bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mechanosensitivity of phase separation in an elastic gel
Authors: Deviri Dan , Safran Samuel A. 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) in binary or multi-component solutions is a well-studied subject in soft matter with extensive applications in biological systems. In recent years, several experimental studies focused on LLPS of solutes in hydrated gels, where the formation of coexisting domains induces elastic deformations within the gel. While the experimental studies report unique physical characteristics of these systems, such as sensitivity to mechanical forces and stabilization of multiple, periodic phase-separated domains, the theoretical understanding of such systems and the role of long-range interactions have not emphasized the nonlinear nature of the equilibrium binodal for strong segregation of the solute. In this paper, we formulate a generic, mean-field theory of a hydrated gel in the presence of an additional solute which changes the elastic properties of the gel. We derive equations for the equilibrium binodal of the phase separation of the solvent and solute and show that the deformations induced by the solute can result in effective long-range interactions between phase-separating solutes that can either enhance or, in the case of externally applied pressure, suppress phase separation of the solute relative to the case where there is no gel. This causes the coexisting concentrations at the binodal to depend on the system-wide average concentration, in contrast to the situation for phase separation in the absence of the gel.

Graphical abstract
A Two-Dimensional Planar Fracture Network Model for Broken Rock Mass Based on Packer Test and Fractal Dimension
Authors: Wen Lei , Guo Ping , Zhang Xin , Lu Wen-qiang , Liu Zhong Fang 
Published: February 2024

Broken rock masses with the complexity and concealment widely exist in nature such as underground mine, collapse column, and zone. It is extremely difficult to model fracture networks and to simulate water diffusion for broken rock masses. To explore a reasonable fracture network model for broken rock masses, a new method for modeling a two-dimensional planar fracture network model is proposed in this paper. It includes packer test, empirical relationship, fractal width description, and symmetric expansion modeling. Then, the fluid-solid coupling is used to simulate the diffusion properties of water in the two-dimensional planar fracture network model. It is found that the diffusion velocities vmax and vmin do not appear in the fracture widths λmax and λmin. It indicates that the fracture widths λmax and λmin in the fracture network model for broken rock mass have little impact on the diffusion velocity. Furthermore, the fracture distribution pattern in the fracture network model is an important factor affecting the diffusion velocities vmax and vmin. The simulation results of water diffusion in the currently proposed model are almost consistent with the actual process of the packer test. Also, the validity of the two-dimensional planar fracture network model is verified by comparing the simulation results with the existing research.
Game Behaviors among Adolescent MOBA Gamers in China: The Effects of Demographics, Trait Aggression, and Game Motivations
Authors: Chen Shuai , Mao Bo , Wang Xu , Wei Mingchen , Liu Yanling 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Game behaviors affect gamers’ psychological and behavioral development in real life. Previous studies have shown that demographic and basic personality traits are associated with game behaviors in massively multiplayer online role-playing games. However, little is known about the roles of trait aggression and game motivations, especially in multiplayer online battle arena games. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate how demographic, trait aggression, and game motivations affect multiplayer online battle arena game behaviors. A total of 1,316 Chinese adolescent gamers who play Honor of Kings responded to questions related to demographic information, trait aggression, game motivations (socializer, competitor, escapist, story-driven, completionist, and smart-enhance), and game behaviors (aggressing, winning, creating, and helping). The multiple linear regression model results showed that males, socializers, completionists, and smart-enhance were more likely to exhibit aggressing, winning, creating, and helping behaviors. Trait aggression predicted aggressing, winning, and creating behaviors. Moreover, age and competitor scale positively predicted aggressing and winning behaviors. Meanwhile, escapists tended to engage in aggressing and creating behaviors, and story-driven players exhibited creating and helping behaviors. These results may be useful in explaining individual differences in game behaviors and the relationships between video-game and real-life behaviors for gamers.
The Impact of Medical Comorbidities on Cough Improvement Following Superior Laryngeal Block
Authors: Shah Rema , Wilkins Sarah , Malik Devesh , Kohli Nikita 
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Chronic refractory cough is defined as cough lasting greater than 8 weeks and with an unclear etiology. Blockade of the internal branch superior laryngeal nerve (iSLN) has been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of chronic cough. It remains unknown, however, if underlying comorbidities impact patient response to iSLN blockade. Methods: A total of 44 patients aged 18 years and older were seen at our institution’s Laryngology clinics between 2019 and 2022 and treated with iSLN blockade. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and pre- and post-treatment cough severity index (CSI) scores were collected from electronic medical records. Two-tailed independent T tests were used to compare CSI scores between groups with and without 4 underlying comorbidities: GERD, pulmonary history, smoking history, and evidence of vocal fold paresis or asymmetry on stroboscopy. Results: Patients with a history of GERD or smoking and those with evidence of glottic insufficiency had similar improvements in CSI compared to those who did not (22.5 ± 26.4 vs 45.0 ± 47.1, P = .36; 32.7 ± 27.8 vs 29.0 ± 38, P = .85; 41.3 ± 18.8 vs 27.2 ± 37.7, P = .195). Patients with underlying pulmonary conditions had a significantly reduced response to iSLN blockade than did patients without underlying disease (9.85 ± 15.0 vs 47.4 ± 38.1, P = .028). Conclusion: Underlying lung pathology may contribute to decreased iSLN blockade efficacy in the treatment of chronic refractory cough from laryngeal hypersensitivity and its treatment is likely necessary for optimal symptom reduction. Characterizing patient comorbidity profiles can help guide patient counseling on expected treatment efficacy.
The “Sweat Soaking Method”-processed Radix Wikstroemia indica Extracts Attenuate Liver Toxicity and its Effect on Cytochrome P450 Protein
Authors: Wang Wenjing , Feng Guo , Xu Qin , Li Wei , Li Lailai , Su Hongmei , Zhu Guanglin , Song Xueli , Zhang Ju , He Zhengyan 
Published: February 2024

Background Radix Wikstroemia indica (RWI) is one of the most commonly used drugs in Miao medicine. However, RWI is characterized by high toxicity. Objectives In this study, we aimed to observe the effect of the “sweat soaking method” processed on reducing the hepatotoxicity of RWI and on cytochrome P450 (CYP) protein expression. Materials and Methods The study focused on investigating the impact of both RWI raw products and RWI processed products on the proliferation of L-02 cells. To assess this, a cell counting kit-8 was employed. After the administration of RWI through oral gavage for a duration of 15 days in rats, the corresponding kits were utilized to determine the serum levels of the liver index factor. Furthermore, both hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and western blot analysis were conducted to analyze the liver tissues. Results Both the raw RWI and the processed RWI at high doses inhibited the proliferation of L-02 cells, but the cell viability of the concoction group was higher than that of the raw group. The liver tissues of rats in the control and processed product groups were normal, while those in the raw product groups showed different degrees of liver damage. Additionally, compared with the control group, the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT) in the raw product groups was notably increased in a dose-dependent manner; the three enzyme activities of the processed group were lower than those of the raw product group. In addition, the expression levels of CYP3A4, 2C19, 2C9, 1A2, and 2E1 in the liver tissue of rats in the processed group were lower than those in the raw group, while the protein expression trend of CYP2D6 was irregular. Conclusion The detoxication mechanism of RWI, after undergoing processing, appears to be associated with reduced protein expression of CYP1A2, CYP2E1, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4, ultimately leading to decreased liver injury.
Views of healthcare professionals on their relationships with families of people living with dementia: A qualitative study
Authors: Tam Kuai In , Wu Jianwei , Zhu Mingxia 
Published: February 2024

Objective Healthcare professionals as well as families play a vital role in ensuring the quality of care for people living with dementia. However, the relationships between healthcare professionals and families of people living with dementia are not extensively examined, particularly within the Chinese cultural context of dementia. The goal of this study was to explore the views of healthcare professionals on their relationships with families of people living with dementia. Design This qualitative study was grounded in the interpretative phenomenological analysis framework. Methods Data were collected using focus-group interviews. Qualitative data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results The study recruited a total of 26 healthcare professionals from 3 long-term care facilities. The study found that conflicts were inherent in the relationships between professionals and families of people living with dementia, and conflicts were found to manifest in three core domains: 1) Families demonstrated a lack of understanding about dementia, 2) Professionals faced challenges in managing families’ unrealistic expectations regarding the disease status and the prognosis of people living with dementia, 3) Families did not perceive themselves as being responsible for the care of people living with dementia. Conclusions The present study found that the prevailing factor underpinning the relational conflicts between healthcare professionals and families of people living with dementia, as reported by healthcare professionals was the perceived lack of understanding about dementia amongst families of those affected.
But was it Trustworthy? Methodological Experiences From a Study of a Hard-to-Reach Group of Students in Need of a Flexible Research Approach
Authors: Malmqvist Johan , Atterström Andrea , Swärd Ann-Katrin 
Published: February 2024

Pedagogical research on experiences of learning among students with severe speech and physical impairment (SSPI) is sparse. This may be due to a lack of research-on-research methodology literature about students with SSPI, as they are difficult to find and there are barriers to their participation in mainstream research. Hence, method development is especially important regarding these students, who cannot participate when traditional inquiry methods are used. This article’s objective is therefore to advance method development by means of a retrospective investigation. The empirical findings consist of documented experiences from a previous study of students with SSPI (henceforth, “literacy study”). A computer-assisted email dialogue technique was developed in the literacy study’s pilot study and eventually used in the main study, to investigate the students’ experiences of their literacy development. The aim of this study is to retrospectively and critically examine the scientific trustworthiness of a methodological research approach based on an email dialogue technique used exploratively in the literacy study, to investigate the literacy development among the students grounded in their own experiences, and to contribute methodological experiences gained from that study regarding the relationship between the use of verification strategies and checking techniques. The computer-assisted email dialogue approach was necessary because the few participants were spread over great geographical distances. The approach was developed as an explorative and flexible inclusive research design and was used within the tradition of participatory research. The students in both the pilot and main studies (8–16 years of age) were treated as collaborators rather than research subjects. Both the verification strategies and techniques regarding trustworthiness criteria were found to be important for trustworthiness. The main conclusion, based on our experiences in this retrospective investigation, is that it is necessary to continuously and thoroughly focus on trustworthiness issues throughout the research process to obtain trustworthy findings.
Association of Use of a Mobile Tackling Dummy During College Football Practice With Reduced Sport-Related Concussion: Results of a Pilot Investigation
Authors: Aita Stephen L. , Muchintala Rohan , Suresh Advith , Patel Suraj , Schuler Benjamin , Lichtenstein Jonathan D. 
Published: February 2024

Background: Considering the multifaceted consequences of improperly managed sport-related concussions (SRCs) in American football, identifying efficacious prevention measures for enhancing player safety is crucial. Purpose: To investigate the association of primary prevention measures (no-tackle practices and using a mobile tackling dummy in practice) with the frequency of SRCs within college football programs in the United States. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: In this pilot study, we analyzed the frequency of new SRCs recorded during various settings (total, in preseason, in season, in practice, and game) across 14 seasons (2007-2019 and 2021) for Dartmouth College and across 7 seasons (2013-2019) for the 7 other teams in the Ivy League men’s athletic football conference. Trends between seasons and the number of SRCs sustained were examined using correlations and basic descriptive statistics. We also examined SRC frequency in relation to primary prevention measures (no-tackle practices, use of mobile tackling dummies during practice) in the Dartmouth College football program, and we compared SRCs with regard to the no-tackle practice policy in the other Ivy League teams. Results: There was a statistically significant reduction in the number of SRCs over the seasons studied, with the strongest finding observed for Dartmouth College in-game SRCs ( r = −0.52; P = .029). Relatedly, the strongest between-season effect was seen for the Dartmouth College practice policy on in-game SRCs (η2 = 0.510; P = .01). The use of mobile tackling dummies was found to be independently associated (adjusting for no-tackle practice) with a lower number total (β = −0.53; P = .049), in-season (β = −0.63; P = .023), and in-game (β = −0.79; P = .003) SRCs. While seasons with the no-tackle practice were not meaningfully associated with SRCs for Dartmouth College, stronger trends were observed in the other Ivy League teams, such that seasons with this policy were associated with lower SRC prevalence. Conclusion: Our data indicate that the use of the mobile tackling dummy in practice was related to the reduced number of SRCs sustained at multiple settings during the football season. To a lesser extent, the no-tackle practice policy was also associated with a reduced number of SRCs.
Identification of genetics and hormonal factors involved in Quercus robur root growth regulation in different cultivation system
Authors: Kościelniak Paulina , Glazińska Paulina , Kęsy Jacek , Mucha Joanna , Zadworny Marcin 
Published: February 2024

AbstractUnderstanding the molecular processes and hormonal signals that govern root growth is of paramount importance for effective forest management. While Arabidopsis studies have shed light on the role of the primary root in root system development, the structure of root systems in trees is considerably more intricate, posing challenges to comprehend taproot growth in acorn-sown and nursery-cultivated seedlings. In this study, we investigated Quercus robur seedlings using rhizotrons, containers, and transplanted containers to rhizotrons, aiming to unravel the impact of forest nursery practices on processes governing taproot growth and root system development. Root samples were subjected to RNA-seq analysis to identify gene expression patterns and perform differential gene expression and phytohormone analysis. Among studied cultivation systems, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) exhibited significant diversity, where the number of co-occurring DEGs among cultivation systems was significantly smaller than the number of unique DEGs in different cultivation systems. Moreover, the results imply that container cultivation triggers the activation of several genes associated with linolenic acid and peptide synthesis in root growth. Upon transplantation from containers to rhizotrons, rapid enhancement in gene expression occurs, followed by gradual reduction as root growth progresses, ultimately reaching a similar expression pattern as observed in the taproot of rhizotron-cultivated seedlings. Phytohormone analysis revealed that taproot growth patterns under different cultivation systems are regulated by the interplay between auxin and cytokinin concentrations. Moreover, the diversification of hormone levels within the root zone and cultivation systems allows for taproot growth inhibition and prompt recovery in transplanted seedlings. Our study highlights the crucial role of hormone interactions during the early stages of taproot elongation, influencing root system formation across.
Excess hospitalizations and in-hospital mortality associated with seasonal influenza in Italy: a 11-year retrospective study
Authors: Fattore Giovanni , Pongiglione Benedetta , Vezzosi Luigi 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Influenza and flu-like syndromes are difficult to monitor because the symptoms are not specific, laboratory tests are not routinely performed, and diagnosis codes are often lacking or incompletely registered in medical records. This may result in an underestimation of hospital admissions, associated costs, and in-hospital mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the public health and economic burden of hospitalisations associated with influenza in Italy, at the national and regional levels.

Methods
This 11-year retrospective study included patients admitted to hospitals for influenza or diagnoses associated with influenza (including respiratory and cardiocirculatory conditions) from 2008/09 to 2018/19. Data on hospitalisations were extracted from the Italian Hospital Discharge Records. Information on weekly influenza-like syndrome incidence and weekly average temperature were used to estimate the burden of influenza in terms of hospital admissions in every Italian region and for different age groups by applying a negative binomial model. The model was also applied to estimate in-hospital mortality and the total costs of influenza and influenza-like hospital admissions.

Results
Over the study period, in addition to 3,970 average seasonal admissions coded as influenza, we estimated an average of 21,500 excess hospitalization associated with influenza per season, which corresponds to 36.4 cases per 100,000. Most of the excess hospitalisations concerned older individuals (> 65 years) and children (0–4 years) with 86 and 125 cases per 100,000, respectively. Large variations were observed across regions. Overall, the total estimated hospital burden associated with influenza (including respiratory and cardiocirculatory conditions) was approximately €123 m per year. While the in-hospital mortality for admissions with a primary diagnosis of influenza was very low (~ 150 cases per season), cases increased dramatically for primary diagnoses of influenza and pneumonia (about 9,500 cases per season). The average seasonal in-hospital deaths attributable to influenza were equal to 2,775 cases.

Conclusions
Our findings suggest a remarkable underestimation of the burden of influenza, mostly in the older population but not neglectable in younger individuals. Our results may aid the management of current and future flu seasons and should be used for policy making (e.g., vaccine strategies) and operation management choices (e.g., planning and staffing beds during influenza peaks). Overall, the present study supports the need for increased testing for influenza in Italy to tackle the current underestimation of influenza burden.
Chlamydia trachomatis enhances HPV persistence through immune modulation
Authors: Lu Yingying , Wu Qi , Wang Li , Ji Lingting 
Published: February 2024

AbstractChlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most common sexually transmitted infections globally, and CT infection can enhance HPV persistence. Epidemiological analysis has shown that patients with CT/HPV coinfection have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer and exhibit more rapid progression to cervical cancer than patients with HPV infection alone. However, the mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Here, we report that CT infection supports HPV persistence by further suppressing the functions of Langerhans cells (LCs); in particular, CT further activates the PI3K pathway and inhibits the MAPK pathways in LCs, and these pathways are frequently involved in the regulation of immune responses. CT/HPV coinfection also impairs LC functions by reducing the antigen-presenting ability and density of LCs. Moreover, CT/HPV coinfection can alter T-cell subsets, resulting in fewer CD4 + and CD8 + T cells and more infiltrating Tregs. Moreover, CT/HPV coinfection decreases the CD4 + /CD8 + T cell ratio to below 1, coinfection also induces greater T lymphocytes’ apoptosis than HPV infection, thus impairing cell-mediated immunity and accelerating the progress to cervical cancer.
Reliability and validity of the cancer-related dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep scale in cancer patients
Authors: Gao Ziyun , Gao Zihan , Zheng Chen , Ma Jianing , Zhao Ying , Zhang Lin , Guo Leilei 
Published: February 2024

BackgroundInsomnia is a common health problem among cancer patients, which is not only a physical problem but also a psychological problem. Sleep plays an important role in the mental and somatic rehabilitation of cancer patients, and the sleep beliefs and attitudes of cancer patients are key factors in improving their sleep situation and quality of life. The aim of this study was to translate the Cancer-Related Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep (C-DBAS-14) scale into Chinese and to validate its reliability and validity in cancer patients.MethodThe C-DBAS-14 scale was translated into Chinese using the backward and forward translation procedure. The reliability of the scale was measured by internal consistency, split-half reliability and retest reliability. The validity of the scale was assessed through the content validity indicators, exploratory factor analysis and validation factor analysis.ResultThe Cronbach's ɑ coefficient of the Chinese version of the C-DBAS-14 was 0.932 while the McDonald’s omega coefficient (ω t) was 0.934. The split-half reliability coefficient was 0.908, and the test-retest reliability was 0.857. The four-factor model was obtained using exploratory factor analysis, explaining 72.7% of the variance, with each item loading greater than 0.4 on the common factor. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis revealed that all indicators of model fit were within an acceptable range, indicating a well-fitting model.ConclusionThe Chinese version of the C-DBAS-14 has good reliability and validity among cancer patients. It can be used to measure the sleep beliefs and attitudes of Chinese cancer patients.