bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A retrospective analysis of ezrin protein and mRNA expression in breast cancer: Ezrin expression is associated with patient survival and survival of patients with receptor‐positive disease
Authors: Storr Sarah J. , Hoskin Victoria , Aiyappa‐Maudsley Radhika , Ghaffari Abdi , Varma Sonal , Green Andrew , Rakha Emad , Ellis Ian O. , Greer Peter A. , Martin Stewart G. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractIntroductionThe cytoskeletal protein ezrin is upregulated in many cancer types and is strongly associated with poor patient outcome. While the clinical and prognostic value of ezrin has been previously evaluated in breast cancer, most studies to date have been conducted in smaller cohorts (less than 500 cases) or have focused on specific disease characteristics. The current study is the largest of its kind to evaluate ezrin both at the protein and mRNA levels in early‐stage breast cancer patients using the Nottingham (n = 1094) and METABRIC (n = 1980) cohorts, respectively.ResultsHigh expression of ezrin was significantly associated with larger tumour size (p = 0.027), higher tumour grade (p < 0.001), worse Nottingham Prognostic Index prognostic group (p = 0.011) and HER2‐positive status (p = 0.001). High ezrin expression was significantly associated with adverse survival of breast cancer patients (p < 0.001) and remained associated with survival in multivariate Cox‐regression analysis (p = 0.018, hazard ratio (HR) = 1.343, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.051–1.716) when potentially confounding factors were included. High ezrin expression was significantly associated with adverse survival of patients whose tumours were categorised as receptor (oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR) or HER2) positive (p < 0.001) in comparison to those categorised as triple‐negative breast cancer (p = 0.889). High expression of ezrin mRNA (VIL2) in the METABRIC cohort was also significantly associated with adverse survival of breast cancer patients (p < 0.001).ConclusionRetrospective analyses show that ezrin is an independent prognostic marker, with higher expression associated with shortened survival in receptor‐positive (ER, PgR or HER2) patients. Ezrin expression is associated with more aggressive disease and may have clinical utility as a biomarker of patient prognosis in early‐stage breast cancer.
Singlet Fission Driven by Excited‐State Intramolecular Proton Transfer (ESIPT+SF): A (TD)DFT Study
Authors: López‐Carballeira Diego , Polcar Tomáš 
Published: March 2023

AbstractSinglet fission is a photophysical process able to generate two triplet excitons after the absorption of one high‐energy photon. Although this process is expected to boost the efficiency of photovoltaic cells, the instability of all known singlet fission materials hindered its implementation in any practical device. In order to overcome this limitation, we present a novel photophysical process that combines excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer and singlet fission (ESIPT+SF). Together with the suggested mechanism, this study provides a computational analysis identifying possible ESIPT+SF materials.
Phytoplankton competition and resilience under fluctuating temperature
Authors: Siegel Philipp , Baker Kirralee G. , Low‐Décarie Etienne , Geider Richard J. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractEnvironmental variability is an inherent feature of natural systems which complicates predictions of species interactions. Primarily, the complexity in predicting the response of organisms to environmental fluctuations is in part because species' responses to abiotic factors are non‐linear, even in stable conditions. Temperature exerts a major control over phytoplankton growth and physiology, yet the influence of thermal fluctuations on growth and competition dynamics is largely unknown. To investigate the limits of coexistence in variable environments, stable mixed cultures with constant species abundance ratios of the marine diatoms, Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Thalassiosira pseudonana, were exposed to different temperature fluctuation regimes (n = 17) under high and low nitrogen (N) conditions. Here we demonstrate that phytoplankton exhibit substantial resilience to temperature variability. The time required to observe a shift in the species abundance ratio decreased with increasing fluctuations, but coexistence of the two model species under high N conditions was disrupted only when amplitudes of temperature fluctuation were high (±8.2°C). N limitation caused the thermal amplitude for disruption of species coexistence to become lower (±5.9°C). Furthermore, once stable conditions were reinstated, the two species differed in their ability to recover from temperature fluctuations. Our findings suggest that despite the expectation of unequal effect of fluctuations on different competitors, cycles in environmental conditions may reduce the rate of species replacement when amplitudes remain below a certain threshold. Beyond these thresholds, competitive exclusion could, however, be accelerated, suggesting that aquatic heatwaves and N availability status are likely to lead to abrupt and unpredictable restructuring of phytoplankton community composition.
Novel frontier in wildlife monitoring: Identification of small rodent species from fecal pellets using near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS)
Authors: Tuomi Maria W. , Murguzur Francisco J. A. , Hoset Katrine S. , Soininen Eeva M. , Vesterinen Eero J. , Utsi Tove Aa. , Kaino Sissel , Bråthen Kari Anne 
Published: March 2023

AbstractSmall rodents are prevalent and functionally important across the world's biomes, making their monitoring salient for ecosystem management, conservation, forestry, and agriculture. There is a growing need for cost‐effective and noninvasive methods for large‐scale, intensive sampling. Fecal pellet counts readily provide relative abundance indices, and given suitable analytical methods, feces could also allow for the determination of multiple ecological and physiological variables, including community composition. In this context, we developed calibration models for rodent taxonomic determination using fecal near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy (fNIRS). Our results demonstrate fNIRS as an accurate and robust method for predicting genus and species identity of five coexisting subarctic microtine rodent species. We show that sample exposure to weathering increases the method's accuracy, indicating its suitability for samples collected from the field. Diet was not a major determinant of species prediction accuracy in our samples, as diet exhibited large variation and overlap between species. fNIRS could also be applied across regions, as calibration models including samples from two regions provided a good prediction accuracy for both regions. We show fNIRS as a fast and cost‐efficient high‐throughput method for rodent taxonomic determination, with the potential for cross‐regional calibrations and the use on field‐collected samples. Importantly, appeal lies in the versatility of fNIRS. In addition to rodent population censuses, fNIRS can provide information on demography, fecal nutrients, stress hormones, and even disease. Given the development of such calibration models, fNIRS analytics could complement novel genetic methods and greatly support ecosystem‐ and interaction‐based approaches to monitoring.
Exploring fishing threat at fleet segment and subregional scale: Least expert knowledge and a resilience versus disturbance‐based approach as conservation's tools for cartilaginous fish
Authors: Scacco Umberto , Di Crescenzo Simone , Sbrana Alice 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBased on an explorative but rigorous elicitation framework, we obtained the bycatch fishing probability at the fishing fleet segment level using expert estimates. Based on the knowledge of three scientific experts, we developed a new and creative structured method for smart and fast fishery‐related risk assessments for species of high conservation concern. In order to test the method here propose, we applied it to 76 cartilaginous fish species (included in the IUCN Red Lists) and on five different fishing segments at both Italian and Mediterranean scale. The method produced qualitative results specific to the threat posed by fishing for each species and each segment with information between and within the segments. Based on the interpretation of resilience–disturbance interactions developed for ecological systems, the quantitative results provided reliable cumulative metrics, measuring the extinction risk due to fishing and the response to overfishing for the species considered. Additionally, the results highlight that the method perform best on a small geographic scale. Therefore, the application of this new method on other subregional or local scales where very few data are available (e.g., fishing effort) could be a valuable tool for the preliminary assessment for species of conservation concern. In fact, despite the absence of detailed catch data at local geographic scales, the flexibility of this method could help to highlight potential fishery‐related conservation problems and thus redirect conservation strategies for threatened marine species such as many sharks and rays species.
From everywhere all at once: Several colonization routes available to Svalbard in the early Holocene
Authors: Brožová Viktorie , Bolstad Johannes S. , Seregin Alexey P. , Eidesen Pernille B. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractFor many arctic species, the spatial (re‐)colonization patterns after the last Pleistocene glaciation have been described. However, the temporal aspects of their colonization are largely missing. Did one route prevail early, while another was more important later? The high Arctic archipelago Svalbard represents a good model system to address timeframe of postglacial plant colonization. Svalbard was almost fully glaciated during last glacial maximum and (re‐)colonization of vascular plants began in early Holocene. Early Holocene climatic optimum (HCO) supported an expanded establishment of a partly thermophilic vegetation. Today, we find remnants of this vegetation in sheltered regions referred to as “Arctic biodiversity hotspots”. The oldest record of postglacial plant colonization to Svalbard is found in Ringhorndalen‐Flatøyrdalen. Even though thermophilic species could establish also later in Holocene, only HCO was favorable for vast colonization, and only hotspots offered stable conditions for thermophilic populations throughout Holocene. Thus, these relic populations may reflect colonization patterns of HCO. We investigate whether the colonization direction of thermophilic plants (Arnica angustifolia, Campanula uniflora, Pinguicula alpina, Tofieldia pusilla, and Vaccinium uliginosum ssp. microphyllum) in Ringhorndalen‐Flatøyrdalen was uniform and different from later colonization events in other localities and non‐thermophilic plants (Arenaria humifusa, Bistorta vivipara, Juncus biglumis, Oxyria digyna, and Silene acaulis). We analyzed plastid haplotypes of the 10 taxa from Ringhorndalen‐Flatøyrdalen, from later‐colonized localities in Svalbard, and from putative source regions outside Svalbard. Only rare and thermophilic taxa Campanula uniflora and Vaccinium uliginosum ssp. microphyllum provided results suggesting at least two colonization events from different source regions. Tofieldia pusilla and all the non‐thermophilic plants showed no clear phylogeographically differentiation within Svalbard. Two of the thermophilic species showed no sequence variation. Based on the results, a uniform colonization direction to Svalbard in early Holocene is not probable; several source areas and dispersal directions were contemporarily involved.
Tissue‐specific antigen‐presenting cells contribute to distinct phenotypes of allergy
Authors: Schülke Stefan , Gilles Stefanie , Jirmo Adan C. , Mayer Johannes U. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAntigen‐presenting cells (APCs) are critical cells bridging innate and adaptive immune responses by taking up, processing, and presenting antigens to naïve T cells. At steady state, APCs thus control both tissue homeostasis and the induction of tolerance. In allergies however, APCs drive a Th2‐biased immune response that is directed against otherwise harmless antigens from the environment. The main types of APCs involved in the induction of allergy are dendritic cells, monocytes, and macrophages. However, these cell types can be further divided into local, tissue‐specific populations that differ in their phenotype, migratory capacity, T‐cell activating potential, and production of effector molecules. Understanding if distinct populations of APCs contribute to either tissue‐specific immune tolerance, allergen sensitization, or allergic inflammation will allow us to better understand disease pathology and develop targeted treatment options for different stages of allergic disease. Therefore, this review describes the main characteristics, phenotypes, and effector molecules of the APCs involved in the induction of allergen‐specific Th2 responses in affected barrier sites, such as the skin, nose, lung, and gastrointestinal tract. Furthermore, we highlight open questions that remain to be addressed to fully understand the contribution of different APCs to allergic disease.
Mechanism of B‐H Redistribution during Reduction of Polyborazylene by Hydrazine
Authors: Bhunya Sourav , Zimmerman Paul M. , Paul Ankan 
Published: March 2023

AbstractDensity functional theory has been used to elucidate the mechanistic underpinnings of the regeneration of ammonia‐borane (H3B−NH3, AB) from polyborazylene (BxNxHx, PBz) in the presence of hydrazine (H2N−NH2, Hz). Herein, borazine (B3N3H6, Bz) is used as the simplest relevant model of PBz for the regeneration process. Digestion of Bz using Hz was found to occur by a string of Lewis acid base adduct (between B atoms of Bz and Hz molecule) formation and Hz assisted proton transfer processes. Later, B−H bonds of HB(NHNH2)2, the Bz digested product, are redistributed to form hydrazine‐borane (H3B−NH2NH2, HzB) and B(NHNH2)3. Redistribution of B−H bonds occurs through hydroboration and concerted proton‐hydride transfer. Another B−H redistributed product, B(NHNH2)3, produces HzB as a result of proton and hydride transfer from cis‐diazene (Dz), the oxidized product of Hz in presence of O2.
Acidic Deep Eutectic Solvents as Active Media for Sustainable Synthesis of Biindoles Starting from 2,2’‐Diaminotolanes and Aldehydes
Authors: Brambilla Elisa , Gritti Alessandra , Pirovano Valentina , Arcadi Antonio , Germani Raimondo , Tiecco Matteo , Abbiati Giorgio 
Published: March 2023

AbstractWe describe an alternative and more sustainable method for the synthesis of 2,2’‐disubstituted 3,3’‐biindoles starting from 2,2’‐diaminotolanes and (hetero)arylaldehydes. The key feature of the approach is the use of an acidic Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) able to exploit a double activity, i. e., solvent and Brønsted Acid (BA) catalyst, avoiding the use of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as solvents and additional acid catalysts. By this way, we synthesized twenty‐five biindoles, including eighteen new compounds. The reactions run quickly under mild conditions by microwave heating at 70 °C, with yields ranging from good to very good. The reaction scope is rather broad. The medium demonstrated to be reusable at least five times with only a slight reduction in yields. Based on experimental evidence and previous literature findings, a plausible mechanism is proposed.
Factors associated with preoperative and early and late postoperative seizures in patients with supratentorial meningiomas
Authors: Bogdanovic Ivan , Ristic Aleksandar , Ilic Rosanda , Bascarevic Vladimir , Bukumiric Zoran , Miljkovic Aleksandar , Milisavljevic Filip , Stepanovic Aleksandar , Lazic Igor , Grujicic Danica 
Published: March 2023

AbstractObjectiveRisk factors for epilepsy in meningioma patients are not yet clearly defined, however, seizure freedom is a significant factor for quality of life after surgery.MethodsWe performed a retrospective study of the 333 adult patients who received surgery for supratentorial meningioma at our center. Various clinical, radiological, and surgical variables were included in the multivariate regression, and the outcomes measured were the occurrence of seizure(s) preoperatively, during the hospitalization, and during the follow‐up period.ResultsA total of 89 (26.7%) patients experienced preoperative seizures, of whom 62.9% were seizure free after the surgery. Of 244 patients without epilepsy before surgery, 11.9% had at least one seizure postoperatively. In total, 63 of our patients (18.9%) experienced seizures after the surgery, of whom 20 had refractory epilepsy. Multivariate analysis identified the following predictors of preoperative seizures: the absence of headache (OR: 0.23, CI: 2.55–8.50), the presence of significant peritumoral edema (OR: 4.35, CI: 2.57–7.35), and younger age (OR: 0.97 per year increase, CI: 0.95–0.99). Factors associated with early postoperative seizures were: younger age (OR: 0.96 per year increase, CI: 0.93–0.99) and the presence of preoperative seizures (OR: 2.73, CI: 1.13–6.57), while the presence of preoperative seizures (OR: 4.73, CI: 2.05–10.92), tumor progression (OR: 5.38, CI: 2.25–12.89), and neurological worsening (OR: 5.21 CI: 1.72–15.81) were significant for late postoperative seizures.SignificanceOur results from a single‐center meningioma cohort confirm, in general, data from some previous studies regarding patients' characteristics for both preoperative and overall postoperative epilepsy. Besides previously described risk factors, younger age was important for preoperative and early postoperative seizures. Epilepsy is common in patients with recurrence of meningioma, but the variables of significance for refractory seizures in these patients require further examination.
Pseudohyperkalemia due to cryohydrocytosis in GLUT1 deficiency syndrome. A case report and literature review
Authors: Furia Alessandro , Muccioli Lorenzo , Santucci Margherita , Licchetta Laura , Bisulli Francesca 
Published: March 2023

AbstractCryohydrocytosis is a form of stomatocytosis characterized by the leakage of sodium and potassium from red blood cells at low temperatures, characterized by pseudohyperkalemia. Stomatin‐deficient cryohydrocytosis is an extremely rare variant that only recently has been related to pathogenic variants in the SLC2A1 gene, encoding the main glucose transporter of the blood–brain barrier and red blood cells, GLUT1. It follows that GLUT1 deficiency syndrome, a rare but significant cause of metabolic epilepsy, may present with stomatin‐deficient cryohydrocytosis, although this correlation has only been reported in a few instances. We present the case of a patient carrying a novel de novo SLC2A1 pathogenic variant presenting with GLUT1 deficiency syndrome, pseudohyperkalemia, and splenomegaly consistent with cryohydrocytosis. We also review the previously reported cases of stomatin‐deficient cryohydrocytosis in the literature. As highlighted by our case, elevated potassium levels are a cause of concern, and GLUT1 deficiency syndrome patients are thus at risk of being subjected to unnecessary examinations; pseudohyperkalemia may be underrecognized in clinical practice.
Feasibility of high‐density electric source imaging in the presurgical workflow: Effect of number of spikes and automated spike detection
Authors: Heide Ev‐Christin , van de Velden Daniel , Garnica Agudelo David , Hewitt Manuel , Riedel Christian , Focke Niels K. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractObjectivePresurgical high‐density electric source imaging (hdESI) of interictal epileptic discharges (IEDs) is only used by few epilepsy centers. One obstacle is the time‐consuming workflow both for recording as well as for visual review. Therefore, we analyzed the effect of (a) an automated IED detection and (b) the number of IEDs on the accuracy of hdESI and time‐effectiveness.MethodsIn 22 patients with pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy receiving epilepsy surgery (Engel 1) we retrospectively detected IEDs both visually and semi‐automatically using the EEG analysis software Persyst in 256‐channel EEGs. The amount of IEDs, the Euclidean distance between hdESI maximum and resection zone, and the operator time were compared. Additionally, we evaluated the intra‐individual effect of IED quantity on the distance between hdESI maximum of all IEDs and hdESI maximum when only a reduced amount of IEDs were included.ResultsThere was no significant difference in the number of IEDs between visually versus semi‐automatically marked IEDs (74 ± 56 IEDs/patient vs 116 ± 115 IEDs/patient). The detection method of the IEDs had no significant effect on the mean distances between resection zone and hdESI maximum (visual: 26.07 ± 31.12 mm vs semi‐automated: 33.6 ± 34.75 mm). However, the mean time needed to review the full datasets semi‐automatically was shorter by 275 ± 46 min (305 ± 72 min vs 30 ± 26 min, P < 0.001).The distance between hdESI of the full versus reduced amount of IEDs of the same patient was smaller than 1 cm when at least a mean of 33 IEDs were analyzed. There was a significantly shorter intraindividual distance between resection zone and hdESI maximum when 30 IEDs were analyzed as compared to the analysis of only 10 IEDs (P < 0.001).SignificanceSemi‐automatized processing and limiting the amount of IEDs analyzed (~30–40 IEDs per cluster) appear to be time‐saving clinical tools to increase the practicability of hdESI in the presurgical work‐up.
Natural extracts against agricultural pathogens: A case study of Celtis australis L.
Authors: Perović Tatjana , Petrović Jovana , Gašić Uroš , Kostić Marina , Ćirić Ana 
Published: March 2023

AbstractPlant extracts and other plant products have been used as an alternative to synthetic fungicides or an additional way to reduce their use. The choice of plant extracts and their application depends on their functional characteristics, availability, cost‐effectiveness, and their impact on phytopathogens, and also on the environment. Therefore, the present study aims to assess the potential of Celtis australis methanolic extracts as source of compounds with antifungal activity. Methanolic extracts prepared from leaves and unripe mesocarps of C. australis collected from different localities of Montenegro (Podgorica—PG, Donja Gorica—DG, and Bar—BR) were evaluated for their phenolic compounds' composition as well as antifungal and cytotoxic properties. Obtained results revealed that extracts contain various bioactive constituents including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and their derivatives. The predominant phenolic acid was ferulic acid, identified in leaf samples from DG (187.97 mg/100 g dw), while isoorientin was the most abundant phenolic compound found in all examined samples. Regarding antifungal potential of the tested samples, all but one (prepared from mesocarp BR) possessed higher activity than Previcur, a commercial systemic fungicide intended to control seedlings. In vitro studies on HaCaT cell line showed that the extracts had no toxic effect toward the tested cell line. These results lead to the conclusion that methanolic extracts of C. australis can become an alternative to the use of synthetic fungicides in agriculture. Those extracts represent natural biodegradable fungicides and enable more efficient control of pathogenic fungi.