bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of three kinds of self-expandable metallic stents induced granulation tissue hyperplasia in the rabbit trachea
Authors: Li Yahua , Li Mengde , Wang Xiaofeng , Wang Yuhui , Li Chang , Zhao Yanan , Li Zhaonan , Chen Jianjian , Li Jing , Ren Kewei , Li Zongming , Ren Jianzhuang , Han Xinwei , Li Qian 
Published: November 2021

AbstractTo compare stent-induced granulation tissue hyperplasia of bare (SEMS), polyurethane-covered (PU-SEMS) and electrospun nanofibre-covered (EN-SEMS) self-expandable metallic stents in the rabbit trachea. Twenty-seven rabbits were randomly assigned to 3 groups that received SEMS, PU-SEMS or EN-SEMS. Computed tomography and sacrifice were performed as scheduled. Haematoxylin–eosin and Masson’s trichrome staining protocols were performed for pathological analysis. The data for tracheal ventilation area ratio, qualitative histological scoring, number of epithelial layers, and thicknesses of papillary projection and submucosa were documented and statistically analysed. All stents were successfully placed under the guidance of fluoroscopy without complications. Post-stenting 3 and 7 days, computed tomography revealed that the fully expandable EN-SEMS was similar to the SEMS and PU-SEMS. The mean stented tissue score in the SEMS group was higher than those of both the PU-SEMS and EN-SEMS groups at 3 days post-stenting. The pathological findings suggested that there was no papillary projection formation 3 days after stent placement. The thickness of papillary projection in the SEMS group was significantly higher than those of the PU-SEMS and EN-SEMS groups at 7 days post-stenting. After stenting 4 weeks, the tracheal ventilation area ratio of SEMS, PU-SEMS and EN-SEMS was 0.214 ± 0.021, 0.453 ± 0.028 and 0.619 ± 0.033, respectively. There were significant between-group differences. In conclusion, the stent-induced granulation tissue formation in EN-SEMS is less severe than that of PU-SEMS and SEMS. EN-SEMS has smaller radial force, and the tracheal ventilation ratio after stent placement better than that of PU-SEMS.
Monitoring fish communities through environmental DNA metabarcoding in the fish pass system of the second largest hydropower plant in the world
Authors: Dal Pont Giorgi , Duarte Ritter Camila , Agostinis Andre Olivotto , Stica Paula Valeska , Horodesky Aline , Cozer Nathieli , Balsanelli Eduardo , Netto Otto Samuel Mäder , Henn Caroline , Ostrensky Antonio , Pie Marcio Roberto 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant is the second largest in the world in power generation. The artificial barrier created by its dam imposes an obstacle for fish migration. Thus, in 2002, a fish pass system, named Piracema Channel, was built to allow fish to access areas upstream of the reservoir. We tested the potential of environmental DNA metabarcoding to monitor the impact of both the dam and associated fish pass system in the Paraná River fish communities and to compare it with traditional monitoring methods. Using a fragment of the 12S gene, we characterized richness and community composition based on amplicon sequence variants, operational taxonomic units, and zero-radius OTUs. We combined GenBank and in-house data for taxonomic assignment. We found that different bioinformatics approaches showed similar results. Also, we found a decrease in fish diversity from 2019 to 2020 probably due to the recent extreme drought experienced in southeastern Brazil. The highest alpha diversity was recorded in the mouth of the fish pass system, located in a protected valley with the highest environmental heterogeneity. Despite the clear indication that the reference databases need to be continuously improved, our results demonstrate the analytical efficiency of the metabarcoding to monitor fish species.
Polymorphism rs2682818 participates in the progression of colorectal carcinoma via miR-618-TIMP1 regulatory axis
Authors: Shao Wei , Xia Haina , Lan Qiangfang , Gu Jialu , Huang Haidong , Zheng Fei , Zheng Youyou 
Published: November 2021

AbstractColorectal carcinoma (CRC) has a high morbidity and mortality. Current studies have confirmed a variety of microRNA polymorphisms were associated with tumor susceptibility, however, the mechanisms are still unknown. In this study, we were aimed to clarify how polymorphism rs2682818 participated in the progression of CRC. First of all, the differential expression of miR-618 was assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in CRC patients with different genotypes of polymorphism rs2682818, including homozygous (TT) genotype, homozygous (GG) genotype and heterozygous (TG) genotype. Secondly, plasmids carried miR-168 precursor sequences harboring rs2682818 (SNP type) or without rs2682818 (wild type) were transfected into 293T cells to verify that polymorphism rs2682818 affected miR-618 expression. Thirdly, CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry assay, transwell assay and mouse xenograft assay were performed to measure the biological functions of miR-618 in CRC. Fourthly, the candidate target genes of miR-618 which were predicted by bioinformatics tools were verified by luciferase reporter assay. Finally, in order to explain the potential molecular mechanisms, western blotting was performed to demonstrate the differential expression and phosphorylation of pathway related proteins. The results showed that miR-618 was down-regulated in colon cancer, especially in CRC patients with rs2682818 GG homozygous genotype. Higher expression of mature miR-618 occurred in patients with TT homozygous genotype, and these patients usually had a longer survival time. Moreover, miR-618 mimic obviously impaired the growth and invasion ability of CRC cells, and miR-618 mimic also remarkably promoted CRC cell apoptosis. Our luciferase experiments confirmed that TIMP1 was a target of miR-618 in CRC cells. Knockdown of TIMP1 also significantly inhibited the malignant cytological features of CRC, including malignant growth and invasion as well as apoptosis resistance. In summary, polymorphism rs2682818 participated in the progression of CRC via affecting the expression of mature miR-618 in CRC cells, and miR-618 inhibited the progression of CRC via targeting TIMP1expression.
New insight into the taxonomic resolution of the genus Bythotrephes Leydig (Crustacea: Cladocera) based on molecular data from Central Europe
Authors: Karpowicz Maciej , Świsłocka Magdalena , Moroz Joanna , Sługocki Łukasz 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe taxonomic status of the genus Bythotrephes Leydig (Crustacea: Cladocera) has been debated since the second half of the XIX century. The most widespread view of recent decades has been that Bythotrephes is a monotypic genus, which was support by preliminary molecular data. However, the recent detailed morphological revision of this genus clearly distinguishes at least seven species. Therefore, we performed a multi-lake survey in Central Europe to give new insight into the taxonomic status of Bythotrephes by combining genetic analysis with traditional morphology-based taxonomy. Based on the morphology we identified two species in Central Europe, B. brevimanus and B. lilljeborgi, as well as hybrid forms. For the genetic analysis, we used newly obtained 113 sequences of mtDNA COI gene of the 535-bp length Bythotrephes from Central Europe and sequences downloaded from GenBank. There were no significant differences between all analyzed sequences, which supports the hypothesis that Bythotrephes is a monotypic genus, with only one highly polymorphic species. On the other hand, the results of our work could point out that the COI gene is insufficient to evaluate the taxonomic status of Bythotrephes. Nonetheless, we have identified 29 new haplotypes of mtDNA COI, and one which was the same as the haplotype found in North America and Finland. Furthermore, this haplotype was the source variant from which most other haplotypes were derived.
Improved reproductive performance achieved in tropical dairy cows by dietary beta-carotene supplementation
Authors: Khemarach Soparak , Yammuen-art Saowaluck , Punyapornwithaya Veerasak , Nithithanasilp Sutichai , Jaipolsaen Narongrit , Sangsritavong Siwat 
Published: November 2021

AbstractDairy farming in tropical climates is challenging as heat stress can impair reproduction in cows. Previous studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of beta-carotene supplementation on bovine reproductive performance. This study was performed in Thailand, where the temperature-humidity index (THI) during the experimental periods was measured to range from 78.4 to 86.1. Lactating Holstein cows classified as repeat breeders (previous artificial insemination [AI] failures) were randomly assigned into two treatments, control treatment (T1; received placebo, n = 200) and test treatment (T2; received 400 mg/h/day of beta-carotene, n = 200). All cows were subjected to a protocol for synchronization of ovulation and timed artificial insemination (TAI). The day of the 1st ovulation synchronized protocol was defined as day 0, and the total experimental period was 160 days. Daily placebo or beta-carotene supplements were given orally on day 0 and each subsequent day of the experiment. Diagnosis of pregnancy was performed using ultrasound on day 30 after insemination. Non-pregnant cows were subjected to further ovulation synchronizations (maximum of four) and TAI over a period of 160 days. Milk samples were collected every ten days throughout the experiment. The samples were analyzed for beta-carotene concentration, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities. The pregnancies per AI of the cows in T2 were significantly greater than that of T1 from the 2nd to 4th TAI. During the entire experimental period, the pregnancies in T2 were significantly greater than that of T1. Cox's proportional hazards regression model data indicated a 44% greater probability of pregnancy for cows receiving beta-carotene. The concentrations of milk beta-carotene in T2 were significantly greater than T1 from the 2nd to 4th TAI. Significantly greater SOD and GPx activities were observed in T2 than T1, suggesting a reduction of oxidative stress in cows treated with beta-carotene. Dietary supplementation with beta-carotene thus improves the reproductive performance of repeat breeders exposed to heat stress, possibly by reducing oxidative stress.
Cerebral small vessel disease phenotype and 5-year mortality in asymptomatic middle-to-old aged individuals
Authors: Lee Wei-Ju , Chou Kun-Hsien , Lee Pei-Lin , Peng Li-Ning , Wang Pei-Ning , Lin Ching-Po , Chen Liang-Kung , Chung Chih-Ping 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe present study aimed to determine whether a recently proposed cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) classification scheme could differentiate the 5-year all-cause mortality in middle-to-old aged asymptomatic CSVD. Stroke-free and non-demented participants recruited from the community-based I-Lan Longitudinal Aging Study underwent baseline brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between 2011 and 2014 and were followed-up between 2018 and 2019. The study population was classified into control (non-CSVD) and CSVD type 1–4 groups based on MRI markers. We determined the association with mortality using Cox regression models, adjusting for the age, sex, and vascular risk factors. A total of 735 participants were included. During a mean follow-up of 5.7 years, 62 (8.4%) died. There were 335 CSVD type 1 (57.9 ± 5.9 years), 249 type 2 (65.6 ± 8.1 years), 52 type 3 (67.8 ± 9.2 years), and 38 type 4 (64.3 ± 9.0 years). Among the four CSVD types, CSVD type 4 individuals had significantly higher all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 5.0, 95% confidence interval 1.6–15.3) compared to controls. This novel MRI-based CSVD classification scheme was able to identify individuals at risk of mortality at an asymptomatic, early stage of disease and might be applied for future community-based health research and policy.
Value of perfusion parameters histogram analysis of triphasic CT in differentiating intrahepatic mass forming cholangiocarcinoma from hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhao Fang , Pang Guodong , Li Xuejing , Yang Shuo , Zhong Hai 
Published: November 2021

AbstractWe aim to gain further insight into identifying differential perfusion parameters and corresponding histogram parameters of intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma (IMCC) from hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) on triphasic computed tomography (CT) scans. 90 patients with pathologically confirmed HCCs (n = 54) and IMCCs (n = 36) who underwent triple-phase enhanced CT imaging were included. Quantitative analysis of CT images derived from triphasic CT scans were evaluated to generate liver perfusion and histogram parameters. The differential performances, including the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), specificity, and sensitivity were assessed. The mean value, and all thepercentiles of the arterial enhancement fraction (AEF) were significantly higher in HCCs than in IMCCs. The difference in hepatic arterial blood supply perfusion (HAP) and AEF (ΔHAP = HAPtumor − HAPliver, ΔAEF = AEFtumor − AEFliver) for the mean perfusion parameters and all percentile parameters between tumor and peripheral normal liver were significantly higher in HCCs than in IMCCs. The relative AEF (rAEF = ΔAEF/AEFliver), including the mean value and all corresponding percentile parameters were statistically significant between HCCs and IMCCs. The 10th percentiles of the ΔAEF and rAEF had the highest AUC of 0.788 for differentiating IMCC from HCC, with sensitivities and specificities of 87.0%, 83.3%, and 61.8%, 64.7%, respectively. Among all parameters, the mean value of ∆AEF, the 75th percentiles of ∆AEF and rAEF, and the 25th percentile of HFtumor exhibited the highest sensitivities of 94.4%, while the 50th percentile of rAEF had the highest specificity of 82.4%. AEF (including ΔAEF and rAEF) and the corresponding histogram parameters derived from triphasic CT scans provided useful value and facilitated the accurate discrimination between IMCCs and HCCs.
Smartphone application improves fertility treatment-related literacy in a large-scale virtual randomized controlled trial in Japan
Authors: Yokomizo Ryo , Nakamura Akari , Sato Makoto , Nasu Risa , Hine Maaya , Urayama Kevin Y. , Kishi Hiroshi , Sago Haruhiko , Okamoto Aikou , Umezawa Akihiro 
Published: November 2021

AbstractPeople of reproductive age have unmet needs related to deficiencies in fertility literacy. Here, we aimed to investigate whether providing fertility-related information via a smartphone application could improve fertility treatment-related literacy in participants. We performed a randomized control-group pretest posttest study and recruited participants between June 18 and 25, 2020. Participants’ fertility treatment-related literacy was assessed with a pretest that comprised of 28 questions and participants were allocated with stratified randomization to either intervention group or control group. The intervention comprised a one-week smartphone application-based provision of information on fertility-related information and the control group received general information about women’s healthcare. Effectiveness of intervention was assessed using a posttest. A total of 4137 participants were administered the questionnaire and pretest, among which 3765 participants (91.0 %) responded and were randomly allocated into either the intervention group (N = 1883) or the control group (N = 1882). A significantly higher posttest mean score was observed for the intervention group compared to the control group (P = 0.0017). We also observed that posttest scores were significantly improved compared to pretest scores in both the intervention and control group (P < 0.001). When examining by specific test question, the proportion answering correctly increased at posttest compared to pretest for both intervention and control groups (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the intervention group showed a greater mean difference between posttest and pretest scores than the control group (P < 0.001). In conclusion, educational intervention using a smartphone application contributed to enhancing fertility treatment-related literacy.
Lightweight key establishment with the assistance of mutually connected sensors in wireless sensor networks (WSNs)
Authors: Liu Wei , Harn Lein , Weng Jian 
Published: November 2021

AbstractSensitive data collected by a wireless sensor network (WSN) should be protected by a secret key shared between two adjacent (or neighboring) sensors. Sensors are mobile devices with limited memory and computational power, and sensors are deployed in a field randomly in which relative positions among sensors cannot be pre‐determined. Key distribution in WSN is a challenging research problem. Random key distribution is one of the most popular key distribution techniques in WSN; but it is a probabilistic key distribution scheme since two neighboring sensors may or may not share any pairwise key. There are many published papers to improve the probability of connectivity of two neighboring sensors. In this paper, a novel design of lightweight key establishment is proposed based on top of random key distribution. The first scheme can increase the probability of connectivity of two neighboring sensors, and the second scheme can also enable sensors to authenticate the established pairwise key. Both schemes need only XOR operation so they are lightweight and especially suitable for WSNs.
Reach‐avoid games with two heterogeneous defenders and one attacker
Authors: Chen Xi , Yu Jianqiao 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThis article addresses a reach‐avoid game with two heterogeneous defenders and one attacker in a bounded, convex domain consisting of a target region and a play region. The attacker aims to reach the target region before being captured by any defenders, while the defenders strive to capture the attacker in advance. A simple geometric method is introduced that only considers the position relation between the reaching regions of the players and the boundary of the target region to construct the barrier of the two‐player version reach‐avoid game analytically. Next, based on the speed ratio between the defenders, the necessary and sufficient conditions suitable for the general game setups to judge which defender contributes to the barrier and decompose the problem into several two‐player version subproblems are given. Then, the barrier of the original game is constructed analytically by combining these subproblems in all possible situations. The method provided an analytical expression of the barrier and has essentially no computation burden. Thus, the method is suitable for online applications. And solutions given in this work can be extended to general multiplayer situations and the game with complex setups for further research.
A polarization‐insensitive time‐modulated frequency‐selective surface for broad frequency range
Authors: Saikia Mondeep , Srivastava Kumar Vaibhav , Ramakrishna S. Anantha 
Published: November 2021

AbstractUsually, Radar signature of an object is reduced using microwave absorber surface. Recently, another approach based on time‐modulated frequency‐selective surfaces has been developed to deceive Radar detection by selectively generating harmonics/sidebands. Here, a polarization‐insensitive time‐modulated frequency‐selective surface is proposed that works over a broad frequency range. The design employs a PIN diode‐based switchable frequency‐selective surface to switch between the two states of reflection coefficient. Monochromatic incident electromagnetic (EM) wave, upon reflection from the surface is modulated by a periodic time‐varying reflection coefficient to generate several harmonics/sidebands along with the incident frequency. In the frequency spectrum of the reflected EM wave, the power of the incident frequency component is suppressed below that of the sidebands. The time‐modulated frequency selective surface has the capability to suppress the incident frequency component for any incident EM wave in 2–4 GHz that is S band, as well as generate spurious reflection sidebands.
A review of recent progress and developments in China smart cities
Authors: Shan Zhiguang , Zhang Yanqiang , Zhang Yaqi , Tang Sisi , Wang Wei 
Published: November 2021

AbstractSince 2008, the development of China's smarter cities has experienced four phases: Exploration and practice phase, normative adjustment phase, strategic breakthrough phase and all‐round development phase. A number of innovative practices such as the city brain and ‘unified online government service’ have provided the world with Chinese solutions for smart city construction. This study explains the concept and connotation of innovative smarter cities, summarizes the development status of China's innovative smarter cities, analyses and judges the seven development trends in the construction of innovative smarter cities, analyses the shortcomings and deficiencies, and puts forward policy suggestions to promote the development. It has an important reference value for comprehensively understanding the development concept and overall development status of China's innovative smarter cities and clarifying the next development direction.
The SEDIGISM survey: A search for molecular outflows
Authors: Yang A. Y. , Urquhart J. S. , Wyrowski F. , Thompson M. A. , König C. , Colombo D. , Menten K. M. , Duarte-Cabral A. , Schuller F. , Csengeri T. , Eden D. , Barnes P. , Traficante A. , Bronfman L. , Sanchez-Monge A. , Ginsburg A. , Cesaroni R. , Lee M.-Y. , Beuther H. , Medina S.-N. X. , Mazumdar P. , Henning T. 
Published: November 2021

Context. The formation processes of massive stars are still unclear, but a picture is emerging involving accretion disks and molecular outflows in what appears to be a scaled-up version of low-mass star formation. A census of outflow activity toward high-mass star-forming clumps in various evolutionary stages has the potential to shed light on high-mass star formation.
Aims. We conducted an outflow survey toward ATLASGAL (APEX Telescope Large Area Survey of the Galaxy) clumps using SEDIGISM (structure, Excitation, and Dynamics of the Inner Galactic InterStellar Medium) data and aimed to obtain a large sample of clumps exhibiting outflow activity in different evolutionary stages.
Methods. We identify the high-velocity wings of the 13CO lines, which indicate outflow activity, toward ATLASGAL clumps by (1) extracting the simultaneously observed 13CO (2–1) and C18O (2–1) spectra from SEDIGISM, and (2) subtracting Gaussian fits to the scaled C18O (core emission) from the 13CO line after considering opacity broadening.
Results. We detected high-velocity gas toward 1192 clumps out of a total sample of 2052, corresponding to an overall detection rate of 58%. Outflow activity has been detected in the earliest (apparently) quiescent clumps (i.e., 70 μm weak) to the most evolved H II region stages (i.e., 8 μm bright with tracers of massive star formation). The detection rate increases as a function of evolution (quiescent = 51%, protostellar = 47%, YSO = 57%, UC H II regions = 76%).
Conclusions. Our sample is the largest outflow sample identified so far. The high detection rate from this large sample is consistent with the results of similar studies reported in the literature and supports the scenario that outflows are a ubiquitous feature of high-mass star formation. The lower detection rate in early evolutionary stages may be due to the fact that outflows in the early stages are weak and difficult to detect. We obtain a statistically significant sample of outflow clumps for every evolutionary stage, especially for outflow clumps in the earliest stage (i.e., 70 μm dark). The detections of outflows in the 70 μm dark clumps suggest that the absence of 70 μm emission is not a robust indicator of starless and/or pre-stellar cores.