its capability to act as a unified model for classic OFDM and three other benchmark index modulated OFDM schemes along with our previously proposed IMM‐OFDM scheme. This new scheme outperforms those five descendent schemes in terms of energy efficiency and error performance as indicated by simulation results. Spectral efficiency improvement in this scheme is achieved through optimum sets of active subcarrier number, which are determined to gain most optimized trade‐off between spectral and energy efficiency with least detector complexity. This generalized parent scheme can replace individual models of its five descendent schemes and consequently can be considered to be one of the most promising candidates for next generation mobile communication system.
Performance analysis of energy harvesting‐enabled relay networks inκ‐μfading channels
Authors: Singh Raghwendra K. , Das Soumendu , Dixit Dharmendra , Kumar Nagendra 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn this paper, we investigate the performance of an energy harvesting (EH)‐enabled multiple relay network operating over generalized‐fading channels. Our approach involves utilizing a partial relay selection strategy and employing an amplify and forward relay protocol for efficient EH from RF signals. Additionally, we integrate a selection combining scheme at the receiver to combine both direct and relaying path signals. In our research, we first obtain the exact closed‐form expression of the cumulative distribution function (CDF) for the system under investigation. Subsequently, we derive expressions for the outage probability (OP) and the moment generating function (MGF) using the derived CDF expression. Furthermore, with the assistance of a CDF‐based approach, we derive closed‐form expressions for the average symbol error rate (ASER) for coherent quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) schemes, including rectangular QAM (RQAM) and hexagonal QAM (HQAM). We also analyze the ASER expression for non‐coherent frequency shift keying (NCFSK), leveraging the derived MGF expression. To gain valuable insights into the performance of EH‐enabled multiple relay networks, we assess the asymptotic expression of the OP. The outcomes indicate how the behavior of the system is affected by various factors such as time switching ratio, channel fading components, number of relays, and the distance between nodes. To corroborate the accuracy of the analytical findings, Monte Carlo simulations are executed.
Objective indexes for comparing platelet usage among peer hospitals during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Tu Ya‐Chi , Hsueh Yu‐Shan , Cheng Yu‐Chen , Lin Ting‐Wei , Chiueh Tzong‐Shi 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackground and AimsBesides hospital size, clinical diagnosis and severity of patient cases determine the total platelet usage. Therefore, the appropriateness of platelet usage could not be compared simply with the total units of platelet usage in each hospital. This study aimed to objectively monitor and analyze platelet usage after implementing a single‐unit issuing policy for each platelet transfusion in our hospital in October 2020.Materials and MethodsWe used three objective indices, X, Y, and Z, to monitor platelet usage and compared it with other hospitals. Three indices were generated by dividing the annual total units of platelet usage by the total annual reimbursement, total number of admissions, and average total reimbursement per admission for each hospital.ResultsThe new indices X and Y alleviated hospital size–dependent differences. Index Y was preferred over X because its value fluctuated less during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The Z index was adjusted for the average total reimbursement per admission, and the results showed that more patients with higher disease complexity did not have increased platelet usage during the COVID‐19 pandemic. In our hospital (H1), index Z decreased from 2019 to 2021 due to a policy of issuing a single unit for each platelet transfusion.ConclusionThese three objective indices are suitable for peer comparison and monitoring platelet usage in hospitals, irrespective of their size. They could be applied to promote patient blood management and provide an early response to the gradual shortage of blood resources owing to the aging population and declining birth rate in Taiwan.
Indirect impact of SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic on incidence of maternal primary cytomegalovirus and Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnancy
Authors: Vasarri Maria Viola , Fernicola Federica , Arienti Francesca , Carli Anna , Colciago Elisabetta , Locatelli Anna , Trotta Michele , Procopio Angelica , Zammarchi Lorenzo , Ornaghi Sara 
Published: April 2024

AbstractObjectivePublic health interventions promoted during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic to control viral spread have impacted the occurrence of other communicable disease. Yet no studies have focused on perinatal infections with the potential for neonatal sequelae, including cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Toxoplasma gondii (TG). Here we investigate whether incidence rates of maternal primary CMV and TG infection in pregnancy were affected by the implementation of pandemic‐related public health measures.MethodsA retrospective study including all pregnant women with confirmed primary CMV or TG infection in pregnancy, managed between 2018 and 2021 at two university centers. The incidence rate was calculated as the number of CMV and TG infections per 100 consultations with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Data were compared between pre‐pandemic (2018–2019) and pandemic (2020 and 2021) years. The Newcombe Wilson with Continuity Correction method was employed to compare incidence rates.ResultsThe study population included 215 maternal primary CMV and 192 TG infections. Rate of maternal primary CMV infection decreased in 2021 compared with 2018–2019 (4.49% vs 6.40%, attributable risk [AR] 1.92, P = 0.019). By contrast, the rate of TG infection substantially increased in 2020 (6.95% vs 4.61%, AR 2.34, P = 0.006). Close contact with cats was more common among patients with TG infection in 2020 and 2021 than among pre‐pandemic TG‐infected women (26.3% and 24.4% vs 13.3%, P = 0.013).ConclusionPandemic‐related public health interventions and associated behavioral and lifestyle changes exerted a divergent effect on the incidence of primary CMV and TG infection in pregnancy, likely due to modulation of exposure to risk factors for these infections.
Comparison of progestin‐primed ovarian stimulation regimen and antagonist regimen in women aged 35 years or older with diminished ovarian reserve: A propensity score‐matched study
Authors: Wang Mohan , Li Linlin , Zhu Haibo , Wang Ruixue , Liu Ruizhi , Zhang Han 
Published: April 2024

AbstractObjectiveDiminished ovarian reserve (DOR) has been a major challenge in infertility treatment. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of progestin‐primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) regimen and antagonist regimen in infertile patients aged 35 years or older with DOR.MethodsA retrospective study of 289 in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles from April 2016 to June 2022 was performed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the baseline characteristics between the two groups at a ratio of 1:1.ResultsAfter matching, there were 87 cycles in the PPOS group and 87 cycles in the antagonist group. The primary outcome measures included the incidence of premature LH surge, the number of retrieved oocytes, and the number of mature oocytes, which were comparable between the two groups (all P values >0.05). There were no significant differences in laboratory indicators and final clinical outcomes between the two groups (all P values >0.05).ConclusionsFor DOR patients aged 35 years or older, the number of retrieved oocytes and the number of mature oocytes were comparable between the PPOS and antagonist groups. Moreover, the two regimens showed no difference in the inhibition of premature LH surge.
Effects of male hepatitis B virus infection and serostatus on sperm quality, pregnancy outcomes, and neonatal outcomes following intrauterine insemination
Authors: Sun Xiangru , Cai Bing , Guo Pengfei , Liu Haipeng , Liu Qizhi 
Published: April 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of male hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and serostatus on sperm quality, pregnancy outcomes, and neonatal outcomes following intrauterine insemination for infertility.Design and MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed data from 962 infertile couples undergoing intrauterine insemination treatment at a single center. The case group comprised 212 infertile couples with male HBV infection, and the control group comprised 750 noninfected infertile couples. The couples were further divided into subgroups according to their hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)/anti‐HBe status: hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)+HBeAg− (group A), HBsAg+HBeAg+ (group B), and HBsAg−HBeAg− (control group). The main outcome parameters, including the seminal parameters, clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, live birth rate, preterm delivery rate, multiple pregnancy rate, delivery type, birth weight, and sex ratio, were compared.ResultsA lower sperm acrosin activity, higher cesarean rate, and newborn sex ratio were observed in the HBV‐infected group and group A in comparison with the control group (P < 0.05). However, the standard sperm parameters, clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, live birth rate, preterm delivery, and birth weight showed no statistically significant differences among the groups.ConclusionMale HBV infection does not adversely impact standard sperm parameters or pregnancy outcomes but can influence sperm acrosin activity and some neonatal outcomes. Moreover, the effect may vary among different HBV serostatuses.
DiffSwinTr: A diffusion model using 3D Swin Transformer for brain tumor segmentation
Authors: Zhu Junan , Zhu Hongxin , Jia Zhaohong , Ma Ping 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAutomatic medical image segmentation has shown great potential in recent years. Howerver, magnetic resonance images (MRI) usually have the characteristics of noise and artifacts, existing methods cannot accurately segment the boundaries. In addition, most existing algorithms are unable to effectively capture the global dependencies to offset the local inductive bias. In this work, we present a novel denoising diffusion model based on 3D Swin Transformer for brain tumor segmentation, called DiffSwinTr. Furthermore, a conditional encoder module is designed to extract multi‐scale features and enhance the ability of local feature perception. We extensively evaluate our model on three BraTS datasets. The proposed DiffSwinTr can achieve average Dice Scores of 79.91%, 83.07%, and 85.38%, as well as the average Hausdorff Distances (95%) of 3.361, 3.334, and 2.975mm, respectively. The experimental results illuminate that DiffSwinTr outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art segmentation methods. Besides, our proposed model is robust to segmenting images with noise and artifacts.
Validity of the multidimensional assessment profile of disruptive behavior in autistic toddlers
Authors: Fipp‐Rosenfield Hannah , Grauzer Jeffrey , Roberts Megan Y. , Kaat Aaron J. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractObjectiveEarly measurement of atypical disruptive behavior within autistic children is critical for later referrals to behavioral screenings, diagnoses, and services. Disruptive behavior in autistic toddlers is often measured using a categorical approach and identifies the presence or absence of behavior. In contrast, dimensional approaches evaluate behavior on a spectrum of typical to atypical by measuring the clinical salience of disruptive behavior. We sought to assess the validity of the Infant/Toddler version of the multidimensional assessment profile of disruptive behavior (MAP‐DB‐IT), a dimensional approach measurement tool, in a sample of autistic toddlers.MethodsAutistic toddlers (n = 82, Mage = 33.2 months, SD = 6.28 months) and their mothers received 8 weeks of caregiver‐mediated social communication intervention. Mothers completed the MAP‐DB‐IT and the Infant Toddler Social Emotional Assessment (ITSEA) across three timepoints: before intervention, immediately after intervention, and at 3 months post‐intervention follow‐up. The MAP‐DB‐IT provided scores for three subdomains: temper loss, noncompliance, and aggression (generically or specifically with siblings). Ratings on the MAP‐DB‐IT were compared to the ITSEA using several analytic strategies such as evaluating (a) the internal consistency of the MAP‐DB‐IT domain scores; (b) the convergent validity between the two measures; and (c) its convergent change due to intervention and if this varied by child characteristics.ResultsThe MAP‐DB‐IT demonstrated excellent internal consistency across all four subdomains. We evaluated convergent validity and found positive correlations between the (a) ITSEA externalizing and MAP‐DB‐IT aggression domain, (b) ITSEA externalizing and MAP‐DB‐IT aggression with siblings domain, and (c) ITSEA dysregulation and MAP‐DB‐IT temper loss domain.ConclusionThe MAP‐DB‐IT is a valid measurement tool for disruptive behavior in autistic toddlers. Clinicians should consider the use of the MAP‐DB‐IT for young autistic clients presenting with disruptive behavior to (a) discriminate between early developmentally appropriate tantrums from clinically salient dysregulation, and (b) refer to additional behavioral evaluations and services.
Genetic diversity and population structure of Fusarium udum in India and its correlation with pigeonpea wilt incidence
Authors: Deepak Reddy Beerelli , Kumar Birendra , Sahni Sangita , Yashaswini Gummudala , Karthik Somala , Reddy Morthala Shankara Sai , Kumar Rajeev , Mukherjee Udayan 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn a study conducted in India, 50 Fusarium isolates were collected from pigeonpea growing regions and extensively examined for their cultural and morphological characteristics. These isolates exhibited significant variations in traits including growth rate, mycelial growth patterns, color, zonation, pigmentation, spore size, and septation. Subsequently, 30 isolates were chosen for pathogenicity testing on eight pigeonpea genotypes. Results showed distinct reactions, with four genotypes displaying differential responses (ICP8858, ICP8859, ICP8862, and BDN‐2), while ICP9174 and ICP8863 consistently exhibited resistance and ICP2376 and BAHAR remained susceptible to wilt disease. To study the interaction between Fusarium isolates and pigeonpea host differentials (HDs), an additive main effects and multiplicative interaction analysis was conducted. The majority of disease incidence variation (75.54%) was attributed to HD effects, while Fusarium isolate effects accounted for only 1.99%. The interaction between Isolates and HDs (I × HD) contributed 21.95% to the total variation, being smaller than HD but larger than I. Based on HD reactions, isolates were classified into nine variants, showing varying distributions across pigeonpea growing states, with variants 2 and 3 being prevalent in several regions. This diversity underscores the need for location‐specific wilt‐resistant pigeonpea cultivars. Furthermore, genetic analysis of 23 representative isolates, through internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA and translation elongation factor 1‐α gene sequencing, revealed three major clusters: Fusarium udum, Fusarium solani, and Fusarium equiseti. These findings hold potential for developing location‐specific wilt‐resistant pigeonpea cultivars and enhancing disease management strategies.