bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MSCs’ conditioned media cytokine and growth factor profiles and their impact on macrophage polarization
Authors: Peshkova Maria , Korneev Alexander , Suleimanov Shakir , Vlasova Irina I. , Svistunov Andrey , Kosheleva Nastasia , Timashev Peter 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
There is a growing body of evidence that multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells’ (MSCs’) remarkable therapeutic potential is attributed not only to their differentiation and regenerative capacity, but also to the paracrine effect, underlying their immunomodulatory properties. MSCs’ secretome (i.e., cytokines, growth factors, and extracellular vesicles) is therefore increasingly discussed in the context of their ability to modulate inflammatory response and promote regeneration. There is evidence that 2D or 3D culturing conditions have an impact on the cells’ secretome, and here we aimed to compare the secretion of cytokines and growth factors in human MSCs from different sources cultured in 2D and 3D conditions and assess their effect on human macrophages polarization in vitro.

Methods
MSCs were derived from human adipose tissue, bone marrow, gingiva, placenta, and umbilical cord, cultured as monolayers or as cell spheroids. Their cytokine profiles were analyzed, and data standardization was carried out using a z-score. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells-derived macrophages were then treated with umbilical cord-derived MSCs’ conditioned media and their effect on macrophages polarization was assessed.

Results
Our findings suggest that umbilical cord-derived MSCs’ conditioned media demonstrated the highest cytokine and growth factor levels and despite mostly pro-inflammatory cytokine profile were able to promote anti-inflammatory macrophage polarization.

Conclusions
Umbilical cord-derived MSCs’ conditioned media hold great potential for therapeutic use, demonstrating significant anti-inflammatory effect on human macrophages.
Dual titration of minute ventilation and sweep gas flow to control carbon dioxide variations in patients on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Masi Paul , Bagate François , Tuffet Samuel , Piscitelli Mariantonietta , Folliguet Thierry , Razazi Keyvan , De Prost Nicolas , Carteaux Guillaume , Mekontso Dessap Armand 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
The implantation of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) support to manage severe acute respiratory distress syndrome generates large variations in carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2) that are associated with intracranial bleeding. We assessed the feasibility and efficacy of a pragmatic protocol for progressive dual titration of sweep gas flow and minute ventilation after VV-ECMO implantation in order to limit significant PaCO2 variations.

Patients and methods
A protocol for dual titration of sweep gas flow and minute ventilation following VV-ECMO implantation was implemented in our unit in September 2020. In this single-centre retrospective before-after study, we included patients who required VV-ECMO from March, 2020 to May, 2021, which corresponds to two time periods: from March to August, 2020 (control group) and from September, 2020 to May, 2021 (protocol group). The primary endpoint was the mean absolute change in PaCO2 in consecutive arterial blood gases samples drawn over the first 12 h following VV-ECMO implantation. Secondary endpoints included large (> 25 mmHg) initial variations in PaCO2, intracranial bleedings and mortality in both groups.

Results
Fifty-one patients required VV-ECMO in our unit during the study period, including 24 in the control group and 27 in the protocol group. The protocol was proved feasible. The 12-h mean absolute change in PaCO2 was significantly lower in patients of the protocol group as compared with their counterparts (7 mmHg [6–12] vs. 12 mmHg [6–24], p = 0.007). Patients of the protocol group experienced less large initial variations in PaCO2 immediately after ECMO implantation (7% vs. 29%, p = 0.04) and less intracranial bleeding (4% vs. 25%, p = 0.04). Mortality was similar in both groups (35% vs. 46%, p = 0.42).

Conclusion
Implementation of our protocol for dual titration of minute ventilation and sweep gas flow was feasible and associated with less initial PaCO2 variation than usual care. It was also associated with less intracranial bleeding.
Influencing residential electricity consumption with tailored messages: long-term usage patterns and effects on user experience
Authors: Schrammel Johann , Diamond Lisa M. , Fröhlich Peter , Mor Gerard , Cipriano Jordi 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
To transition our energy system toward sustainable production and consumption, it is important to successfully engage consumers to become active participants in this process. One form this can take is manual demand response, where end users respond to fluctuations in energy production and help balance the grid through adjustment of their consumption. This paper presents a trial of such a system that took place with tenants in subsidized housing in Catalonia, Spain. The aim of the trial was to motivate the load shifting behavior of the participants by forecasting expected consumption curves and tailoring suggestions for optimized behavior. The forecasts and suggestions were based on the users’ past consumption patterns and the hourly day-ahead electricity prices. This information was made available to the users on a web-based platform, and participants were actively informed with text messages sent to their mobile phones in case of attractive saving potentials for the following day. The trial was carried out in 2 phases from November 2019 to May 2020 (Phase 1) and from August to October 2020 (Phase 2). Data were collected on interaction with the platform, the perceived user experience of the platform and text messages, and the perceived energy saving success.

Results
Our results showed that there is a general interest of the participants in the concept, but that there are also important barriers to integrating load shifting behavior into everyday life. The biggest barriers here are limitations in the flexibility potential of households and limited perceived benefits. Feedback from our participants also suggests high acceptance and relevance of more automated demand-side management (DSM) concepts.

Conclusions
Based on this, we recommend paying special attention to the accommodation of varying flexibility potential in manual demand response (DR) programs, ensuring that communicated benefits are sufficiently attractive to motivate behavior change, and consideration of a phase of manual DR as an entry point to automated DSM.
The struggle of energy communities to enhance energy justice: insights from 113 German cases
Authors: Hanke Florian , Guyet Rachel 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
Energy communities provide access to energy services, such as affordable clean energy and energy-efficiency measures. Some of these services are of particular benefit for vulnerable households struggling with high energy prices and low incomes. European energy policy stipulates an enabling framework to support energy communities offering such services to all households, explicitly soliciting the inclusion of vulnerable and low-income groups enhancing energy justice and democracy. With transposition still pending in Germany, the question remains as to what extent vulnerable groups benefit in practice.

Results
Based on the data from an online survey among 113 German energy communities, this paper investigates the extent to which energy communities enhance energy justice and democracy in the German energy transition. We have therefore to ask how energy communities reach out to vulnerable groups and describe the hurdles energy communities face. Even though some energy communities successfully reach vulnerable households, we show that the majority struggle to truely reach out to these groups. In the absence of regulatory support for engaging with vulnerable groups and confronted with a competitive energy market, energy communities are focussing on remaining in business. In this context, it should also be mentioned that some energy communities do not reach out to vulnerable groups to offer beneficial services that are of particular interest for the majority of them.

Conclusion
Based on these findings, we would like to underline the need for enabling regulations to support energy communities’ contribution to justice and democracy. An ‘enabling framework’ demands a clear taxonomy, which distinguishes different organisational and social energy community characteristics to acknowledge their social welfare-enhancing role and avoid misinterpretations and potential misuse.
Timing of hepatitis C treatment initiation and retention in office-based opioid treatment with buprenorphine: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Geist Mary L. , Radick Andrea C. , Tsui Judith I. , Blalock Kendra L. , Adwell Addy , Tamru Elsabeth , Connolly Nancy C. , James Jocelyn R. 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
This study examined associations between receipt of hepatitis C (HCV) treatment and retention in office-based opioid treatment (OBOT) care.

Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of HCV-infected patients who initiated OBOT treatment between December 2015 and March 2021 to characterize HCV treatment and assess associations with OBOT retention. HCV treatment was characterized as no treatment, early treatment (< 100 days since OBOT initiation) or late treatment (≥ 100 days). We evaluated associations between HCV treatment and cumulative days in OBOT. A secondary analysis using Cox Proportional Hazards regression was done to determine the rate of discharge over time when comparing those who did versus did not receive HCV treatment as a time-varying covariate. We also analyzed a subset of patients retained at least 100 days in OBOT care and evaluated whether HCV treatment during that period was associated with OBOT retention beyond 100 days.

Results
Of 191 HCV-infected OBOT patients, 30% initiated HCV treatment, of whom 31% received early treatment and 69% received late treatment. Median cumulative duration in OBOT was greater among those who received HCV treatment (any: 398 days, early: 284 days and late: 430 days) when compared to those who did not receive treatment (90 days). Compared to no HCV treatment, there were 83% (95% CI: 33–152%, P < 0.001), 95% (95% CI: 28%-197%, p = 0.002 and 77% (95% CI: 25–153%, p = 0.002) more cumulative days in OBOT for any, early and late HCV treatment, respectively. HCV treatment was associated with a lower relative hazard for discharge/drop-out, although results did not meet statistical significance (aHR = 0.59;95% CI: 0.34–1.00; p = 0.052). Among the subset of 84 patients retained in OBOT at least 100 days, 18 received HCV treatment during that period. Compared to those who did not receive treatment within the first 100 days, those who received treatment had 57% (95% CI: -3%-152%, p = 0.065) more subsequent days in OBOT.

Conclusions
A minority of HCV-infected patients received HCV treatment after initiating OBOT treatment, but those who did had better retention. Further efforts are needed to facilitate rapid HCV treatment and evaluate whether early HCV treatment improves OBOT engagement.
Conflict resolution in the case of convective weather cell circumvention
Authors: Bogdanovic Vojislav , Mao Zhi-Hong 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThis research analyzes the area required for the conflict resolution between aircraft in two flows impacted by a convective weather cell (CWC). The CWC is introduced as a constrained area, forbidden to flight through, which affects the air traffic flows. Prior the conflict resolution, two flows and their intersection are relocated away from the CWC area (thus enabling circumvention of the CWC), which is followed by a tuning of the relocated flows intersection angle in order to create the minimal size of the conflict zone (CZ—a circular area centered at the intersection of two flows, which provides aircraft enough space to completely resolve the conflict within). Therefore, the essence of the proposed solution is in providing conflict free trajectories for the aircraft in intersecting flows that are affected by the CWC, with the goal of minimizing the CZ size, so the finite occupied airspace for the conflict resolution and the CWC circumvention could be reduced. Compared to the best solutions and current industry practice, this article is focused in reduction of the airspace required for aircraft to aircraft and aircraft to weather conflict resolution, and not to distance travelled, time savings, and fuel consumption minimization. The conducted analysis in the MicrosoftExcel2010 confirmed the relevance of the proposed model and demonstrated variations in efficiency of the utilized airspace. The proposed model's transdisciplinary nature makes it potentially applicable in other fields of study, such as the conflict resolution between unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and fixed objects like buildings. Building on this model and taking in consideration large and complex data sets, such as weather related data and flight data (aircraft position, speed, and altitude), we believe it is possible to conduct more sophisticated analyses that would take advantage of Big Data.
A simple and rapid extraction of lipids in plasma using spin column with superabsorbent polymer beads for mass spectrometry
Authors: Choi Jung Hoon , Bang Geul , Kim Jeong Ah , Kim Young Hwan 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe efficient extraction of lipid species in plasma was developed for quick sample preparation and accurate lipid analysis, using spin column with superabsorbent polymer beads (SAP), as the improvement of previous SAP method reported before. The modified SAP (mSAP) method is composed of simple steps, including sample loading, swelling, solvent addition, centrifugation, and drying of the resulting lipid solution. The mSAP method offers several advantages over the conventional and the previous SAP methods for lipid analysis in plasma sample. The mSAP method was approximately 10 times faster than the modified Folch protocol (Matyash method), methyl-tert-butyl ether based extraction method. The mSAP method offered an excellent recovery rate for most all major classes in the lipid standard mixture, outperforming the Matyash method. The limit of detection (LOD) of 1,2-diheptadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phophocholine (PC 17:0/17:0) spiking in plasma by the mSAP method is about seven times lower than those of the conventional methods. The relative standard deviation (RSD) values for inter- and intra-day variability of the mSAP method over a 5-day period were significantly lower than those of the previous SAP and Matyash methods. The mSAP method has been shown to be more time-saving, sensitive, reproducible and reliable, as evidence by its faster processing time, lower LOD, lower RSD values and high recovery rate for different lipid classes. Overall, these findings suggest that this method may be a promising approach for the application of total lipid analysis in lipidomic research in future.
A pilot randomised trial comparing individualised physiotherapy versus shockwave therapy for proximal hamstring tendinopathy: a protocol
Authors: Rich Aidan Lindsay Fenner , Cook Jillianne Leigh , Hahne Andrew John , Ford Jon Joseph 
Published: May 2023

AbstractPurposeProximal hamstring tendinopathy (PHT) presents as localised lower buttock pain with tasks such as squatting and sitting. It is a condition that occurs at all ages and levels of sporting participation and can cause disability with sport, work, and activities of daily living.This paper details a pilot trial protocol for investigating the effectiveness of individualised physiotherapy compared to extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) on pain and strength in people with PHT.MethodsThe study is an assessor‐blinded, pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT). One hundred participants with PHT will be recruited from the local community and sporting clubs. Participants will be randomised to receive six sessions of either individualised physiotherapy or ESWT, with both groups also receiving standardised education and advice.Primary outcomes will be global rating of change on a 7‐point Likert scale, and the Victorian Institute of Sport—Hamstring (VISA‐H) scale, measured at 0, 4, 12, 26 and 52 weeks. Secondary outcomes will include sitting tolerance, the modified Physical Activity Level Scale, eccentric hamstring strength, modified Tampa scale for kinesiophobia, the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire Short Form (ÖMPSQ‐SF), Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for average and worst pain, participant adherence, the Pain Catastrophizing scale, satisfaction scores, and quality of life. Data will be analysed on an intention to treat basis, with between‐group effects estimated using linear mixed models for continuous data and Mann Whitney U tests for ordinal data.ConclusionsThis pilot RCT will compare individualised physiotherapy versus ESWT for PHT. The trial will determine feasibility and estimated treatment effects to inform a definitive trial in the future.Trial registrationThe trial has been prospectively registered with the Australia & New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12621000846820), registered 1 July 2021, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=373085
When there is noise on Sherlock Holmes: mind wandering increases with perceptual processing difficulty during reading and listening
Authors: Steindorf Lena , Pink Sebastian , Rummel Jan , Smallwood Jonathan 
Published: May 2023

AbstractWe investigated whether increased perceptual processing difficulty during reading or listening to a Sherlock Holmes novella impacts mind wandering as well as text comprehension. We presented 175 participants with a novella in either a visual or an auditory presentation format and probed their thoughts and motivational states from time to time during reading/listening. For half of the participants in each presentation-format condition (visual or auditory), the story was superimposed by Gaussian noise. For both presentation formats, the participants who were exposed to noise while processing the story mind-wandered more and performed worse in a later comprehension test than the participants who processed the story without added noise. These negative effects of increased perceptual processing difficulty on task focus and comprehension were partly driven by motivational factors: reading/listening motivation mediated the relationship between perceptual processing difficulty and mind wandering.
Effects of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on reducing the risk of respiratory disease associated with coronavirus infection
Authors: Dunne Eileen M. , Nunes Marta C. , Slack Mary P. E. , Theilacker Christian , Gessner Bradford D. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractPneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) provide protection against vaccine-type pneumococcal disease in both children and adults. Growing evidence suggests that PCVs also reduce pneumonia and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) more broadly, including protecting against viral-associated respiratory diseases. In this short narrative review, we highlight clinical studies investigating whether PCVs might have a role in reducing coronavirus disease, both those caused by endemic human coronaviruses (HCoVs) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). These studies include two randomized controlled trials assessing HCoV-associated pneumonia, one each in children and older adults, and two observational studies of PCV13 effectiveness against HCoV-associated LRTI and COVID-19 in adults. We discuss possible mechanisms for PCV protection including preventing viral pneumococcal co-infections and the possibility that pneumococci in the upper respiratory tract might modify the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2. Lastly, we identify knowledge gaps and further questions on the potential role of PCVs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Study protocol: Type III hybrid effectiveness-implementation study implementing Age-Friendly evidence-based practices in the VA to improve outcomes in older adults
Authors: Piazza Kirstin Manges , Ashcraft Laura Ellen , Rose Liam , Hall Daniel E. , Brown Rebecca T. , Bowen Mary Elizabeth , Mavandadi Shahrzad , Brecher Alison C. , Keddem Shimrit , Kiosian Bruce , Long Judith A. , Werner Rachel M. , Burke Robert E. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundUnmet care needs among older adults accelerate cognitive and functional decline and increase medical harms, leading to poorer quality of life, more frequent hospitalizations, and premature nursing home admission. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is invested in becoming an “Age-Friendly Health System” to better address four tenets associated with reduced harm and improved outcomes among the 4 million Veterans aged 65 and over receiving VA care. These four tenets focus on “4Ms” that are fundamental to the care of older adults, including (1) whatMatters (ensuring that care is consistent with each person’s goals and preferences); (2)Medications (only using necessary medications and ensuring that they do not interfere with what matters, mobility, or mentation); (3)Mentation (preventing, identifying, treating, and managing dementia, depression, and delirium); and (4)Mobility (promoting safe movement to maintain function and independence). The Safer Aging through Geriatrics-Informed Evidence-Based Practices (SAGE) Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) seeks to implement four evidence-based practices (EBPs) that have shown efficacy in addressing these core tenets of an “Age-Friendly Health System,” leading to reduced harm and improved outcomes in older adults.MethodsWe will implement four EBPs in 9 VA medical centers and associated outpatient clinics using a type III hybrid effectiveness-implementation stepped-wedge trial design. We selected four EBPs that align with Age-Friendly Health System principles: Surgical Pause, EMPOWER (Eliminating Medications Through Patient Ownership of End Results), TAP (Tailored Activities Program), and CAPABLE (Community Aging in Place – Advancing Better Living for Elders). Guided by the Pragmatic Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM), we are comparing implementation as usual vs. active facilitation. Reach is our primary implementation outcome, while “facility-free days” is our primary effectiveness outcome across evidence-based practice interventions.DiscussionTo our knowledge, this is the first large-scale randomized effort to implement “Age-Friendly” aligned evidence-based practices. Understanding the barriers and facilitators to implementing these evidence-based practices is essential to successfully help shift current healthcare systems to become Age-Friendly. Effective implementation of this project will improve the care and outcomes of older Veterans and help them age safely within their communities.Trial registrationRegistered 05 May 2021, at ISRCTN #60,657,985.Reporting guidelinesStandards for Reporting Implementation Studies (see attached).