bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association of plasma acylcarnitines and amino acids with hypertension: A nationwide metabolomics study
Authors: Arjmand Babak , Dehghanbanadaki Hojat , Yoosefi Moein , Rezaei Negar , Mohammadi Fateh Sahar , Ghodssi-Ghassemabadi Robabeh , Najjar Niloufar , Hosseinkhani Shaghayegh , Tayanloo-beik Akram , Adibi Hossein , Farzadfar Farshad , Larijani Bagher , Razi Farideh 
Published: January 2023

Background
Identification of metabolomics profile in subjects with different blood pressure, including normal blood pressure, elevated blood pressure, stage 1 hypertension, and stage 2 hypertension, would be a promising strategy to understand the pathogenesis of hypertension. Thus, we conducted this study to investigate the association of plasma acylcarnitines and amino acids with hypertension in a large Iranian population.

Methods
1200 randomly selected subjects from the national survey on the Surveillance of Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases in Iran (STEPs 2016) were divided into four groups based on the ACC/AHA hypertension criteria: normal blood pressure (n = 293), elevated blood pressure (n = 135), stage 1 hypertension (n = 325), and stage 2 hypertension (n = 447). Plasma concentrations of 30 acylcarnitines and 20 amino acids were measured using a targeted approach with flow-injection tandem mass spectrometry. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to estimate the association between metabolites level and the risk of hypertension. Age, sex, BMI, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, use of oral glucose-lowering drugs, statins, and antihypertensive drugs were adjusted in regression analysis.

Results
Of 50 metabolites, 34 were associated with an increased likelihood of stage 2 hypertension and 5 with a decreased likelihood of stage 2 hypertension. After full adjustment for potential confounders, 5 metabolites were still significant risk markers for stage 2 hypertension including C0 (OR = 0.75; 95%CI: 0.63, 0.90), C12 (OR = 1.18; 95%CI: 1.00, 1.40), C14:1 (OR = 1.20; 95%CI: 1.01, 1.42), C14:2 (OR = 1.19; 95%CI: 1.01, 1.41), and glycine (OR = 0.81; 95%CI: 0.68, 0.96). An index that included glycine and serine also showed significant predictive value for stage 2 hypertension after full adjustment (OR = 0.86; 95%CI: 0.75, 0.98).

Conclusions
Five metabolites were identified as potentially valuable predictors of stage 2 hypertension.
The Targeted Maximum Likelihood estimation to estimate the causal effects of the previous tuberculosis treatment in Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Sudan
Authors: Elduma Adel Hussein , Holakouie-Naieni Kourosh , Almasi-Hashiani Amir , Rahimi Foroushani Abbas , Mustafa Hamdan Ali Hamdan , Adam Muatsim Ahmed Mohammed , Elsony Asma , Ali Mansournia Mohammad 
Published: January 2023

Introduction
This study used Targeted Maximum Likelihood Estimation (TMLE) as a double robust method to estimate the causal effect of previous tuberculosis treatment history on the occurrence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). TMLE is a method to estimate the marginal statistical parameters in case-control study design. The aim of this study was to estimate the causal effect of the previous tuberculosis treatment on the occurrence of MDR-TB using TMLE in Sudan.

Method
A case-control study design combined with TMLE was used to estimate parameters. Cases were MDR-TB patients and controls were and patients who cured from tuberculosis. The history of previous TB treatment was considered the main exposure, and MDR-TB as an outcome. A designed questionnaire was used to collect a set of covariates including age, time to reach a health facility, number of times stopping treatment, gender, education level, and contact with MDR-TB cases. TMLE method was used to estimate the causal association of parameters. Statistical analysis was carried out with ltmle package in R-software. Result presented in graph and tables.

Results
A total number of 430 cases and 860 controls were included in this study. The estimated risk difference of the previous tuberculosis treatment was (0.189, 95% CI; 0.161, 0.218) with SE 0.014, and p-value (<0.001). In addition, the estimated risk ratio was (16.1, 95% CI; 12.932, 20.001) with SE = 0.014 and p-value (<0.001).

Conclusion
Our findings indicated that previous tuberculosis treatment history was determine as a risk factor for MDR-TB in Sudan. Also, TMLE method can be used to estimate the risk difference and the risk ratio in a case-control study design.
How dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons deal with tooth extraction without a valid clinical indication
Authors: Broers Dyonne Liesbeth Maria , Dubois Leander , de Lange Jan , Welie Jos Victor Marie , Brands Wolter Gerrit , Lagas Maria Barbara Diana , Bruers Jan Joseph Mathieu , de Jongh Ad 
Published: January 2023

Objectives
This study pertains to a secondary data analysis aimed at determining differences between oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMFSs) and dentists handling dental extractions without an evident clinical indication.

Study design
A survey of 18 questions was conducted among 256 OMFSs in the Netherlands and a random sample of 800 dentists Respondents could answer the questions in writing or online. The data was collected in the period from November 2019 to January 2020, during which two reminders were sent. Analysis of the data took place via descriptive statistics and Chi Square test.

Results
The response rate was 28.1% (n = 72) for OMFSs and 30.3% (n = 242) for dentists. In the past three years, 81.9% (n = 59) of the OMFSs and 68.0% (n = 164) of the dentists received a request for extraction without a clinical indication. The most common reasons were financial and severe dental fear (OMFSs: 64.9 and 50.9% vs dentists: 77.4 and 36.5%). Dentists were significantly more likely (75.6%, n = 114) than OMFS (60.7%, n = 34) to comply with their last extraction request without a clinical indication. Almost none of them regretted the extraction afterwards. As for the request itself, it was found that 17.5% (n = 10) of the OMFSs and 12.5% (n = 20) of the dentists did not check for patients’ mental competency (p = 0.352).

Conclusions
Given that most of the interviewed dental professionals complied with non-dental extraction requests when such extractions are ethically and legally precarious, recommendations for handling such requests are greatly needed.
Themes for Great Cities: A New History of Simple Minds, Graeme Thomson (2022)
Authors: Loydell Rupert 
Published: January 2023

Review of: Themes for Great Cities: A New History of Simple Minds, Graeme Thomson (2022)
London: Constable, 360 pp.,
ISBN 978-1-47213-400-4, h/bk, £20.00
Exit Stage Left: The Curious Afterlife of Pop Stars, Nick Duerden (2022)
Authors: Loydell Rupert 
Published: January 2023

Review of: Exit Stage Left: The Curious Afterlife of Pop Stars, Nick Duerden (2022)
London: Headline, 384 pp.,
ISBN 978-1-47227-777-0, h/bk, £20.00
Synthesis of group I–III–VI semiconductor quantum dots and its application in food safety testing
Authors: Zhou Hualan , Wang Huiwen , Li Xiaodi , Wang Lehui , Huang Haoming , Qiu Haojie , Cong Wenjie , Wang Mingxuan , Zhang Jianguo 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
As a good fluorescent material, most I–III–VI ternary semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) do not contain heavy metal elements such as Cd and Pb and thus have low toxicity. In addition, they also have excellent data performance such as narrow band gap, large absorption coefficient, large Stokes shift, low self-absorption effect, and luminescence wavelength in the near infrared region. I–III–VI QDs also have a size-dependent luminescence in the visible and near-infrared ranges, and their fluorescence quantum yields can exceed 50% especially when coated with ZnS shells, thus offering great potential for applications in illumination, display, and bioimaging. The review focuses on the synthesis of group I–III–VI QDs, their properties, and applications. In the first part, we discuss the approaches to synthesize these QDs. In the second section, we provide an overview of the applications of I–III–VI QDs in food safety detection, with emphasis on the detection of heavy metal ions, foodborne pathogens, food additives, pesticide, and veterinary drug residues. The final section summarizes the current application prospects of ternary semiconductor QDs.
Prediction of Soil Moisture Content through Photographs of Cobalt Chloride Filter Paper in Contact with Soil Specimens
Authors: Loshelder Julia I. , Coffman Richard A. 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Measured soil moisture content is a useful geotechnical engineering property for a variety of analyses. The laboratory determination of soil moisture content can be time consuming, labor intensive, or both; the field determination of soil moisture content may require additional certification, as associated with the use of the nuclear density gauge. The objective of this research was to identify a method that could be used to determine the soil moisture content without the aforementioned disadvantages. This objective was achieved through the use of cobalt chloride filter paper being placed into contact with the soil. The cobalt chloride filter paper changes color in the presence of moisture (a blue color when the paper is dry and a pink color when the paper is wet). A membrane separated the cobalt chloride paper and the surface of soil specimens (kaolinite, bentonite, Donna Fill, and a silty sand) to prevent cobalt chloride migration. The soil specimens were prepared at different moisture contents, and photography-based hue values were determined for each soil/cobalt chloride filter paper pair at given time intervals. Linear correlations were observed to exist between the soil moisture content and the slope of the linear portion of the hue-time relationship for all of the investigated soil types. The coefficients of determination (R2) ranged from .91 to .99. All soils showed a strong positive linear relationship between the slope of the cobalt chloride hue and soil moisture content. This use of hue may provide a rapid determination of in situ soil moisture content.
Interpretation of In Situ State Parameters of Piezocone Penetration Tests in High Pile Rebound Soils
Authors: Shaban Alaa M. , Cosentino Paul J. 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Cone penetrometer testing (CPT) was performed along with pile driving analysis (PDA) at six piling projects to determine typical soil characteristics encountered during excessive pile rebound. The PDA test was used to develop profiles of rebound versus elevation, while the CPT test was utilized to provide continuous variations of soil parameters with depth. In situ data from the CPT and PDA tests were matched based on depth and elevation, then averaged over four depth intervals ranging from 1B to 8B (B is the pile’s diameter). The results indicated that the rebound and non-rebound CPT data plots clustered in distinctive regions on the soil liquefaction assessment chart. The rebound data showed dilative behavior with state parameter values less than −0.125, while the non-rebound data exhibited contractive behavior, with larger state parameter values. Predictive models for estimating the magnitude of pile rebound in terms of normalized CPT data were thus developed using stepwise linear and nonlinear regression analyses. The results for these showed promising correlations between rebound, pore water pressure, cone tip resistance and state parameter predicted as a function of friction ratio. Additionally, the depth of soil layers underneath the pile’s toe was found to play a prominent role in controlling the extent and the amount of rebound. The CPT data as averaged over 4B and 8B intervals also showed a clear tendency to determine problematic pile rebound zones, though no such tendency was seen in data averaged over 1B and 2B intervals.
PRNP Sequences of Tibetan Antelope, Blue Sheep, and Plateau Pika from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Reactivity of PrP Proteins to Rodent-Adapted Scrapie Strains in RT-QuIC and PMCA
Authors: Wu Yue-Zhang , Wu Jing-Xing , Yang Xue-Hua , Lu Shan , Xiao Kang , Chen Dong-Dong , Gao Li-Ping , Shi Qi , Xu Jian-Guo , Dong Xiao-Ping 
Published: January 2023

Background:
Tibetan antelope (Rhinopithecus), blue sheep (Pseudois nayauris), and plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) are wild animals living on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. There have been no reports of naturally-occurring transmissible spongioform encephalopathies (TSEs) involving these animals. Furthermore, the PRNP genes have not been described in the literature.

Methods:
The PRNP genes from 21 Tibetan antelopes, 4 blue sheep, and 3 plateau pikas were obtained and sequenced. The recombinant proteins were then prepared. Using scrapie strains (263K, 139A, ME7, and S15) as the seeds, the reactivity of the PrP proteins from sheep (rSheepPrP25-234) and pika (rPikaPrP23-230) were tested using real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC). Protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) tests of the brain homogenates from domestic sheep and rabbits were performed with the seeds of strains 263K and ME7.

Results:
The PRNP genes of bovids were 771 bp long and encoded 256 amino acids (aa), showing 100% homology with the wild-type sheep prion protein (PrP) aa sequence. The PRNP gene of pika was 759 bp long and encoded 252 amino acids, showing 92.1% homology with the aa sequence of domestic rabbits. The sheep and pika proteins revealed positive reactions in 10-5 diluted seeds. Only rPikaPrP23-230 produced positive curves in 10-7 diluted seeds. The PMCA tests failed to produce proteinase K (PK)-resistant PrP (PrPres).

Conclusion:
This is the first description of PRNP genes and PrP aa sequences of Tibetan antelope, blue sheep, and plateau pike from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In the presence of rodent prions, the PrPs of sheep and pika efficiently induce fibrillation in RT-QuIC, but do not generate PrPres in PMCA. Our results indicate that pika, as one of the important links in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau biological chain, may play an important role in the prion circulation. Pika PrP deserves further analysis for its potential application value in assays for human prion disease.
Cardiac and Gastric Interoceptive Awareness Have Distinct Neural Substrates
Authors: Haruki Yusuke , Ogawa Kenji 
Published: January 2023

AbstractInteroceptive awareness, an awareness of the internal body state, guides adaptive behavior by providing ongoing information on body signals, such as heart rate and energy status. However, it is still unclear how interoceptive awareness of different body organs are represented in the human brain. Hence, we directly compared the neural activations accompanying attention to cardiac (related to heartbeat) and gastric (related to stomach) sensations, which generate cardiac and gastric interoceptive awareness, in the same population (healthy humans,N = 31). Participants were asked to direct their attention toward heart and stomach sensations and become aware of them in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. The results indicated that the neural activations underlying gastric attention encompassed larger brain regions, including the occipitotemporal visual cortices, bilateral primary motor cortices, primary somatosensory cortex, left orbitofrontal cortex, and hippocampal regions. Cardiac attention, however, selectively activated the right anterior insula extending to the frontal operculum compared with gastric attention. Moreover, our detailed analyses focusing on the insula, the most relevant region for interoceptive awareness, revealed that the left dorsal middle insula encoded cardiac and gastric attention via different activation patterns, but the posterior insula did not. Our results demonstrate that cardiac and gastric attention evoke different brain activation patterns; in particular, the selective activation may reflect differences in the functional roles of cardiac and gastric interoceptive awareness.
AAV Vector Mediated Delivery of NG2 Function Neutralizing Antibody and Neurotrophin NT-3 Improves Synaptic Transmission, Locomotion, and Urinary Tract Function after Spinal Cord Contusion Injury in Adult Rats
Authors: Petrosyan Hayk A. , Alessi Valentina , Lasek Kristin , Gumudavelli Sricharan , Muffaletto Robert , Liang Li , Collins William F. , Levine Joel , Arvanian Victor L. 
Published: January 2023

NG2 is a structurally unique transmembrane chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG). Its role in damaged spinal cord is dual. NG2 is considered one of key inhibitory factors restricting axonal growth following spinal injury. Additionally, we have recently detected its novel function as a blocker of axonal conduction. Some studies, however, indicate the importance of NG2 presence in the formation of synaptic contacts. We hypothesized that the optimal treatment would be neutralization of inhibitory functions of NG2 without its physical removal. Acute intraspinal injections of anti-NG2 monoclonal antibodies reportedly prevented an acute block of axonal conduction by exogenous NG2. For prolonged delivery of NG2 function neutralizing antibody, we have developed a novel gene therapy: adeno-associated vector (AAV) construct expressing recombinant single-chain variable fragment anti-NG2 antibody (AAV-NG2Ab). We examined effects of AAV-NG2Ab alone or in combination with neurotrophin NT-3 in adult female rats with thoracic T10 contusion injuries. A battery of behavioral tests was used to evaluate locomotor function.In vivosingle-cell electrophysiology was used to evaluate synaptic transmission. Lower urinary tract function was assessed during the survival period using metabolic chambers. Terminal cystometry, with acquisition of external urethral sphincter activity and bladder pressure, was used to evaluate bladder function. Both the AAV-NG2Ab and AAV-NG2Ab combined with AAV-NT3 treatment groups demonstrated significant improvements in transmission, locomotion, and bladder function compared with the control (AAV-GFP) group. These functional improvements associated with improved remyelination and plasticity of 5-HT fibers. The best results were observed in the group that received combinational AAV-NG2Ab+AAV-NT3 treatment.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTWe recently demonstrated beneficial, but transient, effects of neutralization of the NG2 proteoglycan using monoclonal antibodies delivered intrathecally via osmotic mini-pumps after spinal cord injury. Currently, we have developed a novel gene therapy tool for prolonged and clinically relevant delivery of a recombinant single-chain variable fragment anti-NG2 antibody: AAV-rh10 serotype expressing scFv-NG2 (AAV-NG2Ab). Here, we examined effects of AAV-NG2Ab combined with transgene delivery of Neurotrophin-3 (AAV-NT3) in adult rats with thoracic contusion injuries. The AAV-NG2Ab and AAV-NG2Ab+AAV-NT3 treatment groups demonstrated significant improvements of locomotor function and lower urinary tract function. Beneficial effects of this novel gene therapy on locomotion and bladder function associated with improved transmission to motoneurons and plasticity of axons in damaged spinal cord.
Linking Impulsivity to Activity Levels in Pre-Supplementary Motor Area during Sequential Gambling
Authors: Lohse Allan , Løkkegaard Annemette , Siebner Hartwig R. , Meder David 
Published: January 2023

Impulsivity refers to the tendency to act prematurely or without forethought, and excessive impulsivity is a key problem in many neuropsychiatric disorders. Since the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) has been implicated in inhibitory control, this region may also contribute to impulsivity. Here, we examined whether functional recruitment of pre-SMA may contribute to risky choice behavior (state impulsivity) during sequential gambling and its relation to self-reported trait impulsivity. To this end, we performed task-based functional MRI (fMRI) after low-frequency (1 Hz) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the pre-SMA. We expected low-frequency rTMS to modulate task-related engagement of the pre-SMA and, hereby, tune the tendency to make risky choices. Twenty-four healthy volunteers (12 females; age range, 19–52 years) received real or sham-rTMS on separate days in counterbalanced order. Thereafter, participants performed a sequential gambling task with concurrently increasing stakes and risk during whole-brain fMRI. In the sham-rTMS session, self-reported trait impulsivity scaled positively with state impulsivity (riskier choice behavior) during gambling. The higher the trait impulsivity, the lower was the task-related increase in pre-SMA activity with increasingly risky choices. Following real-rTMS, low-impulsivity participants increased their preference for risky choices, while the opposite was true for high-impulsivity participants, resulting in an overall decoupling of trait impulsivity and state impulsivity during gambling. This rTMS-induced behavioral shift was mirrored in the rTMS-induced change in pre-SMA activation. These results provide converging evidence for a causal link between the level of task-related pre-SMA activity and the propensity for impulsive risk-taking behavior in the context of sequential gambling.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTImpulsivity is a personal trait characterized by a tendency to act prematurely or without forethought, and excessive impulsivity is a key problem in many neuropsychiatric disorders. Here we provide evidence that the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) is causally involved in implementing general impulsive tendencies (trait impulsivity) into actual behavior (state impulsivity). Participants’ self-reported impulsivity levels (trait impulsivity) were reflected in their choice behavior (state impulsivity) when involved in a sequential gambling task. This relationship was uncoupled after perturbing the pre-SMA with repetitive transcranial stimulation (rTMS). This effect was contingent on trait impulsivity and was echoed in rTMS-induced changes in pre-SMA activity. Pre-SMA is key in translating trait impulsivity into behavior, possibly by integrating prefrontal goals with corticostriatal motor control.
IFN‐stimulated metabolite transporter ENT3 facilitates viral genome release
Authors: Hsieh Yu‐Ting , Tsai Tsung‐Lin , Huang Shen‐Yan , Heng Jian‐Wen , Huang Yu‐Chia , Tsai Pei‐Yuan , Tu Chia‐Chun , Chao Tai‐Ling , Tsai Ya‐Min , Chang Pei‐Ching , Lee Chien‐Kuo , Yu Guann‐Yi , Chang Sui‐Yuan , Dzhagalov Ivan L. , Hsu Chia‐Lin 
Published: January 2023

AbstractAn increasing amount of evidence emphasizes the role of metabolic reprogramming in immune cells to fight infections. However, little is known about the regulation of metabolite transporters that facilitate and support metabolic demands. In this study, we found that the expression of equilibrative nucleoside transporter 3 (ENT3, encoded by solute carrier family 29 member 3, Slc29a3) is part of the innate immune response, which is rapidly upregulated upon pathogen invasion. The transcription of Slc29a3 is directly regulated by type I interferon‐induced signaling, demonstrating that this metabolite transporter is an interferon‐stimulated gene (ISG). Suprisingly, we unveil that several viruses, including SARS‐CoV‐2, require ENT3 to facilitate their entry into the cytoplasm. The removal or suppression of Slc29a3 expression is sufficient to significantly decrease viral replication in vitro and in vivo. Our study reveals that ENT3 is a pro‐viral ISG co‐opted by some viruses to gain a survival advantage.