bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Brady-arrhythmias requiring permanent pacemaker implantation during and after staged Fontan palliation
Authors: Bohn Cornelius , Schaeffer Thibault , Staehler Helena , Heinisch Paul Philipp , Piber Nicole , Cuman Magdalena , Hager Alfred , Ewert Peter , Hörer Jürgen , Ono Masamichi 
Published: July 2023

AbstractBackground:Brady-arrhythmia requiring pacemaker implantation remains one of the Fontan-specific complications before and after total cavopulmonary connection.Methods:A retrospective analysis of 620 patients who underwent total cavopulmonary connection between 1994 and 2021 was performed to evaluate the incidence of brady-arrhythmia and the outcomes after pacemaker implantation. Factors associated with the onset of brady-arrhythmia were identified.Results:A total of 52 patients presented with brady-arrhythmia and required pacemaker implantation. Diagnosis included 16 sinus node dysfunctions, 29 atrioventricular blocks, and 7 junctional escape rhythms. Pacemaker implantation was performed before total cavopulmonary connection (n = 16), concomitant with total cavopulmonary connection (n = 8), or after total cavopulmonary connection (n = 28, median 1.8 years post-operatively). Freedom from pacemaker implantation following total cavopulmonary connection at 10 years was 92%. Twelve patients needed revision of electrodes due to lead dysfunction (n = 9), infections (n = 2), or dislocation (n = 1). Lead energy thresholds were stable, and freedom from pacemaker lead revision at 10 years after total cavopulmonary connection was 78%. Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (odds ratio: 6.6, confidence interval: 2.0–21.5, p = 0.002) was identified as a factor associated with pacemaker implantation before total cavopulmonary connection. Pacemaker rhythms for Fontan circulation were not a risk factor for survival (p = 0.226), protein-losing enteropathy/plastic bronchitis (p = 0.973), or thromboembolic complications (p = 0.424).Conclusions:In our cohort of patients following total cavopulmonary connection, freedom from pacemaker implantation at 10 years was 92% and stable atrial and ventricular lead energy thresholds were observed. Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries was at increased risk for pacemaker implantation before total cavopulmonary connection. Having a pacemaker in the Fontan circulation had no adverse effect on survival, protein-losing enteropathy/plastic bronchitis, or thromboembolic complications.
Assessing Theory of Mind in bilinguals: A scoping review on tasks and study designs
Authors: Feng Justin , Cho Sohyun , Luk Gigi 
Published: July 2023

AbstractPrevious developmental studies reported bilinguals’ Theory of Mind (ToM; the ability to take on another's perspective) develops differently than monolinguals. We conducted a scoping review to evaluate how researchers assess bilinguals’ ToM and whether they characterize bilinguals’ lived experiences. We analyzed 53 publications examining ToM in bilinguals, with most papers studying children (n = 42; 79%). We identified 96 different tasks used across these 53 papers. The most common are 46 (48%) cases of the false-belief task, a cognitive-focused task using story vignettes. Few tasks target other types of ToM, such as ToM in social settings or taking others’ emotional perspectives. Furthermore, only half of the papers reported language history (n = 28, 53%) and exposure (n = 25, 47%), limiting the inferrability of ToM and language experiences. Expanding how we study ToM in bilinguals will improve our understanding of the intersection of bilingualism and ToM.
Synergistic interactions of 2,4-D, dichlorprop-p, dicamba, and halauxifen/fluroxypyr for controlling multiple herbicide-resistant kochia (Bassia scoparia L.)
Authors: Dhanda Sachin , Kumar Vipan , Geier Patrick W. , Currie Randall S. , Dille J. Anita , Obour Augustine , Yeager Elizabeth A. , Holman Johnathon 
Published: July 2023

AbstractMultiple herbicide-resistant (MHR) kochia is a serious concern in the U.S. Great Plains and warrants alternative herbicide mixtures for its control. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted at Kansas State University research and extension centers near Hays and Garden City, KS, to investigate the interactions of 2,4-D, dichlorprop-p, dicamba, and halauxifen/fluroxypyr premix in various combinations for MHR kochia control. Two previously confirmed MHR (resistant to glyphosate, dicamba, and fluroxypyr) populations and a susceptible population were tested in a greenhouse study. Kochia at the Hays field site was resistant to glyphosate and chlorsulfuron, whereas the population at Garden City was resistant to glyphosate, dicamba, and fluroxypyr. Results from a greenhouse study indicated that 2,4-D, dicamba, dichlorprop-p, and a halauxifen/fluroxypyr premix provided 26% to 69% control of both MHR populations at 28 d after treatment (DAT). However, the control increased to 85% to 97% when these herbicides were applied in three-way mixtures. Synergistic interactions were observed when dicamba was mixed with dichlorprop-p, 2,4-D, dichlorprop-p + 2,4-D, and halauxifen/fluroxypyr + 2,4-D for shoot dry weight reductions (86% to 92%) of both MHR populations. Results from a field study also indicated synergistic interactions when dicamba was mixed with dichlorprop-p + 2,4-D, halauxifen/fluroxypyr + dichlorprop-p, and halauxifen/fluroxypyr + 2,4-D, resulting in 84% to 95% control of MHR kochia at 28 DAT across both sites. These results indicate that synergistic effects of mixing dicamba with other auxinic herbicides in two- or three-way mixtures can help control MHR kochia.
A Bayesian Model for Inferring Total Solar Irradiance From Proxies and Direct Observations: Application to the ACRIM Gap
Authors: Amdur T. , Huybers P. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractDifferences among total solar irradiance (TSI) estimates are most pronounced during the so‐called “ACRIM Gap” of 1989–1991, when available satellite‐based observations disagree in trend and no observations exist from satellites with on‐board calibration. Different approaches to bias‐correcting noisy satellite‐based observations lead to discrepancies of up to 0.7 W/m2 in the change in TSI during the Gap. Using a Bayesian hierarchical model for TSI (BTSI), we jointly infer TSI during the ACRIM Gap from satellite‐based observations and proxies of solar activity. In addition, BTSI yields estimates of noise and drift in satellite‐based observations and calibration for proxy records. We find that TSI across the ACRIM Gap changes by only 0.01 W/m2, with a 95% confidence interval of [−0.07, 0.09] W/m2. Our results are consistent with the PMOD CPMDF and Community Consensus TSI reconstructions and inconsistent with the 0.7 W/m2 trend reported in the ACRIM composite reconstruction. Constraints on the trend across the ACRIM Gap are primarily obtained through constraints on the drift in the Nimbus‐7 satellite that are afforded by overlapping satellite and proxy observations.
Loss of spines in the prelimbic cortex is detrimental to working memory in mice with early-life adversity
Authors: Xu Liping , Liu Yue , Long Jingyi , He Xiulan , Xie Fanbing , Yin Qiao , Chen Michael , Long Dahong , Chen Yuncai 
Published: July 2023

AbstractAdverse experiences in early life can shape neuronal structures and synaptic function in multiple brain regions, leading to deficits of distinct cognitive functions later in life. Focusing on the pyramidal cells of the prelimbic cortex (PrL), a main subregion of the medial prefrontal cortex, the impact of early-life adversity (ELA) was investigated in a well-established animal model generated by changing the rearing environment during postnatal days 2 to 9 (P2-P9), a sensitive developmental period. ELA has enduring detrimental impacts on the dendritic spines of PrL pyramidal cells, which is most apparent in a spatially circumscribed region. Specifically, ELA affects both thin and mushroom-type spines, and ELA-provoked loss of spines is observed on selective dendritic segments of PrL pyramidal cells in layers II-III and V-VI. Reduced postsynaptic puncta represented by postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95), but not synaptophysin-labelled presynaptic puncta, in ELA mice supports the selective loss of spines in the PrL. Correlation analysis indicates that loss of spines and postsynaptic puncta in the PrL contributes to the poor spatial working memory of ELA mice, and thin spines may play a major role in working memory performance. To further understand whether loss of spines affects glutamatergic transmission, AMPA- and NMDA-receptor-mediated synaptic currents (EPSCs) were recorded in a group of Thy1-expressing PrL pyramidal cells. ELA mice exhibited a depressed glutamatergic transmission, which is accompanied with a decreased expression of GluR1 and NR1 subunits in the PrL. Finally, upregulating the activation of Thy1-expressing PrL pyramidal cells via excitatory DREADDs can efficiently improve the working memory performance of ELA mice in a T-maze-based task, indicating the potential of a chemogenetic approach in restoring ELA-provoked memory deficits.
Statins suppress cell-to-cell propagation of α-synuclein by lowering cholesterol
Authors: Min Joo-Ok , Ho Hoang-Anh , Lee Wonjae , Jung Byung Chul , Park Sung Jun , Kim Seokjoong , Lee Seung-Jae 
Published: July 2023

AbstractCell-to-cell propagation of protein aggregates has been implicated in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the underlying mechanism and modulators of this process are not fully understood. Here, we screened a small-molecule library in a search for agents that suppress the propagation of α-synuclein and mutant huntingtin (mHtt). These screens yielded several molecules, some of which were effective against both α-synuclein and mHtt. Among these molecules, we focused on simvastatin and pravastatin. Simvastatin administration in a transgenic model of synucleinopathy effectively ameliorated behavioral deficits and α-synuclein accumulation, whereas pravastatin had no effect. Because only simvastatin enters the brain effectively, these results suggest that inhibition of brain cholesterol synthesis is important in simvastatin effects. In cultured cells, accumulation of intracellular cholesterol, induced by genetic ablation of the NPC1 gene or by pharmacological treatment with U18666A, increased α-synuclein aggregation and secretion. In contrast, lowering cholesterol using methyl-β-cyclodextrin or statins reversed α-synuclein aggregation and secretion in NPC1-knockout cells. Consistent with these observations, feeding a high-fat diet aggravated α-synuclein pathology and behavioral deficits in the preformed fibril-injected mouse model, an effect that was also reversed by simvastatin administration. These results suggest that statins suppress propagation of protein aggregates by lowering cholesterol in the brain.
An overview of arsenic trioxide-involved combined treatment algorithms for leukemia: basic concepts and clinical implications
Authors: Jiang Yanan , Shen Xiuyun , Zhi Fengnan , Wen Zhengchao , Gao Yang , Xu Juan , Yang Baofeng , Bai Yunlong 
Published: July 2023

AbstractArsenic trioxide is a first-line treatment drug for acute promyelocytic leukemia, which is also effective for other kinds of leukemia. Its side effects, however, limit its clinical application, especially for patients with complex leukemia symptoms. Combination therapy can effectively alleviate these problems. This review summarizes the research progress on the combination of arsenic trioxide with anticancer drugs, vitamin and vitamin analogs, plant products, and other kinds of drugs in the treatment of leukemia. Additionally, the new progress in arsenic trioxide-induced cardiotoxicity was summarized. This review aims to provide new insights for the rational clinical application of arsenic trioxide.
Ghost admixture in eastern gorillas
Authors: Pawar Harvinder , Rymbekova Aigerim , Cuadros-Espinoza Sebastian , Huang Xin , de Manuel Marc , van der Valk Tom , Lobon Irene , Alvarez-Estape Marina , Haber Marc , Dolgova Olga , Han Sojung , Esteller-Cucala Paula , Juan David , Ayub Qasim , Bautista Ruben , Kelley Joanna L. , Cornejo Omar E. , Lao Oscar , Andrés Aida M. , Guschanski Katerina , Ssebide Benard , Cranfield Mike , Tyler-Smith Chris , Xue Yali , Prado-Martinez Javier , Marques-Bonet Tomas , Kuhlwilm Martin 
Published: July 2023

AbstractArchaic admixture has had a substantial impact on human evolution with multiple events across different clades, including from extinct hominins such as Neanderthals and Denisovans into modern humans. In great apes, archaic admixture has been identified in chimpanzees and bonobos but the possibility of such events has not been explored in other species. Here, we address this question using high-coverage whole-genome sequences from all four extant gorilla subspecies, including six newly sequenced eastern gorillas from previously unsampled geographic regions. Using approximate Bayesian computation with neural networks to model the demographic history of gorillas, we find a signature of admixture from an archaic ‘ghost’ lineage into the common ancestor of eastern gorillas but not western gorillas. We infer that up to 3% of the genome of these individuals is introgressed from an archaic lineage that diverged more than 3 million years ago from the common ancestor of all extant gorillas. This introgression event took place before the split of mountain and eastern lowland gorillas, probably more than 40 thousand years ago and may have influenced perception of bitter taste in eastern gorillas. When comparing the introgression landscapes of gorillas, humans and bonobos, we find a consistent depletion of introgressed fragments on the X chromosome across these species. However, depletion in protein-coding content is not detectable in eastern gorillas, possibly as a consequence of stronger genetic drift in this species.
Unconventional colloidal aggregation in chiral bacterial baths
Authors: Grober Daniel , Palaia Ivan , Uçar Mehmet Can , Hannezo Edouard , Šarić Anđela , Palacci Jérémie 
Published: July 2023

AbstractWhen in equilibrium, thermal forces agitate molecules, which then diffuse, collide and bind to form materials. However, the space of accessible structures in which micron-scale particles can be organized by thermal forces is limited, owing to the slow dynamics and metastable states. Active agents in a passive fluid generate forces and flows, forming a bath with active fluctuations. Two unanswered questions are whether those active agents can drive the assembly of passive components into unconventional states and which material properties they will exhibit. Here we show that passive, sticky beads immersed in a bath of swimming Escherichia coli bacteria aggregate into unconventional clusters and gels that are controlled by the activity of the bath. We observe a slow but persistent rotation of the aggregates that originates in the chirality of the E. coli flagella and directs aggregation into structures that are not accessible thermally. We elucidate the aggregation mechanism with a numerical model of spinning, sticky beads and reproduce quantitatively the experimental results. We show that internal activity controls the phase diagram and the structure of the aggregates. Overall, our results highlight the promising role of active baths in designing the structural and mechanical properties of materials with unconventional phases.
Flow dynamics in rivers with riffle-pool morphology: a dataset from case studies and field experiments
Authors: Shumilova Oleksandra O. , Sukhodolov Alexander N. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractBars and pools, common for natural riverbeds, form sequential patterns due to interactions between river flow, alluvium and vegetation. While the morphodynamics of bar-pool units are relatively well understood, far less is known about associated riffle-pool hydrodynamics because of a lack of high-resolution data collected in rivers and problems attaining natural scaling in laboratory studies. Here we present a dataset on turbulent flow structure in riffle-pool sequences of a natural river. Two case studies and two field-based experiments were carried out in a side branch of the braided gravel-bed Tagliamento River in Italy. Our case studies deliver detailed information about the three-dimensional structure of mean and turbulent flows in natural riffle-pool/run and pool-riffle/glide transitions. Field-based experiments completed with the in-stream flume models of a riffle-pool transition and a shallow jet model provide a methodological bridge for linking simplified hydrodynamic theories of shallow jets to complex flow structure documented by our case studies. Therefore, this dataset enables examination of scaling effects and can be widely used for validation of numerical models.
Upcycling of surgical facemasks into carbon based thin film electrode for supercapacitor technology
Authors: Ahmed Aamir , Verma Sonali , Mahajan Prerna , Sundramoorthy Ashok K. , Arya Sandeep 
Published: July 2023

AbstractPolypropylene (PP), a commonly used plastic, is used for making the outer layers of a surgical face mask. In 2020, around 3 billion surgical face masks were disposed into the environment, causing a huge threat to wildlife, aquatic life, and ecosystems. In this work, we have reported the sulfonation technique for stabilizing the surgical face masks and their conversion into carbon nanoparticles for application as a supercapacitor electrode. The electrode is fabricated by preparing a slurry paste of carbon nanoparticles and pasting it on a conductive wearable fabric. To investigate the performance of the carbon thin film electrode, electrochemical techniques are employed. The Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) analysis performed at different scan rates in a 6 molar KOH electrolyte reveals that the carbon thin film acts as a positive electrode. At 4 A g−1, the electrode shows a specific capacitance of 366.22 F g−1 and 100% retention of specific capacitance for 8000 cycles. A two-electrode asymmetric device is fabricated using carbon thin film as the positive electrode, NiO thin film as the negative electrode, and a KOH separator between two electrodes. The device shows a specific capacitance of 113.73 F g−1 at 1.3 A g−1 and glows a red LED for 6 min. This work is a step towards upcycling the waste produced from surgical face masks used during the COVID-19 pandemic and its application for energy storage.
LC–MS/MS analysis of carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines in Spodoptera litura using the QuEChERS method
Authors: Battu Jabez Raju , Karthik Somala , Yashaswini Gummudala , Thakur Himanshu , Keerthana Alagesan , Kumar M. P. Shireesh , Reddy Morthala Shankara Sai 
Published: July 2023

AbstractNicotine is a highly addictive alkaloid and a neurostimulator found in tobacco that causes addiction in humans and makes tobacco a high-demand commercial product. It is popularly used for recreational purposes and is a harmful substance (Oral LD50 value for rat is 50 mg/kg) and causes addiction. The metabolites of nicotine such as the Tobacco-specific Nitrosamines (TSNAs) are hazardous substances whose metabolites are highly electrophilic and form DNA adducts, which will initiate the process of carcinogenesis. TSNAs are formed during curing, storage and fermentation due to the nitrosation of nicotine and other tobacco alkaloids. TSNAs are used as biomarkers for cancer risk assessment in humans exposed to tobacco and its products. To determine the occasional formation of TSNAs in tobacco-feeding insects, 5th instar larvae of Spodoptera litura and their faeces were analyzed for the presence of N′-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) along with the stored tobacco leaves (PT-76) using an Agilent 6470B LC–MS/MS system following ISO/DIS 19290:2015 protocol. The larvae are extracted in a buffered acetonitrile–water extraction and the amount of TSNAs are quantified in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. 20 $$\upmu$$
μ
l of each extracted and cleaned up sample was injected into the LC–MS/MS system for quantification. The Limit of Detection (LOD) and Limit of Quantification (LOQ) were 0.001 mg/kg and 0.005 mg/kg for all the tested nitrosamines. NNN was found to be 0.361 mg/kg, 0.340 mg/kg, and 5.66 mg/kg in insect whole-body samples, faeces, and tobacco leaves, respectively. NNK was found to be 0.060 mg/kg, 0.035 mg/kg and 0.93 mg/kg in insect whole body samples, faeces and tobacco leaves, respectively. However, NNAL was not detected in both the insect’s whole body and faeces. Recoveries ranged between 95 and 98% for all compounds when spiked at LOD and LOQ. The presence of TSNAs is a biomarker for cancer risk and their presence in insects would point to cancer risk assessment in tobacco feeding insects and any possible TSNA-detoxifying pathways in insects that might prevent mutagenesis caused these compounds.
The pharmacological mechanism of β-elemene in the treatment of esophageal cancer revealed by network pharmacology and experimental verification
Authors: Zhou Dejiang , Wu Xiaoling , Liu Xiaoli , He Sheng , Ni Jiang , Chen Beijin , Mu Dong 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of β-elemene (ELE) in the treatment of esophageal cancer (EC). In this study, public databases were used to predict related targets in ELE and EC. The network analysis was performed to identify key targets of ELE in EC treatment. Further, bioinformatics and DAVID databases were used for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis, respectively. Ultimately, molecular docking and in vitro cell experiments were conducted to validate the results of network pharmacology enrichment. As a result, 34 candidate targets for ELE in the treatment of EC were obtained, and five key targets (STAT3, EGFR, CTNNB1, BCL2L1 and CASP9) were identified. GO functional annotation yielded 2200 GO entries (p < 0.05). KEGG signaling pathway enrichment analysis screened 100 pathways (p < 0.05). Molecular docking results showed that ELE had similar affinity with five key targets. In vitro experiments showed that the expressions of STAT3, EGFR and BCL2L1 were significantly decreased, and the expression of CASP9 in the ELE intervention group was significantly increased compared with that in the control group. All in all, ELE may play a key role in the treatment of EC by regulating the expression of STAT3, EGFR, BCL2L1 and CASP9.