bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in the mountainous regions of southern China: A retrospective single‐center study
Authors: Deng Qiaoting , Lin Lifang , Guo Wei , Deng Xunwei , Zhang Qunji , Hou Jingyuan 
Published: January 2023

AbstractBackgroundHepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major public health issue worldwide. Moreover, its prevalence varies significantly in different geographic areas of China. The current study aimed to assess the prevalence of HBV infection among Hakka pregnant women in Meizhou, a remote mountainous region in southern China.MethodsThis research was performed between January 2015 and December 2020. In total, 16,727 pregnant women receiving antenatal care at Meizhou People's Hospital were included in the analysis. All pregnant women were screened for serum HBV markers.ResultsThe prevalence rates of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B surface antibody positivity among the participants were 11.74% (n = 1964) and 48.00% (n = 8029), respectively. The overall prevalence rates of susceptibility to infection, HBV immunity, previous/occult infection, inactive HBsAg carrier, and active infection were 36.16%, 33.61%, 16.94%, 8.11%, and 2.30%, respectively. According to age distribution, the prevalence rate of HBsAg positivity elevated concomitantly with increasing age (p < 0.001). From 2015 to 2020, the prevalence rate of HBsAg positivity decreased from 14.50% to 8.19% and that of hepatitis B pre‐core antigen positivity from 4.42% to 2.31%. In addition, pregnant women with HBsAg‐positive status were more likely to present with gestational diabetes, thrombocytopenia, and anemia than those with HBsAg‐negative status.ConclusionThe HBV infection rate remains high among pregnant women in the indigenous Hakka population in southern China. To prevent vertical transmission, cautious surveillance of maternal HBV infection status should be considered in Hakka pregnant women in Meizhou.
Mitochondria transplant therapy improves regeneration and restoration of injured skeletal muscle
Authors: Alway Stephen E. , Paez Hector G. , Pitzer Christopher R. , Ferrandi Peter J. , Khan Mohammad Moshahid , Mohamed Junaith S. , Carson James A. , Deschenes Michael R. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractBackgroundInjection of exogenous mitochondria has been shown to improve the ischaemia‐damaged myocardium, but the effect of mitochondrial transplant therapy (MTT) to restore skeletal muscle mass and function has not been tested following neuromuscular injury. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that MTT would improve the restoration of muscle function after injury.MethodsBaCl2 was injected into the gastrocnemius muscle of one limb of 8–12‐week‐old C57BL/6 mice to induce damage without injury to the resident stem cells. The contralateral gastrocnemius muscle was injected with phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) and served as the non‐injured intra‐animal control. Mitochondria were isolated from donor mice. Donor mitochondria were suspended in PBS or PBS without mitochondria (sham treatment) and injected into the tail vein of BaCl2 injured mice 24 h after the initial injury. Muscle repair was examined 7, 14 and 21 days after injury.ResultsMTT did not increase systemic inflammation in mice. Muscle mass 7 days following injury was 21.9 ± 2.1% and 17.4 ± 1.9% lower (P < 0.05) in injured as compared with non‐injured intra‐animal control muscles in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS)‐ and MTT‐treated animals, respectively. Maximal plantar flexor muscle force was significantly lower in injured as compared with uninjured muscles of PBS‐treated (−43.4 ± 4.2%, P < 0.05) and MTT‐treated mice (−47.7 ± 7.3%, P < 0.05), but the reduction in force was not different between the experimental groups. The percentage of collagen and other non‐contractile tissue in histological muscle cross sections, was significantly greater in injured muscles of PBS‐treated mice (33.2 ± 0.2%) compared with MTT‐treated mice (26.5 ± 0.2%) 7 days after injury. Muscle wet weight and maximal muscle force from injured MTT‐treated mice had recovered to control levels by 14 days after the injury. However, muscle mass and force had not improved in PBS‐treated animals by 14 days after injury. The non‐contractile composition of the gastrocnemius muscle tissue cross sections was not different between control, repaired PBS‐treated and repaired MTT‐treated mice 14 days after injury. By 21 days following injury, PBS‐treated mice had fully restored gastrocnemius muscle mass of the injured muscle to that of the uninjured muscle, although maximal plantar flexion force was still 19.4 ± 3.7% (P < 0.05) lower in injured/repaired gastrocnemius as compared with uninjured intra‐animal control muscles.ConclusionsOur results suggest that systemic mitochondria delivery can enhance the rate of muscle regeneration and restoration of muscle function following injury.
Association ofMRIFeatures and Adverse Maternal Outcome in Patients With Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorders After Abdominal Aortic Balloon Occlusion
Authors: Lu Tao , Wu Mingpeng , Wang Yishuang , Li Mou , Li Hang , Zhang Feng , Yi Yuan , Zhu Meilin , Zhao Xinyi 
Published: January 2023

BackgroundMRI features may be associated with adverse maternal outcome in patients with placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders even with abdominal aortic balloon occlusion (AABO).PurposeThis study aimed to identify risk factors of MRI for association with adverse maternal outcome in patients with PAS disorders after AABO.Study TypeRetrospective.PopulationClinical and MRI features of 80 patients were retrospectively reviewed from October 2016 to August 2021. A total of 40 patients had adverse maternal outcomes including intrapartum/peripartum bleeding >1000 mL and/or emergency hysterectomy after AABO.SequenceHalf‐Fourier acquisition single‐shot turbo spin echo and gradient echo imaging True fast imaging with steady‐state precession (True‐FISP) at 1.5T MR scanner.AssessmentMRI features were evaluated by three radiologists and were tested for any association with adverse maternal outcome.Statistical TestsInterobserver agreement was calculated with kappa (k) statistics. Association between MRI features and adverse maternal outcomes were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. A nomogram was constructed based on the logistic regression.ResultsThe interobserver agreement ranged from fair to substantial (k = 0.379–0.783). Multivariate analyses revealed that short cervical length (OR: 4.344), abnormal intraplacental vascularity (OR: 6.005), placental bulge (OR: 9.085), and myometrial interruption (OR: 9.550) were independent risk factors for adverse maternal outcomes. The combination of four risk factors together demonstrated the highest AUC of 0.851 (95% CI 0.769–0.933) with a sensitivity and specificity of 77.5% and 72.5%, respectively and then a nomogram composed of the above four risk factors was constructed to represent the probability of adverse maternal outcome.Data ConclusionThe nomogram demonstrated the association between MRI features and patient's poor outcome after undergoing AABO and C‐section delivery for PAS.Evidence Level4Technical EfficacyStage 3
Microglia innate immune response contributes to the antiviral defense and blood–CSF barrier function in human choroid plexus organoids during HSV‐1 infection
Authors: Qiao Haowen , Chiu Yuanpu , Liang Xinyan , Xia Shangzhou , Ayrapetyan Mariam , Liu Siqi , He Cuiling , Song Ruocen , Zeng Jianxiong , Deng Xiangxue , Yuan Weiming , Zhao Zhen 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe choroid plexus (ChP) is the source of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The ChP–CSF system not only provides the necessary cushion for the brain but also works as a sink for waste clearance. During sepsis, pathogens and host immune cells can weaken the ChP barrier and enter the brain, causing cerebral dysfunctions known as sepsis‐associated encephalophagy. Here, we used human ChP organoid (ChPO) to model herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1) infection and found ChP epithelial cells were highly susceptible to HSV‐1. Since the current ChPO model lacks a functional innate immune component, particularly microglia, we next developed a new microglia‐containing ChPO model, and found microglia could effectively limit HSV‐1 infection and protect epithelial barrier in ChPOs. Furthermore, we found the innate immune cyclic GMP‐AMP synthase (cGAS)–STING pathway and its downstream interferon response were essential, as cGAS inhibitor RU.512 or STING inhibitor H‐151 abolished microglia antiviral function and worsened ChP barrier in organoids. These results together indicated that cGAS–STING pathway coordinates antiviral response in ChP and contributes to treating sepsis or related neurological conditions.
The combined evaluation of fibrinogen and D‐dimer levels are a helpful tool to exclude periprosthetic knee infection
Authors: Balato Giovanni , Ascione Tiziana , Festa Enrico , De Vecchi Elena , Pagliano Pasquale , Pellegrini Antonio , Pandolfo Giuseppe , Siciliano Roberta , Logoluso Nicola 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThis retrospective study was undertaken to (i) define the most appropriate thresholds for serum d‐dimer and fibrinogen for differentiating aseptic failure from periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) and (ii) evaluate the predictive value of our d‐dimer and fibrinogen threshold compared to previously proposed thresholds. This observational cohort study included consecutive patients who had undergone total knee arthroplasty (TKA) revision between January 2019 and December 2020. International Consensus Meeting diagnostic criteria were used to identify patients affected by the prosthetic infection. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses assessed the predictive value of the parameters, and the areas under the curves were evaluated. We included 125 patients with a median age of 69 years (53–82) affected by painful TKA. Fifty‐seven patients (47%) had PJI. Patients with PJI had higher median d‐dimer, fibrinogen, ESR, and CRP when compared to patients believed to be free of PJI. The best threshold values for d‐dimer and fibrinogen were 1063 ng/ml (sensitivity 0.72, specificity 0.74) and 420 mg/dl (sensitivity 0.67 and specificity 0.82), respectively. A d‐dimer level >1063 ng/ml combined with a fibrinogen level >420 mg/dl had a sensitivity of 0.52, and a specificity of 0.90. We found that an increased d‐dimer beyond 1063 ng/ml showed a better predictive value than the previously proposed threshold. The combined determination of d‐dimer and fibrinogen displayed high specificity and should be considered an excellent tool to rule out an infection. The accuracy of the proposed cutoffs is more effective than previously reported.
Critical shoot phosphorus concentrations for changes in root morphology to improve phosphorus uptake in cotton
Authors: Chen Bolang , Feng Lin , Gu Huimin , Zhang Man , Chai Zhongpin , Feng Gu 
Published: January 2023

AbstractBackgroundIn recent years, the response of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) root morphology and rhizosphere processes to phosphorus (P) deficiency have attracted extensive attention. However, the dynamics of root morphology and physiology to shoot P concentration (SPC) under various P conditions remain unclear.AimWe aimed to determine the changes in root morphology and physiology and their relationships with SPC under different levels of P supply.MethodThe cotton cultivars XLZ13 and XLZ19 were grown in a hydroponic experiment with seven rates of P supply (0–2.0 mM P L−1) and in a root box experiment with seven P levels (0–400 mg P kg−1). Root morphological and physiological parameters were determined 60 days after planting (hydroponic experiment) and 75 days after transplanting (root box experiment).ResultsCotton plant growth, P uptake, and root morphology differed significantly between the two genotypes and among the P levels. Cotton plants had the maximum shoot biomass when the SPC of XLZ13 and XLZ19 were 4.6–5.9 mg g−1 and 3.9‐5.0 mg g−1, respectively. Total and specific root lengths initially increased with increasing SPC and peaked at an SPC of XLZ13 and XLZ19 about 6.0–7.0 mg g−1 and 4.0‐5.0 mg g−1, respectively. Root physiological responses (rhizosphere acidification, acid phosphatase [Apase] activity) decreased as the SPC increased.ConclusionsThe critical SPC for optimal root morphology were 5–6 mg g−1. P deficiency did not induce rhizosphere acidification but promoted root and rhizosphere APase activity.
Dietary rutin improves breast meat quality in heat‐stressed broilers and protects mitochondria from oxidative attack via the AMPK/PINK1–Parkin pathway
Authors: Chen Shun , Liu HuiJuan , Zhang JiaQi , Zhou BinBin , He XiaoFang , Wang Tian , Wang Chao 
Published: January 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDThis study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary rutin on the meat quality, antioxidant status and mitochondrial structure and function in the breast muscle of heat‐stressed broilers. A total of 192 male broilers were randomly assigned into three groups and treated with normal control (CON), heat stress (34 °C, HS), and HS with 500 mg kg−1 rutin supplementation (HS + Rutin), respectively.RESULTSDietary rutin significantly reversed HS‐induced decrease in body weight, average daily feed intake, average daily gain, and feed efficiency. Rutin supplementation attenuated HS‐induced impaired meat quality by decreasing the lightness, drip loss at 24 and 48 h, the peak time of free water (T22) and the peak area ratio of free water (P22), and increasing the pH24h and peak area ratio of immobilized water (P21). Rutin supplementation promoted superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase activities and total antioxidant capacity, and decreased malondialdehyde levels compared with the HS group. Moreover, rutin attenuated HS‐induced mitochondrial damage by increasing the mitochondrial DNA copy number and improving mitochondrial morphology. Dietary rutin significantly increased mitochondrial biogenesis‐related mRNA (proliferator‐activated γ receptor coactivator‐1α [PGC‐1α], nuclear respiratory factor 1 [NRF1], and mitochondrial transcription factor A [TFAM]) expression via the AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway. HS significantly increased mitophagy‐related genes and proteins (Parkin, PTEN‐induced putative kinase 1 [PINK1], microtubule associated protein light chain 3‐II [LC3‐II]) expression, and dietary rutin significantly reversed these alterations.CONCLUSIONDietary rutin attenuated the HS‐induced decline in meat quality and antioxidant capacity of broilers, which may be related to inhibition of the AMPK/PINK1–Parkin signaling pathway to attenuate mitochondrial damage. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Polarization‐Multiplexing Bessel Vortex Beams for Polarization Detection of Continuous Terahertz Waves
Authors: Jiang Zhao , Lu Jinhui , Fan Jiayu , Liang Jiaxuan , Zhang Min , Su Hong , Zhang Lei , Liang Huawei 
Published: January 2023

AbstractDetermination of polarization states of electromagnetic waves plays a crucial role in photonic applications. However, it is very challenging to determine the polarization state of continuous terahertz (THz) waves. Here, a metasurface‐like metallic waveguide array (MWA) is proposed to address this by measuring both the phase difference and amplitude ratio of its two orthogonal components based on generation and interference of polarization‐multiplexing vortex beams. When a full‐polarized THz wave passes through the MWA, its two orthogonal components will be converted into +1st‐ and −1st‐order Bessel vortex beams, respectively. Their projection components in a proper polarized direction can interfere with each other, and their initial phase difference can be measured in real‐time owing to its linear relationship with the azimuth of the dark fringe in interference patterns. The two Bessel beams can be further collected separately using a linear polarizer to obtain their amplitude ratio. Therefore, the polarization state of incident waves can be determined with both the phase difference and amplitude ratio. The proposed method enables a convenient polarization determination of continuous THz waves and has great potential for developing polarization‐dependent investigations and applications in THz detection, communication, and sensing.
Excitation of Epsilon‐Near‐Zero Mode in Optical Fiber
Authors: Yang Jingyi , Minn Khant , Anopchenko Aleksei , Gurung Sudip , Lee Ho Wai Howard 
Published: January 2023

AbstractExperimental excitation of a highly confined epsilon‐near‐zero (ENZ) mode in a side‐polished optical fiber coated with a deep subwavelength thick layer of aluminum‐doped zinc oxide (AZO) is reported. The uniform AZO layer on the fiber is fabricated by atomic layer deposition technique and optimized to exhibit close‐to‐zero permittivity at the near‐infrared wavelength. Highly polarization‐ and wavelength‐dependent transmission with strong resonance strength up to 25 dB is observed in a 30‐nm ENZ‐coated fiber that is 17 mm long. Different from the excitation of the ENZ mode in a planar conducting oxide thin film, the hybrid ENZ mode can be excited via direct phase matching between the fundamental mode of the fiber and the ENZ mode supported by the AZO thin film. The hybrid ENZ mode in the fiber exhibits a relatively long propagation/light–matter interaction length which is a few orders of magnitude longer than those on the planar ENZ substrates. It is further shown that the hybrid resonance in the ENZ fiber can be actively tuned through the refractive index of surrounding medium and the large ENZ's nonlinearity. These ENZ‐optical fibers serve as emerging in‐fiber optical devices, such as advanced in‐fiber ultrafast optical switches/modulators, mode‐locked fiber lasers, and in‐fiber optical gas/biomolecule sensors.
A Polymer Lost in the Shuffle: The Perspective of Poly(para)phenylenes
Authors: Kleybolte Moritz E. , Vagin Sergei I. , Rieger Bernhard 
Published: January 2023

AbstractDuring 1990s, poly(para)phenylenes (PPPs) are one of the most prominent and hyped classes of conjugated polymers. Even though they have been heavily investigated for different applications, they are now eking out a rather niche existence. It is believed that this decline of interest partly has come from the early obstacle of synthesizing high‐molecular weight, processable, and defect‐free PPPs. Early examples of PPPs are not only rather oligomers than polymers but also contain many regiochemical and structural defects. Furthermore, early unsubstituted materials are infusible and insoluble, which have made their practical application almost impossible. Another reason for the decline of research interest in PPPs may be their underperformance in early applications, particularly in organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs), which ultimately lead to a lack of follow‐up publications. However, over the last two decades not only more precise and advanced synthesis methods have arisen but also a more profound understanding of those applications has been achieved within which new technological approaches have emerged. It is believed that PPPs would benefit from this development. Accordingly, in this perspective, the synthesis, structures, properties, and applications of PPPs reported so far as well as their potential in future technologies are discussed.
Simple structured ultranarrow‐band metamaterial perfect absorber with dielectric‐dielectric‐metal configuration
Authors: Yin Zhe , Ming Mei , Chen Liang , Song Jianhui , Lin Sen , Gao Hongwei , Liu Jun 
Published: January 2023

AbstractA simple structured ultranarrow‐band metamaterial perfect absorber (MPA) with dielectric‐dielectric‐metal configuration is studied both theoretically and experimentally. By optimizing the dielectric connectivity layer and metal substrate, the optimized simple structured ultranarrow‐band MPA is obtained. Theoretical simulation results show that the MPA exhibits single ultranarrow absorption peak at normal incidence and double ultranarrow absorption peaks at oblique incidence. The heat power density distributions of the optimized MPA are also calculated to depict the absorption mechanism. At last, we fabricate a MPA sample and measure its absorption spectra to make a further comparison. The experimental data are consistent with the theoretical ones. This novel method might be helpful to reduce the manufacture difficulty and cost of the ultranarrow‐band MPAs, and also to promote the development of applications of the ultranarrow‐band MPAs.
Validation of an EGSnrc‐based Monte Carlo model for a complex 2D‐array for technical QA measurements of a linear accelerator
Authors: Czarnecki Damian , Zink Klemens , Alissa Mohamad , Flatten Veronika , Espelage Teresa , Schoenfeld Andreas A. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractPurposeMulti‐axis ionization chamber arrays can be used for quality assurance (QA) and measurement of linear accelerator (linac) specific data. In this work, the ability of the IC Profiler (Sun Nuclear Corp., Melbourne, Florida) detector array to measure the photon beam quality specifier %dd(10) and TPR20, 10 was investigated. To investigate the method for beam energy QA using a two‐dimensional detector array, a Monte Carlo‐based model of the detector array was developed and validated.MethodsA Monte Carlo‐based model of the IC Profiler detector array with Quad Wedge accessories was developed in detail from drawings provided by the manufacturer using the egs++ class library from the EGSnrc code system. Monte Carlo simulations were used to calculate the absorbed dose in the 251 ionization chambers of the IC profiler in the 6 MV Elekta Precise radiation field. To validate the results from the Monte Caro simulations, measurements were performed on clinical 6 MV linacs. To vary the photon beam quality of the Elekta 6 MV linac, the current of the bending magnet was varied. Furthermore, the area ratio was calculated from IC Profiler measurements with the Quad Wedge accessories.ResultsMeasurements as well as Monte Carlo simulations confirmed the linear relationship between the area ratio and the investigated photon beam quality specifier %dd(10) and TPR20, 10 for the investigated radiation source. Furthermore, the Monte Carlo‐simulated data were within the 95% confidence interval of the linear fit to the measured data. This enabled the Monte Carlo‐based IC Profiler model to be used for further investigations. The values were calculated for various electron beam sizes and the angle of incidence on the target of the linac.ConclusionsA Monte‐Carlo‐based model of the detector array was developed, which could successfully reproduce measurements, demonstrating that even very complex geometries can be modeled in EGSnrc. Moreover, the study showed that the validated Monte Carlo model has the potential to investigate variations in beam parameters and their effects on AR ratios and %dd(10) that may not be investigated experimentally. While these findings may help users gain a deeper understanding of the QA method, the Monte Carlo model enables other complex investigations, such as the simulation of measurements in the presence of magnetic fields, or the simulation of measurements on novel treatment delivery techniques and devices.