bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
AMP‐activated protein kinase activators have compound and concentration‐specific effects on brain metabolism
Authors: Achanta Lavanya B. , Thomas Donald S. , Housley Gary D. , Rae Caroline D. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key sensor of energy balance playing important roles in the balancing of anabolic and catabolic activities. The high energy demands of the brain and its limited capacity to store energy indicate that AMPK may play a significant role in brain metabolism. Here, we activated AMPK in guinea pig cortical tissue slices, both directly with A769662 and PF 06409577 and indirectly with AICAR and metformin. We studied the resultant metabolism of [1‐13C]glucose and [1,2‐13C]acetate using NMR spectroscopy. We found distinct activator concentration‐dependent effects on metabolism, which ranged from decreased metabolic pool sizes at EC50 activator concentrations with no expected stimulation in glycolytic flux to increased aerobic glycolysis and decreased pyruvate metabolism with certain activators. Further, activation with direct versus indirect activators produced distinct metabolic outcomes at both low (EC50) and higher (EC50 × 10) concentrations. Specific direct activation of β1‐containing AMPK isoforms with PF 06409577 resulted in increased Krebs cycle activity, restoring pyruvate metabolism while A769662 increased lactate and alanine production, as well as labelling of citrate and glutamine. These results reveal a complex metabolic response to AMPK activators in brain beyond increased aerobic glycolysis and indicate that further research is warranted into their concentration‐ and mechanism‐dependent impact.image
Mice deficient for G‐protein‐coupled receptor 75 display altered presynaptic structural protein expression and disrupted fear conditioning recall
Authors: Speidell Andrew , Walton Sofia , Campbell Lee A. , Tomassoni‐Ardori Francesco , Tessarollo Lino , Corbo Claudia , Taraballi Francesca , Mocchetti Italo 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThere are a number of G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) that are considered “orphan receptors” because the information on their known ligands is incomplete. Yet, these receptors are important targets to characterize, as the discovery of their ligands may lead to potential new therapies. GPR75 was recently deorphanized because at least two ligands appear to bind to it, the chemokine CCL5 and the eicosanoid 20‐Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. Recent reports suggest that GPR75 may play a role in regulating insulin secretion and obesity. However, little is known about the function of this receptor in the brain. To study the function of GPR75, we have generated a knockout (KO) mouse model of this receptor and we evaluated the role that this receptor plays in the adult hippocampus by an array of histological, proteomic, and behavioral endpoints. Using RNAscope® technology, we identified GPR75 puncta in several Rbfox3‐/NeuN‐positive cells in the hippocampus, suggesting that this receptor has a neuronal expression. Proteomic analysis of the hippocampus in 3‐month‐old GPR75 KO animals revealed that several markers of synapses, including synapsin I and II are downregulated compared with wild type (WT). To examine the functional consequence of this down‐regulation, WT and GPR75 KO mice were tested on a hippocampal‐dependent behavioral task. Both contextual memory and anxiety‐like behaviors were significantly altered in GPR75 KO, suggesting that GPR75 plays a role in hippocampal activity.image
Anatomical analysis of the motor endplate zones of the suprascapular nerve to the infraspinatus muscle and its clinical significance in managing pain disorder
Authors: Lee Hyung‐Jin , Lee Ji‐Hyun , Yi Kyu‐Ho , Kim Hee‐Jin 
Published: March 2023

AbstractMyofascial pain syndrome caused by myofascial trigger points is a musculoskeletal disorder commonly encountered in clinical practice. The infraspinatus muscle is the region most frequently involved in the myofascial pain syndrome in the scapular region. The characteristics of the myofascial trigger points are that they can be found constantly in the motor endplate zone. However, localizing myofascial trigger points within the motor endplate zone and establishing an accurate injection site of the infraspinatus muscle has been challenging because the anatomical position of the motor endplate zone of the infraspinatus muscle is yet to be described. Therefore, this cadaveric study aimed to scrutinize the motor endplate zone of the infraspinatus muscle, propose potential myofascial trigger points within the muscle, and recommend therapeutic injection sites. Twenty specimens of the infraspinatus muscle for nerve staining and 10 fresh frozen cadavers for evaluation of the injection were used in this study. The number of nerve branches penetrating the infraspinatus muscle and their entry locations were analyzed and photographed. Modified Sihler's staining was performed to examine the motor endplate regions of the infraspinatus muscle. The nerve entry points were mostly observed in the center of the muscle belly. The motor endplate was distributed equally throughout the infraspinatus muscle, but the motor endplate zone was primarily identified in the B area, which is approximately 20–40% proximal to the infraspinatus muscle. The second‐most common occurrence of the motor endplate zone was observed in the center of the muscle. These detailed anatomical data would be very helpful in predicting potential pain sites and establishing safe and effective injection treatment using botulinum neurotoxin, steroids, or lidocaine to alleviate the pain disorder of the infraspinatus muscle.
Impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on preterm delivery
Authors: Mak Albee Hin Man , Cicero Simona , Hui Pui Wah 
Published: March 2023

AbstractObjectiveControversies exist on whether the pandemic lockdown has resulted in a lower rate of preterm deliveries. A higher stillbirth rate was also reported. This retrospective observational study aimed to examine the rate of preterm delivery and stillbirth in a tertiary hospital in Hong Kong during COVID‐19 pandemic.MethodsData from 8787 singleton pregnancies at Queen Mary Hospital between April 2018 to September 2021 were retrieved from the clinical management system and obstetric database. Rates of preterm delivery (<37 weeks), low birth weight infants (<2500 g), and stillbirth in the pre‐pandemic (April 2018 to September 2019) and pandemic (April 2020 to September 2021) periods were compared.ResultsTotal numbers of singleton deliveries during the pre‐pandemic and pandemic periods were 5064 and 3723, respectively. Background demographics were comparable, except 3 were higher rates of cesarean sections (30.7% vs. 25.8%; p < 0.05) and hypertensive disorders (1.4% vs. 0.7%; p < 0.05) in the pandemic cohort. Moreover, more women with a spontaneous onset of labor had a history of preterm delivery (3.5% vs. 2.4%; p < 0.05) during the pandemic. Rates of low birth weight infants (8.7% vs. 7.4%; p = 0.03) and spontaneous preterm deliveries (2.6% vs. 1.7%; p = 0.01), particularly spontaneous moderate‐to‐late preterm delivery (32–36 weeks) (1.9% vs. 1.2%; p = 0.01) were significantly higher during COVID‐19. However, no statistical difference was found in stillbirth rates (0.2% vs. 0.4%; p = 0.17).ConclusionsRates of spontaneous preterm delivery and low birth weight babies increased significantly during the COVID‐19 pandemic. This could be related to an increase in maternal stress, or a change in behavioral patterns for pregnant women.
Conservative management of metallic sharp‐pointed straight gastric and intestinal foreign bodies in dogs and cats: 17 cases (2003‐2021)
Authors: Crinò C. , Humm K. , Cortellini S. 
Published: March 2023

ObjectiveTo describe the conservative management and outcome of gastrointestinal metallic sharp‐pointed straight foreign bodies in dogs and cats.Materials and MethodsClinical records of dogs and cats presented to a university teaching hospital between 2003 and 2021 with gastrointestinal metallic sharp‐pointed straight foreign bodies (e.g. needles, pins, nails) were reviewed. Conservative management was defined as leaving the foreign body in situ. Cases were excluded if the foreign body was identified outside of the gastrointestinal tract (including oropharynx and oesophagus) or if it was removed by endoscopy or surgery as the first treatment choice. Patient signalment, presenting complaint, foreign body location, treatment, complications, gastrointestinal transit time, length of hospitalisation and outcome were recorded.ResultsA total of 17 cases (13 dogs and four cats) were included in the study, being treated with primary conservative therapeutic approach (11) or following failure of endoscopy (two), surgery (three) or both (one). Clinical signs associated with the foreign body were reported in three (17.6%) cases. Conservative management was successful in 15 (88.2%) cases, with no complications reported. Patients were clinically and radiographically monitored with variable supportive care. In two (11.8%) cases, surgery was subsequently performed as the foreign body failed to progress on repeated radiographs after 24 hours. Mean foreign body gastrointestinal transit time for patients treated conservatively was 59.2 (±31.4) hours. All patients survived to discharge.Clinical SignificanceConservative management is a treatment option for clinically stable cats and dogs with metallic sharp‐pointed straight gastrointestinal foreign bodies in the absence of perforation.
Evaluation of oral telmisartan administration as a suppression test for diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism in cats
Authors: Fabrès Virginie , Dumont Renaud , Garcia Mélanie , Rosenberg Dan , Rannou Benoit , Kurtz Maxine , Benchekroun Ghita 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBackgroundDevelopment of a telmisartan‐based suppression test may facilitate the diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism (PHA) in cats, which remains difficult today.ObjectivesTo develop a telmisartan suppression test (TST) that is safe, and able to suppress aldosterone secretion in healthy cats but not in cats with PHA.AnimalsTen healthy cats and 6 cats with PHA.MethodsProspective study using a placebo‐controlled crossover design to investigate a TST in healthy cats, and evaluation of TST in cats with PHA. Plasma aldosterone concentration, potassium concentration, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were measured before (T0), and 1 hour (T1) and 1.5 hours after (T1.5) PO administration of 1 mg/kg of telmisartan, 2 mg/kg of telmisartan or placebo.ResultsMedian age in healthy cats was 3 years old (range, 1‐7). In healthy cats, a telmisartan dose of 2 mg/kg significantly decreased aldosterone concentration at T1 and T1.5 compared with T0. Placebo had no significant effect on aldosterone concentration. In cats diagnosed with PHA, a 2‐mg/kg dose of telmisartan did not induce any significant change in aldosterone concentration at T1 or T1.5 compared with T0. No adverse effects of telmisartan (e.g., hyperkalemia, systemic hypotension) were observed in any cats.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe oral TST shows promise as a diagnostic test for the diagnosis of PHA in cats.
Automation of haulers for debris removal in tunnel construction
Authors: Naranjo José E. , Valle Alfredo , Cruz Alberto , Martín Miguel , Anguera Miguel , García Pablo , Jiménez Felipe 
Published: March 2023

AbstractTunnel construction is one of the areas of civil engineering where automation systems can increase both safety and productivity. That is why, to promote a continuous improvement and optimization of construction processes, the implementation of intelligent transport systems and, specifically, autonomous vehicles has been proposed as a catalyst for public works construction activity, including tunnels, reducing personnel, and operation costs, as well as improving safety. Under this scope, this paper presents the development of the automation system for a 25‐ton hauler truck, focusing on the task of removing debris from public works, including tunnels. This automation system has been designed, developed, and tested under real conditions in the facilities of two companies dedicated to civil engineering works, including vehicle guidance with and without gobal positioning system, obstacle detection, and tele‐operation for load/unload tasks. The main novelty of the system is the capacity of easy integration into the production system of the works, with a capacity to switch between manual, tele‐operation, or autonomous driving modes, and with specific sensors and control systems for combining indoor and outdoor navigation. The presented work includes the description of the automation of the vehicle, the general architecture, the environment perception, and the tele‐operation capacity, including indoor navigation and obstacle detection algorithms. The proposed system has been implemented and tested in real conditions, demonstrating the performance of the system and the benefit of the automation for this application.
Thomist Libertarianism is Committed to Mysterianism
Authors: Babakhanian Armand 
Published: March 2023

AbstractIn recent years, a large amount of scholarship has been written about St Thomas Aquinas's views on free will and determinism. This paper is an attempt to bring some Thomist views of libertarian free will into dialogue with analytic philosopher Peter van Inwagen and his ‘mysterianism’ about free will. The thesis of this paper is that Thomist libertarians about free will are committed to Peter van Inwagen's mysterianism about free will. The paper intends to accomplish this aim by showing how recent accounts of Thomist libertarianism cannot defeat the intuitive strength of van Inwagen's ‘Replay argument’. The significance of this conclusion is that some Thomists are committed to mysterianism and that mysterianism is a legitimate position a Thomist can hold. This also provides evidence that the Thomist tradition can grow and be nourished by engagement with contemporary analytic philosophy.
Principles and clinical methods of body surface gastric mapping: Technical review
Authors: O'Grady Gregory , Varghese Chris , Schamberg Gabriel , Calder Stefan , Du Peng , Xu William , Tack Jan , Daker Charlotte , Mousa Hayat , Abell Thomas L. , Parkman Henry P. , Ho Vincent , Bradshaw L. Alan , Hobson Anthony , Andrews Christopher N. , Gharibans Armen A. ,   the BSGM Working Group
Published: March 2023

AbstractBackground and PurposeChronic gastric symptoms are common, however differentiating specific contributing mechanisms in individual patients remains challenging. Abnormal gastric motility is present in a significant subgroup, but reliable methods for assessing gastric motor function in clinical practice are lacking. Body surface gastric mapping (BSGM) is a new diagnostic aid, employs multi‐electrode arrays to measure and map gastric myoelectrical activity non‐invasively in high resolution. Clinical adoption of BSGM is currently expanding following studies demonstrating the ability to achieve specific patient subgrouping, and subsequent regulatory clearances. An international working group was formed in order to standardize clinical BSGM methods, encompassing a technical group developing BSGM methods and a clinical advisory group. The working group performed a technical literature review and synthesis focusing on the rationale, principles, methods, and clinical applications of BSGM, with secondary review by the clinical group. The principles and validation of BSGM were evaluated, including key advances achieved over legacy electrogastrography (EGG). Methods for BSGM were reviewed, including device design considerations, patient preparation, test conduct, and data processing steps. Recent advances in BSGM test metrics and reference intervals are discussed, including four novel metrics, being the ‘principal gastric frequency’, BMI‐adjusted amplitude, Gastric Alimetry Rhythm Index™, and fed: fasted amplitude ratio. An additional essential element of BSGM has been the introduction of validated digital tools for standardized symptom profiling, performed simultaneously during testing. Specific phenotypes identifiable by BSGM and the associated symptom profiles were codified with reference to pathophysiology. Finally, knowledge gaps and priority areas for future BSGM research were also identified by the working group.
Sex‐ and gender‐related differences in the prevalence and burden of disorders of gut‐brain interaction in Poland
Authors: Mulak Agata , Freud Tamar , Waluga Marek , Bangdiwala Shrikant I. , Palsson Olafur S. , Sperber Ami D. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of the study was to assess sex‐ and gender‐related differences in the epidemiology and impact of disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI) in Poland.MethodsData used for the current analysis were derived from the Polish population sample of 2057 subjects (1030 F, 1027 M) collected via the Internet survey that included the Rome IV diagnostic questionnaire and 80 supplementary questions.Key ResultsThe overall prevalence of DGBI in Poland was 46.0% (51.7% in women and 40.3% in men, p < 0.001). Comparing women versus men, esophageal disorders were observed in 6.3% vs. 6.0%, respectively (p > 0.05), gastroduodenal disorders in 14.0% vs. 7.8% (p < 0.001), bowel disorders in 44.3% vs. 33.9% (p < 0.001), and anorectal disorders in 9.9% vs. 7.7% (p > 0.05). The six most common DGBI included functional constipation 14.2%, functional dyspepsia 8.3%, proctalgia fugax 6.6%, functional bloating 4.8%, functional diarrhea 4.5%, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) 4.4%. All these disorders, except for functional diarrhea, were more common in women. The DGBI overlap was significantly higher in women than in men (16.7% vs. 11.2%, p < 0.001). A higher number of overlapping DGBI correlated positively with IBS severity, higher level of somatization, anxiety and depression, poorer quality of life (QoL), and increased healthcare utilization.Conclusions and InferencesThis is the first comprehensive report on significant sex/gender‐related differences in the prevalence and burden of DGBI in Poland. The revealed differences between women and men with DGBI in the clinical profile, psychosocial variables, and healthcare utilization may have important diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
A risky challenge for intransitive preferences
Authors: Williamson Timothy Luke 
Published: March 2023

AbstractPhilosophers have spent a great deal of time debating whether intransitive preferences can be rational. I present a risky decision that poses a challenge for the defender of intransitivity. The defender of intransitivity faces a trilemma and must either: (i) reject the rationality of intransitive preferences, (ii) deny State‐wise Dominance, or (iii) accept the bizarre verdict that you can be required to pay to relabel the tickets of a fair lottery. If we take the first horn, then we have a synchronic refutation of intransitivity, an improvement on widely criticized diachronic arguments. I sketch possible responses that may rescue intransitivity and argue that each response is possible but generates an explanatory debt. I conclude by showing how the challenge here clarifies the foundations of decision theory without transitivity, conditional on some explanatory debt being payable.
Parasites as ecosystem modulators: foliar pathogens suppress top‐down effects of large herbivores
Authors: Li Tianyun , Zhong Zhiwei , Pearson Dean E. , Ortega Yvette K. , Li Wenjun , Li Yanan , Zhu Hui , Risch Anita C. , Wang Deli 
Published: March 2023

Summary

Parasites can catalyze or inhibit interactions between their hosts and other species, but the ecosystem‐level effects of such interaction modifications are poorly understood.

We conducted a large‐scale field experiment in temperate grasslands of China to understand how foliar fungal pathogens influenced top‐down effects of cattle on plant diversity and productivity.

When foliar pathogens were suppressed, cattle grazing strongly reduced biomass of the dominant grass, Leymus chinensis, generating competitive release that significantly increased community‐level species richness and evenness. In the absence of grazing, pathogen attack on L. chinensis had no measurable effect on host biomass. However, pathogens disrupted top‐down effects of herbivory by inhibiting grazing effects on plant biomass and species richness. Mechanistically, fungal pathogens were linked to increased alkaloid and reduced nitrogen levels in leaf tissue, which appeared to deter cattle grazing on L. chinensis.

In conclusion, foliar pathogens can suppress top‐down effects of large herbivores on grassland community composition and ecosystem function by modifying the strength of their host's interactions with dominant consumers. Parasites may act as modulators of ecosystem function when their direct effects on host abundance are overshadowed by powerful influences on host traits that modify their interactions with competitors, herbivores, or predators.
Are absorptive root traits good predictors of ecosystem functioning? A test in a natural temperate forest
Authors: Da Rihan , Fan Chunyu , Zhang Chunyu , Zhao Xiuhai , von Gadow Klaus 
Published: March 2023

Summary

Trait‐based approaches provide a useful framework to predict ecosystem functions under intensifying global change. However, our current understanding of trait‐functioning relationships mainly relies on aboveground traits. Belowground traits (e.g. absorptive root traits) are rarely studied although these traits are related to important plant functions.

We analyzed four pairs of analogous leaf and absorptive root traits of woody plants in a temperate forest and examined how these traits are coordinated at the community‐level, and to what extent the trait covariation depends on local‐scale environmental conditions. We then quantified the contributions of leaf and absorptive root traits and the environmental conditions in determining two important forest ecosystem functions, aboveground carbon storage, and woody biomass productivity.

The results showed that both morphological trait pairs and chemical trait pairs exhibited positive correlations at the community level. Absorptive root traits show a strong response to environmental conditions compared to leaf traits. We also found that absorptive root traits were better predictors of the two forest ecosystem functions than leaf traits and environmental conditions.

Our study confirms the important role of belowground traits in modulating ecosystem functions and deepens our understanding of belowground responses to changing environmental conditions.