bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Establishing a nationwide pediatric heart transplantation program with mid‐term results comparable to worldwide data – The Czech experience
Authors: Koubský Karel , Gebauer Roman , Poruban Rudolf , Vojtovič Pavel , Materna Ondřej , Melenovský Vojtěch , Hošková Lenka , Netuka Ivan , Burkert Jan , Janoušek Jan 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundHeart transplantation (HTx) is an established therapeutic option for children with end‐stage heart failure. Comprehensive pediatric nationwide HTx program was introduced in 2014 in the Czech Republic. The aim of this study was to evaluate its mid‐term characteristics and outcomes and to compare them with international data.MethodsRetrospective observational study, including all patients who underwent HTx from June 2014 till December 2022. Data from the institutional database were used for descriptive statistics and survival analyses.ResultsA total of 30 HTx were performed in 29 patients with congenital heart disease (CHD, N = 15, single ventricular physiology in 10 patients) and cardiomyopathy (CMP, N = 14). Ten patients were bridged to HTx by durable left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) for a mean duration of 104 (SD 89) days. There was one early and one late death during median follow‐up of 3.3 (IQR 1.3–6.1) years. Survival probability at 5 years after HTx was 93%. Two patients underwent re‐transplantation (one of them in an adult center). Significant rejection‐free survival at 1, 3, and 6 years after HTx was 76%, 63%, and 63%, respectively.ConclusionsThe introduced pediatric HTx program reflects the complexity of the treated population, with half of the patients having complex CHD and one‐third being bridged to HTx by LVADs. Mid‐term results are comparable to worldwide data. The data confirm the possibility of establishing a successful nationwide pediatric HTx program in a relatively small population country with well‐developed pediatric cardiovascular care and other transplantation programs.
Facing up to the problem of intentionality
Authors: Mendelovici Angela , Bourget David 
Published: October 2023

AbstractWe distinguish between different problems of “aboutness”: the “hard” problem of explaining the everyday phenomenon of intentionality and three less challenging “easy” sets of problems concerning the posits of folk psychology, the notions of representation invoked in the mind‐brain sciences, and the intensionality (with an “s”) of mental language. The problem of intentionality is especially hard in that, as is the case with the hard problem of phenomenal consciousness, there is no clear path to a solution using current methods. We argue that naturalistic theories of mental representation do not address the hard problem—either they are only intended to address the easy problems, or the claims they make help address the problem of intentionality only under undefended andprima facieimplausible assumptions to the effect that the hard problem reduces to some combination of the easy problems. We offer a positive account of what would be required to properly face up to the problem of intentionality.
Temporal and spectral electrooculographic features in a discrete precision task
Authors: Gallicchio Germano , Ryu Donghyun , Krishnani Mudit , Tasker Guy L. , Pecunioso Alessandra , Jackson Robin C. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the utility and applicability of electrooculography (EOG) when studying ocular activity during complex motor behavior. Due to its lower spatial resolution relative to eye tracking (ET), it is unclear whether EOG can provide valid and accurate temporal measurements such as the duration of the Quiet Eye (QE), that is the uninterrupted dwell time on the visual target prior to and during action. However, because of its greater temporal resolution, EOG is better suited for temporal‐spectral decomposition, a technique that allows us to distinguish between lower and higher frequency activity as a function of time. Sixteen golfers of varying expertise (novices to experts) putted 60 balls to a 4‐m distant target on a flat surface while we recorded EOG, ET, performance accuracy, and putter kinematics. Correlational and discrepancy analyses confirmed that EOG yielded valid and accurate QE measurements, but only when using certain processing parameters. Nested cross‐validation indicated that, among a set of ET and EOG temporal and spectral oculomotor features, EOG power was the most useful when predicting performance accuracy through robust regression. Follow‐up cross‐validation and correlational analyses revealed that more accurate performance was preceded by diminished lower‐frequency activity immediately before movement initiation and elevated higher‐frequency activity during movement recorded from the horizontal channel. This higher‐frequency activity was also found to accompany a smoother movement execution. This study validates EOG algorithms (code provided) for measuring temporal parameters and presents a novel approach to extracting temporal and spectral oculomotor features during complex motor behavior.
Resilience patterns of urban road networks under the worst‐case localized disruptions
Authors: Du Chongyang , Ouyang Min , Zhang Hui , Wang Bo , Wang Naiyu 
Published: October 2023

AbstractRecent events, including COVID‐19, extreme floods, and explosion accidents, commonly induced localized closures and disruptions of urban road networks (URNs), resulting in significant impacts on human mobility and socio‐economic activities. Existing studies on URN resilience to those events mainly took few cases for empirical studies, limiting our understanding on the URN resilience patterns across different cities. By conducting a large‐scale nationwide resilience analysis of URNs in 363 cities in mainland China, this study attempts to uncover the resilience patterns of URNs against the worst‐case single (SLDs) and multiple localized disruptions (MLDs). Results show that the distance from the worst‐case SLD to the city center would be less than 5 km in 62.3% cities, as opposed to more than 15 km in 14.3% cities. Moreover, the average road network resilience of cities in western China could be 7% and 13% smaller than that of the eastern cities under the worst‐case SLDs and MLDs, respectively. This inequality in the worst‐case resilience is partly attributable to variations in urban socio‐economic, infrastructure‐related, and topographic factors. These findings could inspire nationwide pre‐disaster mitigation strategies to cope with localized disruptions and help transfer insights for mitigation strategies against disruptive events across cities.
GIFTdb: a useful gene database for plant fruit traits improving
Authors: Liu Yingwei , Gao Yangyang , Chen Moxian , Jin Yin , Qin Yongbin , Hao Gefei 
Published: October 2023

SUMMARYFruit traits are critical determinants of plant fitness, resource diversity, productive and quality. Gene regulatory networks in plants play an essential role in determining fruit traits, such as fruit size, yield, firmness, aroma and other important features. Many research studies have focused on elucidating the associated signaling pathways and gene interaction mechanism to better utilize gene resources for regulating fruit traits. However, the availability of specific database of genes related to fruit traits for use by the plant research community remains limited. To address this limitation, we developed the Gene Improvements for Fruit Trait Database (GIFTdb, http://giftdb.agroda.cn). GIFTdb contains 35 365 genes, including 896 derived from the FR database 1.0, 305 derived from 30 882 articles from 2014 to 2021, 236 derived from the Universal Protein Resource (UniProt) database, and 33 928 identified through homology analysis. The database supports several aided analysis tools, including signal transduction pathways, gene ontology terms, protein–protein interactions, DNAWorks, Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST), and Protein Subcellular Localization Prediction (WoLF PSORT). To provide information about genes currently unsupported in GIFTdb, potential fruit trait‐related genes can be searched based on homology with the supported genes. GIFTdb can provide valuable assistance in determining the function of fruit trait‐related genes, such as MYB306‐like, by conducting a straightforward search. We believe that GIFTdb will be a valuable resource for researchers working on gene function annotation and molecular breeding to improve fruit traits.
Serial mediation roles of empowerment and self‐care activities connecting health literacy, quality of life, and glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Zhao Xiaoyan , Liu Qiao , Guo Xiaodi , Hu Xiling , Cheng Li 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundHealth literacy, empowerment, and self‐care activities are likely the crucial concepts affecting the quality of life and glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, evidence demonstrating the mechanisms underlying these concepts is scarce.AimsThe aim of this study was to test the serial mediation roles of empowerment and self‐care activities on the relationships between health literacy and quality of life and between health literacy and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in people with T2D.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted among 319 people with T2D in Guangzhou, China, from July 2019 to January 2020. Data were collected using the Health Literacy Scale, the Diabetes Empowerment Scale—Short Form, the Summary of Diabetes Self‐Care Activities Measure, and the Adjusted Diabetes—Specific Quality of Life Scale. RStudio 4.2.1 was used for serial mediation analysis.ResultsThe dimension of communicative health literacy accounted for the most total variance (β = 0.810, p < .001) in the construct of health literacy. The serial multiple mediation of empowerment and self‐care activities in the associations between health literacy and quality of life (β = −.046, p = .019) and between health literacy and HbA1c (β = −.045, p = .005) were statistically significant.Linking evidence to actionThis study emphasized the vital role of communicative health literacy when improving health literacy in people with T2D. Diabetes care and education specialists could implement empowerment approaches and flexible self‐care strategies to improve the quality of life and glycemic control in people with T2D. Enhancing health literacy was suggested as a favorable strategy for promoting empowerment and self‐care activities in people with T2D.
Phage-antibiotic combinations against multidrug-resistant
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
in
in vitro
static and dynamic biofilm models
Authors: Holger Dana J. , El Ghali Amer , Bhutani Natasha , Lev Katherine L. , Stamper Kyle , Kebriaei Razieh , Kunz Coyne Ashlan J. , Morrisette Taylor , Shah Rahi , Alexander Jose , Lehman Susan M. , Rojas Laura J. , Marshall Steven H. , Bonomo Robert A. , Rybak Michael J. 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT

Biofilm-producing
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
infections pose a severe threat to public health and are responsible for high morbidity and mortality. Phage-antibiotic combinations (PACs) are a promising strategy for combatting multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and difficult-to-treat
P. aeruginosa
infections. Ten MDR/XDR
P. aeruginosa
strains and five
P
.
aeruginosa
-specific phages were genetically characterized and evaluated based upon their antibiotic susceptibilities and phage sensitivities. Two selected strains, AR351 (XDR) and I0003-1 (MDR), were treated singly and in combination with either a broad-spectrum or narrow-spectrum phage, phage EM-T3762627-2_AH (EM), or 14207, respectively, and bactericidal antibiotics of five classes in biofilm time-kill analyses. Synergy and/or bactericidal activity was demonstrated with all PACs against one or both drug-resistant
P. aeruginosa
strains (average reduction: −Δ3.32 log
10
CFU/cm
2
). Slightly improved ciprofloxacin susceptibility was observed in both strains after exposure to phages (EM and 14207) in combination with ciprofloxacin and colistin. Based on phage cocktail optimization with four phages (EM, 14207, E20050-C (EC), and 109), we identified several effective phage-antibiotic cocktails for further analysis in a 4-day pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic
in vitro
biofilm model. Three-phage cocktail, EM + EC + 109, in combination with ciprofloxacin demonstrated the greatest biofilm reduction against AR351 (−Δ4.70 log
10
CFU/cm
2
from baseline). Of remarkable interest, the addition of phage 109 prevented phage resistance development to EM and EC in the biofilm model. PACs can demonstrate synergy and offer enhanced eradication of biofilm against drug-resistant
P. aeruginosa
while preventing the emergence of resistance.
A simple undergraduate laboratory exercise for teaching the role of sentinel-level clinical microbiology testing in biological threat identification
Authors: Cox Christina , Askew David S. 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT
Undergraduate students in the biomedical sciences are mostly unaware of how clinical microbiology laboratories handle suspected agents of bioterrorism or emerging infectious diseases. The Public Health Security Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 requires the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to maintain a list of microbes that pose serious biological threats to human health and safety, including Tier 1 agents with the potential for use in bioterrorism. The Laboratory Response Network (LRN), founded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Association of Public Health Laboratories, coordinates the response of sentinel, reference, and national laboratories to these biothreats. The sentinel laboratories, which comprise most hospital-based and commercial laboratories, are the first to encounter a suspicious agent. For this reason, the LRN has published a series of testing guidelines to assist the sentinel laboratories in deciding whether a microbial isolate should be considered potentially hazardous and thus sent to a reference or national laboratory for further characterization. Here, we describe a simple laboratory exercise that teaches sentinel-level testing requirements in the context of an applied setting of a potential outbreak of anthrax that would require a sentinel laboratory to recognize a potential threat, attempt to rule it out, and refer to a national laboratory for identification.
Draft genome sequence of the anatoxin-a producing cyanobacterium
Tychonema bourrellyi
B0820 isolated from the epilimnion of the deep Alpine Lake Garda
Authors: Salmaso Nico , Boscaini Adriano , Cerasino Leonardo , Pindo Massimo , Pinto Federica , Segata Nicola , Donati Claudio 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT

We report the draft genome sequence of strain B0820 of the cyanobacterium
Tychonema bourrellyi
isolated from the epilimnion of Lake Garda and assembled from a metagenome of a non-axenic culture. The strain analyzed was shown to produce anatoxin-a, a potent neurotoxin that can cause fatal intoxication in exposed organisms.
Probiotics
Bifidobacterium lactis
M8 and
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
M9 prevent high blood pressure via modulating the gut microbiota composition and host metabolic products
Authors: Zhang Yong , Zheng Tingting , Ma Da , Shi Peng , Zhang Heping , Li Jun , Sun Zhihong 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT

High-fructose intake is one of the high-risk factors for hypertension. Several probiotics have been reported to reduce high blood pressure (BP) via modulating gut microbiota, but the mechanism of the antihypertensive effect of probiotics is insufficiently understood. Herein, we investigated the antihypertensive effect of
Bifidobacterium lactis
M8 and
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
M9 based on the integrative analysis of gut metagenome and serum metabolome in high-fructose-treated mice. After 16-week intervention, M8 and M9 significantly reduced the median blood pressure by 16.92% and 15.39% in SBP, and 18.56% and 20.62% in DBP, respectively. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the increased
Lawsonia
and
Pyrolobus
, and reduced
Alistipes
and
Alloprevotella
levels were tightly correlated with lowered BP. Functionally, the decreased pathways of “base excision repair” (BER) and “D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism” were associated with BP reduction. Metabolomics data analysis further revealed that the probiotic interventions regulated vascular smooth muscle contraction, serotonergic synapse, cholinergic synapse, and lipid and vitamin metabolism in BP control. Additionally, association analyses indicated a strong negative correlation between
Alistipes
and “steroid hormone biosynthesis,” suggesting that
Alistipes
could affect blood pressure by changing steroid hormone levels. In conclusion, our findings indicate that the probiotic efficacies in alleviating hypertension are linked to specific gut microbes and metabolic pathways, which provide a potential mechanistic understanding of probiotics modulated blood pressure, paving the way for future assessment of the therapeutic potential of probiotics in hypertension management.

IMPORTANCE

Elevated blood pressure affects 40% of the adult population, which accounts for high cardiovascular disease risk and further high mortality yearly. The global understanding of the gut microbiome for hypertension may provide important insights into the prevention.
Bifidobacterium lactis
M8 and
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
M9 originated from human breast milk, were able to decrease blood pressure, and modified metabolites in a high fructose-induced elevated blood pressure mouse model. Moreover, we found there was a close relationship between unexplored gut microbes and elevated blood pressure. Also, subsequently, the cross-link was explored among gut microbes, metabolites, and some metabolic pathways in gut microbial environment through introducing novel prediction methodology and bioinformatic analysis. It allowed us to hypothesize that probiotics can prevent elevated blood pressure via gut microbiota and related metabolism.Thus, utilization of dietary strategies (such as probiotics) to maintain the blood pressure level is of crucial importance.
Tectonically Stable Parts in Iraq Are Not Stable
Authors: Sissakian V. K. , Al-Ansari N. A. , Abdullah L. H. , Laue J. 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Iraq is located in the extreme northeastern part of the Arabian Plate, which is in collision with the Iranian (Eurasian) Plate. The collision, which is still ongoing has created tens of folds some of which exhibit different types of faults. The exerted compressional forces are believed to be decreasing southwestwards as being far from the collision area (Suture Zone). Accordingly, all the existing tectonic and geological maps compiled by different authors and all the existing published articles, reports and books have considered two main tectonic domains in Iraq. The Stable Shelf and Unstable Shelf or Inner Platform and Outer Platform. The contact between these two main divisions follows almost the Euphrates River; towards the west of the river is the tectonically Stable area and towards the east and north is the tectonically Unstable area, which means the presence of different structural forms. In the current study, we have recognized tens of different Neotectonic evidence in the Stable part indicating that the area is tectonically not stable. Among those indications are abandoned valleys, development of sinkholes along certain lineaments, bending of valleys in right angles, and development of nick-points in valleys along certain lineaments.
Investigation of the Dual Role of Scorzonera pygmaea: Cytotoxic Activity and Antioxidant Potential
Authors: Sarimahmut Mehmet 
Published: October 2023

Scorzonera pygmaea, an indigenous plant of western Anatolia, belongs to the Scorzonera genus, which includes various species recognized for their edible and medicinal properties. This study is aimed at investigating the phenolic composition of S. pygmaea; evaluating its antioxidant, cytotoxic, apoptotic, and genotoxic activities; and assessing the impact of S. pygmaea on the expression of cell cycle regulatory genes. HPLC-DAD analysis identified chlorogenic acid as the predominant phenolic compound, potentially linking plant to dietary benefits. The antioxidant potential, evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging and CUPRAC assays, yielded an IC50 value of

63.53
±
6.29

μg/ml and a Trolox equivalent of

0.061
±
0.013

g/g, respectively. To assess antigrowth activity, the S. pygmaea extract was tested against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines, along with the nonmalignant MCF-10A cell line, using sulforhodamine B and ATP cell viability assays. The results exhibited highly consistent IC50 values of 104.63, 179.27, and 90.83 μg/ml, respectively. Notably, the S. pygmaea extract induced apoptosis in all cell lines, with MDA-MB-231 cells displaying a higher percentage of early apoptotic cells under fluorescence microscopy. The comet assay revealed that S. pygmaea extract induced DNA damage in all cell lines, with MCF-7 and MCF-10A cells showing an accumulation of DNA damage over time. Gene expression analysis revealed significant alterations in cell cycle regulators, with each cell line displaying distinct and time-dependent patterns after exposure to S. pygmaea. Collectively, these findings underscore the cytotoxic, apoptotic, and genotoxic activities of S. pygmaea while simultaneously emphasizing its antioxidant potential, especially given its high chlorogenic acid content. The dual role of S. pygmaea, evidenced by its cytotoxic and antioxidant properties, suggests the potential for further exploration of its utilization within the food industry as a possible dietary resource, while necessitating further studies to fully understand its implications.
Hypertension Trends and White Matter Brain Injury in the Offspring Framingham Heart Study Cohort
Authors: Petrea Rodica E. , Pinheiro Adlin , Demissie Serkalem , Ekenze Oluchi , Aparicio Hugo J. , Satizabal Claudia L. , Maillard Pauline , DeCarli Charles , Beiser Alexa S. , Seshadri Sudha , Lioutas Vasileios-Arsenios , Rafael Romero Jose 
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND:
Hypertension is the most potent stroke risk factor and is also related to cerebral small vessel disease. We studied the relation between mid-to-late-life hypertension trends and cerebral white matter injury in community-dwelling individuals from the FHS (Framingham Heart Study).

METHODS:
FHS Offspring cohort participants with available mid-life and late-life blood pressure measurements and brain magnetic resonance imaging were included. Multiple regression analyses were used to relate hypertension trends (normotension-normotension [reference], normotension-hypertension, and hypertension-hypertension) to white matter injury metrics on diffusion tensor imaging (free water, fractional anisotropy, and peak skeletonized mean diffusivity) and Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (white matter hyperintensity volume) by different blood pressure cutoffs (130/80, 140/90, and 150/90 mm Hg).

RESULTS:

We included 1018 participants (mean age 47.3±7.4 years at mid-life and 73.2±7.3 at late-life). At the 140/90 mm Hg cutoff, the hypertension-hypertension trend was associated with higher free water (β, 0.16 [95% CI, 0.03–0.30];
P
=0.021) and peak skeletonized mean diffusivity (β, 0.15 [95% CI, 0.01–0.29];
P
=0.033). At a 130/80 mm Hg cutoff, the hypertension-hypertension trend had significantly higher free water (β, 0.16 [95% CI, 0.01–0.30];
P
=0.035); and the normotension-hypertension (β, 0.24 [95% CI, 0.03–0.44];
P
=0.027) and hypertension-hypertension (β, 0.22 [95% CI, 0.04–0.41];
P
=0.022) trends had significantly increased white matter hyperintensity volume. Exploratory stratified analysis showed effect modifications by
APOE ɛ4
allele and age.

CONCLUSIONS:
Mid-to-late-life hypertension exposure is significantly associated with microstructural and to a lesser extent, visible white matter injury; the effects are observed at both conventional and lower blood pressure cutoffs and are associated with longer duration of hypertension.