bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Short‐term effect of retirement on health: Evidence from nonparametric fuzzy regression discontinuity design
Authors: Ebeid Mohamed , Oguzoglu Umut 
Published: March 2023

AbstractWe estimate the short‐term effect of retirement on health in the US using the Health and Retirement Study survey. We use the nonparametric fuzzy regression discontinuity design to avoid assuming any functional form on the age‐health profile and minimize potential bias in identifying the causal effect of retirement on health status in the short term. Estimates indicate an 8% decline in the cognitive functioning score of retirees and a 28% increase in the CESD depression scale. The likelihood of being in good health status declined by 16%. The transition from working to retirement has more significant negative impacts on males than females. In addition, retirement has more considerable adverse effects on less‐educated individuals compared to high‐educated individuals. The short‐term effects of retirement on health are consistent and robust across different bandwidths, weighting kernel functions, and age‐profile specifications. Moreover, the Treatment Effect Derivative test results highly support the external validity of the nonparametric estimates of the retirement effect on health.
Self‐reported reflective functioning and father–child interactions in a sample of fathers who have used intimate partner violence
Authors: Stover Carla S. , Farren Angela , Campbell Ryan , Day Michele J. , Sernyak Zoe 
Published: March 2023

AbstractReflective functioning (RF) has been found to be associated with mother–child interactions, but less is known about the association of fathers’ self and child‐focused RF and father–child relationships. Fathers who have histories of intimate partner violence (IPV) are known to have poor RF, which may impact their father–child interactions. The current study was designed to examine how types of RF are associated with father–child relationships. Pretreatment assessments and recorded, coded father–child play interactions were used to examine associations among fathers’ history of adverse childhood experiences (ACES), RF and coded father‐child play interactions in a sample of 47 fathers with a history of IPV use in the last 6 months with their coparent. Fathers’ ACES and their child's mental states (CM) were associated with father‐child dyadic play interactions. Fathers with greater ACES and higher scores on CM had the most dyadic tension and constriction during play interactions. Those with high ACES but low CM had scores similar to those with low ACES and low CM. These results indicate that fathers who have used IPV and have a history of significant adversity may benefit from interventions to increase their child‐focused RF and further improve their interactions with their children.
Inorganic arsenic exposure promotes malignant progression by HDAC6‐mediated down‐regulation of HTRA1
Authors: Chen Jiafeng , Lei Cece , Nie Daibang , Ge Huan , Li Jian , Lei Changbin , Wang Wang 
Published: March 2023

AbstractInorganic arsenic (iAs) has been a human health concern and is associated with intestinal malignancies. However, the molecular mechanisms of the iAs‐induced oncogenic process in intestine epithelial cells remain elusive, partly because of the known hormesis effect of arsenic. Here, we established that six‐month exposure to iAs at a concentration similar to those found in contaminated drinking water could promote malignant characteristics, including enhanced proliferation and migration, resistance to apoptosis, and mesenchymal‐like transition in Caco‐2 cells. Transcriptome analysis and mechanism study revealed that key genes and pathways involved in cell adhesion, inflammation and oncogenic regulation were altered during chronic iAs exposure. Specifically, we uncovered that down‐regulation of HTRA1 was essential for the iAs‐induced acquisition of the cancer hallmarks. Further, we evidenced that the loss of HTRA1 during iAs‐exposure could be restored by HDAC6 inhibition. Caco‐2 cells with chronic exposure to iAs exhibited enhanced sensitivity to WT‐161, a specific inhibitor of HDAC6, when used alone than in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent. These findings provide valuable information for understanding the mechanisms of arsenic‐induced carcinogenesis and facilitating the health management of populations in arsenic‐polluted areas.
Polyacrylamide‐based hydrogel coatings improve biocompatibility of implanted pump devices
Authors: Chan Doreen , Maikawa Caitlin L. , d'Aquino Andrea I. , Raghavan Shyam S. , Troxell Megan L. , Appel Eric A. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe introduction of transcutaneous and subcutaneous implants and devices into the human body instigates fouling and foreign body responses (FBRs) that limit their functional lifetimes. Polymer coatings are a promising solution to improve the biocompatibility of such implants, with potential to enhance in vivo device performance and prolong device lifetime. Here we sought to develop novel materials for use as coatings on subcutaneously implanted devices to reduce the FBR and local tissue inflammation in comparison to gold standard materials such as poly(ethylene glycol) and polyzwitterions. We prepared a library of polyacrylamide‐based copolymer hydrogels, which were selected from materials previously shown to exhibit remarkable antifouling properties with blood and plasma, and implanted them into the subcutaneous space of mice to evaluate their biocompatibility over the course of 1 month. The top performing polyacrylamide‐based copolymer hydrogel material, comprising a 50:50 mixture of N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)acrylamide (HEAm) and N‐(3‐methoxypropyl)acrylamide (MPAm), exhibited significantly better biocompatibility and lower tissue inflammation than gold standard materials. Moreover, when applied to polydimethylsiloxane disks or silicon catheters as a thin coating (45 ± 1 μm), this leading copolymer hydrogel coating significantly improved implant biocompatibility. Using a rat model of insulin‐deficient diabetes, we showed that insulin pumps fitted with HEAm‐co‐MPAm hydrogel‐coated insulin infusion catheters exhibited improved biocompatibility and extended functional lifetime over pumps fitted with industry standard catheters. These polyacrylamide‐based copolymer hydrogel coatings have the potential to improve device function and lifetime, thereby reducing the burden of disease management for people regularly using implanted devices.
Engineering high throughput screening platforms of cervical cancer
Authors: Cadena Ines A. , Buchanan Mina R. , Harris Conor G. , Jenne Molly A. , Rochefort Willie E. , Nelson Dylan , Fogg Kaitlin C. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractCervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer‐related death in women under 40 and is one of the few cancers to have an increased incidence rate and decreased survival rate over the last 10 years. One in five patients will have recurrent and/or distant metastatic disease and these patients face a 5‐year survival rate of less than 17%. Thus, there is a pressing need to develop new anticancer therapeutics for this underserved patient population. However, the development of new anticancer drugs remains a challenge, as only 7% of novel anticancer drugs are approved for clinical use. To facilitate identification of novel and effective anticancer drugs for cervical cancer, we developed a multilayer multicellular platform of human cervical cancer cell lines and primary human microvascular endothelial cells that interfaces with high throughput drug screening methods to evaluate the anti‐metastatic and anti‐angiogenic drug efficacy simultaneously. Through the use of design of experiments statistical optimization, we identified the specific concentrations of collagen I, fibrinogen, fibronectin, GelMA, and PEGDA in each hydrogel layer that maximized both cervical cancer invasion and endothelial microvessel length. We then validated the optimized platform and assessed its viscoelastic properties. Finally, using this optimized platform, we conducted a targeted drug screen of four clinically relevant drugs on two cervical cancer cell lines. Overall, this work provides a valuable platform that can be used to screen large compound libraries for mechanistic studies, drug discovery, and precision oncology for cervical cancer patients.
Alfalfa in rotation with annual crops reduced nitrate leaching potential
Authors: Singh Arshdeep , Afzal Tahseen , Woodbury Bryan , Wortmann Charles , Iqbal Javed 
Published: March 2023

AbstractRotation of perennial alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) with annual crops has the potential to reduce nitrate‐nitrogen (NO3‐N) in the vadose zone and increase soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. The objective of this study was to determine the long‐term effects on SOC, NO3‐N, ammonium‐N (NH4‐N), and soil water in the 7.2 m depth with an alfalfa rotation compared with continuous corn (Zea mays L.). Soils from six pairs of alfalfa rotation versus continuous corn observation points were sampled to 7.2 m depth in 0.3 m increments. The uppermost 0.3 m was divided into 0–0.15 and 0.15–0.30 m. For the 0–7.2 m depth, the alfalfa rotation compared with continuous corn had 26% less soil water (0.29 vs. 0.39 g cm−3) and 55% less NO3‐N (368 vs. 824 kg ha−1). The cropping system and NO3‐N concentration did not affect NH4‐N in the vadose zone. The alfalfa rotation compared with continuous corn had 47% higher SOC (105.96 Mg ha−1 vs. 72.12 Mg ha−1) and 23% higher total soil nitrogen (TSN) (11.99 Mg ha−1 vs. 9.73 Mg ha−1) in the 0–1.2 m depth. The greater depletion of soil water and NO3‐N with alfalfa rotation was primarily below the rooting zone of corn, suggesting no negative implications for corn following alfalfa but greatly reduced potential of NO3‐N leaching to the aquifer with the alfalfa rotation. Alfalfa rotation compared with continuous corn is a means to greatly reduce the leaching of NO3‐N to the aquifer and improve the surface soil with the potential to increase SOC sequestration.
Cellular communication through extracellular vesicles and lipid droplets
Authors: Amarasinghe Irumi , Phillips William , Hill Andrew F. , Cheng Lesley , Helbig Karla J. , Willms Eduard , Monson Ebony A. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractCellular communication is essential for effective coordination of biological processes. One major form of intercellular communication occurs via the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs). These vesicles mediate intercellular communication through the transfer of their cargo and are actively explored for their role in various diseases and their potential therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Conversely, lipid droplets (LDs) are vesicles that transfer cargo within cells. Lipid droplets play roles in various diseases and evidence for their ability to transfer cargo between cells is emerging. To date, there has been little interdisciplinary research looking at the similarities and interactions between these two classes of small lipid vesicles. This review will compare the commonalities and differences between EVs and LDs including their biogenesis and secretion, isolation and characterisation methodologies, composition, and general heterogeneity and discuss challenges and opportunities in both fields.
A critical assessment of dose effects of post‐thaw CD34 on autologous stem cell transplantation treatment of haematological malignancies
Authors: Duarte Gustavo de Carvalho , Butler Andrew , Atkinson Gavin , Badami Krishna , Wei Wen‐Hua 
Published: March 2023

AbstractA consensus threshold of pre‐cryopreservation CD34‐positive cells (CD34s) has been used as the minimum dose to initiate autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Advances in cryopreservation posed a debate whether post‐thaw CD34s might be a superior surrogate instead. We addressed the debate in this retrospective study of 217 adult ASCTs in five different haematological malignancies treated at a single centre. We showed that post‐thaw CD34s was highly correlated with pre‐cryopreservation CD34s (r = 0.97) and explained ∼2.2% (p = 0.003) of the variation of the post‐thaw total nucleated cell viability that however had no power to predict engraftment outcomes. After stratifying the ASCT cases into four dose groups based on post‐thaw CD34s reinfused, stepwise multivariate regression analyses detected significant effects in dose group and interactions with diseases for neutrophil and platelet recovery respectively. The significant dose effects and interactions were triggered by two technical outliers in the low dose group, and disappeared in the repeated regressions after exclusion of the outliers where disease and age were the significant predictors remained. Our data clearly support the validity of the consensus threshold in ASCT applications but also highlight neglected conditions where monitoring post‐thaw CD34s and clinical attributes are valuable.
Neurologic outcome following liver transplantation for methylmalonic aciduria
Authors: Martinelli Diego , Catesini Giulio , Greco Benedetta , Guarnera Alessia , Parrillo Chiara , Maines Evelina , Longo Daniela , Napolitano Antonio , De Nictolis Francesca , Cairoli Sara , Liccardo Daniela , Caviglia Stefania , Sidorina Anna , Olivieri Giorgia , Siri Barbara , Bianchi Roberto , Spagnoletti Gionata , Dello Strologo Luca , Spada Marco , Dionisi‐Vici Carlo 
Published: March 2023

AbstractLiver and liver/kidney transplantation are increasingly used in methylmalonic aciduria, but little is known on their impact on CNS. The effect of transplantation on neurological outcome was prospectively assessed in six patients pre‐ and post‐transplant by clinical evaluation and by measuring disease biomarkers in plasma and CSF, in combination with psychometric tests and brain MRI studies. Primary (methylmalonic‐ and methylcitric acid) and secondary biomarkers (glycine and glutamine) significantly improved in plasma, while they remained unchanged in CSF. Differently, biomarkers of mitochondrial dysfunction (lactate, alanine, and related ratios) significantly decreased in CSF. Neurocognitive evaluation documented significant higher post‐transplant developmental/cognitive scores and maturation of executive functions corresponding to improvement of brain atrophy, cortical thickness, and white matter maturation indexes at MRI. Three patients presented post‐transplantation reversible neurological events, which were differentiated, by means of biochemical and neuroradiological evaluations, into calcineurin inhibitor‐induced neurotoxicity and metabolic stroke‐like episode. Our study shows that transplantation has a beneficial impact on neurological outcome in methylmalonic aciduria. Early transplantation is recommended due to the high risk of long‐term complications, high disease burden, and low quality of life.
The role of Antarctic sea ice in modulating the relationship between September–October Antarctic Oscillation and following January–February wet and cold weather in southern China
Authors: Yuan Zhengxuan , Qin Jun , Du Liangmin , Huang Sijing , Wang Yajuan , Mbululo Yassin 
Published: March 2023

AbstractA previous study found that the September–October (SO) Antarctic Oscillation (AAO) shows an out‐of‐phase variation of late January–February (JF) wet and cold weather (wet–cold) in southern China. This study explored the underlying mechanism and found that Antarctic sea ice may be responsible partially for such a relationship. The SO AAO stimulates the Antarctic sea‐ice dipole pattern (ADP) anomalies, which induce the anomalous convective precipitation of the Inter‐Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in Latin America‐Atlantic (LAA) and Western Pacific (WP) in following JF. The anomalous convections over the ITCZ regions trigger planetary wave dispersions from the tropical LAA and WP to adjust the East Asian atmospheric circulation. Through the bridge of anomalous ITCZ, an increased JF ADP decreases the invasion of both northerly cold air flow and southwesterly moist airflow into southern China, resulting in the dissipation of wet–cold and vice versa. Furthermore, the variation of JF ADP is well correlated with the in‐phased polar vortex, connecting to the stratospheric Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation (QBO). The variation of JF QBO induces the anomalous convection over the tropical North Atlantic and ITCZ in LAA and WP, in turn modulating the contemporary invasion of cold and wet airflow into southern China by Rossby wave dispersion, subsequently wet–cold in southern China. To summarize, JF ADP affects the simultaneous wet–cold in southern China through the anomalous ITCZ. The turning phase of QBO modulates such correlation by inducing the anomalous ITCZ correlated with ADP and the anomalous convection due to QBO itself over tropical North Atlantic.
Incomplete cytoreductive surgery for appendiceal and colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis: Characteristics and outcomes of an overlooked group
Authors: Goffredo Paolo , Aguirre Nicole , Mohamed Mostafa , Kleiman David A. , Cercek Andrea , Joshua Smith J. , Paty Philip B. , Weiser Martin , Garcia‐Aguilar Julio , Nash Garrett M. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBackground ond ObjectivesComplete cytoreductive surgery (CRS) may prolong survival for selected patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from colorectal cancer (CRC). However, there is a paucity of data on outcomes following incomplete procedures.MethodsPatients with incomplete CRS for well‐differentiated (WD) and moderate/poorly‐differentiated (M/PD) appendiceal cancer, right and left CRC were identified at a single tertiary center (2008–2021).ResultsOf 109 patients, 10% were WD and 51% M/PD appendiceal cancers, and 16% right and 23% left CRC. There were no differences in gender, BMI (mean = 27), ASA score, previous abdominal surgery (72%), and extent of CRS. The PC Index differed between appendiceal and colorectal cancers (mean = 27 vs. 17, p < 0.01). Overall, the perioperative outcomes were similar among the groups, with 15% experiencing complications. Postoperatively, 61% received chemotherapy, and 51% required ≥1 subsequent procedure. The 1 and 3‐year survival for the WD, M/PD, right and left CRC subgroups were 100%, 67%, 44%, 51%, and 88%, 17%, 12%, and 23%, respectively (p = 0.02).ConclusionsIncomplete CRS was associated with significant morbidity and number of subsequent palliative procedures. Prognosis correlated with histologic subtype; WD appendiceal cancer patients having superior outcomes, while those with right sided CRC the worst survival. These data may help guiding expectations in the setting of incomplete procedures.
Disturbance of wintering waterbirds by simulated road traffic noise in Arkansas wetlands
Authors: Veon John T. , McClung Maureen R. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAs humans intensify their activity on landscapes, it is important to consider anthropogenic noise when managing habitat for wildlife. Wetlands along rural to urban gradients are subject to road noise pollution, and the waterbirds that live there could be at risk for behavioral disturbance. We tested the positional response of wintering waterbirds to road traffic noise (i.e., sound pressure level) in a playback study in wetlands of Arkansas, USA, from January through March 2018. Each trial consisted of 3, 20‐minute phases of road noise playback designated as pre, during, and post. We repeated instantaneous scan sampling every minute during each phase to collect the number, species, and distance of each bird relative to the playback speaker. Distance bins were designated as 0–25, 26–50, 51–75, and 76–100 m from the speaker. Birds approached the speaker at closer distances during the pre phase compared to during and post phases. There was an increase in the probability of a bird occurring in the distance bin farthest from the speaker over the course of the trial. Our results suggest waterbirds might avoid noisier areas within a habitat; however, more study is needed to assess species‐specific responses, determine thresholds for disturbance, and examine downstream effects of habitat avoidance. If these results persist at larger scales, the soundscape of a wetland could be an important consideration in conservation planning.
Chain Sliding versus β‐Sheet Formation upon Shearing Single α‐Helical Coiled Coils
Authors: Tsirigoni Anna‐Maria , Goktas Melis , Atris Zeynep , Valleriani Angelo , Vila Verde Ana , Blank Kerstin G. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractCoiled coils (CCs) are key building blocks of biogenic materials and determine their mechanical response to large deformations. Of particular interest is the observation that CC‐based materials display a force‐induced transition from α‐helices to mechanically stronger β‐sheets (αβT). Steered molecular dynamics simulations predict that this αβT requires a minimum, pulling speed‐dependent CC length. Here, de novo designed CCs with a length between four to seven heptads are utilized to probe if the transition found in natural CCs can be mimicked with synthetic sequences. Using single‐molecule force spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations, these CCs are mechanically loaded in shear geometry and their rupture forces and structural responses to the applied load are determined. Simulations at the highest pulling speed (0.01 nm ns−1) show the appearance of β‐sheet structures for the five‐ and six‐heptad CCs and a concomitant increase in mechanical strength. The αβT is less probable at a lower pulling speed of 0.001 nm ns−1 and is not observed in force spectroscopy experiments. For CCs loaded in shear geometry, the formation of β‐sheets competes with interchain sliding. β‐sheet formation is only possible in higher‐order CC assemblies or in tensile‐loading geometries where chain sliding and dissociation are prohibited.
History of corrosion studies on container materials for the final disposal of VHLW and SF conducted in Belgium
Authors: Kursten Bruno , Gaggiano Roberto , Caes Sébastien , de Souza Valdir 
Published: March 2023

AbstractIn Belgium, an extensive corrosion program on a wide range of metals has been studied as candidate container material, which is considered in the geological disposal concept of high‐level radioactive waste or spent fuel. This paper presents an overview of the corrosion studies initiated by SCK CEN more than 40 years ago. The experiments conducted in these studies were conceived based on early disposal designs, that is, designs in which the radioactive waste was to be enclosed in a metallic overpack that would be directly emplaced in an argillaceous environment. A step‐wise approach was adopted consisting of laboratory screening studies, detailed studies, and demonstration tests. The screening studies included accelerated tests, conducted in a surface laboratory, and exposure tests carried out either in autoclaves or in the field in a surface clay quarry. The detailed studies involved both in situ and laboratory experiments. Gradually, the emphasis shifted from basic research to large‐scale integrated demonstration experiments enabling the simultaneous study of different parameters and/or processes and their coupling.