bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long-term outcomes of bilateral medialisation thyroplasty in patients with vocal fold atrophy with or without sulcus
Authors: van den Broek Emke MJM , Heijnen Bas J , van der Valk Jens C , Hendriksma Martine , Langeveld Antonius PM , van Benthem Peter Paul G , Sjögren Elisabeth V 
Published: October 2023

AbstractObjectiveEvaluate long-term voice outcome after bilateral medialisation thyroplasty in glottic insufficiency due to vocal fold atrophy with or without sulcus.MethodsPatients after medialisation thyroplasty for vocal fold atrophy with or without sulcus were identified. Long-term post-operative subjective voice outcomes (> 1 year) using Voice Handicap Index-30, subjective ratings on voice aspects and study-specific questionnaire were compared to pre-operative and shorter-term (1 year) values.ResultsThirty-six patients were identified, of which 26 were included (16 atrophy, 10 sulcus) with median follow up of 6.7 years. Mean Voice Handicap Index score at > 1 year (40.0) showed clinically relevant (≥ 15 for groups) and statistically significant improvement compared to pre-operative score (58.1) and remained stable compared to post-operative score (35.7) at one year. Ten patients (56 per cent) reported clinically relevant improvement (≥ 10) after more than five years.ConclusionLong-term improvement in subjective voice outcomes is attainable in a significant proportion of patients undergoing bilateral medialisation thyroplasty for atrophy with or without sulcus.
Emoji use validates the potential for meaning standardization among ideographic symbols
Authors: Feldman Laurie Beth 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Technological innovations for online communication reduce the impact of signal transience on meaning standardization while boosting access to reliable patterning across multiple linguistic and nonlinguistic contexts – both asynchronous and synchronous. We classify emojis as ideographic symbols, examine their interdependence with surrounding words when reading/writing, and argue that emoji use validates the potential for meaning standardization in ideographs.
Improving Content Analysis: Tools for Working with Undergraduate Research Assistants
Authors: Goehring Benjamin 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACTUndergraduate research assistants (URAs) perform important roles in many political scientists’ research projects. They serve as coauthors, survey respondents, and data collectors. Despite these roles, there is relatively little discussion about how best to train and manage URAs who are working on a common task: content coding. Drawing on insights from psychology, text analysis, and business management, as well as my own experience in managing a team of nine URAs, this article argues that supervisors should train URAs by pushing them to engage with their own mistakes. Via a series of simulation exercises, I also argue that supervisors—especially supervisors of small teams—should be concerned about the effects of errant post-training coding on data quality. Therefore, I contend that supervisors should utilize computational tools to monitor URA reliability in real time. I provide researchers with a new R package, ura, and a web-based application to implement these suggestions.
CHD8 regulates gut epithelial cell function and affects autism-related behaviors through the gut-brain axis
Authors: Chatterjee Ipsita , Getselter Dmitriy , Ghanayem Nasreen , Harari Ram , Davis Liron , Bel Shai , Elliott Evan 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAutism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by early-onset social behavioral deficits and repetitive behaviors. Chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein (CHD8) is among the genes most strongly associated with autism. In addition to the core behavioral symptoms of autism, affected individuals frequently present with gastrointestinal symptoms that are also common among individuals harboring mutations in the gene encoding CHD8. However, little is known regarding the mechanisms whereby CHD8 affects gut function. In addition, it remains unknown whether gastrointestinal manifestations contribute to the behavioral phenotypes of autism. The current study found that mice haploinsufficient for the large isoform of Chd8 (Chd8L) exhibited increased intestinal permeability, transcriptomic dysregulation in gut epithelial cells, reduced tuft cell and goblet cell counts in the gut, and an overall increase in microbial load. Gut epithelial cell-specific Chd8 haploinsufficiency was associated with increased anxiety-related behaviors together with a decrease in tuft cell numbers. Antibiotic treatment of Chd8L haploinsufficient mice attenuated social behavioral deficits. Together, these results suggest Chd8 as a key determinant of autism-related gastrointestinal deficits, while also laying the ground for future studies on the link between GI deficits and autism-related behaviors.
Velusetrag rescues GI dysfunction, gut inflammation and dysbiosis in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Grigoletto Jessica , Miraglia Fabiana , Benvenuti Laura , Pellegrini Carolina , Soldi Sara , Galletti Serena , Cattaneo Antonino , Pich Emilio Merlo , Grimaldi Maria , Colla Emanuela , Vesci Loredana 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIn patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), constipation is common, and it appears in a prodromal stage before the hallmark motor symptoms. The present study aimed to investigate whether Velusetrag, a selective 5‑HT4 receptor agonist, may be a suitable candidate to improve intestinal motility in a mouse model of PD. Five months old PrP human A53T alpha-synuclein transgenic (Tg) mice, which display severe constipation along with decreased colonic cholinergic transmission already at 3 months, were treated daily with the drug for 4 weeks. Velusetrag treatment reduced constipation by significantly stimulating both the longitudinal and circular-driven contractions and improved inflammation by reducing the level of serum and colonic IL1β and TNF-α and by decreasing the number of GFAP-positive glia cells in the colon of treated mice. No significant downregulation of the 5-HT4 receptor was observed but instead Velusetrag seemed to improve axonal degeneration in Tgs as shown by an increase in NF-H and VAChT staining. Ultimately, Velusetrag restored a well-balanced intestinal microbial composition comparable to non-Tg mice. Based on these promising data, we are confident that Velusetrag is potentially eligible for clinical studies to treat constipation in PD patients.
Soil carbon storage capacity of drylands under altered fire regimes
Authors: Pellegrini Adam F. A. , Reich Peter B. , Hobbie Sarah E. , Coetsee Corli , Wigley Benjamin , February Edmund , Georgiou Katerina , Terrer Cesar , Brookshire E. N. J. , Ahlström Anders , Nieradzik Lars , Sitch Stephen , Melton Joe R. , Forrest Matthew , Li Fang , Hantson Stijn , Burton Chantelle , Yue Chao , Ciais Philippe , Jackson Robert B. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe determinants of fire-driven changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) across broad environmental gradients remains unclear, especially in global drylands. Here we combined datasets and field sampling of fire-manipulation experiments to evaluate where and why fire changes SOC and compared our statistical model to simulations from ecosystem models. Drier ecosystems experienced larger relative changes in SOC than humid ecosystems—in some cases exceeding losses from plant biomass pools—primarily explained by high fire-driven declines in tree biomass inputs in dry ecosystems. Many ecosystem models underestimated the SOC changes in drier ecosystems. Upscaling our statistical model predicted that soils in savannah–grassland regions may have gained 0.64 PgC due to net-declines in burned area over the past approximately two decades. Consequently, ongoing declines in fire frequencies have probably created an extensive carbon sink in the soils of global drylands that may have been underestimated by ecosystem models.
Multilevel visual motion opponency in Drosophila
Authors: Ammer Georg , Serbe-Kamp Etienne , Mauss Alex S. , Richter Florian G. , Fendl Sandra , Borst Alexander 
Published: October 2023

AbstractInhibitory interactions between opponent neuronal pathways constitute a common circuit motif across brain areas and species. However, in most cases, synaptic wiring and biophysical, cellular and network mechanisms generating opponency are unknown. Here, we combine optogenetics, voltage and calcium imaging, connectomics, electrophysiology and modeling to reveal multilevel opponent inhibition in the fly visual system. We uncover a circuit architecture in which a single cell type implements direction-selective, motion-opponent inhibition at all three network levels. This inhibition, mediated by GluClα receptors, is balanced with excitation in strength, despite tenfold fewer synapses. The different opponent network levels constitute a nested, hierarchical structure operating at increasing spatiotemporal scales. Electrophysiology and modeling suggest that distributing this computation over consecutive network levels counteracts a reduction in gain, which would result from integrating large opposing conductances at a single instance. We propose that this neural architecture provides resilience to noise while enabling high selectivity for relevant sensory information.
Elongation roadblocks mediated by dCas9 across human genes modulate transcription and nascent RNA processing
Authors: Zukher Inna , Dujardin Gwendal , Sousa-Luís Rui , Proudfoot Nick J. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractNon-cleaving Cas9 (dCas9) is widely employed to manipulate specific gene loci, often with scant regard for unintended transcriptional effects. We demonstrate here that dCas9 mediates precise RNA polymerase II transcriptional pausing followed by transcription termination and potential alternative polyadenylation. By contrast, alternative splicing is unaffected, likely requiring more sustained alteration to elongation speed. The effect on transcription is orientation specific, with pausing only being induced when dCas9-associated guide RNA anneals to the non-template strand. Targeting the template strand induces minimal effects on transcription elongation and thus provides a neutral approach to recruit dCas9-linked effector domains to specific gene regions. In essence, we evaluate molecular effects of targeting dCas9 to mammalian transcription units. In so doing, we also provide new information on elongation by RNA polymerase II and coupled pre-mRNA processing.
HCG supplement did not accelerate tunica albuginea remodeling to facilitate penile growth
Authors: Li Tao , Tian Yuan , Zhong Quliang , Chen Peng , Zhang Junhao , Du Guangshi , Li Lei , Jiang Yiting , Jiang Kehua 
Published: October 2023

AbstractPenile size is closely concerned and short penis contributes serious sexual dysfunction and tremendous psychological problems to couples. Androgen is essential for penile development and testosterone replacement is recommended to patients with micropenis. We previously proved that inhibiting activity of lysyl oxidase (Anti-lysyl oxidase, Anti-LOX) combined with vacuum erectile device (VED) lengthened penis by remodeling tunica albuginea. We thus explored whether HCG supplement could accelerate tunica albuginea remodeling (induced by Anti-LOX + VED) to promote penile growth. Forty-two SD male rats (4 weeks old) were purchased and divided into 7 groups: control, Anti-LOX, HCG, VED (with a negative aspirated pressure of − 300 mmHg), Anti-LOX + VED, HCG + VED, and Anti-LOX + HCG + VED. After an intervention for 4 weeks, all rats’ penile length, exposed penile length, and erectile function were measured. Serum samples were collected to detect hormone levels and penile corpus cavernosum were harvested for histo-pathological analysis. All intervention groups showed significantly longer penis than controlled rats. Anti-LOX sharply increased penile length and exposed length by 15% and 9% respectively, this lengthening effect was more obvious in Anti-LOX + VED group (26% and 19%, respectively). Although HCG promoted penile length by 8%, this effect was slight for exposed length (3%). Moreover, Anti-LOX + HCG + VED dramatically increased penile length and exposed length by 22% and 18%, respectively, which was similar with that in Anti-LOX + VED (26% and 19%, respectively). HCG dramatically stimulated testosterone and dihydrotestosterone secretions than control group, whether with or without Anti-LOX and VED; while it induced more AR expression than other groups. Finally, all procedures did not improve or deteriorate normal erectile function. Although we verified that Anti-LOX + VED lengthened penis by inducing tunica albuginea remodeling, however, HCG supplement did not synergize with Anti-LOX + VED to accelerate albuginea remodeling to facilitate penile growth.
An integrative and multi-indicator approach for wildlife health applied to an endangered caribou herd
Authors: Aguilar Xavier Fernandez , Leclerc Lisa-Marie ,   Kugluktuk Angoniatit Association,   Ekaluktutiak Hunters & Trappers Organization,   Olokhaktomiut Hunters & Trappers Committee, Mavrot Fabien , Roberto-Charron Amélie , Tomaselli Matilde , Mastromonaco Gabriela , Gunn Anne , Pruvot Mathieu , Rothenburger Jamie L. , Thanthrige-Don Niroshan , Jahromi Elham Zeini , Kutz Susan 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAssessing wildlife health in remote regions requires a multi-faceted approach, which commonly involves convenient samplings and the need of identifying and targeting relevant and informative indicators. We applied a novel wildlife health framework and critically assessed the value of different indicators for understanding the health status and trends of an endangered tundra caribou population. Samples and data from the Dolphin and Union caribou herd were obtained between 2015 and 2021, from community-based surveillance programs and from captured animals. We documented and categorized indicators into health determinants (infectious diseases and trace elements), processes (cortisol, pathology), and health outcomes (pregnancy and body condition). During a recent period of steep population decline, our results indicated a relatively good body condition and pregnancy rates, and decreasing levels of stress, along with a low adult cow survival. We detected multiple factors as potential contributors to the reduced survival, including Brucella suis biovar 4, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and lower hair trace minerals. These results remark the need of targeted studies to improve detection and investigations on caribou mortalities. We also identified differences in health indicators between captured and hunter sampled caribou, highlighting the importance of accounting for sampling biases. This integrative approach that drew on multiple data sources has provided unprecedented knowledge on the health in this herd and highlights the value of documenting individual animal health to understand causes of wildlife declines.
Histologic subtype-based evaluation of recurrence and survival outcomes in patients with adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater
Authors: Park Se Jun , Shin Kabsoo , Hong Tae Ho , Lee Sung Hak , Kim In-Ho , Kim Younghoon , Lee MyungAh 
Published: October 2023

AbstractPatients with ampulla of Vater adenocarcinoma exhibit diverse outcomes, likely since these malignancies can originate from any of the three converging epithelia at this site. Such variability presents difficulties in clinical decision-making processes and in devising therapeutic approaches. In this study, the potential clinical value of histomolecular phenotypes was determined by integrating histopathological analysis with protein expression (MUC1, CDX2, CK20, and MUC2), in a cohort of 87 patients diagnosed with stage IB to III ampulla of Vater adenocarcinoma who underwent curative surgical resection. Of the 87 patients, 54 were classified as pancreato-biliary (PB) subtype and 33 as intestinal subtype. The median follow-up time for all patients was 32.8 months (95% CI, 25.3–49.2). Patients with a histomolecular PB phenotype (CDX2 negative, MUC1 positive, MUC2 negative, and irrespective of the CK20 results) were associated with poor prognostic outcomes in both disease-free survival (DFS) (HR = 1.81; 95% CI, 1.04–3.17; p = 0.054) and overall survival (OS) (HR = 2.01; 95% CI, 1.11–3.66; p = 0.039) compared to those with histomolecular intestinal carcinomas. Patients with the PB subtype were more likely to have local recurrence alone (11 of 37, 29.7%) compared to those with the intestinal subtype (1 of 15, 6.7%). In the context of systemic disease, a notably greater proportion of patients exhibiting elevated carbohydrate antigen 19–9 levels were observed in the PB subtype compared to the intestinal subtype (p = 0.024). In the cohort of 38 patients who received first-line palliative chemotherapy, a diminished median overall survival (OS) was observed in the PB group compared to the intestinal group (10.3 vs. 28.3 months, HR = 2.47; 95% CI, 1.23–4.95; p = 0.025). By integrating histopathologic and molecular criteria, we can identify distinct and clinically relevant histomolecular phenotypes in adenocarcinomas of the ampulla of Vater, which could have considerable impact on existing therapeutic approaches.
Electronic strengthening mechanism of covalent Si via excess electron/hole doping
Authors: Noda Hiroki , Sakaguchi Shumpei , Fujita Ryoga , Minami Susumu , Hirakata Hiroyuki , Shimada Takahiro 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBrittle fracture of a covalent material is ultimately governed by the strength of the electronic bonds. Recently, attempts have been made to alter the mechanical properties including fracture strength by excess electron/hole doping. However, the underlying mechanics/mechanism of how these doped electrons/holes interact with the bond and changes its strength is yet to be revealed. Here, we perform first-principles density-functional theory calculations to clarify the effect of excess electrons/holes on the bonding strength of covalent Si. We demonstrate that the bond strength of Si decreases or increases monotonically in correspondence with the doping concentration. Surprisingly, change to the extent of 30–40% at the maximum feasible doping concentration could be observed. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the change in the covalent bond strength is determined by the bonding/antibonding state of the doped excess electrons/holes. In summary, this work explains the electronic strengthening mechanism of covalent Si from a quantum mechanical point of view and provides valuable insights into the electronic-level design of strength in covalent materials.
Visual perceptual learning modulates microsaccade rate and directionality
Authors: Hung Shao-Chin , Barbot Antoine , Carrasco Marisa 
Published: October 2023

AbstractMicrosaccades, incessant “fixational eye movements” (< 1°), are an important window into cognitive functions. Yet, its role in visual perceptual learning (VPL)–improvements in visual discrimination due to practice–remains practically unexplored. Here we investigated whether and how microsaccades change in VPL. Human observers performed a Landolt acuity task for 5 consecutive days and were assigned to the Neutral or Attention group. On each trial, two peripheral Landolt squares were presented briefly along a diagonal. Observers reported the gap side of the target stimulus. Training improved acuity and modified the microsaccade rate; with training, the rate decreased during the fixation period but increased during the response cue. Furthermore, microsaccade direction during the response cue was biased toward the target location, and training enhanced and sped up this bias. Finally, the microsaccade rate during a task-free fixation period correlated with observers’ initial acuity threshold, indicating that the fewer the microsaccades during fixation the better the individual visual acuity. All these results, which were similar for both the Neutral and Attention groups and at both trained and untrained locations, suggest that microsaccades could serve as a physiological marker reflecting functional dynamics in human perceptual learning.
Dark matter halo mass functions and density profiles from mass and energy cascade
Authors: Xu Zhijie 
Published: October 2023

AbstractHalo abundance and structure play a central role for modeling structure formation and evolution. Without relying on a spherical or ellipsoidal collapse model, we analytically derive the halo mass function and cuspy halo density (inner slope of −4/3) based on the mass and energy cascade theory in dark matter flow. The hierarchical halo structure formation leads to halo or particle random walk with a position-dependent waiting time $$\tau _g$$

τ
g

. First, the inverse mass cascade from small to large scales leads to the halo random walk in mass space with $$\tau _g\propto m_h^{-\lambda }$$

τ
g

∝

m
h

-
λ

, where $$m_h$$

m
h

is the halo mass and $$\lambda$$
λ
is a halo geometry parameter with predicted value of 2/3. The corresponding Fokker-Planck solution for halo random walk in mass space gives rise to the halo mass function with a power-law behavior on small scale and exponential decay on large scale. This can be further improved by considering two different $$\lambda$$
λ
for haloes below and above a critical mass scale $$m_h^*$$

m
h
∗

, i.e. a double-$$\lambda$$
λ
halo mass function. Second, a double-$$\gamma$$
γ
density profile can be derived based on the particle random walk in 3D space with a position-dependent waiting time $$\tau _g \propto \Phi (r)^{-1} \propto r^{-\gamma }$$

τ
g

∝
Φ

(
r
)

-
1

∝

r

-
γ

, where $$\Phi$$
Φ
is the gravitational potential and r is the particle distance to halo center. Theory predicts $$\gamma =2/3$$

γ
=
2
/
3

that leads to a cuspy density profile with an inner slope of −4/3, consistent with the predicted scaling laws from energy cascade. The Press-Schechter mass function and Einasto density profile are just special cases of proposed models. The small scale permanence can be identified due to the scale-independent rate of mass and energy cascade, where density profiles of different halo masses and redshifts converge to the $$-4/3$$

-
4
/
3

scaling law ($$\rho _h \propto r^{-4/3}$$

ρ
h

∝

r

-
4
/
3

) on small scales. Theory predicts the halo number density scales with halo mass as $$\propto m_h^{-1.9}$$

∝

m
h

-
1.9

, while the halo mass density scales as $$\propto m_h^{4/9}$$

∝

m
h

4
/
9

. Results were compared against the Illustris simulations. This new perspective provides a theory for nearly universal halo mass functions and density profiles.