bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhancing native seedling establishment on degraded agricultural land with topsoil pellets
Authors: Munro Thomas , Erickson Todd E. , Nimmo Dale G. , Dadzie Frederick A. , Rojas Miriam Muñoz , Price Jodi N. 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Background and aims
Agricultural activities can degrade soils and promote weeds, posing challenges in restoring native plant species. Removing contaminated topsoil, a restoration method used in some agricultural systems, reduces soil nutrients, and eliminates weeds both aboveground and in soil seed bank before direct seeding. However, it also diminishes native soil seed banks and beneficial soil microbes. We investigated the potential of encasing seeds in pellets containing fresh topsoil to improve seedling performance and establishment on a degraded grassy woodland where topsoil had been removed.
Methods
We tested various pellet recipes, including one using commercial ingredients and three with different topsoil proportions (30%, 50%, and 70%). The study was conducted in a degraded grassy woodland in southeastern Australia, where topsoil was removed. We explored the effect of these pellet varieties on seedling emergence and growth of six native species common in this community, as well microbial activity in the soil.
Results
Pellets significantly improved the emergence of Chrysocephalum apiculatum, providing evidence of their effectiveness. However, pellets significantly reduced Arthropodium milleflorum and Glycine tabacina emergence. Linum marginale and Rytidosperma caespitosum emergence remained unaffected by pellets. One species, Bothriochloa macra, had insufficient emergence for analysis. The microbial activity of the soil surrounding Rytidosperma caespitosum seedlings was significantly improved by pellets, with no significant effects observed for other species.
Conclusion
Overall, our results demonstrate that using seed enhancement technologies in combination with direct seeding can improve the emergence of one native species on degraded agricultural soil, potentially facilitating the recovery of degraded ecosystems.
Protective Effect of Luffa cylindrica Roemer against Dexamethasone-Induced Muscle Atrophy in Primary Rat Skeletal Muscle Cells
Authors: Yeo Changhwan , Kim Hyunseong , Jeon Wan-Jin , Lee Junseon , Hong Jin Young , Kim Hyun , Lee Yoon Jae , Baek Seung Ho , Ha In-Hyuk 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are commonly used in the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions. However, the administration of high doses and long-term use of GCs can induce muscle atrophy (MA) in patients, leading to a decline in quality of life and increased mortality. MA leads to protein degradation in skeletal muscle, resulting in a reduction of muscle mass. This process is triggered by GCs like dexamethasone (DEX), which induce the expression of E3 ubiquitin ligases, namely Atrogin-1 and muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF1). In this study, we examined the anti-MA potential of Luffa cylindrica Roemer (LCR) on DEX-treated primary skeletal myotube. Primary skeletal myotubes stimulated with LCR alone resulted in a significant upregulation of myotube development, characterized by an increase in both the number and diameter of myotubes. Contrastingly, combined treatment with LCR and DEX reduced the expression of Atrogin-1, while treatment with DEX alone induced the expression of MuRF1. Furthermore, LCR treatment successfully restored the number and diameter of myotubes that had been diminished by DEX treatment. These findings suggest that LCR holds potential for treating MA, as an accelerating effect on muscle development and anti-MA effects on primary skeletal muscle cells were observed.
Digital anatomical features of morphological development in C2~C7 Neurocentral synchondrosis in children aged 1~6 years: a retrospective study of CT images
Authors: Yi Yuying , Li Ziyu , Sun Ruifen , Yin Zhaozheng , zhang Fengzhen , Wang Xing , Li Kun , Zhang Shaojie , Ren Xiaoyan 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Background With the continuous improvement of diagnosis and treatment technology for cervical spine-related diseases in children at home and abroad, the demand for exploring the developmental anatomy and function of children's cervical spine of different ages is increasing. So the aim of this study was to investigate the changes of anatomical indicators in neurocentral synchondrosis (NCS) of C2 ~ C7 with age and the developmental characteristics of different vertebrae in children aged 1 ~ 6 years old. Method A retrospective collection of 160 cases of normal cervical spine CT images of children aged 1 ~ 6 years old in provincial tertiary hospitals, according to the age group of 1-year-old into 6 groups. The original data of continuously scanned cervical spine tomography images were imported into Mimics16.0 software, under the two-dimensional image window, selected the measurement tool under the Measurements toolbar to measure and statistically analyzed the anatomical indicators such as cross diameter, sagittal diameter, height, perimeter and area of NCS in the C2 ~ C7 segment of the cervical spine on the coronal plane and cross-section. Results There was no significant difference in the anatomical indexes of cervical spine NCS in children compared with the left and right sides of the same vertebrae (P > 0.05). The same cervical spine generally had differences between the age groups of 1 ~ 4 years old and 5 ~ 6 years old (P < 0.05).The transverse diameter and circumference gradually decreased with age; the sagittal diameter and height showed a slight increase trend; there was a maximum area at 2 years of age. In different cervical vertebrae of the same age group, the NCS values of C3, C4,and C5 varied greatly, which showed that the ossification process of cervical cartilage was faster than that at the upper and lower ends. There were obvious differences between C2 and the rest of the cervical vertebral segments’ NCS ossification process. C7 was also very different from the rest of the cervical vertebrae segments, presumably more similar to the thoracic spine. Conclusions The anatomical indexes of C2 ~ C7 NCS in children have obvious developmental regularities at different ages, and there are also regularities between cervical segments.
Seed priming with corona discharge plasma modified growth performance, improved metabolism, and elicited production of tropane alkaloids in Datura inoxia seedlings; plasma technology for application in plant in-vitro cultures
Authors: Tardast Zahra , Iranbakhsh Alireza , Ebadi Mostafa , Ardebili Zahra Oraghi 
Published: August 2023

Abstract

This study aims to monitor growth, biochemical, and anatomical responses of Datura seeds to cold plasma treatments for 0, 60, 120, 180 and 300 seconds. The plasma treatments of 60, 120 and 180 s improved the growth performance of seedlings, while the plasma treatment of 300 s drastically declined growth performance. The most pronounced response to the plasma treatments was on root growth and biomass. The proline concentrations in both root and leaves displayed a linear significant upward trend in response to the plasma treatments. The plasma treatment for 180s was the most effective method to increase tropane alkaloids in leaves about 2-fold. With increasing the plasma duration time from 60 to 300 s, the soluble phenols in leaves were linearly enhanced. The P60, P120, and P180 treatments augmented total protein concentrations by an average of 32.9%, while the P300 treatments significantly diminished protein content by 27.2%. The applied treatments also enhanced the soluble sugars in leaves by an average of 48%. The highest amounts of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) were recorded in the P120 and P180 treatment groups contrasted with P300. The activities of two enzymatic antioxidants, including catalase and peroxidase, showed a similar upward trend to that of proline. The plasma priming also improved the phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity (a secondary metabolism index) by an average of 65.6%. Further investigations are needed to optimize plasma treatment parameters and understand the underlying mechanisms to maximize its benefits while minimizing potential risks.
A prospective study on tumour response assessment methods after neoadjuvant endocrine therapy in early oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer
Authors: López-Velazco Joanna I. , Manzano Sara , Otaño María , Elorriaga Kepa , Bultó Núria , Herrero Julio , Lahuerta Ainhara , Segur Virginia , Álvarez-López Isabel , Caffarel Maria M. , Urruticoechea Ander 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Background
Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) in oestrogen receptor positive (ER+) HER2 negative (HER2-) breast cancer allows real-time evaluation of drug efficacy as well as investigation of the biological and molecular changes that occur after estrogenic deprivation. Clinical and pathological evaluation after neoadjuvant endocrine therapy may be used to obtain prognostic and predictive information of tumour response to decide adjuvant treatment. In this setting, clinical scales developed to evaluate response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy are not useful and there are not many validated biomarkers to assess response to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy beyond Ki67 levels and preoperative endocrine prognostic index score.
Methods
In this prospective study, we extensively analysed radiological (by ultrasound (USS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and pathological tumour response of 104 postmenopausal patients with ER+/HER2- resectable breast cancer, treated with neoadjuvant endocrine treatment for a mean of 7 months prior to surgery. We defined a new score, tumour cellularity size (TCS), calculated as the product of the residual tumour cellularity in the surgical specimen and the tumour pathological size.
Results
Our results show that radiological evaluation by both USS and MRI underestimates pathological tumour size, although they support the use of MRI over USS to clinically assess tumour response. In addition, we propose that the tumour cellularity size could become a new tool to standardize response assessment to NET given its simplicity, reproducibility and its good correlation with existing biomarkers and potential added value.
Conclusion
Our findings shed light on the dynamics of tumour response to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy, challenge the paradigm of the ability of NET to decrease surgical volume and point to the utility of the tumour cellularity size to quantify the scattered tumour response usually produced by endocrine therapy.
Association of anti-β2-glycoprotein I/HLA-DR complex antibody with arterial thrombosis in female patients with systemic rheumatic diseases
Authors: Yoneda Katsuhiko , Ueda Yo , Tanimura Kenji , Arase Hisashi , Yamada Hideto , Saegusa Jun 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Background.
β2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI) complexed with human leukocyte antigen DR (β2GPI/HLA-DR) was found to be a major autoantibody target in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). This study aimed to reveal the association between anti-β2GPⅠ/HLA-DR antibodies and vascular thromboses in women with systemic rheumatic diseases.
Methods.
We conducted a retrospective longitudinal study. We measured anti-β2GPⅠ/HLA-DR antibodies and compared them with anti-phospholipid antibody (aPL) profiles and the adjusted global antiphospholipid syndrome score (aGAPSS). Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, we determined the best cut-off value for arterial thrombosis. We also evaluated the validity of anti-β2GPⅠ/HLA-DR antibodies by adding to conventional cardiovascular risk factors in multivariate logistic analysis.
Results.
We evaluated 704 patients, including 66 (obstetric or thrombotic) APS, 13 primary APS, and 78 asymptomatic aPL carriers. Seventy-seven patients had a history of arterial thrombosis, and 14 patients had both arterial and venous thrombosis. These 14 patients, as well as patients with aGAPSS > 10 or triple-positive aPL profiles, displayed high anti-β2GPⅠ/HLA-DR antibody titers. The ROC curve showed a sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) for arterial thrombosis of 33.8%, 91.4%, and 0.6009, respectively, with a cut-off value of 172.359 U/mL. The anti-β2GPⅠ/HLA-DR antibody positivity using this cut-off value yielded an odds ratio of 5.13 (95%CI: 2.85–9.24), significantly improving the AUC from 0.677 to 0.730.
Conclusion.
Anti-β2GPⅠ/HLA-DR antibodies are associated with arterial thrombosis in female patients with systemic rheumatic diseases.
Social Determinants of Health and Happiness of Older Adults in Ghana: Secondary Analysis of Ghana SAGE Wave 2 Longitudinal Data
Authors: Oduro Joseph Kojo , Oduro Mary Ama , Ameyaw Edward Kwabena 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Background
Social determinants of health [SDOH] and happiness have received meaningful consideration as foundational concepts in the field of public health. However, the relationship between the SDOH and happiness of older adults have not received the requisite recognition in Ghana. This study examined the relationship between the SDOH and happiness of older adults in Ghana.
Methods
The study used data from the 2014/2015 Ghana Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) Wave 2. Data was analysed using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique to investigate the direct, indirect and covariances of the SDOH and happiness of older adults.
Results
The results showed positive relationship between the SDOH and happiness among older adults. The economic stability (β = 0.07), neighbourhood and built environment (β = 0.02, P < 0.001), access to quality education (β = 0.56, P < 0.01), access to healthy food (β = 0.48, P < 0.001) social and community context (β = 0.41, P < 0.05), and access to quality healthcare (β = 0.80, P < 0.001) had direct relationship with happiness of the older adults in Ghana.
Conclusion
This study shows that the conditions in which older adults were born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age (SDOH) positively impact their happiness in later life. Neighbourhood and physical environment influence the effect of quality education on happiness of older adults. Social policies and interventions aiming at happiness of older adults should consider the social determinants of health and the mediating effects of food on happiness through quality education, and quality of healthcare system.
Diagnostic performance of urinary 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid in acute appendicitis: a systematic review and diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis
Authors: Montero Javier Arredondo , Asfura Oscar Emilio Bueso , Riveros Blanca Paola Pérez , Rico-Jiménez María 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Background
This study aimed to analyze the diagnostic performance of urinary 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid (5-HIAA) in acute appendicitis (AA).
Methods
We conducted a systematic review of the literature in the main databases of medical bibliography. Two independent reviewers selected the articles and extracted relevant data. Methodological quality was assessed using the QUADAS2 index. A synthesis of the results, standardization of the metrics, and a random-effect meta-analysis were performed. Additionally, a diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis (DTA) was performed.
Results
Twelve studies with data from 1467 participants (724 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of AA and 743 controls) were included in this review. The random-effect meta-analysis of urinary 5-HIAA (AA vs controls) included 7 articles (352 AA and 258 controls) and resulted in a significant mean difference [95% CI] of 23.30 [15.82–30.77] µmol/L (p < 0.001). The DTA meta-analysis of urinary 5-HIAA included 8 articles and resulted in a pooled sensitivity [95% CI] of 68.6 [44.1–85.9]% and a pooled specificity [95% CI] of 82 [54.7–94.5]%.
Conclusions
Although the evidence is heterogeneous and limited, urinary 5-HIAA emerges as a potential non-invasive diagnostic tool for AA. Urinary 5-HIAA does not seem to be a useful biomarker to distinguish between NCAA and CAA. Future prospective studies with a large sample size and a rigorous design are necessary to validate these findings.
LncRNA-ABALON potentiates mitophagy and 5-FU resistance in colorectal cancer via PINK1/Parkin pathway
Authors: Liu Huimin , Huang Ying , Zhao Chunmei , Wang Guihua , Wang Xudong 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Growing evidence demonstrated long non coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are closely related with malignant progress in colorectal cancer (CRC), and seriously implicated in chemoresistance. Mitophagy serves as an essential factor to maintain the quality of tumor cells. However, it is unclear whether lncRNAs are involved in mitophagy regulation in CRC. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of lncRNA-ABALON on proliferation, migration, apoptosis, sensitivity to 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitophagy in CRC cells. Indicated mRNAs and protein expressions were determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and western blot. CCK-8 was employed to evaluate IC50 of 5-FU and cell viability. Colony formation and flow cytometry were carried out for cell proliferation and apoptosis. We found ABALON expression was increased in CRC tissues, especially in CMS1 subtype and highly expressed ABALON was related with tumor differentiation, TNM staging, and lymph node metastasis (p < 0.05*). ABALON knockdown significantly led to impaired cell proliferation and enhanced apoptosis in CRC. Under different concentrations 5-FU stimulation, the IC50 of ABALON interference group were significantly declined than negative control group. ABALON overexpression promoted the IC50 of CRC cells to 5-FU. ABALON knocking down upregulated TOMM20 expression and suppressed LC3II, PTEN-induced putative kinase1 (PINK1), and E3 ubiquitin ligase (Parkin) expression. Furthermore, under 5-FU stimulation, inhibiting mitophagy reversed the increased colony formation, migration and cell apoptosis induced by ABALON overexpression. Collectively, our study proposed a novel perspective that ABALON potentiates cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis via PINK1/Parkin mediated mitophagy, and ABALON is a promising therapeutic target in reversing 5-FU resistance.
SLC39A14 may be a characteristic gene affecting the development of Barrett's esophagus
Authors: Guo Zheng , Tang Yanping , Li Mingli , Yang Lei , Liu lei , Liu Siyu 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Ferroptosis is associated with a variety of pathophysiological processes. The inhibition of ferroptosis has been widely concerned in some diseases. However, no study has yet fully elucidated the role of iron death-related genes (FRGS) in Barrett esophagus. The key genes of ferroptosis in Barrett's esophagus were screened by bioinformatics analysis and verified by experiments. Data were downloaded from the Ferroptosis database (FerrDb) and the Comprehensive Gene Expression Database (GEO) database, and 203 DE-FRGs associated with Barrett's esophagus were obtained, which are associated with immune inflammation, cancer, etc. SLC39A14 was identified as a key gene from these 203 DE-FRGs using SVM-RFE and LASSO algorithms. Functional annotation shows that this gene may have an important impact on Barrett's esophagus through Autophagy animal, HIF-1 signaling pathway, and FoxO signaling pathway and other pathways. Establishing a Barrett's esophagus rat model through “end-to-end anastomosis of esophagus duodenum and preservation of whole stomach”, and detecting the characteristic target SLC39A14 in rat esophageal tissue. And constructing a ceRNA network of characteristic target SLC39A14 related miRNAs and lncRNAs. In summary, this study provides some insights into the pathogenesis of Barrett's esophagus by combining data mining with experimental verification. On the basis of clinical data mining, animal experiments were conducted to verify the key target SLC39A14. It was revealed that SLC39A14 may be a key gene affecting the occurrence and development of Barrett's esophageal disease through ferroptosis pathway, and the miRNA and lncRNA bound by SLC39A14 were predicted.
SYN1 is associated with immune infiltrates and might be a prognostic biomarker for glioma
Authors: Hu Zhongxu , Hu Xiaolei , Xiao Haiyan , Zeng Youjie , Jiang Minghao , Li Dai , Song Tao 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Background Conventional treatments for glioma patients are not curative, and patient survival remains limited. Therefore, it is crucial to explore additional potent prognostic biomarkers for gliomas. SYN1, a member of the synapsin gene family, has been implicated in various neuropsychiatric illnesses. However, its role in glioma progression remains unclear.Methods Clinical and gene expression profile data of primary tumors were obtained from TCGA database. GEPIA was used to investigate SYN1 expression and plot survival curves of the involved patients. TIMER and CIBERSORT were used to analyze the immune infiltrates and responses of 22 TIICs, respectively. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to identify the potential function of SYN1 in glioma. Furthermore, we collected tissue samples from 25 glioma patients for validation analysis using quantitative real-time PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry.Results 457 eligible glioma samples downloaded from TCGA (including grade II 229 cases and III 228 cases) were involved in the current study. We found SYN1 was poorly expressed in tumor tissue and higher SYN1 expression could significantly improve the survival of glioma patients. Besides, we found that age, grade, and SYN1 were independent prognostic factors for glioma patients. In addition, macrophages M2, macrophages M0, T cells CD4 memory resting, T cells follicular helper, and plasma cells are the main immune cells affected by SYN1 expression. And the expression of SYN1 was negatively correlated with infiltrating levels of B cell, CD4 + T cell, Macrophages, Neutrophil, and Dendritic cell. SYN1 could also significantly influence the cumulative survival of B cell, CD8 + T cell, CD4 + T cell, Macrophages, Neutrophil, and Dendritic cell. The GSEA results indicated that ADIPOGENESIS, G2M_CHECKPOINT, GLYCOLYSIS, KRAS_SIGNALING_DN, KRAS_SIGNALING_UP, MYC_TARGETS_V1, NOTCH_SIGNALING, P53_PATHWAY, PANCREAS_BETA_CELLS, and SPERMATOGENESIS are mainly enriched pathways between the high and low expression groups of SYN1. Further clinical validation found that the expression of SYN1 mRNA and protein was significantly downregulated in glioma tissues.Conclusion SYN1 is found to be associated with immune infiltrates and might be a prognostic biomarker for glioma.