bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dexmedetomidine alleviates acute kidney injury in a rat model of veno‐arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Yu Min , Wei Shilin , Shen Xueyang , Ying Junjie , Mu Dezhi , Wu Xiangyang , Li Yongnan 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Background
Although extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an effective technique for life support, the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) during ECMO support remains high. Dexmedetomidine (DEX), which has been widely used for sedation during ECMO, possesses several properties that help reduce the occurrence of AKI. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of DEX on kidney function during ECMO.

Methods
A total of 18 male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups: Sham, ECMO, and ECMO + DEX groups. ECMO was established through the right jugular vein for venous drainage and right femoral artery for arterial infusion and lasts for four hours. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to evaluate the kidney Paller score for the rats in each group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the levels of kidney injury biomarkers and cytokines in the serum. Reagent kits were used to measure the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) levels, which helped determine kidney function. Immunohistochemical staining was used to evaluate neutrophil infiltration in the kidney.

Results
The pathological Paller score was substantially lower in the ECMO + DEX group. The levels of Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1) and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) were also significantly reduced. The kidney functionality, as indicated by BUN and Cr, was significantly improved compared with the ECMO group. The levels of cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, were also significantly decreased in the ECMO + DEX group.

Conclusion
This study demonstrated that dexmedetomidine could reduce inflammatory response and alleviate AKI during ECMO support.
Nomogram based on dual-energy computed tomography to predict the response to induction chemotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a two-center study
Authors: Ren Huanhuan , Huang Junhao , Huang Yao , Long Bangyuan , Zhang Mei , Zhang Jing , Li Huarong , Huang Tingting , Liu Daihong , Wang Ying , Zhang Jiuquan 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Background
Previous studies utilizing dual-energy CT (DECT) for evaluating treatment efficacy in nasopharyngeal cancinoma (NPC) are limited. This study aimed to investigate whether the parameters from DECT can predict the response to induction chemotherapy in NPC patients in two centers.

Methods
This two-center retrospective study included patients diagnosed with NPC who underwent contrast-enhanced DECT between March 2019 and November 2023. The clinical and DECT-derived parameters of tumor lesions were calculated to predict the response. We employed univariate and multivariate analysis to identify significant factors. Subsequently, the clinical, DECT, and clinical-DECT nomogram models were developed using independent predictors in the training cohort and validated in the test cohort. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to evaluate the models’ performance.

Results
A total of 321 patients were included in the study, predominantly male [247 (76.9%)] with an average age of 52.04 ± 10.87 years. The training cohort (Center 1) comprised 252 patients, while the test cohort (Center 2) comprised 69 patients. Of these, 233 out of 321 patients (72.6%) were responders to induction chemotherapy. The clinical-DECT nomogram showed an AUC of 0.805 (95% CI, 0.688–0.906), outperforming both the DECT model (Extracellular volume fraction [ECVf]) (AUC, 0.706 [95% CI, 0.571–0.825]) and the clinical model (Ki67) (AUC, 0.693 [95% CI, 0.580–0.806]) in the test cohort.

Conclusions
Ki67 and ECVf emerged as independent predictive factors for response to induction chemotherapy in NPC patients. The proposed nomogram, incorporating ECVf, demonstrated accurate prediction of treatment response.
Increased expression of the small lysosomal gene SVIP in the Drosophila gut suppresses pathophysiological features associated with a high-fat diet
Authors: Mercola Brennan M. , Villalobos Tatiana V. , Wood Jocelyn E. , Basu Ankita , Johnson Alyssa E. 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACT
Lysosomes are digestive organelles that are crucial for nutrient sensing and metabolism. Lysosome impairment is linked to a broad spectrum of metabolic disorders, underscoring their importance to human health. Thus, lysosomes are an attractive target for metabolic disease therapies. In previous work, we discovered a novel class of tubular lysosomes that are morphologically and functionally distinct from traditionally described vesicular lysosomes. Tubular lysosomes are present in multiple tissues, are broadly conserved from invertebrates to mammals, are more proficient at degrading autophagic cargo than vesicular lysosomes, and delay signs of tissue aging when induced ectopically. Thus, triggering tubular lysosome formation presents one mechanism to increase lysosome activity and, notably, overproduction of the small lysosomal protein, SVIP, is a robust genetic strategy for triggering lysosomal tubulation on demand. In this study, we examine whether SVIP overexpression in the fly gut can suppress pathophysiological phenotypes associated with an obesogenic high-fat diet. Indeed, our results indicate that increasing SVIP expression in the fly gut reduces lipid accumulation, suppresses body mass increase, and improves survival in flies fed a high-fat diet. Collectively, these data hint that increasing lysosomal activity through induction of tubular lysosomal networks, could be one strategy to combat obesity-related pathologies.
Gender Differences in High-Stakes Performance and College Admission Policies
Authors: Arenas Andreu , Calsamiglia Caterina 
Published: January 2025

The Gale-Shapley algorithm is one of the most popular college allocation mechanisms around the world. A crucial policy question in its setting is designing admission priorities for students, understanding how they disadvantage certain demographic groups, and whether these differences relate to differences in college performance potential. Studying a policy change in Spain, we find a negative effect of increasing the weight of standardized high-stakes exams on female college admission grades, driven by students expected to be at the top. The impact on admission grades does not affect enrollment, but the percentage of female students in the most selective degrees declines, along with their career prospects. Using data on the college performance of prereform cohorts, we find that female students most likely to lose from the reform tend to do better in college than male students expected to benefit from the reform. The results show that rewarding high-stakes performance in selection processes may come along with gender differences unrelated to the determinants of subsequent performance. This paper was accepted by Dorothea Kubler, behavioral economics and decision analysis. Funding: A. Arenas received financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Science [Grant PID2020-120359RA-I00]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.02979 .
Market Ambiguity Attitude Restores the Risk-Return Trade-Off
Authors: Ghazi Soroush , Schneider Mark , Strauss Jack 
Published: January 2025

A positive relation between the conditional mean and conditional volatility of aggregate stock returns, although viewed as a fundamental law of finance, has been challenging to find empirically. We consider a representative agent asset pricing model with Knightian uncertainty and demonstrate that this risk-return trade-off depends on the agent’s ambiguity attitude (reflecting the agent’s degree of optimism or pessimism). The model predicts that the conditional equity premium is increasing in market volatility, but its slope flattens as market optimism rises. We develop a methodology to extract the representative agent’s ambiguity attitude from our asset pricing model. Results validate our model predictions. We document the significant in-sample and out-of-sample explanatory power of ambiguity attitude in explaining the risk-return trade-off. In our sample, market volatility is not significant in forecasting returns. However, including the market ambiguity attitude leads to a significant positive relationship between volatility and future returns. Hence, our model and results identify market ambiguity attitude as a missing state variable that can explain why the literature has found it difficult to empirically validate the risk-return trade-off. This paper was accepted by Manel Baucells, behavioral economics and decision analysis. Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.03595 .
Treacher Collins syndrome: aetiology, clinical features and multidisciplinary management
Authors: Pierse Jenna , McSwiney Timothy 
Published: January 2025

This article provides an overview of Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS), its diagnostic features, aetiology and management. TCS is a genetic disorder that results in congenital craniofacial malformation. The facial, dental manifestations and orthodontic implications of TCS are outlined. General dental practitioners (GDPs) and orthodontists play a critical role in the multidisciplinary care of these patients. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Clinicians should be aware of the challenges in treating this cohort of patients.
Sensitivity of anti-filarial antibodies for lymphatic filariasis surveillance: Insights from a serological survey in Samoa in 2018
Authors: Lawford Harriet L. S. , Sartorius Benn , Mayfield Helen J. , Sam Filipina Amosa-Lei , Viali Satupaitea , Kamu Tito , Thomsen Robert , Lau Colleen L. 
Published: January 2025

Background
Sensitive diagnostic tools that signal lymphatic filariasis (LF) transmission are needed to monitor the progress of LF elimination programs. Anti-filarial antibody (Ab) markers could be more sensitive than antigen (Ag) point-of-care tests for monitoring LF transmission in some settings. This study aimed to investigate the sensitivity of anti-filarial Abs for detecting signals of LF transmission in Samoa by i) investigating the sensitivity and specificity of Ab to identify Ag-positives; ii) estimating the average number needed to test (NNTestav) to identify LF-seropositives (seropositive for Ag and/or any Ab), and iii) compare the efficiency of the different serological indicators by target age group and sampling design.

Methods
A community-based serological survey of participants aged ≥5 years was conducted 1.5-3.5 months following the first round of triple-drug mass drug administration in Samoa in 2018, covering 35 primary sampling units (PSUs) (30 randomly selected and five purposively selected ‘suspected hotspots’). Ag-positivity was detected using Alere Filariasis Test Strips, and Ab-seropositivity (Bm14, Wb123, Bm33 Abs) were measured using multiplex bead assays. Seroprevalence was adjusted for study design and standardised for age and gender. NNTestav was calculated using the formula 1/p, where p was the adjusted seroprevalence for each subgroup.

Results
Of 3795 participants (mean age: 20.7; 51.2% female), 1892 (49.9%) were LF-seropositive. If Ag alone was used to identify LF-seropositives, only 5% (117/1892) would be identified. Of the three Ab seromarkers, Bm14 Ab had the highest area under the Receiver-Operating Characteristic Curve ([ROC]=0.88) to classify participants as Ag-positive, followed by Wb123 Ab (ROC=0.83) and Bm33 Ab (ROC=0.76). Participants aged ≥10 years had lower NNTestav compared to participants aged 5-9 years for all seromarkers. NNTestav was lower in purposively versus randomly selected PSUs.

Conclusions
All Ab seromarkers had high ROC values to classify patients as Ag-positive and may be useful tools for LF surveillance in some settings. However, further research is required to fully understand how best Ab serosurveillance can be incorporated into LF elimination programmes.
Investigation of ionospheric response to a moderate geomagnetic storm over the mid-latitude of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alenazi Moqbil Salem , Nooreldeen Hassan Mahdy , Ahmed Ayman Mahmoud , Yossuf Mohamed , Lomotey Solomon Otoo , Yassen Ahmed , Mahrous Ayman 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
This study investigated the ionospheric response to a moderate geomagnetic storm recorded on May 14, 2019, with a minimum disturbance storm time (Dst) index of

−
70

-70

nT. Observations from three Global Positioning System (GPS) stations (RFHA,

29.6

∘

{\text{29.6}}^{\circ }

N; ARAR,

30.9

∘

{\text{30.9}}^{\circ }

N; TRIF,

31.6

∘

{\text{31.6}}^{\circ }

N) in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders Province were used to derive the vertical total electron content (VTEC), revealing a significant increase during the storm’s main phase. A comparative analysis of GPS-derived VTEC with the International Reference Ionosphere 2016 (IRI-2016) model showed that IRI-2016 tends to overestimate VTEC during quiet and disturbed geomagnetic conditions. Additionally, GPS-VTEC data were utilized to detect traveling ionospheric disturbances within 30 min, moving poleward across the Northern Arabian Peninsula throughout the storm. These findings highlight the impact of the geomagnetic activity on ionospheric dynamics and the effectiveness of the new GPS stations in monitoring ionospheric behavior over the Arabian Peninsula.
A detailed review of the design parameters for augmenting the latent heat in a thermal energy storage system
Authors: Kumar Himanshu , Yadav Ankit , Singh Gurjeet , Taneja Sumit 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to critically analyze various parameters that improve the latent heat transfer in heat exchangers. There has been a continuous increase in greenhouse gases because of industrial activities across the world. Consequently, it has become critical to harness renewable energy as a powerful substitute for meeting future energy needs. Thus, phase change materials (PCM) and heat transfer fluids have been instituted as alternatives for activities related to heat transfer enhancement employing heat exchangers with different fin configurations.

Methodology
The present work deals with the comparative analysis of thermal performance of longitudinal and circular finned heat exchangers. For creating a detailed summary of various computational cum experimental endeavours, efforts have been made to compile a refined picture of design variations and thermal performances of PCM-based latent thermal energy storage system (PCM – LTESS).

Findings
The comparative analysis of longitudinal as well as circular finned tube arrangement revealed that the latter has better thermal characteristics. However, various fin arrangements have also been explored as part of this review.

Originality
A significant improvement in heat transfer is observed when heat sinks clubbed with PCM-based arrangement are integrated with pin fins. These are frequently instituted for heat transfer enhancement or thermal energy management of various electronic goods with optimum number and size of fins.
King Pyrrhus in the West: In the footsteps of Agathocles
Authors: Sánchez Fernando López 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThough in some instances they behaved simply as the preservers of established states, Hellenistic kings were in general businesslike kingdom-builders and in the West, no other general or king is as deserving as Pyrrhus (307–272 BC) of the reputation of being an energetic soldier throughout his life. Even if he is viewed positively as an entrepreneurial king, though, his campaigns have often been characterised in ancient and in modern literature as mere “adventures” and this has resulted in his operations in Italy and Sicily being almost unanimously regarded as failures, and his eventual coming back to the Balkans in keeping with the inevitable return of all the mercenary nostoi of the age. There is, however, an alternative prism through which we can view Pyrrhus' war efforts in Italy and Sicily and his arrival to the Epirote kingdom: his actions in Italy and Sicily were essential for securing his own greatness in the West and the interests of both Tarentum and Syracuse, both movements inspired by the final period of Agathocles' tyranny (317–289 BC).This article will focus on the true meaning of Pyrrhus' Syracusan basileia, not only in Sicily but in Italy too, and consider the extent to which his actions were determined by the immediate precedent set by Agathocles. Rather than viewing them as two separate events, it will also investigate the interconnection between Pyrrhus' period sin southern Italy and Sicily. It was the same need to minimise the power of both Carthage and Rome that lay behind his operations in both regions, and the control of the vital straits of Messina and Otranto were key objectives for the cities of Syracuse and Tarentum, respectively.
Ecofriendly chromatographic method for the separation and quantification of vonoprazan fumarate, a novel potassium competitive acid blocker with amoxicillin and clarithromycin which are effective in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Ali Noha A.M. , El-Gindy Alaa El-Din M.A. , Wahba Mary Elias Kamel , Mostafaa Aziza E. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThis work developed and validated a new UV-HPLC method for the separation and quantification of vonoprazan fumarate (VNP), amoxicillin (AMX), and clarithromycin (CLM), together in a ternary mixture and in laboratory-prepared tablets. A C18 column and a delightful 70:30 blend of 0.05 M KH2PO4 buffer pH 6 and acetonitrile were used as mobile phase. The flow rate was 1.5 mL min−1, while the wavelength of detection was 254 nm. Linear concentration ranges of (1.0–10.0 μg mL−1) vonoprazan fumarate, (1.0–125.0 μg mL−1) amoxicillin, and (25.0–1,200 μg mL−1) clarithromycin resulted in 0.061, 0.6213, and 7.302 μg mL−1 detection levels and 0.1849, 0.845, and 22.127 μg mL−1 quantification values for VNP, AMX, and CLM, respectively. The greenness of this method was evaluated using the National Environmental Methods Index assessment (NEMI), analytical Eco-scale Assessment (ESA) tool, Green Analytical Procedure Index assessment (GAPI), and Analytical Greenness metric assessment (AGREE), which authenticated the method to be eco-friendly. This method, which was systematically validated and used also to calculate the concentration of the three drugs in their dosage forms, showed high accuracy and precision. Additionally, it produced peaks that were clearly separated and resolved, demonstrating its robustness and specificity.
Groundwater quality assessment in the Breede area, Western Cape, South Africa
Authors: Matjiane Pontsho Makonko  , Francois Wewers  
Published: January 2025

Groundwater is an essential part of food and water security. This critical resource must be managed appropriately and used sustainably. This study aimed to assess groundwater quality, suitability for domestic and irrigation purposes, and factors contributing to the groundwater chemistry, in the Breede Water Management Area (WMA), Western Cape, South Africa. Groundwater samples were collected and analysed for major ions such as K+, Mg2+, Na+, Ca2+, Cl-, HCO3-, NO3-, F-, SO42− and physical variables like pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), and temperature. Water quality index (WQI), total hardness (TH), South African Water Quality Guidelines (SAWQG) and World Health Organisation (WHO) drinking water quality guidelines were used to assess suitability for drinking purposes. Permeability index (PI), magnesium hardness (MH), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), sodium percentage (Na%) and graphical representations such as Wilcox and United States Salinity Laboratory (USSL) diagram were used to assess suitability for irrigation purposes. Multivariate statistical analysis and the Piper diagram were used to determine the geochemical processes influencing the groundwater quality. TH and WQI revealed that, overall, groundwater in Breede WMA is soft and suitable for drinking. The irrigation suitability indices showed that groundwater is suitable for irrigation, with the exception of a few sites that are doubtful. The dominating water type in the area is Na-Cl, followed by mixed Ca-Mg-Cl. Multivariate statistical methods revealed that the groundwater is affected by the dissolution of rock salts, calcite dissolution, cation exchange and agricultural activities. The overall groundwater in the Breede Water Management Area is suitable for domestic purposes. Water in the boreholes along the coastal area and Borehole W1 must be treated before domestic and irrigation use. There must be consistent groundwater quality monitoring in Breede to identify changes in groundwater quality.
Exploratory Factor Analysis on the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire (TDEQ-5) for Basketball in Indonesia
Authors: Putro Kukuh Hardopo , Suharjana Suharjana , Marhaendro Agus Susworo Dwi , Fauzi Fauzi , Wicaksono Danang , Irianto Subagyo , Prabowo Trisnar Adi 
Published: January 2025

Objectives. This study aimed to adapt and measure the level of validity and reliability of the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire (TDEQ-5) for basketball in Indonesia.
Materials and methods. A quantitative approach was employed, using the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) method and Cronbach’s Alpha test to determine the reliability of the instrument. The sample comprised 420 basketball athletes (212 men, 208 women) from the Developmental Basketball League, distributed across eight provinces, which were divided into nine major cities in Indonesia. The characteristics of the sample (mean ± SD) were as follows: aged 15 to 18 (17.8 ± 7.2 years old), training experience was 4 to 8 years (5.3 ± 8.9 years), and participating in competitions experience twice to four times a year. The analysis of this study is based on each factor: Long-term development (LTD), Alignment of expectations (AOE), Communication (COM), Holistic quality preparation (HQP), and Social network (SN).
Results. The results showed that KMO-MSA was p > 0.5, and Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity was p < 0.05. Furthermore, Anti-image Correlation, Communalities, and Pattern Matrix Test also exhibited p > 0.5. The Cronbach’s Alpha value was found to be 0.924.
Conclusions. These findings indicate that the TDEQ-5 is a reliable and valid tool for assessing the talent development environment of basketball athletes, especially in Indonesia. However, further development of this instrument is recommended to be adapted to the sports culture in Indonesia and to ensure a more comprehensive and scientific evaluation of talent coaching in basketball.