bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Validating candidate endpoints for intermediate age-related macular degeneration trials in a multi-centre setting—lessons from the MACUSTAR study
Authors: Terheyden Jan Henrik , Dunbar Hannah M. P. , Schmitz-Valckenberg Steffen , Behning Charlotte , Martinho Cecília , Luhmann Ulrich F. O. , Saßmannshausen Marlene , Lüning Anna , Miliu Alexandra , Aires Inês Dinis , Basile Pier Giorgio , Batuca Joana , Schmid Matthias , Moll Klaus-Peter , Zakaria Nadia , Tufail Adnan , Binns Alison , Crabb David P. , Leal Sergio , Finger Robert P. , Holz Frank G. ,   on behalf of the MACUSTAR consortium, Agostini H. , Aires I. D. , Altay L. , Atia R. , Bandello F. , Basile P. G. , Batuca J. , Behning C. , Belmouhand M. , Berger M. , Binns A. , Boon C. J. F. , Böttger M. , Brazier J. E. , Carapezzi C. , Carlton J. , Carneiro A. , Charil A. , Coimbra R. , Cosette D. , Cozzi M. , Crabb D. P. , Cunha-Vaz J. , Dahlke C. , Dunbar H. , Finger R. P. , Fletcher E. , Gutfleisch M. , Hartgers F. , Higgins B. , Hildebrandt J. , Höck E. , Hogg R. , Holz F. G. , Hoyng C. B. , Kilani A. , Krätzschmar J. , Kühlewein L. , Larsen M. , Leal S. , Lechanteur Y. T. E. , Lu D. , Luhmann U. F. O. , Lüning A. , Manivannan N. , Marques I. , Martinho C. , Miliu A. , Moll K. P. , Mulyukov Z. , Paques M. , Parodi B. , Parravano M. , Penas S. , Peters T. , Peto T. , Priglinger S. , Ramamirtham R. , Ribeiro R. , Rowen D. , Rubin G. S. , Sahel J. , Sánchez C. , Sander O. , Saßmannshausen M. , Schmid M. , Schmitz-Valckenberg S. , Siedlecki J. , Silva R. , Souied E. , Staurenghi G. , Tavares J. , Taylor D. J. , Terheyden J. H. , Tufail A. , Valmaggia P. , Varano M. , Wolf A. , Zakaria N. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
For the conduct of future interventional age-related macular degeneration (AMD) trials, the availability of clinical study endpoints is key. However, no endpoints have been accepted by regulators for evaluation of treatment for intermediate (i) AMD, i.e. the AMD stage at highest risk of developing irreversible geographic atrophy or macular neovascularization. The European MACUSTAR consortium has recruited more than 700 individuals to develop and validate structural, functional and patient-reported endpoints, enabling future iAMD trials based on a prospective observational, multi-centre cohort study. Reliably assessing candidate endpoints in a setting that involves multiple clinical sites across countries comes with a plurality of challenges in the study set-up, quality of data, recruitment of participants and study conduct. Therefore, the MACUSTAR consortium has established a framework that successfully addresses these topics, provides relevant insights into the natural history of iAMD and its sub-phenotypes, and will open new regulatory pathways. The MACUSTAR study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov under NCT03349801.
The role of the urologist in managing high flow priapism
Authors: Dursun Murat , Kalkanlı Arif , Tantekin Seyfettin Anıl , Sevinç Ahmet Halil , Kaçan Turgay , Ercan Celal Caner , Kadıoğlu Ateş 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
High-flow priapism (arterial) is a prolonged erection caused by irregular cavernous arterial flow, often resulting from blunt perineal or penile trauma, or iatrogenic needle injury. This condition leads to the formation of an arteriolacunar fistula, causing unregulated arterial blood flow into the sinusoidal spaces of the penis. Unlike low-flow priapism, high-flow priapism typically presents with a partially erect, non-painful penis. The diagnosis is confirmed through characteristic findings on color Doppler ultrasound, which reveals turbulent high-velocity flow pinpointing the fistula’s location. Blood gas analysis typically reflects arterial values, helping to differentiate high-flow priapism from its low-flow counterpart. Although high-flow priapism was historically considered non-urgent, recent evidence suggests that delayed treatment may increase the risk of erectile dysfunction. Therefore, prompt intervention by urologists is crucial. The primary goal is to close the fistula, and the treatment plan should be individualized based on the severity and duration of the condition. Urologists play a critical role in managing this condition, offering a range of therapeutic options. These include conservative approaches, such as observation and compression, medical therapy, arterial embolization, and, in some cases, surgical intervention. The choice of treatment depends on the patient’s condition, the fistula’s location, and the resources available. By ensuring timely and appropriate management, urologists can minimize complications and preserve erectile function.
Testosterone exacerbates neutrophilia and cardiac injury in myocardial infarction via actions in bone marrow
Authors: Svedlund Eriksson Elin , Lantero Rodriguez Marta , Halvorsen Bente , Johansson Inger , Mårtensson Anna K. F. , Wilhelmson Anna S. , Huse Camilla , Ueland Thor , Aukrust Pål , Broch Kaspar , Gullestad Lars , Amundsen Brage Høyem , Andersen Geir Øystein , Karlsson Mikael C. I. , Hagberg Thulin Malin , Camponeschi Alessandro , Trompet Dana , Hammarsten Ola , Redfors Björn , Borén Jan , Omerovic Elmir , Levin Malin C. , Chagin Andrei S. , Dahl Tuva B. , Tivesten Åsa 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Men develop larger infarct sizes than women after a myocardial infarction (MI), but the mechanism underlying this sex difference is unknown. Here, we demonstrated that blood neutrophil counts post-MI were higher in male than female mice. Castration-induced testosterone deficiency reduced blood neutrophil counts to the level in females and increased survival post-MI. These effects were mimicked by Osterix-directed ablation of the androgen receptor in bone marrow (BM). Mechanistically, androgens downregulated the leukocyte retention factor CXCL12 in BM stromal cells. Post-hoc analysis of clinical trial data showed that neutrophilia was greater in men than women after reperfusion of first-time ST-elevation MI, and tocilizumab, an interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor, reduced blood neutrophil counts and infarct size to a greater extent in men than women. Our work reveals a previously unknown mechanism connecting testosterone with neutrophilia and MI injury via BM and identifies the importance of considering sex when developing anti-inflammatory strategies to treat MI.
Comprehensive exploration of visual working memory mechanisms using large-scale behavioral experiment
Authors: Huang Liqiang 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Two decades of research on visual working memory have produced substantial yet fragmented knowledge. This study aims to integrate these findings into a cohesive framework. Drawing on a large-scale behavioral experiment involving 40 million responses to 10,000 color patterns, a quasi-comprehensive exploration model of visual working memory, termed QCE-VWM, is developed. Despite its significantly reduced complexity (57 parameters versus 30,796), QCE-VWM outperforms neural networks in data fitting. The model provides an integrative framework for understanding human visual working memory, incorporating a dozen mechanisms—some directly adopted from previous studies, some modified, and others newly identified. This work underscores the value of large-scale behavioral experiments in advancing comprehensive models of cognitive mechanisms.
Distributed quantum computing across an optical network link
Authors: Main D. , Drmota P. , Nadlinger D. P. , Ainley E. M. , Agrawal A. , Nichol B. C. , Srinivas R. , Araneda G. , Lucas D. M. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Distributed quantum computing (DQC) combines the computing power of multiple networked quantum processing modules, ideally enabling the execution of large quantum circuits without compromising performance or qubit connectivity1,2. Photonic networks are well suited as a versatile and reconfigurable interconnect layer for DQC; remote entanglement shared between matter qubits across the network enables all-to-all logical connectivity through quantum gate teleportation (QGT)3,4. For a scalable DQC architecture, the QGT implementation must be deterministic and repeatable; until now, no demonstration has satisfied these requirements. Here we experimentally demonstrate the distribution of quantum computations between two photonically interconnected trapped-ion modules. The modules, separated by about two metres, each contain dedicated network and circuit qubits. By using heralded remote entanglement between the network qubits, we deterministically teleport a controlled-Z (CZ) gate between two circuit qubits in separate modules, achieving 86% fidelity. We then execute Grover’s search algorithm5—to our knowledge, the first implementation of a distributed quantum algorithm comprising several non-local two-qubit gates—and measure a 71% success rate. Furthermore, we implement distributed iSWAP and SWAP circuits, compiled with two and three instances of QGT, respectively, demonstrating the ability to distribute arbitrary two-qubit operations6. As photons can be interfaced with a variety of systems, the versatile DQC architecture demonstrated here provides a viable pathway towards large-scale quantum computing for a range of physical platforms.
SEED-Selection enables high-efficiency enrichment of primary T cells edited at multiple loci
Authors: Chang Christopher R. , Vykunta Vivasvan S. , Lee Jae Hyun J. , Li Ke , Kochendoerfer Clara , Muldoon Joseph J. , Wang Charlotte H. , Mazumder Thomas , Sun Yang , Goodman Daniel B. , Nyberg William A. , Liu Chang , Allain Vincent , Rothrock Allison , Ye Chun J. , Marson Alexander , Shy Brian R. , Eyquem Justin 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Engineering T cell specificity and function at multiple loci can generate more effective cellular therapies, but current manufacturing methods produce heterogenous mixtures of partially engineered cells. Here we develop a one-step process to enrich unlabeled cells containing knock-ins at multiple target loci using a family of repair templates named synthetic exon expression disruptors (SEEDs). SEEDs associate transgene integration with the disruption of a paired target endogenous surface protein while preserving target expression in nonmodified and partially edited cells to enable their removal (SEED-Selection). We design SEEDs to modify three critical loci encoding T cell specificity, coreceptor expression and major histocompatibility complex expression. The results demonstrate up to 98% purity after selection for individual modifications and up to 90% purity for six simultaneous edits (three knock-ins and three knockouts). This method is compatible with existing clinical manufacturing workflows and can be readily adapted to other loci to facilitate production of complex gene-edited cell therapies.
High-speed video recordings of metal powder pneumatic conveying in thin capillary pipes
Authors: Pedrolli Lorenzo , Fraccarollo Luigi , Achiaga Beatriz , Lopez Alejandro 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Many industrial processes require a consistent material flow in the form of powders, typically achieved through pneumatic conveying. This work presents a dataset of high-speed video recordings capturing the horizontal pneumatic conveying of metallic powders in thin capillary pipes. Additionally, pressure and photodiode recordings are included. The experimental setup is described in detail, with suggestions for potential improvements. In the video recordings, each particle is individually distinguishable and can be tracked across frames.
Assessing the effects of partially substituting chicken breast meat with oyster mushroom stalk powder on the quality attributes of mushroom-chicken burgers
Authors: Mounir Sabah , Mohamed Randa , Sunooj K. V. , El-Saidy Sohier , Farid Eman 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a partial substitution of chicken breast meat with oyster mushroom stalk powder on the quality attributes of mushroom-chicken burgers. Chicken breast meat was substituted with oyster mushroom stalk powder at different levels ranging from 2.5 to 10%, with an interval increase of 2.5%. The substitution level had a significant effect on the different characteristics studied. A decrease in both crude protein and crude lipid was observed as the substitution level increased from 2.5 to 10%. However, a contradictory trend was observed for crude fiber, ash, carbohydrates, antioxidant properties, water-binding capacity, and browning index. The cooking loss and shrinkage were reduced by about 81.6% and 72.6%, respectively, for the formulation prepared with 10% compared to the control sample. The formulation prepared with 2.5% showed the lowest hardness, chewiness, and shear force, which increased as the substitution level increased to 10%. The oyster mushroom stalk powder can be used at a level ranging from 2.5 to 5% to substitute chicken breast meat in the preparation of healthier and more functional chicken burgers.
Therapeutic anti-inflammatory immune potentials of some seaweeds extracts on chemically induced liver injury in mice
Authors: Bases Eman , El-Sheekh Mostafa M. , El Shafay Shimaa M. , El-shenody Rania , Nassef Mohamed 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a well-known hepatotoxin. This work aimed to assess the therapeutic anti-inflammatory immune potentials of the seaweeds Padina pavonia and Jania rubens extracts on carbon tetrachloride (CCL4)-caused liver damage in mice. Our experimentation included two testing regimens: pre-treatment and post-treatment of P. pavonia and J. rubens extracts in CCL4/mice. Pre-treatment and post-treatment of P. pavonia and J. rubens extracts in CCL4/mice increased WBCs count and lymphocytes relative numbers and reduced the neutrophils and monocytes relative numbers. Pre-treatment and post-treatment of CCL4/mice with P. pavonia and J. rubens extracts significantly reduced the release amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 and significantly inhibited the increased CRP level. Furthermore, pre-treatment and post-treatment of CCL4/mice with P. pavonia and J. rubens extracts recovered the activities of GSH, and significantly decreased MDA level. CCL4/mice pre-treated and post-treated with P. pavonia and J. rubens extracts decreased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels. Pre- and post-treatment of CCL4/mice with the P. pavonia and J. rubens extracts ameliorated the liver damages caused by CCl4 and significantly inhibited the necrotic area, indicating hepatic cell death and decreased periportal hepatic degeneration, fibrosis, and inflammation.
Integrating electrocardiogram and fundus images for early detection of cardiovascular diseases
Authors: Muthukumar K. A. , Nandi Dhruva , Ranjan Priya , Ramachandran Krithika , PJ Shiny , Ghosh Anirban , M Ashwini , Radhakrishnan Aiswaryah , Dhandapani V. E. , Janardhanan Rajiv 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a predominant health concern globally, emphasizing the need for advanced diagnostic techniques. In our research, we present an avant-garde methodology that synergistically integrates ECG readings and retinal fundus images to facilitate the early disease tagging as well as triaging of the CVDs in the order of disease priority. Recognizing the intricate vascular network of the retina as a reflection of the cardiovascular system, alongwith the dynamic cardiac insights from ECG, we sought to provide a holistic diagnostic perspective. Initially, a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) was applied to both the ECG and fundus images, transforming the data into the frequency domain. Subsequently, the Earth Mover’s Distance (EMD) was computed for the frequency-domain features of both modalities. These EMD values were then concatenated, forming a comprehensive feature set that was fed into a Neural Network classifier. This approach, leveraging the FFT’s spectral insights and EMD’s capability to capture nuanced data differences, offers a robust representation for CVD classification. Preliminary tests yielded a commendable accuracy of 84%, underscoring the potential of this combined diagnostic strategy. As we continue our research, we anticipate refining and validating the model further to enhance its clinical applicability in resource limited healthcare ecosystems prevalent across the Indian sub-continent and also the world at large.
Oral lactoferrin as a treatment of pediatrics’ anemia resulted from chronic kidney diseases: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hegazy Sahar Kamal , Koura Mai Salah El-Din , Elharoun Mohamed Shokry 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Anemia in pediatrics is often associated with chronic conditions such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). It can worsen the disease prognosis and affect quality of life. Injectable dosage forms are predominantly used in its treatment with various side effects. This randomized and parallel clinical trial aimed to compare the effectiveness of oral lactoferrin with intravenous (IV) iron dextran in managing anemia resulted from CKD in pediatrics. The study involved 60 children diagnosed with CKD-related anemia who were allocated into two separate groups. Group 1 consisted of 30 pediatric patients who received 100 mg of oral lactoferrin daily for a period of 3 months. Group 2 included 30 pediatric patients who were given IV iron dextran at a dosage of 50 mg three times weekly for 3 months. Both treatments are effective in treating CKD-induced anemia in pediatrics; however, oral lactoferrin demonstrated superior efficacy as there was a significant change within that group in levels of Hb, RBCs, MCH, iron, RDW-SD, MCHC, IL-6, and GDF-15 before and after treatment. In contrast, IV iron dextran showed significant changes within its group in iron, GFR, IL-6, GDF-15, and RDW-SD. After 3 months of treatment, no significant differences were observed between the two groups.
Induced protein expression in Leptospira spp. and its application to CRISPR/Cas9 mutant generation
Authors: Fernandes L. G. V. , Nascimento A. L. T. O. , Nally J. E. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Expanding the genetic toolkit for Leptospira spp. is a crucial step toward advancing our understanding of the biology and virulence of these atypical bacteria. Pathogenic Leptospira are responsible for over 1 million human leptospirosis cases annually and significantly impact domestic animals. Bovine leptospirosis causes substantial financial losses due to abortion, stillbirths, and suboptimal reproductive performance. The advent of the CRISPR/Cas9 system has marked a turning point in genetic manipulation, with applications across multiple Leptospira species. However, incorporating controlled protein expression into existing genetic tools could further expand their utility. We developed and demonstrated the functionality of IPTG-inducible heterologous protein expression in Leptospira spp. This system was applied for regulated expression of dead Cas9 (dCas9) to generate knockdown mutants, and Cas9 to produce knockout mutants by inducing double-strand breaks (DSB) into desired targets. IPTG-induced dCas9 expression enabled validation of essential genes and non-coding RNAs. Additionally, IPTG-controlled Cas9 expression combined with a constitutive non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) system allowed for successful recovery of knockout mutants, even in the absence of IPTG. These newly controlled protein expression systems will advance studies on the basic biology and virulence of Leptospira, as well as facilitate knockout mutant generation for improved veterinary vaccines.
Biocatalytic conversion of microalgal biomass to biodiesel: optimization of growth conditions and synthesis of CaO bionanocatalyst from Monoraphidium sp. NCIM 5585
Authors: Pandey Supriya , Varadavenkatesan Thivaharan , Selvaraj Raja , Vinayagam Ramesh 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Microalgal feedstock is a potential source for biodiesel production that addresses the challenges of fuel security and sustainable agriculture. This study aims to maximize biomass yield and lipid accumulation for freshwater microalga Monoraphidium sp. NCIM 5585 and utilize it for biodiesel production, contributing to the development of biocatalysis-based biofuels. Independent optimization studies were conducted to investigate critical growth parameters, viz., light intensity, photoperiod, and NaNO3 concentration. The study showed highest biomass productivity of 51.75 ± 1.9 mg/L.d and lipid content of 47.3 ± 0.02% (w/w) at 40 µmol/m2/s light intensity, 16 h L:08 h D photoperiod, and 0.25 g/L NaNO3. Further, a novel CaO bionanocatalyst was synthesized using residual microalgal biomass and characterized using SEM, EDX, FT-IR, and XRD. The characterization results from SEM and EDX confirmed the structural and elemental composition of bionanocatalyst with Ca and O as main elements. XRD revealed the crystalline nature of CaO with particle size of 17.83 nm. 86.5 ± 0.65% (w/w) FAME was obtained using the synthesized catalyst and was characterized using 1H NMR, 13C NMR and GC-MS. This study demonstrates the potential of Monoraphidium sp., optimized growth conditions and the significance of reusability of residual microalgal biomass as catalyst for sustainable biodiesel production, offering a promising solution for fuel security and biotechnology applications.
A multimodal characterization of low-dimensional thalamocortical structural connectivity patterns
Authors: John Alexandra , Hettwer Meike D. , Schaare H. Lina , Saberi Amin , Bayrak Şeyma , Wan Bin , Royer Jessica , Bernhardt Boris C. , Valk Sofie L. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
The human thalamus is a heterogeneous subcortical structure coordinating whole-brain activity. Investigations of its internal organization reveal differentiable subnuclei, however, a consensus on subnuclei boundaries remains absent. Recent work suggests that thalamic organization additionally reflects continuous axes transcending nuclear boundaries. Here, we study how low-dimensional axes of thalamocortical structural connectivity relate to intrathalamic microstructural features, functional connectivity, and structural covariance. Using diffusion MRI, we compute a thalamocortical structural connectome and derive two main axes of thalamic organization. The principal axis, extending from medial to lateral, relates to intrathalamic myelin, and functional connectivity organization. The secondary axis corresponds to the core-matrix cell distribution. Lastly, exploring multimodal associations globally, we observe the principal axis consistently differentiating limbic, frontoparietal, and default mode network nodes from dorsal and ventral attention networks across modalities. However, the link with sensory modalities varies. In sum, we show the coherence between lower dimensional patterns of thalamocortical structural connectivity and various modalities, shedding light on multiscale thalamic organization.
Peripheral membrane protein endophilin B1 probes, perturbs and permeabilizes lipid bilayers
Authors: Thorlacius Arni , Rulev Maksim , Sundberg Oscar , Sundborger-Lunna Anna 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs167 (BAR) domain containing proteins are peripheral membrane proteins that regulate intracellular membrane curvature. BAR protein endophilin B1 plays a key role in multiple cellular processes critical for oncogenesis, including autophagy and apoptosis. Amphipathic regions in endophilin B1 drive membrane association and tubulation through membrane scaffolding. Our understanding of exactly how BAR proteins like endophilin B1 promote highly diverse intracellular membrane remodeling events in the cell is severely limited due to lack of high-resolution structural information. Here we present the highest resolution cryo-EM structure of a BAR protein to date and the first structures of a BAR protein bound to a lipid bicelle. Using neural networks, we can effectively sort particle species of different stoichiometries, revealing the tremendous flexibility of post-membrane binding, pre-polymer BAR dimer organization and membrane deformation. We also show that endophilin B1 efficiently permeabilizes negatively charged liposomes that contain mitochondria-specific lipid cardiolipin and propose a new model for Bax-mediated cell death.