bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Unveiling emerging interdisciplinary research challenges in the highly threatened sclerophyllous forests of central Chile
Authors: Delpiano Cristian A. , Vargas Solange , Ovalle Juan F. , Cáceres Catalina , Zorondo-Rodríguez Francisco , Miranda Alejandro , Pohl Nelida , Rojas Claudia , Squeo Francisco A. 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Background
The potential ecosystem collapse of forests in Mediterranean-type ecosystems (MTEs) by unprecedented droughts is worrisome due to the impacts on its exceptional biodiversity and human well-being. However, research integrating the impacts of global change drivers, forest resilience and the challenges facing human-nature relationships is still scarce.

Methods and results
Using the central Chile megadrought and recently massive forest browning event as a model scenario, we identified, through a scientific literature review and an interdisciplinary scientific workshop, the research priorities and questions to address for MTEs in a context of global change. Our results highlighted knowledge gaps that need to be covered, particularly in social and environmental sciences, with an emphasis on soil science. Research priorities must focus on (1) the understanding of interactive effects of global and local anthropogenic drivers on MTEs and (2) the evaluation of the potential impacts of MTEs collapse on human well-being and ecosystem functioning.

Conclusions
We highlight the need for a collaborative approach involving scientists, landowners, managers/administrators, and policymakers to apply adaptive forest management against the current socio-environmental challenges under a global change context.
Pathological examination of factors involved in PD-L1 expression in patients with oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Koyama Yu , Ogawa Chiharu , Kurihara Chihiro , Hashimoto Nao , Shinagawa Shota , Okazaki Hiroya , Koyama Takumi , Sugahara Keisuke , Katakura Akira 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Background
Tumor tissues comprise cancer cells and stromal cells, and their interactions form the cancer microenvironment. Therefore, treatments targeting cells other than cancer cells are also actively being developed, and among them, treatment targeting PD-1, an immune checkpoint molecule that is important in tumor immune evasion, has also been indicated for head and neck cancer. PD-L1, a ligand of PD-1, is expressed in both tumor cells and stromal cells, and the scoring system based on the combined positivity rates of both types of cells, the combined positive score (CPS), is used for predicting treatment effect. However, much is unknown regarding the expression of PD-L1. In this study, we histopathologically examined factors controlling the expression of PD-1/PD-L1. This study included 37 patients who underwent resection surgery for tongue squamous cell carcinoma in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Tokyo Dental College Suidobashi Hospital. The expression levels of PD-L1, α-SMA, and p53 were assessed by immunohistochemical staining.

Results
Seven participants had CPS ≥ 20, twenty-four participants had 1 ≤ CPS < 20, and six participants had CPS < 1. The overall positivity rate of α-SMA, a marker for cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), was 27% (10/37 participants), and the positivity rates of α-SMA for the three CPS groups were 85.7% (6/7 participants), 16.7% (4/24 participants), and 0% (0/6 participants), respectively. In addition, the overall positivity rate of p53 was 37.8% (14/37 participants), and the positivity rates of p53 for the three CPS groups were 71.4% (5/7 participants), 37.5% (9/24 participants), and 0% (0/6 participants), respectively.

Conclusions
The expression of PD-L1 demonstrated an association with α-SMA and p53 positivity. In addition, compared with the expression of p53, the expression of α-SMA demonstrated a higher association with PD-L1 expression in patients with a high CPS. The abovementioned findings suggest that the interactions between CAFs, cancer cells, and immunocompetent cells may regulate the expression of PD-L1.
Idiopathic pyogenic thoracic and lumbar spondylodiscitis: outcome of long segment fixation
Authors: Elnaggar Ahmed Gabry , Habib Hosam-Eldin Abdel-Azim 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBackgroundSpondylodiscitis is an infection of the vertebral body extending to the intervertebral disc, and possibly the surrounding paraspinal structures.ObjectivesTo evaluate the clinical results of posterior long segment transpedicular screws fixation and decompression of the infected area for management of idiopathic pyogenic spondylodiscitis of the thoracic and lumbar spine.MethodsThis retrospective study included 14 patients with idiopathic active pyogenic spondylodiscitis of the lumber and thoracic spine between January 2017 and December 2021, with follow-up continuing until December 2022. All patients had posterior long-segment rigid fixation with infection decompression.ResultsAll patients after 6-month follow-up had achieved complete fusion. There was no evidence of postoperative wound infection, and no patient had a recurrence of infection at the lesion site during follow-up. Prior to surgery, the mean VAS score for back pain was 7.6 (range 6–9), however, after surgery, it fell to 1.3 (0–3), a statistically significant improvement (P < 0.001) during the last follow-up. According to the Kirkaldy-Willis criteria, the functional prognosis was excellent in 11 individuals, good in two, and fair in one.ConclusionsPosterior long-segment fixation in conjunction with decompression of the affected area effectively resolved bacterial spinal infection and restored neurological impairment.
The use of an autologous platelet-rich fibrin membrane in urethroplasty for cases of distal hypospadias
Authors: Abdelazim Osama , Abdullateef Khaled Salah , Khedr Elsayed , Tarek Mahmoud 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Background
Among pediatric surgical procedures, hypospadias surgery is one of the most difficult. The most prevalent complication following hypospadias repair is urethrocutaneous fistula. Numerous procedures have been developed to prevent and resolve this issue. One such method is platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) membrane preparation, which is a straightforward process requiring only the patient’s serum. It has already been utilized successfully in plastic and reconstructive surgeries, where it significantly enhances the healing capacity and decreases the risk of infections. The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of an autologous PRF membrane in promoting healing and reducing fistula occurrence in cases of de novo distal hypospadias.

Methods
Forty patients with primary distal hypospadias underwent TIP repair, as a part of a prospective controlled randomized study from April 2017 to February 2018. The cases were randomly allocated into two categories. TIP repair done in all cases by the same surgeon. Twenty cases comprised group A, which utilized a preputial or local dartos flap as an additional protective layer over the urethroplasty. In contrast, group B comprised 20 cases in which the urethroplasty was covered with a PRF membrane. The initial follow-up duration was 6 months. Each group’s fistula incidence and other associated complications were documented.

Results
Two groups were compared during the initial 6-month follow-up period. There were seven cases of urethrocutaneous fistula in group A, representing a 35% incidence rate. In group B, there were two cases that had fistula with an incidence of 10% in the early postoperative period. Two patients (10%) in group A developed meatal stenosis and only one patient in group B (5%) developed meatal stenosis. Glandular dehiscence occurred in one patient (5%) in group B. There was no skin wound infection in both groups.

Conclusion
The PRF membrane may be a promising method as a coverage layer over the urethroplasty aiming to reduce the fistula rate after the repair. A larger comparative study is needed to evaluate the efficacy of PRF membranes in promoting wound healing.
Echocardiographic estimation of pulmonary arterial and right atrial pressures in children with congenital heart disease: a comprehensive prospective study and introduction of novel equations
Authors: Malakan Rad Elaheh , Elhamian Reza , Zanjani Keyhan Sayadpour , Shabanian Reza , Moghadam Ehsan Aghaei , Majnoon Mohamad Taghi , Zeinaloo Aliakbar 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Background
Pediatric pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by a mean pulmonary arterial pressure exceeding 20 mmHg. There is limited research on the suitability of adult-based methods for estimating PH in pediatric populations. Using established formulas for adults, this study aimed to evaluate the correlation between echocardiographic estimates of systolic, diastolic, and mean pulmonary arterial pressures, and mean right atrial pressures in children with congenital heart disease (CHD).

Methods
A prospective study was conducted involving children with CHD undergoing cardiac catheterization without prior cardiac surgery. We used echocardiography to estimate pulmonary and right atrial pressures and compared these with invasively measured values. Four reliable regression equations were developed to estimate systolic, diastolic, and mean pulmonary arterial pressures, and mean right atrial pressures. Cutoff values were determined to predict the occurrence of PH. Linear regression, Bland–Altman analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were performed to assess the accuracy of echocardiography and establish diagnostic thresholds for PH.

Results
The study involved 55 children (23 with normal pulmonary arterial pressure and 32 with PH) with acyanotic CHD aged 1 to 192 months. Four equations were developed to detect high pulmonary arterial pressures, with cutoff values of 32.9 for systolic pulmonary arterial pressure, 14.95 for diastolic pulmonary arterial pressure, and 20.7 for mean pulmonary arterial pressure. The results showed high sensitivity and moderate specificity but a tendency to underestimate systolic and mean pulmonary arterial pressures at higher pressures.

Conclusions
The study provides valuable insights into the use of adult-based echocardiographic formulas for estimating PH in pediatric patients with acyanotic CHD.
Genomic Profiling of Small Intestine Cancers From a Real-World Data Set Identifies Subgroups With Actionable Alterations
Authors: Takeda Hiroyuki , Yamamoto Hiroyuki , Oikawa Ritsuko , Umemoto Kumiko , Arai Hiroyuki , Mizukami Takuro , Ogawa Kazuki , Uchida Yoshiyasu , Nagata Yusuke , Kubota Yohei , Doi Ayako , Horie Yoshiki , Ogura Takashi , Izawa Naoki , Moore Jay A. , Sokol Ethan S. , Sunakawa Yu 
Published: August 2024

PURPOSE Panel-based comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) is used in clinical practice worldwide; however, large real-world data (RWD) of patients with advanced small intestine cancer have not been characterized. We investigated differences in the prevalence of clinically relevant alterations across molecularly defined or age-stratified subgroups. PATIENTS AND METHODS This was a collaborative biomarker study of RWD from CGP testing (Foundation Medicine, Inc). Hybrid capture was conducted on at least 324 cancer-related genes and select introns from up to 31 genes frequently rearranged in cancer. Overall, 1,364 patients with advanced small intestine cancer were available for analyses and were stratified by age (≥40 years/<40 years), microsatellite instability (MSI) status, tumor mutational burden (TMB) status (high ≥10/low <10 Muts/Mb), and select gene alterations. The frequency of alterations was analyzed using a chi-square test with Yate's correction. RESULTS Genes with frequent alterations included TP53 (59.8%), KRAS (54.8%), APC (27.7%), and CDKN2A (22.4%). Frequent genes with amplifications were MYC (6.7%), MDM2 (5.9%), GATA6 (5.5%), and CCND1 (3.4%). Patients younger than 40 years had significantly lower frequency of APC mutations than those 40 years and older (10.4% v 28.7%; P = .0008). Druggable genomic alterations were detected in 22.3% of patients: BRAF V600E (1.2%), BRCA1 (1.8%), BRCA2 (3.2%), ERBB2 amplification (3.2%), KRAS G12C (3.3%), NTRK1/2/3 fusion (0.07%), MSI-high (7.0%), and TMB-high (12.2%), with no significant differences in the frequency according to age (<40 years v ≥40 years; 22.1% v 22.3%). TMB of 10-20 Mut/Mb was observed in 4.8% of patients, and TMB ≥20 Mut/Mb was seen in 7.3% of the cohort. CONCLUSION RWD from clinical panel testing revealed the genomic landscape in small intestine cancer by subgroup. These findings provide insights for the future development of treatments in advanced small intestine cancer.
“I Just Assumed This Was Already Being Done”: Canadian Patient Preferences for Enhanced Data Sharing for Precision Oncology
Authors: Pollard Samantha , Ehman Morgan , Hermansen Anna , Weymann Deirdre , Krebs Emanuel , Ho Cheryl , Lim Howard J. , Jones Steven , Bombard Yvonne , Hanna Timothy P. , Hessels Chiquita , Longstaff Holly , Cook-Deegan Robert , Bubela Tania , Regier Dean A. 
Published: August 2024

PURPOSE In Canada, health data are siloed, slowing bioinnovation and evidence generation for personalized cancer care. Secured data-sharing platforms (SDSPs) can enable data analysis across silos through rapid concatenation across trial and real-world settings and timely researcher access. To motivate patient participation and trust in research, it is critical to ensure that SDSP design and oversight align with patients' values and address their concerns. We sought to qualitatively characterize patient preferences for the design of a pan-Canadian SDSP. METHODS Between January 2022 and July 2023, we conducted pan-Canadian virtual focus groups with individuals who had a personal history of cancer. Following each focus group, participants were invited to provide feedback on early-phase analysis results via a member-checking survey. Three trained qualitative researchers analyzed data using thematic analysis. RESULTS Twenty-eight individuals participated across five focus groups. Four focus groups were conducted in English and one in French. Thematic analysis generated two major and five minor themes. Analytic themes spanned personal and population implications of data sharing and willingness to manage perceived risks. Participants were supportive of increasing access to health data for precision oncology research, while voicing concerns about unintended data use, reidentification, and inequitable access to costly therapeutics. To mitigate perceived risks, participants highlighted the value of data access oversight and governance and informational transparency. CONCLUSION Strategies for secured data sharing should anticipate and mitigate the risks that patients perceive. Participants supported enhancing timely research capability while ensuring safeguards to protect patient autonomy and privacy. Our study informs the development of data-governance and data-sharing frameworks that integrate real-world and trial data, informed by evidence from direct patient input.
Association of Acute Systemic Inflammation with Patient-Centric Postoperative Pulmonary Complications After Elective Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Mittel Aaron , Drubin Casey , Hua May , Nitta Suzuka , Wagener Gebhard , Vidal Melo Marcos F. 
Published: August 2024

BACKGROUND:
Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) occur frequently after cardiac surgery. Absolute postoperative values of biomarkers of inflammation (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α]) and alveolar epithelial injury (soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products [sRAGE]) have been associated with hypoxia and prolonged ventilation. However, relationships between these biomarkers and PPCs, contextualized to preoperative inflammation and perioperative lung injury risk factors, are uncertain. We aimed to determine associations between perioperative increases in biomarkers of inflammation and alveolar epithelial injury with a patient-centric PPC definition in adult cardiac surgical patients, accounting for the influence of intraoperative risk factors for lung injury.

METHODS:
Adults undergoing elective cardiac surgery were eligible for this observational cohort study. Blood concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and sRAGE were collected after anesthesia induction (baseline) and on postoperative day 1 (POD 1). The primary outcome was the occurrence of moderate or severe PPCs, graded using a validated scale, in POD 0 to 7. We estimated the association between POD 1 IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and sRAGE concentrations and moderate/severe PPC presence using separate logistic regression models for each biomarker, adjusted for baseline biomarker values and risk factors for postoperative lung injury (age, baseline PaO2/FiO2, left ventricle ejection fraction [LVEF], procedural type, cardiopulmonary bypass duration, and transfusions). Covariables were chosen based on relevance to lung injury and unadjusted between-group differences among patients with versus without PPCs. The secondary outcome was postoperative ventilation duration, which was log-transformed and analyzed using linear regression, adjusted using the same variables as the primary outcome.

RESULTS:
We enrolled 204 patients from 2016 to 2018. Biomarkers were analyzed in 2023 among 175 patients with complete data. In adjusted analyses, POD 1 IL-8 and IL-6 were significantly associated with moderate/severe PPCs. The odds ratio (OR) for developing a PPC for every 50 pg/mL increase in POD 1 IL-8 was 7.19 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.13–28.53, P = .003) and 1.42 (95% CI, 1.13–1.93, P = .01) for every 50 pg/mL increase in POD 1 IL-6. In adjusted analyses, postoperative ventilation duration was significantly associated with POD 1 sRAGE; each 50 pg/mL increase in sRAGE was associated with a 25% (95% CI, 2%–52%, P = .03) multiplicative increase in hours of ventilation. TNF-α was not significantly associated with PPCs or ventilation duration.

CONCLUSIONS:
Acute systemic inflammation is significantly associated with PPCs after elective cardiac surgery in adults when taking into consideration preoperative inflammatory burden and perioperative factors that may influence postoperative lung injury.
Planar near-field measurements of specular and diffuse reflection of millimeter-wave absorbers
Authors: Miura Fumiya , Takakura Hayato , Sekimoto Yutaro , Inatani Junji , Matsuda Frederick , Oguri Shugo , Nakamura Shogo 
Published: August 2024

Mitigating the far sidelobes of a wide-field-of-view telescope is one of the critical issues for polarization observation of the cosmic microwave background. Since even small reflections of stray light at the millimeter-wave absorbers inside the telescope may create nonnegligible far sidelobes, we have developed a method to measure the reflectance of millimeter-wave absorbers, including diffuse reflections. By applying the planar near-field measurement method to the absorbers, we have enabled two-dimensional diffuse-reflection measurements, in addition to characterizing specular reflection. We have measured the reflectance of five samples (TK RAM Large and Small tiles and Eccosorb AN-72, HR-10, and LS-22) at two angles of incidence in the frequency range from 70 GHz to 110 GHz. Compared with conventional horn-to-horn measurements, we obtained a consistent specular reflectance with a higher precision, less affected by standing waves. We have demonstrated that the angular response and diffuse-to-specular reflectance ratio differ among various materials. The measurements also imply that some absorbers may affect the polarization direction when reflecting the incident waves.
Optoelectronic hybrid oscillating fiber-optic sensor with attosecond precision and reconfigurable sensitivity
Authors: Lu Yiwen , Cen Qizhuang , Yang Tong , Wang Xinpeng , Liu Chong , Yin Feifei , Xu Kun , Li Ming , Dai Yitang 
Published: August 2024

The fiber-optic sensor is a great candidate in the field of metrology, developed to rely on the optical phase to convey valuable information. Some phase amplification methods have attracted wide attention due to their ability to improve measurement sensitivity; nevertheless, the precision is generally restricted in phase measurement. Here, we report a novel optoelectronic hybrid oscillating fiber-optic sensor by mapping the measurand loaded on the sensing fiber to the frequency shift of the microwave signal, which is generated by an all-electric oscillating cavity with a frequency conversion pair. Two branch signals assisted in twice frequency conversion are obtained by heterodyne interference, with the sensing information scaled up by two optical comb line frequencies contained, and then, the phase difference is cumulatively enhanced in the closed feedback loop. Thanks to the introduction of the oscillating cavity, a detection limit improvement of 42 dB at a 10 Hz frequency offset can be achieved in theory with a cavity delay of 1 μs. The sensing precision depends on the cavity noise limit and is independent of the instrument and cavity delay. A proof-of-concept experiment is carried out to demonstrate sensors with a sensitivity of 8.3 kHz/ps and 22.3 kHz/ps for a range of 50 ps, and 62 kHz/ps and 162 kHz/ps for a range of 6.7 ps. The minimum Allan deviation reaches 2.7 attoseconds at an averaging time of 0.2 s with a frequency interval of 150 GHz, indicating that the proposal may pave a new path for sensing interrogation systems, especially for high-precision measurement.
Detection of soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma spp. by nucleic acid amplification test: Results of the first 5 years of the only international external quality assessment scheme
Authors: Schutte Annemiek H. J. , Koelewijn Rob , Ajjampur Sitara S. R. , Levecke Bruno , McCarthy James S. , Mejia Rojelio , Williams Steven A. , Verweij Jaco J. , van Lieshout Lisette , van Hellemond Jaap J. 
Published: August 2024

Background
Infections with soil-transmitted helminths (STH) and schistosomiasis (SCH) result in a significant global health burden, particularly in rural communities in low and middle-income countries. While microscopy remains the primary diagnostic method for STH and SCH in resource-limited settings, nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are gaining prominence as tools for evaluation of public health control programs in endemic countries, and individual diagnosis in high-income countries. Despite the high sensitivity and specificity of NAATs, previous research has highlighted inter-laboratory variations, both in technical and clinical performance, justifying the need for continuous proficiency testing.

Methodology
Results from 5 rounds over a 5-year period of the so far only longitudinal international Helminth External Molecular Quality Assessment Scheme (HEMQAS), coordinated by the Dutch Foundation for Quality Assessment in Medical Laboratories (SKML), were examined in order to (i) assess the diagnostic proficiency of laboratories in detecting helminths in stool and (ii) identify potential factors contributing to variations in performance.

Outcome and conclusions
Thirty-six laboratories, from 18 countries and 5 continents, participated in HEMQAS. The overall diagnostic performances were satisfying, with remarkably low numbers (<2%) of false-positive results. False-negative results were more often reported for stool (15%) than for DNA (5%) samples. False-negative results varied largely between targets (the highest number (29%) for Trichuris trichiura). Twenty-five laboratories provided a sufficient number of results for a robust comparison between participating laboratories, which confirmed substantial inter-laboratory variability in quantitative NAAT results (Cq-values). This variability likely arises from differences in pre-treatment, DNA isolation and DNA-target amplification procedures. This study emphasizes the complexity of molecular diagnosis for STH and SCH, highlighting the critical role of proper stool preparation and DNA isolation methods. The results underscore the necessity for laboratory professionals and public health decision-makers to recognize these complexities and continuously undertake external quality assessment schemes to ensure accurate and reliable performance in molecular diagnosis.