bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Defining iNKT Cell Subsets and Their Function by Flow Cytometry
Authors: Gioulbasani Marianthi , Tsagaratou Ageliki 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThis article discusses methods to assess invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell subsets isolated from the thymus, as well as the spleen, the liver, and the lung. iNKT cells can be subdivided in distinct, functional subsets based on the transcription factors they express and the cytokines they produce to regulate the immune response. Basic Protocol 1 focuses on characterizing murine iNKT subsets ex vivo by flow cytometry by evaluating the expression of lineage‐specifying transcription factors such as PLZF and RORγt. The Alternate Protocol describes a detailed approach to define subsets based on expression of surface markers. This approach can be very useful for maintaining the subsets alive, without fixing them, in order to isolate them for downstream molecular assays such as DNA/RNA isolation, genome‐wide analysis to assess gene expression (such as RNA‐seq), assessment of chromatin accessibility (for instance, by ATAC‐seq), and assessment of DNA methylation by whole‐genome bisulfite sequencing. Basic Protocol 2 describes the functional characterization of iNKT cells, which are activated in vitro with PMA and ionomycin for a short period of time and subsequently stained and characterized for production of cytokines, such as IFNγ and IL‐4, by flow cytometry. Basic Protocol 3 describes the process of activating iNKT cells in vivo using α‐galactosyl‐ceramide, a lipid that can be recognized specifically by iNKT cells, allowing assessment of their functionality in vivo. Cells are then isolated and directly stained for cytokine secretion. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.Basic Protocol 1: Identifying iNKT cell subsets based on transcription factor expression by flow cytometryAlternate Protocol: Identifying iNKT cell subsets based on surface marker expression by flow cytometryBasic Protocol 2: iNKT cell functional characterization based on in vitro activation and assessment of cytokine secretionBasic Protocol 3: iNKT cell in vivo activation and assessment of cytokine secretion by flow cytometry
Outage probability and error rate analysis of full duplex relay in asymmetric fading channels
Authors: Mubarik Injila , Begh G. R. 
Published: July 2023

SummaryFull duplex (FD) technique has evolved as a viable solution to address the spectrum scarce issue. It has gained research interest for its potential to double the wireless link capacity and enhance spectral efficiency (SE). In this paper, the end‐to‐end performance of an amplify‐and‐forward full duplex relay(FDR) in asymmetric Rayleigh–Rician fading channels is explored, unlike the other works that assume symmetric fading conditions in both the links. The asymmetric or mixed fading channels properly model the realistic communication scenarios like satellite/terrestrial wireless communication systems. In this work, we consider that the source‐relay link experiences Rayleigh fading and the relay‐destination link experiences Rician fading. The novel exact and lower bound closed form analytical expressions for outage probability (OP) and bit error rate (BER) for the considered FD system are derived. Moreover, the effect of severity of fading and the amount of residual self‐interference (RSI) on the performance of FDR are also studied. In addition, MC simulations are carried out to validate the results. It is observed that the performance metrics, OP and BER, are highly dependent on the severity of fading and the amount of RSI. Furthermore, it is found that typically at the SNR of 10 dB, an improvement of approximately 27.6%in OP is obtained. Also, our work offers appreciable SNR gain, for example, for a BER of 10−2, an SNR improvement of around 11 dB is achieved. These findings have been compared with the mixed Rayleigh–Rician fading channel conditions considering only half duplex(HD) mode. These parameter metrics are helpful in analyzing the performance of FD in various communication scenarios such as LoS/NLoS conditions and hence pave the way for more realistic FDR.
Long‐term dynamics of species diversity in natural secondary forest stands after severe windthrow damage
Authors: Anzai Nobuhito , Shibuya Masato , Saito Hideyuki , Miyamoto Toshizumi 
Published: July 2023

AbstractSpecies diversity encompasses both richness and evenness, but the interrelationship between these two aspects remains poorly understood. The long‐term dynamics of species diversity were examined in three natural secondary forests in Hokkaido, northern Japan, using permanent plot data gathered over 65–66 years after severe windthrow damage. The relationships among species diversity, species richness, and evenness were analyzed in the context of stand dynamics. Temporal trends in species diversity were unimodal‐shaped in three permanent plots, consistent with the pattern predicted by the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. Species richness and evenness increased following the windthrow, but decreased 27–37 years later in all three plots. In two plots, species diversity was closely associated with species richness and evenness at the early and late successional stages, respectively; in the other plot, species diversity was significantly related to both species richness and evenness in the later stage. The former two plots and the latter one plots differed markedly in terms of the extents of fatal tree damage caused by windthrow. Thus, windthrow severity affected the relationships among diversity, richness, and evenness as succession proceeded in these secondary forests. The tree density, species richness, evenness, and species diversity in all three plots decreased when the basal areas exceeded 18–24 m2/ha, indicating that increased competition among trees affected the temporal trends in these metrics. In conclusion, after a severe disturbance, the relationships among species diversity, richness, and evenness in secondary forests change with succession.
Accessing Dihydropyrrolo[3,4‐b]indol‐1(2H)‐ones via Pd‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Aminocarbonylative Ring Closure
Authors: Alam Ryan M. , Keating John J. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractPresent in a number of small molecule derivatives that display a wide range of biological activities, the dihydropyrrolo[3,4‐b]indol‐(2H)‐one (DHPI) core represents an underexplored heterocyclic scaffold. Given the pharmaceutical potential of the DHPI motif, the development of synthetic methodologies that permit their expedient assembly would be highly desirable. Herein, we describe a novel strategy for the construction of the DHPI core from 3‐iodo‐1H‐indolyl substrates, employing an unprecedented Pd‐catalyzed intramolecular aminocarbonylative ring closure. The compatibility of our optimized protocol with various functional groups is highlighted through the synthesis of a range of diversely substituted DHPI derivatives in up to 90 % isolated yield.
Predictors of referral for long‐term EEG monitoring for Medicare beneficiaries with drug‐resistant epilepsy
Authors: Hill Chloe E. , Lin Chun Chieh , Terman Samuel W. , Zahuranec Darin , Parent Jack M. , Skolarus Lesli E. , Burke James F. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractObjectiveFor people with drug‐resistant epilepsy, the use of epilepsy surgery is low despite favorable odds of seizure freedom. To better understand surgery utilization, we explored factors associated with inpatient long‐term EEG monitoring (LTM), the first step of the presurgical pathway.MethodsUsing 2001–2018 Medicare files, we identified patients with incident drug‐resistant epilepsy using validated criteria of ≥2 distinct antiseizure medication (ASM) prescriptions and ≥1 drug‐resistant epilepsy encounter among patients with ≥2 years pre‐ and ≥1 year post‐diagnosis Medicare enrollment. We used multilevel logistic regression to evaluate associations between LTM and patient, provider, and geographic factors. We then analyzed neurologist‐diagnosed patients to further evaluate provider/environmental characteristics.ResultsOf 12 044 patients with incident drug‐resistant epilepsy diagnosis identified, 2% underwent surgery. Most (68%) were diagnosed by a neurologist. In total, 19% underwent LTM near/after drug‐resistant epilepsy diagnosis; another 4% only underwent LTM much prior to diagnosis. Patient factors most strongly predicting LTM were age <65 (adjusted odds ratio 1.5 [95% confidence interval 1.3–1.8]), focal epilepsy (1.6 [1.4–1.9]), psychogenic non‐epileptic spells diagnosis (1.6 [1.1–2.5]) prior hospitalization (1.7, [1.5–2]), and epilepsy center proximity (1.6 [1.3–1.9]). Additional predictors included female gender, Medicare/Medicaid non‐dual eligibility, certain comorbidities, physician specialties, regional neurologist density, and prior LTM. Among neurologist‐diagnosed patients, neurologist <10 years from graduation, near an epilepsy center, or epilepsy‐specialized increased LTM likelihood (1.5 [1.3–1.9], 2.1 [1.8–2.5], 2.6 [2.1–3.1], respectively). In this model, 37% of variation in LTM completion near/after diagnosis was explained by individual neurologist practice and/or environment rather than measurable patient factors (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.37).SignificanceA small proportion of Medicare beneficiaries with drug‐resistant epilepsy completed LTM, a proxy for epilepsy surgery referral. While some patient factors and access measures predicted LTM, non‐patient factors explained a sizable proportion of variance in LTM completion. To increase surgery utilization, these data suggest initiatives targeting better support of neurologist referral.
Healthy lifestyles in relation to cardiometabolic diseases among schoolteachers: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Huang Liyan , He Mengjie , Shen Jie , Gong Yiying , Chen Hui , Xu Xiaolin , Zong Geng , Zheng Yan , Jiang Chao , Wang Baohong , Zhang Ronghua , Yuan Changzheng 
Published: July 2023

AbstractBackgroundWe aimed to explore the associations of adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle with cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) among schoolteachers in China.MethodsWe conducted a cross‐sectional analysis among 2983 teachers (aged 39.8 ± 9.3 years, 73.8% women) in Zhejiang Province, China. A healthy lifestyle score (0–7) was constructed based on seven low‐risk factors: healthy diet, noncurrent smoking, noncurrent drinking, regular exercise, normal body mass index (BMI), adequate sleep duration, and limited sedentary behavior. CMDs included self‐reported hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Multivariable‐adjusted logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations between healthy lifestyle and CMD.ResultsA total of 493 (16.5%) participants had at least one CMD, with hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes being the three leading CMDs. Each point increment in a healthy lifestyle score was associated with 20% lower odds of having CMD (p‐trend < 0.001). Compared with 0–3 low‐risk factors, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were 0.66 (0.50–0.88) for 4 low‐risk factors and 0.51 (0.39–0.67) for 5–7 low‐risk factors. We observed independent associations for normal BMI (OR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.40–0.63), noncurrent drinking (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.36–0.77), and limited sedentary behavior (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.62–0.96) in relation to CMD. Healthy diet (OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.55–1.01) exhibited marginally significant association with CMD.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle is associated with lower odds of CMD among schoolteachers.
The effect of hospital spending on waiting times
Authors: Brindley Callum , Lomas James , Siciliani Luigi 
Published: July 2023

AbstractLong waiting times have been a persistent policy issue in the United Kingdom that the COVID‐19 pandemic has exacerbated. This study analyses the causal effect of hospital spending on waiting times in England using a first‐differences panel approach and an instrumental variable strategy to deal with residual concerns for endogeneity. We use data from 2014 to 2019 on waiting times from general practitioner referral to treatment (RTT) measured at the level of local purchasers (known as Clinical Commissioning Groups). We find that increases in hospital spending by local purchasers of 1% reduce median RTT waiting time for patients whose pathway ends with a hospital admission (admitted pathway) by 0.6 days but the effect is not statistically significant at 5% level (only at the 10% level). We also find that higher hospital spending does not affect the RTT waiting time for patients whose pathway ends with a specialist consultation (non‐admitted pathway). Nor does higher spending have a statistically significant effect on the volume of elective activity for either pathway. Our findings suggest that higher spending is no guarantee of higher volumes and lower waiting times, and that additional mechanisms need to be put in place to ensure that increased spending benefits elective patients.
Condenser performance in a cylindrical humidification and dehumidification (HDH) system
Authors: Saha Parnab , Bihani Raghav , Abedi Mahyar , Tan Xu , Klausner James , Benard Andre 
Published: July 2023

AbstractIn recent years, humidification and dehumidification (HDH) systems have garnered significant attention due to their enhanced effectiveness with packed beds, particularly for high‐salinity waters. The direct‐contact packed beds HDH system offers a more convenient and efficient installation compared with conventional HDH systems. This paper introduces a novel, compact cylindrical crossflow HDH system design that is easily constructed and scalable for industrial and residential applications. The compact crossflow‐packed bed condenser employs perforated air tubes to distribute humidified air radially while cooling water drips vertically through the packed bed, coming into direct contact with the humidified air. To evaluate the system's performance, two‐dimensional steady‐state energy, and mass conservation equations were developed solving enthalpies instead of temperatures as dependents. The coupled partial differential equations were numerically solved to predict water temperature, air/vapor temperature, humidity ratio, and condenser effectiveness. Multiple designs were proposed, demonstrating that the proposed configuration can achieve effectiveness above 0.80 and a water production rate of 3.85 g/s under ideal operating conditions.
Identification and treatment of iron‐deficiency anemia in pregnancy and postpartum: A systematic review and quality appraisal of guidelines using AGREE II
Authors: Mintsopoulos Victoria , Tannenbaum Evan , Malinowski A. Kinga , Shehata Nadine , Walker Melissa 
Published: July 2023

AbstractBackgroundSeveral international guidelines provide recommendations for the optimal management of iron‐deficiency anemia (IDA) in the pregnant and postpartum populations.ObjectivesTo review the quality of guidelines containing recommendations for the identification and treatment of IDA in pregnancy and postpartum using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument and to summarize their recommendations.Search StrategyPubMed, Medline, and Embase databases were searched from inception to August 2, 2021. A web engine search was also performed.Selection CriteriaClinical practice guidelines that focused on the management of IDA in pregnancy and/or postpartum populations were included.Data Collection and AnalysisIncluded guidelines were appraised using AGREE II independently by two reviewers. Domain scores greater than 70% were considered high‐quality. Overall scores of six or seven (out of a possible seven) were considered high‐quality guidelines. Recommendations on IDA management were extracted and summarized.Main ResultsOf 2887 citations, 16 guidelines were included. Only six (37.5%) guidelines were deemed high‐quality and were recommended by the reviewers. All 16 (100%) guidelines discussed the management of IDA in pregnancy, and 10 (62.5%) also included information on the management of IDA in the postpartum period.ConclusionsThe complex interplay of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities was rarely addressed, which limits the generalizability of the recommendations. In addition, many guidelines failed to identify barriers to implementation, strategies to improve uptake or iron treatment, and resource and cost implications of clinical recommendations. These findings highlight important areas to target future work.
Isoliensinine augments the therapeutic potential of paclitaxel in multidrug‐resistant colon cancer stem cells and induced mitochondria‐mediated cell death
Authors: Manogaran Prasath , Anandan Aparna , Vijaya Padma Viswanadha 
Published: July 2023

AbstractPreviously we have reported the isoliensinine (ISO) potentates the therapeutic potential of cisplatin in cisplatin resistant colorectal cancer stem cells. The present study evaluates the chemo‐sensitizing potential of the combinatorial regimen of ISO and Paclitaxcel (PTX) on multidrug‐resistant (MDR)‐HCT‐15 cells to reduce the dose requirement of both ISO and PTX. The results of the present study suggest that treatment with the combinatorial regimen of ISO and PTX enhanced the cytotoxic effect with resultant increase in apoptosis in MDR‐HCT‐15 cells as evident from the altered cellular morphology, G2/M cell cycle arrest, propidium iodide uptake, Annexin V, increased intracellular Ca2+accumulation, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, diminished ATP production, PARP‐1 cleavage, altered expression of ERK1/2, and apoptotic proteins. Treatment with combinatorial regimen of ISO and PTX also modulated the expression of the transcription factors SOX2, OCT4 which determine the stemness of cancer cells. Thus, results of the present study suggest that ISO and PTX combination regimen induces apoptosis in MDR‐HCT‐15 in a synergistic manner.
Measures of trauma exposure and trauma response: A scoping review
Authors: Tolchin Gabrielle , Aafjes‐van Doorn Katie , Horne Sarah , Baitch Rachel , Silberschatz George 
Published: July 2023

AbstractBackgroundIn contrast to the vast clinical, theoretical, and empirical literature on the impact of trauma, relatively few studies have reviewed the trauma measures that researchers and clinicians can choose to use in their work. This scoping review aimed to catalog all trauma measures (trauma exposure and its subjective responses) that have been published in the peer‐reviewed literature, developed for use with adult populations.MethodThrough a systematic search of the literature and the screening of 19,631 abstracts, a total of 363 unique trauma measures were identified.ResultMost of these measures were developed for assessment purposes rather than for clinical screening or diagnostic purposes. Most of these measures are patient‐self‐report measures that assess trauma exposure in the patients' lifetime, or subsequent symptoms, particularly cognitive impairments.DiscussionComplications in the trauma literature are highlighted, including the use of very similar abbreviations of measures, substantial discrepancies regarding the definition of trauma, and the general assumption that a potentially traumatic event inevitably leads to traumatic distress rather than a path of resilience.
Enhancing anti‐biofouling property by incorporating graphene oxide‐silver nanocomposite into polycaprolactone membrane for ultrafiltration application
Authors: Sepehri Elnaz , Mousavi Seyed Mahmoud , Saljoughi Ehsan , Bahreini Masoumeh , Doaei Marjan , Kiani Shirin 
Published: July 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe control of biofouling is crucial in the membrane separation process. In the present study, graphene oxide‐silver (GO‐Ag) nanocomposite was fabricated and incorporated into polycaprolactone (PCL) membrane for the first time to increase its antibacterial properties and reduce its biofouling. Characterization of GO‐Ag nanocomposite was done by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The PCL/GO‐Ag membranes were also characterized by XRD, attenuated total reflectance Fourier‐transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), porosity determination, water contact angle measurement, and tensile test. Furthermore, pure water flux (PWF) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection of the membranes were evaluated. Finally, the antibacterial activity of membranes was investigated by diffusion inhibition zone test and plate count of colony‐forming units.RESULTSThe results demonstrated that Ag nanoparticles were formed on the GO surfaces. In addition, membranes incorporated with the GO‐Ag nanocomposite were more hydrophilic, more porous, and more permeable to pure water while showing a lower protein rejection in the filtration of a BSA solution. Adding the GO‐Ag nanocomposite to the PCL membrane increased the inhibition effect against bacteria. The colony counting method confirmed that PCL/GO‐Ag membranes had higher antibacterial properties than the pure PCL membrane, and the PCL/1.8% GO‐Ag membrane represented the maximum antibacterial efficiency of 90% and 98% against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, respectively.CONCLUSIONOverall, by the incorporation of GO‐Ag nanocomposite into the PCL membrane, PWF and antibacterial property were augmented, while protein rejection dropped. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
The Association of Metabolic Brain MRI, Amyloid PET, and Clinical Factors: A Study of Alzheimer's Disease and Normal Controls From the Open Access Series of Imaging Studies Dataset
Authors: Matsushita Shu , Tatekawa Hiroyuki , Ueda Daiju , Takita Hirotaka , Horiuchi Daisuke , Tsukamoto Taro , Shimono Taro , Miki Yukio 
Published: July 2023

BackgroundAlthough brain activities in Alzheimer's disease (AD) might be evaluated MRI and PET, the relationships between brain temperature (BT), the index of diffusivity along the perivascular space (ALPS index), and amyloid deposition in the cerebral cortex are still unclear.PurposeTo investigate the relationship between metabolic imaging measurements and clinical information in patients with AD and normal controls (NCs).Study TypeRetrospective analysis of a prospective dataset.Population58 participants (78.3 ± 6.8 years; 30 female): 29 AD patients and 29 age‐ and sex‐matched NCs from the Open Access Series of Imaging Studies dataset.Field Strength/Sequence3T; T1‐weighted magnetization‐prepared rapid gradient‐echo, diffusion tensor imaging with 64 directions, and dynamic 18F‐florbetapir PET.AssessmentImaging metrics were compared between AD and NCs. These included BT calculated by the diffusivity of the lateral ventricles, ALPS index that reflects the glymphatic system, the mean standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) of amyloid PET in the cerebral cortex and clinical information, such as age, sex, and MMSE.Statistical TestsPearson's or Spearman's correlation and multiple linear regression analyses. P values <0.05 were defined as statistically significant.ResultsSignificant positive correlations were found between BT and ALPS index (r = 0.44 for NCs), while significant negative correlations were found between age and ALPS index (rs = −0.43 for AD and − 0.47 for NCs). The SUVR of amyloid PET was not significantly associated with BT (P = 0.81 for AD and 0.21 for NCs) or ALPS index (P = 0.10 for AD and 0.52 for NCs). In the multiple regression analysis, age was significantly associated with BT, while age, sex, and presence of AD were significantly associated with the ALPS index.Data ConclusionImpairment of the glymphatic system measured using MRI was associated with lower BT and aging.Level of Evidence3Technical Efficacy Stage1