bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transgene-free direct conversion of murine fibroblasts into functional muscle stem cells
Authors: Qabrati Xhem , Kim Inseon , Ghosh Adhideb , Bundschuh Nicola , Noé Falko , Palmer Andrew S. , Bar-Nur Ori 
Published: August 2023

AbstractTranscription factor-based cellular reprogramming provides an attractive approach to produce desired cell types for regenerative medicine purposes. Such cellular conversions are widely dependent on viral vectors to efficiently deliver and express defined factors in target cells. However, use of viral vectors is associated with unfavorable genomic integrations that can trigger deleterious molecular consequences, rendering this method a potential impediment to clinical applications. Here, we report on a highly efficient transgene-free approach to directly convert mouse fibroblasts into induced myogenic progenitor cells (iMPCs) by overexpression of synthetic MyoD-mRNA in concert with an enhanced small molecule cocktail. First, we performed a candidate compound screen and identified two molecules that enhance fibroblast reprogramming into iMPCs by suppression of the JNK and JAK/STAT pathways. Simultaneously, we developed an optimal transfection protocol to transiently overexpress synthetic MyoD-mRNA in fibroblasts. Combining these two techniques enabled robust and rapid reprogramming of fibroblasts into Pax7 positive iMPCs in as little as 10 days. Nascent transgene-free iMPCs proliferated extensively in vitro, expressed a suite of myogenic stem cell markers, and could differentiate into highly multinucleated and contractile myotubes. Furthermore, using global and single-cell transcriptome assays, we delineated gene expression changes associated with JNK and JAK/STAT pathway inhibition during reprogramming, and identified in iMPCs a Pax7+ stem cell subpopulation resembling satellite cells. Last, transgene-free iMPCs robustly engrafted skeletal muscles of a Duchenne muscular dystrophy mouse model, restoring dystrophin expression in hundreds of myofibers. In summary, this study reports on an improved and clinically safer approach to convert fibroblasts into myogenic stem cells that can efficiently contribute to muscle regeneration in vivo.
Clinical trial data sharing: a cross-sectional study of outcomes associated with two U.S. National Institutes of Health models
Authors: Rowhani-Farid Anisa , Grewal Mikas , Solar Steven , Eghrari Allen O. , Zhang Audrey D. , Gross Cary P. , Krumholz Harlan M. , Ross Joseph S. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe impact and effectiveness of clinical trial data sharing initiatives may differ depending on the data sharing model used. We characterized outcomes associated with models previously used by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH): National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) centralized model and National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) decentralized model. We identified trials completed in 2010–2013 that met NIH data sharing criteria and matched studies based on cost and/or size, determining whether trial data were shared, and for those that were, the frequency of secondary internal publications (authored by at least one author from the original research team) and shared data publications (authored by a team external to the original research team). We matched 77 NHLBI-funded trials to 77 NCI-funded trials; among these, 20 NHLBI-sponsored trials (26%) and 4 NCI-sponsored trials (5%) shared data (OR 6.4, 95% CI: 2.1, 19.8). From the 4 NCI-sponsored trials sharing data, we identified 65 secondary internal and 2 shared data publications. From the 20 NHLBI-sponsored trials sharing data, we identified 188 secondary internal and 53 shared data publications. The NHLBI’s centralized data sharing model was associated with more trials sharing data and more shared data publications when compared with the NCI’s decentralized model.
A novel quantitative targeted analysis of X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) using nanopore sequencing
Authors: Johansson Josefin , Lidéus Sarah , Höijer Ida , Ameur Adam , Gudmundsson Sanna , Annerén Göran , Bondeson Marie-Louise , Wilbe Maria 
Published: August 2023

AbstractX-chromosome inactivation (XCI) analyses often assist in diagnostics of X-linked traits, however accurate assessment remains challenging with current methods. We developed a novel strategy using amplification-free Cas9 enrichment and Oxford nanopore technologies sequencing called XCI-ONT, to investigate and rigorously quantify XCI in human androgen receptor gene (AR) and human X-linked retinitis pigmentosa 2 gene (RP2). XCI-ONT measures methylation over 116 CpGs in AR and 58 CpGs in RP2, and separate parental X-chromosomes without PCR bias. We show the usefulness of the XCI-ONT strategy over the PCR-based golden standard XCI technique that only investigates one or two CpGs per gene. The results highlight the limitations of using the golden standard technique when the XCI pattern is partially skewed and the advantages of XCI-ONT to rigorously quantify XCI. This study provides a universal XCI-method on DNA, which is highly valuable in clinical and research framework of X-linked traits.
Characterizing the effects of structural fires on fine particulate matter with a dense sensing network
Authors: Anyachebelu Ayina , Cabral Alex , Abdin Marah I. , Choudhury Pallavi , Daepp Madeleine I. G. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractShort-term increases in air pollution levels are linked to large adverse effects on health and productivity. However, existing regulatory monitoring systems lack the spatial or temporal resolution needed to capture localized events. This study uses a dense network of over 100 sensors, deployed across the city of Chicago, Illinois, to capture the spread of smoke from short-term structural fire events. Examining all large structural fires that occurred in the city over a year (N = 21), we characterize differences in PM$$_{2.5}$$

2.5

concentrations downwind versus upwind of the fires. On average, we observed increases of up to 10.7 $$\upmu$$
μ
g/m$$^{3}$$

3

(95% CI 5.7–15.7) for sensors within 2 km and up to 7.7 $$\upmu$$
μ
g/m$$^{3}$$

3

(95% CI 3.4–12.0) for sensors 2–5 km downwind of fires. Statistically significant elevated concentrations were evident as far as 5 km downwind of the location of the fire and persisted over approximately 2 h on average. This work shows how low-cost sensors can provide insight on local and short-term pollution events, enabling regulators to provide timely warnings to vulnerable populations.
Transitions of dialysis status and outcomes after the unplanned first dialysis: a nationwide population-based cohort study
Authors: Liao Chia-Te , Lai Jia-Hong , Chen Yu-Wei , Hsu Yung-Ho , Wu Mei-Yi , Zheng Cai-Mei , Hsu Chih-Cheng , Wu Mai-Szu , Chuang Shao-Yuan 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn Taiwan, most first-time dialysis was started without the creation of an arteriovenous shunt. Here, we aimed to elucidate the transitions of dialysis status in the unplanned first dialysis patients and determine factors associated with their outcomes. A total of 50,315 unplanned first dialysis patients aged more than 18 years were identified from the National Health Insurance Dataset in Taiwan between 2001 and 2012. All patients were followed for 5 years for the transitions in dialysis status, including robust (dialysis-free), sporadic dialysis, continued dialysis, and death. Furthermore, factors associated with the development of continued dialysis and death were examined by the Cox proportional hazard models. After 5 years after the first dialysis occurrence, there were 5.39% with robust status, 1.67% with sporadic dialysis, 8.45% with continued dialysis, and 84.48% with death. Notably, we have identified common risk factors for developing maintenance dialysis and deaths, including male gender, older age, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, sepsis, and surgery. There was an extremely high mortality rate among the first unplanned dialysis patients in Taiwan. Less than 10% of these patients underwent continued dialysis during the 5-year follow-up period. This study highlighted the urgent need for interventions to improve patient outcomes.
A two-step deep learning method for 3DCT-2DUS kidney registration during breathing
Authors: Chi Yanling , Xu Yuyu , Liu Huiying , Wu Xiaoxiang , Liu Zhiqiang , Mao Jiawei , Xu Guibin , Huang Weimin 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThis work proposed KidneyRegNet, a novel deep registration pipeline for 3D CT and 2D U/S kidney scans of free breathing, which comprises a feature network, and a 3D–2D CNN-based registration network. The feature network has handcrafted texture feature layers to reduce the semantic gap. The registration network is an encoder-decoder structure with loss of feature-image-motion (FIM), which enables hierarchical regression at decoder layers and avoids multiple network concatenation. It was first pretrained with a retrospective dataset cum training data generation strategy and then adapted to specific patient data under unsupervised one-cycle transfer learning in onsite applications. The experiment was performed on 132 U/S sequences, 39 multiple-phase CT and 210 public single-phase CT images, and 25 pairs of CT and U/S sequences. This resulted in a mean contour distance (MCD) of 0.94 mm between kidneys on CT and U/S images and MCD of 1.15 mm on CT and reference CT images. Datasets with small transformations resulted in MCDs of 0.82 and 1.02 mm, respectively. Large transformations resulted in MCDs of 1.10 and 1.28 mm, respectively. This work addressed difficulties in 3DCT-2DUS kidney registration during free breathing via novel network structures and training strategies.
ABC transporters are billion-year-old Maxwell Demons
Authors: Flatt Solange , Busiello Daniel Maria , Zamuner Stefano , De Los Rios Paolo 
Published: August 2023

AbstractATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters are a broad family of biological machines, found in most prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, performing the crucial import or export of substrates through both plasma and organellar membranes, and maintaining a steady concentration gradient driven by ATP hydrolysis. Building upon the present biophysical and biochemical characterization of ABC transporters, we propose here a model whose solution reveals that these machines are an exact molecular realization of the autonomous Maxwell Demon, a century-old abstract device that uses an energy source to drive systems away from thermodynamic equilibrium. In particular, the Maxwell Demon does not perform any direct mechanical work on the system, but simply selects which spontaneous processes to allow and which ones to forbid based on information that it collects and processes. In its autonomous version, the measurement device is embedded in the system itself. In the molecular model introduced here, the different operations that characterize Maxwell Demons (measurement, feedback, resetting) are features that emerge from the biochemical and structural properties of ABC transporters, revealing the crucial role of allostery to process information. Our framework allows us to develop an explicit bridge between the molecular-level description and the higher-level language of information theory for ABC transporters.
Analysis of conductance and interfacial polarisation behaviours of silicone rubber based on frequency domain spectroscopy
Authors: Hu Hao , Jia Zhidong , Wang Xilin , Guan Ruiyang , Fan Weinan , Luo Simin 
Published: August 2023

AbstractSilicone rubber (SR) is widely used for cable insulation and operates in multi‐stress coupling conditions. Its dielectric properties and ageing performance are the essential factors affecting cable operation. In this study, the frequency domain spectroscopy of unaged SR and SR aged under various conditions is measured. The dielectric responses before and after ageing are analysed in depth by the conjoint analysis via multiple complex planes (permittivity, conductivity, and modulus). Typical conductivity and interfacial polarisation properties, as well as property changes resulting from thermal and tensile ageing, are examined. Experimental results show that tensile ageing promotes conductance and interfacial polarisation, while thermal ageing shows the opposite effects. Based on the multi‐core model and charge carrier hopping transport model, thermal and tensile ageing mechanisms on the conductance and interfacial polarisation behaviours of SR are demonstrated. Both behaviours exhibit positively correlated changing characteristics, suggesting that the two behaviours may originate from a common process. The carrier transport process, promoted by the tensile effect and slightly suppressed by the thermal effect, is the primary factor and considered an important indicator to evaluate the dielectric properties of SR insulation.
Impact of electric vehicles on low‐voltage residential distribution networks: A probabilistic analysis
Authors: Hungbo Matthias , Gu Mingchen , Meegahapola Lasantha , Littler Timothy , Bu Siqi 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe past two decades have seen a rapid increase in electric vehicles (EVs) for several reasons, such as policy directives to reduce carbon emissions in the transport sector and technology advancements in the EV industry. However, this has increased the load demand on the power grid, especially in the low‐voltage (LV) network, as most EVs are charged at EV owner premises. This paper investigates the impact of EVs on the LV residential distribution network using a probabilistic modelling framework. Probability distribution functions for EV charging power are derived using the United Kingdom (UK) EV dataset. The study has investigated multiple EV penetration levels, different probability distribution functions for EV charging representation, vehicle‐to‐grid (V2G), solar photovoltaic (PV) generation, and the volt‐var capability of the solar‐PV inverter. The results have shown that as EV penetration increases in the distribution network, there is a significant increase in transformer loading and a decrease in the steady‐state voltage levels. V2G has positively impacted the distribution network. A case study carried out on a real LV feeder with solar‐PV generation has shown how PV generation and volt‐var functionality of the PV inverter help reduce the impact of EV charging and V2G.
Distributed demand response charging control of multiple plug‐in electric vehicle clusters
Authors: Yu Jie , Hu Jianqiang , Li Cheng , Zhang Qingjie , Liu Chuan , Liu Shidong 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThis paper is devoted to the distributed demand response (DR) charging control of plug‐in electric vehicles (PEVs) for frequency regulation in power systems in terms of load following service. Specifically, PEVs are divided into different clusters according to their parking place under different energy management systems. Each EV cluster is modelled by a transport‐based load aggregate model with the input being the charging rate, and the output is the aggregate power. Based on the aggregate charging control model, a novel dynamic real‐time distributed pinning control algorithm is proposed to coordinate the charging rates such that the aggregate charging power of PEVs can follow a given reference power trajectory. The theoretical analysis shows that if the reference power profile is in the trackable area of all PEVs' charging power and the ramping rate is restrained by a predefined bounded constraint, then the demand response charging tracking control is solvable. Finally, simulation results on an EV system with twelve PEV clusters are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed demand response control algorithm.
Astrometry in crowded fields towards the Galactic bulge
Authors: Luna Alonso , Marchetti Tommaso , Rejkuba Marina , Minniti Dante 
Published: August 2023

Context. The astrometry towards the Galactic bulge is hampered by high stellar crowding and patchy extinction. This effect is particularly severe for optical surveys such as the European Space Agency satellite Gala.
Aims. In this study, we assess the consistency of proper motion measurements between optical (Gaia DR3) and near-infrared (VIRAC2) catalogues in comparison with proper motions measured with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations in several crowded fields towards the Galactic bulge and in Galactic globular clusters.
Methods. Assuming that the proper motion measurements are well characterised, the uncertainty-normalised proper motion differences between pairs of catalogues are expected to follow a normal distribution. A deviation from a normal distribution defines the inflation factor r. By multiplying the proper motion uncertainties with the appropriate inflation factor values, the Gaia (VIRAC2) proper motion measurements are brought into a 1σ agreement with the HST proper motions.
Results. The inflation factor (r) depends on stellar surface density. For the brightest stars in our sample (G < 18), the dependence on G-band magnitude is strong, corresponding to the most precise Gaia DR3 proper motions. We used the number of observed Gaia DR3 sources as a proxy for the stellar surface density. Assuming that the HST proper motion measurements are well determined and free from systematic errors, we find that Gaia DR3 proper motion uncertainties are better characterised, having r < 1.5 in fields with a stellar number density with fewer than 200 Gaia DR3 sources per arcmin2, and are underestimated by up to a factor of 4 in fields with stellar densities higher than 300 sources per arcmin2. For the most crowded fields in VIRAC2, the proper motion uncertainties are underestimated by a factor of 1.1 up to 1.5, with a dependence on J-band magnitude. In all fields, the brighter sources have the higher r value. At the faint end (G > 19), the inflation factor is close to 1, meaning that the proper motions already fully agree with the HST measurements within 1σ.
Conclusions. In the crowded fields common to both catalogues, VIRAC2 proper motions agree with HST proper motions and do not need an inflation factor for their uncertainties. Because of the depth and completeness of VIRAC2 in these fields, it is an ideal complement to Gaia DR3 for proper motion studies towards the Galactic bulge.
The truncation of the disk of NGC 4565
Authors: Martínez-Lombilla Cristina , Infante-Sainz Raúl , Jiménez-Ibarra Felipe , Knapen Johan H. , Trujillo Ignacio , Comerón Sébastien , Borlaff Alejandro S. , Román Javier 
Published: August 2023

Context. The hierarchical model of galaxy formation suggests that galaxies are continuously growing. However, our position inside the Milky Way prevents us from studying the disk edge. Truncations are low surface brightness features located in the disk outskirts of external galaxies. They indicate where the disk brightness abruptly drops, and their location is thought to change dynamically. In previous analyses of Milky Way-like galaxies, truncations were detected up to 3 kpc above the mid-plane, but whether they remain present beyond that height remains unclear.
Aims. Our goal is to determine whether truncations can be detected above 3 kpc in height in the Milky Way-like galaxy NGC 4565 and thus establish the actual disk thickness. We also aim to study how the truncation relates to disk properties such as star formation activity or the warp.
Methods. We performed a vertical study of the disk of the NGC 4565 edge in unprecedented detail. We explored the truncation radius at different heights above and below the disk mid-plane (0 < z < 8 kpc) and at different wavelengths. We used new ultra-deep optical data (μg,lim = 30.5 mag arcsec−2; 3σ within 10 × 10 arcsec2 boxes) in the g, r, and i broadbands, along with near-ultraviolet, far-ultraviolet, Hα, and H I observations.
Results. We detect the truncation up to 4 kpc in the g, r, and i ultra-deep bands, which is 1 kpc higher than in any previous study for any galaxy. The radial position of the truncation remains constant up to 3 kpc, while higher up it is located at a smaller radius. This result is independent of the wavelength but is affected by the presence of the warp.
Conclusions. We propose an inside-out growth scenario for the formation of the disk of NGC 4565. Our results point towards the truncation feature being linked to a star-forming threshold and to the onset of the disk warp.
Deep-learning-based radiointerferometric imaging with GAN-aided training
Authors: Geyer F. , Schmidt K. , Kummer J. , Brüggen M. , Edler H. W. , Elsässer D. , Griese F. , Poggenpohl A. , Rustige L. , Rhode W. 
Published: August 2023

Context. The incomplete coverage of the spatial Fourier space, which leads to imaging artifacts, has been troubling radio interferometry for a long time. The currently best technique is to create an image for which the visibility data are Fourier-transformed and to clean the systematic effects originating from incomplete data in Fourier space. We have shown previously how super-resolution methods based on convolutional neural networks can reconstruct sparse visibility data.
Aims. The training data in our previous work were not very realistic. The aim of this work is to build a whole simulation chain for realistic radio sources that then leads to an improved neural net for the reconstruction of missing visibilities. This method offers considerable improvements in terms of speed, automatization, and reproducibility over the standard techniques.
Methods. We generated large amounts of training data by creating images of radio galaxies with a generative adversarial network that was trained on radio survey data. Then, we applied the radio interferometer measurement equation in order to simulate the measurement process of a radio interferometer.
Results. We show that our neural network can faithfully reconstruct images of realistic radio galaxies. The reconstructed images agree well with the original images in terms of the source area, integrated flux density, peak flux density, and the multiscale structural similarity index. Finally, we show that the neural net can be adapted for estimating the uncertainties in the imaging process.
Analgesic Efficacy of Foot and Hand Massage for Laparoscopic
Cholecystectomy: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chen Jia , Zhang Piyun , Wei Yuanxiu , Zhou Li , Xiao Xiao , Wan Xiaoqiang 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Background Foot and hand massage may benefit to alleviate pain for
laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and this meta-analysis is intended to study the
influence of foot and hand massage on pain intensity after laparoscopic
cholecystectomy.
Methods We systematically searched PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO,
and Cochrane library databases, and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
assessing the effect of foot and hand massage on postoperative pain of
laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Results Six RCTs and 663 patients were included in the meta-analysis.
Compared with control intervention for laparoscopic cholecystectomy, massage
intervention resulted in significantly decreased pain scores at 60 min
(SMD=–0.73; 95% CI=–1.27 to
–0.19; P=0.008), pain scores at 90 min
(SMD=–0.80; 95% CI=–1.23 to
–0.37; P=0.0003), pain scores at 120–150 min
(SMD=–1.74; 95% CI=–1.96 to
–1.52; P<0.00001) and the need of additional analgesia
(OR=0.04; 95% CI=0.02 to 0.07; P<0.00001), but
demonstrated no influence on pain scores at 10–30 min
(SMD=–0.14; 95% CI=–0.39 to 0.12;
P=0.29).
Conclusions Foot and hand massage may be able to reduce pain intensity
after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.