bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Roles of oolong tea extracts in the protection against Staphylococcus aureus infection in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Meng Xiaolin , Liu Yuju , Yang Ximiao , Chen Jianwen , Liu Tong , Liao Zhenlin , Fang Xiang , Wang Jie 
Published: January 2025

AbstractOolong tea, a popular traditional Chinese tea, possesses various bioactivities, but little is known about its roles in the protection against pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus, in vivo. This study investigated the roles of the water‐soluble oolong tea extracts (OTE) on S. aureus infection in Caenorhabditis elegans, a promising model to study the host‐microbe interactions in vivo. Pretreatment with OTE (0.6% and 1.2%) and co‐treatment with OTE and S. aureus extended the lifespan by 11.16%–30.37%, increased the body bends by 36.49%–101.39%, inhibited the lipid accumulation by 11.71%–35.21% and S. aureus colonization in the intestine by 5.02%–30.68%, and enhanced the mitochondrial transmembrane potential by 51.92%–74.83%, compared with the control groups where worms were fed with S. aureus. Moreover, pretreatment with OTE and co‐treatment with OTE and S. aureus suppressed the production of reactive oxygen species, increased the production of glutathione and superoxide dismutases (SODs), and altered the transcripts of genes encoding SODs, glutathione‐S‐transferases, and antimicrobial proteins and peptides in different ways. Furthermore, pretreatment with OTE failed to extend the lifespan of the nematode mutants defective in age‐1, akt‐2, skn‐1, or hsf‐1, and co‐treatment with OTE and S. aureus could not extend the lifespan of the nematode mutants defective in age‐1, akt‐2, sek‐1, pmk‐1, mpk‐1, or skn‐1. These findings indicated that OTE exhibited the preventive and protective effects on S. aureus infection by increasing the antioxidant properties and expression of antimicrobial proteins and peptides via insulin/IGF‐1 and/or p38/ERK mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and transcription factor SKN‐1 and/or HSF‐1, which implied OTE could be used as a potential food additive to prevent S. aureus infection.Practical ApplicationStaphylococcus aureus is harmful to animal and human health, such as leading to immune system disorders. This study demonstrated that oolong tea extracts could be a potential additive used in food and feeds to protect animal and human from S. aureus infection by increasing the antioxidant properties and the expression of antimicrobial proteins and peptides.
B Lymphocyte—A Prognostic Indicator in Post‐Acute Pancreatitis Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Lin Xiaoyan , Li Xiaoling , Wang Junsheng , Liu Huiheng 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo determine the value of lymphocyte subsets and granulocyte/monocyte surface markers in predicting the risk of post‐acute pancreatitis diabetes (PPDM‐A).MethodsThis study included 308 in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). The markers of granulocytes and monocytes and lymphocyte subsets were detected by flow cytometry, and the fluorescence intensity, absolute count and percentage were obtained. Based on the occurrence of diabetes after AP, patients were divided into two groups: PPDM‐A and PPNG‐A (post‐acute pancreatitis with normal glucose). Correlations between granulocyte and monocyte surface markers and lymphocyte subsets were analyzed. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the potential influencing factors of PPDM‐A.ResultsCompared with patients with PPNG‐A, patients with PPDM‐A tend to be younger (p < 0.001) and have a higher proportion of fatty liver, recurrent pancreatitis, and hyperlipidemic pancreatitis. The results of linear regression showed that B% was negatively correlated with MFI of HLA‐DR on monocytes (R2 = 0.145, p < 0.001), B% was positively correlated with CD10−NEUT% (R2 = 0.291, p < 0.001), and MFI of HLA‐DR on monocytes was negatively correlated with CD10−NEUT% (R2 = 0.457, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age, serous effusion, fatty liver, recurrent pancreatitis, and B% were independent risk factors for the occurrence of PPDM‐A.ConclusionOur study has first confirmed the correlation between PPDM‐A and lymphocyte subsets and CD10−NEUT%. Furthermore we indicated that age, fatty liver, serous effusion, recurrent AP, and B% were independent risk factors for PPDM‐A. The mechanism of granulocyte and monocyte surface markers and B lymphocytes on PPDM‐A is worthy of study. This would help clarify the pathogenesis of PPDM‐A at the cellular level and potentially provide new strategies for immunotherapy and even disease prevention. [Correction added on 24 January 2025, after first online publication: the third subtitle in Abstract section has been changed to ‘Results’.]
gscramble: Simulation of Admixed Individuals Without Reuse of Genetic Material
Authors: Anderson Eric C. , Giglio Rachael M. , DeSaix Matthew G. , Smyser Timothy J. 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTWhile a best practice for evaluating the behaviour of genetic clustering algorithms on empirical data is to conduct parallel analyses on simulated data, these types of simulation techniques often involve sampling genetic data with replacement. In this paper we demonstrate that sampling with replacement, especially with large marker sets, inflates the perceived statistical power to correctly assign individuals (or the alleles that they carry) back to source populations—a phenomenon we refer to as resampling‐induced, spurious power inflation (RISPI). To address this issue, we present gscramble, a simulation approach in R for creating biologically informed individual genotypes from empirical data that: (1) samples alleles from populations without replacement and (2) segregates alleles based on species‐specific recombination rates. This framework makes it possible to simulate admixed individuals in a way that respects the physical linkage between markers on the same chromosome and which does not suffer from RISPI. This is achieved in gscramble by allowing users to specify pedigrees of varying complexity in order to simulate admixed genotypes, segregating and tracking haplotype blocks from different source populations through those pedigrees, and then sampling—using a variety of permutation schemes—alleles from empirical data into those haplotype blocks. We demonstrate the functionality of gscramble with both simulated and empirical data sets and highlight additional uses of the package that users may find valuable.
Locoregional anesthesia in patients with Brugada syndrome. A retrospective database analysis
Authors: Tosi Maurizio , Flamée Panagiotis , Scholliers Annelies , Opsomer Tine , Raeymaeckers Steven , Vanhonacker Domien 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundThe use of local anesthetics (LA) in individuals with Brugada syndrome (BrS) remains a subject of debate due to the lack of large‐scale studies confirming their potential risks. This study primarily aimed to evaluate the incidence of new malignant arrhythmias or defibrillation events in patients diagnosed with BrS during the perioperative period, following the administration of local anesthetics, and within 30 days postoperatively. The secondary objective was to analyze the occurrence of adverse effects during hospitalization, as well as 30‐day readmission and mortality rates.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was performed on patients with BrS who underwent locoregional anesthesia between January 1, 1996, and September 30, 2020. Anesthetic records and electronic medical records were thoroughly reviewed for up to 30 days following each administration of local anesthetics.ResultsA total of 47 procedures involving patients with BrS who underwent locoregional anesthesia were analyzed. The patients were categorized into three groups: 27 in the peripheral nerve block (PNB) group, 13 in the epidural anesthesia group, and 9 in the spinal anesthesia group. One patient in the PNB group experienced intraoperative ventricular fibrillation following the administration of ajmaline. No other adverse events were observed.ConclusionIn this retrospective study, our findings do not indicate an increased arrhythmogenic risk or a higher incidence of adverse events associated with the administration of local anesthetics in patients with BrS. However, the available data are insufficient to confirm the safety of local anesthetic use in this population. Enhanced vigilance is recommended when administering local anesthetics to individuals with BrS. Prospective studies are necessary to further evaluate and establish the safety profile of local anesthetics in this patient group.
Does ESG rating divergence affect the cost of corporate debt?
Authors: Zhang Xinyue , Shan Yuan George , Zhang Yuming , Xing Chao 
Published: January 2025

AbstractDrawing on a sample of Chinese listed firms, we find that environmental, social, and governance (ESG) rating divergence increases the cost of debt through increased information asymmetry and corporate risks, particularly for non‐state‐owned enterprises and firms with weaker contractual environments or less collateral. In addition, we find that ESG divergence and analyst forecast bias exhibit a substitutive relationship in debt costs, and standardising ESG disclosure can mitigate the adverse impact of ESG rating divergence on the cost of debt. This study extends the research on ESG rating divergence and the cost of debt, and provides empirical support for developing a standardised ESG rating system.
Implications of climate‐smart agriculture technology adoption on women's productivity and food security in Tanzania
Authors: Mkupete Mkupete Jaah , Davalos Jorge 
Published: January 2025

AbstractGender gaps in productivity and food security persist in the face of climate change, necessitating effective strategies for empowering women and reducing their vulnerability. This study examines the gender‐specific impacts of climate‐smart agriculture (CSA) adoption on productivity, food security, and resilience to climate shocks in Tanzania. Using panel data from the World Bank's Tanzanian Living Standard Measurement Survey (LSMS) spanning 2008–2013, we employ a multinomial switching regression model (MSRM) approach to identify the effects of CSA adoption on agricultural outcomes. Our findings reveal that CSA non‐adoption exacerbates the gender gap in yields and food security, favoring men. However, CSA adoption leads to more equitable outcomes, bridging the gender gap and improving productivity and food security for both men and women. Additionally, adopters of CSA techniques exhibit greater resilience to climate shocks, experiencing smaller yield declines during periods of low rainfall. This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on the gendered impacts of CSA adoption, testing the risk reduction capacity of CSA technologies, and addressing the limited research on Tanzania. The findings emphasize the importance of gender‐responsive CSA policies in promoting agricultural resilience and food security in the face of climate change.
Farm production, marketing, and children's nutritional outcomes in rural Zambia
Authors: Mulungu Kelvin , Manning Dale T. , Kumwenda Chiza , Mwelwa Lukonde , Mudenda Lackson D. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractDespite increasing agricultural productivity, malnutrition remains high among food producers in many developing countries. This study examines how the difference between agricultural household nutrition requirements and production kept for home consumption, the Nutritient deficiency from own production (NDOP), impacts children's height‐for‐age z‐scores (HAZ) using a unique survey of 528 households in Zambia. The study also investigates the relationship between NDOP and market‐bought nutrition and the role of intra‐season price changes in nutrition. To address the endogeneity of NDOP, we use a control function approach. We find that NDOP is associated with lower HAZ. Both energy (calories) NDOP and nutrient‐specific NDOP, resulting from underproduction relative to nutritional requirements and from selling more than surplus food crops, are negatively correlated with HAZ. This result suggests that higher productivity and market participation do not always lead to better nutrition. We also find that crop sales (commercialization) only benefit nutrition if the household only sells surplus output relative to its nutritional requirements. Finally, we also find that NDOP does not correlate with market food purchases, and that the seasonal price increases for cereals further dampens market food purchases. The findings highlight that policies promoting smallholder commercialisation may overlook detrimental nutrition trade‐offs when own‐production falls short of household needs. Accounting for post‐harvest allocation of nutrients between own‐consumption, sales, and purchases can help ensure agricultural interventions improve farmer livelihoods and child nutrition.
Association of Arachidonic Acid Metabolism Related Genes With Endometrial Immune Microenvironment and Oxidative Stress in Coupes With Recurrent Implantation Failure
Authors: Liu Yang , Hou Xianping , Jia Zhangwei , Zhao Shaotong , Zhou Tingting , Liao Jia , Zhang Qian , Yan Junhao , Ni Tianxiang 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTBackgroundAlterations in lipid metabolism were reported to impact human fertility; however, there is limited evidence on the association of lipid metabolism with embryo implantation as well as the etiology of recurrent implantation failure (RIF), especially regarding arachidonic acid metabolism.MethodsExperimental verification research (16 RIF patients and 30 control patients) based on GEO database analysis (24 RIF patients and 24 control patients). The methods in bioinformatics included differential gene screening, functional enrichment analysis, protein‐protein interaction network, cluster analysis, weighted gene co‐expression network analysis, and so forth. RIF patients were recruited for the experimental validation section. The endometrial samples in the mid‐luteal phase were collected and subjected to quantitative real‐time PCR detection.ResultsGenes related to oxidative stress were differentially expressed and 17 different types of immune cells exhibited diverse infiltration in three RIF subgroups with different arachidonic acid metabolism. HPGDS, ALOX12, and TBXAS1 showed a strong positive correlation with the infiltration of NK cell, on the contrary, GGT6, PLA2G12A, and PTGS2 showed a strong negative correlation. The overall expression of AAMRGs was positively correlated with the infiltration of activated CD8 T cell, macrophage, natural killer cell, and T follicular helper cell.ConclusionsThe cluster of arachidonic acid metabolism‐related genes (AAMRGs) was abnormally expressed and positively associated with excessive oxidative stress as well as extensive infiltration of immune cells, including NK cells among RIF patients. Considering the high heterogeneity of the etiology of RIF, our study utilized the expression of AAMRGs as a typing basis to provide a new understanding of endometrial receptivity from the perspective of lipid metabolism and immune regulation in unexplained RIF couples, providing directions for its etiology and future basic research.
Pedagogies of awareness and subterfuge: The interpretive labor of domestic worker organizing in Buenos Aires
Authors: Baiocchi María Lis 
Published: January 2025

AbstractIn 2013, Argentina passed Law 26844, transforming domestic workers' status from “servants,” with almost nonexistent labor rights to “workers,” with rights virtually equal to all other workers under the law. Since then, domestic workers' legal equality has stood against the intersectional inequalities they still endure vis‐à‐vis their employers and that challenge advancement to their labor rights. Based on ethnographic research conducted in Buenos Aires between 2016 and 2018 with domestic workers' rights advocates, this article investigates how they contend with these challenges. It examines the interpretive labor they engage in as they encourage workers to undertake situated strategies to advance their labor rights. These strategies consist of increasing workers' knowledge of their rights while, simultaneously, encouraging them to execute dissembling practices to claim and access them. These dissembling practices allow workers to perform the appropriate behaviors according to intersecting master categories of social differentiation in a context of systemic intersectional inequality. Concurrently, they enable workers to avoid direct confrontation with their employers, thus helping them to enforce their rights without jeopardizing their means of subsistence. Through these pedagogies of awareness and subterfuge, advocates create a space in which the law can be effected, promoting workers' agency without compromising their livelihoods.
Urologists and social media: pitfalls and perils and what to think about before hitting ‘send’
Authors: Cui Helen W , Reynard John 
Published: January 2025

ObjectiveTo summarise current guidelines from professional bodies relevant to urologists on social media, and to discusses a range of risks associated with social media use. These include the risk of a fitness to practise investigation, breaking the law, loss of employment, and personal risk in the form of harassment and doxxing.MethodsReview of guidelines and recommendations published by professional bodies revelant to urologists and review of relevant case examples in the medical profession and other relevant professions.ResultsThis article finds whereas most doctors will be aware of the risks of posting on public social media platforms, the recent case studies in medical and other contexts have highlighted the risks of disciplinary action from regulators and even criminal investigation in the use of private social media.ConclusionAlthough the majority of urologists are unlikely to violate ethical and good medical practice principles in their use of social media, this article serves as a reminder of the potential consequences based on real‐life case examples.
The Un/Deserving Child: A Qualitative Study of the Discursive Welfare Rationales of a Philanthropic Foundation for Children Living in Extreme Poverty Situations
Authors: Jacquet Nicolas , Vandekinderen Caroline , Generet Coline , Vargas Daniel Zamora , Vrancken Didier , Roets Griet 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTChild poverty remains a complex social problem in Western societies. In the context of the complex historical transformation of the institutional welfare state framework in Belgium, we discuss a qualitative study on the welfare rationales of a philanthropic foundation for children in extreme poverty situations. Our exploration of the perspectives of the foundation's social partners and administrators shows how a discursive distinction between un/deserving children can be at stake in anti‐poverty strategies. Based on our findings, we tease out whether the foundation might metaphorically function as grit in the machine of public actors in the welfare state system.
Olfactory Network Disruptions as Mediators of Cognitive Impairment in De Novo Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Xing Yi , Zhou Hao , Chen Shuoying , Wang Yajie , Ren Jingru , Cao Yiting , Li Jingzhe , Liu Weiguo 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTObjectivesParkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by olfactory dysfunction (OD) and cognitive deficits at its early stages, yet the link between OD and cognitive deficits is also not well‐understood. This study aims to examine the changes in the olfactory network associated with OD and their relationship with cognitive function in de novo PD patients.MethodsA total of 116 drug‐naïve PD patients and 51 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited for this study. Graph theoretical approaches were employed to reveal the abnormalities of topological characteristics in the olfactory network. Network‐based statistics (NBS) analysis was employed to identify the abnormal subnetworks within the olfactory network. Moreover, partial correlation analysis and mediation analysis were performed to examine the relationship between the abnormal network metrics, olfactory function, and cognitive function.ResultsGraph theoretical approaches revealed reduced betweenness centrality of the left insula in PD patients with OD. NBS analysis identified a disrupted subnetwork with decreased functional connectivity, primarily involving limbic regions. The average functional connectivity of this subnetwork partially mediated the relationship between olfactory and cognitive performance. Higher‐granularity network analysis further highlighted the insula's key role and revealed reduced efficiency of information integration within the olfactory network.ConclusionsOD was associated with specific changes in the functional olfactory network, which, in turn, affects cognitive function. These findings underscore the importance of assessing and addressing OD. Understanding the neural correlates of OD could provide novel insights into the management and comprehension of cognitive impairment in PD.
Liver Transplantation in Well‐Selected Class III Obese Recipients Yields Good Outcomes
Authors: Yi Kevin , Avery Vicki , McCall John , Giles Hannah , Lindsay Helen , Gane Ed , Orr David , Barbier Louise 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTIntroductionPrevious guidelines considered body mass index (BMI) over 40 kg/m2 a relative contra‐indication to liver transplantation (LT). The aims were to examine the selection process and study outcomes of patients with Class I–III obesity.MethodsRetrospective analysis of outcomes of obese patients assessed for LT at our center between 2010 and 2023, divided into three groups: Class I (BMI30‐34.9 kg/m2), Class II (BMI35‐39.9 kg/m2), and Class III (BMI>40 kg/m2). Survival of non‐obese adult patients was used for comparison.ResultsThree hundred fifteen patients with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 were assessed for LT. Seventeen (5.4%) were not wait‐listed due to comorbidities. One hundred sixty‐eight patients were transplanted: 100 Class I, 43 Class II, and 25 Class III. There were no differences in postoperative complications (Clavien‐Dindo Grade 3 or more; 41%, 42%, 48% for Class I–III obesity respectively) or patient and graft survival (5‐y rates 84.4% and 82.7%, respectively, for the whole cohort) according to the different classes of obesity. Furthermore, patient and graft survival was not different between non‐obese and obese patients (p = 0.932).ConclusionWith a rigorous selection process, short‐term outcomes after LT for patients with Class III obesity were comparable to patients with Class I–II obesity. Long‐term survival was identical for obese and non‐obese patients.
Association of Grit and Resilience With Short‐Term Post‐Transplant Outcomes in Lung Allograft Recipients
Authors: Dragnich Alexander G. , Chapin Kaitlyn C. , Xu Ke , Liu Jinyuan , Lipworth Loren , Shaver Ciara M. , Trindade Anil J. 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTThe importance of mental toughness on lung transplant outcomes is unknown. We performed a pilot study to assess whether pretransplant grit and resilience are associated with short‐term posttransplant outcomes. We enrolled 31 lung transplant candidates, of whom 7 (26%) had greater mental toughness, defined as the upper tertile for both grit and resilience within our cohort. There were no differences in baseline characteristics between patients with higher and lower mental toughness. Greater mental toughness was associated with a shorter hospital length of stay (LOS) [12 days (interquartile range, IQR 10–12) vs. 17 days (IQR 14–24), p = 0.02] and reduced posttraumatic stress severity [median 0 (IQR 0–2) vs. 6.5 (IQR 4–9), p < 0.01]. On multivariable analyses adjusting for age and Duke Activity Status Index, greater mental toughness was associated with a shorter hospital LOS [beta = −11.96 (95% CI 0.05–23.86), p < 0.05] and reduced PTSD [beta = −10.7 (95% CI −21.6–0.04), p = 0.053]. Lung transplant candidates with greater mental toughness may have improved short‐term outcomes.