bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of immersive virtual reality in orthognathic surgical education: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wan Teng , Liu Kai , Li Biao , Wang Xudong 
Published: October 2023

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate the efficacy of an iVR surgical training system for orthognathic surgery training in medical students.MethodsThis study comprised 20 fifth year medical students who were randomly assigned to the VR or traditional group for orthognathic surgical education. All participants were initially provided a lecture on orthognathic surgery. The VR group then received 10 educational sessions using the self‐developed iVR training system, whereas the traditional group received 10 sessions using technical manuals and annotated operation videos. These sessions were 40‐min long in both the groups. Before the evaluation, the traditional group completed one session using the training and assessment modes to become familiar with the iVR training system. The score in the assessment mode, time to complete the procedure, number of instrument selection errors, number of prompts given by the system, number of positional and angular errors, and number of timeouts during each step were recorded to evaluate the learning effect.ResultsThe VR group achieved higher scores than the traditional group (94.67 vs. 87.65). Compared with the control group, the VR group completed the procedure more quickly, with fewer instrument selection and angular errors. No difference in the number of prompts given by the system was observed between the two groups.ConclusionsThe iVR surgical training system showed a better learning effect than the traditional learning method for orthognathic surgery. The iVR surgical training system may have utility as a supplement and potential substitute for the traditional surgical training method.
Molecular detection of Schistosoma haematobium in infected Bulinus truncatus snails associated with immune response
Authors: Mansour Shereen Mahfouz , El Einin Hanaa Mohamed Abu , Tadrous Menerva Maher , Ghoname Samah Ibrahim 
Published: October 2023

AbstractSchistosomiasis is one of the most common waterborne parasite illnesses, it is a major public health issue in developing countries. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique is used to find Schistosoma haematobium DNA in Bulinus truncatus, which could speed up the discovery of infections before cercariae are shed. DraI‐PCR detected S. haematobium infection at different infection intervals with bands at 300 bp in shedding snails 40 days after exposure and even on the first day after B. turancuts snails exposure to miracidia. Transmission electron microscopy showed the structure of sporocyst from 1 to 40 days post‐exposure and activated hemocytes in infected non‐shedding snails as well as sporocyst degradation. Flow cytometry was used to measure the percentage of Bax and TGF‐β1 positive stained cells that have been linked with infection progression. In conclusion, molecular tools and immune response play an important role in the strategy of controlling schistosomiasis through the early detection of larval stages in intermediate hosts toward certification of schistosomiasis elimination.Research Highlights
DraI‐PCR allowed early detection of S. haematobium at 300 bp in B. truncatus snail.
Transmission electron microscopy showed the structure of S. haematobium sporocyst in snail and activated hemocytes in non‐shedding snail.
Bax protein that induced apoptotic changes and Transforming Growth Factor Beta1 level have been linked with parasite development.
Quantifying the spatiotemporal variability of nitrate in irrigation water across the Wisconsin Central Sands
Authors: Campbell Tracy A. , Masarik Kevin C. , Heineman Emily Marrs , Kucharik Christopher J. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe Wisconsin Central Sands is home to large scale vegetable production on sandy soils and managed with frequent irrigation, fertigation, and widespread nitrogen fertilizer application, all of which make the region highly susceptible to nitrate loss to groundwater. While the groundwater is used as the primary source of drinking water for many communities and rural residences across the region, it is also used for irrigation. Considering the high levels of nitrate found in the groundwater, it has been proposed that growers more accurately account for the nitrate in their irrigation water as part of nitrogen management plans. Our objectives were to 1) determine the magnitude of nitrate in irrigation water, 2) quantify the spatiotemporal variability of nitrate, and 3) determine key predictors of nitrate concentration in the region. We sampled irrigation water from 38 fields across six farms from 2018 to 2020. Across the 3 years of our study, nitrate concentration varied more across space than time. On average, our samples were tested at 19.0 mg L−1 nitrate‐nitrogen, or nearly two times the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) threshold for safe drinking water, equivalent to 48.1 kg ha−1 of applied nitrate‐nitrogen with 25.4 cm (or 10 in.) of irrigation. To better understand the spatiotemporal variability in nitrate levels, week of sampling, year, well depth, well casing, and nitrogen application rate were analyzed for their role as predictor variables. Based on our linear mixed effects model, nitrogen application rate was the greatest predictor of the nitrate concentration of irrigation water (p < 0.05).
Palladium‐catalyzed synthesis of Benzoannulated spiroketal lactones derived from cholesterol: NMR characterization and crystal structures
Authors: García‐Santos William H. , Flores‐Alamo Marcos , Iglesias‐Arteaga Martín A. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractTwo new Benzoannulated spiroketal lactones were synthesized by Pd‐catalyzed cyclization of derivatives of 2‐(6‐hydroxyhex‐1‐yn‐1‐yl)benzoic acid obtained from cholesterol. Unexpectedly, the Pd‐catalyzed spirocyclization led to steroid isochromen‐1‐ones as major products and only small amounts of the expected spiroketal lactones. The obtained isochromen‐1‐ones were successfully converted to the desired spiroketal lactones by saponification followed by acidic workup. NMR characterization provided enough evidence on the structure of the obtained compounds. Single crystal x‐ray diffraction corroborated the proposed structures.
Effect of Physical Exercise on MRI‐Assessed Brain Perfusion in Chemotherapy‐Treated Breast Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Koevoets Emmie W. , Petr Jan , Monninkhof Evelyn M. , Geerlings Mirjam I. , Witlox Lenja , van der Wall Elsken , Stuiver Martijn M. , Sonke Gabe S. , Velthuis Miranda J. , Jobsen Jan J. , van der Palen Job , Mutsaerts Henk J.M.M. , de Ruiter Michiel B. , May Anne M. , Schagen Sanne B. ,   PAM Study Group
Published: October 2023

BackgroundExercise is a promising intervention to alleviate cognitive problems in breast cancer patients, but studies on mechanisms underlying these effects are lacking.PurposeInvestigating whether an exercise intervention can affect cerebral blood flow (CBF) in cognitively impaired breast cancer patients and to determine if CBF changes relate to memory function.Study TypeProspective.PopulationA total of 181 chemotherapy‐treated stage I–III breast cancer patients with cognitive problems and relatively low physical activity levels (≤150 minutes moderate to vigorous physical activity per week), divided into an exercise (N = 91) or control group (N = 90).Field Strength/SequenceTwo‐dimensional echo planar pseudo‐continuous arterial spin labeling CBF sequence at 3 T.AssessmentThe 6‐month long intervention consisted of (supervised) aerobic and strength training, 4 × 1 hour/week. Measurements at baseline (2–4 years post‐diagnosis) and after 6 months included gray matter CBF in the whole brain, hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, and posterior cingulate cortex. Physical fitness and memory function were also assessed. Subgroup analyses were performed in patients with high fatigue levels at baseline.Statistical TestsMultiple regression analyses with a two‐sided alpha of 0.05 for all analyses.ResultsThere was a significant improvement in physical fitness (VO2peak in mL/minute/kg) in the intervention group (N = 53) compared to controls (N = 51, β = 1.47 mL/minute/kg, 95% CI: 0.44–2.50). However, no intervention effects on CBF were found (eg, whole brain: P = 0.565). Highly fatigued patients showed larger but insignificant treatment effects on CBF (eg, whole brain: P = 0.098). Additionally, irrespective of group, a change in physical fitness was positively associated with changes in CBF (eg, whole brain: β = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.07–1.43). There was no significant relation between CBF changes and changes in memory performance.Data ConclusionThe exercise intervention did not affect CBF of cognitively affected breast cancer patients. A change in physical fitness was associated with changes in CBF, but changes in CBF were not associated with memory functioning.Level of Evidence1Technical Efficacy Stage5
Maternal antibody transfer rate of vaccination against SARS‐CoV‐2 before or during early pregnancy and its protective effectiveness on offspring
Authors: Liu Shuang , Wang Ping , Shi Xiaolu , Weng Tingsong , Zhong Jiayi , Zhang Xiaomin , Qu Jing , Chen Long , Xu Qing , Meng Xiang , Xiong Husheng , Wu Dawei , Fang Dajun , Peng Bo , Zhang Dingmei 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis study focuses on maternal antibody transfer following vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) before or during early pregnancy and its potential protective effects on infants, providing scientific evidence for vaccination strategies. This prospective study tested the samples for SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG antibody titers and neutralizing capacity and tracked the infections after birth. Perform multivariate analysis of factors influencing antibody transfer rate, newborn antibody titers, and infant infection. Total 87.1% (122/140) women received coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccine before or during early pregnancy, and 28 of them had breakthrough infection. The maternal and neonatal IgG positive rates at delivery were 60.7% (85/140) and 60.8% (87/143), respectively. A positive correlation was found between neonatal and maternal IgG antibody titers. Compared with the median IgG antibody transfer rate of infected pregnant women, that of vaccinated but not infected pregnant women was higher (1.21 versus: 1.53 [two doses], 1.71 [three doses]). However, neonatal IgG antibodies were relatively low (174.91 versus: 0.99 [two doses], 8.18 [three doses]), and their neutralizing capacity was weak. The overall effectiveness of maternal vaccination in preventing infant infection was 27.0%, and three doses had higher effectiveness than two doses (64.3% vs. 19.6%). Multivariate analysises showed that in vaccination group women receiving three doses or in infection group women with longer interval between infection and delivery had a higher antibody transfer rate and neonatal IgG antibody titer. More than half of women vaccinated before or during early pregnancy can achieve effective antibody transfer to newborns. However, the neonatal IgG antibody titer is low and has a weak neutralizing capacity, providing limited protection to infants.
Focused ultrasound as an alternative to dry needling for the treatment of tendinopathies: A murine model
Authors: Khandare Sujata , Smallcomb Molly , Elliott Jacob , Vidt Meghan E. , Simon Julianna C. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractTendinopathies account for 30% of 102 million annual musculoskeletal injuries occurring annually in the United States. Current treatments, like dry needling, induce microdamage to promote healing but produce mixed success rates. Previously, we showed focused ultrasound can noninvasively create microdamage while preserving mechanical properties in ex vivo murine tendons. This present study compared growth factor, histological, and mechanical effects after focused ultrasound or dry needling treatments in an in vivo murine tendon injury model. Partial Achilles tenotomy was performed in 26 rats. One‐week postsurgery, tendons were treated with focused ultrasound (1.5 MHz, 1‐ms pulses at 10 Hz for 106 s, p+ = 49 MPa, p− = 19 MPa) or dry needling (30 G needle, 5 fenestrations over 20 s) and survived for 1 additional week. Blood was collected immediately before and after treatment and before euthanasia; plasma was assayed for growth factors. Treated tendons and contralateral controls were harvested for histology or mechanical testing. No differences were found between treatments in release of insulin growth factor 1 and transforming growth factor beta; vascular endothelial growth factor A concentrations were too low for detection. Histologically, focused ultrasound and dry needling tendons displayed localized fibroblast infiltration without collagen proliferation with no detectable differences between treatments. Mechanically, stiffness and percent relaxation of dry needling tendons were lower than controls (p = 0.0041, p = 0.0441, respectively), whereas stiffness and percent relaxation of focused ultrasound tendons were not different from controls. These results suggest focused ultrasound should be studied further to determine how this modality can be leveraged as a therapy for tendinopathies.
Development of a semi‐anthropomorphic photoacoustic calcaneus phantom based on nano computed tomography and stereolithography 3D printing
Authors: Xu Zhanpeng , Locke Conor S. , Morris Richard , Jamison DeAndre , Kozloff Kenneth M. , Wang Xueding 
Published: October 2023

AbstractOsteoporosis is a major public health threat with significant physical, psychosocial, and financial consequences. The calcaneus bone has been used as a measurement site for risk prediction of osteoporosis by noninvasive quantitative ultrasound (QUS). By adding optical contrast to QUS, our previous studies indicate that a combination of photoacoustic (PA) and QUS, that is, PAQUS, provides a novel opportunity to assess the health of human calcaneus. Calibration of the PAQUS system is crucial to realize quantitative and repeatable measurements of the calcaneus. Therefore, a phantom which simulates the optical, ultrasound, and architectural properties of the human calcaneus, for PAQUS system calibration, is required. Additionally, a controllable phantom offers researchers a versatile framework for developing versatile structures, allowing more controlled assessment of how varying bone structures cause defined alterations in PA and QUS signals. In this work, we present the first semi‐anthropomorphic calcaneus phantom for PAQUS. The phantom was developed based on nano computed‐tomography (nano‐CT) and stereolithography 3D printing, aiming to maximize accuracy in the approximation of both trabecular and cortical bone microstructures. Compared with the original digital input calcaneus model from a human cadaveric donor, the printed model achieved accuracies of 71.15% in total structure and 87.21% in bone volume fraction. Inorganic materials including synthetic blood, mineral oil, intralipid, and agar gel were used to model the substitutes of bone marrow and soft tissue, filling and covering the calcaneus phantom. The ultrasound and optical properties of this phantom were measured, and the results were consistent with those measured by a commercialized device and from previous in vivo studies. In addition, a short‐term stability test was conducted for this phantom, demonstrating that the optical and ultrasound properties of the phantom were stable without significant variation over 1 month. This semi‐anthropomorphic calcaneus phantom shows structural, ultrasound, and optical properties similar to those from a human calcaneus in vivo and, thereby, can serve as an effective source for equipment calibration and the comprehensive study of human patients.
Association of life's essential 8 and risk of fragility fractures: A large cohort study
Authors: Hou Xiaoli , Zhang Nan , Chen Shuohua , Guo Lu , Yu Yaohui , Wei Zhihao , Liu Jiayin , Wu Shouling , Tian Faming 
Published: October 2023

AbstractCardiovascular health (CVH) score is not only associated with cardiovascular diseases, but also some disorders in other systems. This study aims to investigate the association between CVH score and the risk of fragility fractures. The analysis enrolled 89,464 participants at baseline in Kailuan study initiated in 2006–2007. All participants were then followed up every 2 years and the incidence of fragility fractures was recorded annually. A total CVH score was classified as low (0–49 points), moderate (50–79 points), and ideal (80–100 points). The primary outcome was incident fragility fractures before December 31, 2021. Kaplan–Meier was used to estimate cumulative incidence. Multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models and time‐dependent Cox hazards regression models were used to estimate fragility fracture hazard ratios (aHR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). After 13.98 ± 2.84 years of follow‐up, a total of 1534 cases of fragility fractures were identified, with an incidence density of 1.23 per 1000 person‐years. Compared with the low CVH group, the risk of fragility fractures was significantly lower in moderate (aHR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.66–0.92) and ideal CVH groups (aHR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.51–0.83), particularly in the age <60 group (aHR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59–0.88; aHR= 0.55, 95% CI: 0.41–0.73, respectively). Time‐dependent Cox hazards regression models, sensitivity analysis, and death competition model confirmed the reliability of these findings. The ideal CVH score is associated with a decreased risk of fragility fractures. With the increase of CVH score, the risk of fragility fracture decreases.
Reduction in postnatal weight‐bearing does not alter the trajectory of murine meniscus growth and maturation
Authors: Fogarty Natalie L. , Johnson Talayah , Kwok Bryan , Lin Alisia , Tsinman Tonia K. , Jiang Xi , Koyama Eiki , Han Lin , Baxter Josh R. , Mauck Robert L. , Dyment Nathaniel A. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe early postnatal period represents a critical window for the maturation and development of orthopedic tissues, including those within the knee joint. To understand how mechanical loading impacts the maturational trajectory of the meniscus and other tissues of the hindlimb, perturbation of postnatal weight bearing was achieved through surgical resection of the sciatic nerve in neonatal mice at 1 or 14 days old. Sciatic nerve resection (SNR) produced significant and persistent disruptions in gait, leading to reduced tibial length and reductions in Achilles tendon mechanical properties. However, SNR resulted in minimal disruptions in morphometric parameters of the menisci and other structures in the knee joint, with no detectable differences in Col1a1‐YFP or Col2a1‐CFP expressing cells within the menisci. Furthermore, micromechanical properties of the meniscus and cartilage (as assessed by atomic force microscopy‐based nanoindentation testing) were not different between experimental groups. In contrast to our initial hypothesis, reduced hindlimb weight bearing via neonatal SNR did not significantly impact the growth and development of the knee meniscus. This unexpected finding demonstrates that the input mechanical threshold required to sustain meniscus development may be lower than previously hypothesized, though future studies incorporating skeletal kinematic models coupled with force plate measurements will be required to calculate the loads passing through the affected hindlimb and precisely define these thresholds. Collectively, these results provide insight into the mechanobiological responses of the meniscus to alterations in load, and contribute to our understanding of the factors that influence normal postnatal development.
Effect of climate change on fillet quality and shelf‐life of Oncorhynchus mykiss under controlled conditions
Authors: Alak Gonca , Kara Ayşe , Akköse Ahmet , Gelen Sevda Urçar , Tanas Şeyda Tacer , Uçar Arzu , Parlak Veysel , Atamanalp Muhammed 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDTemperature, which affects numerous physiological processes, has been described as the ‘main ecological factor’ for fish. The aim of this modeling study is to explore the impact of climate‐induced temperature changes on fish fillet quality and shelf life.RESULTSTemperature stress in rainbow trout affected ash and moisture, and inhibited myofibril fragmentation in the fillets. However, with the increase in temperature, there was a decrease in the total amount of saturated fatty acids (∑SFA) and there were significant increases in the total amount of omega 3 (∑n3) and 22:6n‐3 (DHA). It was determined that temperature increase had a negative effect on color, texture, water‐holding capacity, water activity, pH, lactic acid, and glycogen levels in fillets, and it had a positive effect by delaying microbial spoilage, especially in cold storage.CONCLUSIONThis study suggest that the effects of climate change on product quality and shelf life in fish requires further research. It highlights knowledge gaps to guide future research in this emerging field. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Comparison of Tympanostomy Tubes Under Local Anesthesia Versus General Anesthesia for Children
Authors: Fournier Isabelle , Caron Camille , McMurtry C. Meghan , Lapointe Annie , Giguere Chantal , Doré‐Bergeron Marie‐Joëlle , Bergeron Mathieu 
Published: October 2023

ObjectiveTympanostomy tube insertion (TTI) is typically accomplished under general anesthesia (GA) in the operating room. We aimed to compare pain between GA and local anesthesia (LA) in surgically naïve children undergoing TTI. Secondary objectives examined patient's quality of life (QoL) and parent's satisfaction.Study DesignProspective single‐center study.SettingTertiary pediatric academic center.MethodsConsecutive children who underwent TTI under GA were compared to patients under LA. Pain standardized observational pain scales (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability Scale [FLACC], Children's hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale [CHEOPS]) were completed pre‐procedure, during the first tympanostomy and second tympanostomy, and post‐procedure, as well as 1 week postoperatively. General health‐related QoL (PedsQL) and QoL specific to otitis media (OM‐6) were measured before insertion and 1 month postoperatively. Parental satisfaction was also evaluated using a qualitative scale.ResultsLA group had statistically significant higher pain levels at the beginning (7.3 vs. 0), during the first tympanostomy (7.8 vs. 0), during the second tympanostomy (7.7 vs. 0), and at end of the procedure (6.9 vs. 0) with the FLACC scale (all p < 0.01). Results were similar with the CHEOPS scale. No pain was noted 1 week after surgery in either group. Both groups had similar improvement in their QoL (p > 0.05). Minor complication occurred at a similar rate (p > 0.05). Parents were equally satisfied with their choice of anesthesia in both groups when initially questioned after the procedure (p > 0.05).ConclusionsChildren experienced significantly less pain under GA than LA. If LA is to be used, pain and distress‐reducing strategies are critical. Shared decision‐making with families is essential.Level of Evidence3 Laryngoscope, 134:2422–2429, 2024