bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Histological aspects of the renal sexual segment of Brazilian snakes of the Boidae family
Authors: Bento Heitor José , Ferreira Adelina , Rosa Janaina Marcela Assunção , de Campos Camila Gonçalves , da Silva Sávio Lucas Rodrigues , Curcio Felipe Franco , Pescador Caroline Argenta , da Paz Regina Celia Rodrigues 
Published: May 2024

AbstractSnakes represent a wide and diverse group of species and have anatomical particularities, such as the renal sexual segment (RSS), a structure located in the kidneys and formed from the hypertrophy of the urinary ducts and nephrons. This study aims at describing the histological aspects of the RSS of Boa constrictor, Epicrates cenchria and Corallus hortulanus, all of which are Brazilian snake species from the Boidae family. The reproductive system and kidneys of five male specimens of E. cenchria, three male specimens of C. hortulanus and two male specimens of B. constrictor were obtained. Tissue samples were processed histologically and different stains used (Toluidine Blue, Alcian Blue and Periodic Acid Schiff). The histological evaluation of the RSS of E. cenchria, C. hortulanus and B. constrictor shows that the RSS in these species varies when comparing individuals in the reproductive period with those which are not. It also allows for the observation of the segment's secretory activity in animals in the reproductive stage (mature sperm in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules) as well as in those which are not. Finally, the histological evaluation also reveals the variation of the secretion product in individuals in the reproductive period, in those which are not, and also among individuals within the same reproductive stage.
Inability to start or complete upper secondary school strongly predicts unemployment and psychosocial and psychiatric adversities – A register‐based follow‐up study from southwestern Sweden
Authors: Landgren Valdemar , Lindblad Ida , Nylander Lena , Gillberg Christopher , Fernell Elisabeth 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAimTo study academic, social and psychiatric outcomes among adults in the general population in southwestern Sweden. Groups of individuals born in 1998 and ineligible, eligible but not completed, and eligible and completed upper secondary school were followed in 2020.MethodsData were retrieved from Statistics Sweden, the Swedish National Agency for Education, the Longitudinal Integrated Database for Health Insurance and Labour Market Studies, the Swedish National Crime Register and the National Patient Register. The four adverse outcomes neither engaging in post‐secondary studies nor having a regular salary, needing social benefits, having any criminal conviction, and having a psychiatric disorder at age ≥16 were examined.ResultsOf the final sample of 2706 individuals who had attended 9th grade of compulsory school in 2014, 273 (10%) were ineligible for upper secondary school. Of eligible individuals, 82 (3%) never started, 282 (10%) did not complete and 2065 (77%) completed upper secondary school. Compared with completers, the odds ratios for adverse outcomes were markedly increased for all other groups up to 22 years old.ConclusionInability to start or complete upper secondary school strongly predicted unemployment and psychosocial and psychiatric adversities. School authorities should consider offering vocational programmes post compulsory school without grade restrictions.
The role of lncFABP4 in modulating adipogenic differentiation in buffalo intramuscular preadipocytes
Authors: Li Ruirui , Zhu Ruirui , Yang Xintong , Feng Ye , He Qin , Wang Haopeng , Liu Qingyou , Shi Deshun , Huang Jieping 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIntramuscular fat (IMF) is a crucial determinant of meat quality and is influenced by various regulatory factors. Despite the growing recognition of the important role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in IMF deposition, the mechanisms underlying buffalo IMF deposition remain poorly understood. In this study, we identified and characterized a lncRNA, lncFABP4, which is transcribed from the antisense strand of fatty acid‐binding protein 4 (FABP4). lncFABP4 inhibited cell proliferation in buffalo intramuscular preadipocytes. Moreover, lncFABP4 significantly increased intramuscular preadipocyte differentiation, as indicated by an increase in the expression of the adipogenic markers peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPARG), CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), and FABP4. Mechanistically, lncFABP4 was found to have the potential to regulate downstream gene expression by participating in protein–protein interaction pathways. These findings contribute to further understanding of the intricate mechanisms through which lncRNAs modulate intramuscular adipogenesis in buffaloes.
Identification of the circRNA–miRNA–mRNA network for treating methamphetamine‐induced relapse and behavioral sensitization with cannabidiol
Authors: Liu Liu , Wang Chan , Wang Haowei , Miao Lin , Xie Tong , Tian Yunqing , Li Xiaodong , Huang Yizhen , Zeng Xiaofeng , Zhu Bofeng 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAimsThis study aims to investigate the pharmacological effects and the underlying mechanism of cannabidiol (CBD) on methamphetamine (METH)‐induced relapse and behavioral sensitization in male mice.MethodsThe conditioned place preference (CPP) test with a biased paradigm and open‐field test were used to assess the effects of CBD on METH‐induced relapse and behavioral sensitization in male mice. RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis was employed to identify differential expressed (DE) circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of mice, and the interaction among them was predicted using competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) network analysis.ResultsChronic administration of CBD (40 mg/kg) during the METH withdrawal phase alleviated METH (2 mg/kg)‐induced CPP reinstatement and behavioral sensitization in mice, as well as mood and cognitive impairments following behavioral sensitization. Furthermore, 42 DEcircRNAs, 11 DEmiRNAs, and 40 DEmRNAs were identified in the NAc of mice. The circMeis2‐miR‐183‐5p‐Kcnj5 network in the NAc of mice is involved in the effects of CBD on METH‐induced CPP reinstatement and behavioral sensitization.ConclusionsThis study constructed the ceRNAs network for the first time, revealing the potential mechanism of CBD in treating METH‐induced CPP reinstatement and behavioral sensitization, thus advancing the application of CBD in METH use disorders.
Integrated analysis of single cell‐RNA sequencing and Mendelian randomization identifies lactate dehydrogenase B as a target of melatonin in ischemic stroke
Authors: Shi Fei , Zhang Guiyun , Li Jinshi , Shu Liang , Yu Cong , Ren Dabin , Zhang Yisong , Zheng Ping 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAimsDespite the success of single‐cell RNA sequencing in identifying cellular heterogeneity in ischemic stroke, clarifying the mechanisms underlying these associations of differently expressed genes remains challenging. Several studies that integrate gene expression and gene expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) with genome wide‐association study (GWAS) data to determine their causal role have been proposed.MethodsHere, we combined Mendelian randomization (MR) framework and single cell (sc) RNA sequencing to study how differently expressed genes (DEGs) mediating the effect of gene expression on ischemic stroke. The hub gene was further validated in the in vitro model.ResultsWe identified 2339 DEGs in 10 cell clusters. Among these DEGs, 58 genes were associated with the risk of ischemic stroke. After external validation with eQTL dataset, lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB) is identified to be positively associated with ischemic stroke. The expression of LDHB has also been validated in sc RNA‐seq with dominant expression in microglia and astrocytes, and melatonin is able to reduce the LDHB expression and activity in vitro ischemic models.ConclusionOur study identifies LDHB as a novel biomarker for ischemic stroke via combining the sc RNA‐seq and MR analysis.
Euro area banks' asset‐liability dependency and unconventional monetary policy over the years 2013–2021: Does size matter?
Authors: Curcio Domenico , Dell'Atti Stefano , Gianfrancesco Igor , Sylos Labini Stefania 
Published: May 2024

AbstractFocusing on a sample of euro area commercial banks, we investigate the evolution of the asset‐liability dependency over the years 2013–2021, characterized by the introduction of monetary, supervisory and institutional policy measures that shaped a business environment never experienced before. We find that large banks show a stronger asset‐liability dependency than small banks, and that the linkages between the two sides of the balance sheet experience a general upward trend over time for both groups of intermediaries. We report evidence of the presence of two transmission channels of the unconventional monetary policy, namely, the direct pass‐through and the portfolio rebalancing.
Myers' divisions revisited: Contemporary evidence for distinct trait differences among global inland fishes
Authors: Cano‐Barbacil Carlos , Olden Julian D. , García‐Berthou Emili 
Published: May 2024

AbstractEighty years ago, George S. Myers classified inland fishes in three divisions (primary, secondary and peripheral) based on their salinity tolerance and eco‐evolutionary history. Although this classification has been followed by many fish studies, it has also received considerable criticism. Here, we aim to test for differences in salinity and thermal tolerance, species traits and distribution patterns among the three divisions using data for about 21,000 species. We found that primary fishes have much less salinity tolerance than secondary and peripheral species, with some secondary fishes displaying the highest tolerances (>100 ppt). We also provide, for the first time, evidence of significant phylogenetic signal of salinity tolerance, comparable in magnitude to conservative traits, and show that studied peripheral and secondary species have maintained or even developed salinity tolerance, in contrast to primary fishes. Although peripheral fishes are the most different, and despite the large variability observed within some families, primary and secondary species also show differences in morphology and life‐history traits. The distribution ranges and genetic diversity of primary and secondary fish divisions are similar and differ from peripheral species, suggesting that although there is evidence of oceanic dispersal of a few secondary fishes at evolutionary time scales, it is a rare contemporary phenomenon. Importantly, a few findings outlined in this study, namely, differences in salinity tolerance, rely on limited data. Thus, we urge for additional empirical research on the salinity tolerance of freshwater fish, which remains largely unexplored, to help clarify differences among and within clades.
Diagnostic performances of Fibrosis‐4 index and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score in metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease in Asian primary care clinics
Authors: Park Huiyul , Kim Mimi , Kim Hye‐Lin , Cho Seon , Yoon Eileen L. , Jun Dae Won 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAimsWe aimed to explore the extent to which individuals previously diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) meet the criteria fulfilled with the new nomenclature, metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), within an Asian primary clinic cohort. Additionally, we assessed the reliability of the diagnostic performance of FIB‐4 and NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) for MASLD within the primary clinic cohort.MethodsThis retrospective cross‐sectional study included participants who underwent magnetic resonance elastography and abdominal ultrasonography during their health checkups at nationwide health promotion centers (n = 6740).ResultsThe prevalence rates of NAFLD and MASLD diagnosed based on ultrasonography results were 36.7% and 38.0%, respectively. Notably, 96.8% of patients in the NAFLD cohort fulfilled the new criteria for MASLD. A small proportion of patients with NAFLD (n = 80, 3.2%) did not meet the MASLD criteria. Additionally, 168 patients (6.6%) were newly added to the MASLD group. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for diagnosing advanced hepatic fibrosis for FIB‐4 (0.824 in NAFLD vs. 0.818 in MASLD, p = 0.891) and NFS (0.803 in NAFLD vs. 0.781 in MASLD, p = 0.618) were comparable between the MASLD and NAFLD groups. Furthermore, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of FIB‐4 and NFS for advanced fibrosis in MASLD were also comparable to those in NAFLD.ConclusionsMost patients (96.8%) previously diagnosed with NAFLD fulfilled the new criteria for MASLD in an Asian primary clinic cohort. Diagnostic performance of FIB‐4 in the MASLD cohort demonstrated satisfactory results.
Discriminatory performance of the pulpal inflammatory biomarkers; Interleukin‐8 and TNF‐α in patients with symptoms indicative of reversible and irreversible pulpitis: A diagnostic accuracy study
Authors: Nawal Ruchika Roongta , Yadav Sudha , Duncan Henry Fergus , Talwar Sangeeta , Kaushik Aishvarya , Singh Vijay K. , Koner Bidhan C. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAimThe success of vital pulp treatment (VPT) procedures is dependent on an accurate diagnosis of the pulpal inflammatory condition. Compared with current subjective pulpal diagnostic tests, inflammatory molecular biomarkers involved in the pathogenesis of pulpitis represent potential objective indicators of the degree of pulpal inflammation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to quantify level of inflammatory biomarkers – Interleukin 8 (IL‐8) and TNF‐α in patients diagnosed with reversible pulpitis (RP), irreversible pulpitis (IR) and normal pulp (NP) and investigate their diagnostic accuracy in differentiating between healthy and inflamed conditions.MethodologyThis prospective, cross‐sectional study enrolled 72 patients aged 14–53 years with extremely deep carious lesions after establishing a clinical diagnosis of RP (n = 42), symptomatic IR (n = 22) and NP (n = 8). 50 μL of pulpal blood sample was collected from all the patients using a micropipette after pulpal exposure. The level of IL‐8 and TNF‐α was assessed in pg/mL using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Mann–Whitney U test was applied to establish the association between IL‐8/TNF‐α level and degree of pulp inflammation. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was carried out to calculate area under the curve (AUC) for RP versus IR. Cut‐off values were established using Youden's index.ResultsIL‐8 and TNF‐α levels differed significantly between RP and IR groups (p ≤ .001). The median value of IL‐8 in RP and IP groups was 259.8 pg/mL [187.5–310.0] and 1357.8 pg/mL [1036.7–2177.6] respectively. The AUC‐ROC curve for RP versus IR was 0.997 with 95.5% sensitivity and 99.76% specificity. The median value of TNF‐α in RP and IR groups was 75.4 pg/mL [62.7–95.8] and 157.6 pg/mL [94.1–347.3]. The AUC‐ROC curve for TNF‐α was 0.812 with a sensitivity and specificity of 59.1% and 92.1%, respectively. IL‐8 and TNF‐α levels were below detection levels for all NP samples.ConclusionThis study showed that pulpal blood could provide an excellent medium for establishing pulpal diagnosis under extremely deep carious lesions. The selected cytokines, IL‐8 and TNF‐α, demonstrated excellent discriminatory performance for reversible and irreversible pulpitis. Future studies should correlate the IL‐8/TNF‐α levels with VPT treatment outcomes.
Risk and timing of isotretinoin‐related laboratory disturbances: a population‐based study
Authors: Emtenani Shirin , Abdelghaffar Mariam , Ludwig Ralf J. , Schmidt Enno , Kridin Khalaf 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIntroductionUncertainty surrounds the optimal routine laboratory monitoring in acne patients treated with isotretinoin.ObjectiveOur aim was to evaluate the risk of mild and severe laboratory abnormalities in patients with acne starting isotretinoin versus oral antibiotic treatment.MethodsA global population‐based retrospective cohort study assigned two groups of patients with acne‐prescribed isotretinoin (n = 79,012) and oral antibiotics (n = 79,012). Comprehensive propensity‐score matching was conducted.ResultsCompared to acne patients treated with oral antibiotics, those under isotretinoin demonstrated an increased risk of grade ≥3 hypertriglyceridemia (hazard ratio [HR], 7.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.58–11.05; P < 0.001) and grade ≥3 elevated aspartate transaminase (AST) levels (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.13–1.85; P = 0.003) within the initial 3 months of treatment. The absolute risk of these abnormalities among isotretinoin initiators was 0.4% and 0.2%, respectively. The risk difference of these findings was clinically marginal: 3 and 1 additional cases per 1,000 patients starting isotretinoin, respectively. There was no significant risk of grade ≥3 impairment in cholesterol, alanine transaminase, gamma‐glutamyl transferase, or creatinine levels under isotretinoin. Most laboratory abnormalities were documented 1–3 months after drug initiation in time‐stratified analysis.ConclusionIsotretinoin is associated with a clinically marginal increased risk of severe hypertriglyceridemia and hypertransaminasemia. Routine blood testing should be performed 1–3 months after commencing therapy.
Generalist CEOs and stock price crash risk
Authors: Fang Xiaohua , Girardone Claudia , Li Yiwei , Zeng Yeqin 
Published: May 2024

AbstractWe investigate whether generalist chief executive officers (CEOs), that is, CEOs who gain transferable skills across firms and industries, have less incentive to hoard bad news. To address endogeneity concerns stemming from firm–CEO matching, we deploy a difference‐in‐differences method utilizing exogenous CEO turnovers, propensity score matching and entropy balancing matching methods, and Oster's coefficient stability test. Supporting our conjecture, we find a negative relation between CEOs’ general ability index (GAI) and future stock price crash risk. The effect of CEOs’ GAI on crash risk is stronger when labor demand is stronger and when firms have more agency conflicts. Our analysis further suggests that generalist CEOs attenuate crash risk by increasing conditional accounting conservatism and reducing real earnings management. Taken together, our findings highlight the role of CEOs’ general human capital in increasing their tolerance for failure and mitigating the agency problem.
Explaining the improving effect of dough crumb–sheet composite rolling on fresh noodle quality: From microstructure and moisture distribution perspective
Authors: Zhou Xiaoqian , Chen Jin , Zheng Haitao , An Di , Obadi Mohammed , Xu Bin 
Published: May 2024

AbstractA new technique known as dough crumb–sheet composite rolling (DC–SCR) was used to improve the quality of fresh noodles. However, there is a dearth of theoretical investigations into the optimal selection of specific parameters for this technology, and the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Therefore, the effects of dough crumb addition times in DC–SCR on the texture, cooking, and eating quality of fresh noodles were first studied. Then, the underlying regulation mechanism of DC–SCR technology on fresh noodles was analyzed in terms of moisture distribution and microstructure. The study demonstrated that the most significant enhancement in the quality of fresh noodles was achieved by adding dough crumbs six times. Compared with fresh noodles made without the addition of dough crumbs, the initial hardness and chewiness of fresh noodles made by adding six times of dough crumbs increased by 25.32% and 46.82%, respectively. In contrast, the cooking time and cooking loss were reduced by 28.45% and 29.69%, respectively. This quality improvement in fresh noodles made by DC–SCR came from the microstructural differences of the gluten network between the inner and outer layers of the dough sheet. A dense structure on the outside and a loose structure on the inside could endow the fresh noodles made by DC–SCR with higher hardness, a shortened cooking time, and less cooking loss. This study would provide a theoretical and experimental basis for creating high‐quality fresh noodles.
Pathology of explanted pediatric hearts: An 11‐year study. Population characteristics and implications for outcomes
Authors: Yamasaki Takato , Sanders Stephen P. , Hylind Robyn J. , Milligan Caitlin , Fynn‐Thompson Francis , Mayer John E. , Blume Elizabeth D. , Daly Kevin P. , Carreon Chrystalle Katte 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundAs more pediatric patients become candidates for heart transplantation (HT), understanding pathological predictors of outcome and the accuracy of the pretransplantation evaluation are important to optimize utilization of scarce donor organs and improve outcomes. The authors aimed to investigate explanted heart specimens to identify pathologic predictors that may affect cardiac allograft survival after HT.MethodsExplanted pediatric hearts obtained over an 11‐year period were analyzed to understand the patient demographics, indications for transplant, and the clinical–pathological factors.ResultsIn this study, 149 explanted hearts, 46% congenital heart defects (CHD), were studied. CHD patients were younger and mean pulmonary artery pressure and resistance were significantly lower than in cardiomyopathy patients. Twenty‐one died or underwent retransplantation (14.1%). Survival was significantly higher in the cardiomyopathy group at all follow‐up intervals. There were more deaths and the 1‐, 5‐ and 7‐year survival was lower in patients ≤10 years of age at HT. Early rejection was significantly higher in CHD patients exposed to homograft tissue, but not late rejection. Mortality/retransplantation rate was significantly higher and allograft survival lower in CHD hearts with excessive fibrosis of one or both ventricles. Anatomic diagnosis at pathologic examination differed from the clinical diagnosis in eight cases.ConclusionsSurvival was better for the cardiomyopathy group and patients >10 years at HT. Prior homograft use was associated with a higher prevalence of early rejection. Ventricular fibrosis (of explant) was a strong predictor of outcome in the CHD group. We presented several pathologic findings in explanted pediatric hearts.