bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Link Between Somatization and Dissociation and PTSD Severity in Veterans Who Sought Help From the IDF Combat Stress Reaction Unit
Authors: Shabat Nizan , Bechor Uzi , Yavnai Nirit , Tatsa-Laur Lucian , Shelef Leah 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Introduction
This study aimed to examine the relationships between dissociative and somatic symptoms and how they might contribute to PTSD severity among ex-soldiers who sought help from the IDF Combat Stress Reaction Unit (CSRU).

Materials and Methods
This cross-sectional study included 1,305 former compulsory, career, and reserve soldiers, who filled out self-report questionnaires on admission for evaluation at the CSRU. The study’s dependent variables included two posttraumatic stress disorder measures (CAPS and PCL-5). The independent variables were the Dissociative Experience Scale and Brief Symptom Inventory. Background and service-related variables were also examined.

Results
Spearman correlation revealed that the higher the level of somatization is, the higher the level of PTSD via PCL and CAPS. A significant positive association was found between somatization and dissociation (r = 0.544; P &lt; 0.001). The higher the somatization level, the more severe the dissociation. A multivariate logistic regression analysis to predict severe PTSD revealed that the longer the time elapsed from the traumatic event (OR = 1.019, P = 0.015), the higher the risk for severe PTSD. The most prominent variables were dissociation (OR = 6.420, P &lt; 0.001) and somatization (OR = 4.792, P &lt; 0.001). The entire model reached 40.8% of the shared variance in the regression.

Conclusions
While there is direct reference to dissociation in the clinical assessment by PCL or CAPS, there is no such reference to somatization. Highly functioning combatants sometimes express their distress somatically. Our findings suggest regarding severe somatic symptoms as diagnostic criteria for PTSD.
Body Armor and Lumbar Disc Herniation in Young Military Veterans: A Case Series
Authors: Jungong Cheo Akongnwi , Nkemngong Dominic Nkafu , Mortenson Michael 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Soldiers on the battlefield are affected by heavy body armor and excessive march load. It is well known, but the long-term effects of this extra weight on the musculoskeletal system of military veterans, specifically the lumbar spine, are unclear. In Iraq and Afghanistan, most body armors weighed over 33 pounds (15 kg). These armors were 3 times heavier than those used in Vietnam. Chiropractors at the Fargo VA Hospital are seeing more young veterans with non-traumatic lower back pain. This article presents a perspective on the impact of body armor weight and excessive carry load on lumbosacral disc herniation with radicular pain in military veterans.

Materials and Methods
This study is a retrospective case series. We used a convenient sampling method. We selected the first 10 military veterans who came to a Fargo VA chiropractor in late fall 2023. Each veteran filled out a VA Form 10-5345 to give us permission to access their electronic health records. All 10 veterans also completed a survey. The survey asked about their active combat status, the type and weight of their body armor, how long they wore the armor each day, how much weight they carried, and their opinion on the cause of their lower back pain (service related or not). The Fargo VA does not require an institutional review board for a case series.

Results
This study found that military veterans experience lower back pain at an average age of 35 years. This is at least 5 years earlier than non-service men. Lower back pain with disc herniation typically occurs at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 disc levels. All 10 veterans in the study believe that their lower back pain is related to their service. Sixty percent of the participants in the study have a service-connected disability because of back pain.

Conclusions
For military veterans, onset of lower back pain from a disc herniation at a young age may be linked to carrying heavy body armor and loads. However, the small sample size of this case series limits causal relationship inferences.
Antiviral Efficacy Testing of a Rechargeable Textile
Authors: Izadjoo Mina , Carhart Kylin , Marcel Vanessa , Izadjoo Salman , Swicegood Faith , Merritt Casey , Clarke Geroge 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Introduction
In light of the COVID-19 (Coronovirus Disease 2019) pandemic, the use of personal protective equipment has become essential to reduce viral transmission and maintain public health. Viruses, particularly human coronavirus and influenza, pose significant challenges because of their various transmission routes. UMF Corporation’s innovation, Micrillon, aims to address these challenges by creating durable, antiviral technology for textiles without harmful chemicals, reducing viral transmission risks.

Materials and Methods
The study followed ISO Standard 18184:2019, testing Micrillon textiles against Human Coronavirus OC43 and H1N1 Influenza A virus using MDCK and HCT-8 cell lines. Cell propagation, viral application, TCID50 (Median Tissue Culture Infectious Dose) testing, and maintenance protocols were rigorously implemented to assess antiviral efficacy.

Results
Micrillon gloves, fabrics, and fibers exhibited high antiviral efficacy against both viruses across various contact times. Gloves demonstrated exceptional antiviral activity against H1N1 (99.88%) and OC43 (99.67%) at 120 minutes. Rolled fabrics showed strong efficacy against H1N1 (99.42% at 30 minutes) and OC43 (&gt;97%) at all time points. Bundled fibers displayed substantial efficacy against H1N1 (99.17% at 120 minutes) and OC43 (&gt;98%) at all time points.

Conclusions
The study demonstrates that Micrillon technology effectively inhibits viral activity, particularly in gloves, fabrics, and fibers. The innovation not only shows high antiviral efficacy against both Human Coronavirus and Influenza but also promises a reusable, sustainable solution, mitigating environmental impact and reducing the use of harmful chemicals in personal protective equipment. The technology holds promise for widespread use in health care and hospitality, offering a layer of protection while being environmentally conscious. Further development of such technologies can significantly reduce infection risks while minimizing environmental harm.
Using the motion of S2 to constrain vector clouds around Sgr A*
Authors:   GRAVITY Collaboration, Foschi A , Abuter R , Abd El Dayem K , Aimar N , Amaro Seoane P , Amorim A , Berger J P , Bonnet H , Bourdarot G , Brandner W , Davies R , de Zeeuw P T , Defrère D , Dexter J , Drescher A , Eckart A , Eisenhauer F , Förster Schreiber N M , Garcia P J V , Genzel R , Gillessen S , Gomes T , Haubois X , Heißel G , Henning Th , Jochum L , Jocou L , Kaufer A , Kreidberg L , Lacour S , Lapeyrère V , Le Bouquin J -B , Léna P , Lutz D , Mang F , Millour F , Ott T , Paumard T , Perraut K , Perrin G , Pfuhl O , Rabien S , Ribeiro D C , Sadun Bordoni M , Scheithauer S , Shangguan J , Shimizu T , Stadler J , Straubmeier C , Sturm E , Subroweit M , Tacconi L J , Vincent F , von Fellenberg S , Woillez J 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT
The dark compact object at the centre of the Milky Way is well established to be a supermassive black hole with mass $M_{\bullet } \sim 4.3 \times 10^6 \, {\rm M}_{\odot }$, but the nature of its environment is still under debate. In this work, we used astrometric and spectroscopic measurements of the motion of the star S2, one of the closest stars to the massive black hole, to determine an upper limit on an extended mass composed of a massive vector field around Sagittarius A*. For a vector with effective mass $10^{-19} \lesssim m_\mathrm{ s} \lesssim 10^{-18} \, \rm eV$, our Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis shows no evidence for such a cloud, placing an upper bound $M_{\rm cloud} \lesssim 0.1 \% \, M_{\bullet }$ at 3σ confidence level. We show that dynamical friction exerted by the medium on S2 motion plays no role in the analysis performed in this and previous works, and can be neglected thus.
Measurement of the photometric baryon acoustic oscillations with self-calibrated redshift distribution
Authors: Song Ruiyu , Chan Kwan Chuen , Xu Haojie , Zheng Weilun 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT
We use a galaxy sample derived from the Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey Data Release 9 to measure the baryonic acoustic oscillations (BAO). The magnitude-limited sample consists of 10.6 million galaxies in an area of 4974 deg2 over the redshift range of [0.6, 1]. A key novelty of this work is that the true redshift distribution of the photo-z sample is derived from the self-calibration method, which determines the true redshift distribution using the clustering information of the photometric data alone. Through the angular correlation function in four tomographic bins, we constrain the BAO scale dilation parameter α to be 1.025 ± 0.033, consistent with the fiducial Planck cosmology. Alternatively, the ratio between the comoving angular diameter distance and the sound horizon, DM/rs, is constrained to be 18.94 ± 0.61 at the effective redshift of 0.749. We corroborate our results with the true redshift distribution obtained from a weighted spectroscopic sample, finding very good agreement. We have conducted a series of tests to demonstrate the robustness of the measurement. Our work demonstrates that the self-calibration method can effectively constrain the true redshift distribution in cosmological applications, especially in the context of photometric BAO measurement.
Star formation histories of dwarf lenticular galaxies
Authors: Ann Hong Bae , Seo Mira 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT
Star formation histories (SFHs) are essential for understanding galaxy formation and evolution. We present the mean SFHs of 148 dwarf lenticular galaxies (dS0s) derived from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey spectra. These SFHs reveal two distinct periods of active star formation. The first period, concluding approximately 6 Gyr ago, witnessed the formation of predominantly old, metal-poor (Z = 0.0004) stars, accounting for approximately 60 per cent of the stellar mass and 30 per cent of the luminosity. The scarcity of extremely metal-poor (Z = 0.0001) stars suggests pre-enrichment during the reionization era. Star formation gradually waned during this initial phase. In contrast, the second period, ending around 1 Gyr ago, exhibited a peak in the middle of the period, contributing to the formation of moderately old stellar populations with intermediate metallicity. The SFHs of dS0 galaxies show a clear dependence on stellar mass, with more massive dS0s forming stars earlier. However, we find no significant correlation with morphological properties such as outer spiral arms and nucleation. The SFHs of dS0 galaxies share many similarities with those of dwarf elliptical galaxies, suggesting a common origin, mostly not primordial.
Live-cell imaging of human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 in the nucleus and nucleolus using a chaperone@DNA probe
Authors: Cao Xiangjian , Zheng Jinghui , Zhang Ruilan , Sun Ying , Zhao Meiping 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) plays crucial roles in repairing DNA damage and regulating RNA in the nucleus. However, direct visualization of nuclear APE1 in live cells remains challenging. Here, we report a chaperone@DNA probe for live-cell imaging of APE1 in the nucleus and nucleolus in real time. The probe is based on an assembly of phenylboronic acid modified avidin and biotin-labeled DNA containing an abasic site (named PB-ACP), which cleverly protects DNA from being nonspecifically destroyed while enabling targeted delivery of the probe to the nucleus. The PB-ACP construct specifically detects APE1 due to the high binding affinity of APE1 for both avidin and the abasic site in DNA. It is easy to prepare, biocompatible and allowing for long-term observation of APE1 activity. This molecular tool offers a powerful means to investigate the behavior of APE1 in the nuclei of various types of live cells, particularly for the development of improved cancer therapies targeting this protein.
PbARID-associated chromatin remodeling events are essential for gametocyte development in Plasmodium
Authors: Nishi Tsubasa , Kaneko Izumi , Iwanaga Shiroh , Yuda Masao 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Gametocyte development of the Plasmodium parasite is a key step for transmission of the parasite. Male and female gametocytes are produced from a subpopulation of asexual blood-stage parasites, but the mechanisms that regulate the differentiation of sexual stages are still under investigation. In this study, we investigated the role of PbARID, a putative subunit of a SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, in transcriptional regulation during the gametocyte development of P. berghei. PbARID expression starts in early gametocytes before the manifestation of male and female-specific features, and disruption of its gene results in the complete loss of gametocytes with detectable male features and the production of abnormal female gametocytes. ChIP-seq analysis of PbARID showed that it forms a complex with gSNF2, an ATPase subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, associating with the male cis-regulatory element, TGTCT. Further ChIP-seq of PbARID in gsnf2-knockout parasites revealed an association of PbARID with another cis-regulatory element, TGCACA. RIME and DNA-binding assays suggested that HDP1 is the transcription factor that recruits PbARID to the TGCACA motif. Our results indicated that PbARID could function in two chromatin remodeling events and paly essential roles in both male and female gametocyte development.
RNA polymerase SI3 domain modulates global transcriptional pausing and pause-site fluctuations
Authors: Bao Yu , Cao Xinyun , Landick Robert 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Transcriptional pausing aids gene regulation by cellular RNA polymerases (RNAPs). A surface-exposed domain inserted into the catalytic trigger loop (TL) of Escherichia coli RNAP, called SI3, modulates pausing and is essential for growth. Here we describe a viable E. coli strain lacking SI3 enabled by a suppressor TL substitution (β′Ala941→Thr; ΔSI3*). ΔSI3* increased transcription rate in vitro relative to ΔSI3, possibly explaining its viability, but retained both positive and negative effects of ΔSI3 on pausing. ΔSI3* inhibited pauses stabilized by nascent RNA structures (pause hairpins; PHs) but enhanced other pauses. Using NET-seq, we found that ΔSI3*-enhanced pauses resemble the consensus elemental pause sequence whereas sequences at ΔSI3*-suppressed pauses, which exhibited greater association with PHs, were more divergent. ΔSI3*-suppressed pauses also were associated with apparent pausing one nucleotide upstream from the consensus sequence, often generating tandem pause sites. These ‘–2 pauses’ were stimulated by pyrophosphate in vitro and by addition of apyrase to degrade residual NTPs during NET-seq sample processing. We propose that some pauses are readily reversible by pyrophosphorolysis or single-nucleotide cleavage. Our results document multiple ways that SI3 modulates pausing in vivo and may explain discrepancies in consensus pause sequences in some NET-seq studies.
Efficacy of probiotic supplementation and impact on fecal microbiota in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Xu Mengque , Zhang Wenluo , Lin Beibei , Lei Yue , Zhang Yu , Zhang Yu , Chen Binrui , Mao Qingyi , Kim John J , Cao Qian 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Context: Research regarding the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with probiotics has not yielded consistent results.

Objective
The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics supplementation in patients with IBD.

Data Sources
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of probiotics in patients with IBD were searched in PubMed, the Google Scholar database, Web of Science, and CrossRef for the period July 2003 to June 2023.

Data Extraction
The RCTs were extracted, independently by 2 authors, according to the PICOS criteria.

Data Analysis
Seven studies, including a total of 795 patients, met the study criteria. Five end points were selected to evaluate the efficacy. Of these, 3 indicators showed a statistically significant difference in efficacy: C-reactive protein (odds ratio [OR]: –2.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: –3.16, –1.73, P &lt; .01), the number of fecal Bifidobacterium (OR: 3.37, 95% CI: 3.28, 3.47, P &lt; .01), and Lactobacillus(OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.91, 2.09, P &lt; .01). The other 2 indicators (disease activity for Crohn’s disease and for ulcerative colitis) showed no statistically significant difference, while the OR reflected a positive correlation.

Conclusion
Probiotics supplementation may have a positive effect on IBD by reducing clinical symptoms, reducing the serological inflammatory markers, and increasing favorable gut flora in patients with IBD. Additional RCTs are needed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of probiotics in IBD.
The Sequential Direct and Indirect Effects of Mountain Uplift, Climatic Niche, and Floral Trait Evolution on Diversification Dynamics in an Andean Plant Clade
Authors: Dellinger Agnes S , Lagomarsino Laura , Michelangeli Fabián , Dullinger Stefan , Smith Stacey D 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Why and how organismal lineages radiate is commonly studied through either assessing abiotic factors (biogeography, geomorphological processes, and climate) or biotic factors (traits and interactions). Despite increasing awareness that both abiotic and biotic processes may have important joint effects on diversification dynamics, few attempts have been made to quantify the relative importance and timing of these factors, and their potentially interlinked direct and indirect effects, on lineage diversification. We here combine assessments of historical biogeography, geomorphology, climatic niche, vegetative, and floral trait evolution to test whether these factors jointly, or in isolation, explain diversification dynamics of a Neotropical plant clade (Merianieae, Melastomataceae). After estimating ancestral areas and the changes in niche and trait disparity over time, we employ Phylogenetic Path Analyses as a synthesis tool to test eleven hypotheses on the individual direct and indirect effects of these factors on diversification rates. We find strongest support for interlinked effects of colonization of the uplifting Andes during the mid-Miocene and rapid abiotic climatic niche evolution in explaining a burst in diversification rate in Merianieae. Within Andean habitats, later increases in floral disparity allowed for the exploitation of wider pollination niches (i.e., shifts from bee to vertebrate pollinators), but did not affect diversification rates. Our approach of including both vegetative and floral trait evolution, rare in assessments of plant diversification in general, highlights that the evolution of woody habit and larger flowers preceded the colonization of the Andes, but was likely critical in enabling the rapid radiation in montane environments. Overall, and in concert with the idea that ecological opportunity is a key element of evolutionary radiations, our results suggest that a combination of rapid niche evolution and trait shifts was critical for the exploitation of newly available niche space in the Andes in the mid-Miocene. Further, our results emphasize the importance of incorporating both abiotic and biotic factors into the same analytical framework if we aim to quantify the relative and interlinked effects of these processes on diversification.
Opioid-Free Analgesia is Safe and Effective in Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery
Authors: Segebarth P. Bradley , Schallmo Michael , Odum Susan , Hietpas Kayla , Michalek Caleb , Chapman T. Matthew , Leas Daniel , Milam R. Alden , Hamid Nady ,   CORE Research Group
Published: March 2024

Study Design:
Randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Objective:
Compare the efficacy of a multimodal, opioid-free (OF) pain management pathway with a traditional opioid-containing (OC) pathway in patients undergoing anterior cervical procedures.

Summary of Background Data:
Previous studies have compared opioid-based pain regimens to opioid-sparing regimens following cervical spine surgery, but have been limited by high rates of crossover, retrospective designs, reliance on indwelling pain catheters, opioid utilization for early postoperative analgesia, and/or a lack of patient-reported outcome measures.

Methods:
This is a RCT in which patients were allocated to either an OF or OC perioperative pain management protocol. Eligible study participants included adult (age up to 18 y) patients who underwent primary, 1-level or 2-level anterior cervical surgery [anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), anterior cervical disc arthroplasty (ACDA), or hybrid (ACDF and ACDA at different levels)] for degenerative pathology. The primary outcome variable was subjective pain level at 24 hours postoperative. The final study cohort consisted of 50 patients (22 OF, 28 OC).

Results:
Patients in the OF group reported lower median postoperative pain levels at 6 hours (4 for OF vs. 7 for OC; P=0.041) and 24 hours (3 for OF vs. 5 for OC; P=0.032). At 2-week and 6-week follow-up, pain levels were similar between groups. Patients in the OF group reported greater comfort at 12 hours (9 for OF vs. 5 for OC; P=0.003) and 24 hours (9 for OF vs. 5 for OC; P=0.011) postoperatively. Notably, there were no significant differences in patients’ reported pain satisfaction, overall surgical satisfaction, or overall sense of physical and mental well-being. In addition, there were no significant differences in falls, delirium, or constipation postoperatively.

Conclusions:
A multimodal OF pain management pathway following anterior cervical surgery for degenerative disease results in statistically noninferior pain control and equivalent patient-reported outcome measures compared with a traditional OC pathway.
Corneal Reinnervation in Patients With Severe Neurotrophic Keratopathy Secondary to Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus After Treatment With Autologous Serum Tear Drops
Authors: Abazari Azin , Abbouda Alessandro , Cruzat Andrea , Cavalcanti Bernardo , Pavan-Langston Deborah , Hamrah Pedram 
Published: March 2024

Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to assess potential corneal reinnervation and recovery of corneal sensation in patients with severe neurotrophic keratopathy (NK) secondary to herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) after treatment with topical autologous serum tears (AST).

Method:
Four cases of HZO with severe NK were followed clinically and by serial laser in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM, HRT3/RCM, Heidelberg Engineering GmbH) before and during treatment with 20% AST drops 8 times a day. Two masked observers reviewed the IVCM images and assessed corneal nerve alterations.

Results:
At baseline, all patients had complete loss of corneal sensation. In addition, IVCM showed complete lack of the subbasal corneal nerve plexus in all patients. All 4 patients were refractory to conventional therapies and were treated with AST drops. All patients demonstrated significant nerve regeneration by IVCM within 3 to 7 months of treatment. The total nerve density increased to a mean ± SEM of 10,085.88 ± 2,542.74 μm/mm2 at the last follow-up. Corneal sensation measured by Cochet–Bonnet esthesiometry improved to a mean ± SEM of 3.50 ± 1.30 cm. Interestingly, 3 of 4 patients developed stromal keratitis with stromal thinning within weeks of corneal reinnervation, which was reversed by adding topical steroids.

Conclusions:
Autologous serum tears are effective in restoring corneal subbasal nerves and sensation in patients with severe NK secondary to HZO. However, this group of patients may require concurrent topical immunomodulation and antiviral therapy while on AST to prevent stromal keratitis.