bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Publicly Funded Molecular Testing of Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules: Canada's Experience
Authors: Lévesque Florence , Payne Richard J , Beaudoin Danielle , Boucher Andrée , Fortier Pierre-Hugues , Massicotte Marie-Hélène , Pusztaszeri Marc , Rondeau Geneviève , Corriveau Edith , El Malt Farida , Brassard Maryse 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Context
Indeterminate thyroid nodules (ITNs) lead to diagnostic surgeries in many countries. The use of molecular testing (MT) is endorsed by several guidelines, but costs are limitative, especially in public health care systems like in Canada.

Objectives
The primary objective of this work was to evaluate the clinical value of ThyroSeq v3 (TSv3) using benign call rate (BCR) in a real-world practice. The secondary objective was to assess the cost-effectiveness of MT.

Methods
This multicentric prospective study was conducted in 5 academic centers in Quebec, Canada. A total of 500 consecutive patients with Bethesda III (on 2 consecutive cytopathologies) or IV and TIRADS 3 or 4 nodules measuring 1 to 4 cm were included. MT was performed between November 2021 and November 2022. Patients with a positive TSv3 were referred for surgery. Patients with a negative TSv3 were planned for follow-up by ultrasonography for a minimum of 2 years. The BCR, corresponding to the proportion of ITNs with negative TSv3 results, was assessed.

Results
A total of 500 patients underwent TSv3 testing, with a BCR of 72.6% (95% CI, 68.5%-76.5%; P &lt; .001). Ultimately, 99.7% of patients with a negative result avoided surgery. The positive predictive value of TSv3 was 68.2% (95% CI, 58.5%-76.9%). The cost-benefit analysis identified that the implementation of MT would yield a cost savings of $6.1 million over the next 10 years.

Conclusion
The use of MT (TSv3) in a well-selected population with ITNs led to a BCR of 72.6%. It is cost-effective and prevents unnecessary surgeries in a public health care setting.
Migration, Gender, and Families: The Effects of Spousal Migration on Women's Empowerment
Authors: West Heidi , Khan Angubeen , Razzaque Abdur , Kuhn Randall 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Labor migration has a profound effect on families, but evidence documenting the impact of migration on women left behind is still lacking. Utilizing the Matlab Health and Socioeconomic Surveys, we examined the roles of migration and families in four domains of empowerment for women in Bangladesh. We found that women with international migrant spouses saw significant improvements in economic empowerment, mobility, and decision-making relative to women with coresident spouses (p &lt; .0001). However, women who lived in multigenerational households with their parents or in-laws experienced significant reductions in empowerment across these three domains. Both having a migrant spouse and living in a multigenerational household had negative effects on beliefs about gender equivalence and reduced joint decision-making for women. Results, which were robust to migration selection controls (including propensity approaches), indicate that the benefits of migration for women left behind might be diluted by family structures that perpetuate unequal gender dynamics.
Fetal brain response to maternal inflammation requires microglia
Authors: LaMonica Ostrem Bridget Elaine , Domínguez-Iturza Nuria , Stogsdill Jeffrey A. , Faits Tyler , Kim Kwanho , Levin Joshua Z. , Arlotta Paola 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT
In utero infection and maternal inflammation can adversely impact fetal brain development. Maternal systemic illness, even in the absence of direct fetal brain infection, is associated with an increased risk of neuropsychiatric disorders in affected offspring. The cell types mediating the fetal brain response to maternal inflammation are largely unknown, hindering the development of novel treatment strategies. Here, we show that microglia, the resident phagocytes of the brain, highly express receptors for relevant pathogens and cytokines throughout embryonic development. Using a rodent maternal immune activation (MIA) model in which polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid is injected into pregnant mice, we demonstrate long-lasting transcriptional changes in fetal microglia that persist into postnatal life. We find that MIA induces widespread gene expression changes in neuronal and non-neuronal cells; importantly, these responses are abolished by selective genetic deletion of microglia, indicating that microglia are required for the transcriptional response of other cortical cell types to MIA. These findings demonstrate that microglia play a crucial durable role in the fetal response to maternal inflammation, and should be explored as potential therapeutic cell targets.
The NLRP3 inflammasome is essential for IL-18 production in a murine model of macrophage activation syndrome
Authors: Gleeson Tara A. , Kaiser Christina , Lawrence Catherine B. , Brough David , Allan Stuart M. , Green Jack P. 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT
Hyperinflammatory disease is associated with an aberrant immune response resulting in cytokine storm. One such instance of hyperinflammatory disease is known as macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). The pathology of MAS can be characterised by significantly elevated serum levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interferon gamma (IFNγ). Given the role for IL-18 in MAS, we sought to establish the role of inflammasomes in the disease process. Using a murine model of CpG-oligonucleotide-induced MAS, we discovered that the expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome was increased and correlated with IL-18 production. Inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome or the downstream caspase-1 prevented MAS-mediated upregulation of IL-18 in the plasma but, interestingly, did not alleviate key features of hyperinflammatory disease including hyperferritinaemia and splenomegaly. Furthermore blockade of IL-1 receptor with its antagonist IL-1Ra did not prevent the development of CpG-induced MAS, despite being clinically effective in the treatment of MAS. These data demonstrate that, during the development of MAS, the NLRP3 inflammasome was essential for the elevation in plasma IL-18 – a key cytokine in clinical cases of MAS – but was not a driving factor in the pathogenesis of CpG-induced MAS.
Gluconeogenesis in frogs during cooling and dehydration exposure: new insights into tissue plasticity of the gluconeogenic pathway dependent on abiotic factors
Authors: de Amaral Marjoriane , Von Dentz Maiza Cristina , David Suyllieme Machado , Kucharski Luiz Carlos 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT
Anurans undergo significant physiological changes when exposed to environmental stressors such as low temperatures and humidity. Energy metabolism and substrate management play a crucial role in their survival success. Therefore, understanding the role of the gluconeogenic pathway and demonstrating its existence in amphibians is essential. In this study, we exposed the subtropical frog Boana pulchella to cooling (−2.5°C for 24 h) and dehydration conditions (40% of body water loss), followed by recovery (24 h), and assessed gluconeogenesis activity from alanine, lactate, glycerol and glutamine in the liver, muscle and kidney. We report for the first time that gluconeogenesis activity by 14C-alanine and 14C-lactate conversion to glucose occurs in the muscle tissue of frogs, and this tissue activity is influenced by environmental conditions. Against the control group, liver gluconeogenesis from 14C-lactate and 14C-glycerol was lower during cooling and recovery (P&lt;0.01), and gluconeogenesis from 14C-glutamine in the kidneys was also lower during cooling (P&lt;0.05). In dehydration exposure, gluconeogenesis from 14C-lactate in the liver was lower during recovery, and that from 14C-alanine in the muscle was lower during dehydration (P&lt;0.05). Moreover, we observed that gluconeogenesis activity and substrate preference respond differently to cold and dehydration. These findings highlight tissue-specific plasticity dependent on the nature of the encountered stressor, offering valuable insights for future studies exploring this plasticity, elucidating the importance of the gluconeogenic pathway and characterizing it in anuran physiology.
Multi-Layer Digital Services Increase Developers’ Requirements to Agriculture IoT Platforms
Authors: Treiber Maximilian , Grebner Simon , Spierer Samuel , Bernhardt Heinz 
Published: May 2024

Highlights

Digital ecosystems in agriculture enable a new class of digital services that span over several layers of the IoT stack.

This work defines digital ecosystems in agriculture based on IoT layers and utilized technologies.

An example for a multi-layer digital service is developed, deployed, and tested using the NEVONEX Ecosystem.

Surveys reveal software providers require more platform functionalities and early iteration testing on real farms.

Abstract. In recent years, digital platforms in agriculture went through a phase of acquisitions and consolidation, where big players like agrochemical companies (Agrichems) and agricultural equipment manufacturers (OEMs) worked on expanding their technology stacks to build strategic portfolios of digital service offerings. To operate farm equipment efficiently, a combination of platforms and technologies is often needed, leading to the emergence of digital Agri-ecosystems. With the rising implementation of IoT technology, digital Agri-ecosystems enable multi-layer digital services and break down established categories (cloud-based and embedded). Content providers and developers creating those digital services face three options: aggregated cloud APIs (application programming interfaces), engineering service providers with proprietary technology stacks, and dedicated IoT ecosystems offering agnostic end-to-end workflows for development and deployment (first known example: NEVONEX). It is not yet fully understood how using an end-to-end IoT ecosystem changes developer requirements in comparison to existing solutions. Therefore, in this study, an example of a multi-layer digital service is developed and tested. Expert interviews (n = 21) explore relevant developer experiences and requirements. A consecutive survey (n = 30; NEVONEX developer conference) validates the findings. Results show that IoT- ecosystems speed up development and deployment cycles, save resources, and improve interoperability in operations. Engineering service providers remain very important players. Partner management, communication, abstraction of interfaces, testing infrastructure, and early end-user input are required by developers. In conclusion, IoT- ecosystems are beneficial for multi-layer digital service development; however, to fully satisfy developers and content providers, adjustments to platform functionalities and better testing opportunities on real farms are needed. Keywords: Automation, Digital Ecosystem, Farm equipment, NEVONEX
Feasibility of a localized mode analysis method in an SOI platform based on carrier grating
Authors: Shi Jinze , Li Changying , Wang Qing , Wan Jiajun , Liu Xiaoping 
Published: May 2024

In order to measure the intensity of modes that are transmitted inside the devices on
the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform, researchers usually use
pre-processed couplers to make the optical modes diffract out of the
chip. However, the output couplers have an influence
(e.g., attenuation and wavelength selectivity) on the modes of
concern. Besides, as the quantity and variety of devices integrated
into the SOI platform continue to escalate, the traditional method
also shows limits on detecting devices far from the chip edge. So, is
it feasible to directly and locally measure one specific mode’s
intensity on some waveguide-based devices like the directional
coupler, polarization beam splitter, and so on? Interference of two
coherent pump beams has the capability to induce a periodic carrier
distribution in the material, thus modulating the refractive index,
effectively creating a temporary and erasable diffraction grating. In
this study, an off-chip, non-destructive, and localized detection
method based on carrier grating is proposed. A theoretical model is
developed to calculate carrier dynamics under various pump
configurations. Leveraging the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD)
method and accounting for free carrier index (FCI) and free carrier
absorption (FCA) effects, analysis of the quantitative impact of pump
intensity and radius on the diffraction efficiency of the carrier
grating in the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform and its far-field
divergence characteristics is provided. Ultimately, this research
contributes to a discussion on several commonly used application
scenarios and the feasibility of experimental approaches. A spatial
resolution of less than 10 µm and a diffraction efficiency of −15dB while simultaneously maintaining a
far-field divergence of 7.8° for the SOI platform are proposed at the
end of this article.
Effects of germanium content on the optical properties of GeO2-based organic-inorganic composite films doped with azobenzene
Authors: Zhang Xuehua , Cao Jie , Wang Xingyun , Zhang Wei , Hu Fangren 
Published: May 2024

Organic-inorganic composite materials have great applications in integrated optics due to their good optical performance. In this study, GeO2-based organic-inorganic composite films doped with azobenzene were prepared by combining the solgel technique and the spin-coating method. The optical waveguide properties including the refractive index and film thickness and the optical response properties of the composite films with different germanium contents have been investigated. The results indicate that the refractive index of the film increases, but the film thickness decreases as the germanium content increases. The composite film with 0.2 mol of germanium exhibits the best optical response properties. Further, the optical switching characteristics of the optimal composite film shows good stability and reversibility. The photochemical and structural properties of the film were also investigated by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermo-gravimetric analysis. Finally, hexagonal microlens arrays were built in the film by using the UV nanoimprint technique, resulting in neatly arranged structures with good optical imaging performance.
The effects of two different fatigue protocols on movement quality during anticipated and unanticipated change of directions in female soccer players
Authors: Alimoradi Mohammad , Hosseini Elham , Sahebozamani Mansour , Dos’Santos Thomas , Sheikhbahaie Shima , Bigtashkhani Roya , Kabiri Aryan 
Published: May 2024

Objective
This study compared neuromuscular control under two fatigue protocols during anticipated and unanticipated change of direction (COD) maneuvers and evaluated their effects on the risk of non-contact ACL injuries.

Method
Forty-five female soccer players (mean age: 22.22 ± 2.24 years; mean height: 166.24 ± 3.33 cm; mean mass: 59.84 ± 5.03 kg) were divided into three groups: functional fatigue (Soccer specific fatigue ptotocol-SOFT90), non-functional fatigue (Bruce protocol), and control group. Before and after the implementation of neuromuscular control fatigue protocols were evaluated using the cutting motion assessment score tool (CMAS). Two-dimensional (2D) videos were recorded during anticipated and unanticipated COD trials for both dominant and non-dominant legs.

Results
Significant time effects (p < 0.05) and group-time interactions (p < 0.05) were observed in both anticipated and unanticipated conditions for both dominant and non-dominant legs after the fatigue protocols. The functional fatigue group exhibited higher CMAS changes, indicating poorer movement quality following fatigue. Notably, the non-dominant leg displayed amplified deficits during unanticipated COD maneuvers following the functional fatigue protocol.

Conclusions
Fatigue significantly impairs neuromuscular control, particularly in unanticipated COD situations, which increases the risk of non-contact ACL injuries. To mitigate this risk, coaches, trainers, and medical professionals should prioritize targeted training and injury prevention strategies, focusing on the non-dominant leg during unanticipated COD maneuvers.
Comparative study of the leaf anatomy of Dendrobium species (Orchidaceae) from South Kalimantan, Indonesia and its taxonomic significance
Authors: Makruf Muhammad Irfan , Maryani  , Susandarini Ratna 
Published: May 2024

Dendrobium Sw. is a genus with high species diversity in the Orchidaceae family. One of the difficulties in identifying Dendrobium species is when the specimens bear no flowers or other fertile structures. The use of leaf anatomical characters for species identification is one of the possible solutions in dealing with sterile specimens. In this study, leaf anatomy was examined to assess its taxonomic significance in differentiating species and constructing phenetic relationships between sections within the genus Dendrobium. Sixteen specimens of Dendrobium from 14 species belonging to 9 sections were collected from South Kalimantan. Observations of leaf cross-sections resulted in 60 anatomical characters used for revealing taxonomic relationships between species using cluster analysis and principal component analysis. The result of the cluster analysis showed that the 14 species of Dendrobium were grouped into 3 clusters. The grouping patterns of species were corresponded to sectional classification. The results of the principal component analysis indicated that the characters of the vascular bundles, hypodermis, epidermis and cuticle showed a major role in recognizing species from different sections. This study confirmed the role of leaf anatomy as taxonomic evidence for the identification of sterile specimens and for supporting classification at a sectional level in the genus Dendrobium.
Miniaturized textile flexible antenna with electromagnetic band gap for wearable application
Authors: Li Lei , Cao Jingxu , Xu Ruifeng , Gao Jing , Nan Jingchang 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
A miniaturized all-textile wearable antenna based on the Electromagnetic Band Gap (EBG) is proposed for the ISM (2.40–2.48 GHz) band. The denim fabric is used as the substrate of the antenna ensuring the comfortability. To reduce the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), a “✳” shaped miniaturized EBG array with identical fabric is introduced and the size is decreased by corner-cutting at the end of slits. After loading the EBG, the gain is increased by 4 dBi, and the front-to-back ratio (FBR) is improved by about 9 dB. Moreover, the overall size of the antenna is 48 × 54 × 3 mm3, reduced by 37 %. The bandwidth and radiation characteristics in free space are measured in various scenarios such as planar, different bending directions and degrees, all of which can meet the wearable requirements. The SAR is characterized by calculating the electromagnetic field distribution in the human tissue model. The results show that the SAR can reach 0.34 W/kg (1 g/cm3), a decrease of 93 %.
R dot approach for kinetic modelling of WGS over noble metals
Authors: Mandapaka Ravi Kiran 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Water Gas shift reaction (WGS) kinetics are prominent in reactions involving hydrocarbons. Often the rate expressions developed for WGS have narrow application for wider experimental conditions. On the other hand, DFT based microkinetic models developed for WGS can predict the experimental trend, however, developing rate expressions for the same can be difficult owing to the validity of different approximations and assumptions. In this context, R dot approach has been used in this study to develop rate expressions for WGS over Pt, Rh. Using this approach, the rate determining steps of the mechanisms proposed, validation with experimental data and most abundant reaction intermediate (MARI) analysis was carried out. Based on the interpreted results it has been seen that the R dot approach was able to predict the experimental trend to good degree of accuracy in line with the predictions of quasi steady state (QSS) approach.
Application and research of English composition tangent model based on unsupervised semantic space
Authors: Tang Rihong 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Nowadays, major enterprises and schools vigorously promote the combination of information technology and subject teaching, among which automatic grading technology is more widely used. In order to improve the efficiency of English composition correction, the study proposes an unsupervised semantic space model for English composition tangent, using a Hierarchical Topic Tree Hybrid Semantic Space to achieve topic representation and clustering in English composition; adopts a feature dimensionality reduction method to select a set of semantic features to complete the optimization of the feature semantic space; and combines the tangent analysis algorithm to achieve intelligent scoring of English composition. The experimental data show that the accuracy and F-value of the English composition tangent analysis method based on the semantic space are significantly improved, and the Pearson correlation coefficient between the unsupervised semantic space English composition tangent model and the teacher’s manual grading is 0.8936. The results show that the unsupervised semantic space English composition tangent model has a higher accuracy rate, is more applicable, and can efficiently complete the English composition grading task: essay review task.
Production and characterization of waste walnut shell powder that can be used as a sustainable eco-friendly reinforcement in biocomposites
Authors: Çevik Bekir , Avşar Yücel 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
The rapid depletion of natural resources and the increase of environmental problems due to production-related waste necessitate sustainable waste management. In particular, reintroducing by-products and waste generated by agricultural activities into the economy is critical to reduce environmental pollution, solve the storage problem, and promote sustainability. Agricultural wastes such as fiber, husks, cobs, stalks, straw, dust, and particles are recyclable and can be innovatively reused in various sectors. One of the innovative fields where sustainable agricultural waste management can be implemented is the development of biocomposites. One of the most important steps in the production of biocomposites reinforced with agricultural waste is processing the waste biomass and making it usable as a reinforcing element. This study investigated the production of powder reinforcements for biocomposite material from the biomass of walnut shells using a ring mill. The walnut shells, mechanically reduced in size, were first dried at 100 °C for 3 h and ground at four different grinding times (10, 20, 30, and 40 min). Afterward, the waste walnut shell powders were subjected to sieve analysis and precise weight measurements. Then, the waste walnut shell powders, which were dried at 100 °C for 3 h and ground for 40 min, were subjected to a second drying process at 100 °C (60, 180, and 300 min) and ground again for 40 min. Then, the resulting waste walnut shell powders were subjected to sieve analysis, precision weight measurements, and microscopic, and SEM analyses to determine the characterization of the powders.