bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stress Response of European Common Frog (Rana temporaria) Tadpoles to Bti Exposure in an Outdoor Pond Mesocosm
Authors: Gerstle Verena , Solanki Priyanka , Manfrin Alessandro , Kolbenschlag Sara , Brühl Carsten A. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe biocide Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) is applied to wetlands to control nuisance by mosquitoes. Amphibians inhabiting these wetlands can be exposed to Bti multiple times, potentially inducing oxidative stress in developing tadpoles. For biochemical stress responses, ambient water temperature plays a key role. Therefore, we exposed tadpoles of the European common frog (Rana temporaria) three times to field-relevant doses of Bti in outdoor floodplain pond mesocosms (FPM) under natural environmental conditions. We sampled tadpoles after each Bti application over the course of a 51-day experiment (April to June 2021) and investigated the activity of the glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and protein carbonyl content as a measure for detoxification activity and oxidative damage. GST activity increased over the course of the experiment likely due to a general increase of water temperature. We did not observe an effect of Bti on either of the investigated biomarkers under natural ambient temperatures. However, Bti-induced effects may be concealed by the generally low water temperatures in our FPMs, particularly at the first application in April, when we expected the highest effect on the most sensitive early stage tadpoles. In light of the global climate change, temperature-related effects of pesticides and biocides on tadpoles should be carefully monitored - in particular since they are known as one of the factors driving the worldwide decline of amphibian populations.
No difference in patient reported outcomes, laxity, and failure rate after revision ACL reconstruction with quadriceps tendon compared to hamstring tendon graft: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Meena Amit , Di Paolo Stefano , Grassi Alberto , Raj Akshya , Farinelli Luca , Hoser Christian , Tapasvi Sachin , Zaffagnini Stefano , Fink Christian 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to synthesize and quantitatively assess the outcomes of ACL Revision using a quadriceps tendon (QT) graft and to compare them with those of ACL Revisions performed with hamstring tendons (HT) graft.

Methods
A comprehensive search based on the PRISMA protocol was performed across PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception until February 2022. Clinical studies reporting the outcomes of ACL Revision with QT autograft were included. Subjective and Objective IKDC, Tegner activity level, Lysholm knee score, KOOS score, VAS for pain, knee laxity (KT-1000/2000 arthrometer, Lachman test, and pivot-shift test), and graft failure were assessed. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed and a quality assessment of the included studies was carried out with the MINORS score.

Results
Seven studies met the selection criteria and were included in the systematic review for the qualitative synthesis of data. A pooled mean of all the variables was provided for the 7 studies, while 3 studies included a control group of ACL Revision with HT and were included in a meta-analysis. A total of 420 participants with a mean age of 28.9 ± 10.5 years and a mean postoperative follow-up of 39.3 ± 16.4 months were assessed. Of these, 277 patients underwent ACL Revision with QT and 143 patients underwent ACL Revision with HT. In the QT group, average graft failure was 9.8% compared to 17.4% in the HT group. KOOS Sport and pivot-shift test showed better postoperative outcomes in QT than HT, although it was not statistically significant (p = 0.052).

Conclusion
The QT autograft was associated with an improved trend of rotatory laxity, PROMs and failure rate compared to HT autograft after revision ACL reconstruction. The QT autograft for revision ACL reconstruction is supported by the current literature. It is a viable graft that should be considered for both primary and revision ACL reconstruction.

Level of evidence
Level IV.
MicroRNA‑124: an emerging therapeutic target in central nervous system disorders
Authors: Zhang Wen-Hao , Jiang Lian , Li Mei , Liu Jing 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe central nervous system (CNS) consists of neuron and non-neuron cells including neural stem/precursor cells (NSPCs), neuroblasts, glia cells (mainly astrocyte, oligodendroglia and microglia), which thereby form a precise and complicated network and exert diverse functions through interactions of numerous bioactive ingredients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), with small size approximately  ~ 21nt and as well-documented post-transcriptional key regulators of gene expression, are a cluster of evolutionarily conserved endogenous non-coding RNAs. More than 2000 different miRNAs has been discovered till now. MicroRNA-124(miR-124), the most brain-rich microRNA, has been validated to possess important functions in the central nervous system, including neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation, cell fate determination, neuron migration, synapse plasticity and cognition, cell apoptosis etc. According to recent studies, herein, we provide a review of this conversant miR-124 to further understand the potential functions and therapeutic and clinical value in brain diseases.
Safety of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy: a VAERS based analysis
Authors: Santi Laurini Greta , Montanaro Nicola , Motola Domenico 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Since vaccination against COVID-19 is recommended in pregnant people, we aimed to provide further evidence on the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy.

Methods
Data on COVID-19 vaccines adverse events following immunizations (AEFIs) in pregnant people were retrieved from the open-access Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) from December 2020 to April 2022.

Results
From December 2020 to April 1, 2022, a total of 4,869 reports involving pregnant women at COVID-19 vaccination were reported to VAERS. Among vaccines recipients, most belonged to the age group between 30 and 39 years old (3,029; 62.21%) and nearly half experienced an adverse event within 48 h of immunization (2,344; 48.14%). Overall, 21,816 suspected adverse reactions associated with COVID-19 vaccines were reported, and for as many as 80.43% of patients, they were described as non-serious. Most reactions occurred after administration of the mRNA-1273 (53.34%) and the BNT162b2 (40.68%) vaccines, while only a small proportion were related to the Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine (5.69%). The most common non-pregnancy specific adverse events were headache (482; 2.21%), fatigue (472; 2.16%), and pyrexia (436; 2.00%), while adverse pregnancy outcomes with the highest reporting rate were abortions spontaneous (762; 3.49%), and vaginal haemorrhage (229; 1.05%).

Conclusion
This post-marketing survey on VAERS data have provided updated evidence on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy, thus supporting clinicians in recommending maternal immunization.
A-optimal designs for state estimation in networks
Authors: Müller Christine H. , Schorning Kirsten 
Published: March 2023

AbstractWe consider two models for estimating the expected states of nodes in networks where the observations at nodes are given by random states and measurement errors. In the first model, we assume independent successive observations at the nodes and the design question is how often the nodes should be observed to obtain a precise estimation of the expected states. In the second model, all nodes are observed simultaneously and the design question is to determine the nodes which need larger precision of the measurements than other nodes. Both models lead to the same design problem. We derive explicitly A-optimal designs for the most simple network with star configuration. Moreover, we consider the network with wheel configuration and derive some conditions which simplify the numerical calculation of the corresponding A-optimal designs.
Effects of plant diversity on species-specific herbivory: patterns and mechanisms
Authors: Bröcher M. , Ebeling A. , Hertzog L. , Roscher C. , Weisser W. , Meyer S. T. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractInvertebrate herbivory can shape plant communities when impacting growth and fitness of some plant species more than other species. Previous studies showed that herbivory varies among plant species and that species-specific herbivory is affected by the diversity of the surrounding plant community. However, mechanisms underlying this variation are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigate how plant traits and plant apparency explain differences in herbivory among plant species and we explore the effect of plant community diversity on these species-specific relationships. We found that species differed in the herbivory they experienced. Forbs were three times more damaged by herbivores than grasses. Variability within grasses was caused by differences in leaf dry matter content (LDMC). Furthermore, higher plant diversity increased herbivory on 15 plant species and decreased herbivory on nine species. Variation within forb and grass species in their response to changing plant diversity was best explained by species’ physical resistance (LDMC, forbs) and biomass (grasses). Overall, our results show that herbivory and diversity effects on herbivory differ among species, and that, depending on the plant functional group, either species-specific traits or apparency are driving those differences. Thus, herbivores might selectively consume palatable forbs or abundant grasses with contrasting consequences for plant community composition in grasslands dominated by either forbs or grasses.
Homeopathy—A lively relic of the prescientific era
Authors: Borkens Yannick , Endruscheit Udo , Lübbers Christian W. 
Published: March 2023

SummaryHomeopathy was first postulated by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann in 1796 and 220 years later homeopathy is the most popular and widespread alternative medicine. Partly, it is also part of the national healthcare and insurance systems but homeopathy is not without controversy within the medical and healthcare community. Its implausible basic assumptions, some of which contradict natural laws, do not lead us to expect that its remedies have any specific effect. In fact, there is no study or systematic review to date that reliably certifies homeopathy to have an effect beyond the placebo effect and other context effects. In this respect it must be disconcerting how widely homeopathy is applied and represented in therapeutic practice. It indeed claims a role within scientific (evidence-based) medicine but cannot substantiate this claim. It displays clear characteristics of pseudoscience [1]. This implies a lot of problems, such as misleading people and tackling medical ethics up to scientific publication practices. Furthermore, it turns out that quite a few people do not know exactly what homeopathy is, which may lead them to make wrong decisions for their personal health. This article summarizes the information about homeopathy and its problematic implications and serves as a general introduction to this topic and its unacceptable role in today’s medicine.The medical irrelevance of the sham method of homeopathy has been proven with more than sufficient probability [2]. As a major testimonial, the statement “Homeopathic products and practices” of the European (EASAC 2017) can be regarded. The primary aim of this brief report is therefore not to take another look at homeopathy from a medical scientific perspective, but rather focus attention on the implications of the still continuous and largely uncritically accepted existence of this method in medical practice, in the medical scientific sphere and in the judgement of the general public.
Recognizing shopper demographics from behavioral responses in a virtual reality store
Authors: Gil-López Cristina , Guixeres Jaime , Moghaddasi Masoud , Khatri Jaikishan , Marín-Morales Javier , Alcañiz Mariano 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe use of virtual reality (VR) technology in the context of retail is a significant trend in current consumer research, as it offers market researchers a unique opportunity to measure purchase behavior more realistically. Yet, effective methods for assessing the virtual shopping experience based on consumer’s demographic characteristics are still lacking. In this study, we examine the validity of behavioral biometrics for recognizing the gender and age of customers in an immersive VR environment. We used behavior measures collected from eye-tracking, body posture (head and hand), and spatial navigation sources. Participants (n = 57) performed three tasks involving two different purchase situations. Specifically, one task focused on free browsing through the virtual store, and two other tasks focused on product search. A set of behavioral features categorized as kinematic, temporal, and spatial domains was processed based on two strategies. First, the relevance of such features in recognizing age and gender with and without including the spatial segmentation of the virtual space was statistically analyzed. Second, a set of implicit behavioral features was processed and demographic characteristics were recognized using a statistical supervised machine learning classifier algorithm via a support vector machine. The results confirmed that both approaches were significantly insightful for determining the gender and age of buyers. Also, the accuracy achieved when applying the machine learning classifier (> 70%) indicated that the combination of all metrics and tasks was the best classification strategy. The contributions of this work include characterizing consumers in v-commerce spaces according to the shopper’s profile.
The weekend effect in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage: a single centre experience and review
Authors: Murray Daniel , Choudhry Abdurehman , Rawluk Daniel , Thornton John , O’Hare Alan , Power Sarah , Crockett Matthew , MacNally Stephen , Corr Paula , Nolan Deirdre , Coffey Deirdre , Brennan Paul , Javadpour Mohsen 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Clinical outcomes for patients admitted to hospital during weekend hours have been reported to be poorer than for those admitted during the week. Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) is a devastating form of haemorrhagic stroke, with a mortality rate greater than 30%. A number of studies have reported higher mortality for patients with aSAH who are admitted during weekend hours. This study evaluates the effect of weekend admission on patients in our unit with aSAH in terms of time to treatment, treatment type, rebleeding rates, functional outcome, and mortality. We analysed a retrospective database of all patients admitted to our tertiary referral centre with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage between February 2016 and February 2020. Chi-square tests and t-tests were used to compare weekday and weekend demographic and clinical variables. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess for any association between admission during weekend hours and increased neurological morbidity (assessed via Glasgow Outcome Scale at 3 months) and mortality. Of the 571 patients included in this study, 191 were admitted during on-call weekend hours. There were no significant differences found in time to treatment, type of treatment, rebleeding rates, neurological morbidity, or mortality rates between patients admitted during the week and those admitted during weekend hours. Weekend admission was not associated with worsened functional outcome or increased mortality in this cohort. These results suggest that provision of 7-day cover by vascular neurosurgeons and interventional neuroradiologists in high-volume centres could mitigate the weekend effect sometimes reported in the aSAH cohort.
Designing user interfaces for content simplification aimed at people with cognitive impairments
Authors: Moreno Lourdes , Petrie Helen , Martínez Paloma , Alarcon Rodrigo 
Published: March 2023

AbstractCognitive accessibility aims to make content more accessible for people with cognitive impairments, such as the elderly and people with intellectual and learning disabilities. In this sense, it is possible to design an accessible user interface from a cognitive point of view. As a contribution, this article presents cognitive accessibility design patterns and their application in designing the Easier web system's user interface. The Easier web system provides a tool that assists in the understanding and readability of text content geared towards people with intellectual disabilities. It detects complex words and offers easier replacements and other resources such as a definition of the complex word. In addition to applying the design patterns, user tests with people with intellectual disabilities and older people have been carried out to evaluate the cognitive accessibility of the Easier system's interface. The results indicate that people with cognitive impairments know how to use the interfaces and have a satisfactory experience. In addition, a design proposal to provide a glossary mechanism to be used in web interfaces with simplified texts is presented and validated.
A method for real-time mechanical characterisation of microcapsules
Authors: Guo Ziyu , Lin Tao , Jing Dalei , Wang Wen , Sui Yi 
Published: March 2023

AbstractCharacterising the mechanical properties of flowing microcapsules is important from both fundamental and applied points of view. In the present study, we develop a novel multilayer perceptron (MLP)-based machine learning (ML) approach, for real-time simultaneous predictions of the membrane mechanical law type, shear and area-dilatation moduli of microcapsules, from their camera-recorded steady profiles in tube flow. By MLP, we mean a neural network where many perceptrons are organised into layers. A perceptron is a basic element that conducts input–output mapping operation. We test the performance of the present approach using both simulation and experimental data. We find that with a reasonably high prediction accuracy, our method can reach an unprecedented low prediction latency of less than 1 millisecond on a personal computer. That is the overall computational time, without using parallel computing, from a single experimental image to multiple capsule mechanical parameters. It is faster than a recently proposed convolutional neural network-based approach by two orders of magnitude, for it only deals with the one-dimensional capsule boundary instead of the entire two-dimensional capsule image. Our new approach may serve as the foundation of a promising tool for real-time mechanical characterisation and online active sorting of deformable microcapsules and biological cells in microfluidic devices.
miR-146a-3p as a potential novel therapeutic by targeting MBD2 to mediate Th17 differentiation in Th17 predominant neutrophilic severe asthma
Authors: Duan Wentao , Huang Jin , Wasti Binaya , Chen Zhifeng , Yuan Yu , He Yi , Li Danhong , Jia Jingsi , Liu Shaokun , Liu Yi , Ma Libing , Zeng Qingping , zhu Liming , Li Jianmin , Zhang Xiufeng , Xiang Xudong 
Published: March 2023

AbstractTh17 (T-helper 17) cells subtype of non-T2 (non-type 2) asthma is related to neutrophilic infiltration and resistance to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), so is also known as severe asthma. Methyl-CpG binding domain protein 2 (MBD2) regulates the differentiation of the Th17 cells, tending to show a therapeutic target in severe asthma. miR-146a-3p is associated with anti-inflammatory characteristics and immunity. Moreover, bioinformatic analysis showed that MBD2 may be a target gene of miR-146a-3p. However, the role of miR-146a-3p in the differentiation of Th17 cells via MBD2 in severe asthma remains unknown. Here, we aimed to explore how miR-146a-3p interacts with MBD2 and affects the differentiation of Th17 cells in severe asthma. First, we recruited 30 eligible healthy people and 30 patients with severe asthma to detect the expression of miR-146a-3p in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by qRT-PCR. Then, we established a HDM/LPS (house dust mite/lipopolysaccharide) exposure model of bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) to evaluate the expression of miR-146a-3p, the interaction between miR-146a-3p and MBD2 using western blot and luciferase reporter analysis and the effect of miR-146a-3p regulated Th17 cells differentiation by flow cytometry in BECs in vitro. Finally, we constructed a mouse model of Th17 predominant neutrophilic severe asthma to assess the therapeutic potential of miR-146a-3p in severe asthma and the effect of miR-146a-3p regulated Th17 cells differentiation via MBD2 in vivo. Decreased miR-146a-3p expression was noted in severe asthma patients, in the BECs and in the animal severe asthma models. Moreover, we demonstrated that miR-146a-3p suppressed Th17 cells differentiation by targeting the MBD2. miR-146a-3p overexpression significantly reduced airway hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation and airway mucus secretion, while also inhibiting Th17 cells response in vivo, which relieved severe asthma. By targeting MBD2 to suppress Th17 cells differentiation, miR-146a-3p provides a potential novel therapeutic for Th17 predominant neutrophilic severe asthma.
Auswirkungen von hohen Außentemperaturen und Hitzewellen auf Lungenerkrankungen
Authors: Matthies-Wiesler F. , Nidens N. , Karrasch S. , Schneider A. 
Published: March 2023

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Der fortschreitende Klimawandel führt zu häufigeren und intensiveren Hitzewellen. Im Vergleich zu 1951 erlebt Deutschland bereits heute im Durchschnitt nicht nur etwa 3 heiße Tage im Sommer, sondern 8,8 heiße Tage. Für die Sommer 2018, 2019, 2020 und 2022 wurden insgesamt etwa 23.800 hitzebedingte Todesfälle durch Modellierung der Übersterblichkeit berechnet. Für vulnerable Bevölkerungsgruppen stellen Hitzewellen ein erhöhtes Gesundheitsrisiko dar. Zu ihnen gehören ältere Menschen und Menschen mit Vorerkrankungen sowie Säuglinge, Schwangere und Personen, die im Freien körperlich schwer arbeiten oder Sport treiben. Hitze kann zu Hitzeerschöpfung und lebensbedrohlichem Hitzschlag führen und Herzinfarkte und Schlaganfälle auslösen.

Problemstellung
Menschen mit Atemwegserkrankungen sind besonders betroffen, wenn die hohen Temperaturen zusätzlich mit erhöhter Luftverschmutzung einhergehen. Hitzebedingte Lungenprobleme wie eine erhöhte pulmonale Belastung etwa durch hitzebedingte Hyperventilation und erhöhte Luftverschmutzung sowie mit kardialer Beeinträchtigung und Pneumonien assoziierte Effekte erhöhen das Risiko für Mortalität und Morbidität während Hitzewellen für betroffene Patient:innen.

Schlussfolgerungen
Pneumolog:innen können durch hitzespezifische Beratung und Behandlung einen maßgeblichen Beitrag zu gesundheitsbezogenem Hitzeschutz leisten. Sie sind daher aufgefordert, sich in ihrem Fachbereich entsprechend zu informieren und Hitzeschutzmaßnahmen zum Schutz ihrer Patient:innen und Mitarbeiter:innen in Praxen und Krankenhausabteilungen umzusetzen.
Fine-grained view on bribery for group identification
Authors: Boehmer Niclas , Bredereck Robert , Knop Dušan , Luo Junjie 
Published: March 2023

AbstractGiven a set of agents qualifying or disqualifying each other, group identification is the task of identifying a socially qualified subgroup of agents. Social qualification depends on the specific rule used to aggregate individual qualifications . The classical bribery problem in this context asks how many agents need to change their qualifications in order to change the outcome in a certain way. Complementing previous results showing polynomial-time solvability or NP-hardness of bribery for various social rules in the constructive (aiming at making specific agents socially qualified) or destructive (aiming at making specific agents socially disqualified) setting, we provide a comprehensive picture of the parameterized computational complexity landscape. Conceptually, we also consider a more fine-grained concept of bribery cost, where we ask how many single qualifications need to be changed, nonunit prices for different bribery actions, and a more general bribery goal that combines the constructive and destructive setting.