bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of home bleaching agents on hybrid ceramics: mechanical properties and color change
Authors: Hafny Waleed M. , Ibrahim Imam M. , El-Demellawy Mohamed , Abdel Sadek Hoda M. 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Background
Home bleaching is a promising option for addressing discolored teeth conservatively. However, its impact on the physical and mechanical properties of indirect restorations remains unknown. This study provides comparative insights into the material responses to aesthetic treatments by assessing the effects of home bleaching agents on two hybrid ceramics: VITA ENAMIC® and Grandio Blocs. The focus is on evaluating color stability and biaxial flexural strength.

Methods
60 discs (12 × 1 mm) were prepared from hybrid ceramics. Specimens were divided into two groups according to type of hybrid ceramic (30 specimens in each group); group A: VITA ENAMIC®, group B: Grandio Blocs. Each group was further subdivided into 3 subgroups according to the concentration of home bleaching agents used (10 specimens in each subgroup); subgroup C: unbleached control group, subgroup C10%: carbamide peroxide 10% bleaching agent, and subgroup C35%: carbamide peroxide 35% bleaching agent. Samples of subgroup C10% were bleached with Home Bleaching Opalescence PF (10%) for 8 h per day for 14 days, as directed by the manufacturer. Samples of subgroup C35% were bleached using WHITEsmile Carbamide Peroxide (35%), following the manufacturer’s directions for 30 min every day for 14 days. Color change (ΔE) was assessed using of the CIE L*a*b* system. Then, the biaxial flexural strength test was done. The data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA tests and Weibull analysis.

Results
VITA ENAMIC samples exhibited significantly higher color change than Grandio Blocs (p < 0.001), while Grandio Blocs showed significantly higher biaxial flexural strength (p < 0.001). The concentration of the bleaching agent had no significant effect on color change (p = 0.086). However, regardless of its concentration, bleaching significantly reduced biaxial flexural strength in both materials (p < 0.001). Weibull analysis showed that Grandio Blocs had higher characteristic strength, while VITA ENAMIC demonstrated more reliable failure behavior.

Conclusions
Compared to Grandio Blocs, VITA ENAMIC® exhibited a greater color change with both 10% and 35% carbamide peroxide home bleaching agents. Additionally, both concentrations of carbamide peroxide reduced the biaxial flexural strength of hybrid ceramics. These findings can guide clinicians in selecting hybrid ceramics based on clinical demands for aesthetics and durability. VITA ENAMIC® offers greater structural reliability and predictability for aesthetic restorations, while Grandio Blocs provide superior durability and stress resistance for high-stress clinical applications.
Investigation of the causal relationship between patient portal utilization and patient’s self-care self-efficacy and satisfaction in care among patients with cancer
Authors: Park Jaeyoung , Guo Shilin , Liang Muxuan , Zhong Xiang 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Objective
The objective of this study was to examine the causal relationship between the usage of patient portals and patients’ self-care self-efficacy and satisfaction in care outcomes in the context of cancer care.

Methods
The National Institute’s HINTS 5 Cycle 1–4 (2017–2020) data were used to perform a secondary data analysis. Patients who reported being ever diagnosed with cancer were included in the study population. Their portal usage frequency was considered as an intervention. Patient’s self-care self-efficacy and satisfaction in care were the primary outcomes considered and they were measured by survey respondents’ self-reported information. A set of conditional independence tests based on the causal diagram was developed to examine the causal relationship between patient portal usage and the targeted outcomes.

Results
A total of 2579 were identified as patients with cancer or cancer survivors. We identified patient portals’ impact on strengthening patients’ ability to take care of their own health (P = .02, for the test rejecting which is necessary for the expected causal relationship, ie, the portal usage impacts the target outcome; P = .06, for the test rejecting which is necessary for the reverse causal relationship), and we identified heterogenous causal relationships between frequent patient portal usage and patients’ perceived quality of care (P = .04 and P = .001, for the tests rejecting both suggests heterogeneous causal relationships). We could not conclusively determine the causal relationship between patient portal usage and patients’ confidence in getting advice or information about health or cancer care related topics (P > .05 for both tests, suggesting inconclusive causal directions).

Conclusions
The results advocate patient portals and promote the need to provide better support and education to patients. The proposed statistical method exploits the potential of national survey data for causal inference studies.
Families’ opinions about their involvement in care during hospitalization: a mixed-methods study
Authors: Woldring Josien M. , Paans Wolter , Gans Reinold O. B. , van der Werf Hinke M. , Luttik Marie Louise 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Background
Healthcare professionals in the hospital setting frequently assume primary caregiving responsibilities, which often leads family members to perceive this as standard practice during hospitalization. This dynamic may create a gap between actual and desired levels of family involvement. The aim of this study is to explore the opinions of families about their involvement in care during the hospitalization of a relative.

Methods
A sequential explanatory mixed-method study design was used, where quantitative data collection is followed by qualitative data collection for a deeper understanding of the quantitative findings. Data were collected between November 2023 and April 2024 across 15 wards in a university hospital in the north of the Netherlands. 153 family members of hospitalized patients completed the adapted Families’ Importance in Nursing Care–Families’ Opinions questionnaire, providing valuable quantitative data. Twenty-three of these family members were subsequently interviewed to gather qualitative insights. Data were analyzed sequentially, with the quantitative results guiding qualitative data collection. The two types of data were integrated to draw comprehensive conclusions about the significance of family involvement during hospitalization. The study adhered to the guidelines of the Good Reporting of A Mixed Method Study (GRAMMS).

Results
The questionnaire scores indicate a high willingness for involvement in care during hospitalization. Subsequent in-depth interviews led to the development of a model demonstrating that this involvement is sequentially related to the themes of acknowledgement, alignment, and collaboration.

Conclusions
Family members expressed a need to be acknowledged by healthcare professionals as partners in care. Role agreements and information sharing during hospital care should be aligned to achieve effective collaboration between family members and healthcare professionals.
Shift work schedules alter immune cell regulation and accelerate cognitive impairment during aging
Authors: de Souza Karienn A. , Jackson Morgan , Chen Justin , Reyes Jocelin , Muayad Judy , Tran Emma , Jackson William , Newell-Rogers M. Karen , Earnest David J. 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Background
Disturbances of the sleep-wake cycle and other circadian rhythms typically precede the age-related deficits in learning and memory, suggesting that these alterations in circadian timekeeping may contribute to the progressive cognitive decline during aging. The present study examined the role of immune cell activation and inflammation in the link between circadian rhythm dysregulation and cognitive impairment in aging.

Methods
C57Bl/6J mice were exposed to shifted light-dark (LD) cycles (12 h advance/5d) during early adulthood (from ≈ 4-6mo) or continuously to a “fixed” LD12:12 schedule. At middle age (13-14mo), the long-term effects of circadian rhythm dysregulation on cognitive performance, immune cell regulation and hippocampal microglia were analyzed using behavioral, flow cytometry and immunohistochemical assays.

Results
Entrainment of the activity rhythm was stable in all mice on a fixed LD 12:12 cycle but was fully compromised during exposure to shifted LD cycles. Even during “post-treatment” exposure to standard LD 12:12 conditions, re-entrainment in shifted LD mice was marked by altered patterns of entrainment and increased day-to-day variability in activity onset times that persisted into middle-age. These alterations in light-dark entrainment were closely associated with dramatic impairment in the Barnes maze test for the entire group of shifted LD mice at middle age, well before cognitive decline was first observed in aged (18-22mo) animals maintained on fixed LD cycles. In conjunction with the effects of circadian dysregulation on cognition, shifted LD mice at middle age were distinguished by significant expansion of splenic B cells and B cell subtypes expressing the activation marker CD69 or inflammatory marker MHC Class II Invariant peptide (CLIP), differential increases in CLIP+, 41BB-Ligand+, and CD74 + B cells in the meningeal lymphatics, alterations in splenic T cell subtypes, and increased number and altered functional state of microglia in the dentate gyrus. In shifted LD mice, the expansion in splenic B cells was negatively correlated with cognitive performance; when B cell numbers were higher, performance was worse in the Barnes maze. These results indicate that disordered circadian timekeeping associated with early exposure to shift work-like schedules alone accelerates cognitive decline during aging in conjunction with altered regulation of immune cells and microglia in the brain.
Identification of genetic mechanisms of non-isolated auditory neuropathy with various phenotypes in Chinese families
Authors: Cao Yang , Zhang Xiaolong , Lan Lan , Li Danyang , Li Jin , Xie Linyi , Xiong Fen , Yu Lan , Wu Xiaonan , Wang Hongyang , Wang Qiuju 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Background
Non-isolated auditory neuropathy (AN), or syndromic AN, is marked by AN along with additional systemic manifestations. The diagnostic process is challenging due to its varied symptoms and overlap with other syndromes. This study focuses on two mitochondrial function-related genes which result in non-isolated AN, FDXR and TWNK, providing a summary and enrichment analysis of genes associated with non-isolated AN to elucidate the genotype-phenotype correlation and underlying mechanisms.

Methods
Seven independent Chinese Han patients with mutations in FDXR and TWNK underwent comprehensive clinical evaluations, genetic testing, and bioinformatics analyses. Diagnostic assessments included auditory brainstem response and distortion product otoacoustic emissions, supplemented by other examinations. Whole exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing validated genetic findings. Pathogenicity was assessed following American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines. Genes associated with non-isolated AN were summarized from prior reports, and functional enrichment analysis was conducted using Gene Ontology databases.

Results
A total of 11 variants linked to non-isolated AN were identified in this study, eight of which were novel. Patients’ age of hearing loss onset ranged from 2 to 25 years, averaging 11 years. Hearing loss varied from mild to profound, with 57.1%(4/7) of patients having risk factors and 71.4%(5/7) exhibiting additional systemic symptoms such as muscle weakness, ataxia, and high arches. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that genes associated with non-isolated AN predominantly involve mitochondrial processes, affecting the central and peripheral nervous, musculoskeletal, and visual systems.

Conclusion
This study identifies novel mutations in FDXR and TWNK that contribute to non-isolated AN through mitochondrial dysfunction. The findings highlight the role of mitochondrial processes in non-isolated AN, suggesting potential relevance as biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases. Further research is required to explore these mechanisms and potential therapies.

Graphical Abstract
Protective effects of resveratrol and naringenin against nonylphenol-induced oxidative stress in rats
Authors: Elewa Haitham S. , Salama Dawlat A. , Hikal Mohamed S. , El hamid Mohamed F. Abd , Eid Mohamed H. , Khalil Fatma M. A. , Albadrani Muayad S. , Abdelaal Khaled , El-Tokhy Ahmed I. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractNonylphenol (NP) is a ubiquitous environmental endocrine disrupting chemical and oxidative stress inducer in biological systems. Resveratrol (RES) and Naringenin (NG) are phytochemicals possessing antioxidant properties and estrogenic activity. This study was conducted to investigate the toxicity of NP and the mitigating effects of RES and NG on NP toxicity in rats. Thirty male rats were classified into 5 groups as follows: 1- Normal control (NC), 2- Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group, 3- NP group, 4- NP + RES and 5- NP + NG. Results revealed that NP treatment significantly decreased the activities of superoxide dismutase, Catalase, Glutathione peroxidase and Glutathione content in blood, liver and kidney compared to NC and DMSO groups. Conversely, activity of Glutathione-s-transferase was significantly elevated in blood and decreased in liver and kidney. Moreover, significant escalation was observed in the levels of Malondialdehyde. Also, NP treatment led to a significant decrease in serum total testosterone and testis weight, accompanied with concurrent elevation in estradiol level compared to NC and DMSO groups. All the recorded effects induced by NP treatment were effectively countered by co-treatment with RES or NG. In addition, molecular docking studies were carried out to reveal the interactions between NP, RES, NG and estrogen receptor beta which provide a possible mechanism for their potential estrogenic activity. Overall, our study gives a deeper understanding of the toxic effect of NP on antioxidant capacity and endocrine functions as well as the potential therapeutic utility of RES and NG in alleviating these adverse effects.
Neuroligin-3 R451C induces gain-of-function gene expression in astroglia in an astroglia-enriched brain organoid model
Authors: Dang Rui , Dalmia Mridul , Ma Ziyuan , Jin Mengmeng , Aluru Kushal , Mirabella Vincent R. , Papetti Ava V. , Cai Li , Jiang Peng 
Published: January 2025

AbstractAstroglia are integral to brain development and the emergence of neurodevelopmental disorders. However, studying the pathophysiology of human astroglia using brain organoid models has been hindered by inefficient astrogliogenesis. In this study, we introduce a robust method for generating astroglia-enriched organoids through BMP4 treatment during the neural differentiation phase of organoid development. Our RNA sequencing analysis reveals that astroglia developed within these organoids exhibit advanced developmental characteristics and enhanced synaptic functions compared to those grown under traditional two-dimensional conditions, particularly highlighted by increased neurexin (NRXN)-neuroligin (NLGN) signaling. Cell adhesion molecules, such as NRXN and NLGN, are essential in regulating interactions between astroglia and neurons. We further discovered that brain organoids derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) harboring the autism-associated NLGN3 R451C mutation exhibit increased astrogliogenesis. Notably, the NLGN3 R451C astroglia demonstrate enhanced branching, indicating a more intricate morphology. Interestingly, our RNA sequencing data suggest that these mutant astroglia significantly upregulate pathways that support neural functions when compared to isogenic wild-type astroglia. Our findings establish a novel astroglia-enriched organoid model, offering a valuable platform for probing the roles of human astroglia in brain development and related disorders.
Exploring the role of splicing in TP53 variant pathogenicity through predictions and minigene assays
Authors: Fortuno Cristina , Llinares-Burguet Inés , Canson Daffodil M. , de la Hoya Miguel , Bueno-Martínez Elena , Sanoguera-Miralles Lara , Caldes Sonsoles , James Paul A. , Velasco-Sampedro Eladio A. , Spurdle Amanda B. 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Background
TP53 variant classification benefits from the availability of large-scale functional data for missense variants generated using cDNA-based assays. However, absence of comprehensive splicing assay data for TP53 confounds the classification of the subset of predicted missense and synonymous variants that are also predicted to alter splicing. Our study aimed to generate and apply splicing assay data for a prioritised group of 59 TP53 predicted missense or synonymous variants that are also predicted to affect splicing by either SpliceAI or MaxEntScan.

Methods
We conducted splicing analyses using a minigene construct containing TP53 exons 2 to 9 transfected into human breast cancer SKBR3 cells, and compared results against different splice prediction methods, including correlation with the SpliceAI-10k calculator. We additionally applied the splicing results for TP53 variant classification using an approach consistent with the ClinGen Sequence Variant Interpretation Splicing Subgroup recommendations.

Results
Aberrant transcript profile consistent with loss of function, and for which a PVS1 (RNA) code would be assigned, was observed for 42 (71%) of prioritised variants, of which aberrant transcript expression was over 50% for 26 variants, and over 80% for 15 variants. Data supported the use of SpliceAI ≥ 0.2 cutoff for predicted splicing impact of TP53 variants. Prediction of aberration types using SpliceAI-10k calculator generally aligned with the corresponding assay results, though maximum SpliceAI score did not accurately predict level of aberrant expression. Application of the observed splicing results was used to reclassify 27/59 (46%) test variants as (likely) pathogenic or (likely) benign.

Conclusions
In conclusion, this study enhances the integration of splicing predictions and provides splicing assay data for exonic variants to support TP53 germline classification.

Graphical abstract
Fasciola cinereum: a novel choke point for epilepsy treatment
Authors: Yu Lilong , Jiang Dongxiao , Wang Yi , Chen Zhong , Yang Lin 
Published: January 2025

AbstractAblation of seizure foci represents a crucial therapeutic approach for epilepsy. Traditionally, the seizure foci are predominantly located in the anterior hippocampus and amygdala. However, recent research by Ivan Soltesz and his colleagues described the posterior hippocampal fasciola cinereum (FC) as a region activated during seizures. Their findings demonstrate that inhibition and ablation of FC reduce seizures frequency. Therefore, FC emerges as a critical seizure node within the posterior hippocampus, playing an important role in epilepsy treatment.
Comparison of three cryotherapy techniques for early post-TKA pain control in terms of efficacy and patient satisfaction: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chareancholvanich Keerati , Keesukpunt Worawut , Pornrattanamaneewong Chaturong , Narkbunnam Rapeepat , Jarusriwanna Atthakorn 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Background
Cryotherapy is a non-pharmacological option that complements drug therapy to achieve the most comprehensive multimodal analgesia. Various techniques are currently available, including the conventional gel cold pack, the cryo-cuff, and a novel mobile cold compression device (MCCD). This study aimed to evaluate and compare three cryotherapy techniques in terms of efficacy and patient satisfaction in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods
This prospective randomized study included 108 patients who were scheduled for primary unilateral TKA. The patients were allocated to 3 groups for postoperative cryotherapy techniques: gel cold pack, cryo-cuff, and MCCD. Scores on the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain intensity, morphine consumption, knee range of motion (ROM), knee swelling, length of hospital stay, and patient satisfaction were collected.

Results
Postoperative VAS scores showed a significant difference among the groups at 8 and 72 h after surgery (P = 0.002 and 0.026, respectively). At the earliest postoperative time point, post hoc analysis demonstrated that patients in the MCCD group had lower pain scores than those in the gel cold pack (P < 0.001) and the cryo-cuff group (P = 0.030). However, cryo-cuff reduced knee swelling significantly compared to gel cold pack (P = 0.028) and MCCD (P = 0.011) at postoperative 72 h. The total satisfaction score was 86.8, 82.8, and 89.1 with gel cold pack, cryo-cuff, and MCCD, respectively.

Conclusions
Cryotherapy is an adjunct to post-TKA pain control at the surgical site. MCCD has shown superior efficacy in pain reduction during the earliest postoperative period, and achieved high patient satisfaction.

Trial registration
This study was registered in the Thai Clinical Trials Registry database (no. TCTR20200517002).
Data-driven joint routing, topology, and mobility design for FANET systems using a digital twin approach
Authors: Mohammad El-Basioni Basma M. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThe drones industry has witnessed great progress, and its systems have many important applications. The free autonomous movement of drones is considered a double-edged sword; it enables a tremendous use cases, at the same time, it makes the design of the communication network among drones, especially the routing protocol, a very delicate matter. Therefore, the research is heading toward achieving joint design that controls the movement in favor of communication. The current work is based on the idea of exploiting the use of drones in conveying data for building digital twin in building digital twin of the drones system itself such that the joint design can be realized. The decision support of the network digital twin is provided by model-based reinforcement learning using dynamic programming and policy iteration algorithm. The digital twin model allows the reinforcement learning model to learn, offline plan, and online re-plan through observing the outcomes of the real environment. This paper describes and implements the proposed solution and compares it to a standard Ad-hoc routing protocol and a model-free reinforcement learning-based routing protocol. The simulation results showed that the proposed solution greatly improves the overall network Quality of Service (QoS).