bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Applying Problem Behaviour Theory to Psychosocial Factors on Predicting Initiation and Persistence of Problem Drinking Among Taiwanese Adolescents
Authors: Wang Pin-Yang , Chen Shu-Chin , Huang Yu-Hsin , Liu Hui-Ching , Sun Fang-Ju , Wu Shu-I , Liu Shen-Ing 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Objective: We examined psychosocial factors associated with the initiation and persistence of problem drinking applying the Problem Behaviour Theory among adolescents in Taiwan.
Methods: A total of 4331 students (56% girls, mean age = 16.0 ± 0.52) from 14 senior high schools were assessed in 10th grade, with follow-up performed in 11th grade, in Taipei, Taiwan. Online questionnaires on sociodemographic data, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, social support, family discord, impulsivity, and alcohol and tobacco use were assessed at baseline (T1) and at follow-up one year later (T2). Hierarchical multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate predictors of the initiation and persistence of problem drinking.
Results: Of the 3867 students without problem drinking in 10th grade, 333 (8.6%) had initiated problem drinking by grade 11. Top- school ranking and low impulsivity at T2 were protective factors for the initiation of problem drinking. Of the 464 students with problem drinking in 10th grade, 215 (46.3%) continued to have problem drinking in grade 11. Male sex, higher levels of depression at T2, more peers with whom they can talk to, and smoking at T2 were the common predictors for the initiation and persistence of problem drinking at T2. Perceived support from teachers and more parents with whom they can talk to at T2 had protective effects on the persistence group.
Conclusions: A better understanding of psychosocial predictors for the initiation/persistence of problem drinking might be useful for its prevention and early intervention. Identifications and managements of depression and smoking, as well as enhancing teachers’ and parents’ support may be indicated in preventing the initiation or persistence of alcohol use among adolescents.
Drug-Coated Balloon Treatment of Unprotected De Novo Left Main Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Kim Tae Hyun , Jun Eun Jung , Lee Jinho , Sohn Chang Bae , Choi Byung Joo , Shin Eun-Seok 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Purpose
The safety and efficacy of drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment of de novo lesions in unprotected left main (LM) coronary arteries remain an unresolved issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of DCB-only treatment for unprotected LM coronary artery disease.
Methods
This retrospective registry study comprised a total of 42 consecutive patients diagnosed with unprotected de novo LM disease and stable hemodynamic conditions. A satisfactory pre-balloon angioplasty was defined as visual residual stenosis ≤ 30% without flow-limiting dissection and was followed by DCB treatment. Patients who did not meet these criteria were treated with a drug-eluting stent (DES).
Results
Among the cohort of 42 patients, 23 individuals received DCB-only treatment, while 19 patients were treated DES based on the results of pre-balloon angioplasty. Notably, no instances of bailout stenting or emergency coronary bypass surgery were observed following DCB treatment. Additionally, there were no reported cases of mortality or myocardial infarction within the DCB-only group during both hospitalization and the one-year follow-up period. Two patients (8.7%) experienced target lesion revascularization, all of whom presented with stable angina. A luminal increase was observed in 46.7% of cases, and the mean late lumen loss in the DCB-only treatment group was measured as 0.07 ± 0.45 mm.
Conclusion
DCB treatment of unprotected LM disease may be a safe and effective alternative to DES in carefully selected patients who have achieved satisfactory predilation results. (Impact of Drug-Coated Balloon Treatment in De Novo Coronary Lesion; NCT04619277)
Follicular development and endometrial receptivity of different androgen phenotypes in polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Wang Li , Bai E , Wang Qing 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Objective
The study was conducted to explore the follicular development and endometrial receptivity of different androgen phenotypes in reproductive-aged patients with PCOS.
Methods
Two hundred and sixty-eight polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients with infertility were recruited and divided into two groups according to different androgen phenotypes in this study: abnormal menstruation and hyperandrogenism (AM-HA group, n = 127), abnormal menstruation and polycystic ovarian morphology (AM-PCOM group, n = 141). The follicular development, endometrial receptivity and pregnancy rates of natural cycle between the two groups were compared.
Results
The number of dominant follicle, number of ovulation, and normal ovulation rate in AM-HA group were significantly lower compared with AM-PCOM group (P < 0.05). The endometrial thickness (ET), endometrial volume (EV), vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI) on days from 14 to 24 of the menstrual cycle were significantly lower in AM-HA group than in AM-PCOM group (P < 0.05). The endometrial VI, FI and VFI, the integrin αvβ3 and VEGF concentrations in uterine fluid during implantation window were significantly lower in AM-HA group compared with AM-PCOM group (P < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in uterine artery blood flow parameters, ET and EV between the two groups (P > 0.05). The biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate and ongoing pregnancy rate in AM-HA group were significantly lower than in AM-PCOM group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
The phenotype of AM-HA in PCOS patients was vulnerable to ovulation disorder and impaired endometrial receptivity, which resulted in reduced pregnancy rate. Treatment of HA is likely to become an effective approach for improving endometrial receptivity and fecundity disorders in patients with PCOS.
Reduction of pathological retinal neovascularization, vessel obliteration and artery tortuosity by PEDF protein-based therapeutic in an oxygen-induced ischemic retinopathy rat model
Authors: Zhao Shiying , Tschulakow Alexander , Karthikeyan Subha S , Wang Kun , Kochanek Stefan , Schraermeyer Ulrich , Julien-Schraermeyer Sylvie 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a worldwide severe disease which can lead to visual impairment or even blindness. It is characterized by obliteration of retinal vessels, presence of tortuous vessels and pathological neovascularization in the retina. The current treatments, cryotherapy, laser ablation or intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF produce limited effect and ineluctable complications. There is therefore still a high medical need for alternative, efficient and safer therapies. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), a potent angiogenesis inhibitor, appears late in gestation and its lack may contribute to ROP. Using an ex vivo model of ischemia and an in vivo model of choroidal neovascularization, we recently discovered that PEDF protein inhibited pathological neovascularization by protecting the endothelial cells which subsequently enhanced the survival of neural retinal cells and photoreceptors respectively. Here we examined the effect of PEDF protein alone or in combination with anti-VEGF drugs and compared their efficacy after a single intravitreal injection in an oxygen-induced ischemic retinopathy (OIR) rat model. PEDF protein alone or in combination with anti-VEGFs significantly suppressed the pathological neovascularization and reduced vessel obliteration compared to anti-VEGF drugs alone demonstrating that the treatment inhibited pathological neovascularization but not physiological angiogenesis. Importantly, PEDF protein-based therapeutics significantly reduced the artery tortuosity indicating an improvement of the retinal vasculature’s quality. No functional or histological side-effects were found in rat eyes after intravitreal protein injection even at high dose. Thus, the use of PEDF protein alone or combined with anti-VEGF is beneficial, and is a promising therapeutic for ROP.
Numerical study of arbitrary order Foam-Drainage equation with cubic B-spline hybrid method
Authors: Yousafzai Alina , Haq Sirajul , Ghafoor Abdul , Shah Kamal , Abdeljawad Thabet 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
This work presents a robust and efficient numerical stratagem for the study of integer and fractional order non-linear Foam-Drainage (FD) model. The scheme first uses, usual forward difference and the L1 formula, in integer and fractional cases, respectively. Then, the collocation approach together with cubic B-splines (CBS) basis are employed to estimate the unknown solution and its derivatives. With the help of these discretizations and Quasi-linearization, solving non-linear FD model transforms to the system of linear algebraic equations. The solution of the linear system approximates the CBS coefficients which further leads to the numerical solutions. Moreover, by Von Neumann stability it is proved that the proposed scheme is unconditionally stable. To evaluate the performance and accuracy of the technique, absolute error (AE), L2, and L∞ norms are presented. The obtained outcomes are also matched with some existing results in literature. It is noted from simulationsthat the proposed method gives quite accurate solutions.
A Bioartificial Organ Scaffold Architecture Design
Authors: Bukač Martina , Čanić Sunčica , Muha Boris 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
We develop a diffuse interface approach to study the design of a bioartificial organ scaffold architecture. The scaffold consists of a poroelastic hydrogel with a network of ultrafiltrate channels. The flow of blood plasma through the channels is modeled using the time-dependent Stokes equations, and the flow of blood plasma through the poroelastic hydrogel is modeled by the Biot equations. The two are coupled via a two-way coupling across the linearized channel-hydrogel interface. The resulting blood plasma velocity is then used to calculate oxygen concentration within the scaffold via a diffuse interface advection-reaction-diffusion model for oxygen concentration in the scaffold. The goal is to investigate which geometry of the channels’ network with a given total channels’ volume/area provides the most uniform oxygen supply to the transplanted cells in the poroelastic hydrogel, with oxygen concentration above the critical concentration below which hypoxia occurs. We show that a hexagonal channel network geometry outperforms by far the branching channels’ network and the classical vertical channel geometries. We conclude that the main reason for the superior performance of the hexagonal geometry is a relatively large angle between the dominant channel flow direction and the channel-hydrogel interface, providing larger Darcy velocity and thus larger advection-enhanced oxygen supply to the transplanted cells. This study is significant because recent developments in hydrogel fabrication make it now possible to control hydrogel rheology [1, 2], and utilize the computational results providing optimized scaffold architectures.
Carbon substrates promotes stress resistance and drug tolerance in clinical isolates of Candida tropicalis
Authors: Khamrai Arpita , Paul Saikat , Rudramurthy Shivaprakash M , Ghosh Anup K. 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Candida tropicalis is a human pathogen and one of the most prevalent non-Candida albicans Candida (NCAC) species causing invasive infections. Azole antifungal resistance in C. tropicalis is also gradually increasing with the increasing incidence of infections. The pathogenic success of C. tropicalis depends on its effective response in the host microenvironment. To become a successful pathogen, cellular metabolism, and physiological status determine the ability of the pathogen to counter diverse stresses inside the host. However, to date, limited knowledge is available on the impact of carbon substrate metabolism on stress adaptation and azole resistance in C. tropicalis. In this study, we determined the impact of glucose, fructose, and sucrose as the sole carbon source on the fluconazole resistance and osmotic (NaCl), oxidative (H2O2) stress adaptation in C. tropicalis clinical isolates. We confirmed that the abundance of carbon substrates influences or increases drug resistance and osmotic and oxidative stress tolerance in C. tropicalis. Additionally, both azole-resistant and susceptible isolates showed similar stress adaptation phenotypes, confirming the equal efficiency of becoming successful pathogens irrespective of drug susceptibility profile. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first on C. tropicalis to demonstrate the direct relation between carbon substrate metabolism and stress tolerance or drug resistance.
Identifying Bot Accounts on Twitter During the 2023 Ecuadorian Presidential Election
Authors: Diaz Juan , Luzuriaga Pedro , Salazar Anthony , Cuenca Erick , Jima-Gonzalez Alexandra , Lizárraga José Ángel Alcántara , Oliva-Ballesteros Rubén 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

The 2023 Ecuadorian presidential elections, contested between Daniel Noboa and Luisa González, marked a significant event in the nation's democratic journey. Amidst the fervor of campaigns and political debates, the role of social media, particularly Twitter, emerged as a focal point of interest. This study delves into the Twitter activities of both candidates, aiming to discern the potential use of automated actors, commonly known as ''bots", in shaping online narratives and influencing public opinion. By employing state-of-the-art bot detection methodologies, we analyzed the tweet patterns, engagement metrics, and content dissemination strategies associated with the official accounts of the candidates. Our findings shed light on the extent and implications of bot-driven interactions, offering insights into the evolving dynamics of political communication in the digital age. The results underscore the importance of ensuring transparency and authenticity in online electoral campaigns, pivotal for preserving the sanctity of the democratic process.
Treating pyogenic lumbar spondylodiscitis with lateral debridement and fusion (XLIF): A retrospective study on the clinical outcomes and radiological characteristics
Authors: Lu Hongwei , Yang Zhengwei , Guo Yang , Zeng Lian , Sun Wenzhe , He Qingyi , Guo Xiaodong 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
The surgical treatment of pyogenic lumbar spondylodiscitis (PLS) remains a controversial topic. Traditional posterior open surgery involves significant surgical trauma, non-direct vision debridement, and the possibility of bringing the front infection to the back. In contrast, extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) offers several advantages over traditional open surgery, including minimal trauma, less bleeding, a shorter recovery period, and direct vision debridement. The objective of this study is to assess the safety and feasibility of XLIF for treating PLS, mainly focusing on evaluating the indirect decompression.
Methods
This retrospective study included 30 patients who were diagnosed with PLS and underwent XLIF and posterior fixation in the First Affiliated Hospital of the Army Medical University from 2015 to 2021. The clinical outcomes were assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analogue scale scores (VAS), American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade and modified Macnab criteria. Radiological characteristics including lumbar sagittal balance and indirect decompression parameters were evaluated using lumbar X-ray and CT scan. The complications were recorded.
Results
At the final follow-up, the VAS and ODI scores were significantly reduced, and the ASIA grades were improved in all cases. The global and segmental lumbar lordosis were restored. Moreover, the postoperative indirect decompression parameters, including the disc height, foraminal height and area, central canal area and diameter, were all increased significantly. Inflammatory markers decreased to normal level at 3 months postoperatively. Bony fusion was achieved for all cases and the excellent/good rate was 100% at the final follow-up. There was no recurrency and severe complication recorded.
Conclusions
XLIF is a suitable alternative to traditional open surgeries in treating PLS. It is a minimally invasive surgery that involves radical debridement while achieving sufficient decompression.
Trail registration:
This clinical study was retrospectively registered in the First Affiliated Hospital of the Army Medical University on May 14, 2019 with the registration number KY201959.
Inducible prophages modulate symbiotic phenotypes in Sargassum-associated bacteria
Authors: Stiffler Alexandra K. , Hesketh-Best Poppy , Varona Natascha S. , Zagame Ashley , LaPointe Brian , Silveira Cynthia B 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Background
Symbioses between primary producers and bacteria are crucial for host growth and niche adaptation. Here, we investigate the role of viruses on the genomic and functional adaptations of bacteria associated with the pelagic algae Sargassum, which has undergone a dramatic range expansion in the Atlantic in the past decade.
Results
We reconstructed 73 bacterial and 3,963 viral metagenome-assembled genomes (bMAGs and vMAGs, respectively) from coastal Sargassum and surrounding seawater. Sargassum bMAGs were enriched in prophages compared to seawater (28% and 0.02%, respectively), which was not explained by bMAG completion. Roseobacter and Synechococcus bMAGs, abundant members of the Sargassum microbiome, were shared between the algae and seawater but were associated with distinct phages in each environment. Genes related to biofilm formation and quorum sensing were enriched in Sargassum phages, indicating their potential to influence the switch from free-living to algal association in their bacterial host. In-vitro assays with a Sargassum-derived bacterial community depleted of free viruses demonstrated that Sargassum-associated prophages are inducible and that their induction led to a significant decrease in biofilm formation by the bacteria growing on Sargassum media.
Conclusions
Our data shows that prophages contribute to the flexible genomes in Sargassum-associated bacteria. These prophages encode genes with symbiotic functions, and their induction decreases biofilm formation, an essential capacity for the symbiosis between bacteria and the algae. These results indicate that prophage acquisition and induction contribute to genomic and functional diversification that mediates Sargassum-bacteria symbioses, with potential implications for algae growth.
The sweet path of Hansel and Gretel: pollination system of Masdevallia hortensis Luer &amp; R. Escobar (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) in a cloud montane forest of the Cordillera Occidental, in Colombia
Authors: Ospina-M Ana , Sanín María J. , Maia Artur Campos D. , Cardona-Duque Juliana 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Pollination by deception is assumed as the general rule among pleurothallid orchids. However, considering the exceptional diversity of these orchids (44 genera and over 5100 species) and the relatively limited number of available studies (pollination ecology has been assesed in only 17 genera), generalized trends about their pollination systems might disregard a wide variety of specific life-history traits and inconspicuous honest signals/rewards for pollinators. Known associations of pleurothallid orchids with a large assortment of fly taxa further support this assumption. We investigated the natural pollination system of Masdevallia hortensis, a strictly endemic species of cloud forests in the Western Andes of Colombia. Masdevallia hortensis exhibited a sophisticated and customized pollination mechanism, producing sugary secretions in the lateral sepals along purple dotted patches, fed upon by different visiting species of fruit flies (Drosophilidae). The sucrose concentration in these secretions varied throughout the day and was significantly lower after removing the pollinaria. Visiting fruit flies appeared to be guided towards a chamber between the mobile lip and the column by the dotted lines in the lateral sepals. During visitations, individuals of the most abundant species in our observations (Drosophilidae sp. 1 [AO]) were singly entrapped in the chamber until eventually freeing themselves with the pollinaria attached to their bodies. We also demonstrated that M. hortensis is strictly self-incompatible, which makes fly pollination an essential process for the maintenance of natural populations of the species. The flowers of M. hortensis offer rewards for visiting insects, an aspect that should also be evaluated among congenerics. In this way, we urge integrative ecological studies to understand the evolutionary patterns of this group of orchids.
Some Fixed Point Theorems in p-normed Spaces
Authors: Xiao Jian-Zhong , Yuan George Xianzhi 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
The goal of this paper is to discuss some updated new fixed theorems in p-normed spaces, which will provide a general foundation for the development of fixed point theory in p-vector spaces for p ∈ (0, 1].
Mathematics Subject Classification 46A16 . 46A55
Putting two and two together – a model of learning and memory in cultural evolution
Authors: Gibeily Caius 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

To what extent do the cognitive capacities of learners shape the dynamics of cultural evolution and gene-culture coevolution? To begin to address some of these questions, an individual-based model was built, incorporating the cognitive dynamics of working memory, long-term memory and learning strategies—imitation and learning by induction. By representing cultural values as hierarchically arranged sequences of unit token values, this work showed how the emergence of complex cultural representations depends on chunking, becomes constrained by working memory and is spatially limited by learning distance. Cultural token variants diverged into spatially clustered lineages with agent similarity scaling relative to distance, demonstrating the emergence of cultural systems built upon shared cultural variants. Moreover, by simulating a process of inductive learning, agents converged upon certain cultural primitives and complex tokens, thereby marrying aspects of cultural attractor theory with cumulative cultural evolution. The model offers some computational insight into the roles of imitation and inductive learning across the lifespan, showing that imitation occurred most in the first iterations of an agent’s lifespan and inductive inference throughout the adult lifespan, thereby shedding light on the proximal effects of cognitive capacities in the debate between replication and reconstruction of cultural values.