bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Accounting for temporal variability in functional magnetic resonance imaging improves prediction of intelligence
Authors: Li Yang , Ma Xin , Sunderraman Raj , Ji Shihao , Kundu Suprateek 
Published: July 2023

AbstractNeuroimaging‐based prediction methods for intelligence have seen a rapid development. Among different neuroimaging modalities, prediction using functional connectivity (FC) has shown great promise. Most literature has focused on prediction using static FC, with limited investigations on the merits of such analysis compared to prediction using dynamic FC or region‐level functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) times series that encode temporal variability. To account for the temporal dynamics in fMRI, we propose a bi‐directional long short‐term memory (bi‐LSTM) approach that incorporates feature selection mechanism. The proposed pipeline is implemented via an efficient algorithm and applied for predicting intelligence using region‐level time series and dynamic FC. We compare the prediction performance using different fMRI features acquired from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study involving nearly 7000 individuals. Our detailed analysis illustrates the consistently inferior performance of static FC compared to region‐level time series or dynamic FC for single and combined rest and task fMRI experiments. The joint analysis of task and rest fMRI leads to improved intelligence prediction under all models compared to using fMRI from only one experiment. In addition, the proposed bi‐LSTM pipeline based on region‐level time series identifies several shared and differential important brain regions across fMRI experiments that drive intelligence prediction. A test–retest analysis of the selected regions shows strong reliability across cross‐validation folds. Given the large sample size of ABCD study, our results provide strong evidence that superior prediction of intelligence can be achieved by accounting for temporal variations in fMRI.
Data‐driven electrical conductivity brain imaging using 3 T MRI
Authors: Jung Kyu‐Jin , Mandija Stefano , Cui Chuanjiang , Kim Jun‐Hyeong , Al‐masni Mohammed A. , Meerbothe Thierry G. , Park Mina , van den Berg Cornelis A. T. , Kim Dong‐Hyun 
Published: July 2023

AbstractMagnetic resonance electrical properties tomography (MR‐EPT) is a non‐invasive measurement technique that derives the electrical properties (EPs, e.g., conductivity or permittivity) of tissues in the radiofrequency range (64 MHz for 1.5 T and 128 MHz for 3 T MR systems). Clinical studies have shown the potential of tissue conductivity as a biomarker. To date, model‐based conductivity reconstructions rely on numerical assumptions and approximations, leading to inaccuracies in the reconstructed maps. To address such limitations, we propose an artificial neural network (ANN)‐based non‐linear conductivity estimator trained on simulated data for conductivity brain imaging. Network training was performed on 201 synthesized T2‐weighted spin‐echo (SE) data obtained from the finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) electromagnetic (EM) simulation. The dataset was composed of an approximated T2‐w SE magnitude and transceive phase information. The proposed method was tested three in‐silico and in‐vivo on two volunteers and three patients' data. For comparison purposes, various conventional phase‐based EPT reconstruction methods were used that ignore magnitude information, such as Savitzky–Golay kernel combined with Gaussian filter (S‐G Kernel), phase‐based convection‐reaction EPT (cr‐EPT), magnitude‐weighted polynomial‐fitting phase‐based EPT (Poly‐Fit), and integral‐based phase‐based EPT (Integral‐based). From the in‐silico experiments, quantitative analysis showed that the proposed method provides more accurate and improved quality (e.g., high structural preservation) conductivity maps compared to conventional reconstruction methods. Representatively, in the healthy brain in‐silico phantom experiment, the proposed method yielded mean conductivity values of 1.97 ± 0.20 S/m for CSF, 0.33 ± 0.04 S/m for WM, and 0.52 ± 0.08 S/m for GM, which were closer to the ground‐truth conductivity (2.00, 0.30, 0.50 S/m) than the integral‐based method (2.56 ± 2.31, 0.39 ± 0.12, 0.68 ± 0.33 S/m). In‐vivo ANN‐based conductivity reconstructions were also of improved quality compared to conventional reconstructions and demonstrated network generalizability and robustness to in‐vivo data and pathologies. The reported in‐vivo brain conductivity values were in agreement with literatures. In addition, the proposed method was observed for various SNR levels (SNR levels = 10, 20, 40, and 58) and repeatability conditions (the eight acquisitions with the number of signal averages = 1). The preliminary investigations on brain tumor patient datasets suggest that the network trained on simulated dataset can generalize to unforeseen in‐vivo pathologies, thus demonstrating its potential for clinical applications.
In vitro biological responses of plasma nanocoatings for coronary stent applications
Authors: Phan ThiThuHa , Jones John E. , Chen Meng , Strawn T. L. , Khoukaz Hekmat B. , Ji Yan , Kumar Arun , Bowles Douglas K. , Fay William P. , Yu Qingsong 
Published: July 2023

AbstractIn‐stent restenosis and thrombosis remain to be long‐term challenges in coronary stenting procedures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro biological responses of trimethylsilane (TMS) plasma nanocoatings modified with NH3/O2 (2:1 molar ratio) plasma post‐treatment (TMS + NH3/O2 nanocoatings) on cobalt chromium (CoCr) alloy L605 coupons, L605 stents, and 316L stainless steel (SS) stents. Surface properties of the plasma nanocoatings with up to 2‐year aging time were characterized by wettability assessment and x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that TMS + NH3/O2 nanocoatings had a surface composition of 41.21 ± 1.06 at% oxygen, 31.90 ± 1.08 at% silicon, and 24.12 ± 1.7 at% carbon, and very small but essential amount of 2.77 ± 0.18 at% nitrogen. Surface chemical stability of the plasma coatings was noted with persistent O/Si atomic ratio of 1.292–1.413 and N/Si atomic ratio of ~0.087 through 2 years. The in vitro biological responses of plasma nanocoatings were studied by evaluating the cell proliferation and migration of porcine coronary artery endothelial cells (PCAECs) and smooth muscle cells (PCASMCs). 3‐(4,5‐Dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) assay results revealed that, after 7‐day incubation, TMS + NH3/O2 nanocoatings maintained a similar level of PCAEC proliferation while showing a decrease in the viability of PCASMCs by 73 ± 19% as compared with uncoated L605 surfaces. Cell co‐culture of PCAECs and PCASMCs results showed that, the cell ratio of PCAEC/PCASMC on TMS + NH3/O2 nanocoating surfaces was 1.5‐fold higher than that on uncoated L605 surfaces, indicating enhanced selectivity for promoting PCAEC growth. Migration test showed comparable PCAEC migration distance for uncoated L605 and TMS + NH3/O2 nanocoatings. In contrast, PCASMC migration distance was reduced nearly 8.5‐fold on TMS + NH3/O2 nanocoating surfaces as compared to the uncoated L605 surfaces. Platelet adhesion test using porcine whole blood showed lower adhered platelets distribution (by 70 ± 16%), reduced clotting attachment (by 54 ± 12%), and less platelet activation on TMS + NH3/O2 nanocoating surfaces as compared with the uncoated L605 controls. It was further found that, under shear stress conditions of simulated blood flow, TMS + NH3/O2 nanocoating significantly inhibited platelet adhesion compared to the uncoated 316L SS stents and TMS nanocoated 316L SS stents. These results indicate that TMS + NH3/O2 nanocoatings are very promising in preventing both restenosis and thrombosis for coronary stent applications.
Daboxin P, a phospholipase A2 of Indian Daboia russelii venom, modulates thrombin‐mediated platelet aggregation
Authors: Yasmin Rafika , Chanchal Shankar , Ashraf Mohammad Zahid , Doley Robin 
Published: July 2023

AbstractDaboxin P, reported earlier from the venom of Daboia russellii, disturbs the blood coagulation cascade by targeting factor X and factor Xa. The present study exhibits that Daboxin P also inhibits platelet aggregation induced by various agonists. The thrombin‐induced platelet aggregation was inhibited maximum whereas inhibition of collagen‐induced platelet aggregation was found to be 50% and no inhibition of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and arachidonic acid‐induced aggregation was observed. Daboxin P dose‐dependently inhibited the thrombin‐induced platelet aggregation with Anti‐Aggregation 50 (AD50) dose of 55.166 nM and also reduced the thrombin‐mediated calcium influx. In‐silico interaction studies suggested that Daboxin P binds to thrombin and blocks its interaction with its receptor on the platelet surface. Quenching of thrombin's emission spectrum by Daboxin P and electrophoretic profiles of pull‐down assay further reveals the binding between Daboxin P and thrombin. Thus, the present study demonstrates that Daboxin P inhibits thrombin‐induced platelet aggregation by binding to thrombin.
Targeting peptide‐mediated interaction between the N‐protein and P‐protein of human pediatric respiratory syncytial virus by molecular design of chemically stapled helical peptides
Authors: Yan Tingting , Zhang Yixian , Liu Lu , Shi Zhuo , Sun Tao , Yang Juan , Xue Liang , Shi Xiangxiang , Sha Ning 
Published: July 2023

AbstractBackgroundHuman respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is a leading viral etiologic agent of pediatric lower respiratory infection in infants, young children, and immunocompromised elderly individuals.ObjectiveTargeting the intermolecular interaction between the viral nucleocapsid protein (N‐protein) and phosphoprotein (P‐protein) has been recognized as a promising therapeutic strategy against hRSV infection, which is a so‐called peptide‐mediated protein/protein interaction (PmPPI) by binding the short C‐terminal tail of P‐protein to the globular domain of N‐protein.MethodsThe PmPPI dynamics behavior and thermodynamics property were investigated systematically by integrating computational simulations and experimental assays.ResultsIt is revealed that the C‐terminal tail of P‐protein is intrinsically disordered in free state but would fold into a structured helix when binding to N‐protein, known as coupled folding‐upon‐binding, thus incurring a considerable entropy penalty upon the binding. Several flexible P‐peptide segments with different lengths were derived from the C‐terminus of P‐protein and then stapled chemically by using an all‐hydrocarbon bridge, which effectively constrained the peptide disordered conformation into an ordered helical form in free state, thus considerably improving their affinity to N‐protein by minimizing the unfavorable entropy penalty.ConclusionsElectrostatic contribution is primarily responsible for N/P complex stability, while other noncovalent factors such as hydrogen bond and aromatic stacking confer specificity to the complex recognition. The Phe241 residue at the C‐terminal end of P‐protein plays a crucial role that anchors the flexible C‐terminal tail of P‐protein to a druggable pocket on N‐protein surface.
A modelling framework for translating discrete choice experiment results into cost‐effectiveness estimates: an application to designing tailored and scalable HIV and contraceptive services for adolescents in Gauteng, South Africa
Authors: Govathson Caroline , Long Lawrence C. , Russell Colin A. , Moolla Aneesa , Pascoe Sophie , Nichols Brooke E. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractIntroductionSouth African youth and adolescents face a high burden of (Sexually Transmitted Infections) STIs, HIV and unintended pregnancies, but uptake of services remains low. To address this, tailored and scalable interventions are urgently needed. We developed a framework to fill the gap and translate the impact of facility‐level attributes into a cost‐effectiveness analysis for increasing HIV/contraceptive service uptake in adolescents using a discrete choice experiment (DCE).MethodsWe used a DCE (n = 805) conducted in Gauteng, South Africa, which found that staff attitude, confidentiality, Wi‐Fi, subsidized food, afternoon hours and youth‐only services were preferred attributes of health services. Based on this, we simulated the uptake of services adapted for these preferences. We divided preferences into modifiable attributes that could readily be adapted (e.g. Wi‐Fi), and challenging to modify (more nuanced attributes that are more challenging to cost and evaluate): staff attitude and estimated the incremental change in the uptake of services using adapted services. Costs for modifiable preferences were estimated using data from two clinics in South Africa (2019 US$). We determined the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) for additional adolescents using services of 15 intervention combinations, and report the results of interventions on the cost‐effectiveness frontier.ResultsGreatest projected impact on uptake was from friendly and confidential services, both of which were considered challenging to modify (18.5% 95% CI: 13.0%−24.0%; 8.4% 95% CI: 3.0%−14.0%, respectively). Modifiable factors on their own resulted in only small increases in expected uptake. (Food: 2.3% 95% CI: 4.0%−9.00%; Wi‐Fi: 3.0% 95% CI: −4.0% to 10.0%; Youth‐only services: 0.3% 95% CI: −6.0% to 7.0%; Afternoon services: 0.8% 95% CI: −6.0% to 7.0%). The order of interventions on the cost‐effectiveness frontier are Wi‐Fi and youth‐only services (ICER US$7.01−US$9.78 per additional adolescent utilizing HIV and contraceptive services), Wi‐Fi, youth‐only services and food (ICER US$9.32−US$10.45), followed by Wi‐Fi, youth‐only services and extended afternoon hours (ICER US$14.46–US$43.63).ConclusionsCombining DCE results and costing analyses within a modelling framework provides an innovative way to inform decisions on effective resource utilization. Modifiable preferences, such as Wi‐Fi provision, youth‐only services and subsidized food, have the potential to cost‐effectively increase the proportion of adolescents accessing HIV and contraceptive services.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Lung Perfusion
Authors: Triphan Simon M.F. , Bauman Grzegorz , Konietzke Philip , Konietzke Marilisa , Wielpütz Mark O. ,   the International Workshop for Pulmonary Functional Imaging (IWPFI)
Published: July 2023

“Lung perfusion” in the context of imaging conventionally refers to the delivery of blood to the pulmonary capillary bed through the pulmonary arteries originating from the right ventricle required for oxygenation. The most important physiological mechanism in the context of imaging is the so‐called hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV, also known as “Euler‐Liljestrand‐Reflex”), which couples lung perfusion to lung ventilation. In obstructive airway diseases such as asthma, chronic‐obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF), and asthma, HPV downregulates pulmonary perfusion in order to redistribute blood flow to functional lung areas in order to conserve optimal oxygenation. Imaging of lung perfusion can be seen as a reflection of lung ventilation in obstructive airway diseases. Other conditions that primarily affect lung perfusion are pulmonary vascular diseases, pulmonary hypertension, or (chronic) pulmonary embolism, which also lead to inhomogeneity in pulmonary capillary blood distribution. Several magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques either dependent on exogenous contrast materials, exploiting periodical lung signal variations with cardiac action, or relying on intrinsic lung voxel attributes have been demonstrated to visualize lung perfusion. Additional post‐processing may add temporal information and provide quantitative information related to blood flow. The most widely used and robust technique, dynamic‐contrast enhanced MRI, is available in clinical routine assessment of COPD, CF, and pulmonary vascular disease. Non‐contrast techniques are important research tools currently requiring clinical validation and cross‐correlation in the absence of a viable standard of reference. First data on many of these techniques in the context of observational studies assessing therapy effects have just become available.Level of Evidence5Technical EfficacyStage 5
A pharmacokinetic study to correlate the hypoglycemic effect of phlorizin in rats: Identification of metabolites as inhibitors of sodium/glucose cotransporters
Authors: Borkar Roshan M. , Kanwal Abhinav , Raju Bandu , Pulimamidi Sai Sharanya , Das Agneesh Pratim , Agarwal Subhash Mohan , Banerjee Sanjay K. , Srinivas Ragampeta 
Published: July 2023

AbstractPhlorizin (PRZ) is a natural product that belongs to a class of dihydrochalcones. The unique pharmacological property of PRZ is to block glucose absorption or reabsorption through specific and competitive inhibitors of the sodium/glucose cotransporters (SGLTs) in the intestine (SGLT1) and kidney (SGLT2). This results in glycosuria by inhibiting renal reabsorption of glucose and can be used as an adjuvant treatment for type 2 diabetes. The pharmacokinetic profile, metabolites of the PRZ, and efficacy of metabolites towards SGLTs are unknown. Therefore, the present study on the characterization of hitherto unknown in vivo metabolites of PRZ and pharmacokinetic profiling using liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI/MS/MS) and accurate mass measurements is undertaken. Plasma, urine, and feces samples were collected after oral administration of PRZ to Sprague–Dawley rats to identify in vivo metabolites. Furthermore, in silico efficacy of the identified metabolites was evaluated by docking study. PRZ at an intraperitoneal dose of 400 mg/kg showed maximum concentration in the blood to 439.32 ± 8.84 ng/mL at 1 h, while phloretin showed 14.38 ± 0.33 ng/mL at 6 h. The pharmacokinetic profile of PRZ showed that the maximum concentration lies between 1 and 2 h after dosing. Decreased blood glucose levels and maximum excretion of glucose in the urine were observed when the PRZ and metabolites were observed in plasma. The identification and characterization of PRZ metabolites by LC/ESI/MS/MS further revealed that the phase I metabolites of PRZ are hydroxy (mono‐, di‐, and tri‐) and reduction. Phase II metabolites are O‐methylated, O‐acetylated, O‐sulfated, and glucuronide metabolites of PRZ. Further docking study revealed that the metabolites diglucuronide metabolite of mono‐hydroxylated PRZ and mono‐glucuronidation of PRZ could be considered novel inhibitors of SGLT1 and SGLT2, respectively, which show better binding affinities than their parent compound PRZ and the known inhibitors.
Detection of parechovirus‐A in hospitalized children with acute lower respiratory infection in Myanmar, 2017–2018
Authors: Tachikawa Jun , Aizawa Yuta , Kobayashi Tetsuya , Ikuse Tatsuki , Kamata Kazuhiro , Win Su Mon Kyaw , Di Ja Lasham , Thein Khin Nyo , Win Nay Chi , Thida Aye , Tun Aye , Suzuki Yuko , Ito Ai , Osada Hidekazu , Chon Irina , Phyu Wint Wint , Ota Tomomi , Kyaw Yadanar , Tin Htay Htay , Watanabe Kanako , Shobugawa Yugo , Watanabe Hisami , Saito Reiko , Saitoh Akihiko 
Published: July 2023

AbstractParechovirus‐A (PeV‐A) causes emerging infection in children, and clinical presentation depends on genotype. The virus has been investigated mainly in developed countries; however, data from developing countries, especially in Asia, are sparse. This study investigated whether PeV‐A circulated in children in Myanmar. This retrospective study evaluated PeV‐A in nasopharyngeal samples from children aged 1 month to 12 years who were hospitalized with acute lower respiratory infection at Yankin Children Hospital, Yangon, Myanmar, during the period from May 2017 to April 2019. Real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect PeV‐A, and PCR‐positive samples were used for genotyping and phylogenetic analysis. In total, 11/570 (1.9%) of samples were positive for PeV‐A; 7 were successfully genotyped by sequencing the VP3/VP1 region, as follows: PeV‐A1 (n = 4), PeV‐A5 (n = 1), PeV‐A6 (n = 1), and PeV‐A14 (n = 1). Median age was 10.0 months (interquartile range 4.0–12.0 months), and other respiratory viruses were detected in all cases. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all detected PeV‐A1 strains were in clade 1 A, which was a minor clade worldwide. Four PeV‐A genotypes were detected in Myanmar. The clinical impact of PeV‐A in children should be evaluated in future studies.
KCa2.2 (KCNN2): A physiologically and therapeutically important potassium channel
Authors: Rahman Mohammad Asikur , Orfali Razan , Dave Nikita , Lam Elyn , Naguib Nadeen , Nam Young‐Woo , Zhang Miao 
Published: July 2023

AbstractOne group of the K+ ion channels, the small‐conductance Ca2+‐activated potassium channels (KCa2.x, also known as SK channels family), is widely expressed in neurons as well as the heart, endothelial cells, etc. They are named small‐conductance Ca2+‐activated potassium channels (SK channels) due to their comparatively low single‐channel conductance of about ~10 pS. These channels are insensitive to changes in membrane potential and are activated solely by rises in the intracellular Ca2+. According to the phylogenic research done on the KCa2.x channels family, there are three channels' subtypes: KCa2.1, KCa2.2, and KCa2.3, which are encoded by KCNN1, KCNN2, and KCNN3 genes, respectively. The KCa2.x channels regulate neuronal excitability and responsiveness to synaptic input patterns. KCa2.x channels inhibit excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in neuronal dendrites and contribute to the medium afterhyperpolarization (mAHP) that follows the action potential bursts. Multiple brain regions, including the hippocampus, express the KCa2.2 channel encoded by the KCNN2 gene on chromosome 5. Of particular interest, rat cerebellar Purkinje cells express KCa2.2 channels, which are crucial for various cellular processes during development and maturation. Patients with a loss‐of‐function of KCNN2 mutations typically exhibit extrapyramidal symptoms, cerebellar ataxia, motor and language developmental delays, and intellectual disabilities. Studies have revealed that autosomal dominant neurodevelopmental movement disorders resembling rodent symptoms are caused by heterozygous loss‐of‐function mutations, which are most likely to induce KCNN2 haploinsufficiency. The KCa2.2 channel is a promising drug target for spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). SCAs exhibit the dysregulation of firing in cerebellar Purkinje cells which is one of the first signs of pathology. Thus, selective KCa2.2 modulators are promising potential therapeutics for SCAs.