bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long‐Term Change in Bone Mineral Density in Women Living With HIV: A 10‐Year Prospective Controlled Cohort Study
Authors: Macdonald Heather M. , Maan Evelyn J. , Berger Claudie , Côte Hélène C. F. , Murray Melanie C. M. , Pick Neora , Prior Jerilynn C. ,   for the CIHR Team in Cellular Aging and HIV Comorbidities in Women and Children: CARMA
Published: July 2023

ABSTRACTWomen living with HIV (WLWH) may be at higher risk for osteoporosis and fragility fractures. However, limited prospective data describe long‐term trajectories of bone mineral density (BMD) in WLWH versus women without HIV. Thus, in this prospective study, we aimed to compare 10‐year change in areal BMD (aBMD) between WLWH (n = 49; 36.8 ± 8.8 years; 96% pre/perimenopausal) and HIV‐negative women (population‐based controls; n = 49; 41.9 ± 9.2 years; 80% pre/perimenopausal). In an exploratory analysis, we compared fracture history between WLWH and controls. Outcomes were lumbar spine (L1 to L4), total hip, and femoral neck aBMD at baseline and follow‐up, which occurred at 13 and 10 years in WLWH and controls, respectively. We fit multivariable regression models to compare baseline and 10‐year change in aBMD between groups, adjusting for osteoporosis risk factors. Within WLWH, we examined associations between aBMD and HIV‐related factors, including combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) duration. WLWH were diagnosed 6.5 ± 3.7 years before baseline, 80% were on cART for 241 ± 142 weeks, and 49% had HIV plasma viral load <40 copies/mL. Before and after adjusting for osteoporosis risk factors, baseline and 10‐year change in aBMD did not differ between WLWH and controls at any site. At baseline, more WLWH than controls reported a history of low‐trauma fracture (30% versus 10%, p < 0.05) and major osteoporotic fracture (17% versus 4%, p < 0.05). During follow‐up, the number of WLWH and controls with incident fragility fracture was not significantly different. Lifetime cART duration and tenofovir use were not associated with aBMD 10‐year percent change. Higher CD4 count at baseline was positively associated with femoral neck aBMD 10‐year percent change. Long‐term aBMD change in this small WLWH cohort paralleled normal aging, with no evidence of influence from cART use; however, these results should be interpreted with caution given the small sample size. Larger cohort studies are needed to confirm these findings. © 2023 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Maternal music exposure during pregnancy influences reflexive motor behaviors in mice offspring
Authors: Bidari Sara , Zendehdel Morteza , Hassanpour Shahin , Rahmani Behrooz 
Published: July 2023

AbstractEvidence supports that music can modulate many physiological roles, exerting clear effects on the central nervous system. For this effect to be positive, music should be tuned at a frequency of 432 Hz. This study aims to determine the effects of prenatal exposure to music on reflexive motor behaviors in mice offspring. Six pregnant female NMRI mice (8–10 weeks old) were randomly and equally allocated into two groups. Group 1 as control was placed in a normal housing area (average room noise 35 dB), and Group 2 was exposed to music pitched at 432 Hz for 2 h a day played at constant volume (75/80 dB) during pregnancy. Following delivery, four pups from each pregnant mouse were selected, and reflexive motor behaviors including ambulation, hind‐limb foot angle, surface righting, grip strength, front‐ and hind‐limb suspension, and negative geotaxis were determined. Based on the findings, prenatal exposure to music significantly increased ambulation score, grip strength, and front‐ and hind‐limb suspension compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Also, prenatal exposure to music significantly decreased hind‐limb foot angle, negative geotaxis, and surface righting compared to the control group (P < 0.05). These results suggested that music exposure during pregnancy had a significant positive effect on all tested reflexive motor behaviors in mice offspring.
Development of an economical method to synthesize O‐(2‐[18F]fluoroethyl)‐L‐tyrosine (18FFET)
Authors: Kumar Aishwarya , Joshi Raman Kumar , Thakur Riptee , Kumar Dinesh , Nagaraj Chandana , Kumar Pardeep 
Published: July 2023

Positron emission tomography (PET) using O‐(2‐[18F]fluoroethyl)‐L‐tyrosine ([18F]FET) has shown great success in differentiating tumor recurrence from necrosis. In this study, we are reporting the experience of synthesis [18F]FET by varying the concentration of TET precursor in different chemistry modules. TET precursor (2–10 mg) was used for the synthesis of [18F]FET in an automated (MX Tracerlab) module (n = 6) and semiautomated (FX2N Tracerlab) module (n = 19). The quality control was performed for all the preparations. For human imaging, 220 ± 50 MBq of [18F]FET was briefly injected into the patient to acquire PET‐MR images. The radiochemical purity was greater than 95% for the final product in both modules. The decay corrected average yield was 10.7 ± 4.7% (10 mg, n = 3) and 8.2 ± 2.6% (2 mg, n = 3) with automated chemistry module and 36.7 ± 7.3% (8–10 mg, n = 12), 26.4 ± 3.1% (5–7 mg, n = 4), and 35.1 ± 3.8% (2–4 mg, n = 3) with semiautomated chemistry modules. The PET imaging showed uptake at the lesion site (SUVmax = 7.5 ± 2.6) and concordance with the MR image. The [18F]FET was produced with a higher radiochemical yield with 2.0 mg of the precursor with substantial yield and is suitable for brain tumor imaging.
Environmental DNA surveys can underestimate amphibian occupancy and overestimate detection probability: implications for practice
Authors: Randall Lea A. , Goldberg Caren S. , Moehenschlager Axel 
Published: July 2023

AbstractEnvironmental DNA analysis of water samples has recently emerged as a powerful tool for studying the distribution, ecology, and conservation of many amphibian species. Validating efficacy through comparison with established methods of detection is important for any new method. We used multi‐method and single‐method occupancy models to explore the effectiveness of 3 techniques for detecting northern leopard frogs (Lithobates pipiens) and boreal chorus frogs (Pseudacris maculata). We conducted surveys using automated recording units, environmental DNA sampling, and visual encounter surveys in spring (30 Apr–3 Jun) and summer (23 Jul–27 Aug) of 2014 at 68 sites in southern Alberta, Canada. The multi‐method analysis incorporated data from all 3 survey methods while accounting for the lack of independence of detections within a sampling occasion, and we compared this to single‐method analyses to explore occupancy biases associated with each method and differences in method‐specific detection probability. Occupancy and detection probabilities estimated from environmental DNA analyses were biased for northern leopard frogs, overestimating probability of detection and underestimating occupancy. We could not assess bias for boreal chorus frogs because of overdispersion present in in the models. Although no single covariate explained this bias, it was ameliorated (albeit by reducing precision) by including a raw visual count of individuals as a proxy for abundance during the breeding but not the post‐metamorphic season. These results emphasize the need for careful consideration of temporal and spatial aspects of sampling design, conducting pilot studies, and external validation of eDNA‐only occupancy monitoring schemes prior to widespread implementation.
Simultaneous sequential anterolateral thigh free flaps with interposition comitant vein graft for one‐stage lower extremity reconstruction: A case report
Authors: Gur Ersin , Tiftikcioglu Yigit Ozer , Ozkayin Nadir 
Published: July 2023

AbstractDevelopments in the microsurgery have made perforator fasciocutaneous free flaps more popular in lower extremity reconstructions. They have acceptable donor site morbidities when compared to traditional methods. However; there are some possible limitations with these flaps such as anatomical variations and insufficiency to cover large and/or complex defects with a single flap. Anterolateral thigh flap (ALT), which has proven its advantages in the reconstruction of many regions of the body, is one of the versatile perforator fasciocutaneous flap options. We present our experience of using sequential double ALTs for complex lower extremity reconstruction. A 44‐year‐old patient, who had a history of multiple traumas as a result of a traffic accident, had interconnected anterior tibial (6 × 4 cm) and bimalleolar defects (4 × 4 cm, 4 × 5 cm) in his left lower extremity. Double ALT flaps (16 × 9 cm, 17 × 10 cm) were used to reconstruct three individual defects. The posterior tibial artery was the only uninjured artery perfusing the lower extremity, so the already occluded anterior tibial artery was chosen as the recipient to avoid disturbing the posterior tibial vessels. The dominant comitant vein of one of the flaps was leaving the pedicle too early and following an aberrant path with increased diameter. As it was understood that the other comitant vein had poor drainage, it was taken as an interposition vein graft to lengthen the dominant aberrant vein. The two flaps were customized as one by flow‐through anastomoses on the operating table. The anterior tibial artery was washed and debrided distal to proximal until arterial spurting was seen. At the distance of 8 cm superior, the artery was found as feasible and anastomoses were performed. The proximal flap was inset vertically and the distal flap was inset on the horizontal axis to reach the bilateral malleolar defect. No complications were observed in both flaps. The patient was followed‐up for 8 months. Despite the successful reconstruction, the patient is still unable to walk unaided due to multiple traumas and the rehabilitation process continues. We believe that the use of sequential double ALT may be a useful alternative to reconstruct large lower extremity defects with minimal donor site morbidity when a suitable single recipient vessel is available.
Tumor‐liver interface in MRI of liver metastasis enables prediction of EGFR mutation in patients with lung cancer: A proof‐of‐concept study
Authors: Hou Shaoping , Wang Hongbo , Wang Xiaoyu , Chen Huanhuan , Zhou Boyu , Meng Ruiqing , Sha Xianzheng , Chang Shijie , Wang Huan , Jiang Wenyan 
Published: July 2023

AbstractBackgroundPreoperative prediction of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) status in non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with liver metastasis (LM) may have potential clinical values for assisting in treatment decision‐making.PurposeTo explore the value of tumor‐liver interface (TLI)‐based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics for detecting the EGFR mutation in NSCLC patients with LM.MethodsThis retrospective study included 123 and 44 patients from hospital 1 (between Feb. 2018 and Dec. 2021) and hospital 2 (between Nov. 2015 and Aug. 2022), respectively. The patients received contrast‐enhanced T1‐weighted (CET1) and T2‐weighted (T2W) liver MRI scans before treatment. Radiomics features were extracted from MRI images of TLI and the whole tumor region, separately. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to screen the features and establish radiomics signatures (RSs) based on TLI (RS‐TLI) and the whole tumor (RS‐W). The RSs were evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.ResultsA total of 5 and 6 features were identified highly correlated with the EGFR mutation status from TLI and the whole tumor, respectively. The RS‐TLI showed better prediction performance than RS‐W in the training (AUCs, RS‐TLI vs. RS‐W, 0.842 vs. 0.797), internal validation (AUCs, RS‐TLI vs. RS‐W, 0.771 vs. 0.676) and external validation (AUCs, RS‐TLI vs. RS‐W, 0.733 vs. 0.679) cohort.ConclusionOur study demonstrated that TLI‐based radiomics can improve prediction performance of the EGFR mutation in lung cancer patients with LM. The established multi‐parametric MRI radiomics models may be used as new markers that can potentially assist in personalized treatment planning.
Does granulocyte transfusion help pediatric cancer patients with sepsis?
Authors: Keerthivasagam Swaminathan , Srinivasan Shyam , Navkudkar Anisha , Chichra Akanksha , Moulik Nirmalya Roy , Dhamne Chetan , Narula Gaurav , Desai Priti , Chinnaswamy Girish , Banavali Shripad 
Published: July 2023

AbstractSepsis‐related mortality continues to be a major concern while treating pediatric cancer patients, more so with the rise in the incidence of multidrug‐resistant organisms (MDRO). In this retrospective study conducted between January 2021 and December 2022 at a tertiary cancer center in India, granulocyte transfusion was offered in addition to standard antimicrobial therapy to 64 children with hematolymphoid malignancy who developed 75 episodes of severe sepsis following intensive chemotherapy. Forty‐four (83%) of 53 blood culture proven sepsis was caused by MDROs. Thirty‐seven (70%) patients with blood culture proven sepsis cleared the organism after granulocyte transfusion. Thirty‐day mortality was 25% for the entire study cohort and 32% for patients with MDRO sepsis.
In silico end‐capped engineering of 4,4′‐dimethyl‐[2, 2′‐bithiazole] core‐based acceptor materials for high‐performance organic solar cells
Authors: Kousar Samreen , Zafar Fatiqa , Rani Asifa , Hussain Riaz , Iqbal Javed , Abid Muhammad Amin , Zafar Waseeq‐Ul‐Islam , Adnan Muhammad , Shahi Mahrzadi Noreen 
Published: July 2023

AbstractOrganic solar cells (OSCs) have grabbed the attention of researchers due to good power conversion efficiency, low cost, and ability to compensate for light deficit. The aim of the present research work is to increase the efficiency of previously synthesized reference (R) molecule 2,2′‐((2Z,2′Z)‐(((4,4′‐dimethyl‐[2,2′‐bithiazole]‐5,5′‐diyl)bis(4‐(2‐butyloctyl)thiophene‐5,2‐diyl))bis (methaneylylidene))bis(5,6‐dichloro‐3‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐indene‐2,1‐diylidene))dimalononitrile by improving its photovoltaic properties via end cap engineering. Five new acceptors, namely, E1, E2, E3, E4, and E5, are used to substitute the end group of reference molecule. Several parameters have been analyzed using density functional theory including the absorption maxima, charge transfer analysis, frontier molecular orbital (FMO), open circuit voltage (Voc), density of states (DOS), photochemical characteristics, transition density matrix (TDM), and the electron‐hole reorganization energies to evaluate the efficiency of specially engineered molecules. All the engineered molecules (D1‐D5) had smaller energy gap (4.50–4.71 eV) compared with reference (4.75 eV) and absorption maxima in the range of 443.37–482.67 nm in solvent phase due to end‐cap acceptor modification. Fabricated molecules (D1‐D5) showed smaller electron reorganizational energy values (0.18–0.27 eV) and Voc ranging from 1.94 to 2.40 eV. Designed molecule D3 being an acceptor when blended with donor polymer (PTB7‐Th) portrayed highest charge transfer capability owing to its smallest energy gap (4.50 eV) among all the engineered molecules. D5 molecule exhibits higher Voc (2.40 eV), greater LHE (0.9988), and superior result of fill factor (94.15%) as compared with R, which leads to improve the efficiency of OSCs. Theoretical findings illustrated the superior behavior of all the designed molecules making them suitable aspirants to construct efficient OSC devices.
Clinical outcome of supervised pulmonary telerehabilitation program among adult patients with post‐acute COVID‐19 symptoms (PACS): A case series
Authors: Dalisay Nikko John , Ong ‐ dela Cruz Bernice , Punzal Percival , Limpin Ma. Encarnita 
Published: July 2023

AbstractPatients with post‐acute COVID‐19 symptoms (PACS) can present with significant sequela due to the complex systemic effects of COVID‐19 infection. Most affected patients have persistent symptoms for 3–12 months after recovery from the acute phase of COVID‐19. Dyspnea affecting activities of daily living is one of the most challenging symptoms and has led to an influx of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) demand. Here we report the outcome of nine subjects with PACS who underwent 24 sessions of supervised pulmonary telerehabilitation. An improvised telerehabilitation PR was formulated to accommodate home confinement during the pandemic. Exercise capacity and pulmonary function were assessed using a cardiopulmonary exercise test, pulmonary function test, and St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). The clinical outcome shows improved exercise capacity on the 6‐minute walk test for all patients, and most had improvement in VO2 peak and SGRQ. Seven patients improved in forced vital capacity and six in forced expiratory volume. PR is a comprehensive intervention for patients with chronic obstructive disease aimed at alleviating pulmonary symptoms and improving functional capacity. In this case series, we report its usefulness in patients with PACS and its feasibility when delivered as a supervised telerehabilitation program. Further support for the effectiveness of PR patients with PACS is mandated.
Mean‐reversion risk and the random walk hypothesis
Authors: Jones C. Kenneth 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe nature of risk and long‐term returns is not fully understood. There is need for a measure of long‐term risk at multiple horizons. Frequency domain digital signal processing, with an additive noise model, tests the random walk hypothesis for individual firm total and idiosyncratic risk at 2‐month to 4‐year periods. All firms have significant 12‐month risk. Monthly effects influence small firms. Large firm total risk and mid‐cap firm idiosyncratic risk are influenced by annual and 8‐year mean reversions. Large firm idiosyncratic risk has 4‐year mean‐reversion risk. Results suggest that single‐period risk is composed of multiple long‐term calendar and non‐calendar‐length variances.
TV‐UDE: Time‐varying uncertainty and disturbance estimator
Authors: Zhang Te , Li Shiyao , Zhu Bo , Li Yuanlong , Hu Tianjiang 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe UDE (uncertainty and disturbance estimator)‐based control approach has received increasing attention due to its simplicity and effectiveness in rejecting input disturbances. Despite this fact, the inherent transient performance issues associated with a high‐gain UDE are rarely considered. We first design a classic UDE‐based robust controller for a linear system subject to three types of model uncertainties: exogenous disturbance, state‐dependent uncertainty, and input‐dependent uncertainty. We prove by the singular‐perturbation theory that arbitrarily small steady‐state tracking errors can be achieved by choosing an enough‐high gain for the UDE. We then design a novel time‐varying UDE (TV‐UDE) to improve the transient performance. The key of the improved design is to use a differential equation with a time‐varying parameter, instead of a transfer function, to describe the underlying filtering relationship. The formula for the integration by parts is introduced to derive an explicit computable expression of the TV‐UDE. Interestingly, the TV‐UDE is reduced to a classic UDE if the design parameter is fixed. In addition, two types of smooth and bounded functions are proposed to guide the change of UDE parameter from a large value to a smaller value (i.e., from a small gain to a higher one), to ensure that the UDE generates a smooth high‐accuracy estimate. The advantages of the TV‐UDE are demonstrated by simulation and experimental comparisons on a 2‐DOF AERO attitude control platform. The transient performance issues (such as the peaking phenomenon and obvious oscillation) of high‐gain UDE are effectively avoided.
Alleviation of Photoreceptor Degeneration Based on Fullerenols in rd1 Mice by Reversing Mitochondrial Dysfunction via Modulation of Mitochondrial DNA Transcription and Leakage
Authors: Yang Junling , Chen Xia , A Luodan , Gao Hui , Zhao Maoru , Ge Lingling , Li Minghui , Yang Cao , Gong Yu , Gu Zhanjun , Xu Haiwei 
Published: July 2023

AbstractPoor therapeutic outcomes of antioxidants in ophthalmologic clinical applications, including glutathione during photoreceptor degeneration in retinitis pigmentosa (RP), are caused by limited anti‐oxidative capacity. In this study, fullerenols are synthesized and proven to be highly efficient in vitro radical scavengers. Fullerenol‐based intravitreal injections significantly improve the flash electroretinogram and light/dark transition tests performed for 28 days on rd1 mice, reduce the thinning of retinal outer nuclear layers, and preserve the Rhodopsin, Gnat‐1, and Arrestin expressions of photoreceptors. RNA‐sequencing, RT‐qPCR, and Western blotting validate that mitochondrial DNA (mt‐DNA)‐encoded genes of the electron transport chain (ETC), such as mt‐Nd4l, mt‐Co1, mt‐Cytb, and mt‐Atp6, are drastically downregulated in the retinas of rd1 mice, whereas nuclear DNA (n‐DNA)‐encoded genes, such as Ndufa1 and Atp5g3, are abnormally upregulated. Fullerenols thoroughly reverse the abnormal mt‐DNA and n‐DNA expression patterns of the ETC and restore mitochondrial function in degenerating photoreceptors. Additionally, fullerenols simultaneously repress Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1)‐mediated mt‐DNA cleavage and mt‐DNA leakage via voltage‐dependent anion channel (VDAC) pores by downregulating the transcription of Fen1 and Vdac1, thereby inactivating the downstream pro‐inflammatory cGAS‐STING pathway. These findings demonstrate that fullerenols can effectively alleviate photoreceptor degeneration in rd1 mice and serve as a viable treatment for RP.
Interpreting integrability
Authors: Salado Alejandro 
Published: July 2023

AbstractMost systems engineers have likely heard of or pursued integrability when developing systems. It is also likely that systems engineers perceive that, in general, integrability is a desired quality to attain. But what is integrability, really? While there is likely a consensus within the systems engineering community about the general idea of integrability, this paper poses that reasoning about integrability requires a deeper, comprehensive interpretation of what integrability is and entails. Recognizing that the meaning of integrability is subjective, this paper provides a deep dive into understanding and interpreting integrability. The findings presented in this paper could be used as a guide for others to find clarity on what they mean by achieving integrability when developing systems.
The Association between Medicare Annual Wellness Visits and diabetes outcomes among older adults
Authors: Alsulami Abdulrahman , Dassel Kara B. , He Yao , Allen Nancy A. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe rising prevalence of diabetes among older adults is an increasing concern in the United States and is expected to nearly triple within the next 40 years. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the utilization of Medicare Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs) is associated with changes in type 2 diabetes (T2D) outcomes among older adults Medicare beneficiaries. We conducted an observational retrospective cohort study to compare the T2D outcomes between those who attended AWVs and those who did not from 2017 to 2019. The criteria used for this study include having at least two readings (hemoglobin A1c [A1c] levels, glucose levels, and the number of T2D medications), and for the AWV cohort, the AWVs had to occur between those readings. A total of 508 (2%) Medicare beneficiaries fit our selection criteria. Only 154 (30%) of these patients with T2D participated in AWVs. At baseline, the AWV cohort had lower A1c levels and fewer comorbidities than the non‐AWV cohort. No other statistically significant findings were found. These findings indicate that providers did not utilize AWVs on the more complicated patients, who may need it the most.