bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mammalian predators and vegetated nesting habitat drive reduced protected area nesting success of Kentish plovers, Yellow Sea region, China
Authors: Li Donglai , Bai Yu , Lei Weipan , Que Pinjia , Liu Yang , Pagani‐Núñez Emilio , Lloyd Huw , Zhang Zhengwang 
Published: March 2023

AbstractProtected areas provide essential habitats for wildlife by conserving natural and semi‐natural habitats and reducing human disturbance. However, whether breeding birds vulnerable to nest predation can benefit from strict land management in the protected area is unclear. Here, we compare the nesting performance of two groups of a ground‐nesting shorebird, the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), in the protected area (Liaohekou Natural Reserve, hereinafter PA), and the control non‐protected area (non‐PA) around the Liaohekou Natural Reserve, in the north of the Yellow Sea, China, and identify which environmental factors, such as nesting habitat and nest materials, influence the daily nest survival rate (DSR). We found similar nesting habitats in both study areas, dominated by bare land or Suaeda salsa grassland. However, DSR was lower in PA (0.91 ± 0.01) than in non‐PA (0.97 ± 0.01). Kentish plovers nesting in areas with vegetation cover experienced lower DSR than in bare lands in both areas, and nests built with materials of S. salsa sticks had the lowest DSR in the bare land. Data from infrared cameras confirmed relatively higher predator abundances and nest predation rates by nocturnal mammals, such as Eurasian badgers (Meles meles), in PA than in non‐PA, and this pattern was especially evident for plover nests located in S. salsa grassland. Our results suggest that Liaohekou Natural Reserve protected area may not necessarily provide safe nesting sites for Kentish plovers due to the abundance of generalist mammal nest predators. However, the PA includes about 80% of the nests from both locations. This means the contribution of the total number of successful nests continues to be much higher within PA, with the benefit for the species that this brings in terms of conservation. The variation and mechanisms underlying differences in the nest predator communities of PA and non‐PA deserve further study.
Prognostic role of pulmonary impedance estimation to predict right ventricular dysfunction in pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Hungerford Sara Louise , Kearney Katherine , Song Ning , Bart Nicole , Kotlyar Eugene , Lau Edmund , Jabbour Andrew , Hayward Christopher Simon , Muller David William Marshall , Adji Audrey 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe effect of pulmonary hypertension (PH) on right ventricular (RV) afterload is commonly defined by elevation of pulmonary artery (PA) pressure or pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). In humans however, one‐third to half of the hydraulic power in the PA is contained in pulsatile components of flow. Pulmonary impedance (Zc) expresses opposition of the PA to pulsatile blood flow. We evaluate pulmonary Zc relationships according to PH classification using a cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)/right heart catheterization (RHC) method.MethodsProspective study of 70 clinically indicated patients referred for same‐day CMR and RHC [60 ± 16 years; 77% females, 16 mPAP <25 mmHg (PVR <240 dynes.s.cm−5/mPCWP <15 mmHg), 24 pre‐capillary (PrecPH), 15 isolated post‐capillary (IpcPH), 15 combined pre‐capillary/post‐capillary (CpcPH)]. CMR provided assessment of PA flow, and RHC, central PA pressure. Pulmonary Zc was expressed as the relationship of PA pressure to flow in the frequency domain (dynes.s.cm−5).ResultsBaseline demographic characteristics were well matched. There was a significant difference in mPAP (P < 0.001), PVR (P = 0.001), and pulmonary Zc between mPAP<25 mmHg patients and those with PH (mPAP <25 mmHg: 47 ± 19 dynes.s.cm−5; PrecPH 86 ± 20 dynes.s.cm−5; IpcPH 66 ± 30 dynes.s.cm−5; CpcPH 86 ± 39 dynes.s.cm−5; P = 0.05). For all patients with PH, elevated mPAP was found to be associated with raised PVR (P < 0.001) but not with pulmonary Zc (P = 0.87), except for those with PrecPH (P < 0.001). Elevated pulmonary Zc was associated with reduced RVSWI, RVEF, and CO (all P < 0.05), whereas PVR and mPAP were not.ConclusionsRaised pulmonary Zc was independent of elevated mPAP in patients with PH and more strongly predictive of maladaptive RV remodelling than PVR and mPAP. Use of this straightforward method to determine pulmonary Zc may help to better characterize pulsatile components of RV afterload in patients with PH than mPAP or PVR alone.
The impact of heart failure therapy in patients with mildly reduced ejection fraction: a network meta‐analysis
Authors: Leite Marta , Sampaio Francisco , Saraiva Francisca A. , Diaz Sílvia O. , Barros António S. , Fontes‐Carvalho Ricardo 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBackgroundRecent heart failure (HF) guidelines have re‐classified HF patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) between 41% and 49% as HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF). HFmrEF treatment is often considered a grey zone as no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted exclusively on these patients.AimsA network meta‐analysis (NMA) was performed to compare treatment effect of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA), angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNi), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), angiotensin‐converting‐enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), and beta‐blockers (BB) in HFmrEF cardiovascular (CV) outcomes.Methods and resultsRCTs sub‐analyses evaluating the efficacy of pharmacological treatment in HFmrEF patients were searched. Hazard ratios (HRs) and their variance were extracted from each RCT for (i) composite of CV death or HF hospitalizations, (ii) CV death, and (iii) HF hospitalizations. A random‐effects NMA was performed to compare and assess the treatment efficiency. Six RCTs with subgroup analysis according to participants' ejection fraction, a patient‐level pooled meta‐analysis of two RCTs, and an individual patient‐level analysis of eleven BB RCTs were included, totalling 7966 patients. To our primary endpoint, SGLT2i vs. placebo was the only comparison with significant results, with a 19% risk reduction in the composite of CV death or HF hospitalizations [HR 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.67–0.98]. In HF hospitalizations, the impact of the pharmacological therapies was more notorious, and ARNi reduced in 40% the risk of HF hospitalizations (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.39–0.92), SGLT2i in 26% (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.59–0.93) and renin–angiotensin system inhibition (RASi) with ARB and ACEi in 28% (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.53–0.98). Although BBs were globally less beneficial, they were the only class that supported a reduced risk of CV death (HR vs. placebo: 0.48, 95% CI 0.24–0.95). We did not observe a statistically significant difference in any comparison between active treatments. There was a sound reduction with ARNi on the primary endpoint (HR vs. BB: 0.81, 95% CI 0.47–1.41; HR vs. MRA 0.94, 95% CI 0.53–1.66) and on HF hospitalizations (HR vs. RASi 0.83, 95% CI 0.62–1.11; HR vs. SGLT2i 0.80, 95% CI 0.50–1.30).ConclusionsIn addition to SGLT2i, pharmacological treatment recommended for HF with reduced LVEF, namely, ARNi, MRA, and BB, can also be effective in HFmrEF. This NMA did not show significant superiority over any pharmacological class.
Copper‐Catalyzed 1,4‐Addition of a Silicon Nucleophile to Azadienes
Authors: Chu Wen‐Dao , Wang Chun‐Mei , Zhan Jie , Zeng Ya‐Li , Liu Yong , Chen Bo , Zhang Kaiming , He Cheng‐Yu , Liu Quan‐Zhong 
Published: March 2023

AbstractCopper‐catalyzed 1,4‐addition of a silicon nucleophile to azadienes is reported. This method facilely provided a wide variety of dibenzylic silane derivatives in good to excellent yields. The important practical features are the use of a cheap catalytic system, mild reaction conditions, and broad substrate scope.
The phenotypic and genotypic spectrum of epilepsy and intellectual disability in adults: Implications for genetic testing
Authors: von Brauchitsch Sophie , Haslinger Denise , Lindlar Silvia , Thiele Holger , Bernsen Natalie , Zahnert Felix , Reif Philipp S. , Balcik Yunus , Au Ping Yee Billie , Josephson Colin B. , Altmüller Janine , Strzelczyk Adam , Knake Susanne , Rosenow Felix , Chiocchetti Andreas , Klein Karl Martin 
Published: March 2023

AbstractObjectiveThe phenotypic and genotypic spectrum of adult patients with epilepsy and intellectual disability (ID) is less clear than in children. We investigated an adult patient cohort to further elucidate this and inform the genetic testing approach.MethodsFifty‐two adult patients (30 male, 22 female) with epilepsy, at least mild ID and no known genetic or acquired cause were included and phenotyped. Variants identified through exome sequencing were evaluated using ACMG criteria. Identified variants were compared with commercially available gene panels. Cluster analysis of two features, age at seizure onset and age at ascertainment of cognitive deficits, was performed.ResultsMedian age was 27 years (range 20‐57 years) with median seizure onset at 3 years and median ascertainment of cognitive deficits at 1 year. Likely pathogenic/pathogenic variants were identified in 16/52 patients (31%) including 14 (27%) single nucleotide variants and 2 (4%) copy number variants. Simulated yield of commercial gene panels varied between 13% in small (≤144 genes) and 27% in large panels (≥1478 genes).Cluster analysis (optimal number 3 clusters) identified a cluster with early seizure onset and early developmental delay (developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, n = 26), a cluster with early developmental delay but late seizure onset (ID with epilepsy, n = 16) and a third cluster with late ascertainment of cognitive deficits and variable seizure onset (n = 7). The smaller gene panels particularly missed the genes identified in the cluster with early ascertainment of cognitive deficits and later onset of epilepsy (0/4) as opposed to the cluster with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (7/10).SignificanceOur data indicates that adult patients with epilepsy and ID represent a heterogeneous cohort that includes grown‐up patients with DEE but also patients with primary ID and later onset of epilepsy. To maximize diagnostic yield in this cohort either large gene panels or exome sequencing should be used.
African Jointfir (Gnetum africanum) and Editan (Lasianthera africana) leaf alkaloid extracts exert antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities in fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster)
Authors: Oboh Ganiyu , Atoki Ayomide Victor , Ademiluyi Adedayo O. , Ogunsuyi Opeyemi B. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAfrican Jointfir (Gnetum africanum) and Editan (Lasianthera africana) leaves are two leafy green veggies with several nutritional and medicinal properties. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a form of neurodegeneration that is believed to cause dementia in affected individuals. The quest for alternative treatments has necessitated the exploitation of plants' secondary metabolites. Plant alkaloids have recently demonstrated relevance in the management of a variety of neurodegenerative disorders; although there is limited information on the neuroprotective properties of alkaloids from various tropical green leafy vegetables with neuroprotective potentials. As a result, this study examined the cholinesterase inhibitory activity and antioxidant potential of alkaloid extracts from the leaves of African Jointfir (G. africanum) and Editan (L. africana). Standard solvent extraction techniques were used to prepare alkaloid extracts. After that, these extracts were characterized using high‐performance liquid chromatography. In vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay for the extracts was also carried out. Subsequently, the alkaloid extracts were included in the diets of these flies (2 and 10 μg/g) for 7 days. Thereafter, treated fly homogenates were assayed for cholinesterase, monoamine oxidase, and antioxidant enzymes (specifically, glutathione‐S‐transferase catalase, and superoxide dismutase) activities, in addition, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, reactive oxygen species, and total thiol contents. The extracts showed considerable anticholinesterase, antioxidant, and antimonoamine oxidase capabilities, according to the study's findings. Also, HPLC characterization revealed that desulphosinigrin (597,000 ng/100 g) and atropine (44,200 ng/100 g) are the predominating phytochemicals in Editan and African Jointfir respectively. These extracts could serve as potential sources of nutraceuticals with neuroprotective properties which can be used in the treatment/management of Alzheimer's disease.
Improving effect of soy whey‐derived peptide on the quality characteristics of functional yogurt
Authors: Mashayekh Fatemeh , Pourahmad Rezvan , Eshaghi Mohammad Reza , Akbari‐Adergani Behrouz 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of bioactive peptides isolated from soy whey on the physicochemical, sensory, and microbiological characteristics of yogurt during storage. Trypsin was utilized to hydrolyze soy whey protein at 45°C for 4 h. Then, the resulting protein hydrolysate was fractionated using reversed phase‐high performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC). Since the F7 fraction showed the best antioxidant and antibacterial capabilities, different levels (6.5, 13, and 17 mg/mL) of this peptide fraction were added to yogurt. A control sample (without the bioactive peptide) was also prepared. Yogurt samples were stored for 3 weeks. With the increase in peptide concentration, the antioxidant activity of yogurt increased while viscosity and syneresis decreased (p < .05). During storage, yogurt acidity, syneresis, and viscosity increased while pH and antioxidant activity declined (p < .05). The addition of bioactive peptide reduced the quantity of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in yogurt during storage (p < .05), and the reduction in bacterial quantity was stronger as the peptide content was increased. The sample containing the largest concentration of peptide (17 mg/mL) got the lowest overall acceptability score. The level of 13 mg/mL of the peptide was chosen as the best concentration for yogurt fortification in terms of overall acceptance and functional properties. Therefore, soy whey‐derived peptide can be utilized as a functional component as well as a natural preservative in yogurt.
More extensive white matter disruptions present in untreated obstructive sleep apnea than we thought: A large sample diffusion imaging study
Authors: Koo Dae Lim , Cabeen Ryan P. , Yook Soon Hyun , Cen Steven Yong , Joo Eun Yeon , Kim Hosung 
Published: March 2023

AbstractObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may lead to white mater (WM) disruptions and cognitive deficits. However, no studies have investigated the full extent of the brain WM, and its associations with cognitive deficits in OSA remain unclear. We thus applied diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography with multi‐fiber models and used atlas‐based bundle‐specific approach to investigate the WM abnormalities for various tracts of the cerebral cortex, thalamus, brainstem, and cerebellum in patients with untreated OSA. We enrolled 100 OSA patients and 63 healthy controls. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values mapped on 33 regions of interest including WM tracts of cortex, thalamus, brainstem, and cerebellum were obtained from tractography‐based reconstructions. We compared FA/MD values between groups and correlated FA/MD with clinical data in the OSA group after controlling for age and body mass index. OSA patients showed significantly lower FA values in multiple WM fibers including corpus callosum, inferior fronto‐occipital fasciculus, middle/superior longitudinal fasciculi, thalamic radiations, and uncinate (FDR <0.05). Higher FA values were found in medial lemniscus of patients compared to controls (FDR <0.05). Lower FA values of rostrum of corpus callosum correlated with lower visual memory performance in OSA group (p < .005). Our quantitative DTI analysis demonstrated that untreated OSA could negatively impact the integrity of pathways more broadly, including brainstem structures such as medial lemniscus, in comparison to previous findings. Fiber tract abnormalities of the rostral corpus callosum were associated with impaired visual memory in untreated OSA may provide insights into the related pathomechanism.
Two novel recombinant human mastadenovirus D genotypes associated with acute respiratory illness
Authors: Gonzalez Gabriel , Hayes Matthew , Balansay Melinda , Underwood Ryan , Balagot Caroline , Pan Roger , Pineda Kyle , Iniguez‐Stevens Esmeralda , Kriner Paula , Estrada Irais , Myers Christopher A. , Kajon Adriana E. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractTwo novel genotypes of species human mastadenovirus D designated 109 and 110 were isolated from three epidemiologically unrelated cases of acute respiratory disease detected in January 2018 by surveillance efforts at the California/Mexico border. Both genotypes represent examples of intertypic recombination. Genotype D109 is most closely related to genotype D56 (97.68% genomic similarity) and features a type D22‐like penton base, a type D19‐like hexon gene, and a type D9‐like fiber [P22/H19/F9]. On the other hand, genotype D110 is most closely related to type D22 (96.94% genomic similarity) and features a type D67‐like penton base, a novel hexon gene, and a type D9‐like fiber [P67/H110/F9]. Importantly, the fibers of both novel genotypes are highly similar to those of genotypes D56 and D59, which have also been isolated from a few cases of respiratory infections. The present report shows data contributing to the understanding of the molecular determinants of the expanded tissue tropism of certain members of species HAdV‐D.
Predicting risk on cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease based on a physical activity cohort: Results from APAC study
Authors: Zhao Juan , Yu Ye , Zhu Xiaolan , Xie Yuling , Ai Songwei , Lehmann H. Immo , Deng Xuan , Hu Feifei , Li Guoping , Zhou Yong , Xiao Junjie 
Published: March 2023

AbstractCommonly used prediction models have been primarily constructed without taking physical activity into account. Using the Kailuan physical activity cohorts from Asymptomatic Polyvascular Abnormalities in Community (APAC) study, we developed a 9‐year cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction equation. Participants in this study were included from APAC cohort, which included 5440 participants from the Kailuan cohort in China. Cox proportional hazard regression model was applied to construct sex‐specific risk prediction equations for the physical activity cohort (PA equation). Proposed equations were compared with the 10‐year risk prediction model, which is developed for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk in Chinese cohorts (China‐PAR equation). C statistics of PA equations were 0.755 (95% confidence interval, 0.750–0.758) for men and 0.801 (95% confidence interval, 0.790–0.813) for women. The estimated area under the receiver operating characteristic curves in the validation set shows that the PA equations perform as good as the China‐PAR. From calibration among four categories of predicted risks, the predicted risk rates by PA equations were almost identical to the Kaplan–Meier observed rates. Therefore, our developed sex‐specific PA equations have effective performance for predicting CVD for physically active cohorts in the physical activity cohort in Kailuan.
Heterologous vaccination with subunit protein vaccine induces a superior neutralizing capacity against BA.4/5‐included SARS‐CoV‐2 variants than homologous vaccination of mRNA vaccine
Authors: Peng Dandan , Zhao Tingmei , Hong Weiqi , Fu Minyang , He Cai , Chen Li , Ren Wenyan , Lei Hong , Yang Jingyun , Alu Aqu , Ni Yanghong , Liu Jian , Li Jiong , Wang Wei , Shen Guobo , Zhao Zhiwei , Yang Li , Yang Jinliang , Wang Zhenling , Tanaka Yoshimasa , Lu Guangwen , Song Xiangrong , Wei Xiawei 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBA.4 and BA.5 (BA.4/5), the subvariants of Omicron, are more transmissible than BA.1 with more robust immune evasion capability because of its unique spike protein mutations. In light of such situation, the vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is in desperate need of the third booster. It has been reported that heterologous boosters might produce more effective immunity against wild‐type SARS‐CoV‐2 and the variants. Additionally, the third heterologous protein subunit booster should be considered potentially. In the present study, we prepared a Delta full‐length spike protein sequence‐based mRNA vaccine as the “priming” shot and developed a recombinant trimeric receptor‐binding domain (RBD) protein vaccine referred to as RBD–HR/trimer as a third heterologous booster. Compared to the homologous mRNA group, the heterologous group (RBD–HR/trimer vaccine primed with two mRNA vaccines) induced higher neutralizing antibody titers against BA.4/5‐included SARS‐CoV‐2 variants. In addition, heterologous vaccination exhibited stronger cellular immune response and long‐lasting memory response than the homologous mRNA vaccine. In conclusion, a third heterologous boosting with RBD–HR/trimer following two‐dose mRNA priming vaccination should be a superior strategy than a third homologous mRNA vaccine. The RBD–HR/trimer vaccine becomes an appropriate candidate for a booster immune injection.
Bayesian MRI reconstruction with joint uncertainty estimation using diffusion models
Authors: Luo Guanxiong , Blumenthal Moritz , Heide Martin , Uecker Martin 
Published: March 2023

PurposeWe introduce a framework that enables efficient sampling from learned probability distributions for MRI reconstruction.MethodSamples are drawn from the posterior distribution given the measured k‐space using the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method, different from conventional deep learning‐based MRI reconstruction techniques. In addition to the maximum a posteriori estimate for the image, which can be obtained by maximizing the log‐likelihood indirectly or directly, the minimum mean square error estimate and uncertainty maps can also be computed from those drawn samples. The data‐driven Markov chains are constructed with the score‐based generative model learned from a given image database and are independent of the forward operator that is used to model the k‐space measurement.ResultsWe numerically investigate the framework from these perspectives: (1) the interpretation of the uncertainty of the image reconstructed from undersampled k‐space; (2) the effect of the number of noise scales used to train the generative models; (3) using a burn‐in phase in MCMC sampling to reduce computation; (4) the comparison to conventional ‐wavelet regularized reconstruction; (5) the transferability of learned information; and (6) the comparison to fastMRI challenge.ConclusionA framework is described that connects the diffusion process and advanced generative models with Markov chains. We demonstrate its flexibility in terms of contrasts and sampling patterns using advanced generative priors and the benefits of also quantifying the uncertainty for every pixel.