bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Uptake and continuation of HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis among women of reproductive age in two health facilities in Kisumu County, Kenya
Authors: Ogolla Mercelline , Nyabiage Omoto Lennah , Musingila Paul , Gachau Susan , Odero Theresa M. A. , Odoyo‐June Elijah , Ochanda Boniface , Appolonia Aoko , Katiku Elizabeth , Joseph Rachael , Ogolla Cirrilus , Otieno Linda , Odhiambo Francesca , Truong Hong‐Ha M. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractIntroductionIn 2020, Kenya had 19,000 new HIV infections among women aged 15+ years. Studies have shown sub‐optimal oral pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among sub‐populations of women. We assessed the uptake and continuation of oral PrEP among women 15–49 years in two health facilities in Kisumu County, Kenya.MethodsA retrospective cohort of 262 women aged 15–49 years, initiated into oral PrEP between 12 November 2019 and 31 March 2021, was identified from two health facilities in the urban setting of Kisumu County, Kenya. Data on baseline characteristics and oral PrEP continuation at months 1, 3 and 6 were abstracted from patient records and summarized using descriptive statistics. Missing data in the predictor variables were imputed within the joint modelling multiple imputation framework. Using logistic regression, we evaluated factors associated with the discontinuation of oral PrEP at month 1.ResultsOf the 66,054 women screened, 320 (0.5%) were eligible and 262 (82%) were initiated on oral PrEP. Uptake was higher among women 25–29 years as compared to those 15–24 years (77% vs. 33%). Oral PrEP continuation declined significantly with increasing duration of follow‐up; 37% at month 1, 21% at month 3 and 12% at month 6 (p<0.05). In the adjusted analysis, women 15–24 years had lower adjusted odds of continuing at month 1 than women ≥25 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.21–0.82). There was no association between being sero‐discordant and continuation of oral PrEP at month 1 (aOR; 1.21, 95% CI 0.59–2.50). Women from the sub‐county hospital were more likely to continue at month 1 of follow‐up compared to women enrolled in the county referral hospital (aOR 5.11; 95% CI 2.24–11.70).ConclusionsThe low eligibility for oral PrEP observed among women 15–49 years in an urban setting with high HIV prevalence calls for a review of the screening process to validate the sensitivity of the screening tool and its proper application. The low uptake and continuation among adolescent girls and young women underscores the need to identify and address specific patient‐ and facility‐level barriers affecting different sub‐populations at risk for HIV acquisition.
Smallholder farmers' willingness to pay for two‐wheel tractor‐based mechanisation services in Zambia and Zimbabwe
Authors: Ngoma Hambulo , Marenya Paswel , Tufa Adane , Alene Arega , Chipindu Lovemore , Matin Md Abdul , Thierfelder Christian , Chikoye David 
Published: March 2023

AbstractMechanisation is back among top development policy priorities for transforming African smallholder agriculture. Yet previous and ongoing efforts ubiquitously suffer from lack of scientific information on end‐user effective demand for different types of mechanical innovations to inform public investment or business development programmes. We assess smallholder farmers' willingness to pay (WTP) for two‐wheel tractor (2WT)‐based ripping, direct seeding and transportation using a random sample of 2800 smallholder households in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Applying the Becker–DeGroot–Marschak Mechanism (BDM) experimental auctions, we find that at least 50% of sample households in Zambia and Zimbabwe were willing to pay more than the prevailing market prices for ripping. In nominal terms, sample households in Zimbabwe were willing to pay more than those in Zambia for the different services. Empirical results suggest that wealth is the strongest driver of WTP for tillage and seeding 2WT services while labour availability and using animal draft power reduce it. These findings imply a need to (i) raise awareness and create demand for 2WT‐based services in an inclusive business manner that does not create perverse incentives and (ii) better target mechanisation to operations with comparative advantage, using approaches that bundle 2WT‐based and other mechanisation services with asset‐agnostic credit schemes or other interventions meant to overcome asset‐mediated barriers.
Modulation of autophagy and mTOR signaling pathway genes in respiratory epithelium by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in children suffering from acute lower respiratory tract infections
Authors: Shuchi Sarjana , Ratho Radha Kanta , Mohi Gursimran Kaur , Kumar Angurana Suresh , Sarkar Subhabrata , Jangra Isheeta 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe study was planned to carry out the molecular characterization of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) circulating strains and to elucidate the gene expression of autophagy and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways in children with acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI). Nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) samples (n = 145) from children suffering from ALRTI were subjected to the detection of RSV. Of them, 31 RSV positive strains were subjected for sequencing. Semi‐quantitative gene expression analysis for mTOR signaling and autophagy pathway genes was performed in respiratory tract epithelial cells using 25 RSV positive cases, and 10 age and sex matched healthy control subjects. Five representative genes were selected for each pathway and subjected to SYBR green real‐time polymerase chain reaction. RSV was positive in 69 (47.6%) samples and the representative (n = 31) RSV strains belonged to RSV‐A. Thirty‐one strains of RSV‐A on phylogenetic analysis clustered with the novel ON1 genotype having 72 bp nucleotide duplicationby targeting the ecto‐domain portion of the G gene. Further, the stains belonged to lineage 1 (51.6%), followed by lineage 3 (29%) and lineage 2 (19.4%). Autophagy gene expression analysis revealed significant upregulation in NPC1 and ATG3 autophagy genes. mTOR, AKT1, and TSC1 genes of the mTOR pathway were significantly downregulated in RSV positive patients. Thus, RSV infection inducing autophagy pathway genes (NPC1 and ATG3) and suppressing mTOR signaling pathway genes (AKT1, mTOR, and TSC1) to possibly evade the host immune system through dysregulating these pathways for its way of survival within the host.
BART‐D2 subtype of EBV encoded BART miRNA cluster 1 region is strongly associated with endemic nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Wang Qiaoyi , He Huijing , Ji Xinqiang , Liu Yang , Li Haoyan , Wang Yun 
Published: March 2023

AbstractEpstein‐Barr virus (EBV)‐encoded BamHI A rightward transcript (BART) microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in viral infection and tumorigenesis. The association of sequence variations in the BART miRNA cluster 1 region with diseases remains unclear. Herein, 6 types and 11 subtypes of BART cluster 1 were identified in 354 tumors and healthy donors (HDs) from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)‐endemic and nonendemic China (genotyped data), and 905 EBV genomes retrieved from GenBank from diseased and normal people from around the world (archived data). The distributions of BART cluster 1 types/subtypes between NPC‐endemic and nonendemic China; between Asian regions and Africa/Europe & Australia & United States; and among Asian regions (NPC‐endemic China, NPC‐nonendemic East Asia and Southeast Asia) were significantly different (p < 0.001). The subtype BART‐D2 was not found outside Asia and was only common in NPC‐endemic China. More importantly, BART‐D2 had a higher frequency in NPCs than in HDs in NPC‐endemic China (genotyped data, 78.0% vs. 44.1%, p < 0.001; achieved data, 89.3% vs. 43.7%, p < 0.001), and was also more frequent in NPCs than in HDs, gastric carcinomas, and lymphomas in NPC‐nonendemic China (genotyped data, 27.9% vs. 1.9%, 2.4%, and 0.0%, p < 0.001). BART‐D2 was preferentially linked with the high‐risk subtypes for NPC previously reported, 162476C or 163364T, in the BALF2 gene, and was associated with NPC risk (p < 0.01). In vitro experiments showed that BART‐D2 affected the expression of some mature BART miRNAs. These findings demonstrate geographically restricted variations of BART cluster 1 and identify distinct subtype that is confined to NPC‐endemic China and is associated with NPC.
Statistical shape modeling of the large acetabular defect in hip revision surgery
Authors: De Angelis Sara , Henckel Johann , Bergiers Sean , Hothi Harry , Di Laura Anna , Hart Alister 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe assessment of three‐dimensional bony defects is important to inform the surgical planning of hip reconstruction. Mirroring of the contralateral side has been previously used to measure the hip center of rotation (CoR). However, the contralateral side may not be useful when diseased or replaced. Statistical Shape Models (SSMs) can aid reconstruction of patient anatomy. Previous studies have been limited to computational models only or small patient cohorts. We used SSM as a tool to help derive landmarks that are often absent in hip joints of patients with large acetabular defects. Our aim was to compare the reconstructed pelvis with patients who have previously undergone hip revision. This retrospective cohort study involved 38 patients with Paprosky type IIIB defects. An SSM was built on 50 healthy pelvises and used to virtually reconstruct the native pelvic morphology for all cases. The outcome measures were the difference in CoR for (1) SSM versus diseased hip, (2) SSM versus plan, and (3) SSM versus contralateral healthy hip. The median differences in CoR were 31.17 mm (interquartile range [IQR]: 43.80–19.87 mm), 8.53 mm (IQR: 12.76–5.74 mm), and 7.84 mm (IQR: 10.13–5.13 mm), respectively. No statistical difference (p > 0.05) was found between the SSM versus plan and the SSM versus contralateral CoRs. Our findings show that the SSM model can be used to reconstruct the absent bony landmarks of patients with significant lysis regardless of the defect severity, hence aiding the surgical planning of hip reconstruction and implant design.
Mechanism of human chorionic gonadotropin in endometrial receptivity via the miR‐126‐3p/PI3K/Akt/eNOS axis
Authors: Wang Wei , Ge Liang , Zhang Li‐Li , Wang Li‐Rong , Lu Yong‐Yan , Gou Li , Gou Rui‐Qiang , Xu Tong‐Yu , Ma Xiao‐Ling , Zhang Xue‐Hong 
Published: March 2023

AbstractHuman chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) might affect endometrial receptivity, exerting integral roles in embryo implantation. This study explored the action of hCG in endometrial receptivity via the miR‐126‐3p/PIK3R2/PI3K/Akt/eNOS axis. The embryo implantation dysfunction (EID) mouse models were established by administrating mifepristone and human endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) were used for in vivo experiments, both followed by hCG treatment. Expression level of CD105 and protein levels of cadherin CD144 and CD146 in mice were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The levels of miR‐126‐3p and PIK3R2 mRNA and PIK3R2, p‐PI3K p85 α, PI3K p110 α, p‐Akt, Akt, p‐eNOS, and eNOS protein levels were measured. Cell proliferation was evaluated by CCK‐8 and EdU assays. The binding sites of miR‐126‐3p and PIK3R2 were predicted and verified. hCG‐treated EECs were further transfected with miR‐126‐inhibitor for functional rescue experiments. hCG ameliorated endometrial receptivity in EID mice. Moreover, hCG promoted miR‐126‐3p and suppressed PIK3R2 in EID mice and EECs. miR‐126‐3p targeted PIK3R2. EEC proliferation was enhanced after hCG treatment but inhibited by miR‐126‐3p downregulation. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments validated that hCG activated the PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway through the miR‐126‐3p/PIK3R2 axis. Collectively, hCG improves endometrial receptivity by activating the PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway via regulating miR‐126‐3p/PIK3R2.
Tough and Thermostable Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT)/Vitrimer Blend with Enhanced Interfacial Compatibility
Authors: Chen Zhiqiang , Cui Chenhui , Jin Chenyu , Li Xiuzhao , Zhou Yifan , Shao Yizhe , Ma Li , Zhang Yanfeng , Wang Tiejun 
Published: March 2023

AbstractPolymer blending is an efficient way to obtain extraordinary polymeric materials. However, once permanently cross‐linked thermosets are involved in blending, there are challenges in designing and optimizing the structures and interfacial compatibility of blends. Vitrimer with dynamic covalent polymer networks provides an innovative opportunity for blending thermoplastics and thermosets. Herein, a reactive blending strategy is proposed to develop thermoplastic‐thermoset blend with enhanced compatibility on the basis of dynamic covalent chemistry. Specifically, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polymerized epoxy vitrimer can be directly melt blended to obtain tough and thermostable blends with desirable microstructures and interfacial interaction. Bond exchange facilitates the grafting of PBT and epoxy vitrimer chains, thus enhancing the interfacial compatibility and thermal stability of blends. The obtained blend balances the strength and stretchability of PBT and epoxy vitrimer, resulting in enhanced toughness. This work offers a new way of designing and fabricating new polymeric materials by blending thermoplastics and thermosets. It also suggests a facile direction towards upcycling thermoplastics and thermosets.
The Influence of GBA and LRRK2 on Mood Disorders in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: DeBroff Jake , Omer Nurit , Cohen Batsheva , Giladi Nir , Kestenbaum Meir , Shirvan Julia C. , Cedarbaum Jesse M. , Gana‐Weisz Mali , Goldstein Orly , Orr‐Urtreger Avi , Mirelman Anat , Thaler Avner 
Published: March 2023

ABSTRACTBackgroundMood disorders have emerged as major non‐motor comorbidities in Parkinson's disease (PD) even at the prodromal stage of the disease. Mutations in the LRRK2 and GBA genes are common among Ashkenazi Jews, with more severe phenotype reported for GBA‐PD.ObjectiveTo explore the association between genetic status and mood related disorders before and after diagnosis of PD and the association between mood‐related medications, phenotype, and genetic status.MethodsParticipants were genotyped for mutations in the LRRK2 and GBA genes. State of depression, anxiety and non‐motor features were evaluated using validated questionnaires. History of mood disorders prior to diagnosis of PD and use of mood‐related medications were assessed.ResultsThe study included 105 idiopathic PD (iPD), 55 LRRK2‐PD and 94 GBA‐PD. Scores on mood related questionnaires and frequency of depression and anxiety before diagnosis were similar between the groups (p>0.05). However, more GBA‐PD patients used mood related medications before PD diagnosis than LRRK2‐PD and iPD (16.5% vs 7.1% and 8.2%, p=0.044). LRRK2‐PD and GBA‐PD receiving mood‐related medications at time of assessment had worse motor and non‐motor phenotype compared to those that did not (p<0.05). LRRK2‐PD receiving mood related‐medications at time of assessment, scored higher on mood‐related questionnaires compared to LRRK2‐PD not receiving such medications (p<0.04).ConclusionsProdromal GBA‐PD are more frequently treated with mood related‐medications despite equal rates of reported mood‐related disorders, while LRRK2‐PD with mood‐related disorders experience high rates of anxiety and depression despite treatment, attesting to the need of more precise assessment and treatment of these genetic subgroups.
𝒮‐asymptotically 𝓌‐periodic mild solutions for noninstantaneous impulsive integro‐differential equations with state‐dependent delay
Authors: Wang Yinuo , Li Chuandong , Deng Hao , Wu Hongjuan 
Published: March 2023

A kind of nonlinear noninstantaneous impulsive equation with state‐dependent delay is studied here. By utilizing suitable fixed point theorem and the theory of semigroup in Banach space, the uniqueness and existence results of
‐asymptotically
‐periodic mild solutions are obtained, respectively. In the end, two examples are presented to demonstrate the validity of the obtained results.
Feasibility of free‐breathing 19F MRI image acquisition to characterize ventilation defects in CF and healthy volunteers at wash‐in
Authors: Chung Sang Hun , Huynh Khoi Minh , Goralski Jennifer L. , Chen Yong , Yap Pew‐Thian , Ceppe Agathe S. , Powell Margret Z. , Donaldson Scott H. , Lee Yueh Z. 
Published: March 2023

PurposeTo explore the feasibility of measuring ventilation defect percentage (VDP) using 19F MRI during free‐breathing wash‐in of fluorinated gas mixture with postacquisition denoising and to compare these results with those obtained through traditional Cartesian breath‐hold acquisitions.MethodsEight adults with cystic fibrosis and 5 healthy volunteers completed a single MR session on a Siemens 3T Prisma. 1H Ultrashort‐TE MRI sequences were used for registration and masking, and ventilation images with 19F MRI were obtained while the subjects breathed a normoxic mixture of 79% perfluoropropane and 21% oxygen (O2). 19F MRI was performed during breath holds and while free breathing with one overlapping spiral scan at breath hold for VDP value comparison. The 19F spiral data were denoised using a low‐rank matrix recovery approach.ResultsVDP measured using 19F VIBE and 19F spiral images were highly correlated (r = 0.84) at 10 wash‐in breaths. Second‐breath VDPs were also highly correlated (r = 0.88). Denoising greatly increased SNR (pre‐denoising spiral SNR, 2.46 ± 0.21; post‐denoising spiral SNR, 33.91 ± 6.12; and breath‐hold SNR, 17.52 ± 2.08).ConclusionFree‐breathing 19F lung MRI VDP analysis was feasible and highly correlated with breath‐hold measurements. Free‐breathing methods are expected to increase patient comfort and extend ventilation MRI use to patients who are unable to perform breath holds, including younger subjects and those with more severe lung disease.
Evaluation of a continuous‐time random‐walk diffusion model for the differentiation of malignant and benign breast lesions and its association with Ki‐67 expression
Authors: Du Mu , Zou Da , Gao Peng , Yang Zhongxian , Hou Yanzhen , Zheng Liyun , Zhang Na , Liu Yubao 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe purpose of the current study was to evaluate the performance of a continuous‐time random‐walk (CTRW) diffusion model for differentiating malignant and benign breast lesions and to consider the potential association between CTRW parameters and the Ki‐67 expression. Sixty‐four patients (46.2 ± 11.4 years) with breast lesions (29 malignant and 35 benign) were evaluated with the CTRW model, intravoxel incoherent motion model, and diffusion‐weighted imaging. Echo planar diffusion‐weighted imaging was conducted using 13 b‐values (0‐3000 s/mm2). Three CTRW model parameters, including an anomalous diffusion coefficient Dm, and two parameters related to temporal and spatial diffusion heterogeneity, α and β, respectively, were obtained, and had MRI b‐values of 0–3000 s/mm2. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of CTRW parameters for differentiating malignant from benign breast lesions. In malignant breast lesions, the CTRW parameters Dm, α, and β were significantly lower than the corresponding parameters of benign breast lesions. In the malignant breast lesion group, the CTRW parameter Dm was significantly lower in high Ki‐67 expression than in low Ki‐67 expression. In ROC analysis, the combination of CTRW parameters (Dm, α, β) demonstrated the highest area under the curve value (0.985) and diagnostic accuracy (94.23%) in differentiating malignant and benign breast lesions. The CTRW model effectively differentiated malignant from benign breast lesions. The CTRW diffusion model offers a new way for noninvasive assessment of breast malignancy and better understanding of the proliferation of malignant lesions.
Dark Energy Star: Physical Constraints on the Bounds
Authors: Das Krishna Pada , Debnath Ujjal , Ray Saibal 
Published: March 2023

AbstractIn the present article, we explore a new solution to the Einstein‐Maxwell field equations to describe spherically symmetric, charged and anisotropic dark energy stars. The interior of such stars containing two non‐interacting fluids like dark and normal matter with a relation that the dark energy density is proportional to the energy density of a isotropic matter. We have used modified chaplygin gas equation to define the dark energy part. Also we have defined the interior space‐time through Krori‐Barua (KB) space‐time and matched it with the exterior Reissner‐Nordström space‐time. The well‐behaveness of the physical attributes have been discussed by plotting graphs for three specific compact objects with respect to our solutions. We conclude that all the physical attributes satisfy the required conditions for viability as well as stability and hence our model can be used to characterize dark energy stars for a set of parametric values belong to the present study.
A mechanistic modeling platform of SGLT2 inhibition: Implications for type 1 diabetes
Authors: Sokolov Victor , Yakovleva Tatiana , Stolbov Leonid , Penland Robert C. , Boulton David , Parkinson Joanna , Tang Weifeng 
Published: March 2023

AbstractType 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease characterized by abnormally high blood glucose concentrations due to dysfunction of the insulin‐producing beta‐cells in the pancreas. Dapagliflozin, an inhibitor of renal glucose reabsorption, has the potential to improve often suboptimal glycemic control in patients with T1DM through insulin‐independent mechanisms and to partially mitigate the adverse effects associated with long‐term insulin administration. In this work, we have adapted a systems pharmacology model of type 2 diabetes mellitus to describe the T1DM condition and characterize the effect of dapagliflozin on short‐ and long‐term glycemic markers under various treatment scenarios. The developed platform serves as a quantitative tool for the in silico evaluation of the insulin‐glucose‐dapagliflozin crosstalk, optimization of the treatment regimens, and it can be further expanded to include additional therapies or other aspects of the disease.
Pyridinic Nitrogen Doped Carbon Dots Supply Electrons to Improve Photosynthesis and Extracellular Electron Transfer of Chlorella pyrenoidosa
Authors: Huang Xiaoman , Lin Junjie , Liang Jiarong , Kou Erfeng , Cai Wenxiao , Zheng Yinjian , Zhang Haoran , Zhang Xuejie , Liu Yingliang , Li Wei , Lei Bingfu 
Published: March 2023

AbstractOptimizing photosynthesis is imperative for providing energy and organics for all life on the earth. Here, carbon dots doped with pyridinic nitrogen (named lev‐CDs) are synthesized by the one‐pot hydrothermal method, and the structure–function relationship between functional groups on lev‐CDs and photosynthesis of Chlorella pyrenoidosa (C. pyrenoidosa) is proposed. Pyridinic nitrogen plays a key role in the positive effect on photosynthesis caused by lev‐CDs. In detail, lev‐CDs act as electron donors to supply photo‐induced electrons to P680+ and QA+, causing electron transfer from lev‐CDs to the photosynthetic electron transport chain in the photosystems. In return, the recombination efficiency of electron–hole pairs on lev‐CDs decreases. As a result, the electron transfer rate in the electron transport chain, the activity of photosystem II, and the Calvin cycle are enhanced. Moreover, the electron transfer rate between C. pyrenoidosa and external circumstances enhanced by lev‐CDs is about 50%, and electrons exported from C. pyrenoidosa can be used to reduce iron(III). This study is of great significance for engineering nanomaterials to improve photosynthesis.