bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of diagnostic markers of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma using transcriptomic tumour and blood sample data
Authors: Sionakidis Aristeidis , Lalagkas Panagiotis Nikolaos , Malousi Andigoni , Vizirianakis Ioannis S. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most frequently diagnosed form of pancreatic cancer worldwide. PDAC is associated with a poor survival rate mainly due to the disease being usually diagnosed at late stages.MethodsPublicly available gene expression data from 10 studies with tumour tissue (448 samples) and/or blood samples (128 samples) from PDAC patients were pooled together and analyzed for the identification of stage‐specific and global diagnostic markers using differential gene expression analysis. The list of statistically significant () differentially expressed genes were used to carry out enrichment analysis via active subnetworks and miRNA enrichment analysis. We then used the results from these analyses to identify the most significant genes and pathways and map these to marketed drugs’ pharmacological targets. The same process was replicated for studies with blood samples and results were compared to those from the tissue analysis. A set of consistently deregulated genes (pancreatic tumour signature, PTS) in both tissue and blood samples was derived and validated in external cohorts and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data.ResultsNotable gene expression deregulation was found in all tumour stages with significant overlap. We identified 820 consistently deregulated genes (PTS) in tissue samples of all stages and blood samples. Active subnetwork analysis revealed enriched ribosome, proteasome, adherens junction and cell cycle pathways across all stages and blood samples. Our findings suggest that microRNA (miRNA) contribution to PDAC pathology plays a significant role and is probably mediated by distinct miRNAs across stages of PDAC. Stage‐specific enriched miRNAs with diagnostic potential included miR‐21, miR‐29, miR‐124 and miR‐30, for stages 1–4, respectively. By investigating the pharmacogenetic interactions of the identified targets with clinically approved drugs, we outline potential paths for personalized interventions. Importantly, the PTS showed a significant association with survival in TCGA data.ConclusionThus, we present a compilation of protein‐coding markers and miRNAs that hold potential as a diagnostic tool for the early detection of PDAC, as well as for designing novel therapeutic strategies aimed at improving patient outcomes.
Effectiveness of blood steroidal passport markers for detecting testosterone abuse in Asians
Authors: Okano Masato , Shiomura Sho 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe World Anti‐Doping Agency (WADA) has introduced an Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) with a steroidal module, which is intended for the monitoring of longitudinal profiles of an athlete's steroid variables in urine to identify endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids that are administered exogenously. It has been in use since 2014. The prevalence of UGT2B17 gene deletion with relatively low levels of testosterone (T) glucuronide in urine is high in the Asian region. There are cases in which urinary T is below the detection limit in specific urine samples, for example, diluted urine, urine collected from females, or urine collected from UGT2B17 deletion individuals. Additional steroid markers T, 4‐androstenedione (A4), and the T/A4 ratio in serum were newly added to the ABP steroidal module by WADA in 2023 to compensate for the urine steroid profile. In this study, populations of blood steroid markers in Asians (n = 510) were investigated and classified according to UGT2B17 polymorphism to confirm the effectiveness of blood steroid markers in monitoring Asian athletes. No significant difference in the T/A4 ratio was observed between the genotypes. Furthermore, an administration study of T enanthate in females (n = 10) who were classified according to UGT2B17 genotypes was performed. The concentration of T and the T/A4 ratio were found to be significantly increased in all post‐administration samples until 15 days after administration (p < 0.01). The overall results supported the high effectiveness of subject‐based monitoring for serum T and T/A4 ratio for recently identified shortcomings in the detection of T abuse in Asians.
Maternal exposure to hyperbaric oxygen at the preimplantation stages increases apoptosis and ectopic Cdx2 expression and decreases Oct4 expression in mouse blastocysts via Nrf2‐Notch1 upregulation and Nf2 downregulation
Authors: Li Yu‐Ming , Chung Yu Lang , Wu Yung‐Fu , Wang Chien‐Kuo , Chen Chieh‐Min , Chen Yi‐Hui 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe environmental oxygen tension has been reported to impact the blastocyst quality and cell numbers in the inner cell mass (ICM) during human and murine embryogenesis. While the molecular mechanisms leading to increased ICM cell numbers and pluripotency gene expression under hypoxia have been deciphered, it remains unknown which regulatory pathways caused the underweight fetal body and overweight placenta after maternal exposure to hyperbaric oxygen (HBO).ResultsThe blastocysts from the HBO‐exposed pregnant mice revealed significantly increased signals of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nuclear Nrf2 staining, decreased Nf2 and Oct4 expression, increased nuclear Tp53bp1 and active caspase‐3 staining, and ectopic nuclear signals of Cdx2, Yap, and the Notch1 intracellular domain (N1ICD) in the ICM. In the ICM of the HBO‐exposed blastocysts, both Nf2 cDNA microinjection and Nrf2 shRNA microinjection significantly decreased the ectopic nuclear expression of Cdx2, Tp53bp1, and Yap whereas increased Oct4 expression, while Nrf2 shRNA microinjection also significantly decreased Notch1 mRNA levels and nuclear expression of N1ICD and active caspase‐3.ConclusionWe show for the first time that maternal exposure to HBO at the preimplantation stage induces apoptosis and impairs ICM cell specification via upregulating Nrf2‐Notch1‐Cdx2 expression and downregulating Nf2‐Oct4 expression.
Autotaxin in encephalitogenic CD4 T cells as a therapeutic target for multiple sclerosis
Authors: Petersen‐Cherubini Cora L. , Murphy Shawn P. , Xin Matthew , Liu Yue , Deffenbaugh Joshua L. , Jahan Ishrat , Rau Christina N. , Yang Yuhong , Lovett‐Racke Amy E. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractMultiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune‐mediated inflammatory disease of the CNS. A defining characteristic of MS is the ability of autoreactive T lymphocytes to cross the blood–brain barrier and mediate inflammation within the CNS. Previous work from our lab found the gene Enpp2 to be highly upregulated in murine encephalitogenic T cells. Enpp2 encodes for the protein autotaxin, a secreted glycoprotein that catalyzes the production of lysophosphatidic acid and promotes transendothelial migration of T cells from the bloodstream into the lymphatic system. The present study sought to characterize autotaxin expression in T cells during CNS autoimmune disease and determine its potential therapeutic value. Myelin‐activated CD4 T cells upregulated expression of autotaxin in vitro, and ex vivo analysis of CNS‐infiltrating CD4 T cells showed significantly higher autotaxin expression compared with cells from healthy mice. In addition, inhibiting autotaxin in myelin‐specific T cells reduced their encephalitogenicity in adoptive transfer studies and decreased in vitro cell motility. Importantly, using two mouse models of MS, treatment with an autotaxin inhibitor ameliorated EAE severity, decreased the number of CNS infiltrating T and B cells, and suppressed relapses, suggesting autotaxin may be a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of MS.
Determination of inorganic ions and carbohydrates in cardioplegia and nephroplegia solutions by ion chromatography
Authors: Wen Zhiqi , Van Schepdael Ann , Adams Erwin 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIn this study, methods for analyzing inorganic ions and carbohydrates in cardioplegia and nephroplegia solutions were developed and validated using ion chromatography with both conductivity and pulsed amperometric detection. The inorganic ions such as sodium, potassium, and calcium were separated by a cation‐exchange column with 27 mM methanesulfonic acid as mobile phase at 0.5 mL/min. The anion (chloride) and carbohydrates (mannitol and glucose) were analyzed by an anion‐exchange column using a mobile phase of 20 mM sodium hydroxide at 1.0 mL/min. The methods showed a high sensitivity for all analytes, with quantification limits from 0.0002 to 0.06 mg/L. Good linearities between the peak areas and concentrations were found for all analytes within the selected concentration range (R2 > 0.999). Relative standard deviation values for repeatability and interday precision were 0.1%–1.0% and 0.7%–1.6%, respectively. The accuracy was validated by determining the percentage recovery, which was between 98.0% and 101.3% for all analytes, indicating good accuracy of the methods. The robustness was verified by using an experimental design. Finally, real samples were analyzed to determine the content of the analytes. All assay values were between 96.8% and 102.5%.
The relationship between epistemic curiosity and creativity: Research status and educational implications
Authors: Li Yadan , Emin Merbiya , Zhou Qianzhu , Zhang Jing , Hu Weiping 
Published: October 2023

AbstractCreativity is a core driver of social development and technological progress. Epistemic curiosity (EC), as an important intrinsic motivation, is a prerequisite for creativity. Understanding the cognitive and neural mechanisms through which EC affects creativity is the “golden key” to cultivate top‐notch innovative talents based on cognitive and neural principles and stimulate the innovative vitality of talents. In this paper, we have combined research evidence from behavioral and neuroimaging studies, introduced the basic concepts of EC and creativity, reviewed and evaluated prior empirical research and several theoretical perspectives linking EC and creativity. Additionally, we have discussed the shared characteristics of EC and creativity as well as the cognitive and neural mechanisms associated with them. Then, we have proposed several practical suggestions to fostering and promoting EC as a means to enhancing creativity. These suggestions serve as a foundation and inspiration for future research and educational practices and provide a theoretical framework for cultivating innovative talents. Finally, we indicated possible directions for future research on the relationship between EC and creativity.
Impact of irrigated agriculture on households' income and food security: Evidence from the south‐west region of Ethiopia
Authors: Sisay Kindineh 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis study was conducted to identify the determining factors of participation in irrigated farming and to estimate its impact on households' farm income and food security using cross‐sectional data collected from Gimbo District, south‐west Ethiopia. Primary data for this study were collected from 200 irrigator and 219 non‐irrigator households using a structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and econometric analyses were employed to analyse the data using farm income, calorie intake, binary food security and dietary diversity as the outcome variables. As the propensity score matching result revealed, small‐scale irrigation significantly and positively increases calorie intake, annual farm income and diet group by 320 kcal, 7653 Ethiopian birr (ETB) and 0.65 points, respectively. The results obtained from the logit model further revealed that the age of the household head, education level of the household head, distance of land from the irrigation source, land size, off‐/nonfarm income, distance from the nearest market, slope of the land and access to irrigation services are the variables that were found to significantly affect participation in irrigation. Given the significant contributions of small‐scale irrigation to rural households' annual farm income and food security, policy priorities should be placed on awareness creation about the relevance of irrigation technology by informing households of how much irrigator households differ from non‐irrigators in terms of their annual farm income and food security. The study further recommends that the government and any other concerned bodies ought to toil in the expansion of irrigated farming and technological development of small‐scale irrigation schemes.
Sectoral slowdowns in the United Kingdom: Evidence from transmission probabilities and economic linkages
Authors: Janssens Eva F. , Lumsdaine Robin L. 
Published: October 2023

SummaryThis paper studies spillovers across macroeconomic sectors in the United Kingdom, using data from the Bank of England's Flow of Funds statistics. We combine two different approaches to quantify the spread of economic deterioration to assess whether sectors with large bilateral economic linkages as measured through network data have a greater statistical likelihood of spillovers between them. The combination of both approaches reveals the Monetary Financial Institutions sector's role as shock absorber and identifies the most important channels of spillovers. The inferential discrepancies between network data and statistical spillovers highlight the contribution of the proposed methodology.
Fabrication of wound dressings: Herbal extract‐loaded nanoliposomes embedded in fungal chitosan/polycaprolactone electrospun nanofibers for tissue regeneration
Authors: Erdoğmuş Sevim Feyza , Altintaş Özlem Erdal , Demirel Hasan Hüseyin , Okumuş Nurullah 
Published: October 2023

AbstractWound healing is a complex process and one of the major therapeutic and economic subjects in the pharmaceutical area. In recent years, the fabrication of nano‐sized wound dressing models has attracted great attention for tissue regeneration. Plant extracts loaded nanoparticles are environmentally friendly and non‐toxic and the release of the bioactive substance will be controlled to the wound area. This study aims to fabricate wound dressing models that contain bioactive components for tissue regeneration. Fungal chitosan/polycaprolactone nanofiber was fabricated by electrospinning and it has been characterized. Plant extracts loaded nanoliposomes were prepared, characterized, and embedded in nanofiber structures. The effectiveness of wound dressing models for tissue regeneration was evaluated by in vitro and in vivo studies. It was observed that all wound dressing models positively affect the cell viability of human dermal fibroblast cells. It was determined that plant extracts loaded nanoparticles embedded in nanofibers increased in cell viability than nanoparticles that were non‐embedded in nanofiber structures. Histological analysis showed that plant extract‐loaded nanoliposomes embedded in chitosan/PCL nanofibers were used for tissue regeneration. The most effective nanofibers were determined as Wd‐ClNL nanofibers.Research Highlights
Hypericum perforatum L. and Cistus laurifolius L. were prepared by modified ultrasonic extraction method.
Fungal chitosan/polycaprolactone nanofiber was fabricated by electrospinning and it has been characterized.
Plant extract‐loaded nanoliposomes were prepared, and characterized.
They were embedded in chitosan/polycaprolactone nanofiber.
Effects of the wound dressing model were analyzed by in vitro and in vivo assays for tissue regeneration.
Advancing health information during interhospital transfer: An interrupted time series
Authors: Mueller Stephanie K. , Garabedian Pamela , Goralnick Eric , Bates David W. , Samal Lipika 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIntroductionAlthough the transfer of patients between acute care hospitals (interhospital transfer, IHT) is common, health information exchange (HIE) during IHT remains inadequate, with fragmented communication and unreliable access to clinical information. This study aims to design, implement, and rigorously evaluate the implementation of a HIE platform to improve data access during IHT.Methods and AnalysisStudy subjects include patients aged >18 transferred to the medical, cardiology, oncology, or intensive care unit (ICU) services at an 800‐bed quaternary care hospital; and healthcare workers involved in their care. The first aim of this study is to optimize clinician workflow, data visualization, and interoperability through user‐centered design sessions for HIE platform development. The second aim is to evaluate the impact of the intervention on clinician‐reported medical errors among 500 pre‐ and 500 postintervention IHT patients using interrupted time series methodology, adjusting for confounding variables and temporal trends. The third aim is to evaluate intervention fidelity, use and perceived usability of the platform, and barriers and facilitators of implementation from interprofessional stakeholder input, using mixed‐methods evaluation. The fourth aim is to consolidate key findings to create a toolkit for spread and sustainability.Ethics and DisseminationWe will track patient safety endpoints and clinician workflow burdens and ensure the protection of patient data throughout the study. We will disseminate our findings via the creation of a toolkit for spread and sustainability, partnering with our funder (AHRQ) for dissemination, and communicating our results via abstracts and publications.
Total and Regional Brain Volumes in Fetuses With Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Cromb Daniel , Uus Alena , Van Poppel Milou P.M. , Steinweg Johannes K. , Bonthrone Alexandra F. , Maggioni Alessandra , Cawley Paul , Egloff Alexia , Kyriakopolous Vanessa , Matthew Jacqueline , Price Anthony , Pushparajah Kuberan , Simpson John , Razavi Reza , DePrez Maria , Edwards David , Hajnal Jo , Rutherford Mary , Lloyd David F.A. , Counsell Serena J. 
Published: October 2023

BackgroundCongenital heart disease (CHD) is common and is associated with impaired early brain development and neurodevelopmental outcomes, yet the exact mechanisms underlying these associations are unclear.PurposeTo utilize MRI data from a cohort of fetuses with CHD as well as typically developing fetuses to test the hypothesis that expected cerebral substrate delivery is associated with total and regional fetal brain volumes.Study TypeRetrospective case–control study.PopulationThree hundred eighty fetuses (188 male), comprising 45 healthy controls and 335 with isolated CHD, scanned between 29 and 37 weeks gestation. Fetuses with CHD were assigned into one of four groups based on expected cerebral substrate delivery.Field Strength/SequenceT2‐weighted single‐shot fast‐spin‐echo sequences and a balanced steady‐state free precession gradient echo sequence were obtained on a 1.5 T scanner.AssessmentImages were motion‐corrected and reconstructed using an automated slice‐to‐volume registration reconstruction technique, before undergoing segmentation using an automated pipeline and convolutional neural network that had undergone semi‐supervised training. Differences in total, regional brain (cortical gray matter, white matter, deep gray matter, cerebellum, and brainstem) and brain:body volumes were compared between groups.Statistical TestsANOVA was used to test for differences in brain volumes between groups, after accounting for sex and gestational age at scan. PFDR‐values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsTotal and regional brain volumes were smaller in fetuses where cerebral substrate delivery is reduced. No significant differences were observed in total or regional brain volumes between control fetuses and fetuses with CHD but normal cerebral substrate delivery (all PFDR > 0.12). Severely reduced cerebral substrate delivery is associated with lower brain:body volume ratios.Data ConclusionTotal and regional brain volumes are smaller in fetuses with CHD where there is a reduction in cerebral substrate delivery, but not in those where cerebral substrate delivery is expected to be normal.Evidence Level3Technical EfficacyStage 3
The role of dopamine in visual imagery—An experimental pharmacological study
Authors: Monzel Merlin , Karneboge Jana , Reuter Martin 
Published: October 2023

AbstractMental imagery enables people to simulate experiences in their minds without the presence of an external stimulus. The underlying biochemical mechanisms are poorly understood but there is vague evidence that dopamine may play a significant role. A better understanding at the biochemical level could help to unravel the mechanisms of mental imagery and related phenomena such as aphantasia (= lack of voluntary mental imagery), but also opens up possibilities for interventions to enhance or restore mental imagery. To test the hypothesis that acute dopamine depletion leads to a decrease in the strength of mental imagery, N = 22 male participants will be administered an amino acid mixture containing branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs) and tryptophan (TRP) to transiently reduce dopamine synthesis and further N = 22 male participants will receive a placebo. Plasma prolactin (PRL) levels are determined as a peripheral marker of brain dopamine function. The strength of mental imagery will be measured before and after ingestion of the BCAA/TRP mixture using the method of mental imagery priming. Additional exploratory analyses will use genetic data to investigate possible effects of variations on dopaminergic gene loci (e.g., DAT1) on dopamine levels and strength of mental imagery. The results show […].
Innovative non‐targeted liquid chromatography fingerprinting approach for authenticating tigernuts under Protected Designation of Origin quality seal
Authors: Medina‐García Miriam , Jiménez‐Carvelo Ana M. , Bagur‐González María G. , González‐Casado Antonio 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDTigernut is a typical foodstuff from a specific region of Valencia (Spain) called ‘L'Horta Nord’, where it is commercialized under a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) as Chufa de Valencia (‘Valencia's tigernut’). PDO‐recognized tigernuts present unique characteristics associated with their particular production region. Increasing demand and the associated expansion of its cultivation area has made necessary an exhaustive quality control to check the geographical origin and quality seal.RESULTSIn this work, a new multivariate analytical method capable of authenticating the PDO quality seal of tigernut samples was developed. Tigernut fat fraction was extracted under optimal conditions, applying the methodology of design of experiments. The analytical method combined fingerprinting methodology and chemometric tools to observe the natural grouping of samples using the exploratory analysis method and to develop classification models (partial least squares–discriminatory analysis; PLS‐DA) to discriminate between two sample categories: (i) PDO tigernuts; and (ii) NON‐PDO tigernuts.CONCLUSIONThe built PLS‐DA model demonstrated 100% accuracy, high sensitivity and specificity, revealing that the tigernut fat fraction can be applied to authenticate the PDO quality seal. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.