bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation on uptake of renal supportive care and dialysis decision-making in older adults
Authors: Rosenberg Kerry-Lee , Burns Aine , Caplin Ben 
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACT

Background
Renal supportive care has become an increasingly relevant treatment option as the renal patient population ages. Despite the prevalence of kidney disease amongst ethnic minority and socioeconomically deprived patients, evidence focused on supportive care and dialysis decision-making in these groups is limited.

Methods
This retrospective study selected older patients referred to a low clearance or supportive care service between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2019. A descriptive analysis of clinical and socioeconomic characteristics according to treatment choice was produced and multivariate logistic regression models used to identify predictive factors for choosing supportive care. Surrogate markers for the success of decision-making processes were evaluated, including time taken to reach a supportive care decision and risk of death without making a treatment decision or within 3 months of starting kidney replacement therapy (KRT). Finally, the association between ethnicity and socioeconomic status and hospital admission rates was compared between treatment groups.

Results
Amongst 1768 patients, 515 chose supportive care and 309 chose KRT. Predictive factors for choosing supportive care included age, frailty and a diagnosis of cognitive impairment. However, there was no association with ethnicity or deprivation. Similarly, these factors were not associated with time taken to make a supportive care decision or the mortality outcome. Amongst those on KRT, more socially advantaged patients had decreased rates of hospital admissions compared with those less advantaged (incident rate ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.92–0.99).

Conclusion
Predictive factors for choosing supportive care were clinical, rather than socioeconomic. Lower socioeconomic status was associated with increased rates of hospitalization in the KRT group. This is a possible signal that these groups experienced greater morbidity on KRT versus supportive care, an association not demonstrated amongst higher socioeconomic groups.
Left main bifurcation stenting: impact of residual ischaemia on cardiovascular mortality
Authors: Wang Hao-Yu , Zhang Rui , Dou Kefei , Huang Yunfei , Xie Lihua , Qiao Zheng , Zou Tongqiang , Guan Changdong , Song Lei , Yang Weixian , Wu Yongjian , Tu Shengxian , Wijns William , Xu Bo 
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Aims
The present study sought to determine the rate and prognostic implications of post-procedural physiologically significant residual ischemia according to Murray law-based quantitative flow ratio (μQFR) after left main (LM) bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods and results
Consecutive patients undergoing LM bifurcation stenting at a large tertiary care center between January 2014 and December 2016 with available post-PCI μQFR were included. Physiologically significant residual ischemia was defined by post-PCI μQFR values ≤0.80 in the left anterior descending (LAD) or left circumflex artery (LCX). The primary outcome was 3-year cardiovascular death. The major secondary outcome was 3-year bifurcation-oriented composite endpoint (BOCE). Among 1170 included patients with analyzable post-PCI μQFR, 155 (13.2%) had residual ischemia in either LAD or LCX. Patients with vs. those without residual ischemia had a higher risk of 3-year cardiovascular mortality [5.4% vs. 1.3%; adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 3.20, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16–8.80]. The 3-year risk of BOCE was significantly higher in the residual ischemia group (17.8% vs. 5.8%; adjusted HR 2.79, 95% CI: 1.68–4.64), driven by higher incidence of the composite of cardiovascular death and target bifurcation-related myocardial infarction (14.0% vs. 3.3%; adjusted HR 4.06, 95% CI: 2.22–7.42). A significant, inverse association was observed between continuous post-PCI μQFR and the risk of clinical outcomes (per 0.1 μQFR decrease, HR of cardiovascular death 1.27, 95% CI: 1.00–1.62; HR of BOCE 1.29, 95% CI: 1.14–1.47).

Conclusion
After angiographically successful LM bifurcation PCI, residual ischemia assessed by μQFR was identified in 13.2% of patients and was associated with higher risk of 3-year cardiovascular death, indicating the superior prognostic value of post-PCI physiological assessment.
Contrasting sensitivity of soil bacterial and fungal community composition to one year of water limitation in Scots pine mesocosms
Authors: Jaeger Astrid C H , Hartmann Martin , Six Johan , Solly Emily F 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe soil microbiome is crucial for regulating biogeochemical processes and can, thus, strongly influence tree health, especially under stress conditions. However, little is known about the effect of prolonged water deficit on soil microbial communities during the development of saplings. We assessed the response of prokaryotic and fungal communities to different levels of experimental water limitation in mesocosms with Scots pine saplings. We combined analyses of physicochemical soil properties and tree growth with DNA metabarcoding of soil microbial communities throughout four seasons. Seasonal changes in soil temperature and soil water content and a decreasing soil pH strongly influenced the composition of microbial communities but not their total abundance. Contrasting levels of soil water contents gradually altered the soil microbial community structure over the four seasons. Results indicated that prokaryotic communities were less resistant to water limitation than fungal communities. Water limitation promoted the proliferation of desiccation tolerant, oligotrophic taxa. Moreover, water limitation and an associated increase in soil C/N ratio induced a shift in the potential lifestyle of taxa from symbiotic to saprotrophic. Overall, water limitation appeared to alter soil microbial communities involved in nutrient cycling, pointing to potential consequences for forest health affected by prolonged episodes of drought.
How molecular techniques are developed from natural systems
Authors: Ronai Isobel 
Published: May 2023

AbstractA striking characteristic of the molecular techniques of genetics is that they are derived from natural occurring systems. RNA interference, for example, utilizes a mechanism that evolved in eukaryotes to destroy foreign nucleic acid. Other case studies I highlight are restriction enzymes, DNA sequencing, polymerase chain reaction, gene targeting, fluorescent proteins (such as, green fluorescent protein), induced pluripotent stem cells, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR associated 9. The natural systems’ strategy for technique development means that biologists utilize the activity of a mechanism's effector (protein or RNA) and exploit biological specificity (protein or nucleic acid can cause precise reactions). I also argue that the developmental trajectory of novel molecular techniques, such as RNA interference, has 4 characteristic phases. The first phase is discovery of a biological phenomenon. The second phase is identification of the biological mechanism's trigger(s): the effector and biological specificity. The third phase is the application of the trigger(s) as a technique. The final phase is the maturation and refinement of the technique. Developing new molecular techniques from nature is crucial for future genetic research.
Implementation of efficient low-storage techniques for 3-D seismic simulation using the curved grid finite-difference method
Authors: Wang Wenqiang , Zhang Zhenguo , Zhang Wenqiang , Liu Qi 
Published: May 2023

SUMMARYHigh-resolution 3-D seismic simulation imposes severe demands for computational memory, making low-storage seismic simulation particularly important. Due to its high-efficiency and low-storage, the half-precision floating-point 16-bit format (FP16) is widely used in heterogeneous computing platforms, such as Sunway series supercomputers and graphics processing unit (GPU) computing platforms. Furthermore, the low-storage Runge–Kutta (LSRK) technique requires lower memory resources compared with the classical Runge–Kutta. Therefore, FP16 and LSRK provide the possibility for low-storage seismic simulation. However, the orders of magnitude of the physical quantities (velocity, stress and Lamé constants) in the elastic wave equations are influenced by the P-wave and S-wave velocities and the densities of the elastic media. This results in a huge order of magnitude difference between the stored velocity and stress values, which exceed the range of the stored values of FP16. In this paper, we introduce three dimensionless constants, Cv, Cs and Cp, into elastic wave equations, and new elastic wave equations are derived. The three constants, Cv, Cs and Cp, keep the orders of magnitude of the velocity and stress at a similar level in the new elastic wave equations. Thus, the stored values of these variables in new equations remain within the range of the stored values of FP16. In addition, we introduce the use of the LSRK due to its low-storage characteristic. In this paper, based on the FP16 and LSRK low-storage techniques, we develop 3 optimized multi-GPU solvers for seismic simulation using the curved grid finite-difference method (CGFDM). Moreover, we perform a series of seismic simulations to verify the accuracy, stability, and validity of the optimized solver coupled with the two techniques. The verifications indicate that through maintaining the calculation accuracy, the computational efficiency of the solver is significantly optimized, and the memory usage is remarkably reduced. In particular, under the best conditions, the memory usage can be reduced to nearly 1/3 that of the original CGFDM solver.
The mechanism of the present-day crustal deformation in southeast Tibet: from numerical modelling and geodetic observations
Authors: Pang Yajin , Wu Yanqiang , Li Yujiang , Chen Changyun 
Published: May 2023

SUMMARY
The mechanism of present-day crustal deformation in southeast Tibet remains controversial. 3-D high-precision geodetic data can provide significant clues to analyse the key driving forces. Here, we conduct a series of 3-D finite-element modelling to investigate the influences of gravitational collapse, tectonic extrusion and mid-to-lower crustal flow on crustal deformation in southeast Tibet. The numerical results show that the gravitational collapse leads to predominant N-S extension and surface subsidence in the northern region, and predominant NW-SE compression and uplift in the southern region, which can explain the normal-faulting earthquakes in the interior. The gravity-driven horizontal velocity depends on the upper crustal viscosity, while the vertical velocity is determined by mid-to-lower crustal viscosity. The eastward tectonic extrusion causes slight southeastward rotation and predominant E-W compression in the northern region but has a little effect on the deformation in the southern region. By considering the joint effects of gravitational collapse and tectonic extrusion, we simulate the crustal deformation that reconciles with present-day geodetic observations. Both the two driving forces lead to positive shear strain rates along the major fault zones, with more contributions from the tectonic extrusion of the Tibetan Plateau. Constrained by the 3-D geodetic observations, the numerical results argue against the presence of massive fast mid-to-lower crustal flow from the Tibetan Plateau. Overall, the present-day crustal deformation in southeast Tibet is jointly driven by gravitational collapse and tectonic extrusion, which play distinct roles in shaping the faulting kinematics and regional strain partitioning.
Phenoloxidases: catechol oxidase – the temporary employer and laccase – the rising star of vascular plants
Authors: Liao Jugou , Wei Xuemei , Tao Keliang , Deng Gang , Shu Jie , Qiao Qin , Chen Gonglin , Wei Zhuo , Fan Meihui , Saud Shah , Fahad Shah , Chen Suiyun 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Phenolics are vital for the adaptation of plants to terrestrial habitats and for species diversity. Phenoloxidases (catechol oxidases, COs, and laccases, LACs) are responsible for the oxidation and polymerization of phenolics. However, their origin, evolution, and differential roles during plant development and land colonization are unclear. We performed the phylogeny, domain, amino acids, compositional biases, and intron analyses to clarify the origin and evolution of COs and LACs, and analysed the structure, selective pressure, and chloroplast targeting to understand the species-dependent distribution of COs. We found that Streptophyta COs were not homologous to the Chlorophyta tyrosinases (TYRs), and might have been acquired by horizontal gene transfer from bacteria. COs expanded in bryophytes. Structural-functionality and selective pressure were partially responsible for the species-dependent retention of COs in embryophytes. LACs emerged in Zygnemaphyceae, having evolved from ascorbate oxidases (AAOs), and prevailed in the vascular plants and strongly expanded in seed plants. COs and LACs coevolved with the phenolic metabolism pathway genes. These results suggested that TYRs and AAOs were the first-stage phenoloxidases in Chlorophyta. COs might be the second key for the early land colonization. LACs were the third one (dominating in the vascular plants) and might be advantageous for diversified phenol substrates and the erect growth of plants. This work provided new insights into how phenoloxidases evolved and were devoted to plant evolution.
Marine Invertebrates One Cell at A Time: Insights from Single-Cell Analysis
Authors: Bump Paul , Lubeck Lauren 
Published: May 2023

Synopsis
Over the past decade, single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) has made it possible to study the cellular diversity of a broad range of organisms. Technological advances in single-cell isolation and sequencing have expanded rapidly, allowing the transcriptomic profile of individual cells to be captured. As a result, there has been an explosion of cell type atlases created for many different marine invertebrate species from across the tree of life. Our focus in this review is to synthesize current literature on marine invertebrate scRNA-seq. Specifically, we provide perspectives on key insights from scRNA-seq studies, including descriptive studies of cell type composition, how cells respond in dynamic processes such as development and regeneration, and the evolution of new cell types. Despite these tremendous advances, there also lie several challenges ahead. We discuss the important considerations that are essential when making comparisons between experiments, or between datasets from different species. Finally, we address the future of single-cell analyses in marine invertebrates, including combining scRNA-seq data with other ‘omics methods to get a fuller understanding of cellular complexities. The full diversity of cell types across marine invertebrates remains unknown and understanding this diversity and evolution will provide rich areas for future study.
Fish community dynamics in a coastal no-take marine protected area compared to a harvested area before and after protection from fishing
Authors: Varnes B K , Olsen E M 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
An ecosystem's ability to maintain key functions during environmental change is largely determined by its biodiversity. We compared fish species composition, richness, diversity, catch per unit effort (CPUE), and fish size between a 1.5 km2 no-take marine protected area (MPA) and a nearby fished area on the southern Norwegian coast annually for one decade (2011–2021), including before-protection status. In total, &gt;26 thousand fish representing 31 species were sampled using a beach seine. No significant effect of protection was detected on either species richness, diversity, or evenness. For selected species of small-bodied intermediate predators, there was a significant decline in mean body size in the MPA area compared to the fished area, indicative of a response to protection involving trophic interactions. No significant effect of the MPA was detected on either CPUE or body size of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), a top predator mainly captured at the juvenile stage by our sampling. The limited responses seen in this study may be linked to the small size of the MPA compared to the dispersal and movement capabilities of species such as the cod.
Constrained and composite optimization via adaptive sampling methods
Authors: Xie Yuchen , Bollapragada Raghu , Byrd Richard , Nocedal Jorge 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
The motivation for this paper stems from the desire to develop an adaptive sampling method for solving constrained optimization problems, in which the objective function is stochastic and the constraints are deterministic. The method proposed in this paper is a proximal gradient method that can also be applied to the composite optimization problem min $f(x) + h(x)$, where $f$ is stochastic and $h$ is convex (but not necessarily differentiable). Adaptive sampling methods employ a mechanism for gradually improving the quality of the gradient approximation so as to keep computational cost to a minimum. The mechanism commonly employed in unconstrained optimization is no longer reliable in the constrained or composite optimization settings, because it is based on pointwise decisions that cannot correctly predict the quality of the proximal gradient step. The method proposed in this paper measures the result of a complete step to determine if the gradient approximation is accurate enough; otherwise, a more accurate gradient is generated and a new step is computed. Convergence results are established both for strongly convex and general convex $f$. Numerical experiments are presented to illustrate the practical behavior of the method.
The Flexibility of β-Content, γ-Confidence Tolerance Intervals to Qualimetry a Simultaneous 22 Aromatic Amines Derived from Azo Dyes in Fabric Using a Sensitive GC–MS Technique
Authors: Ait Lhaj Raja , Saffaj Taoufiq , Ihssane Bouchaib 
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Background
Azo dyes are among the most widely used dyes in the textile industry, releasing a series of carcinogenic aromatic amines that can be absorbed through the skin.

Objective
This work aims to show that 22 azo dye amines in a textile matrix can be quantified using a GC–MS method.

Methods
Based on the notion of total error and β-content, γ-confidence tolerance intervals (β,γ-CCTI), a chemometric approach known as the “uncertainty profile” has been used to completely validate a GC–MS method for the simultaneous assay of 22 azo amines in fabrics. According to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in ISO 17025 guidelines, analytical validation and measurement uncertainty estimates have evolved to be two main principles for ensuring the accuracy of analytical results and controlling the risk associated with their use.

Results
The calculated tolerance intervals allowed for the determination of the uncertainty limits at each concentration level. These limits when compared to the acceptable limits show that a significant portion of the expected outcomes is in conformity. Additionally, the relative expanded uncertainty values, calculated with a proportion of 66.7% and a 10% risk, do not exceed 27.7, 12.2, and 10.9% for concentration levels 1, 15, and 30 mg/L, respectively.

Conclusion
The capability and flexibility of the β-content, γ-confidence intervals have been established through the use of this innovative approach to carrying out qualimetry of the GC–MS method depending on the behavior, required conformity proportion, and acceptable tolerance limits of each amine.

Highlights
An efficient GC–MS technique for the simultaneous determination of 22 azo amines in a textile matrix has been developed. Analytical validation using a new strategy based on the uncertainty concept is reported, uncertainty associated to measurement results is estimated, and the applicability of our approach to the GC–MS method is investigated.
Eye disease and international travel: a critical literature review and practical recommendations
Authors: Lee Jay Jun , Forristal Mark T , Harney Fiona , Flaherty Gerard T 
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Rationale for review
Eye diseases pose a significant public health and economic burden, particularly for travellers exposed to ocular hazards who may lack access to specialist eye care. This article offers an evidence-based review for travel-health practitioners, with a particular emphasis on ocular infections and trauma that are more prevalent among travellers. Providing an overview of these issues will allow travel health practitioners to comprehensively address ophthalmic considerations of travel.

Methods
A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed and Embase electronic databases, using keywords related to travel medicine and ophthalmology. Inclusion was based on the relevant contribution to epidemiology, aetiology, diagnostics, management and long-term consequences of travel-related eye conditions. The data were analysed using narrative synthesis.

Key findings
This literature review highlighted that various travel-related eye conditions may occur. Travellers should be aware of the risk of travel-related ocular complications, which can arise from ocular infections, high-risk activities, high altitude and space travel. The economic and logistical challenges associated with medical tourism for ophthalmic procedures are discussed. For travellers with pre-existing eye conditions or visual impairment, careful planning may be needed to promote eye health and ensure safety of travel.

Conclusions
Travel medicine practitioners should have a comprehensive understanding of the major ocular risks associated with overseas travel, including eye infections, eye injuries and solar eye damage. Further research in this area can enhance overall wellness and alleviate the burden of ocular diseases on travellers. Evidence-based guidelines based on research can also improve the quality of care and prevent long-term vision problems.
Phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C3 negatively regulates the hypersensitive response via complex signaling with MAP kinase, phytohormones, and reactive oxygen species in Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: Takasato Shiori , Bando Takuya , Ohnishi Kouhei , Tsuzuki Masayuki , Hikichi Yasufumi , Kiba Akinori 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Phospholipid signaling plays important roles in plant immune responses. Here, we focused on two phospholipase C3 (PLC3) orthologs in the Nicotiana benthamiana genome, NbPLC3-1 and NbPLC3-2. We generated NbPLC3-1 and NbPLC3-2-double-silenced plants (NbPLC3s-silenced plants). In NbPLC3s-silenced plants challenged with Ralstonia solanacearum 8107, induction of hypersensitive response (HR)-related cell death and bacterial population reduction was accelerated, and the expression level of Nbhin1, a HR marker gene, was enhanced. Furthermore, the expression levels of genes involved in salicylic acid and jasmonic acid signaling drastically increased, reactive oxygen species production was accelerated, and NbMEK2-induced HR-related cell death was also enhanced. Accelerated HR-related cell death was also observed by bacterial pathogens Pseudomonas cichorii, P. syringae, bacterial AvrA, oomycete INF1, and TMGMV-CP with L1 in NbPLC3s-silenced plants. Although HR-related cell death was accelerated, the bacterial population was not reduced in double NbPLC3s and NbCoi1-suppressed plants nor in NbPLC3s-silenced NahG plants. HR-related cell death acceleration and bacterial population reduction resulting from NbPLC3s-silencing were compromised by the concomitant suppression of either NbPLC3s and NbrbohB (respiratory oxidase homolog B) or NbPLC3s and NbMEK2 (mitogen activated protein kinase kinase 2). Thus, NbPLC3s may negatively regulate both HR-related cell death and disease resistance through MAP kinase- and reactive oxygen species-dependent signaling. Disease resistance was also regulated by NbPLC3s through jasmonic acid- and salicylic acid-dependent pathways.