bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
IgG4‐related disease: Case report and 6‐year follow‐up of an elusive diagnosis mimicking malignancy
Authors: Oliveira Sara Melo , Gomes Isabel , Trigo Inês , Fonseca Elsa , Lopes Rita Neto , Oliveira Ana Sofia 
Published: May 2024

Key Clinical MessageIgG4‐related disease is a rare and emerging pathology, characterized by the appearance of pseudotumors. Due to the ability to mimic other pathologies, it is essential to consider it as a differential diagnosis in multisystemic processes. The diagnosis is challenging, requiring a multidisciplinary approach, to minimize the associated morbidity and mortality.AbstractIgG4‐related disease (IgG4‐RD) is a rare, emerging, systemic and chronic pathology, characterized by the appearance of pseudotumors resulting from tissue infiltration by IgG4‐positive plasma cells that promote eosinophilic inflammation of the tissue with subsequent fibrosis. We present the case of a male, 45‐year‐old patient, with marked weight loss and skin pallor detected by his family doctor during a child health consultation of his daughter. When questioned, the patient referred complaints of postprandial discomfort in the left hypochondrium with a feeling of fullness, weight loss, chronic fatigue and hyperhidrosis that had lasted for a month. On physical examination, he was pale, and had pain at palpation of the left hypochondrium. Laboratory data showed increased inflammation markers, abdominal ultrasound and CT demonstrated numerous enlarged lymph nodes in the upper quadrants, raising concern for a malignant lymphoproliferative process. Serological, imaging, clinical and laparoscopic excisional biopsy revealed features of IgG4‐related disease and excluded malignant lymphoproliferative disease. The immediate response to treatment with oral prednisolone 30 mg/day also contributed for diagnosis confirmation. Due to refractory disease after gradual prednisolone reduction, second‐line therapy with rituximab was initiated. Over the 6 years of follow‐up, the patient presented multiple exacerbations characterized by the emergence of systemic symptoms, being maintained under close clinical and imaging follow‐up by reumathology, infectious diseases, and family medicine specialists.
Proteomic analysis reveals potential therapeutic targets for childhood asthma through Mendelian randomization
Authors: Wu Yi‐Qing , Cai Yi‐Xin , Chen Xiao‐Li , Chen Shang‐Qin , Huang Xiu‐Feng , Lin Zhen‐Lang 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackgroundAsthma is the most common chronic disease among children and poses a significant threat to their health. This study aims to assess the relationship between various plasma proteins and childhood asthma, thereby identifying potential therapeutic targets.MethodsBased on publicly available genome‐wide association study summary statistics, we employed a two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to elucidate the causal relationship between plasma proteins and asthma. Mediation analysis was then conducted to evaluate the indirect influence of plasma proteins on childhood asthma mediated through risk factors. Comprehensive analysis was also conducted to explore the association between plasma proteins and various phenotypes using the UK Biobank dataset.ResultsMR analysis uncovered a causal relationship between 10 plasma proteins and childhood asthma. Elevated levels of seven proteins (TLR4, UBP25, CBR1, Rac GTPase‐activating protein 1 [RGAP1], IL‐21, MICB, and PDE4D) and decreased levels of three proteins (GSTO1, LIRB4 and PIGF) were associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma. Our findings further validated the connections between reported risk factors (body mass index, mood swings, hay fever or allergic rhinitis, and eczema or dermatitis) and childhood asthma. Mediation analysis revealed the influence of proteins on childhood asthma outcomes through risk factors. Furthermore, the MR analysis identified 73 plasma proteins that exhibited causal associations with at least one risk factor for childhood asthma. Among them, RGAP1 mediates a significant proportion (25.10%) of the risk of childhood asthma through eczema or dermatitis. Finally, a phenotype‐wide association study based on these 10 proteins and 1403 diseases provided novel associations between these biomarkers and multiple phenotypes.ConclusionOur study comprehensively investigated the causal relationship between plasma proteins and childhood asthma, providing novel insights into potential therapeutic targets.
Genotype by environment interaction and stability analysis of three agronomic traits in Kersting's groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum) using factor analytic modeling and environmental covariates
Authors: Coulibaly Mariam , Bodjrenou Guillaume , Fassinou Hotègni Nicodème V. , Akohoue Félicien , Agossou Chaldia A. , Azon Christel Ferréol , Matro Xavier , Bello Saliou , Adjé Charlotte O. A. , Sanou Jacob , Batieno Benoît Joseph , Sawadogo Mahamadou , Achigan‐Dako Enoch Gbènato 
Published: May 2024

AbstractUnderstanding genotype by environment interaction (GEI) represents a challenge in Kersting's groundnut [Macrotyloma geocarpum (Harms) Maréchal and Baudet] breeding for selecting high‐performing and stable lines across environments. Here, we investigated GEI and stability in Kersting's groundnut using factor analytic (FA) based linear mixed models and environmental covariates. A total of 375 accessions were evaluated across 3 years (2017, 2018, and 2019) and two locations (Sékou and Savè) in Benin, generating five environments (E1, E2, E3, E4, and E5). The traits measured included days to 50% flowering (DFF), grain yield (YLD), and 100‐seed weight (HSW). The study generated multi‐environment values for grain yield and its components in Kersting's groundnut. The genetic correlations between pairs of environments ranged from −0.71 to 0.99. The genetic correlations between YLD and HSW indicated positive and moderate to high correlations in all environments. The FA analysis revealed that FA2 structure accounted for 93.9% of the genetic variability in DFF with factor 1 accounting for more than 90% of the environments variations. Two factors explained 87% of the genetic variance in grain yield, and 70% of the environments variability were clustered by factor 1. For HSW, two factors explained 85% of the genetic variance of the environments, and factor 1 accounted for 72.7%. Combining environmental covariates to FA models revealed that precipitation, temperature, and growth cycle duration were highly correlated to the environmental loadings of factor 1. Relative humidity and solar radiation showed moderate to high correlations with factor 2 loadings. Those covariates explained the high GEI among environments clustered by a given factor. Precipitations and temperatures affected the variations in grain yield. Finally, based on latent regression analysis, the accessions AF202, AF221, AF223, AF225, and AF256 were identified as accessions combining best performance for grain yield, early flowering, and 100‐seed weight, showing adaptability across environments and stability to some environments.
New maize inbred development method I: Inter‐heterotic group composite and tester choice
Authors: Zhang Hongwei , Li Dongdong , Lamkey Kendall R. , Stine Warren H. , Yu Jianming , Stine Harry H. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractCurrent maize (Zea mays L.) breeding methods and the limited germplasm infusion and mixing may slow the rate of genetic gain in the future. Using inter‐heterotic group composites for maize inbred development has been questioned because of the issue of choosing appropriate testers. However, three observations can be revisited to facilitate the exploration of alternative methods. First, since the adoption of single‐cross hybrids and the establishment of heterotic groups, the amount of heterosis has only been increasing slightly. Second, genomic analysis indicated the frequencies of the favorable alleles had significantly increased after a century's breeding. Third, the divergence of maize heterotic groups was preceded by the merging of landraces and diverse inbreds, after which three major heterotic groups were established. The objective of this study was to design different scenarios to generate inter‐heterotic group composites and evaluate their usefulness in the commercial breeding program. We investigated two methods: the inter‐heterotic group composite method (termed as super population [SupPop]) and the modified SupPop method (ModiSP, that is, backcrossing SupPop lines with elite inbreds). The results showed that the best scenario for the SupPop method was to use the SupPop inbreds to cross with a tester from the B14 group. When all four heterotic groups were mixed, the favored tester was from stiff stalk. However, ModiSP showed a higher chance of producing the best yield performance. These empirical results suggest that solutions can be proposed to identify the testers so that using inter‐heterotic group composites for inbred development can be considered.
Enhanced performance of complementary electrochromic device with hierarchical‐porous NiOx decorated ITO glasses as the transparent conductive electrodes
Authors: Chen Biao , Hu Fei , Zhao Yinghui , Yang Yuanhaobo , Yan Bin , Yang Qin , Gu Yingchun , Chen Sheng 
Published: May 2024

AbstractTo pursuit advancing electrochromic technology, the preparation of a novel hierarchical‐porous NiOx‐decorated ITO transparent conductive electrode was developed through the vapor‐assisted conversion and subsequent calcination processes. The modified transparent electrode exhibited advantages in the electrodeposition of conductive polymer films, which significantly enhanced electrochromic cycling stability. Moreover, the complementary electrochromic device based on NiOx‐decorated ITO transparent electrode was fabricated, demonstrating rapid response time (1.75 s for coloration and 0.87 s for bleaching), high optical contrast (53.4 %), and remarkable cycling stability (90 % optical contrast retention over 2000 cycles). This finding holds prominent potential for applications in related fields.
Twitter policy uncertainty and stock returns in South Africa: Evidence from time‐varying Granger causality
Authors: Nyakurukwa Kingstone , Seetharam Yudhvir 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe study uses time‐varying Granger causality models that incorporate two proxies for Twitter policy uncertainty and South African returns stock returns to investigate the causal relationship between Twitter uncertainty and South African stock returns for the period between 2017 and 2023. The findings demonstrate that Twitter Market Uncertainty and Twitter Economic Uncertainty mostly lead JSE returns around the start of the COVID‐19 pandemic and the Russia‐Ukranainan war respectively. The findings also show significant out‐of‐sample forecasts using uncertainty indexes from Twitter.
A study and development of high‐order fuzzy time series forecasting methods for air quality index forecasting
Authors: Pradhan Sushree Subhaprada , Panigrahi Sibarama 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe endless adverse effects of air pollution incidents have raised significant public concerns in the past few decades. The measure of air pollution, that is, the air quality index (AQI), is highly volatile and associated with different kinds of uncertainties. Following this, the study and development of accurate fuzzy time series forecasting (TSF) methods for predicting the AQI have a significant role in air pollution control and management. Motivated by this, in this paper, a systematic study is made to evaluate the true potential of fuzzy TSF methods employing traditional fuzzy set (TFS), intuitionistic fuzzy set (IFS), hesitant fuzzy set (HFS), and neutrosophic fuzzy set (NFS) in forecasting the AQI. Two novel high‐order fuzzy TSF methods, TFS‐multilayer perceptron (MLP) and HFS‐MLP, are proposed employing TFS and HFS in which ratio trend variation of AQI data is used instead of original AQI, MLP is used to model the fuzzy logical relationships (FLRs), and none/mean of aggregated membership values are used while modeling the FLRs using MLP. The results from the proposed fuzzy TSF methods are compared with recently proposed fuzzy TSF methods employing TFS, IFS, and NFS and six popular machine learning models, including MLP, support vector regression (SVR), Bagging Regressors, XGBoost, long‐short term memory (LSTM), and convolutional neural network (CNN). The “Wilcoxon Signed‐Rank test” and “Friedman and Nemenyi hypothesis test” are applied to the results obtained by employing different ratios in the train‐validation‐test to draw decisive conclusions reliably. The simulation results show the statistical dominance of the proposed TFS‐MLP method over all other crisp and fuzzy TSF methods employed in this paper.
Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons promotes the progression of low‐grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: A population‐based cohort study in China
Authors: Cui Meng , Song Li , Mao Rui , Lyu Yuanjing , Ding Ling , Wang Zhilian , Pei Ruixin , Yan Jiaxin , Wu Caihong , Li Xiaoxue , Jia Haixia , Zhang Le , Zhang Mingxuan , Wang Jiahao , Wang Jintao 
Published: May 2024

AbstractLow‐grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN1) is an early stage of cervical cancer development. Previously, we reported that exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) increases the risk of cervical precancerous lesions, especially in females with a high‐risk human papillomavirus (HR‐HPV) infection. However, the effects of PAHs on CIN1 progression remain unclear. A community‐based prospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the role of exposure to PAHs in the progression of CIN1. A total of 564 patients diagnosed with CIN1 were followed‐up at 6, 12, and 24 months, post‐diagnosis, to determine CIN1 reversion, persistence, and progression. Exposure to PAHs was determined by the urine 1‐hydroxipayrene (1‐OHP) level. Our results showed that the 1‐OHP level was significantly higher in patients with CIN1 persistence/progression than in those with reversion (P < .05). High exposure to PAHs increased the risk of CIN1 persistence/progression, with hazard ratios (HR), 95% confidence intervals (CI) of (1.62, 1.24–2.67), (1.98, 1.42–2.75), and (2.37, 1.61–3.49) at 6, 12, and 24 months, post‐diagnosis, respectively. The effect was enhanced with HR‐HPV positivity, as determined at 6 (1.82, 1.24–2.67), 12 (3.02, 1.74–5.23), and 24 (2.51, 1.48–4.26) months, post‐diagnosis. Moreover, the predictive value of exposure to PAHs for CIN1 persistence/progression was higher in HR‐HPV‐positive patients than in HR‐HPV‐negative patients. The results revealed that exposure to PAHs facilitated the malignant progression of CIN1 and hindered its reversal, particularly in patients with HR‐HPV infection. Our findings provide novel insights into early prevention and intervention targeting the initiation and progression of cervical neoplasia.
Reframing reentry: Understanding how reentry programming affects the well‐being and quality of life of returning citizens
Authors: Wilson Patrick A. , Lee Esther , Hutchinson Carole L. , Malcolm Narine 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis study examined the experiences returning citizens (RCs) have in participating in different reentry programs and how these experiences may lead to improved well‐being and quality of life (QOL). We conducted 14 semi‐structured interviews with RCs participating in employment‐oriented reentry programs. The interviews focused on participants’ reentry programming experience and areas affecting their well‐being (e.g., housing, education, financial stability). QOL was enhanced for RCs when they were able to access stable housing, develop supportive relationships, have a job that permitted them the resources needed to live independently, and increase their perceptions of self‐efficacy and social capital. While reentry programs maintain a focus on employment for RCs, housing, healthy relationships, and opportunities for increasing self‐efficacy and social capital are tied to well‐being and QOL among RCs. Reentry programs have the potential to influence a variety of factors at multiple levels that shape well‐being and QOL, and in turn employment and recidivism, among RCs.
Naturally derived organic biochar as an alternative to commercially activated carbon in the oxygen removal of seafood processing wastewater
Authors: Dhinesh Rajendiran , Aruna Satyapriyan , Manikandavelu D. , Ravaneswaran Krishnan , Kirthiga Subramoniapillai Sethulekshmi , Al‐Ghanim Khalid A. , Kamaraj Chinnaperumal 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe seafood processing industries are tremendously increasing in numbers which eventually discharge a large quantity of wastewater with a high range of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), directly into the aquatic environment. A high level of BOD and COD in wastewater pertains to a higher level of pollution which must be reduced to prevent hazardous impacts on ecosystems. The main objective of the research aimed to develop cost‐effective biochar and to remove BOD and COD from processing wastewater using two natural biomasses: water hyacinth and sugarcane bagasse.RESULTSNaOH‐treated and non‐treated biochar for both water hyacinth as well as sugarcane bagasse were prepared through the process of pyrolysis carried out at 600 °C with three different residence times of 30, 45 and 60 min. The wastewater was initially analyzed for BOD and COD levels. The results showed that among all the groups of biochars, the water hyacinth NaOH‐treated biochar pyrolyzed at 600 °C for 60 min exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) higher levels of reduction in BOD (86.6 ± 0.03%) and COD (94.3 ± 0.05%) at a residence time of 60 min in D2 (0.5 g (250 mL)−1). The maximum removal efficiency was observed for water hyacinth NaOH‐treated biochar pyrolyzed at 600 °C for 60 min.CONCLUSIONThe removal efficiencies of organic load revealed that the treated biochars exhibited a better reduction of nutrients. The biochar efficiencies when compared with those of activated carbon exhibited a higher removal level. The present research can be used to reduce BOD and COD levels in wastewater treatments. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Engaging student analysis of the practitioner‐patient relationship assessed with reflective outcomes
Authors: Tenenbaum Annabelle , Bérat Pierre‐Jean , Vital Sibylle , Gosset Marjolaine 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe representations and beliefs of both patient and practitioner influence the relationship that develops between them. We developed an innovative, interactive teaching tool in two stages (1‐ interviews with the patient or healthcare practitioner and 2‐ a session with sharing of the patient's and practitioner's perspective) whose objectives are to recognize the basic characteristics of PPR and identify how it can be influenced by expectations, beliefs and emotions. This pedagogical device was particularly appreciated by the students, as it enabled them to identify the importance of the patient's point of view and to reflect on their future professional identity
Smartphone microscopic method for imaging and quantification of microplastics in drinking water
Authors: Karki Asmita , Thaiba Bishan Man , Shishir Acharya K. C. , Sedai Thakur , Kandel Baburam , Paudyal Hari , Sharma Khaga Raj , Giri Basant , Neupane Bhanu Bhakta 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAnalysis of microplastics in drinking water is often challenging due to smaller particle size and low particle count. In this study, we used a low cost and an easy to assemble smartphone microscopic system for imaging and quantitating microplastic particles as small as 20 μm. The system consisted of a spherical sapphire ball lens of 4 mm diameter attached to a smartphone camera as a major imaging component. It also involved pre‐concentration of the sample using ZnCl2 solution. The spike recovery and limit of detection of the method in filtered distilled and deionized water samples (n = 9) were 55.6% ± 9.7% and 34 particles/L, respectively. Imaging performance of the microscopic system was similar to a commercial bright field microscopic system. The method was further implemented to examine microplastic particles in commercial bottled and jar water samples (n = 20). The particles count in bottled and jar water samples ranged from 0–91 particles/L to 0–130 particles/L, respectively. In both sample types, particles of diverse shape and size were observed. The particles collected from water samples were further confirmed by FTIR spectra (n = 36), which found 97% of the particles tested were made of plastic material. These findings suggested that the smartphone microscopic system can be implemented as a low‐cost alternative for preliminary screening of microplastic in drinking water samples.Research Highlights
Ball lens based smartphone microscopic method was used for microplastic analysis.
Particles of diverse shape and size were found in bottle and jar water samples.
Implementing narrow banding imaging with dual focus magnification for histological prediction of small rectosigmoid polyps in Vietnamese setting
Authors: Huynh Tien Manh , Le Quang Dinh , Le Nhan Quang , Le Huy Minh , Quach Duc Trong 
Published: May 2024

AbstractBackground and AimSmall rectosigmoid colorectal polyps (<10 mm) are prevalent, with a low prevalence of advanced neoplastic lesions. The “diagnose‐and‐leave” strategy, employing narrow band imaging (NBI), is gaining popularity for its safety and cost‐effectiveness by reducing polypectomy complications and minimizing histopathology expenses. This study assessed the diagnostic efficacy of NBI with dual focus (DF) magnification for real‐time neoplastic prediction of rectosigmoid polyps and explored the feasibility of implementing this strategy in Vietnam.MethodsIn a prospective single‐center study, 307 rectosigmoid polyps from 245 patients were analyzed using three consecutive endoscopic modes: white light endoscopy (WLE), NBI, and NBI‐DF. Endoscopists assessed polyps for size, location, macroscopic shape, optical diagnosis, and confidence levels before histopathological evaluation. High confidence was assigned when the polyp exhibited all features of a single histology type. Predictions were compared with final histopathology results.ResultsOf the total, 237 (77.2%) were diminutive (≤5 mm) polyps, and 18 (5.8%) were advanced neoplastic lesions. WLE + NBI and WLE + NBI + NBI‐DF exhibited significantly higher accuracy compared to WLE (88.6% and 90.2% vs 74.2%, P < 0.01). For diminutive polyps, the DF mode significantly increased the rate of high‐confidence optical diagnoses (89.1% vs 94.9%, P < 0.001). WLE + NBI + NBI‐DF demonstrated high sensitivity (90.1%), specificity (95.5%), and negative predictive value (93.4%) in high‐confidence predictions, enabling the implementation of the “diagnose‐and‐leave” strategy. This approach would have reduced 58.2% of unnecessary polypectomies without missing any advanced neoplastic lesions.ConclusionNBI and DF modes provide accurate neoplastic predictions for rectosigmoid polyps. For diminutive polyps, DF magnification improves the confidence level of the optical diagnosis, allowing the safe implementation of the “diagnose‐and‐leave” strategy.