bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Functionalization of a zirconia surface by covalently immobilized fibronectin and its effects on resistance to thermal, acid, and mechanical exposure
Authors: Palkowitz Alena L. , Tuna Taskin , Kaufmann Robert , Buhl Eva Miriam , Wolfart Stefan , Fischer Horst 
Published: February 2024

AbstractSilane chemistry has emerged as a powerful tool for surface modification, offering a versatile means to enhance the properties of various substrates, such as dental implant abutment materials. In this study, we investigated the stability of the 3‐aminopropyldiisopropylethoxysilane (APDS) layer on yttria‐partially stabilized zirconia (Y‐TZP) surfaces after mechanical, acid, and thermal treatment in order to simulate fluctuations within the oral cavity. To accomplish that, the viability of human gingival fibroblasts on APDS‐modified surfaces after applied treatment strategies was assessed by live/dead staining. Moreover, the hydrolysis stability and enzymatic degradation resistance of crosslinked fibronectin to the APDS layer was examined by immunostaining and western blot. The results revealed that the applied modifications were not affected by the different treatment conditions and could withstand the fluctuations in the oral cavity. Furthermore, crosslinked fibronectin on silanized Y‐TZP was stable against hydrolysis over 21 days and enzymatic degradation. We thus can conclude that the proposed functionalization method has high potential to tolerate harmful effects within the oral cavity and remains unchanged on the surface.
Potential drug‐induced constipation: A retrospective study using a Japanese claims database
Authors: Karasawa Yusuke , Nozawa Kazutaka , Nakajima Atsushi 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackground and AimDetailed clinical information regarding drug‐induced constipation (DIC) is limited. This study aimed to investigate the real‐world situation of DIC.MethodsThis retrospective study used data from a Japanese claims database registered from 2014 to 2021. The constipation cohort included subjects with at least one record of treated constipation, while the non‐constipation cohort was selected through random stratified sampling method, to match the constipation cohort by gender. The study population and control with at least one history of a known causative drug (CD) were matched 1:1 using propensity scores. The proportion of potential DIC (pDIC), the timing of diagnosis for pDIC, and the proportion of prescriptions by drug class for both the CDs and the laxatives were calculated, while logistic regression analysis was performed to explore additional associated factors.ResultsOf the 4 533 905 subjects, 178 852 were eligible in both the study population and the control. The pDIC group comprised of 19 485 patients, which accounted for 10.9% of all treated constipation subjects, while the non‐constipation with CD group had 10 430 subjects. The median duration between the recorded CD prescription and treated constipation was 38.0 days. The most frequently prescribed CD was cardiovascular drugs (47.9%). All CD classes, being male, and some comorbidities were associated with the occurrence of pDIC.ConclusionThe pDIC subjects accounted for about 11% of all treated constipation cases. Since DIC requires different treatment regimens compared to other constipation types, physicians should be cognizant to provide patients with optimized treatments.
Optimization of generic conditions for electromembrane extraction of basic substances of moderate or low polarity
Authors: Song Chenchen , Zhou Chen , Hansen Frederik André , Hay Anne Oldeide , Pedersen‐Bjergaard Stig 
Published: February 2024

Generic electromembrane extraction (EME) methods were developed and optimized for basic analytes of moderate or low polarity, employing prototype conductive vial EME equipment. Two generic methods, B1 and B2, were devised for mono‐ and dibasic compounds with distinct polarity windows: 2.0 < log P < 6.0 for B1 and 1.0 < log P < 4.5 for B2. In B1, 10 μL of 2‐nitrophenyl octyl ether served as the liquid membrane, while B2 utilized 10 μL of 2‐undecanone. Both methods involved the acidification of 125 μL of human plasma samples with 125 μL of sample diluent (0.5 M HCOOH for B1 and 1.0 M HCOOH for B2). The acceptor phase consisted of 250 μL of 100 mM HCOOH. Extraction was conducted for 30 min with agitation at 800 rpm, employing an extraction potential of 100 V for B1 and 50 V for B2. A set of 90 pharmaceutical compounds was employed as model analytes. Both B1 and B2 demonstrated high recoveries (40%–100%) for the majority of model analytes within their respective polarity windows. Intra‐day precision was within 2.2% and 9.7% relative standard deviation. Both extraction systems exhibited stability in terms of current, matrix effect values were between 90% and 109%.
Quantifying impacts of harbor seal Phoca vitulina predation on juvenile Coho Salmon in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia
Authors: Nelson Benjamin W. , McAllister Murdoch K. , Trites Andrew W. , Thomas Austen C. , Walters Carl J. 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Objective
Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch provide an important resource for recreational, commercial, and Indigenous fisheries in the Pacific Northwest. The goal of this study was to improve our understanding of how marine mammal predation may be impacting the survival and productivity of Coho Salmon in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia. Specifically, we quantified the impact of harbor seal Phoca vitulina predation on juvenile Coho Salmon during their first several months at sea. Early marine survival is believed to be the limiting factor for the recovery of Coho Salmon populations in this region.

Methods
To estimate the number of juvenile Coho Salmon consumed by harbor seals, we developed a mathematical model that integrates predator diet data and salmon population and mortality dynamics.

Result
Our analysis estimated that harbor seals consumed an annual average of 46−59% of juvenile Coho Salmon between 2004–2016, providing the first quantitative estimate of seal predation in the Strait of Georgia.

Conclusion
Marine mammal predation on juvenile Coho Salmon is potentially a very important factor limiting survival and recovery of Coho Salmon in the Strait of Georgia.
Parkin mRNA Expression Levels in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Parkin‐Related Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Papagiannakis Nikolaos , Liu Hui , Koros Christos , Simitsi Athina‐Maria , Stamelou Maria , Maniati Matina , Buena‐Atienza Elena , Kartanou Chrysoula , Karadima Georgia , Makrythanasis Periklis , Vatsellas Giannis , Valente Enza Maria , Gasser Thomas , Stefanis Leonidas 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIntroductionPathogenic variants in parkin (PRKN gene) are the second most prevalent known monogenic cause of Parkinson's disease (PD). How monoallelic or biallelic pathogenic variants in the PRKN gene may affect its transcription in patient‐derived biological material has not been systematically studied.MethodsPRKN mRNA expression levels were measured with real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). PBMCs were derived from PRKN‐mutated PD patients (PRKN‐PD) (n = 12), sporadic PD (sPD) (n = 21) and healthy controls (n = 21). Six of the PRKN‐PD patients were heterozygous, four were compound heterozygous, and two were homozygous for PRKN variants.ResultsA statistically significant decrease in PRKN expression levels was present, compared to healthy controls and sPD, in heterozygous (P = 0.019 and 0.031 respectively) and biallelic (P < 0.001 for both) PRKN‐PD. PRKN expression levels in biallelic PD patients were uniformly very low and were reduced, albeit not significantly, compared to heterozygotes. Based on receiver operating characteristic analysis, low PRKN expression levels were a sensitive and extremely specific indicator for the presence of PRKN pathogenic variants.ConclusionsAssessment of PRKN mRNA levels in PBMCs may be a useful way to screen for biallelic pathogenic variants in the PRKN gene. Suspicion for certain variants in a heterozygous state may also be raised based on low PRKN mRNA levels. © 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Digital Measures of Postural Sway Quantify Balance Deficits in Spinocerebellar Ataxia
Authors: Shah Vrutangkumar V. , Muzyka Daniel , Jagodinsky Adam , McNames James , Casey Hannah , El‐Gohary Mahmoud , Sowalsky Kristen , Safarpour Delaram , Carlson‐Kuhta Patricia , Schmahmann Jeremy D. , Rosenthal Liana S. , Perlman Susan , Horak Fay B. , Gomez Christopher M. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackgroundMaintaining balance is crucial for independence and quality of life. Loss of balance is a hallmark of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA).ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify which standing balance conditions and digital measures of body sway were most discriminative, reliable, and valid for quantifying balance in SCA.MethodsFifty‐three people with SCA (13 SCA1, 13 SCA2, 14 SCA3, and 13 SCA6) and Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) scores 9.28 ± 4.36 and 31 healthy controls were recruited. Subjects stood in six test conditions (natural stance, feet together and tandem, each with eyes open [EO] and eyes closed [EC]) with an inertial sensor on their lower back for 30 seconds (×2). We compared test completion rate, test–retest reliability, and areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for seven digital sway measures. Pearson's correlations related sway with the SARA and the Patient‐Reported Outcome Measure of Ataxia (PROM ataxia).ResultsMost individuals with SCA (85%–100%) could stand for 30 seconds with natural stance EO or EC, and with feet together EO. The most discriminative digital sway measures (path length, range, area, and root mean square) from the two most reliable and discriminative conditions (natural stance EC and feet together EO) showed intraclass correlation coefficients from 0.70 to 0.91 and AUCs from 0.83 to 0.93. Correlations of sway with SARA were significant (maximum r = 0.65 and 0.73). Correlations with PROM ataxia were mild to moderate (maximum r = 0.56 and 0.34).ConclusionInertial sensor measures of extent of postural sway in conditions of natural stance EC and feet together stance EO were discriminative, reliable, and valid for monitoring SCA. © 2024 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy Imaging of Multiple System Atrophy Inclusions Suggests Stepwise α‐Synuclein Aggregation
Authors: Vovard Benoît , Bodin Alexia , Gouju Julien , de Guilhem de Lataillade Adrien , Derkinderen Pascal , Etcharry‐Bouyx Frédérique , Chauviré Valérie , Guillet‐Pichon Virginie , Verny Christophe , Letournel Franck , Lenaers Guy , Chevrollier Arnaud , Codron Philippe 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe architecture and composition of glial (GCI) and neuronal (NCI) α‐synuclein inclusions observed in multiple system atrophy (MSA) remain to be precisely defined to better understand the disease.MethodsHere, we used stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) to characterize the nanoscale organization of glial (GCI) and neuronal (NCI) α‐synuclein inclusions in cryopreserved brain sections from MSA patients.ResultsSTORM revealed a dense cross‐linked internal structure of α‐synuclein in all GCI and NCI. The internal architecture of hyperphosphorylated α‐synuclein (p‐αSyn) inclusions was similar in glial and neuronal cells, suggesting a common aggregation mechanism. A similar sequence of p‐αSyn stepwise intracellular aggregation was defined in oligodendrocytes and neurons, starting from the perinuclear area and growing inside the cells. Consistent with this hypothesis, we found a higher mitochondrial density in GCI and NCI compared to oligodendrocytes and neurons from unaffected donors (P < 0.01), suggesting an active recruitment of the organelles during the aggregation process.ConclusionsThese first STORM images of GCI and NCI suggest stepwise α‐synuclein aggregation in MSA. © 2024 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Cervical spinal cord angiography and vessel‐selective perfusion imaging in the rat
Authors: Lee Seongtaek , Schmit Brian D. , Kurpad Shekar N. , Budde Matthew D. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractArterial spin labeling (ASL) has been widely used to evaluate arterial blood and perfusion dynamics, particularly in the brain, but its application to the spinal cord has been limited. The purpose of this study was to optimize vessel‐selective pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) for angiographic and perfusion imaging of the rat cervical spinal cord. A pCASL preparation module was combined with a train of gradient echoes for dynamic angiography. The effects of the echo train flip angle, label duration, and a Cartesian or radial readout were compared to examine their effects on visualizing the segmental arteries and anterior spinal artery (ASA) that supply the spinal cord. Lastly, vessel‐selective encoding with either vessel‐encoded pCASL (VE‐pCASL) or super‐selective pCASL (SS‐pCASL) were compared. Vascular territory maps were obtained with VE‐pCASL perfusion imaging of the spinal cord, and the interanimal variability was evaluated. The results demonstrated that longer label durations (200 ms) resulted in greater signal‐to‐noise ratio in the vertebral arteries, improved the conspicuity of the ASA, and produced better quality maps of blood arrival times. Cartesian and radial readouts demonstrated similar image quality. Both VE‐pCASL and SS‐pCASL adequately labeled the right or left vertebral arteries, which revealed the interanimal variability in the segmental artery with variations in their location, number, and laterality. VE‐pCASL also demonstrated unique interanimal variations in spinal cord perfusion with a right‐sided dominance across the six animals. Vessel‐selective pCASL successfully achieved visualization of the arterial inflow dynamics and corresponding perfusion territories of the spinal cord. These methodological developments provide unique insights into the interanimal variations in the arterial anatomy and dynamics of spinal cord perfusion.
Association of insulin resistance with the accumulation of saturated intramyocellular lipid: A comparison with other fat stores
Authors: Azhar Mueed , Watson Laura P. E. , De Lucia Rolfe Emanuella , Ferraro Michele , Carr Katherine , Worsley Jieniean , Boesch Chris , Hodson Leanne , Chatterjee Krishna K. , Kemp Graham J. , Savage David B. , Sleigh Alison 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIt has been shown using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) that, in a group of females, whole‐body insulin resistance was more closely related to accumulation of saturated intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) than to IMCL concentration alone. This has not been investigated in males. We investigated whether age‐ and body mass index‐matched healthy males differ from the previously reported females in IMCL composition (measured as CH2:CH3) and IMCL concentration (measured as CH3), and in their associations with insulin resistance. We ask whether saturated IMCL accumulation is more strongly associated with insulin resistance than other ectopic and adipose tissue lipid pools and remains a significant predictor when these other pools are taken into account. In this group of males, who had similar overall insulin sensitivity to the females, IMCL was similar between sexes. The males demonstrated similar and even stronger associations of IMCL with insulin resistance, supporting the idea that a marker reflecting the accumulation of saturated IMCL is more strongly associated with whole‐body insulin resistance than IMCL concentration alone. However, this marker ceased to be a significant predictor of whole‐body insulin resistance after consideration of other lipid pools, which implies that this measure carries no more information in practice than the other predictors we found, such as intrahepatic lipid and visceral adipose tissue. As the marker of saturated IMCL accumulation appears to be related to these two predictors and has a much smaller dynamic range, this finding does not rule out a role for it in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance.
Nutrition therapy in critically ill patients with severe acute pancreatitis
Authors: Sun Jia‐kui , Lv Cheng , Gao Lin , Mao Wenjian , Li Weiqin , Ke Lu 
Published: February 2024

AbstractA significant proportion of patients (10%–20%) with acute pancreatitis develop severe acute pancreatitis characterized by pancreatic necrosis, systemic inflammation, and organ failure, commonly requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. In this specific population, nutrition therapy is more challenging than that in the general ICU population, primarily because of inevitable gastrointestinal involvement by pancreatic inflammation. In this review, we discussed several key aspects of nutrition therapy in this population, including key pathophysiology that may impede nutrition therapy, the timing and implementation of enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition, the importance of specific nutrient supplements, and the long‐term outcomes that may be addressed by nutrition therapy.
Can information and advising affect postsecondary participation and attainment for military personnel? Evidence from a large‐scale experiment with the U.S. Army
Authors: Barr Andrew C. , Bird Kelli A. , Castleman Benjamin L. , Skimmyhorn William L. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractDespite generous financial aid, military veterans have high rates of undermatch and generally poor postsecondary outcomes. We conducted a large‐scale, multi‐arm field experiment with the U.S. Army to investigate whether personalized information about postsecondary options and access to advising affects service members’ postsecondary choices and outcomes. We find no impact of the intervention on whether or where veterans enroll in college or on their college persistence. These results suggest that light touch strategies that have been effective at addressing similar challenges among traditional students, and which we modified for the military context, are not sufficient to improve veterans’ postsecondary outcomes.
A pH/GSH Dual‐Responsive, Folic Acid Targeted Drug Delivery System Based on Bovine Serum Albumin Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Xiong Bei , Liu Huimin , Yi Mengqi , Li Yuyang , Huang Yunhan , Guo Wei , Lin Yangxin , Liu Ping , Lu Bo 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBovine serum albumin, based on its low toxicity and excellent biocompatibility, has great potential as a carrier for drug delivery systems. In this context, a pH/GSH dual‐responsive drug delivery system (ICG/DOX@Fe‐BSA‐FA nanoparticles) based on Bovine serum albumin (BSA) is constructed for tumor‐targeted multimodal therapy. In this study, doxorubicin (DOX) and indocyanine green (ICG) are co‐loaded after Fe3+ is coordinated with BSA, and the system is finally grafted with the targeted molecule Folic acid. DOX is used in chemotherapy, ICG is used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), and Fe3+ mainly provided sufficient raw material for the Fenton‐like reaction. The ability of ICG/DOX@Fe‐BSA‐FA (ID@FBF) nanoparticles to combine chemotherapy with CDT/PDT/PTT is demonstrated by several physical characterization. In vitro cell uptake assay and in vitro cytotoxicity assay demonstrated the excellent ability of ID@FBF to target 4T1 cells and kill tumor cells with the IC50 value of 0.75 µg mL−1. Therefore, chemotherapy combined with CDT/PDT/PTT therapy may result in satisfactory efficacy via ID@FBF, a potentially powerful and highly effective nanosystem.
Systematic enhancement of protein crystallization efficiency by bulk lysine‐to‐arginine (KR) substitution
Authors: Banayan Nooriel E. , Loughlin Blaine J. , Singh Shikha , Forouhar Farhad , Lu Guanqi , Wong Kam‐Ho , Neky Matthew , Hunt Henry S. , Bateman Larry B. , Tamez Angel , Handelman Samuel K. , Price W. Nicholson , Hunt John F. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractStructural genomics consortia established that protein crystallization is the primary obstacle to structure determination using x‐ray crystallography. We previously demonstrated that crystallization propensity is systematically related to primary sequence, and we subsequently performed computational analyses showing that arginine is the most overrepresented amino acid in crystal‐packing interfaces in the Protein Data Bank. Given the similar physicochemical characteristics of arginine and lysine, we hypothesized that multiple lysine‐to‐arginine (KR) substitutions should improve crystallization. To test this hypothesis, we developed software that ranks lysine sites in a target protein based on the redundancy‐corrected KR substitution frequency in homologs. This software can be run interactively on the worldwide web at https://www.pxengineering.org/. We demonstrate that three unrelated single‐domain proteins can tolerate 5–11 KR substitutions with at most minor destabilization, and, for two of these three proteins, the construct with the largest number of KR substitutions exhibits significantly enhanced crystallization propensity. This approach rapidly produced a 1.9 Å crystal structure of a human protein domain refractory to crystallization with its native sequence. Structures from Bulk KR‐substituted domains show the engineered arginine residues frequently make hydrogen‐bonds across crystal‐packing interfaces. We thus demonstrate that Bulk KR substitution represents a rational and efficient method for probabilistic engineering of protein surface properties to improve crystallization.
Modeling membrane geometries implicitly in Rosetta
Authors: Woods Hope , Leman Julia Koehler , Meiler Jens 
Published: February 2024

AbstractInteractions between membrane proteins (MPs) and lipid bilayers are critical for many cellular functions. In the Rosetta molecular modeling suite, the implicit membrane energy function is based on a “slab” model, which represent the membrane as a flat bilayer. However, in nature membranes often have a curvature that is important for function and/or stability. Even more prevalent, in structural biology research MPs are reconstituted in model membrane systems such as micelles, bicelles, nanodiscs, or liposomes. Thus, we have modified the existing membrane energy potentials within the RosettaMP framework to allow users to model MPs in different membrane geometries. We show that these modifications can be utilized in core applications within Rosetta such as structure refinement, protein–protein docking, and protein design. For MP structures found in curved membranes, refining these structures in curved, implicit membranes produces higher quality models with structures closer to experimentally determined structures. For MP systems embedded in multiple membranes, representing both membranes results in more favorable scores compared to only representing one of the membranes. Modeling MPs in geometries mimicking the membrane model system used in structure determination can improve model quality and model discrimination.