bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aggregatibacter Actinomycetemcomitans Infection In A 15-Year-Old Boy With Pulmonary Empyema: A Case Report And Review Of Literature
Authors: Mesturino Maria Alessia , Bitetti Carol , Clemente Anna , Krzysztofiak Andrzej , Lancella Laura , Lombardi Roberta , Cursi Laura , Boccuzzi Elena , Musolino Anna Maria , Villani Alberto 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa), previously known as Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, is a slow-growing Gram-negative coccobacillus, member of the HACEK group of bacteria colonizing oral flora. Besides causing infectious diseases in the oral cavity such as dental caries and periodontitis, it is responsible for severe extra-oral infections secondary to hematogenous spread or aspiration, such as endocarditis, soft tissue abscesses and osteomyelitis. The diagnosis depends on prolonged bacterial culture of biological material obtained through biopsy. Aa is susceptible to most antibiotics but complete eradication often requires a long term treatment.
Case presentation: We report the case of a 15-year-old previously healthy boy diagnosed with both pulmonary empyema and subphrenic chest wall abscess caused by Aa. He was admitted to our Pediatric Emergency department for evaluation of a right mass associated with marked asthenia and dry cough. After radiological findings etiological diagnosis was made by culture of fluid drainage of pleural empyema. He started empirical antibiotic therapy with intravenous piperacillin/tazobactam, whose sensibility was confirmed by the antibiogram, then, for occurrance of hepatopathy it was switched to ciprofloxacin: the patient almost completely recovered after 6-month therapy.
Conclusions: Extra-oral infections caused by Aa are extremely rare, especially in children, and not well described yet. To our knowledge, there is only another similar case described in literature. However, the case described in our manuscript represents the only one presenting with pulmonary empyema without involvement of lung parenchyma in children. We also conducted a brief review of published cases of Aa infection in the pediatric population. This case report reminds us the importance of an accurate inspection of the oral cavity during the examination of pediatric patients.
The clinicopathological and molecular landscape of premenopausal breast cancer patients: A retrospective study in Sulaimaniyah, Iraq
Authors: Ameen Hazha Abdulla Mohammed 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among females and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women with different management modalities.
Objectives: To determine premenopausal BC patients' clinicopathological and molecular landscape.
Patients and methods: This retrospective study was carried out on 300 primary BC patients aged 25-50 years at Hiwa Hematology/Oncology Hospital, Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, from January 2016 to May 2022. Patients underwent definitive management either before chemotherapy or after neo-adjuvant and on regular follow-up. Patients were interviewed face to face using a well-designed questionnaire to collect the date, including the type of BC and hormonal status.
Results: In this study, most of the studied patients were married (90.3%), aged 45-50 years at diagnosis (36%), aged 13-14 years at the first occurrence of menstruation (70.3%), practised breast-feeding (76.7%), parous (85%), and with no surgical history (92%). Most patients (39%) had luminal B subtype, while the least (0.34%) had HER2 overexpression. The overall rate of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) was 66.7%, while the overall rate of mastectomy was 33.3 among patients. Also, 84.7% of the tumour margin was free, 9.7% was involved, and only 5.7% of the tumour margin was close. The tumour margin was involved in 20.3% and 15.6% of cases diagnosed with multifocal and multicentric tumour masses, respectively.
Conclusions: It is concluded that married, aged, breastfed, and parous women showed the highest incidence of BC. The most prominent cancer subtype was luminal B, with the highest level of BCS. Most BC patients had unifocal tumour mass sized 2-5 cm with stage II-A.
Emerging effects of oxygen accumulation on orbital torque
Authors: Kim Junyeon , Uzuhashi Jun , Go Dongwook , Jo Daegeun , Ohkubo Tadakatsu , Mitani Seiji , Lee Hyun-Woo , Otani YoshiChika 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
The orbital angular momentum is an electron’s essential degree of freedom and provides an alternative opportunity for the further development of spintronics. Recent studies suggest orbital transport as a potential tool to realize practical and highly-efficient spin manipulation with diverse material classes. Nevertheless, utilization of the orbital transport remains a challenging issue considering that the orbital transport often bares distinctive properties to the spin transport. Here we study the role of oxygen atom accumulation on the orbital transport in CoFe/Cu/Al2O3 ultrathin structures. By varying the type of oxygen accumulation, we revealed that the gradient of the oxygen accumulation nearby the CoFe/Cu interface can be a crucial factor of the orbital transport, modulating the orbital torque by a factor of about ~3. Our finding will encourage to realize efficient and versatile utilization of orbital transport for nano-spintronic devices.
Effective Climate Sensitivity Distributions from a 1D Model of Global Ocean and Land Temperature Trends, 1970-2021
Authors: Spencer Roy W. , Christy John R. 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
A 1D time-dependent forcing-feedback model of temperature departures from energy equilibrium is used to match measured ranges of global-average surface and sub-surface land and ocean temperature trends during 1970–2021. In response to two different radiative forcing scenarios, a wide range of three model free parameters are swept to produce fits to a range of observed surface temperature trends from four different land datasets and three ocean datasets, as well as deep-ocean temperature trends and borehole-based trend retrievals over land. Land-derived effective climate sensitivities (EffCS) are larger than those over the ocean, and EffCS is lower using the newer Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP245, 1.94 deg. C global EffCS) than the older Representative Concentration Pathway forcing (RCP6, 2.60 deg. C global average EffCS). Diagnosed EffCS increases with increasing ocean or land heat storage, with close to 1 deg. C EffCS increase associated with ocean heat storage, but only 0.13 deg. C increase from land heat storage. The strongest dependence of the EffCS results is on the assumed radiative forcing dataset, underscoring the role of radiative forcing uncertainty in determining the sensitivity of the climate system to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations from observations alone.
Size dependent vitrification in metallic glasses
Authors: Lisio Valerio Di , Gallino Isabella , Riegler Sascha , Frey Maximilian , Neuber Nico , Kumar Golden , Schroers Jan , Busch Ralf , Cangialosi Daniele 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Reducing the sample size can profoundly impact properties of bulk metallic glasses. Here, we systematically reduce the length scale of Au and Pt-based metallic glasses and study their vitrification behavior and atomic mobility. For this purpose, we exploit fast scanning calorimetry (FSC) allowing to study glassy dynamics in an exceptionally wide range of cooling rates and frequencies. We show that the main α relaxation process remains size independent and bulk-like. In contrast, we observe pronounced size dependent vitrification kinetics in micrometer-sized glasses, which is more evident for the smallest samples and at low cooling rates, resulting in more than 40 K decrease in fictive temperature, Tf, with respect to the bulk. We discuss the deep implications on how this outcome can be used to convey glasses to low energy states.
The recent expansion of the invasive hemiparasitic plant Cassytha filiformis and the reciprocal effect with its main hosts
Authors: Parra-Tabla Victor , Tun-Garrido Juan , García-Franco José , Martínez Marisa 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Cassytha filiformis is a hemiparasitic plant that causes severe effects in its host plants. Since this decade, this alien species has been increasing its distribution towards the coastal areas of the Peninsula of Yucatán, parasitizing shrub species that play a crucial role in the containment of soil erosion. Here we studied the current distribution of C. filiformis along the coastal dune in northern Yucatán, recording the frequency of parasitism and the identity of its host plants. In addition, we evaluated the effect of C. filiformis on the sexual reproductive success of the main host plants and the effect of host species identity on C. filiformi’s reproductive success. We found that the distribution of C. filiformis occurs throughout the coastal dunes of Yucatan (covering ≈250km), parasitizing 15 species. However, ca. 70% of C. filiformis plants occur on three common shrub species: Suriana maritima, Scaevola plumieri, and Tournefortia gnaphalodes. The frequency of parasitized plants by C. filiformis was not dependent on host plant abundance. T. gnaphalodes suffer a higher proportion of parasitism. The reproductive success of the three host plants was lower in the presence of the parasitic plant. On the other hand, C. filiformis showed higher reproductive success when parasitizing S. maritima. Our results suggest that C. filiformis has extensively invaded the Yucatán coastal dunes, significantly reducing the sexual reproduction of its host-plant species. Overall, our results suggest that C. filiformis has the potential to cause significant damage in the Yucatán coastal dune community.
Integrated analysis reveals potential significance of FKBP5 in the prognosis and immunity of osteoarthritis and pan-cancer
Authors: Xiao Yueying , Wang Yanan , Xu Xiao , Jiao Xiejia , Huo Yanqing 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
The high disability rate of osteoarthritis (OA), a joint disease with an insidious onset and widespread effects, places a heavy financial burden on patients, families, and society. Traditional diagnostic approaches, including radiology and physical examination, cannot achieve early-stage screening of OA and thus, miss early intervention for patients. Therefore, the need of biomarkers for the early diagnosis of OA is crucial. In this study, we combined data from two gene expression omnibus datasets with information from OA samples, screened differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for OA using the limma package in the R software, and built a weighted gene coexpression network. After obtaining the intersecting genes, four diagnostic marker genes (FKBP5, EPYC, KLF9, and PDZRN4) highly associated with OA were screened using three machine-learning algorithms: random-forest, SVM-RFE, and LASSO. Subsequently, based on the screened signature genes, we developed a nomogram model and evaluated its diagnostic significance using calibration, DCA, and receiver operating characteristic curves. The nomogram model showed excellent predictive power and clinical value. The CIBERSORT algorithm and hallmark enrichment analysis were used to evaluate the involvement of feature genes in immune infiltration and hallmark pathways in patients with OA. The TCGA and GTEx databases provided raw data on FKBP5 expression in tumor and paracancerous samples. After further background research, immune infiltration, and functional enrichment analysis, we found that FKBP5 might play a significant role in the prognosis and immune infiltration of various cancers, and this hypothesis was validated by pancancer analysis. Correlation analysis of FKBP5 expression and drug response suggested that this gene may be a possible target for tumor therapy.
Geographical disparities in Financial Inclusion: Evidence from the United Kingdom
Authors: Rambaccussing Dooruj , Menzies Craig 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Recent developments in the UK cost of living crisis underscore the need for financial inclusion – the capacity of individuals to access essential financial services. The extent of inclusion is, to a certain extent, positively impacted by how literate individuals are about financial products and services. Aside from behavioural factors, this paper tests the relationship between inclusion and financial literacy and knowledge across different regions in the United Kingdom using newly developed measures from the Financial Capability Survey, 2018. The results from this paper show there is a positive and nonlinear relationship between literacy/knowledge and financial inclusion, with interesting variations across the country.
JEL: G2, I22, R10, R58.
Methane, water, quartz, siderite, hematite, and possibly greenalite and sodium hydroxide in a BARB3 drilled sample of the 3.4 Ga Buck ReefChert. Crustal anoxic alkaline high subcritical water at the origin of the observed ferric minerals, methane and disordered graphitic carbon, and of plausible molecules of life
Authors: Bassez Marie-Paule 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Molecular components of the 3.4 Ga Buck Reef Chert, Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa, are reported following spectroscopic results. Earlier hypotheses for their formation and for the synthesis of molecules of life prior to the emergence of life are confirmed. The observations are conducted with four Raman spectrometers located in Johannesburg-South Africa, Cergy-Paris Université-France, Orléans-France and Lille-France. The studied sample is a banded iron section from the BARB3 drill core. Siderite, hematite and possibly greenalite are observed in the quartz matrix. Water, methane, and possibly greenalite or sodium hydroxide, are observed in the quartz cavities. Disordered graphitic carbon appears covering homogenously the section. Its formation is proposed as a deposition from an anoxic methane-rich fluid. A comparison with Raman spectra of graphitic carbon of various origins, suggests a possible direct relation between the Raman profiles and the amount of oxygen contained inside the disordered graphitic matter. The methane may be a remnant of the Archean methane-rich water. In the continuity of the theoretical earlier articles, interactions between high subcritical alkaline anoxic water and the ferrous silicates fayalite and/or ferrosilite are proposed to be at the origin of the experimentally observed ferric minerals and methane. Molecular H2 is emitted during the oxidation of Fe2+ into Fe3+ and induces the transformation of CO2 into CH4. The constructions of the Neoproterozoic and Archean Banded Iron Formations are proposed by ejection of the minerals that formed inside the Earth crust, during processes involving subduction events or not.
The impact of storage buffer and storage conditions on fecal samples for bacteriophage infectivity and metavirome analysis
Authors: Zhai Xichuan , Castro-Mejía Josué L. , Gobbi Alex , Aslampaloglou Antonios , Kot Witold , Nielsen Dennis S. , Deng Ling 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background: There is an increasing interest in investigating the human gut virome, for its influence on the gut bacterial community and its putative influence on the trajectory towards health or disease. Most gut virome studies are based on sequencing of stored fecal samples. However, relatively little is known about how conventional storage buffers and storage conditions affect infectivity of bacteriophages and downstream metavirome sequencing.
Results: We demonstrate that the infectivity and genome recovery rate of the different spiked bacteriophages (T4, c2 and Phi X174) is variable and highly dependent on the storage buffers. Regardless of storage temperature and timespan, all the tested phages immediately lost their infectivity either completely (DNA/RNA Shield) or more than 90% (StayRNA and RNAlater). Generally, SM buffer at 4°C exhibited good maintenance of phage infectivity up to 30 days and phage genomes up to 100 days, while CANVAX was the most effective buffer that kept all spiked phage genomes for at least 100 days. Prolonged storage time (500 days) at –80°C influenced the viral diversity differently in the different buffers. The samples stored in CANVAX or DNA/RNA Shield buffer have the least shifts in metavirome composition after prolonged storage, but produced more contigs classified as “uncharacterised”. In addition, compared to SM buffer, these storage buffers lead to a higher fraction of bacterial contamination in metavirome-sequencing libraries. We found this problem was due to the inactivation of DNAses used for removing extra-cellular DNA during virome extraction, which could be partly solved by additional washing steps before virome extraction.
Conclusion: Fecal sample storage conditions (buffer, time, temperature) strongly influences bacteriophage infectivity and viral composition as determined by plaque assay and metavirome sequencing. The choice of buffer had stronger influence compared to storage temperature and time and could introduce bias for viral sequencing and analysis. Based on these results, we recommend SM buffer for the storage of the fecal virome samples at 4°C for isolation of viruses and –80°C for metagenomic applications if practically feasible (access to cold storage etc.). If other buffers were already used for storage, samples should be purified from these buffers before extraction and sequencing.
Stereoptic serious games as a visual rehabilitation tool for individuals with a residual amblyopia (AMBER trial): A protocol for a crossover randomized controlled trial
Authors: Simon-Martinez Cristina , Antoniou Maria-Paraskevi , Bouthour Walid , Bavelier Daphne , Levi Dennis , Backus Benjamin T. , Dornbos Brian , Blaha James , Kropp Martina , Müller Henning , Murray Micah , Thumann Gabriele , Steffen Heimo , Matusz Pawel J. 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background
Amblyopia is the most common developmental vision disorder in children. The initial treatment consists of refractive correction. When insufficient, occlusion therapy may further improve visual acuity. However, the challenges and compliance issues associated with occlusion therapy may result in treatment failure and residual amblyopia. Virtual reality (VR) games developed to improve visual function have shown positive preliminary results. The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of these games to improve vision, attention, and motor skills in patients with residual amblyopia and identify brain-related changes. We hypothesize that a VR-based training with the suggested ingredients (3D cues and rich feedback), combined with increasing the difficulty level and the use of various games in a home-based environment is crucial for treatment efficacy of vision recovery, and may be particularly effective in children.
Methods
The AMBER study is a randomized, cross-over, controlled trial designed to assess the effect of binocular stimulation (VR-based stereoptic serious games) in individuals with residual amblyopia (n = 30, 6–35 years of age), compared to refractive correction on vision, selective attention and motor control skills. Additionally, they will be compared to a control group of age-matched healthy individuals (n = 30) to account for the unique benefit of VR-based serious games. All participants will play serious games 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week, for 8 weeks. The games are delivered with the Vivid Vision Home software. The amblyopic cohort will receive both treatments in a randomized order according to the type of amblyopia, while the control group will only receive the VR-based stereoscopic serious games. The primary outcome is visual acuity in the amblyopic eye. Secondary outcomes include stereoacuity, functional vision, cortical visual responses, selective attention, and motor control. The outcomes will be measured before and after each treatment with 8-week follow-up.
Discussion
The VR-based games used in this study have been conceived to deliver binocular visual stimulation tailored to the individual visual needs of the patient, which will potentially result in improved basic and functional vision skills as well as visual attention and motor control skills.
Trial registration:
This protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT05114252) and in the Swiss National Clinical Trials Portal (identifier: SNCTP000005024)
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements, Encouragement and Hesitancy among Non-Healthcare, Non-Congregate Workers in Chicago: Results from the WEVax Survey
Authors: Lendacki Frances R , Forst Linda , Mehta Supriya D. , Kerins Janna L. 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background
While frontline and essential workers were prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination in the United States, coverage rates and encouragement strategies among non-healthcare workers have not been well-described. The Chicago Department of Public Health surveyed non-healthcare businesses to fill these knowledge gaps and identify potential mechanisms for improving vaccine uptake.
Methods
The Workplace Encouragement for COVID-19 Vaccination in Chicago survey (WEVax Chicago) was administered, using REDCap from July 11 to September 12, 2022, to businesses previously contacted for COVID-19 surveillance and vaccine-related outreach. Stratified random sampling by industry was used to select businesses for phone follow-up; zip codes with low COVID-19 vaccine coverage were oversampled. Business and workforce characteristics including employee vaccination rates were reported. Frequencies of requirement, verification, and eight other strategies to encourage employee vaccination were assessed, along with barriers to uptake. Fisher’s exact test compared business characteristics, and Kruskal-Wallis test compared numbers of encouragement strategies reported among businesses with high (> 75%) vs. lower or missing vaccination rates.
Results
Forty-nine businesses completed the survey, with 86% having 500 or fewer employees and 35% in frontline essential industries. More than half (59%) reported high COVID-19 vaccination rates among full-time employees; most (75%) workplaces reporting lower coverage were manufacturing businesses with fewer than 100 employees. Verifying vaccination was more common than requiring vaccination (51% vs. 28%). The most frequently reported encouragement strategies aimed to improve convenience of vaccination (e.g., offering leave to be vaccinated (67%) or to recover from side effects (71%)), while most barriers to uptake were related to vaccine confidence (concerns of safety, side effects, and other skepticism). More high-coverage workplaces reported requiring (p=0.03) or verifying vaccination (p=0.07), though the mean and median numbers of strategies used were slightly greater among lower-coverage versus higher-coverage businesses.
Conclusions
Many WEVax respondents reported high COVID-19 vaccine coverage among employees. Vaccine requirement, verification and addressing vaccine mistrust may have more potential to improve coverage among working-age Chicagoans than increasing convenience of vaccination. Vaccine promotion strategies among non-healthcare workers should target low-coverage businesses and assess motivators in addition to barriers among workers and businesses.