bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Physiological Fitness of U.S. Army Aviators Compared to the U.S. General Population
Authors: D’Alessandro Matthew , Mackie Ryan , Wolf Samantha , McGhee James S. , Curry Ian 
Published: March 2024

INTRODUCTION: U.S. Army aviators are required to maintain a level of physiological fitness as part of their qualifying process, which suggests that they are generally physically healthy. However, it has not been statistically proven that they are more “physiologically fit” than the general population.
METHODS: This retrospective study compares physiological measurements of U.S. Army aviators from the Aeromedical Electronic Resource Office database to the U.S. general population using the Center for Disease Control’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. To enable an accurate comparison of physiological metrics between U.S. Army aviators and the U.S. general population, aviators were categorized into the same age groups and biological genders used for segmentation of the national population data.
RESULTS: On average, pulse rate was 4.85 bpm lower in male aviators and 6.84 bpm lower in female aviators. Fasting glucose levels were, on average, 10.6 mg · dL−1 lower in aviators compared to the general population. Key metrics like pulse rate and fasting glucose were lower in aviators, indicating cardiovascular and metabolic advantages. However, parameters like cholesterol showed less consistent differences.
DISCUSSION: While aviation physical demands and administrative policies selecting for elite physiological metrics produce improvements on some dimensions, a nuanced view accounting for the multitude of factors influencing an aviator’s physiological fitness is still warranted. Implementing targeted health monitoring and maintenance programs based on assessments conducted more frequently than the current annual flight physical may optimize aviator safety and performance over the course of a career.
D’Alessandro M, Mackie R, Wolf S, McGhee JS, Curry I. Physiological fitness of U.S. Army aviators compared to the U.S. general population. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2024; 95(4):175–186.
Enhanced Enzyme Inhibitory Effects of the Nanohybrid Eggplant Extract: An Unusual Pharmaceutical Form for Medicinal Plant
Authors: Dönmez Ceylan , Çalışkan Ufuk Koca , Eruygur Nuraniye , Altınkaynak Cevahir , Özdemir Nalan 
Published: March 2024

Objective: Recently, biosynthesis/synthesis of nanoflowers has become very attractive for chemical and pharmaceutical sciences, and enhanced enzyme activities. Various plant extracts and their active compounds are effectively used as organic component for novel nanoflowers synthesis. Solanum melongena L., commonly known as eggplant in English, a vegetable and medicinal plant belongs to Solanaceae family has several advantages in materials synthesis due to cheap and obtained easily. The aim of this study is to compare the enzyme ((alpha-glucosidase (AGase), alpha-amylase (AAase), tyrosinase (Tyr), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyryl cholinesterase (BChE)) inhibitory effects of the eggplant’ calyx extract and its Solanum-inorganic hybrid nanoflower (Sm-ihNFs) via in vitro experimental methods.
Methods: The hybrid nanoflower was formed (NF) with organic molecules, eggplant extract (Sm), and inorganic compounds, copper to enhance the catalytic activities. The inhibition capacities of the eggplant extract, and its hybrid nanoflower were evaluated on selected enzymes (AGase, AAase, Tyr, AChE and BChE) which play significant roles physiologically by in vitro tests in this study.
Results: According to inhibition percentages and IC50 values, Sm-ihNFs showed higher inhibitory activities on enzymes other than ache than the plain crude plant extract. Among all the enzymes that were studied, Sm-ihNFs demonstrated significantly higher alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibition activities compared to acarbose. And when compared to galanthamine hydrobromide Sm-ihNFs showed higher enzyme inhibition and significant IC50 value.
Conclusion: It was thought that Sm-ihNFs prepared from eggplant extract may have promising potential for antidiabetic drug formulations in the future. The hybrid nanoflowers will be promising and guide for the future work in terms of pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical industry.
#Nowhereland
Authors: Ljungberg Emilia 
Published: March 2024

Rural places and small towns are highly valued by lifestyle migrants who wish to live close to nature (Verdich 2010) and have a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Ängsbacka is a course center and a community for alternative lifestyles, located on the outskirts of a small town in mid-Sweden. The center emphasizes community and belonging, while also being a place characterized by cosmopolitan taste patterns and constant mobility, which can be described as a cocoon community (following Korpela and Dervin 2013).
The members of the cocoon community use social media platforms such as Instagram to make place for themselves, to communicate belonging. Through images, hashtags and captions, they make connections between various places, people, activities and emotions that together contribute to the user’s spatial self (Schwartz and Halegoua 2015) and to the place making efforts of the community. Those using the hashtag ängsbacka often do so to communicate a deep connection between the place and themselves. At the same time, while the local place and nature is at the center of their activities, it is simultaneously a mere backdrop for their projects of personal development.
Using Ängsbacka as a case, the article adds to research about digital place making beyond cities, by examining how the local place is given meaning within a community defined by privileged mobility. To analyze the intermingling of the local and the global in the context of sustainability, I combine theories of place making with Carfagna et al’s (2014) concept of ecological habitus. I argue that discourses on sustainability and harmony with nature can create a connection and sense of belonging that combines the (hyper)local with global (alternative) lifestyles.
Ischemic preconditioning affects phosphosites and accentuates myocardial stunning while reducing infarction size in rats
Authors: Elmahdy Ahmed , Shekka Espinosa Aaron , Kakaei Yalda , Pylova Tetiana , Jha Abhishek , Zulfaj Ermir , Krasnikova Maryna , Al-Awar Amin , Sheybani Zahra , Sevastianova Valentyna , Berger Evelin , Nejat Amirali , Molander Linnea , Andersson Erik Axel , Omerovic Elmir , Hussain Shafaat , Redfors Björn 
Published: March 2024

Background and aimsIschemic preconditioning (IPC), i.e., brief periods of ischemia, protect the heart from subsequent prolonged ischemic injury, and reduces infarction size. Myocardial stunning refers to transient loss of contractility in the heart after myocardial ischemia that recovers without permanent damage. The relationship between IPC and myocardial stunning remains incompletely understood. This study aimed primarily to examine the effects of IPC on the relationship between ischemia duration, stunning, and infarct size in an ischemia-reperfusion injury model. Secondarily, this study aimed to examine to which extent the phosphoproteomic changes induced by IPC relate to myocardial contractile function.Methods and resultsRats were subjected to different durations of left anterior descending artery (LAD) occlusion, with or without preceding IPC. Echocardiograms were acquired to assess cardiac contraction in the affected myocardial segment. Infarction size was evaluated using triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining. Phosphoproteomic analysis was performed in heart tissue from preconditioned and non-preconditioned animals. In contrast to rats without IPC, reversible akinesia was observed in a majority of the rats that were subjected to IPC and subsequently exposed to ischemia of 13.5 or 15 min of ischemia. Phosphoproteomic analysis revealed significant differential regulation of 786 phosphopeptides between IPC and non-IPC groups, with significant associations with the sarcomere, Z-disc, and actin binding.ConclusionIPC induces changes in phosphosites of proteins involved in myocardial contraction; and both accentuates post-ischemic myocardial stunning and reduces infarct size.
U-shaped relationship between fasting blood glucose and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio in the general United States population
Authors: Song Jianling , Wang Ping , Li Hong 
Published: March 2024

ObjectiveThe current controversy surrounding the association between fasting blood glucose (FBG) and albuminuria necessitates further investigation. Hence, the primary objective of this study was to examine the relationship between FBG and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR).MethodsA cohort of complete data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants (1999-2020) was analyzed. Linear regression analyses and a generalized additive model explored the association between FBG and UACR. Furthermore, the stability of this relationship across different populations was assessed.ResultsThe study involved a total of 20,264 participants who were identified as U.S. citizens. By employing linear regression analysis, a statistically significant relationship was observed between elevated FBG levels and an increase in UACR (P&lt;0.0001). Additionally, using a generalized additive model analysis, a U-shaped correlation between FBG and UACR was identified. Further examination using threshold effect analysis indicated a turning point for FBG at 5.44 mmol/L. A noteworthy finding in multiple populations is the consistent U-shaped association between FBG and UACR, except for individuals with serum uric acid levels ≥420 μmol/L and those who refrain from alcohol consumption.ConclusionThe general U.S. population has a U-shaped nonlinear relationship between FBG and UACR.
The relationship between weight-adjusted-waist index and diabetic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Wang Zhaoxiang , Shao Xuejing , Xu Wei , Xue Bingshuang , Zhong Shao , Yang Qichao 
Published: March 2024

PurposeObesity, particularly abdominal obesity, is seen as a risk factor for diabetic complications. The weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI) is a recently developed index for measuring adiposity. Our goal was to uncover the potential correlation between the WWI index and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) risk.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who participated in the NHANES database (2007-2018). The WWI index was calculated as waist circumference (WC, cm) divided by the square root of weight (kg). DKD was diagnosed based on impaired estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR&lt;60 mL/min/1.73m2), albuminuria (urinary albumin to urinary creatinine ratio&gt;30 mg/g), or both in T2DM patients. The independent relationship between WWI index and DKD risk was evaluated.ResultsA total of 5,028 participants with T2DM were included, with an average WWI index of 11.61 ± 0.02. As the quartile range of the WWI index increased, the prevalence of DKD gradually increased (26.76% vs. 32.63% vs. 39.06% vs. 42.96%, P&lt;0.001). After adjusting for various confounding factors, the WWI index was independently associated with DKD risk (OR=1.32, 95%CI:1.12-1.56, P&lt;0.001). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the WWI index was higher than that of body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) and WC. Subgroup analysis suggested that the relationship between the WWI index and DKD risk was of greater concern in patients over 60 years old and those with cardiovascular disease.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that higher WWI levels are linked to DKD in T2DM patients. The WWI index could be a cost-effective and simple way to detect DKD, but further prospective studies are needed to confirm this.
Impact of deep phenotyping: high diagnostic yield in a diverse pediatric population of 172 patients through clinical whole-genome sequencing at a single center
Authors: Akgun-Dogan Ozlem , Tuc Bengur Ecenur , Ay Beril , Ozkose Gulsah Sebnem , Kar Emre , Bengur Fuat Baris , Bulut Aybike S. , Yigit Ayca , Aydin Eylul , Esen Fatma Nisa , Ozdemir Ozkan , Yesilyurt Ahmet , Alanay Yasemin 
Published: March 2024

Background: Pediatric patients with undiagnosed conditions, particularly those suspected of having Mendelian genetic disorders, pose a significant challenge in healthcare. This study investigates the diagnostic yield of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in a pediatric cohort with diverse phenotypes, particularly focusing on the role of clinical expertise in interpreting WGS results.Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at Acibadem University’s Maslak Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, involving pediatric patients (0–18 years) who underwent diagnostic WGS testing. Clinical assessments, family histories, and previous laboratory and imaging studies were analyzed. Variants were classified and interpreted in conjunction with clinical findings.Results: The cohort comprised 172 pediatric patients, aged 0–5 years (62.8%). International patients (28.5%) were from 20 different countries. WGS was used as a first-tier approach in 61.6% of patients. The diagnostic yield of WGS reached 61.0%, enhanced by reclassification of variants of uncertain significance (VUS) through reverse phenotyping by an experienced clinical geneticist. Consanguinity was 18.6% of the overall cohort. Dual diagnoses were carried out for 8.5% of solved patients.Discussion: Our study particularly advocates for the selection of WGS as a first-tier testing approach in infants and children with rare diseases, who were under 5 years of age, thereby potentially shortening the duration of the diagnostic odyssey. The results also emphasize the critical role of a single clinical geneticist’s expertise in deep phenotyping and reverse phenotyping, which contributed significantly to the high diagnostic yield.
Causal role of immune cells in psoriasis: a Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Wang Anning , Zhang Jingyuan 
Published: March 2024

BackgroundA growing body of evidence has shown that immune cells are linked to psoriasis. It is, however, still unclear if these associations reflect a relationship of cause and effect.ObjectiveWe employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR)-based study to elucidate the probable causative connection between immune cells and psoriasis.MethodsSummary information for psoriasis (Ncase = 5,427, Ncontrol = 479,171) was obtained from the European Bioinformatics Institute. Summarized statistical information on 731 immune cell features, including morphological parameters (MP; n = 32), relative cell number (n = 192), median fluorescence intensity (MFI) of surface antigens (n = 389), and absolute cell number (n = 118), was obtained from the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) catalog. The research consisted of forward MR analysis, in which immune cell traits were used as the exposure factor, and psoriasis was the outcome, as well as reverse MR analysis, in which psoriasis was used as the exposure factor, and immune cell traits were the outcome. We ran numerous sensitivity analyses to ascertain the study results for robustness, heterogeneity, and potential multiple-biological effects.ResultThis research determined a probable causative connection between immune cells and psoriasis. In particular, we identified 36 distinct types of immune cells that are potentially causally linked to psoriasis.ConclusionOur findings indicate strong causal correlations between 36 immunological phenotypes and psoriasis, thus, directing future clinical trials.
ARDS and aging: TYMS emerges as a promising biomarker and therapeutic target
Authors: Li Gang , Yan Ke , Zhang Wanyi , Pan Haiyan , Guo Pengxiang 
Published: March 2024

BackgroundAcute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a common condition in the intensive care unit (ICU) with a high mortality rate, yet the diagnosis rate remains low. Recent studies have increasingly highlighted the role of aging in the occurrence and progression of ARDS. This study is committed to investigating the pathogenic mechanisms of cellular and genetic changes in elderly ARDS patients, providing theoretical support for the precise treatment of ARDS.MethodsGene expression profiles for control and ARDS samples were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, while aging-related genes (ARGs) were sourced from the Human Aging Genomic Resources (HAGR) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were subjected to functional enrichment analysis to understand their roles in ARDS and aging. The Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and machine learning pinpointed key modules and marker genes, with ROC curves illustrating their significance. The expression of four ARDS-ARDEGs was validated in lung samples from aged mice with ARDS using qRT-PCR. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) investigated the signaling pathways and immune cell infiltration associated with TYMS expression. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-Seq) explored gene-level differences among cells to investigate intercellular communication during ARDS onset and progression.ResultsARDEGs are involved in cellular responses to DNA damage stimuli, inflammatory reactions, and cellular senescence pathways. The MEmagenta module exhibited a significant correlation with elderly ARDS patients. The LASSO, RRF, and XGBoost algorithms were employed to screen for signature genes, including CKAP2, P2RY14, RBP2, and TYMS. Further validation emphasized the potential role of TYMS in the onset and progression of ARDS. Immune cell infiltration indicated differential proportion and correlations with TYMS expression. SnRNA-Seq and cell-cell communication analysis revealed that TYMS is highly expressed in endothelial cells, and the SEMA3 signaling pathway primarily mediates cell communication between endothelial cells and other cells.ConclusionEndothelial cell damage associated with aging could contribute to ARDS progression by triggering inflammation. TYMS emerges as a promising diagnostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for ARDS.
Btbd8 deficiency reduces susceptibility to colitis by enhancing intestinal barrier function and suppressing inflammation
Authors: Yang Xiaoqiong , He Zichan , Dong Qiman , Nai Shanshan , Duan Xiaowei , Yu Jiayu , Zhao Nannan , Du Xiaoling , Chen Lingyi 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionBTBD8 has been identified as a susceptible gene for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). However, the function of BTBD8 in normal development and IBD pathogenesis remains unknown.MethodsWe administered drinking water with 3% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to wild-type (WT) and Btbd8 knockout (KO) mice for seven consecutive days to induce IBD. Subsequently, we further examined whether Btbd8 KO affects intestinal barrier and inflammation.ResultsWe demonstrated that Btbd8 deficiency partially protects mice from DSS-induced IBD, even though no obvious phenotypes were observed in Btbd8 KO mice. Btbd8 deletion leads to strengthened tight junctions between intestinal epithelial cells, elevated intestinal stem cell activity, and enhanced mucus layer. All these three mechanisms work together to improve the intestinal barrier integrity in Btbd8 KO mice. In addition, Btbd8 deficiency mitigates inflammation by reducing the expression of IL-1β and IL-6 by macrophages.DiscussionOur studies validate the crucial role of Btbd8 in IBD pathogenesis, and reveal that Btbd8 deficiency may ameliorate DSS-induced IBD through improving the intestinal barrier integrity, as well as suppressing inflammatory response mediated by macrophages. These findings suggest that Btbd8 could be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of IBD.
Single cell analysis of short-term dry eye induced changes in cornea immune cell populations
Authors: Alam Jehan , Yaman Ebru , Silva Gerda Cristal Villalba , Chen Rui , de Paiva Cintia S. , Stepp Mary Ann , Pflugfelder Stephen C. 
Published: March 2024

BackgroundDry eye causes corneal inflammation, epitheliopathy and sensorineural changes. This study evaluates the hypothesis that dry eye alters the percentages and transcriptional profiles of immune cell populations in the cornea.MethodsDesiccating stress (DS) induced dry eye was created by pharmacologic suppression of tear secretion and exposure to drafty low humidity environment. Expression profiling of corneal immune cells was performed by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Cell differentiation trajectories and cell fate were modeled through RNA velocity analysis. Confocal microscopy was used to immunodetect corneal immune cells. Irritation response to topical neurostimulants was assessed.ResultsTwelve corneal immune cell populations based on their transcriptional profiles were identified at baseline and consist of monocytes, resident (rMP) and MMP12/13 high macrophages, dendritic cells (cDC2), neutrophils, mast cells, pre T/B cells, and innate (γDT, ILC2, NK) and conventional T and B lymphocytes. T cells and resident macrophages (rMP) were the largest populations in the normal cornea comprising 18.6 and 18.2 percent, respectively. rMP increased to 55.2% of cells after 5 days of DS. Significant changes in expression of 1,365 genes (adj p &lt; 0.0001) were noted in rMP with increases in cytokines and chemokines (Tnf, Cxcl1, Ccl12, Il1rn), inflammatory markers (Vcam, Adam17, Junb), the TAM receptor (Mertk), and decreases in complement and MHCII genes. A differentiation trajectory from monocytes to terminal state rMP was found. Phagocytosis, C-type lectin receptor signaling, NF-kappa B signaling and Toll-like receptor signaling were among the pathways with enhanced activity in these cells. The percentage of MRC1+ rMPs increased in the cornea and they were observed in the basal epithelium adjacent to epithelial nerve plexus. Concentration of the chemokine CXCL1 increased in the cornea and it heightened irritation/pain responses to topically applied hypertonic saline.ConclusionThese findings indicate that DS recruits monocytes that differentiate to macrophages with increased expression of inflammation associated genes. The proximity of these macrophages to cornea nerves and their expression of neurosensitizers suggests they contribute to the corneal sensorineural changes in dry eye.
Morphological and phylogenetic analyses reveal two new Penicillium species isolated from the ancient Great Wall loess in Beijing, China
Authors: Liang Ruina , Yang Qiqi , Li Ying , Yin Guohua , Zhao Guozhu 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionPenicillium species exhibit a broad distribution in nature and play a crucial role in human and ecological environments.MethodsTwo Penicillium species isolated from the ancient Great Wall loess in the Mentougou District of Beijing, China, were identified and described as new species, namely, Penicillium acidogenicum and P. floccosum, based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of multiple genes including ITS, BenA, CaM, and RPB2 genes.ResultsPhylogenetic analyses showed that both novel species formed a distinctive lineage and that they were most closely related to P. chrzaszczii and P. osmophilum, respectively.DiscussionPenicillium acidogenicum is characterized by biverticillate conidiophores that produce globose conidia and is distinguished from similar species by its capacity to grow on CYA at 30°C. Penicillium floccosum is typically recognized by its restricted growth and floccose colony texture. The description of these two new species provided additional knowledge and new insights into the ecology and distribution of Penicillium.