bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adherence therapy for adults with type 2 diabetes: a feasibility study of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Alenazi Fatimah , Peddle Monica , Bressington Daniel , Mahzari Moeber , Gray Richard 
Published: April 2023

AbstractBackgroundAdherence Therapy is a candidate intervention to promote consistent medication taking in people with type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to establish the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial of adherence therapy in people with type 2 diabetes who were non-adherent with medication.MethodsThe design is an open-label, single-center, randomized controlled feasibility trial. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either eight sessions of telephone-delivered adherence therapy or treatment as usual. Recruitment occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Outcome measures—adherence, beliefs about medication, and average blood glucose (sugar) levels (HbA1c)—were administered at baseline and after 8 weeks (TAU group) or at the completion of the treatment (AT group). Feasibility outcomes included the number of people approached to participate in the trial and the numbers that consented, completed study measures, finished treatment with adherence therapy, and dropped out of the trial. Fieldwork for this trial was conducted in the National Guard Hospital, a tertiary care provider, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.ResultsSeventy-eight people were screened, of which 47 met eligibility criteria and were invited to take part in the trial. Thirty-four people were excluded for various reasons. The remaining thirteen who consented to participate were enrolled in the trial and were randomized (AT,n = 7) (TAU,n = 6). Five (71%) of the seven participants in the adherence therapy arm completed treatment. Baseline measures were completed by all participants. Week 8 (post-treatment) measures were completed by eight (62%) participants. Dropout may have been linked to a poor understanding of what was involved in taking part in the trial.ConclusionsIt may be feasible to conduct a full RCT of adherence therapy, but careful consideration should be given to developing effective recruitment strategies, consent procedures, rigorous field testing, and clear support materials.Trial registrationThe trial was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), ACTRN12619000827134, on the 7th of June 2019.
Review on kidney diseases: types, treatment and potential of stem cell therapy
Authors: Singh Jaspreet , Singh Sanjeev 
Published: April 2023

AbstractRenal disorders are an emerging global public health issue with a higher growth rate despite progress in supportive therapies. In order to find more promising treatments to stimulate renal repair, stem cell-based technology has been proposed as a potentially therapeutic option. The self-renewal and proliferative nature of stem cells raised the hope to fight against various diseases. Similarly, it opens a new path for the treatment and repair of damaged renal cells. This review focuses on the types of renal diseases; acute and chronic kidney disease—their statistical data, and the conventional drugs used for treatment. It includes the possible stem cell therapy mechanisms involved and outcomes recorded so far, the limitations of using these regenerative medicines, and the progressive improvement in stem cell therapy by adopting approaches like PiggyBac, Sleeping Beauty, and the Sendai virus. Specifically, about the paracrine activities of amniotic fluid stem cells, renal stem cells, embryonic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cell, induced pluripotent stem cells as well as other stem cells.
How does the age of the youngest child affect parental survival?
Authors: Drefahl Sven , Mussino Eleonora 
Published: April 2023

AbstractPrevious research has investigated several different aspects of the relationship between having a child and parental mortality. One aspect of research that has been neglected until now is the age of the child. If children have an effect on parental mortality, this is likely to change as they grow up. We apply hazard regression models to longitudinal Swedish register data of the total population for men and women separately. Adjusting for a variety of control variables, we find that parents with younger children experience a substantive mortality advantage compared to parents—of the same age—who have older children. The mortality advantage decreases gradually as the age of the youngest child increases. Robustness checks confirm that this result cannot be explained by differences in the parent’s age and parental age at first birth. Childless women and men of the same age experience the highest mortality. Additional models for different causes of death suggest that selection, behavioral changes, and unobserved protective effects contribute to this pattern.
Extreme wildfire supersedes long-term fuel treatment influences on fuel and vegetation in chaparral ecosystems of northern California, USA
Authors: Jones Abigail M. , Kane Jeffrey M. , Engber Eamon A. , Martorano Caroline A. , Gibson Jennifer 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Background
Within California’s chaparral ecosystems, fuel reduction treatments are commonly used to reduce the negative impacts of wildfire but the durability of fuel treatment changes to fuels and vegetation when exposed to wildfire is less well understood. This study examined the interactive effects of 15-year-old fuel treatments and an extreme wildfire on burn severity, fuel loading, and vegetation in chaparral and oak vegetation types in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area in northern California, USA. Fuel treatment types included hand thinned, mechanical mastication, mechanical mastication + prescribed burning, and prescribed burning only.

Results
Vegetation and substrate burn severity was characterized as moderate across the study site and did not differ among treatments. Contrasting with higher pre-fire shrub density in the mastication + burning treatment, 2-year post-fire live shrub density did not differ among treatments. Higher pre-fire fine woody fuel loading in the mastication treatment did not correspond to post-fire fuel loading among treatments, while the hand thinned treatment was the only treatment where fine fuel loading was not significantly reduced post-fire. Total plant species richness increased in all treatment types following wildfire, largely driven by an increase in exotic species. Native cover decreased, and exotic cover increased in oak and chaparral types, but greater exotic species cover in the mastication + burning treatment in chaparral was maintained following wildfire.

Conclusions
Pre-fire differences in fuel and vegetation responses among treatments largely did not persist or were not detectible 1 to 2 years following wildfire. These findings suggest that the extreme wildfire conditions superseded long-term treatment differences in many fuel and vegetation metrics observed prior to wildfire. Despite subtle treatment differences, the hand thinned treatment resulted in the lowest change in fuel loading relative to all other treatments. Lastly, pre-fire differences in exotic species among fuel treatments were retained following wildfire, suggesting some treatments may have greater potential for exotic species expansion or type conversion to exotic grasslands.
Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction and tibial tuberosity transfer can be used to successfully manage patellofemoral instability in the setting of trochlea dysplasia
Authors: Dewan Varun , Gudipati Suribabu , Rooney Joanna , Lloyd Adam , Chugh Sanjiv , Mughal Ejaz 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Background
Management of patella instability remains a challenge particularly in the presence of trochlea dysplasia. The aim of this study is to assess the recurrence rates of those with patellar instability who have undergone a combined tibial tuberosity transfer (TTT) and medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) in the setting of trochlea dysplasia.

Methods
All skeletally mature patients who underwent combined TTT and MPFLR for recurrent patella instability were identified between January 2009 and December 2019. A retrospective review was conducted, with information regarding re-dislocation/subluxation and complications collected.

Results
Seventy patients with a mean age 25.3 years were identified and evaluated. Thirteen patients were found to have low-grade dysplasia (Dejour A), with 57 patients having high-grade dysplasia (Dejour B/C/D). No patients in the low,grade dysplasia group suffered a recurrence of their symptoms, with four in the high-grade group suffering episodes of re-dislocation/subluxation. Three patients subsequently underwent a trochleoplasty, with the other patient managed successfully non-operatively. There were a total of 13 complications in 11 patients.

Conclusions
A combined procedure of MPFLR and TTT can be used to manage patellofemoral instability even in the setting of trochlea dysplasia with a low rate of recurrence. Trochlea dysplasia, however, remains an anatomical risk factor for recurrence and patients should be counselled accordingly. The anatomical risk factors should be assessed in all patients to allow for the development of the most appropriate management plan, of which this combined procedure represents a potentially successful option.

Level of Evidence
IV (Case Series).
Assessment of symptoms of the post-COVID-19 syndrome in patients with different rheumatic diseases
Authors: Ismail Zahraa Nour Eldine , Hefny Mohamed Ahmed , Hendi Ahmed Elarabi , Tawfik Marwa Gamal 
Published: April 2023

AbstractBackgroundPatients with rheumatic diseases significantly suffer during and after infection with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) refers to signs and symptoms occurring during or following a COVID-19 infection that continue beyond 12 weeks. The study aimed to assess PCS symptoms in rheumatic disease patients compared to a control group not suffering from a rheumatic disease or any other chronic illness.ResultsThe prevalence of PCS symptoms was significantly higher in rheumatic disease patients compared to the control group: fatigue (69.1% vs. 41.25%), myalgia (73.5% vs. 37.5%), attention deficits (57.4% vs. 40%), and muscle weakness (33.8% vs. 13.8%). Objectively, the study group had significantly higher scores for the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) (35.46 ± 13.146 vs. 25.1 ± 7.587), Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ-2) (21.66 ± 10.3 vs. 11.6 ± 3.433), and higher grades of functional disability in the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status scale (PCFS). Rheumatic disease patients had significantly higher frequencies of anxiety and depression, as assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and cognitive impairment, as assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), than the controls (P = 0.023,P = 0.003,P = 0.0001, respectively). Moreover, SLE patients had the most symptoms and the highest FSS, SF-MPQ-2, PCFS, and HADS scores, as well as the lowest MMSE scores (P = 0.0001 for all except cough (P = 0.043), weakness (P = 0.015), paresthesia (P = 0.027), and anosmia (P = 0.039)). Lower disease duration, hospitalization during acute COVID-19, steroid use, smoking, and biologics non-use were significantly associated with higher PCS symptoms. Smoking was a significant risk factor (P = 0.048), and biologics use was protective (P = 0.03). Rheumatic disease patients who received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccinations had better scores on the FSS, HADS for anxiety and depression, and MMSE than those who received a single dose (P = 0.005,P = 0.001,P = 0.009,P = 0.01).ConclusionRheumatic disease patients have a higher prevalence and risk of PCS, so strict follow-up, avoiding smoking, controlling disease activity, and COVID-19 vaccinations are essential for decreasing the morbidity of PCS.
Electric vehicle integration’s impacts on power quality in distribution network and associated mitigation measures: a review
Authors: Srivastava Abhinav , Manas Munish , Dubey Rajesh Kumar 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe problem of global warming, along with environmental concerns, has already led governments to replace fossil-fuel vehicles with low-emission electric vehicles (EVs). The energy crisis and environmental problems, such as global warming and air pollution, are essential reasons for the development of electric vehicles (EVs). Electric vehicles are one of the most fascinating and essential fields to emerge in recent years. According to the current report, electric vehicles are attempting to replace older, traditional automobiles. These vehicles not only help to reduce pollution but also to save natural resources. The presence of electric vehicles may cause several problems for the conventional electrical grid due to their grid-to-vehicle (G2V) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging and discharging capabilities. With increased EV adoption, many power quality (PQ) issues in the electrical distribution system arise. With the penetration of EVs in distribution networks, power quality issues such as voltage imbalance, transformer failure, and harmonic distortion are expected to arise. The focus of this research is on exploring and reviewing the issues that the integration of EVs poses for electrical networks. The existing and future situations of electric vehicles’ integration, as well as new research on the subjects, have been reviewed in this paper. This study provides a thorough examination of power quality issues and their mitigating approaches.
A Year at the Forefront of Bacterial Defense Systems Against Neutrophilic Oxidants
Authors: Sultana Sadia , Dahl Jan-Ulrik 
Published: April 2023

ABSTRACT
One challenge for invading pathogens represents the exposure to highly microbicidal hypohalous acids (HOX), such as hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hypothiocyanous acid (HOSCN). Generated at high concentrations by innate immune cells during phagocytosis, HOX kills the engulfed microbes through extensive macromolecular damage. However, microorganisms have evolved strategies to detoxify the oxidants and/or alleviate HOX-mediated damage, which improves their survival during HOX exposure. Many of these defense systems are bacteria-specific and therefore considered potential drug targets. Our minireview highlights recent (July 2021 to November 2022) advances in the field of microbial HOX defense systems and how these systems are regulated. We report recent progress on redox-sensing transcriptional regulators, two-component systems, and σ/anti-σ factors and review how oxidative modifications in these regulatory proteins affect the expression of their target genes. Moreover, we discuss novel studies that describe how HOCl affects the activity of redox-regulated enzymes and highlight mechanisms that bacteria employ to reduce HOSCN.
Stretch regulates alveologenesis and homeostasis via mesenchymal Gαq/11-mediated TGFβ2 activation
Authors: Goodwin Amanda T. , John Alison E. , Joseph Chitra , Habgood Anthony , Tatler Amanda L. , Susztak Katalin , Palmer Matthew , Offermanns Stefan , Henderson Neil C. , Jenkins R. Gisli 
Published: April 2023

ABSTRACT
Alveolar development and repair require tight spatiotemporal regulation of numerous signalling pathways that are influenced by chemical and mechanical stimuli. Mesenchymal cells play key roles in numerous developmental processes. Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) is essential for alveologenesis and lung repair, and the G protein α subunits Gαq and Gα11 (Gαq/11) transmit mechanical and chemical signals to activate TGFβ in epithelial cells. To understand the role of mesenchymal Gαq/11 in lung development, we generated constitutive (Pdgfrb-Cre+/−;Gnaqfl/fl;Gna11−/−) and inducible (Pdgfrb-Cre/ERT2+/−;Gnaqfl/fl;Gna11−/−) mesenchymal Gαq/11 deleted mice. Mice with constitutive Gαq/11 gene deletion exhibited abnormal alveolar development, with suppressed myofibroblast differentiation, altered mesenchymal cell synthetic function, and reduced lung TGFβ2 deposition, as well as kidney abnormalities. Tamoxifen-induced mesenchymal Gαq/11 gene deletion in adult mice resulted in emphysema associated with reduced TGFβ2 and elastin deposition. Cyclical mechanical stretch-induced TGFβ activation required Gαq/11 signalling and serine protease activity, but was independent of integrins, suggesting an isoform-specific role for TGFβ2 in this model. These data highlight a previously undescribed mechanism of cyclical stretch-induced Gαq/11-dependent TGFβ2 signalling in mesenchymal cells, which is imperative for normal alveologenesis and maintenance of lung homeostasis.
Evidence implicating sequential commitment of the founder lineages in the human blastocyst by order of hypoblast gene activation
Authors: Corujo-Simon Elena , Radley Arthur H. , Nichols Jennifer 
Published: April 2023

ABSTRACT
Successful human pregnancy depends upon rapid establishment of three founder lineages: the trophectoderm, epiblast and hypoblast, which together form the blastocyst. Each plays an essential role in preparing the embryo for implantation and subsequent development. Several models have been proposed to define the lineage segregation. One suggests that all lineages specify simultaneously; another favours the differentiation of the trophectoderm before separation of the epiblast and hypoblast, either via differentiation of the hypoblast from the established epiblast, or production of both tissues from the inner cell mass precursor. To begin to resolve this discrepancy and thereby understand the sequential process for production of viable human embryos, we investigated the expression order of genes associated with emergence of hypoblast. Based upon published data and immunofluorescence analysis for candidate genes, we present a basic blueprint for human hypoblast differentiation, lending support to the proposed model of sequential segregation of the founder lineages of the human blastocyst. The first characterised marker, specific initially to the early inner cell mass, and subsequently identifying presumptive hypoblast, is PDGFRA, followed by SOX17, FOXA2 and GATA4 in sequence as the hypoblast becomes committed.
Implementation of AI image reconstruction in CT—how is it validated and what dose reductions can be achieved
Authors: Brady Samuel L 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
CT reconstruction has undergone a substantial change over the last decade with the introduction of iterative reconstruction (IR) and now with deep learning reconstruction (DLR). In this review, DLR will be compared to IR and filtered back-projection (FBP) reconstructions. Comparisons will be made using image quality metrics such as noise power spectrum, contrast-dependent task-based transfer function, and non-prewhitening filter detectability index (dNPW'). Discussion on how DLR has impacted CT image quality, low-contrast detectability, and diagnostic confidence will be provided. DLR has shown the ability to improve in areas that IR is lacking, namely: noise magnitude reduction does not alter noise texture to the degree that IR did, and the noise texture found in DLR is more aligned with noise texture of an FBP reconstruction. Additionally, the dose reduction potential for DLR is shown to be greater than IR. For IR, the consensus was dose reduction should be limited to no more than 15–30% to preserve low-contrast detectability. For DLR, initial phantom and patient observer studies have shown acceptable dose reduction between 44 and 83% for both low- and high-contrast object detectability tasks. Ultimately, DLR is able to be used for CT reconstruction in place of IR, making it an easy “turnkey” upgrade for CT reconstruction. DLR for CT is actively being improved as more vendor options are being developed and current DLR options are being enhanced with second generation algorithms being released. DLR is still in its developmental early stages, but is shown to be a promising future for CT reconstruction.
The first released available genome of the common ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) extended the research region on salt tolerance, C3-CAM photosynthetic conversion, and halophism
Authors: Sato Ryoma , Kondo Yuri , Agarie Sakae 
Published: April 2023

Background: The common ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) is an annual herb belonging to the genus Mesembryanthemum of the family Aizoaceae, native to Southern Africa. Methods: We performed shotgun genome paired-end sequencing using the Illumina platform to determine the genome sequence of the ice plants. We assembled the whole genome sequences using the genome assembler “ALGA” and “Redundans”, then released them as available genomic information. Finally, we mainly estimated the potential genomic function by the homology search method. Results: A draft genome was generated with a total length of 286 Mb corresponding to 79.2% of the estimated genome size (361 Mb), consisting of 49,782 contigs. It encompassed 93.49% of the genes of terrestrial higher plants, 99.5% of the ice plant transcriptome, and 100% of known DNA sequences. In addition, 110.9 Mb (38.8%) of repetitive sequences and untranslated regions, 971 tRNA, and 100 miRNA loci were identified, and their effects on stress tolerance and photosynthesis were investigated. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on ribosomal DNA among 26 kinds of plant species revealed genetic similarity between the ice plant and poplar, which have salt tolerance. Overall, 35,702 protein-coding regions were identified in the genome, of which 56.05% to 82.59% were annotated and submitted to domain searches and gene ontology (GO) analyses, which found that eighteen GO terms stood out among five plant species. These terms were related to biological defense, growth, reproduction, transcription, post-transcription, and intermembrane transportation, regarded as one of the fundamental results of using the utilized ice plant genome. Conclusions: The information that we characterized is useful for elucidation of the mechanism of growth promotion under salinity and reversible conversion of the photosynthetic type from C3 to Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM).
Family Perspectives on the Complexities of Pursuing Integrated Employment for Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Carter Erik W. , Lanchak Emily R. , Guest Laura , McMillan Elise D. , Taylor Julie Lounds , Fleming Laurie P. , Dao Anh 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
The road to employment is not often easy for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Families know firsthand the complexities and challenges of obtaining employment for their members with extensive support needs. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the critical barriers they encounter in this important pursuit. We interviewed 60 parents (and other caregivers) whose family members with intellectual disability and/or autism had sought and/or obtained paid work. The difficulties they described were extensive and multifaceted. Specifically, participants identified 64 different barriers attributed to six primary areas: individuals, families, schools, service systems, workplaces, and communities. Their unique insights amplify the need for new approaches for promoting integrated employment. We offer recommendations for research and practice aimed at better understanding and ameliorating barriers to meaningful work for adults with IDD.