bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Continuous Outcome Estimation in N-of-1 Trials for Accelerated Decision-Making
Authors: Defelippe Victoria , Bartoš František , Wagenmakers Eric-Jan , Braun Kees P.J. , Jansen Floor E. , Otte Willem M. 
Published: February 2025

AbstractN-of-1 trials aim to determine the therapeutic effect for a single individual. This individualized approach necessitates collecting multiple data points over time through repeated alternating periods of active treatment and a comparator or control condition. The extended duration of the treatment periods may increase patient burden, prolong placebo exposure, and increase the likelihood of study discontinuation. In theory, treatment responders (or non-responders) can be identified early during the trial if the therapeutic effect is strong (or completely lacking). There are no theoretical constraints to evaluate treatment efficacy more regularly – not only after a predetermined number of treatment periods – given that the individualized character of the N-of-1 study permits a statistical model update as soon as new data becomes accessible. Regularly updating estimates on treatment effects allows clinicians to accelerate clinical decision-making regarding N-of-1 study termination. This study examines the importance of continuous treatment effect estimation in N-of-1 trials through simulation and re-analysis of existing trial datasets of neurological diseases. Results indicate that treatment efficacy decisions can be expedited when outcome estimation is performed continuously rather than delayed until the end of the trial.
Associations between plasma proteins and psychological wellbeing: evidence from over 20 years of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing
Authors: Gong Jessica , Scholes Shaun , Cole Steven , Zaninotto Paola , Steptoe Andrew 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTA deeper understanding of the molecular processes involved in psychological wellbeing in older adults is essential for advancing knowledge of underlying biological mechanisms. Leveraging proteomics data from 3,262 older adults (mean age=63.5 years, 55% female) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), we investigated the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations (before and after protein measurement) between 276 proteins and eudaimonic wellbeing, hedonic wellbeing, life satisfaction, and depressive symptoms, over 20-year span. For positive wellbeing, two proteins (DEFB4A and ECE1) were longitudinally associated with subsequent eudaimonic wellbeing trajectory. We further identified higher concentrations of 7, 8, and 2 proteins were linked to subsequent lower eudaimonic wellbeing, hedonic wellbeing, and life satisfaction, respectively. Sex differences in XCL1 and SLAMF7 were observed, associated with lower eudaimonic and hedonic wellbeing in males. These findings link human psychological wellbeing to regulation of several biological pathways, particularly involving cytokine regulation, neurotrophic signaling, inflammatory and immune systems.
Longitudinal evaluation of anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody levels in 3-dose homologous (mRNA-1273- mRNA-1273- BNT162b2) vaccinated Kidney transplant population: 18-month follow-up
Authors: Karunathilake Ridma P. , Kumara A , Karunathilaka A , Wazil AWM , Nanayakkara N , Bandara K , Abeysekera R , Noordeen F , Gawarammana IB , Ratnatunga Champa N. 
Published: February 2025

AbstractBackgroundKidney transplant recipients (KTRs) were given a 3-dose primary series of COVID-19 vaccination as they were vulnerable to infection due to immunosuppression.MethodsThis study was a longitudinal evaluation of nAB dynamics in 43 KTRs in a low-middle income setting receiving 3-dose homologous (mRNA-1273- mRNA-1273- BNT162b2) vaccination against COVID-19. Samples were obtained at time-points (TP) 0- pre-vaccination, TP1- 1 month post first dose(mRNA-1273), TP2-1-month post second dose (mRNA-1273), TP3- 4 months post-second dose, TP4- 2 weeks post-third dose(BNT162b2), TP5-5 months post-third dose and TP6-12 months-post third dose. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 nAB were detected using Genscript cPassTM pseudoviral neutralization kit. Demographic and clinical details were obtained through interviewer administered questionnaires.ResultsPre-vaccination serum analysis showed n=7 KTRs had prior COVID-19 infection, classified as ‘infected+vaccinated,’ while others were ‘vaccinated. ‘ Both groups were similar in age(41.7years vs 46.7years,p=0.2383), gender, and transplant characteristics. Seroconversion and MAB in the vaccinated and infected+vaccinated KTRs were:TP1-8.3% vs 100%(p<0.001), MAB-64.3IU/ml vs 1424IU/ml(p=0.0167TP2-52.7% vs 100%(p=0.0194), MAB-175IU/ml vs 2790IU/ml(p<0.0001), TP3-100% vs 100%, MAB-106IU/ml vs 2153IU/ml(p=0.0002), TP4-100% vs 100%, MAB-736 IU/ml vs 2152IU/ml(p=0.0307) and TP6-100% vs 100%, MAB >2565IU/ml vs >3028IU/ml(p=0.5238) No factors were associated with seroconversion or MAB.ConclusionKTRs receiving a three-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccine regime maintained strong nAB levels at one-year follow-up, with comparable antibody levels seen between KTRs with prior infection + vaccination and vaccination alone.
Semi-automated analysis of beading in degenerating axons
Authors: Pretheesh Kumar V C , Pullarkat Pramod 
Published: February 2025

AbstractAxonal beading is a key morphological indicator of axonal degeneration, which plays a significant role in various neurodegenerative diseases and drug-induced neuropathies. Quantification of axonal susceptibility to beading using neuronal cell culture can be used as a facile assay to evaluate induced degenerative conditions, and thus aid in understanding mechanisms of beading and in drug development. Manual analysis of axonal beading for large datasets is labor-intensive and prone to subjectivity, limiting the reproducibility of results. To address these challenges, we developed a semi-automated Python-based tool to track axonal beading in time-lapse microscopy images. The software significantly reduces human effort by detecting the onset of axonal swelling. Our method is based on classical image processing techniques rather than an AI approach. This provides interpretable results while allowing the extraction of additional quantitative data, such as bead density, coarsening dynamics, and morphological changes over time. Comparison of results obtained through human analysis and the software shows strong agreement. The code can be easily extended to analyze diameter information of ridge-like structures in branched networks of rivers, road networks, blood vessels, etc.
Spectral preferences of mosquitos are altered by odors
Authors: Blake Adam J. , Riffell Jeffrey A. 
Published: February 2025

AbstractVision underlies many important behaviors in insects generally and in mosquitos specifically. Mosquito vision plays a role in predator avoidance, mate finding, oviposition, locating vertebrate hosts, and vectoring disease. Recent work has shown that when sensitized to CO2, the visual responses ofAedes aegyptiare wavelength-dependent, but little is known about how other olfactory stimuli can modulate visual responses. The visual cues associated with flowers, vertebrate hosts, or oviposition sites differs substantially and it is possible that odors might prime the mosquito visual system to respond to these different resources. To investigate the interplay of olfactory and visual cues, we adapted previously used wind tunnel bioassays to use quasi-monochromatic targets (390-740 nm) created with a novel LED synth. We coupled these visual targets with CO2 and the odors representative of vertebrate hosts, floral nectar or oviposition sites and assessed responses via 3D tracking of female mosquitos. When CO2 alone is present, we observe a lower preference for wavelengths in the green portion of the visible spectrum with a gradual increase as wavelengths moved towards the violet and red ends of the spectrum. However, when odors associated both with flowers and oviposition sites, we observed significant increases in mosquito preference for green (475-575 nm) stimuli. In contrast when vertebrate host odor was present, we saw increased preference for stimuli across the entire visible spectrum. These odor shifts in the mosquito spectral preferences suggest these preferences are not fixed and shift depending on behavioral context.
Cell-type Specific Ribosomal Tagging Allows for Simultaneous Multi-Tissue Translatomic Sequencing
Authors: Eng Jason , Youn Seock-won , Kitajewski Jan 
Published: February 2025

AbstractIn vivotranscriptomic analysis has advanced significantly with the development of single cell technologies. However, bulk RNA sequencing also continues to provide information on critical signaling pathways and cellular responses. The isolation of mRNA by polysome immunoprecipitation can identify genes undergoing active translation. Unfortunately, the inability to profile multiple cell types from the same sample remains a major downfall of the technique and limits broader analysis of the tissue microenvironment. In this study, we demonstrated the feasibility of immunoprecipitating polysome-associated mRNA from different cell types by strategically expressing differently tagged Rpl22 subunits. Using this technique, we isolated two distinct sets of high quality transcripts from intact B16F10 melanomas, endothelial cells and B16F10 tumors cells, for further molecular analysis.
Spatiotemporal Patterns Differentiate Hippocampal Sharp-Wave Ripples from Interictal Epileptiform Discharges in Mice and Humans
Authors: Maslarova Anna , Shin Jiyun , Navas-Olive Andrea , Vöröslakos Mihály , Hamer Hajo , Doerfler Arnd , Henin Simon , Buzsáki György , Liu Anli 
Published: February 2025

AbstractHippocampal sharp-wave ripples (SPW-Rs) are high-frequency oscillations critical for memory consolidation in mammals. Despite extensive characterization in rodents, their application as biomarkers to track and treat memory dysfunction in humans is limited by coarse spatial sampling, interference from interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs), and lack of consensus on human SPW-R localization and morphology. We demonstrate that mouse and human hippocampal ripples share spatial, spectral and temporal features, which are clearly distinct from IEDs. In 1024-channel hippocampal recordings from APP/PS1 mice, SPW-Rs were distinguishable from IEDs by their narrow localization to the CA1 pyramidal layer, narrowband frequency peaks, and multiple ripple cycles on the unfiltered local field potential. In epilepsy patients, ripples showed similar narrowband frequency peaks and visible ripple cycles in CA1 and the subiculum but were absent in the dentate gyrus. Conversely, IEDs showed a broad spatial extent and wide-band frequency power. We introduce a semi-automated, human ripple detection toolbox (“ripmap”) selecting optimal detection channels and separating event waveforms by low-dimensional embedding. Our approach improves ripple detection accuracy, providing a firm foundation for future human memory research.
Moderating effects of cortical thickness, volume, and memory performance on age differences in neural reinstatement of scene information
Authors: Olivier Joshua M. , Srokova Sabina , Hill Paul F. , Rugg Michael D. 
Published: February 2025

AbstractThe strength of neural reinstatement, a correlate of episodic memory retrieval, reportedly reflects the amount and fidelity of mnemonic content and is weaker in older than younger adults, especially for scene memoranda. Given evidence that age-related declines in cortical thickness and volume contribute to age-related cognitive decline, we analyzed fMRI data acquired from healthy young and older adults to examine relationships between cortical thickness, cortical volume, age, and scene- related reinstatement in the parahippocampal place area (PPA) and medial place area (MPA), two cortical regions implicated in scene processing. A ‘reinstatement index’ was estimated from fMRI data collected during tests of source memory for scene images, and multiple regression analyses were employed to examine the effects of the variables of interest on scene reinstatement. There were robust age differences in reinstatement, cortical thickness, and cortical volume. In both regions of interest, cortical volume fully mediated the effects of age on reinstatement. Additionally, PPA reinstatement strength predicted source memory performance independently of cortical volume or age. These findings suggest that age differences in scene reinstatement are mediated by cortical volume and that memory performance and cortical volume are associated with unique components of variance in reinstatement strength.
The novel compound AS1 abolishes second phase formalin nocifensive behavior
Authors: Brandao Arthur F. , Condon Logan , Esancy Kali , Land Benjamin , Dhaka Ajay 
Published: February 2025

AbstractIn larval zebrafish Analgesic Screen One (AS1), is a small molecule analgesic that reverses the valence of noxious stimuli rendering these aversive stimuli attractive. In this study, we evaluated the analgesic potential of AS1 in mice by measuring the effects of this compound on behavioral models of pain, locomotion and valence. We found that AS1 selectively abolished second phase nocifensive behavior elicited by the chemical irritant formalin, while having no effect on acute or inflammatory withdrawal thresholds evoked by thermal or mechanical stimuli. Unlike in larval zebrafish, AS1 did not induce attraction to aversive thermal stimuli. Neuronal activity profiling with the immediate-early gene c-Fos revealed that AS1 did not alter formalin evoked activity in the dorsal horn of spinal cord, but instead elevated activity in numerous brain regions associated with pain processing, analogous to findings in zebrafish. Further behavioral testing suggested that AS1 is not intrinsically aversive or appetitive but does promote reduced spontaneous locomotion and anxiogenic behavior. Collectively, these data suggest that AS1 may have select analgesic properties in mice.
Regulatory Network Inference of Induced Senescent Midbrain Cell Types Reveals Cell Type-Specific Senescence-Associated Transcriptional Regulators
Authors: Russo Taylor , Plessis-Belair Jonathan , Sher Roger , Riessland Markus 
Published: February 2025

AbstractCellular senescence of brain cell types has become an increasingly important perspective for both aging and neurodegeneration, specifically in the context of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). The characterization of classical hallmarks of senescence is a widely debated topic, whereby the context in which a senescence phenotype is being investigated, such as the cell type, the inducing stressor, and/or the model system, is an extremely important aspect to consider when defining a senescent cell. Here, we describe a cell type-specific profile of senescence through the investigation of various canonical senescence markers in five human midbrain cell lines using chronic 5-Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) treatment as a model of DNA damage-induced senescence. We used principal component analysis (PCA) and subsequent regulatory network inference to define both unique and common senescence profiles in the cell types investigated, as well as revealed senescence-associated transcriptional regulators (SATRs). Functional characterization of one of the identified regulators, transcription factor AP4 (TFAP4), further highlights the cell type-specificity of the expression of the various senescence hallmarks. Our data indicates that SATRs modulate cell type-specific profiles of induced senescence in key midbrain cell types that play an important role in the context of aging and PD.
Population-level morphological analysis of paired CO2- and odor-sensing olfactory neurons inD. melanogastervia volume electron microscopy
Authors: Choy Jonathan , Charara Shadi , Cauwenberghs Kalyani , McKaughan Quintyn , Kim Keun-Young , Ellisman Mark H. , Su Chih-Ying 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTDendritic morphology is a defining characteristic of neuronal subtypes. InDrosophila, heterotypic olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) expressing different receptors display diverse dendritic morphologies, but whether such diversity exists among homotypic ORNs remains unclear. Using serial block-face scanning electron microscopy on cryofixed tissues, we analyzed the majority of CO2-sensing neurons (ab1C) and their odor-sensing neighbors (ab1D) in theD. melanogasterantenna. Surprisingly, ab1C neurons featured flattened, sheet-like dendrites—distinct from the cylindrical branches typical of odor-sensing neurons—and displayed remarkable diversity, ranging from plain sheets to tube-like structures that enclose several neighboring dendrites, forming “dendrite-within-dendrite” structures. Similarly, ab1D dendrites varied from simple, unbranched forms to numerously branched morphologies. These findings suggest that morphological heterogeneity is common even among homotypic ORNs, potentially expanding their functional adaptability and ranges of sensory physiological properties.
Small differences still matter: survivability of ventures owned and operated by transnational migrants through the lens of cultural arbitrage
Authors: Abd Hamid Hamizah , Teng Huei-Chun 
Published: February 2025

PurposeThis study aims to explore the entrepreneur–venture nexus in transnational entrepreneurial ventures conducting operations in culturally similar countries. Theoretically, smaller cultural differences imply fewer challenges inherent to the liability of outsidership, thus facilitating cultural arbitrage activities. However, these minor differences can also hinder learning and increase competition with local firms, threatening the survival of ventures in the host country. To clarify this perspective, the research looks at how entrepreneurs’ resources affect venture survival, focusing on transnational entrepreneurs operating in countries that have relatively small cultural differences from their own.Design/methodology/approachThis research is outlined by the capital approach in entrepreneurial opportunity development through a qualitative configurational design.FindingsThe results indicate that there are four strategies for achieving venture survivability for transnational entrepreneurship operations in culturally similar countries. This is reflected in both the core configurations associated with long-term venture survivability and in the model of venture survivability for cultural arbitrage opportunity development.Originality/valueThis study’s findings, which include the configurations and the model, speak to the burgeoning conversation of cultural arbitrage by illuminating venture survival strategies for international entrepreneurs operating in countries similar to their home countries. They are relevant for the international entrepreneurship discourse and the larger conversation in entrepreneurship, focusing on the entrepreneur–venture nexus.
Exploring key factors influencing food truck businesses success: a case of the UAE
Authors: Alkaabi Khaula , Mehmood Kashif 
Published: February 2025

Purpose
This study aims to examine success factors for food truck businesses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), focusing on customer convenience, government support, cultural infrastructure and location decisions. Given the unique cultural and economic context of the UAE, this research aims to fill a notable gap in the existing literature.

Design/methodology/approach
Using SmartPLS and partial least squares structural equation modeling, data from 250 food truck owners are analyzed to identify significant relationships between success factors and business performance.

Findings
The findings reveal significant relationships (p < 0.05) between success factors and the performance of food truck businesses. Customer convenience indirectly affects success through location suitability. Additionally, cultural infrastructure, government support and strategic location decisions have a direct impact on business performance. However, some indirect effects, such as customer convenience through location selection, were found to be statistically insignificant (p = 0.061).

Practical implications
The study offers practical guidance for policymakers and entrepreneurs, highlighting the importance of strategic location selection, cultural infrastructure and customer convenience for business success. Establishing designated food truck zones based on suitability will ensure optimal operational environments, particularly in high-traffic tourist areas.

Originality/value
This study contributes new insights into the food truck industry in the UAE, using advanced statistical techniques to identify specific success factors relevant to the region’s unique dynamics.
Influential factors for online food delivery platform drivers’ order acceptance
Authors: Chen Angela H.L. , Lee Jason Z.-H. , Ho Yun-Lun 
Published: February 2025

Purpose
The delivery drivers this paper surveyed generally intend to accept all orders to avoid missing out on potential earnings. However, uncertainty about the timing of future orders and variability in their potential earnings raises a crucial question: Would it be more beneficial for drivers to decline orders that are likely to involve low earnings or a long idle time after delivery? If so, how can they make informed choices when selecting orders? This paper aims to explore the key factors that can support drivers in making these decisions.

Design/methodology/approach
The role of order cancelation in Taiwan’s Uber Eats delivery process was first highlighted. This paper followed the grounded theory methodology and collected the data of completed orders from delivery drivers and authors’ participation in deliveries. The data included variables representing order characteristics, such as departure neighborhood, destination and duration for completing the order. Regression methods were then used to identify the variables that affect the driver’s evaluation of a received order in terms of the order’s earnings and idle time after completing the order and determine whether the order is desirable to the driver.

Findings
Upon receiving an order, drivers can decide whether to accept it by evaluating the earnings they will make for completing the order. The earnings are likely higher if the pay rate multiplier is higher that day or the order departure neighborhood is in a hot zone. After arriving at the restaurant, drivers can again make this decision by estimating the idle time they will spend waiting for their next order after delivering the current order. This idle time is likely longer if the driver is expected to spend greater time fulfilling the order since receipt, or if the earnings for completing the order are greater. This idle time is likely shorter if there are more restaurants in the order destination neighborhood, or if the order departure neighborhood or the order destination neighborhood is in a hot zone. Orders can be categorized as good or poor and the key factors for this categorization are whether the order departure and destination neighborhoods are in a hot zone, and the waiting time at the restaurant.

Originality/value
While food delivery research has commonly focused on customer satisfaction and platform efficiency, less attention has been paid to the strategic decision-making of delivery drivers – a relatively underrepresented group in the gig economy. This study aims to help these drivers become more adept participants in the competitive landscape of food delivery platforms. By examining how Taiwanese drivers navigate platform structures to maximize profitability and improve their work experience, this research contributes valuable insights to discussions on the sustainability of gig work.