bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Numerical performance of CO2 accumulation and droplet dispersion from a cough inside a hospital lift under different ventilation strategies
Authors: Chillón Sergio A. , Fernandez-Gamiz Unai , Zulueta Ekaitz , Ugarte-Anero Ainara , Blanco Jesus Maria 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe impact of mechanical ventilation on airborne diseases is not completely known. The recent pandemic of COVID-19 clearly showed that additional investigations are necessary. The use of computational tools is an advantage that needs to be included in the study of designing safe places. The current study focused on a hospital lift where two subjects were included: a healthy passenger and an infected one. The elevator was modelled with a fan placed on the middle of the ceiling and racks for supplying air at the bottom of the lateral wall. Three ventilation strategies were evaluated: a without ventilation case, an upwards-blowing exhausting fan case and a downwards-blowing fan case. Five seconds after the elevator journey began, the infected person coughed. For the risk assessment, the CO2 concentration, droplet removal performance and dispersion were examined and compared among the three cases. The results revealed some discrepancies in the selection of an optimal ventilation strategy. Depending on the evaluated parameter, downward-ventilation fan or no ventilation strategy could be the most appropriate approach.
Characterization of diseased primary human hepatocytes in an all-human cell-based triculture system
Authors: Odanga Justin J. , Anderson Sharon M. , Breathwaite Erick K. , Presnell Sharon C. , LeCluyse Edward L. , Chen Jingsong , Weaver Jessica R. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractLiver diseases, including NAFLD, are a growing worldwide health concern. Currently, there is a lack of suitable in vitro models that sustain basic primary human hepatocyte (PHH) morphology and functionality while supporting presentation of disease-associated phenotypic characteristics such as lipid accumulation and inflammasome activation. In TruVivo, an all-human triculture system (hTCS), basic metabolic functions were characterized in PHHs isolated from normal or diseased livers during two-weeks of culture. Decreases in albumin and urea levels and CYP3A4 activity were seen in diseased-origin PHHs compared to normal PHHs along with higher CYP2E1 expression. Positive expression of the macrophage markers CD68 and CD163 were seen in the diseased PHH preparations. Elevated levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and MCP-1 and the fibrotic markers CK-18 and TGF-β were also measured. Gene expression of FASN, PCK1, and G6PC in the diseased PHHs was decreased compared to the normal PHHs. Further characterization revealed differences in lipogenesis and accumulation of intracellular lipids in normal and diseased PHHs when cultured with oleic acid and high glucose. TruVivo represents a promising new platform to study lipogenic mechanisms in normal and diseased populations due to the preservation of phenotypic differences over a prolonged culture period.
The value of marsh restoration for flood risk reduction in an urban estuary
Authors: Taylor-Burns Rae , Lowrie Christopher , Tehranirad Babak , Lowe Jeremy , Erikson Li , Barnard Patrick L. , Reguero Borja G. , Beck Michael W. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe use of nature-based solutions (NBS) for coastal climate adaptation has broad and growing interest, but NBS are rarely assessed with the same rigor as traditional engineering solutions or with respect to future climate change scenarios. These gaps pose challenges for the use of NBS for climate adaptation. Here, we value the flood protection benefits of stakeholder-identified marsh restoration under current and future climate change within San Francisco Bay, a densely urbanized estuary, and specifically on the shores of San Mateo County, the county most vulnerable to future flooding in California. Marsh restoration provides a present value of $21 million which increases to over $100 million with 0.5 m of sea level rise (SLR), and to about $500 million with 1 m of SLR. There are hotspots within the county where marsh restoration delivers very high benefits for adaptation, which reach $9 million/hectare with likely future sea level and storm conditions. Today’s investments in nature and community resilience can result in increasing payoffs as climate change progresses and risk increases.
Technical development and application of supercritical CO2 foaming technology in PCL foam production
Authors: Zhou Yujin , Tian Yingrui , Zhang Mengdong 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPolycaprolactone (PCL) has the advantages of good biocompatibility, appropriate biodegradability, non-toxicity, flexibility, and processability. As a result, PCL-based foams can successfully work in bone tissue engineering, medical patches, drug delivery, reinforcing materials, and other applications. A promising technology for producing PCL foam products is supercritical CO2 (ScCO2) foaming technology, which avoids using organic solvents, is green, and has low foaming agent costs. However, due to the limitations of ScCO2 foaming technology, it is no longer possible to use this technology alone to meet current production requirements. Therefore, ScCO2 foaming technology must combine with other technologies to develop PCL foam products with better performance and matching requirements. This paper systematically reviews the technological development of ScCO2 foaming in producing PCL foams. The molding process of ScCO2 foaming and the conventional preparation process of PCL foam products are discussed comprehensively, including the preparation process, advantages, and disadvantages, challenges faced, etc. Six combined technologies for ScCO2 foaming in the production of PCL foams and the applications of PCL foams are presented. Finally, the future remaining research for producing PCL foams by ScCO2 foaming is analyzed.
Linking alterations in estrogen receptor expression to memory deficits and depressive behavior in an ovariectomy mouse model
Authors: Baek Dong-Cheol , Kang Ji-Yun , Lee Jin-Seok , Lee Eun-Jung , Son Chang-Gue 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe high risk of neurological disorders in postmenopausal women is an emerging medical issue. Based on the hypothesis of altered estrogen receptors (ERα and β) after the decline of estrogen production, we investigated the changes in ERs expressions across brain regions and depressive/amnesic behaviors. C57BL/6J female mice were ovariectomized (OVX) to establish a menopausal condition. Along with behavior tests (anxiety, depression, and memory), the expression of ERs, microglial activity, and neuronal activity was measured in six brain regions (hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, striatum, raphe nucleus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) from 4 to 12 weeks after OVX. Mice exhibited anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors, as well as memory impairment. These behavioral alterations have been linked to a suppression in the expression of ERβ. The decreased ERβ expression coincided with microglial-derived neuroinflammation, as indicated by notable activations of Ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 and Interleukin-1beta. Additionally, the activity of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), particularly in the hippocampus, decreased in a time-dependent manner from 4 to 12 weeks post-OVX. Our study provides evidence shedding light on the susceptibility to memory impairment and depression in women after menopause. This susceptibility is associated with the suppression of ERβ and alteration of ERα in six brain regions.
Evaluating screening for autism spectrum disorder using cluster randomization
Authors: Jonsdottir Sigridur Loa , Saemundsen Evald , Thorarinsdottir Elin Astros , Rafnsson Vilhjalmur 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWe evaluated the rate of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a group invited to a screening program compared to the rates in two groups who received usual care. The population eligible for screening was all children in Iceland registered for their 30-month well-child visits at primary healthcare centers (PHCs) from March 1, 2016, to October 31, 2017 (N = 7173). The PHCs in the capital area of Reykjavik were the units of cluster randomization. Nine PHCs were selected for intervention (invited group), while eight PHCs received usual care (control group 1). PHCs outside the capital area were without randomization (control group 2). An interdisciplinary team, including a pediatrician contributing with physical and neurological examination, a psychologist evaluating autism symptoms using a diagnostic instrument, and a social worker interviewing the parents, reached a consensus on the clinical diagnosis of ASD according to the ICD-10 diagnostic system. Children in the population were followed up for at least two years and 119 cases were identified. The overall cumulative incidence of ASD was 1.66 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.37, 1.99). In the invited group the incidence rate was 2.13 (95% CI: 1.60, 2.78); in control group 1, the rate was 1.83 (95% CI: 1.31, 2.50); and in control group 2, the rate was 1.02 (95% CI: 0.66, 1.50). Although the rate of ASD was higher in the invited group than in the control groups, the wide confidence intervals prevented us from concluding definitively that the screening detected ASD more readily than usual care.
Position-specific isomers of monohydroxy fatty acids in the land-atmosphere interface: identification and quantification
Authors: Niu Mutong , An Na , Zhang Wenxin , Hu Wei , Fu Xiaoli , Kawamura Kimitaka , Feng Yuqi , Zhu Quanfei , Fu Pingqing 
Published: March 2024

AbstractDue to a wide variety and similar physicochemical properties of monohydroxy saturated fatty acids (OH-FAs) isomers as biomarkers, previously reported OH-FAs in environmental samples were mainly restricted to the α-, β-, (ω-1)- and ω-OH-FA isomers. Here, N,N-dimethylethylenediamine (DMED) labeling coupled with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) analysis with multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM) was developed to screen, identify and quantify position-specific isomers of OH-FAs (C8-C18). An identification strategy of positional isomers of OH-FAs, including α-, β-, 4 to (ω-2)-, (ω-1)- and ω-OH-FAs, was established by integrating the characteristics of peak intensity ratios of product ions based on the library of OH-FAs. Meanwhile, d4-DMED-labeled OH-FA standards as internal standards were adopted for the relative quantification of positional isomers. The extraction processes were optimized for different interface-environmental samples. Our method offers a promising tool to investigate position-specific isomers of OH-FAs in the land-atmosphere interface.
Large language models and multimodal foundation models for precision oncology
Authors: Truhn Daniel , Eckardt Jan-Niklas , Ferber Dyke , Kather Jakob Nikolas 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe technological progress in artificial intelligence (AI) has massively accelerated since 2022, with far-reaching implications for oncology and cancer research. Large language models (LLMs) now perform at human-level competency in text processing. Notably, both text and image processing networks are increasingly based on transformer neural networks. This convergence enables the development of multimodal AI models that take diverse types of data as an input simultaneously, marking a qualitative shift from specialized niche models which were prevalent in the 2010s. This editorial summarizes these developments, which are expected to impact precision oncology in the coming years.
Deep learning on tertiary lymphoid structures in hematoxylin-eosin predicts cancer prognosis and immunotherapy response
Authors: Chen Ziqiang , Wang Xiaobing , Jin Zelin , Li Bosen , Jiang Dongxian , Wang Yanqiu , Jiang Mengping , Zhang Dandan , Yuan Pei , Zhao Yahui , Feng Feiyue , Lin Yicheng , Jiang Liping , Wang Chenxi , Meng Weida , Ye Wenjing , Wang Jie , Qiu Wenqing , Liu Houbao , Huang Dan , Hou Yingyong , Wang Xuefei , Jiao Yuchen , Ying Jianming , Liu Zhihua , Liu Yun 
Published: March 2024

AbstractTertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) have been associated with favorable immunotherapy responses and prognosis in various cancers. Despite their significance, their quantification using multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) staining of T and B lymphocytes remains labor-intensive, limiting its clinical utility. To address this challenge, we curated a dataset from matched mIHC and H&E whole-slide images (WSIs) and developed a deep learning model for automated segmentation of TLSs. The model achieved Dice coefficients of 0.91 on the internal test set and 0.866 on the external validation set, along with intersection over union (IoU) scores of 0.819 and 0.787, respectively. The TLS ratio, defined as the segmented TLS area over the total tissue area, correlated with B lymphocyte levels and the expression of CXCL13, a chemokine associated with TLS formation, in 6140 patients spanning 16 tumor types from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The prognostic models for overall survival indicated that the inclusion of the TLS ratio with TNM staging significantly enhanced the models’ discriminative ability, outperforming the traditional models that solely incorporated TNM staging, in 10 out of 15 TCGA tumor types. Furthermore, when applied to biopsied treatment-naïve tumor samples, higher TLS ratios predicted a positive immunotherapy response across multiple cohorts, including specific therapies for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and stomach adenocarcinoma. In conclusion, our deep learning-based approach offers an automated and reproducible method for TLS segmentation and quantification, highlighting its potential in predicting immunotherapy response and informing cancer prognosis.
Digital twins for health: a scoping review
Authors: Katsoulakis Evangelia , Wang Qi , Wu Huanmei , Shahriyari Leili , Fletcher Richard , Liu Jinwei , Achenie Luke , Liu Hongfang , Jackson Pamela , Xiao Ying , Syeda-Mahmood Tanveer , Tuli Richard , Deng Jun 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe use of digital twins (DTs) has proliferated across various fields and industries, with a recent surge in the healthcare sector. The concept of digital twin for health (DT4H) holds great promise to revolutionize the entire healthcare system, including management and delivery, disease treatment and prevention, and health well-being maintenance, ultimately improving human life. The rapid growth of big data and continuous advancement in data science (DS) and artificial intelligence (AI) have the potential to significantly expedite DT research and development by providing scientific expertise, essential data, and robust cybertechnology infrastructure. Although various DT initiatives have been underway in the industry, government, and military, DT4H is still in its early stages. This paper presents an overview of the current applications of DTs in healthcare, examines consortium research centers and their limitations, and surveys the current landscape of emerging research and development opportunities in healthcare. We envision the emergence of a collaborative global effort among stakeholders to enhance healthcare and improve the quality of life for millions of individuals worldwide through pioneering research and development in the realm of DT technology.
Characterisation of Plasmodium vivax lactate dehydrogenase dynamics in P. vivax infections
Authors: Cao Pengxing , Kho Steven , Grigg Matthew J. , Barber Bridget E. , Piera Kim A. , William Timothy , Poespoprodjo Jeanne R. , Jang Ihn Kyung , Simpson Julie A. , McCaw James M. , Anstey Nicholas M. , McCarthy James S. , Britton Sumudu 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPlasmodium vivax lactate dehydrogenase (PvLDH) is an essential enzyme in the glycolytic pathway of P. vivax. It is widely used as a diagnostic biomarker and a measure of total-body parasite biomass in vivax malaria. However, the dynamics of PvLDH remains poorly understood. Here, we developed mathematical models that capture parasite and matrix PvLDH dynamics in ex vivo culture and the human host. We estimated key biological parameters characterising in vivo PvLDH dynamics based on longitudinal data of parasitemia and PvLDH concentration collected from P. vivax-infected humans, with the estimates informed by the ex vivo data as prior knowledge in a Bayesian hierarchical framework. We found that the in vivo accumulation rate of intraerythrocytic PvLDH peaks at 10–20 h post-invasion (late ring stage) with a median estimate of intraerythrocytic PvLDH mass at the end of the life cycle to be 9.4 × 10−3ng. We also found that the median estimate of in vivo PvLDH half-life was approximately 21.9 h. Our findings provide a foundation with which to advance our quantitative understanding of P. vivax biology and will facilitate the improvement of PvLDH-based diagnostic tools.
Emergence and clonal expansion of a qacA-harbouring sequence type 45 lineage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Nong Yi , Steinig Eike , Pollock Georgina L. , Taiaroa George , Carter Glen P. , Monk Ian R. , Pang Stanley , Daley Denise A. , Coombs Geoffrey W. , Forde Brian M. , Harris Patrick N. A. , Sherry Norelle L. , Howden Benjamin P. , Pasricha Shivani , Baines Sarah L. , Williamson Deborah A. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe past decade has seen an increase in the prevalence of sequence type (ST) 45 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), yet the underlying drivers for its emergence and spread remain unclear. To better understand the worldwide dissemination of ST45 S. aureus, we performed phylogenetic analyses of Australian isolates, supplemented with a global population of ST45 S. aureus genomes. Our analyses revealed a distinct lineage of multidrug-resistant ST45 MRSA harbouring qacA, predominantly found in Australia and Singapore. Bayesian inference predicted that the acquisition of qacA occurred in the late 1990s. qacA was integrated into a structurally variable region of the chromosome containing Tn552 (carrying blaZ) and Tn4001 (carrying aac(6’)-aph(2”)) transposable elements. Using mutagenesis and in vitro assays, we provide phenotypic evidence that qacA confers tolerance to chlorhexidine. These findings collectively suggest both antimicrobial resistance and the carriage of qacA may play a role in the successful establishment of ST45 MRSA.
Tissue damaging toxins in snake venoms: mechanisms of action, pathophysiology and treatment strategies
Authors: Bittenbinder Mátyás A. , van Thiel Jory , Cardoso Fernanda C. , Casewell Nicholas R. , Gutiérrez José-María , Kool Jeroen , Vonk Freek J. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractSnakebite envenoming is an important public health issue responsible for mortality and severe morbidity. Where mortality is mainly caused by venom toxins that induce cardiovascular disturbances, neurotoxicity, and acute kidney injury, morbidity is caused by toxins that directly or indirectly destroy cells and degrade the extracellular matrix. These are referred to as ‘tissue-damaging toxins’ and have previously been classified in various ways, most of which are based on the tissues being affected (e.g., cardiotoxins, myotoxins). This categorisation, however, is primarily phenomenological and not mechanistic. In this review, we propose an alternative way of classifying cytotoxins based on their mechanistic effects rather than using a description that is organ- or tissue-based. The mechanisms of toxin-induced tissue damage and their clinical implications are discussed. This review contributes to our understanding of fundamental biological processes associated with snakebite envenoming, which may pave the way for a knowledge-based search for novel therapeutic options.
Interplay of biotic and abiotic factors shapes tree seedling growth and root-associated microbial communities
Authors: Chamard Joey , Faticov Maria , Blanchet F. Guillaume , Chagnon Pierre-Luc , Laforest-Lapointe Isabelle 
Published: March 2024

AbstractRoot-associated microbes can alleviate plant abiotic stresses, thus potentially supporting adaptation to a changing climate or to novel environments during range expansion. While climate change is extending plant species fundamental niches northward, the distribution and colonization of mutualists (e.g., arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) and pathogens may constrain plant growth and regeneration. Yet, the degree to which biotic and abiotic factors impact plant performance and associated microbial communities at the edge of their distribution remains unclear. Here, we use root microscopy, coupled with amplicon sequencing, to study bacterial, fungal, and mycorrhizal root-associated microbial communities from sugar maple seedlings distributed across two temperate-to-boreal elevational gradients in southern Québec, Canada. Our findings demonstrate that soil pH, soil Ca, and distance to sugar maple trees are key drivers of root-associated microbial communities, overshadowing the influence of elevation. Interestingly, changes in root fungal community composition mediate an indirect effect of soil pH on seedling growth, a pattern consistent at both sites. Overall, our findings highlight a complex role of biotic and abiotic factors in shaping tree-microbe interactions, which are in turn correlated with seedling growth. These findings have important ramifications for tree range expansion in response to shifting climatic niches.
Contrasting segregation patterns among endogenous retroviruses across the koala population
Authors: Lillie Mette , Pettersson Mats , Jern Patric 
Published: March 2024

AbstractKoalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) have experienced a history of retroviral epidemics leaving their trace as heritable endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) in their genomes. A recently identified ERV lineage, named phaCin-β, shows a pattern of recent, possibly current, activity with high insertional polymorphism in the population. Here, we investigate geographic patterns of three focal ERV lineages of increasing estimated ages, from the koala retrovirus (KoRV) to phaCin-β and to phaCin-β-like, using the whole-genome sequencing of 430 koalas from the Koala Genome Survey. Thousands of ERV loci were found across the population, with contrasting patterns of polymorphism. Northern individuals had thousands of KoRV integrations and hundreds of phaCin-β ERVs. In contrast, southern individuals had higher phaCin-β frequencies, possibly reflecting more recent activity and a founder effect. Overall, our findings suggest high ERV burden in koalas, reflecting historic retrovirus-host interactions. Importantly, the ERV catalogue supplies improved markers for conservation genetics in this endangered species.
Earthquakes unveil the global-scale fractality of the lithosphere
Authors: Perinelli Alessio , Ricci Leonardo , De Santis Angelo , Iuppa Roberto 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe relationship between the magnitude of earthquakes and their spatial and temporal distribution has been observed to exhibit a scale invariance hypothesised to originate from self-organized critical regimes. However, the fractality of earthquake distributions has been mostly established in circumscribed areas, despite the fact that the self-organized criticality of the lithosphere should only emerge at global or continental level. Here, we analyze seismic observations occurring over the whole Earth between 2004–2020 to investigate the fractal correlation dimension of earthquakes distribution. We find that the distribution of earthquakes is fractal on a global scale, as well as approximately magnitude-independent and stationary over decadal time scales. Our results set a primary constraint on the spatial scaling properties of lithosphere dynamics. We suggest that macroscopic models should fulfil this constraint to correctly replicate the features of seismicity, and potentially improve seismic hazard assessment.