bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sex Differences in Vascular Response to Mental Stress and Adverse Cardiovascular Events Among Patients With Ischemic Heart Disease
Authors: Sullivan Samaah , Young An , Garcia Mariana , Almuwaqqat Zakaria , Moazzami Kasra , Hammadah Muhammad , Lima Bruno B. , Hu Yingtian , Jajeh Mohamad Nour , Alkhoder Ayman , Elon Lisa , Lewis Tené T. , Shah Amit J. , Mehta Puja K. , Bremner J. Douglas , Quyyumi Arshed A. , Vaccarino Viola 
Published: March 2023

Background:
Microvascular measures of vascular dysfunction during acute mental stress may be important determinants of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), especially among younger and middle-aged women survivors of an acute myocardial infarction.

Methods:
In the MIMS2 study (Myocardial Infarction and Mental Stress 2), individuals who had been hospitalized for a myocardial infarction in the past 8 months were prospectively followed for 5 years. MACE was defined as a composite index of cardiovascular death and first/recurring events for nonfatal myocardial infarction and hospitalizations for heart failure. Reactive hyperemia index and flow-mediated dilation were used to measure microvascular and endothelial function, respectively, before and 30 minutes after a public-speaking mental stress task. Survival models for recurrent events were used to examine the association between vascular response to stress (difference between poststress and resting values) and MACE. Reactive hyperemia index and flow-mediated dilation were standardized in analyses.

Results:

Of 263 patients (the mean age was 51 years; range, 25–61), 48% were women, and 65% were Black. During a median follow-up of 4.3 years, 64 patients had 141 adverse cardiovascular events (first and repeated). Worse microvascular response to stress (for each SD decrease in the reactive hyperemia index) was associated with 50% greater risk of MACE (hazard ratio, 1.50 [95% CI, 1.05–2.13];
P
=0.03) among women only (sex interaction:
P
=0.03). Worse transient endothelial dysfunction in response to stress (for each SD decrease in flow-mediated dilation) was associated with a 35% greater risk of MACE (hazard ratio, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.07–1.71];
P
=0.01), and the association was similar in women and men.

Conclusions:
Peripheral microvascular dysfunction with mental stress was associated with adverse events among women but not men. In contrast, endothelial dysfunction was similarly related to MACE among both men and women. These results suggest a female-specific mechanism linking psychological stress to adverse outcomes.
Myocardial Metabolomics of Human Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Hahn Virginia S. , Petucci Christopher , Kim Min-Soo , Bedi Kenneth C. , Wang Hanghang , Mishra Sumita , Koleini Navid , Yoo Edwin J. , Margulies Kenneth B. , Arany Zoltan , Kelly Daniel P. , Kass David A. , Sharma Kavita 
Published: March 2023

Background:
The human heart primarily metabolizes fatty acids, and this decreases as alternative fuel use rises in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Patients with severe obesity and diabetes are thought to have increased myocardial fatty acid metabolism, but whether this is found in those who also have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is unknown.

Methods:
Plasma and endomyocardial biopsies were obtained from HFpEF (n=38), HFrEF (n=30), and nonfailing donor controls (n=20). Quantitative targeted metabolomics measured organic acids, amino acids, and acylcarnitines in myocardium (72 metabolites) and plasma (69 metabolites). The results were integrated with reported RNA sequencing data. Metabolomics were analyzed using agnostic clustering tools, Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn test, and machine learning.

Results:

Agnostic clustering of myocardial but not plasma metabolites separated disease groups. Despite more obesity and diabetes in HFpEF versus HFrEF (body mass index, 39.8 kg/m
2
versus 26.1 kg/m
2
; diabetes, 70% versus 30%; both
P
<0.0001), medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines (mostly metabolites of fatty acid oxidation) were markedly lower in myocardium from both heart failure groups versus control. In contrast, plasma levels were no different or higher than control. Gene expression linked to fatty acid metabolism was generally lower in HFpEF versus control. Myocardial pyruvate was higher in HFpEF whereas the tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates succinate and fumarate were lower, as were several genes controlling glucose metabolism. Non–branched-chain and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) were highest in HFpEF myocardium, yet downstream BCAA metabolites and genes controlling BCAA metabolism were lower. Ketone levels were higher in myocardium and plasma of patients with HFrEF but not HFpEF. HFpEF metabolomic-derived subgroups were differentiated by only a few differences in BCAA metabolites.

Conclusions:
Despite marked obesity and diabetes, HFpEF myocardium exhibited lower fatty acid metabolites compared with HFrEF. Ketones and metabolites of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and BCAA were also lower in HFpEF, suggesting insufficient use of alternative fuels. These differences were not detectable in plasma and challenge conventional views of myocardial fuel use in HFpEF with marked diabetes and obesity and suggest substantial fuel inflexibility in this syndrome.
Experimental study on the supply air characteristics and thermal comfort of a novel personalized ventilation air terminal device
Authors: Feng Xuan , Liao Chunhui , Cheng Yong 
Published: March 2023

Personalized ventilation (PV) has a significant potential for improving thermal comfort, inhaled air quality and energy efficiency. A novel PV air terminal device (ATD) based on the function of bath showers was evaluated to determine discomfort related to thermal sensation, draughts, dry eyes and skin irritation. The supply air characteristics and thermal comfort were analyzed using objective and subjective experiments in an environmental chamber. Thirty college students participated in the subjective experiments. Results showed that the proposed PV ATD could provide uniform distributions of air velocity at the human head and chest. Compared with the conventional round-monitor panel ATD, the proposed PV ATD can provide an improved cooling effect, wherein overall thermal sensation was reduced by 0.56 scale, showing a potential for energy saving. Moreover, the proposed PV ATD could produce a highly uniform distribution of local thermal sensation (LTS). Compared with the conventional PV, the proposed PV ATD could reduce the standard deviation of distribution of LTS by 41.7% and reduce overall thermal discomfort by 45.5%. Fewer sick building syndrome symptoms at a lower supply airflow rate of 6.3 L/s was achieved. Consequently, the proposed PV ATD could improve the comfort performance with the usage of lower supply airflow rates.
The Support, Educate, Empower personalized glaucoma coaching trial design
Authors: Newman-Casey Paula Anne , Resnicow Ken , Winter Suzanne , Niziol Leslie M , Darnley-Fisch Deborah , Imami Nauman , McHaney-Conner Phalatha , Musch David C , Mitchell Jamie , Heisler Michele 
Published: March 2023

Background: Glaucoma is a chronic disease that affects 3 million Americans. Glaucoma is most often asymptomatic until very late in its course when treatment is more difficult and extensive peripheral vision loss has already occurred. Taking daily medications can mitigate this vision loss, but at least half of people with glaucoma do not take their prescribed medications regularly. The purpose of this study is to improve glaucoma medication adherence among those with medically treated glaucoma and poor self-reported adherence using the Support, Educate, Empower personalized coaching program. Methods/design: This study is a two-site randomized controlled trial enrolling 230 participants with poor self-reported glaucoma medication adherence. The trial has two arms, an intervention arm and a control arm. Participants in the intervention arm receive personalized glaucoma education and motivational interviewing-based coaching over 6 months from a trained non-physician interventionist for three in-person sessions with between visit phone calls for check-ins where current adherence level is reported to participants. Participants also can elect to have visual, audio, text or automated phone call medication dose reminders. Participants in the control arm continue usual care with their physician and receive non-personalized glaucoma educational materials via mail in parallel to the three in-person coaching sessions to control for glaucoma knowledge content. All participants receive a medication adherence monitor. The primary outcome is the proportion of prescribed doses taken on schedule during the 6-month period. The secondary outcome is glaucoma related distress. The exploratory outcome is intraocular pressure. Discussion: The personalized education and motivational-interviewing-based intervention that we are testing is comprehensive in that it addresses the wide range of barriers to adherence that people with glaucoma encounter. Leveraging a custom-built web-based application to generate the personalized content and the motivational-interviewing-based prompts to guide the coaching sessions will make this program both replicable and scalable and can be integrated into clinical care utilizing trained non-physician providers. Although this type of self-management support is not currently reimbursed for glaucoma as it is for diabetes, this trial could help shape future policy change should the intervention be found effective.
Proteomic analysis identifies dysregulated proteins and associated molecular pathways in a cohort of gallbladder cancer patients of African ancestry
Authors: Baichan Pavan , Naicker Previn , Augustine Tanya Nadine , Smith Martin , Candy Geoffrey , Devar John , Nweke Ekene Emmanuel 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a lethal cancer with a poor prognosis. The lack of specific and sensitive biomarkers results in delayed diagnosis with most patients presenting at late stages of the disease. Furthermore, there is little known about the molecular mechanisms associated with GBC, especially in patients of African ancestry. This study aimed to determine dysregulated proteins in South African GBC patients to identify potential mechanisms of the disease progression and plausible biomarkers.

Methods
Tissues (27 GBC, 13 Gallstone disease, and 5 normal tissues) and blood plasma (54 GBC and 73 Benign biliary pathology) were obtained from consenting patients. Protein extraction was performed on all tissues and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for proteomic profiling. A project-specific spectral library was built using the Pulsar search algorithm. Principal component and Spearman’s rank correlation analyses were performed using PAST (V4.07b). Pathway and Network analyses were conducted using REACTOME (v3.7) and stringAPP (v1.7.0), respectively.

Results
In the tissue sample group, there were 62 and 194 dysregulated proteins in GBC compared to normal and gallstone groups, respectively. In the plasma group, there were 33 altered proteins in GBC compared to the benign biliary pathology group. We found 9 proteins (APOA1, APOA2, RET4, TTR, HEMO, HBB, HBA, PIGR, and APOE) to be commonly dysregulated in both tissue and plasma. Furthermore, a subset analysis demonstrated that 2 proteins, S100A8 and S100A9, were downregulated in GBC patients with GD history compared to those without. Pathway analysis showed that the dysregulated proteins in GBC patients were enriched in pathways involved in smooth muscle contraction, metabolism, ECM organization, and integrin cell surface interactions.

Conclusion
The identified dysregulated proteins help in understanding GBC molecular mechanisms in our patient group. Furthermore, the alteration of specific proteins in both tissue and plasma samples suggests their potential utility as biomarkers of GBC in this sample cohort.
Cost-effective duplex Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR markers for homologous genes facilitating wheat breeding
Authors: Jiang Peng , Fan Xiangyun , Zhang Guangxu , Wu Lei , He Yi , Li Chang , Zhang Xu 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBackgroundOwing to successful cloning of wheat functional genes in recent years, more traits can be selected by diagnostic markers, and consequently, effective molecular markers will be powerful tools in wheat breeding programs.ResultsThe present study proposed a cost-effective duplex Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (dKASP) marker system that combined multiplex PCR and KASP™ technology to yield twice the efficiency at half the cost compared with the common KASP™ markers and provide great assistance in breeding selection. Three dKASP markers for the major genes controlling plant height (Rht-B1/Rht-D1), grain hardness (Pina-D1/Pinb-D1), and high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (Glu-A1/Glu-D1) were successfully developed and applied in approved wheat varieties growing in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and advanced lines from our breeding program. Three markers were used to test six loci with high efficiency. In the approved wheat varieties,Rht-B1bwas the most important dwarfing allele, and the number of accessions carryingPinb-D1bwas much greater than that of the accessions carryingPina-D1b. Moreover, the number of accessions carrying favorable alleles for weak-gluten wheat (Null/Dx2) was much greater than that of the accessions carrying favorable alleles for strong-gluten wheat (Ax1orAx2*/Dx5). In the advanced lines,Rht-B1bandPinb-D1bshowed a significant increase compared with the approved varieties, and the strong-gluten (Ax1orAx2*/Dx5) and weak-gluten (Null/Dx2) types also increased.ConclusionA cost-effective dKASP marker system that combined multiplex PCR and KASP™ technology was proposed to achieve double the efficiency at half the cost compared with the common KASP™ markers. Three dKASP markers for the major genes controlling PH (Rht-B1/Rht-D1), GH (Pina-D1/Pinb-D1), and HMW-GS (Glu-A1/Glu-D1) were successfully developed, which would greatly improve the efficiency of marker-assisted selection of wheat.
Concurrent validity of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire Inventory and the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development in rural Bangladesh
Authors: Pitchik Helen O. , Tofail Fahmida , Akter Fahmida , Shoab Abul K. M. , Sultana Jesmin , Huda Tarique M. N. , Rahman Mahbubur , Winch Peter J. , Luby Stephen P. , Fernald Lia C. H. 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
Reliable and valid measurement of early child development are necessary for the design of effective interventions, programs, and policies to improve early child outcomes. One widely used measure in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III (Bayley-III). Alternatively, the Bangladeshi-adapted Ages and Stages Questionnaire Inventory (ASQ:I) can be administered more quickly, inexpensively, and with less training than the Bayley-III. We aimed to assess the concurrent validity of the Bangladeshi-adapted ASQ:I with the Bayley-III in children 4–27 months old in rural Bangladesh.

Methods
The sample was a sub-sample (n = 244) of endline participants from an evaluation of an early child development intervention (July–August 2018). We assessed concurrent validity between internally age-standardized domain-specific and total scores using Pearson correlations both overall and stratified by age and intervention status. We also assessed correlations between scores and variables theoretically related to child development including maternal education and stimulation in the home.

Results
The overall correlation between ASQ:I and Bayley-III total scores was moderate (r = 0.42 95% CI: 0.30–0.53), with no systematic differences by intervention status. Overall, concurrent validity was highest for the gross motor domain (r = 0.51, 0.40–0.60), and lowest for the fine motor domain (r = 0.20, 0.04–0.33). Total ASQ:I and Bayley-III scores were positively correlated with child stimulation and maternal education.

Conclusion
The Bangladeshi-adapted ASQ:I is a low-cost tool that can be feasibly administered in rural Bangladesh, is moderately correlated with the Bayley-III, and can be used to measure child development when human, time, or financial resources are constrained.
Early exposure to infections increases the risk of allergic rhinitis—a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chen JunRong , Liu Xiaohua , Liu Zixin , Zhou Yaqian , Xie Li , Zhang Jialin , Tan Jin , Yang Yide , Tian Mei , Dong Yunpeng , Li Jian 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Objective
The purpose of this study was to provide evidence for early life care by meta-analyzing the relationship between infection during pregnancy and up to 2 years of age and the risk of subsequent allergic rhinitis (AR).

Methods
Published studies up to April 2022 were systematically searched in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, SinoMed, CNKI, Wanfang Database, and VIP. Literature screening, including quality assessment, was performed, and the effect values (OR, HR, RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of infection during pregnancy and up to 2 years of age and allergic rhinitis were extracted from each qualified study.

Results
In total, 5 studies with a sample size of 82,256 reported the relationship between infection during pregnancy and offspring AR. Meta-analysis showed that maternal infection during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of childhood AR in offspring (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.08–1.67). Altogether, 13 studies with a sample size of 78,426 reported evidence of an association between infection within 2 years of age and subsequent AR in children. A pooled meta-analysis of all studies showed that early infection within 2 years of age was closely associated with childhood AR (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.12–1.40), especially upper respiratory tract infection (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.06–1.65) and gastrointestinal infections (OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.01–1.86), but ear infection showed similar results in the cohort study (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.04–1.22).

Conclusion
Current evidence suggests that infection during pregnancy, early upper respiratory infection, gastrointestinal infections and ear infection within 2 years of age would increase the risk of AR in children. Therefore, the prevention of infection during pregnancy and in infancy and young children needs to be emphasized.
Effectiveness of antenatal dexamethasone in reducing respiratory distress syndrome and mortality in preterm neonates: a nested case control study
Authors: Kibanga Wema , Mutagonda Ritah F. , Moshiro Robert , Mareale Alphonce , Kilonzi Manase , Mlyuka Hamu J. , Mikomangwa Wigilya P. , Kunambi Peter P. , Kamuhabwa Appolinary , Minzi Omary Mashiku 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a significant cause of preterm neonatal morbidity and mortality globally. Measures like the use of antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) and immediate resuscitation of the newborn after birth are taken to abate preterm related complications. Most studies that evidenced the benefit of ACS were done in high resource settings. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of ACS in reducing RDS and neonatal mortality in preterm neonates in resource-limited settings.

Methods
A three months prospective nested case–control study (1:2 unmatched) was conducted at Muhimbili National Hospital and Amana regional referral hospital in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. Neonates delivered at 28 to 34 gestational weeks were enrolled and followed up until discharge. Data analysis was done using the statistical package of social sciences version 23. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the effect of ACS on the RDS and mortality in the cohort, controlling for important maternal and neonatal variables. All tests were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05.

Results
Out of 330 preterm neonates enrolled, 110 were cases and 220 were controls. The median gestational age at delivery was 30 weeks and 6 days (IQR 4.68) among cases and 33 weeks (IQR 3) among controls. One-minute APGAR score of < 7 (AOR: 3.11; 95% CI 1.54–6.30), and neonatal birth weight (AOR: 0.998; 95% CI 0.997–0.999) were significantly associated with RDS. No significant association was observed between ACS exposure and RDS occurrence (AOR: 1.65; 95% CI 0.86 – 3.15). The overall mortality rate was 9 per 1000 neonates. Neonatal mortality occurred only among cases whereby, a unit increase in gestational age was associated with a 30% reduction in neonatal mortality (Adjusted hazard ratio, AHR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.5–0.92, p = 0.011).

Conclusion
Decrease in gestational age, one minute APGAR score of < 7 and decreasing birth weight were associated with RDS among preterm neonates. ACS was not associated with reduced RDS occurrence and neonatal mortality rates. Moreover, increase in gestation age was the only factor found to be protective against preterm neonatal mortality.
Palestinian law to protect family and prevent violence: challenges with public opinion
Authors: Mahamid Fayez , Hattab Muayad , Berte Denise 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe Palestinian Family Protection Law was submitted for ratification in November 2020 after much collaboration between advocates, attorneys and governmental officials, as well as community and international organizations. The draft bill addresses a myriad of social issues affecting vulnerable populations in the West Bank of Palestine, including: the legal age for marriage; gender inequality in inheritance; divorce; gender-based violence; and domestic violence. However, immediate feedback from local religious scholars, with increasing pressure from the general Palestinian population, was deeply divided, with negative perceptions relating to the perceived ‘foreign’ nature of the regulations and criticism that the law was not in accordance with Palestinian culture and Islamic Law. This criticism led to two years of inactivity regarding the bill. The current study sought to evaluate the attitudes, behavior and beliefs regarding the underlying human rights issues and assumptions concerning gender, marriage, and domestic violence that could be found in the codices of the proposed legislation as well as among the general population of Palestine. The data demonstrates that the population sampled viewed the underlying premise of the Family Protection Bill negatively. Individuals with a graduate degree or above tended to view the bill with less negativity, whilst females viewed the bill more positively than males. The results of this study illustrate that, with regard to legislation that relates to family life in Palestine, there is a wide gap between the points of view held by human rights advocates and NGO’s and those held by the general population. To further the agenda of family protection community education relating to social issues, the fundamentals of Sharia law and national sovereignty may be needed so as to clarify the core Islamic beliefs in relation to human rights and oppression, as well as to increase Palestinian ownership of the family protection agenda.