bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prepectoral Two-Stage Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction with Poly-4-Hydroxybutyrate for Pocket Control without the Use of Acellular Dermal Matrix: A 4-Year Review
Authors: Movassaghi Kiya , Gilson Aaron , Stewart Christopher N. , Cusic Jenna , Movassaghi Aria 
Published: July 2023

Background:
Absorbable mesh has been used to mitigate the potential drawbacks of acellular dermal matrix (ADM)–based breast reconstruction. Poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB) has been demonstrated to be a lower-cost, safe, and effective alternative to ADM in subpectoral breast reconstruction. In this study, the authors used P4HB for pocket control and implant support in immediate two-stage prepectoral breast reconstruction, examining nonintegration, capsular contracture, implant malposition, patient comorbidities, and risk factors.

Methods:
A retrospective review of a single surgeon’s (K.M.) experience was performed over a 4-year span for patients who had undergone immediate two-stage prepectoral implant-based breast reconstruction with P4HB mesh. Complications (implant loss, rippling, capsular contracture, and malposition) and patient satisfaction were examined.

Results:
From 2018 to 2022, 105 patients underwent breast reconstruction using P4HB mesh on a total of 194 breasts. P4HB mesh integration was 97%. Sixteen breasts (8.2%) experienced minor complications, and 10.3% of devices required explantation, which was significantly higher in the irradiated group at 28.6% (P < 0.01). Patients who were older, had a higher body mass index, were active smokers, or had an increased mastectomy specimen size were more likely to undergo explantation. The capsular contracture rate and overall lateral malposition rate were 1.0%. Visible rippling was present in 15.6% of breasts. There was no significant difference between smile mastopexy and inferolateral incision with regard to capsular contracture, lateral malposition, and rippling. Overall, patients demonstrated a high level of satisfaction. There were no significant predictors of capsular contracture, lateral malposition, or visible rippling.

Conclusions:
The authors show the safety and efficacy of P4HB in two-stage prepectoral breast reconstruction. There appears to be equal, if not reduced, capsular contracture rates when compared with the published data on ADM. This represents a large cost reduction to both the patient and the health care system.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
Therapeutic, IV.
Smartphone Photoplethysmography Pulse Rate Covaries With Stress and Anxiety During a Digital Acute Social Stressor
Authors: Nelson Benjamin W. , Harvie Helen M. K. , Jain Barbie , Knight Erik L. , Roos Leslie E. , Giuliano Ryan J. 
Published: July 2023

ABSTRACT

Objective
Heart rate is a transdiagnostic correlate of affective states and the stress diathesis model of health. Although most psychophysiological research has been conducted in laboratory environments, recent technological advances have provided the opportunity to index pulse rate dynamics in real-world environments with commercially available mobile health and wearable photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors that allow for improved ecologically validity of psychophysiological research. Unfortunately, adoption of wearable devices is unevenly distributed across important demographic characteristics, including socioeconomic status, education, and age, making it difficult to collect pulse rate dynamics in diverse populations. Therefore, there is a need to democratize mobile health PPG research by harnessing more widely adopted smartphone-based PPG to both promote inclusivity and examine whether smartphone-based PPG can predict concurrent affective states.

Methods
In the current preregistered study with open data and code, we examined the covariation of smartphone-based PPG and self-reported stress and anxiety during an online variant of the Trier Social Stress Test, as well as prospective relationships between PPG and future perceptions of stress and anxiety in a sample of 102 university students.

Results
Smartphone-based PPG significantly covaries with self-reported stress and anxiety during acute digital social stressors. PPG pulse rate was significantly associated with concurrent self-reported stress and anxiety (b = 0.44, p = .018) as well as prospective stress and anxiety at the subsequent time points, although the strength of this association diminished the farther away pulse rate got from self-reported stress and anxiety (lag 1 model: b = 0.42, p = .024; lag 2 model: b = 0.38, p = .044).

Conclusions
These findings indicate that PPG provides a proximal measure of the physiological correlates of stress and anxiety. Smartphone-based PPG can be used as an inclusive method for diverse populations to index pulse rate in remote digital study designs.
The Accuracy of Nonstandardized MELD/PELD Score Exceptions in the Pediatric Liver Allocation System
Authors: Ahn Daniel J. , Zeng Sharon , Pelzer Kenley M. , Barth Rolf N. , Gallo Amy , Parker William F. 
Published: July 2023

Background.
In the United States, over half of pediatric candidates receive exceptions and status upgrades that increase their allocation model of end-stage liver disease/pediatric end-stage liver disease (MELD/PELD) score above their laboratory MELD/PELD score. We determined whether these “nonstandardized” MELD/PELD exceptions accurately depict true pretransplant mortality risk.

Methods.
Using data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we identified pediatric candidates (<18 y of age) with chronic liver failure added to the waitlist between June 2016 and September 2021 and estimated all-cause pretransplant mortality with mixed-effects Cox proportional hazards models that treated allocation MELD/PELD and exception status as time-dependent covariates. We also estimated concordance statistics comparing the performance of laboratory MELD/PELD with allocation MELD/PELD. We then compared the proportion of candidates with exceptions before and after the establishment of the National Liver Review Board.

Results.
Out of 2026 pediatric candidates listed during our study period, 403 (19.9%) received an exception within a week of listing and 1182 (58.3%) received an exception before delisting. Candidates prioritized by their laboratory MELD/PELD scores had an almost 9 times greater risk of pretransplant mortality compared with candidates who received the same allocation score from an exception (hazard ratio 8.69; 95% confidence interval, 4.71-16.03; P < 0.001). The laboratory MELD/PELD score without exceptions was more accurate than the allocation MELD/PELD score with exceptions (Harrell’s c-index 0.843 versus 0.763). The proportion of patients with an active exception at the time of transplant decreased significantly after the National Liver Review Board was implemented (67.4% versus 43.4%, P < 0.001).

Conclusions.
Nonstandardized exceptions undermine the rank ordering of pediatric candidates with chronic liver failure.
Uncharacterized yeast geneYBR238C,an effector of TORC1 signaling in a mitochondrial feedback loop, accelerates cellular aging viaHAP4- andRMD9-dependent mechanisms
Authors: Alfatah Mohammad , Lim Jolyn Jia Jia , Zhang Yizhong , Naaz Arshia , Trishia Cheng Yi Ning , Yogasundaram Sonia , Faidzinn Nashrul Afiq , Jovian Jing Lin , Eisenhaber Birgit , Eisenhaber Frank 
Published: July 2023

AbstractUncovering the regulators of cellular aging will unravel the complexity of aging biology and identify potential therapeutic interventions to delay the onset and progress of chronic, aging-related diseases. In this work, we systematically compared gene sets involved in regulating the lifespan ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae(a powerful model organism to study the cellular aging of humans) and those with expression changes under rapamycin treatment. Among the functionally uncharacterized genes in the overlap set,YBR238Cstood out as the only one downregulated by rapamycin and with an increased chronological and replicative lifespan upon deletion. We show thatYBR238Cand its paralogueRMD9oppositely affect mitochondria and aging.YBR238Cdeletion increases the cellular lifespan by enhancing mitochondrial function. Its overexpression accelerates cellular aging via mitochondrial dysfunction. We find that the phenotypic effect ofYBR238Cis largely explained byHAP4- andRMD9-dependent mechanisms. Further, we find that genetic or chemical-based induction of mitochondrial dysfunction increases TORC1 (Target of Rapamycin Complex 1) activity that, subsequently, accelerates cellular aging. Notably, TORC1 inhibition by rapamycin (or deletion ofYBR238C) improves the shortened lifespan under these mitochondrial dysfunction conditions in yeast and human cells. The growth of mutant cells (a proxy of TORC1 activity) with enhanced mitochondrial function is sensitive to rapamycin whereas the growth of defective mitochondrial mutants is largely resistant to rapamycin compared to wild type. Our findings demonstrate a feedback loop between TORC1 and mitochondria (theTORC1-MItochondria-TORC1 (TOMITO) signaling process) that regulates cellular aging processes. Hereby,YBR238Cis an effector of TORC1 modulating mitochondrial function.
Anti-muscle Atrophy Effects ofLactobacillus reuteriATG-F4 and Its Impact on Intestinal Microbiota and Metabolites: Implications for Prophylaxis and Therapy
Authors: Lee Daeyoung , Lee Young-Sil , Park Gun-Seok , Park Juyi , Ko Seung-Hyun , Lee You-Kyung , Jeong Do Yeun , Lee Yong Hyun , Kang Jihee 
Published: July 2023

AbstractLactobacillus reuteriATG-F4, human gut-derived bacteria, was orally administrated in a model of hindlimb immobilization and confirmed the muscular performance, muscle mass and mechanism on anti-atrophy study. Concomitantly, the changes in the intestinal flora, the metabolites and cytokines were investigated. In the stapled immobilization mice model, ATG- F4 treated group had significantly increased muscle mass, myofiber size, running time to be exhausted and grip strength. The cytokine levels in serum and muscle tissues were reduced by ATG-F4 treatment. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of proteins involved in muscle synthesis such as mTOR, p70S6K, rpS6 and 4E-BP1 increased and MuRF1 related to muscle atrophy factor reduced in the TA and GA muscles. ATG-F4 treatment changed the ratio of main intestinal microflora by increasing the family Muribaculaceae (phylum Bacteroidetes) and decreasing the family Lachnospiraceae (phylum Firmicutes) and Lactobacillaceae (phylum Firmicutes). Also, the level of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) including butyric acid and acetic acid in the serum of ATG-F4 group were increased. These results suggest thatL. reuteriATG- F4 can inhibit muscle atrophy and it is associated with the microbiota and its metabolites with the anti-inflammation effect. ATG-F4 may be a potential prophylactic or therapeutic composition for muscle atrophy.
Recyclable CRISPR/Cas9 mediated gene disruption and deletions inHistoplasma
Authors: Joehnk Bastian , Ali Nebat , Voorhies Mark , Walcott Keith , Sil Anita 
Published: July 2023

AbstractTargeted gene disruption is challenging in the dimorphic fungal pathogenHistoplasmadue to the low frequency of homologous recombination. Transformed DNA is either integrated ectopically into the genome or maintained extra chromosomally byde novoaddition of telomeric sequences. Based on a system developed inBlastomyces, we adapted a CRISPR/Cas9 system to facilitate targeted gene disruption inHistoplasmawith high efficiency. We express a codon-optimized version of Cas9 as well as guide RNAs from a single ectopic vector carrying a selectable marker. Once the desired mutation is verified, one can screen for isolates that have lost the Cas9 vector by simply removing the selective pressure. Multiple mutations can then be generated in the same strain by retransforming the Cas9 vector carrying different guides. We used this system to disrupt a number of target genes includingRYP2andSRE1where loss-of-function mutations could be monitored visually by colony morphology or color, respectively. Interestingly, expression of two guide RNAs targeting the 5’ and 3’ ends of a gene allowed isolation of deletion mutants where the sequence between the guide RNAs was removed from the genome. Whole-genome sequencing showed that the frequency of off-target mutations associated with the Cas9 nuclease was negligible. Finally, we increased the frequency of gene disruption by using an endogenousHistoplasmaregulatory sequence to drive guide RNA expression. These tools transform our ability to generate targeted mutations inHistoplasma.ImportanceHistoplasmais a primary fungal pathogen with the ability to infect otherwise healthy mammalian hosts, causing systemic and sometimes life-threatening disease. Thus far, molecular genetic manipulation of this organism has utilized RNA interference, random insertional mutagenesis, and a homologous recombination protocol that is highly variable and often inefficient. Targeted gene manipulations have been challenging due to poor rates of homologous recombination events inHistoplasma. Interrogation of the virulence strategies of this organism would be highly accelerated by a means of efficiently generating targeted mutations. We have developed a recyclable CRISPR/Cas9 system that can be used to introduce gene disruptions inHistoplasmawith high efficiency, thereby allowing disruption of multiple genes.
Dissecting components of theCampylobacter jejuni fetMP-fetABCDEFgene cluster in iron scavenging
Authors: Richardson-Sanchez Tomas , Chan Anson C. K. , Sabatino Brendil , Lin Helen , Gaynor Erin C. , Murphy Michael E. P. 
Published: July 2023

ABSTRACTCampylobacter jejuniis a leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. Acute infection can be antecedent to highly debilitating long-term sequelae. Expression of iron acquisition systems is vital forC. jejunito survive the low iron availability within the human gut. TheC. jejuni fetMP-fetABCDEFgene cluster is known to be upregulated during human infection and under iron limitation. While FetM and FetP have been functionally linked to iron transport in prior work, here we assess the contribution by each of the downstream genes (fetABCDEF) toC. jejunigrowth during both iron-depleted and iron-replete conditions. Significant growth impairment was observed upon disruption offetA,fetB, fetC, andfetD, suggesting a role in iron acquisition for each encoded protein. FetA expression was modulated by iron-availability but not dependent on the presence of FetB, FetC, FetD, FetE or FetF. Functions of the putative thioredoxins FetE and FetF were redundant in iron scavenging, requiring a double deletion (ΔfetEF) to exhibit a growth defect.C. jejuniFetE was expressed and the structure solved to 1.50 Å, revealing structural similarity to thiol-disulfide oxidases. Functional characterization in biochemical assays showed that FetE reduced insulin at a slower rate thanE. coliTrx and that together, FetEF promoted substrate oxidation in cell extracts, suggesting that FetE (and presumably FetF) are oxidoreductases that can mediate oxidationin vivo. This study advances our understanding of the contributions by thefetMP-fetABCDEFgene cluster to virulence at a genetic and functional level, providing foundational knowledge towards mitigatingC. jejuni-related morbidity and mortality.
Single transcript-level metabolic responsive landscape of human liver transcriptome
Authors: Jiang Chengfei , Li Ping , Ma Yonghe , Yoneda Nao , Nishiwaki Megumi , Ohnishi Yasuyuki , Suemizu Hiroshi , Cao Haiming 
Published: July 2023

AbstractDirect knowledge of gene regulation in human liver by metabolic stimuli could fundamentally advance our understanding of metabolic physiology. This information, however, is largely unknown, and this void is deeply rooted in a paradox that is caused by the inaccessibility of human liver to treatments and the insufficient annotation of liver transcriptome. Recent advances have uncovered immense complexity of transcriptome, i.e., multiple transcripts produced from one gene and extensive RNA modifications, which are all highly regulated and often condition-dependent. Establishing an inclusive annotation to study liver transcriptome dynamics thus requires human liver samples of diverse conditions, which are paradoxically unavailable due to the inaccessibility of human liver to treatments. In this work, we addressed these challenges by coupling an isogenic humanized mouse model with Nanopore single-molecule direct RNA sequencing (DRS). We first generated mice that carried humanized livers of identical genetic background, which were equivalent to clones of a single human liver, and then subjected the mice to representative metabolic treatments. We then analyzed the humanized livers with Nanopore DRS, which directly reads full-length native RNAs to determine the expression level, m6A modification and poly(A) tail length of all RNA transcript isoforms. Thus, our system allows for constructing a de novo annotation of human liver transcriptomes reflecting metabolic responses and studying transcriptome dynamics in conjunction. Our analysis uncovered a vast number of novel genes and transcripts that have not been previously reported. Our transcript-level analysis of human liver transcriptomes also identified a multitude of regulated metabolic pathways that were otherwise invisible using conventional short read RNA-seq. We also revealed for the first time the dynamic changes in m6A and poly(A) tail length of human liver transcripts many of which are transcribed from key metabolic genes. Furthermore, we performed comparative analyses of gene regulation between human and mouse and between two individuals using the liver-specific humanized mice. This revealed that transcriptome dynamics are highly species- and genetic background-dependent, which may only be faithfully studied in a humanized system that entails clones of the same human liver. Hence our work revealed a complex metabolic responsive landscape of human liver transcriptome and also provided a framework to understand transcriptome dynamics of human liver in response to physiologically relevant metabolic stimuli.
Biologically plausible gated recurrent neural networks for working memory and learning-to-learn
Authors: van den Berg Alexandra R. , Roelfsema Pieter R. , Bohte Sander M. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe acquisition of knowledge does not occur in isolation; rather, learning experiences in the same or similar domains amalgamate. This process through which learning can accelerate over time is referred to as learning-to-learn or meta-learning. While meta-learning can be implemented in recurrent neural networks, these networks tend to be trained with architectures that are not easily interpretable or mappable to the brain and with learning rules that are biologically implausible. Specifically, these rules employ backpropagation-through-time for learning, which relies on information that is unavailable at synapses that are undergoing plasticity in the brain. While memory models that exclusively use local information for their weight updates have been developed, they have limited capacity to integrate information over long timespans and therefore cannot easily learn-to-learn. Here, we propose a novel gated recurrent network named RECOLLECT, which can flexibly retain or forget information by means of a single memory gate and biologically plausible trial-and-error-learning that requires only local information. We demonstrate that RECOLLECT successfully learns to represent task-relevant information over increasingly long memory delays in a pro-/anti-saccade task, and that it learns to flush its memory at the end of a trial. Moreover, we show that RECOLLECT can learn-to-learn an effective policy on a reversal bandit task. Finally, we show that the solutions acquired by RECOLLECT resemble how animals learn similar tasks.
The effects of performance measurement on megaproject performance: the moderating effects of project complexity
Authors: Lin Wensheng , Wang Guangbin , Ning Yan , Ma Qiuwen , Dai Shuyuan 
Published: July 2023

PurposeMegaproject performance measurement (MPM) has received great attention in the project management community, but it primarily focused on the design of performance measures or frameworks. Yet, whether MPM utilization can improve megaproject performance and how project actors use MPM to improve megaproject performance is less well understood. This study aims to investigate whether and how the use of MPM can contribute to better megaproject performance.Design/methodology/approachThrough the lens of the lever of control, this study conceptualizes MPM utilization as diagnostic use and interactive use. A holistic research model and related hypotheses integrating MPM use, project complexity and megaproject performance were established. The model was validated using a partial square-structural equation modeling method.FindingsBased on 214-megaproject data collected through a questionnaire survey in China, the results show positive effects of diagnostic use and interactive use on megaproject performance. Both, however, have substitutional interaction effects. The moderating results suggest that the higher project complexity weakens the positive effects of MPM utilization on megaproject performance.Originality/valueThis study advances megaprojects performance measurement and management literature by validating the value of MPM utilization on performance. It also presents practical implications for project managers to improve performance by appropriate MPM utilization.
Students' sound environment perceptions in informal learning spaces: a case study on a university campus in Australia
Authors: Zhang Jia , Liu Chunlu , Luther Mark , Chil Brian , Zhao Jilong , Liu Changan 
Published: July 2023

PurposePhysical environments, especially the sound environments of ILSs on a university campus, have become increasingly important in satisfying the diverse needs of students. Poor sound environments are widely acknowledged to lead to inefficient and underutilised spaces and to negatively influence students' learning outcomes. This study proposes two hypotheses to explore whether students' sound environment perceptions are related to their individual characteristics and whether students' preferences for the type of ILS are related to their sound environment sensitivities.Design/methodology/approachAn investigation through a questionnaire survey has been conducted on both students' individual characteristics affecting their sound environment perceptions in informal learning spaces (ILSs) of a university campus and their sensitivities to the sound environments in ILSs affecting their preferences for the type of ILSs.FindingsThe research findings indicate that students' sound environment perceptions are associated with some of their individual characteristics. In addition, the results show that students' sound environment sensitivities affect their preferences for the type of ILS they occupy.Originality/valueThis study could help architects and managers of university learning spaces to provide better sound environments for students, thereby improving their learning outcomes. The article contributes valuable insights into the correlation between students' individual characteristics, sound environment perceptions and preferences for ILSs. The research findings add to the existing knowledge in this field and offer practical implications for enhancing design and management of university learning environments.