bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and risk factors of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis among a Ghanaian clinical cohort: A case‐control study
Authors: Kyei Samuel , Nkansah Mary , Asiedu Kofi , Asiamah Randy , Zaabaar Ebenezer , Afrifa‐Yamoah Ebenezer 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundVernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) has been determined to be highly prevalent in countries within the tropical climate region. However, little evidence from studies conducted within this region has been put forward to support this claim.AimTo determine the prevalence and risk factors of VKC among a Ghanaian clinical cohort.MethodsA 3‐year case‐control study was conducted in a tertiary eye care institution, and medical records of patients who had been diagnosed of VKC between 2018 and 2021 were reviewed.ResultsMedical records of 3800 patients were reviewed. Some cases of VKC were identified, with a population prevalence rate of . Males comprised of the population with VKC, with a male‐to‐female ratio of . The disease was more prevalent (40.8%) in children (17 years), and the overall odds of incidence decreased by 10% for a unit increase in age. Age and sex‐adjusted models revealed significant positive associations between Keratoconus [aOR = 40.760, 95% CI –5.948 to 339.937], Rhinitis [cOR = 5.183, 95% CI –2.074 to 12.022] and VKC. However, the incidence of VKC was relatively less expressive among pterygium cases [cOR = 0.315, 95% CI –0.077 to 0.846].ConclusionVKC is highly prevalent among children and is often associated with comorbidities of atopic origin that exacerbate the impact of the disease among this vulnerable population. It is imperative that clinicians provide holistic care for children with VKC.
Is the Tibetan Plateau really a water tower?
Authors: Tian Fuqiang , Nan Yi , Ni Guangheng , Yang Long , Tang Qiuhong , Grey David 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe Tibetan Plateau (TP) is widely known as the ‘Asian Water Tower’, due to its role in providing fresh water to downstream Asian countries. Based on the runoff data of large river basins on the TP, the weighted average proportion of the TP runoff is approximately 18% (ranging from 6% to 49%) for all the rivers. We argue that the name ‘Water Tower’ is an inappropriate and misleading perception of the TP, and such misperception would influence policy‐making processes and diplomatic activities. We therefore call for correcting the misunderstanding and an ensuring accurate understanding of the TP and its role in water supply for downstream countries. We propose using the term “Towering Asian Spring” instead of “Asian Water Tower” to better illustrate the role of the TP in water supply: while it serves as the source of several major rivers in Asia, its contribution to the overall water supply is relatively limited.
Natural responses of Neoproterozoic dynamic karst springs to rainfall events, São Miguel Watershed, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Authors: Marques Tássia , Galvão Paulo , Assunção Pedro , Pandolf Bruno , Marshall Peter , Paiva Isabel 
Published: March 2024

AbstractKarst aquifers consist of complex networks of conduits in which groundwater flows and recharge/discharge processes are generally more dynamic than in other types of aquifers. Due to their intrinsic heterogeneity and anisotropy, monitoring, quantifying, and analysing natural responses of karst springs is an efficient tool. Unlike Cenozoic and Mesozoic rocks, in Neoproterozoic karst systems, groundwater circulates and stores generally in dissolution features known as tertiary porosity, as the rock's primary porosity is recrystallized, considered negligible. This article studies the hydrodynamics of a karst portion of the São Miguel River basin, southwest of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The region is predominantly composed of Neoproterozoic carbonate rocks, dating from about 570 to 540 million years ago. During a hydrological year (2019–2020), three karst springs (S1, S2, and S3) were daily monitored through their natural responses (variations of electrical conductivity, EC, temperature, T, and discharge, Q) to rainfall episodes. The data were interpreted based on the analysis of spring hydrographs, time series, recession curves (seasonal and intra‐annual), and statistics of EC, T, and Q variations. The results show the three springs generally exhibit quick flow, typically karstic, in the case of hydrosystems with a well‐structured and functional underground drainage network. The time series indicate the hydrosystem drained by S1 presents slower circulation and a lower degree of linearity, resulting from the higher sinuosity of the system, while the hydrosystems of S2 and S3 have similar behaviours, of quick water circulations immediately after a rainy episode. The degrees of karstification classify S1 and S2 as complex and extensive karst systems consisting of several subsystems, and S3 as a system in which the conduit network is more developed at the upper epiphreatic zone than near the outlet.
Reversal of Opioid‐Induced Respiratory Depression in Healthy Volunteers: Comparison of Intranasal Nalmefene and Intranasal Naloxone
Authors: Ellison Mark , Hutton Emily , Webster Lynn , Skolnick Phil 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAn open‐label, randomized, crossover study in healthy volunteers compared the reversal of remifentanil‐induced respiratory depression by intranasal (IN) naloxone hydrochloride (4 mg) to IN nalmefene (2.7 mg) (NCT 04828005). Subjects were administered a hypercapnic gas mixture which produces an elevation in minute ventilation (MV), a result of the ventilatory response to hypercapnia. Subjects breathed a hypercapnic gas mixture through a tight‐fitting mask for an initial period of 46 min prior to a series of mask “holidays” introduced to reduce subject discomfort and encourage study completion. Ten minutes after initiating the hypercapnic gas mixture, a remifentanil bolus was administered, and an infusion continued for the study duration. Subjects were administered either naloxone or nalmefene 15 min after initiating the remifentanil infusion and MV monitored for 21 min followed by a mask holiday. Both nalmefene and naloxone produced a time‐dependent reversal of remifentanil‐induced reductions in MV measured 2.5–20 min post administration. At the primary endpoint (5 min post administration), nalmefene increases in MV (5.75 L/min) were nearly twice that produced by naloxone (3.01 L/min) (P < .0009); the point estimate favors nalmefene, demonstrating non‐inferiority and superiority. In this model of opioid‐induced respiratory depression, nalmefene has a more rapid onset of action than naloxone, which required 20 min to achieve a comparable reversal of respiratory depression. Both nalmefene and naloxone were well tolerated by healthy volunteers. This rapid onset of action may prove particularly valuable in an era when over 90% of fatalities are linked to synthetic opioid overdose.
Premixed calcium silicate‐based ceramic sealers promote osteogenic/cementogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells: A microscopy study
Authors: López‐García Sergio , Sánchez‐Bautista Sonia , García‐Bernal David , Lozano Adrián , Forner Leopoldo , Sanz José L. , Murcia Laura , Rodríguez‐Lozano Francisco J. , Oñate‐Sánchez Ricardo E. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractTo evaluate the effects of premixed calcium silicate based ceramic sealers on the viability and osteogenic/cementogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs). The materials evaluated were TotalFill BC Sealer (TFbc), AH Plus Bioceramic Sealer (AHPbc), and Neosealer Flo (Neo). Standardized discs and 1:1, 1:2, and 1:4 eluates of the tested materials were prepared. The following in vitro experiments were carried out: ion release, cell metabolic activity 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, cell migration, immunofluorescence experiment, cell attachment, gene expression, and mineralization assay. Statistical analyses were performed using one‐way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test (p < .05). Increased Ca2+ release was detected in TFbc compared to AHPbc and Neo (*p < .05). Biological assays showed a discrete cell metabolic activity and cell migration in Neo‐treated cell, whereas scanning electronic microscopy assay exhibited that TFbc group had a better cell adhesion process of substrate attachment, spreading, and cytoskeleton development on the niche‐like structures of the cement than AHPbc and Neo. The sealers tested were able to induce overexpression of the CEMP‐1, ALP, and COL1A1 genes in the first days of exposure, particularly in the case of TFbc (***p < .001). All materials tested significantly increased the mineralization of hPDLSCs when compared to the negative control, although more pronounced calcium deposition was observed in the TFbc‐treated cells (***p < .001). Our results suggested that TFbc promotes cell differentiation, both by increasing the expression of key osteo/odontogenic genes and by promoting mineralization of the extracellular matrix, whereas this phenomenon was less evident in Neo and AHPbc.Research Highlights
TFbc group had a better cell adhesion process of substrate attachment, spreading, and cytoskeleton development on the niche‐like structures of the cement than AHPbc and Neo.
The sealers tested were able to induce overexpression of the CEMP‐1, ALP, and COL1A1 genes in the first days of exposure, particularly in the case of TFbc.
All materials tested significantly increased the mineralization of hPDLSCs when compared to the negative control, although more pronounced calcium deposition was observed in the TFbc‐treated cells.
Impact of a relocation to a new critical care building on pediatric safety events
Authors: Furthmiller Andrew , Sahay Rashmi , Zhang Bin , Dewan Maya , Zackoff Matthew 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) relocated the pediatric, cardiac, and neonatal intensive care units (PICU, CICU and NICU) to a newly constructed critical care building (CCB) in November 2021. Simulation and onboarding sessions were implemented before the relocation, aimed at mitigating latent safety threats.ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of ICU relocation to the CCHMC CCB on patient safety as measured by the quantity, rate, severity score, and category of safety reports.MethodsThis retrospective, cross‐sectional, observational study compared safety reports filed in a 90‐day period before and following the CCB relocation. The primary outcome was pre‐ and postrelocation safety report rates per 100 patient‐days. Secondary outcomes included safety report severity, category, and rate of hospital acquired conditions (HACs).ResultsTotal safety report incidence increased by 16% across all ICUs postrelocation with no difference in post‐ versus prerelocation odds ratio between ICUs. Three isolated instances of special cause variation were found, one in NICU and two in CICU. No special cause variation was found in the PICU. There were no statistical differences in assigned safety report severity pre‐ to postrelocation for all ICUs, and only lab specimen/test related safety reports showed a statistically significant increase postrelocation. Overall rates of HACs were low, with six occurring prerelocation and eight postrelocation.ConclusionsAll three ICUs were relocated to the new CCB with minimal changes in the incidence, severity, or category of safety reports filed, suggesting staff training and preparations ahead of the relocation mitigated latent safety threats.
Man, it's a hot one: Trends and extremes in Florida autumn heat stress
Authors: Ennis Kelsey E. , Milrad Shawn M. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractExtreme heat is the deadliest weather‐related hazard in the United States, and is increasing in frequency, intensity and duration due to climate change. Heat stress is broadly defined as environmental influences on body temperature, and in this study is evaluated using wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), which incorporates temperature, humidity, wind speed and solar radiation. Heat stress and associated humid heat have increased significantly across many regions of the globe, particularly in the subtropics and Tropics, which exacerbates health and excess mortality risks in those areas. However, heat stress has typically been investigated as a solely summer phenomenon. This study uses WBGT to examine heat stress trends and extremes during climatological autumn from the 1950s to 2022 at eight Florida cities. Results show that average autumn heat stress has increased significantly throughout much of Florida, particularly at coastal locations in the Florida Peninsula. Daytime heat stress increases were larger than their night‐time counterparts in northern Florida, while the opposite was true in central and southern Florida. Extreme (90th percentile) autumn heat stress events also increased in intensity and frequency, particularly in the Florida Peninsula and Florida Keys. Furthermore, locations in the Florida Peninsula and Florida Keys experienced increases of greater than 1.5 extreme autumn heat stress days per decade. Heat stress trends were predominantly largest in urban coastal environments, suggesting links to urbanization as well as statistically significant early autumn warming trends in sea surface temperatures. Overall, results indicated that heat stress in Florida is no longer solely a summer hazard and poses a particular threat to coastal areas in early autumn when ocean heat content is still near its climatological peak.
Selective penetration of fullerenol through pea seed coats mitigates osmosis‐repressed germination via chromatin remodeling and transcriptional reprograming
Authors: Ning Kang , Sun Ting , Wang Zhuoyi , Li Hailan , Fang Pingping , Cai Xiaoqi , Wu Xinyang , Xu Min , Xu Pei 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe alteration of chromatin accessibility plays an important role in plant responses to abiotic stress. Carbon‐based nanomaterials (CBNMs) have attracted increasing interest in agriculture due to their potential impact on crop productivity, showcasing effects on plant biological processes at transcriptional levels; however, their impact on chromatin accessibility remains unknown.RESULTSThis study found that fullerenol can penetrate the seed coat of pea to mitigate the reduction of seed germination caused by osmotic stress. RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) revealed that the application of fullerenol caused the high expression of genes related to oxidoreduction to return to a normal level. Assay for transposase accessible chromatin sequencing (ATAC‐seq) confirmed that fullerenol application reduced the overall levels of chromatin accessibility of numerous genes, including those related to environmental signaling, transcriptional regulation, and metabolism.CONCLUSIONThis study suggests that fullerenol alleviates osmotic stress on various fronts, encompassing antioxidant, transcriptional, and epigenetic levels. This advances knowledge of the working mechanism of this nanomaterial within plant cells. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
On the structure of Nevanlinna measures
Authors: Nedic Mitja , Saksman Eero 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn this paper, we study the structural properties of Nevanlinna measures, that is, Borel measures that arise in the integral representation of Herglotz–Nevanlinna functions. In particular, we give a characterization of these measures in terms of their Fourier transform, characterize measures supported on hyperplanes including extremal measures, describe the structure of the singular part of the measures when some variable are set to a fixed value, and provide estimates for the measure of expanding and shrinking cubes. Corresponding results are stated also in the setting of the polydisc where applicable, and some of our proofs are actually performed via the polydisc.
A case report of an Egyptian family with familial hypercholesterolemia and an exonic LINE‐1 insertion in LDLR
Authors: Song Yongjun , Elwafa Reham Abdel Haleem Abo , Omar Omneya Magdy , Seo Go Hun , Lee Hane 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundFamilial hypercholesterolemia (MIM: PS143890) is a genetic disorder characterized by an increase in blood cholesterol. LDLR is one of the genes which their defect contributes to the disorder. Affected individuals may carry a heterozygous variant or homozygous/compound heterozygous variants and those with biallelic pathogenic variants present more severe symptoms.MethodWe report an Egyptian family with familial hypercholesterolemia. Both the proband and parents have the disorder while a sibling is unaffected. Exome sequencing was performed to identify the causal variant.ResultsLINE‐1 insertion in exon 7 of LDLR was identified. Both parents have a heterozygous variant while the proband has a homozygous variant. The unaffected sibling did not carry the variant.DiscussionThis insertion may contribute to the high prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in Egypt and the finding underscores the importance of implementing mobile element insertion caller in routine bioinformatics pipeline.
Dual neovascular targets of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors and platelet‐derived growth factor receptor ameliorate thioacetamide induced liver fibrosis in rats
Authors: Xiong Bin , Bai Yaowei , Liu Jiacheng , Li Tongqiang , Wang Yingliang , Zhou Chen 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAimsNeovascularization plays a crucial role in liver fibrosis (LF), and blocking vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) has been shown to improve fibrosis. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of dual neovascularization targets, VEGFR, and platelet‐derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), in ameliorating fibrosis.MethodsIn vitro, we observed the effects of apatinib (APA) (a VEGFR inhibitor) and donafenib (DON) (a VEGFR and PDGFR inhibitor) on the activation, proliferation, and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) from rats and humans. In vivo, we established a thioacetamide (TAA)‐induced liver fibrosis rat model to explore the antifibrosis effect of APA and DON. We used the method of random table to randomly divide the rats into 4 groups. We detected the expression of angiogenesis‐related proteins using Western blot and immunohistochemistry.ResultsAPA and DON inhibited the proliferation and activation of HSCs, promoted apoptosis of HSCs, and arrested the S phase of the cell cycle in vitro. We also found that DON had a stronger inhibitory effect on HSCs. In vivo, APA and DON ameliorated liver fibrosis, reduced collagen deposition and α‐SMA expression in rats, and DON had a stronger improvement effect. APA and DON downregulated the expression of VEGFR2 while inhibiting the phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2. DON can act through both VEGF and PDGF pathways, whereas APA can only act through the VEGF pathway.ConclusionAntiangiogenesis is a promising approach for the treatment of fibrosis. Compared with a single‐target drug (APA), the dual‐target drug (DON) can achieve better therapeutic effects.
Pyroglutamylation modulates electronic properties and the conformational ensemble of the amyloid β‐peptide
Authors: Davidson Darcy S. , Lemkul Justin A. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by the formation of extracellular amyloid‐β (Aβ) plaques. The underlying cause of AD is unknown, however, post‐translational modifications (PTMs) of Aβ have been found in AD patients and are thought to play a role in protein aggregation. One such PTM is pyroglutamylation, which can occur at two sites in Aβ, Glu3 and Glu11. This modification of Aβ involves the truncation and charge‐neutralization of N‐terminal glutamate, causing Aβ to become more hydrophobic and prone to aggregation. The molecular mechanism by which the introduction of pyroglutamate (pE) promotes aggregation has not been determined. To gain a greater understanding of the role that charge neutralization and truncation of the N‐terminus plays on Aβ conformational sampling, we used the Drude polarizable force field (FF) to perform molecular dynamics simulations on AβpE3–42 and AβpE11–42 and comparing their properties to previous simulations of Aβ1–42. The Drude polarizable FF allows for a more accurate representation of electrostatic interactions, therefore providing novel insights into the role that charge plays in protein dynamics. Here, we report the parametrization of pE in the Drude polarizable FF and the effect of pyroglutamylation on Aβ. We found that AβpE3–42 and AβpE11–42 alter the permanent and induced dipoles of the peptide. Specifically, we found that AβpE3–42 and AβpE11–42 have modification‐specific backbone and sidechain polarization response and perturbed solvation properties that shift the Aβ conformational ensemble.
Targeting epidermal growth factor receptor and its downstream signaling pathways by natural products: A mechanistic insight
Authors: Damare Rutuja , Engle Kritika , Kumar Gautam 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) that maintains normal tissues and cell signaling pathways. EGFR is overactivated and overexpressed in many malignancies, including breast, lung, pancreatic, and kidney. Further, the EGFR gene mutations and protein overexpression activate downstream signaling pathways in cancerous cells, stimulating the growth, survival, resistance to apoptosis, and progression of tumors. Anti‐EGFR therapy is the potential approach for treating malignancies and has demonstrated clinical success in treating specific cancers. The recent report suggests most of the clinically used EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors developed resistance to the cancer cells. This perspective provides a brief overview of EGFR and its implications in cancer. We have summarized natural products‐derived anticancer compounds with the mechanistic basis of tumor inhibition via the EGFR pathway. We propose that developing natural lead molecules into new anticancer agents has a bright future after clinical investigation.
Precise construction of DNA origami‐based materials for functional regulation on biological interface
Authors: Wu Yushuai , Wu Xiaohui , Tian Run , Wang Yiming , Ding Baoquan , Jiang Qiao 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPrecise design and control of molecular self‐assembly as living creatures are exciting ideas in the field of nanotechnology. Characterized with predesigned geometries and accurate spatial addressability, programmable DNA origami nanostructures have been recognized as optimized tools for assembling multiple functional components. A variety of biomolecules can be attached to the nanoscale drawing boards in a site‐specific fashion, thus facilitating the precise construction of DNA origami‐based materials for studies on biological interface. In this minireview, we highlight the recent advances in the precise construction of DNA origami‐based materials with artificial bio‐structures and/or biomimicking functions. The regulation of biological functions by these DNA origami‐engineered assemblies at the bio‐interface has been summarized and discussed.