bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Developing a Motherhood regret scale: An examination of reliability, validity, and association with basic attributes
Authors: Haruyama Ranno , Wakashima Koubun , Koiwa Kohei 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe first objective of this study was to develop a scale that measures the level of regret of becoming a mother among women at various stages of motherhood (child age ranging from unborn to 29 years old) and examine its reliability and validity. The second objective was to explore the effects of participants’ basic attributes on the regret of becoming a mother. The study recruited mothers who were pregnant (before birth), mothers of infants (age 0–1), young children (age 2–6), primary school-aged children (age 7–12), and adolescents and young adults (age 13–29). In all, responses from 462 participants (458 women, 4 others; mean age = 37.77 [SD= 7.03]; age range = 20–59) were analyzed. As a result, the unidimensional nine-item scale showed an acceptable value for goodness of fit and high reliability (α = .96). In addition, we determined the cut-off score to categorize the regret group. Among the participants in the present study (N= 462), 31 were classified as the regret group, and they represented the scores at the top 7%. Moreover, regarding the association between the participants’ basic attributes and level of regret, we found that “having many children” had a significant negative effect on the predicted level of regret (β = –.19,p< .001) while “being a single mother” had a significant positive effect (β = .11,p< .05). Based on these results, we discuss the structure of the scale that was developed and the effect of a mother’s attributes on the level of regret to provide insights on the attributes of respondents classified into the regret group.
Rust Fungus Red Data List and Census Catalogue for Wales
Authors: Woods Ray G. , Stringer R. Nigel , Evans Debbie A. , Chater Arthur O. 
Published: March 2024

SummaryThe rust fungi are a group of specialised plant pathogens. Conserving them seems to fly in the face of reason. Yet as our population grows and food supplies become more precarious, controlling pathogens of crop plants becomes more imperative. Breeding resistance genes into such plants has proved to be the most cost effective solution. Such resistance genes evolve only in plants challenged by pathogens. We hope this report will assist in prioritising the conservation of natural ecosystems and traditional agro-ecosystems that are likely to be the richest sources of resistance genes. Despite its small size (11% of mainland Britain) Wales has supported 225 rust fungi taxa (including 199 species) representing 78% of the total British mainland rust species. For the first time using widely accepted international criteria and data collected from a number of mycologists and institutions, a Welsh regional threat status is offered for all native Welsh rust taxa. The results are compared with other published Red Lists for Wales. Information is also supplied in the form of a census catalogue, detailing the rust taxa recorded from each of the 13 Welsh vice-counties.Of the 225 rust taxa so far recorded from Wales 7 are probably extinct (3% of the total), and 39 (18%) are threatened with extinction. Of this latter total 13 taxa (6%) are considered to be Critically Endangered, 15 (7%) to be Endangered and 13 (6%) to be Vulnerable. A further 20 taxa (9%) are Near Threatened, whilst 15 taxa (7%) lacked sufficient data to permit evaluation.Just over a third of Welsh rust fungi taxa require some form of action, either to better understand their status, or reverse known ongoing declines. This is a similar figure to those presented elsewhere for bryophytes and lichens but higher than the 19% of vascular plants requiring action.
A regulatory B cell subpopulation expressing CD301b lectin promotes breast cancer growth
Authors: Paschall Amy V. , Nawaz Zahra , Avci Fikri Y 
Published: March 2024

AbstractTumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs) can promote tumor growth by regulating the anti-tumor immune response. The accumulation of immune suppressor cells within the tumor in response to TACAs suggests a critical pathway to suppress immune targeting of the tumor. Employing murine breast cancer models, we isolated a regulatory B cell subpopulation in the breast tumor microenvironment that displays an immune suppressive phenotype through its Tn TACA-binding lectin, CD301b. We then demonstrated that depleting CD301b+cells facilitated tumor control and mouse survival, whereas increasing Tn antigen expression decreased mouse survival. As tumor cells use Tn expression to overcome immune targeting, interfering with or blocking the Tn-CD301 axis may unleash the immune system, specifically within the aberrantly glycosylated tumor microenvironment, offering new immunotherapy for breast and other cancers.
Insights Into Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) Dominance and Magnification Through Characterization of Isogenic Deletion Alleles
Authors: Kindelay Selina M. , Maggert Keith A. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe major loci for the large primary ribosomal RNA genes (35S rRNAs) exist as hundreds to thousands of tandem repeats in all organisms, and dozens to hundreds in Drosophila. The highly repetitive nature of the rDNA makes it intrinsically unstable, and many conditions arise from the reduction or magnification of copy number, but the conditions under which it does so remains unknown. By targeted DNA damage to the rDNA of the Y chromosome, we created and investigated a series of rDNA alleles. We found that complete loss of rDNA leads to lethality after the completion of embryogenesis, blocking larval molting and metamorphosis. We find that the resident retrotransposons – R1 and R2 – are regulated by active rDNA such that reduction in copy number derepresses these elements. Their expression is highest during the early 1stinstar, when loss of rDNA is lethal. Regulation of R1 and R2 may be related to their structural arrangement within the rDNA, as we find they are clustered in the flanks of the Nucleolus Organizing Region (NOR; the cytological appearance of the rDNA). We assessed the complex nucleolar dominance relationship between X- and Y-linked rDNA using a Histone H3.3-GFP reporter construct and incorporation at the NOR, and found that dominance is controlled by rDNA copy number as at high multiplicity the Y-linked array is dominant, but at low multiplicity the X-linked array becomes derepressed. Finally, we found that multiple conditions that disrupt nucleolar dominance lead to increased rDNA magnification, suggesting that the phenomena of dominance and magnification are related, and a single mechanism may underly and unify these two longstanding observations in Drosophila.
Identification of candidate causalcis-regulatory variants underlying electrocardiographic QT interval GWAS loci
Authors: Kadagandla Supraja , Kapoor Ashish 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIdentifying causal variants among tens or hundreds of associated variants at each locus mapped by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of complex traits is a challenge. As vast majority of GWAS variants are noncoding, sequence variation atcis-regulatory elements affecting transcriptional expression of specific genes is a widely accepted molecular hypothesis. Following thiscis-regulatory hypothesis and combining it with the observation that nucleosome-free open chromatin is a universal hallmark of all types ofcis-regulatory elements, we aimed to identify candidate causal regulatory variants underlying electrocardiographic QT interval GWAS loci. At a dozen loci, selected for higher effect sizes and a better understanding of the likely causal gene, we identified and included all common variants in high linkage disequilibrium with the GWAS variants as candidate variants. Using ENCODE DNase-seq and ATAC-seq from multiple human adult cardiac left ventricle tissue samples, we generated genome-wide maps of open chromatin regions marking putative regulatory elements. QT interval associated candidate variants were filtered for overlap with cardiac left ventricle open chromatin regions to identify candidate causalcis-regulatory variants, which were further assessed for colocalizing with a known cardiac GTEx expression quantitative trait locus variant as additional evidence for their causal role. Together, these efforts have generated a comprehensive set of candidate causal variants that are expected to be enriched forcis-regulatory potential and thereby, explaining the observed genetic associations.
Urinary Clusterin is a biomarker of renal epithelial senescence and predicts human kidney disease progression
Authors: Baird David , Reck Maximillian , Campbell Ross , Docherty Marie-Helena , Vermeren Matthieu , Nam Andy , Yang Wei , Schurman Nathan , Williams Claire , Traynor Jamie P. , Mark Patrick B. , Mylonas Katie , Hughes Jeremy , Denby Laura , Conway Bryan , Ferenbach David A 
Published: March 2024

AbstractCellular senescence drives organ fibrosis and ageing, and accumulating evidence supports the ability of senescence-depleting drugs to improve outcomes in experimental models of disease. The lack of non-invasive biomarkers represents a major obstacle to the design of human trials of candidate senolytics. On samples from 51 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), we performed liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of urine samples alongside immunofluorescence staining of paired kidney biopsies for p21, Ki67, and CD10+Pancytokeratin as senescence, proliferation and pan-epithelial cell markers respectively. Only Urinary Clusterin (uClusterin) correlated tightly with p21+ epithelial senescencein vivo(rho >0.5, p<0.001) and was upregulated in thein vitroSASP atlas. This was validated in a second cohort of matched urine and kidney samples from n=53 participants, with uClusterin predicting levels of senescence after adjusting for renal function, age and albuminuria. In spatial transcriptomic data from n=13 CKD patients, Clusterin colocalised with senescence marker CDKN1A. In a larger cohort of n=322 participants, elevated levels of uClusterin predicted CKD progression (defined as reaching ESKD or >40% reduction in renal function) after adjusting for baseline eGFR, albuminuria, age, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and sex. uClusterin levels represents a surrogate for histological quantification of p21+Ki67- senescent renal epithelia and predicts outcomes in human kidney disease independent of existing clinical risk factors.
Everolimus and mycophenolate mofetil effectively prevent GvHD in children with severe acute kidney injury undergoing allogeneic HSCT
Authors: Zirngibl Felix , Gebert Pimrapat , Materne Bianca , Launspach Michael , Künkele Annette , Hundsdoerfer Patrick , Cyrull Sandra , Deubzer Hedwig E , Kühl Jörn-Sven , Eggert Angelika , Lang Peter , Oevermann Lena , von Stackelberg Arend , Schulte Johannes H 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACTAllogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) serves as a therapeutic intervention for various pediatric diseases. Acute kidney injury afflicts 21-84% of pediatric HSCT cases, significantly compromising clinical outcomes. This retrospective single-institution analysis scrutinized the practice of substituting nephrotoxic ciclosporin A with the everolimus/mycophenolate mofetil combination as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis in 57 patients following first allogeneic matched donor HSCT. The control cohort comprised 74 patients not receiving everolimus during the same timeframe. Study endpoints encompassed the emergence of retention parameters subsequent to the switch to everolimus, overall survival, relapse incidence of the underlying disease and acute and chronic GVHD in both treatment groups. Our findings reveal a significant improvement in renal function, evidenced by reduced creatinine and cystatin C levels 14 days after ceasing ciclosporin A and initiating everolimus treatment. Crucially, the transition to everolimus did not adversely affect overall survival post-HSCT (HR 1.4; 95% CI: 0.64 – 3.1; p=0.39). Comparable incidences of grade 2-4 and grade 3-4 acute GVHD as well as severe chronic GVHD were observed in both groups. Patients with an underlying malignant disease exhibited similar event-free survival in both treatment arms (HR 0.87, 95% CI: 0.39 – 1.9, p=0.73). This study provides compelling real-world clinical evidence supporting the feasibility of replacing CsA with everolimus and for the use of the everolimus/mycophenolate mofetil combination to manage acute kidney injury following HSCT in children.KEY POINTSEverolimus with or without MMF restores kidney function in children with acute kidney injury after allogeneic HSCT.Everolimus with or without MMF effectively prevent acute and chronic GvHD and leads to similar overall survival compared to standard therapy.
Test-retest reliability of intrahemispheric dorsal premotor and primary motor cortex dual-site TMS connectivity measures
Authors: Heemels Robin E. , Ademi Sian , Hehl Melina 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACTObjectiveInvestigating the optimal interstimulus interval (ISI) and the 24-hour test-retest reliability for intrahemispheric dorsal premotor cortex (PMd) – primary motor cortex (M1) connectivity using dual-site transcranial magnetic stimulation (dsTMS).MethodsIn 21 right-handed adults, left intrahemispheric PMd–M1 connectivity has been investigated with a stacked-coil dsTMS setup (conditioning stimulus: 75% of resting motor threshold; test stimulus: eliciting MEPs of 1–1.5 mV) at ISIs of 3, 5–8, and 10 ms. Additionally, M1–M1 short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and intracortical facilitation (ICF) were investigated to assess comparability to standard paired-pulse setups.ResultsConditioning PMd led to significant inhibition of M1 output at ISIs of 3 and 5 ms, whereas 10 ms resulted in facilitation (all, p < 0.001), with a fair test-retest reliability for 3 (ICC: 0.47) and 6 ms (ICC: 0.44) ISIs. Replication of SICI (p < 0.001) and ICF (p = 0.017) was successful, with excellent test-retest reliability for SICI (ICC: 0.81).ConclusionThis dsTMS setup can probe the inhibitory and facilitatory PMd–M1 connections, as well as reliably replicate SICI and ICF paradigms.SignificanceThe stacked-coil dsTMS setup for investigating intrahemispheric PMd–M1 connectivity offers promising possibilities to better understand motor control.
Rethinking the Impact of Pretransplant Malignancy (Pre-TM) on Double Lung Transplantation (DLT) Eligibility: An Analysis of 23,291 DLT Recipients
Authors: Woo Wongi , Kim Hye Sung , Bharat Ankit , Chae Young Kwang 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundGiven the increasing need for lung transplants among older patients with a history of cancer, this study analyzed database registry to assess outcomes for DLT recipients with Pre-TM.MethodsThis study evaluated the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) registry for adult DLT performed between 2005 and 2023. Patients with a history of previous or multi-organ transplants, and those with donors who had cancer history, were excluded. Propensity-score matching was used to compare patients with or without Pre-TM. Overall and Post-TM-free survival were analyzed.ResultsAmong the 23,291 recipients of DLT, 8.0%(1,870) had Pre-TM. Compared to those without Pre-TM, patients with Pre-TM had worse overall (hazard ratio[HR] 1.20, 95% confidence interval[CI] 1.12-1.29, p<0.001) and Post-TM-free survival (HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.24-1.41, p<0.001). However, after adjusting for age, sex, and race through propensity-score matching, the survival difference between the groups became non-significant (HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.97-1.13, p=0.229). While the Pre-TM group still had worse Post-TM-free survival, this difference diminished after excluding cutaneous Post-TM (HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.99-1.15, p=0.116). Additionally, the recurrence rate of Pre-TM after transplant wasn’t higher than de novo cancers in patients without Pre-TM.ConclusionPatients with Pre-TM had similar overall survival rates after DLT as those without Pre-TM. Importantly, there is no increased risk of the primary Pre-TM type recurring post-transplant compared to patients without Pre-TM. These findings highlight the necessity for a more nuanced evaluation of transplant candidacy to prevent premature exclusion of Pre-TM patients from life-saving surgeries.
COVID-19 mortality in the Philippines: a province-level analysis, 2020-2023
Authors: Celeste Jimuel , Sevilleja Jesus Emmanuel , Bongolan Vena Pearl , Rivera Roselle Leah , Caoili Salvador Eugenio , de Castro Romulo 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo investigate the COVID-19 mortality in Philippine provinces from 2020 to 2023.MethodsWe calculated the crude (CMR) and age-standardised mortality rates (ASMR) of the Philippine provinces from the national COVID-19 surveillance data from January 18, 2020 to May 9, 2023. With Spearman’s method, we then performed a correlation analysis between the rates and four independent variables, namely, poverty incidence, population density, hospital beds per 100 000 population and proportion of elderly population (≥ 65).ResultsThe province with the highest ASMR is Benguet with 207.83 deaths per 100 000 population, followed by Cagayan, Bataan, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, National Capital Region, Isabela, Cebu, Aurora and Davao del Sur. Meanwhile, the province with the lowest ASMR is Tawi-Tawi with 2.22 deaths per 100 000 population, followed by Sulu, Masbate, Misamis Occidental, Camarines Norte, Sarangani, Camiguin, Sultan Kudarat, Southern Leyte, Catanduanes and Batanes. Among the independent variables, poverty incidence and hospital beds per 100 000 population were found to independently predict CMR and ASMR.DiscussionThe results of this analysis provides a starting point for the investigation of COVID-19 mortality in Philippine provinces. The ranking of provinces by ASMR reveals the provinces with the highest and lowest rates, while the results of the correlation analysis, linked with findings from previous studies, explain the ranking, including surveillance issues that are related to health-care access and health-seeking behaviour. Our study paves the way for investigating factors that need to be considered and more closely investigated to get a clearer picture to inform decision-making, which affects millions of lives in communities across the Philippines’ provinces.
Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Control Following Release from Carceral Facilities
Authors: Aminawung JA , Puglisi LB , Roy B. , Horton N , Elumn JE , Lin H. , Bibbins-Domingo K , Krumholz H. , Wang EA 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundIncarceration is a social determinant of cardiovascular health but is rarely addressed in clinical settings or public health prevention efforts. People who have been incarcerated are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD) at younger ages and have worse cardiovascular outcomes compared with the general population, even after controlling for traditional risk factors. This study aims to identify incarceration-specific factors that are associated with uncontrolled CVD risk factors to identify potential targets for prevention.MethodsUsing data from Justice-Involved Individuals Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology (JUSTICE), a prospective cohort study of individuals released from incarceration with CVD risk factors, we examine the unique association between incarceration-specific factors and CVD risk factor control, including systolic blood pressure (SBP≥140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (DBP)≥90, body mass index (BMI)≥40, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥8%, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c)≥ 160). Incarceration-specific factors include the conditions of confinement (jail vs. prison, time in solitary confinement), and collateral sanctions following release (barriers to housing, food, employment due to criminal record). Variables associated with uncontrolled CVD risk factors were included in the multivariate model to examine the unique contribution of each risk factor with uncontrolled CVD risk factors.ResultsParticipants (N=471), mean age of 45.0 ±SD 10.8 years were disproportionately men (89%), from racially minoritized groups (79%), and poor (91% below the 100% federal poverty level). Over half (54%) had at least one uncontrolled CVD risk factor at baseline. People released from jail, compared with prison, had lower Life’s Essential 8 scores for blood pressure and smoking. Having been incarcerated in jail, as compared with prison, was associated with an increased odds of having an uncontrolled CVD risk factor, even after adjusting for age, race and ethnicity, gender, perceived stress, and life adversity score (AOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.02-2.57).DiscussionRelease from jail is associated with poor CVD risk factor control and requires tailored intervention, which is informative as states design and implement the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services Reentry 1115 waiver, which allows Medicaid to cover services prior to release from correctional facilities.
de NovoSequencing of Antibodies for Identification of Neutralizing Antibodies in Human Plasma Post SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination
Authors: Le Bihan Thierry , Nunez de Villavicencio Diaz Teressa , Reitzel Chelsea , Lange Victoria , Park Minyoung , Beadle Emma , Wu Lin , Jovic Marko , Dubois Rosalin M. , Couzens Amber L. , Duan Jin , Han Xiaobing , Liu Qixin , Ma Bin 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWe present a method for sequencing polyclonal IgG enriched from human plasma, employing a combination ofde novosequencing, proteomics, bioinformatics, protein separation, sequencing, and peptide separations. Our study analyzes a single patient’s IgG antibody response triggered by the Moderna Spikevax mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. From the sequencing data of the natural polyclonal response to vaccination, we generated 12 recombinant antibodies. Six derived recombinant antibodies, including four generated withde novosequencing, exhibited similar or higher binding affinities than the original natural polyclonal antibody. Our neutralization tests revealed that the six antibodies possess neutralizing capabilities against the target antigen. This research provides insights into sequencing polyclonal IgG antibodies while highlighting the effectiveness and potential of our approach in generating recombinant antibodies with robust binding affinity and neutralization capabilities. Our proposed approach is an advancement in characterizing the IgG response by directly investigating the circulating pool of IgG without relying exclusively on the B-cell repertoire or population. This is crucial as the B-cell analysis may not accurately represent the circulating antibodies. Interestingly, a large proportion (80 to 90%) of the human antibody sequences generated against SARS-CoV-2 in the literature have been derived solely from B-cell analysis. Therefore, the ability to offer a different perspective is crucial in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the IgG response.Significance StatementWe investigate human IgG targeting the receptor binding domain usingde novoproteomics. The peripheral B-cell repertoire may not adequately cover all the circulating IgG for human IgG sequencing. Our approach overcomes this limitation by using ade novoprotein sequencing on top of standard proteomics. We obtained distinctde novosequences, showcasing our method’s potential. The recombinant proteins we generate possess traits comparable to or surpassing the naturally occurring polyclonal antibodies (pAbs). This study highlights similarities and differences between IgG populations in blood and circulating B-cells, which is crucial for future biologics development.