bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in adults: A single‐center analysis of 5 cases
Authors: Chen Qingqing , Zhang Jing , Huang Huijun , Qiu Tonglu , Jin Ze , Shi Yu , Zhu Huayuan , Fan Lei , Li Jianyong , Shi Wenyu , Miao Yi 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackgroundHistiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL) is a self‐limited inflammatory disease of unknown pathogenesis. A very small fraction of patients with HNL could develop hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a hyperinflammatory disorder. These patients are diagnosed as HNL with HLH (HNL‐HLH). HNL‐HLH in the pediatric population has been systemically studied, however, the clinical, laboratory, and radiological features and outcomes of adult patients with HNL‐HLH remain to be explored. We aimed to explore the clinical, laboratory, and radiological features and outcomes of adult patients with HNL‐HLH.MethodsWe collected the clinical data of patients with HNL‐HLH admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from October 2010 to June 2015. All the patients underwent lymph node biopsy and have a pathological diagnosis of HNL. The age, gender, clinical presentation, lymph node signs, laboratory findings and imaging data, and pathological findings of the patients were collected.ResultsIn this study, we reported five adult patients with HNL‐HLH. All five patients showed enlarged lymph nodes and prolonged fever. Laboratory findings were consistent with the diagnosis of HLH. 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F‐FDG PET/CT) showed enlarged lymph nodes with increased FDG uptake and splenic hypermetabolism could be present. All the patients responded well to corticosteroids and had a good prognosis. Two of the five patients were diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus during the follow‐up.ConclusionsOur study demonstrated that adult patients with HNL‐HLH showed distinct clinical, laboratory, and radiological features. And the prognosis is good and patients could be managed with steroids and supportive care.
The relationship between inflammatory cytokines and in‐hospital complications of acute pancreatitis
Authors: Yao Jiaxin , Zhang Shuangshuang , Zhou Fei , Zhuang Mengting , Fei Sujuan 
Published: February 2024

AbstractObjectiveAcute necrotic collection (ANC), acute peripancreatic fluid collection (APFC), pleural effusion, and ascites are common early complications of acute pancreatitis. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between 12 serum cytokines and the early complications and severity of acute pancreatitis (AP).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 307 patients with AP, and divided them into severe group and mild‐to‐moderate group according to the revised Atlanta classification. Propensity score matching was used to control for confounding factors. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between cytokine levels and early complications of AP.ResultsSerum levels of interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐5, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, IL‐17, and tumor necrosis factor‐α were significantly higher in the severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) group than in the non‐SAP group (p < .05). After adjusting for confounding factors, the upper quartiles of IL‐6, IL‐8, and IL‐10 were associated with an increased risk of ANC compared with those in the lowest quartile (IL‐6: quartile 3, odds ratio [OR] = 3.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.95–8.16; IL‐8: quartile 4, OR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.27–4.84; IL‐10: quartile 2, OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.09–4.56). APFC was associated with high serum levels of IL‐6 (quartile 3, OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.02–1.72), pleural effusions were associated with high serum levels of IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, and IL‐10 (IL‐1β: quartile 4, OR = 2.36, 95% CI = 1.21–4.58; IL‐6: quartile 3, OR = 4.67, 95% CI = 2.27–9.61; IL‐8: quartile 3, OR = 2.95, 95% CI = 1.51–5.79; IL‐10: quartile 4, OR = 3.20, 95% CI = 1.61–6.36), and high serum levels of IL‐6 and IL‐10 were associated with an increased risk of ascites (IL‐6: quartile 3, OR = 3.01, 95% CI = 1.42–6.37; IL‐10: quartile 3, OR = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.23–5.37).ConclusionSerum cytokine levels, including IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, and IL‐10 may be associated with the occurrence of early complications of AP. In daily clinical practice, IL‐6 may be the most worthwhile cytokine to be detected.
Efficiency and financial risk management practices of microfinance institutions
Authors: Baltas Konstantinos N. , Liñares‐Zegarra José M. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractMicrofinance institutions (MFIs) have evolved in different and complex ways to solve various market frictions, with some of them providing a wide range of financial products and using different lending technologies to reach poor and underserved populations. As a result, some MFIs are more efficient than others, but are efficiency gains aligned with risk management practices? The specific characteristics of the microfinance industry make the answer to this question less obvious than that of commercial banks. This paper tries to shed light on these issues by analysing the efficiency and risk management of MFIs and describing the potential implications of these relationships for the microfinance industry. After considering several measures of financial risk management ratios commonly used in the microfinance literature, our results show that cost efficiency improves asset quality and solvency of MFIs, but also reduces the need for holding idle cash or liquid assets. The results of this paper can help academics, policymakers, and regulators to better understand the impact of cost efficiency on financial risks management practices in the microfinance industry.
A combination of multi‐scale and attention based on the U‐shaped network for retinal vessel segmentation
Authors: Zhang Yan , Lan Qingyan , Sun Yemei , Ma Chunming 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAutomated partitioning of retinal vessels depicted in fundus images is beneficial in the detection of specific ailments like hypertension and diabetes. However, retinal vessel images have the problems of a large semantic range, more spatial detail, and limited differentiation among the blood vessels and surroundings, which make vessel segmentation challenging. To overcome these obstacles, we designed a new U‐shaped network named SMP‐Net. First, we propose the sequencer‐convolution (SC) module to obtain the ability to extract both local and global features, thereby improving segmentation accuracy. The SC module is used to filter out shallow noise and enable the fusion of deep and shallow features in the maximum skip connection of the U‐shaped network. Then, the residual multi‐kernel pooling (MP) module is designed to obtain additional contextual information while also mitigating the loss of spatial information caused by constant pooling and convolution to improve vessel coherence. Finally, the pixel attention (PA) module redistributes the weight of each pixel using an element‐wise product multiplication operation. This increases the weight of the vascular feature pixels and improves the ability to identify blood vessels in blurred backgrounds. The proposed method has been demonstrated to be effective through sufficient experimentation on publicly available retinal datasets such as DRIVE, STARE, and CHASE_DB1.
Developing practical measures of the price of pesticide resistance: A flexible computational framework with global sensitivity analysis
Authors: Cho Chanheung , Brown Zachary , Gross Kevin , Tregeagle Daniel 
Published: February 2024

AbstractPesticide resistance poses an increasing challenge for agricultural sustainability. Pesticide susceptibility is a depletable biological resource, but resistance management rarely quantifies marginal, forward‐looking economic costs to users of depletion. To facilitate the development of such costs, we use a generic stochastic bioeconomic model of resistance evolution in a crop pest population, stochastic dynamic programming, and global sensitivity analysis to analyze the “marginal user costs” of resistance. The most impactful parameters are population density dependence and pesticide prices. The least impactful is the fitness cost of resistance, which is noteworthy because of prior emphasis on this parameter in the resistance management literature.
Nongrade quality factor influence on origin soybean basis: Evidence from North Dakota
Authors: Bullock David W. , Wilson William W. , Thompson Ryan 
Published: February 2024

AbstractRecent evidence indicates that end‐users of US soybeans are placing additional quality specifications in their contracts that are outside those covered by the official USDA grades and standards (such as protein and essential amino acid [EAA] content). This has led some industry groups to publish additional quality data on an annual basis. Using a 14‐year panel data set from North Dakota, this study examines whether the release of quality data has an impact on the basis for soybeans at origins. The regression results strongly support the hypothesis that the additional EAA data had a statistically significant impact upon origin basis.
Regime shift of the leading mode of winter surface wind speed in northwest China in 2003/04 and its possible link with Barents–Kara sea ice
Authors: Wang Yong , Zhou Zi‐Han , Liu Xin‐Yu , Wang Cheng‐Hai , Xiao Dong , Li Wen‐Yao , Qin Hao‐Jun 
Published: February 2024

AbstractUsing the ERA‐5 reanalysis datasets, NCEP/NCAR sea ice concentration (SIC) and observed winter surface wind speed (WSWS) in northwest China during 1979–2020, this study examined the regime shift of the leading mode of observed WSWS in northwest China and investigated its possible link with the winter Barents–Kara Sea (BKS) SIC. The leading mode of observed WSWS in northwest China showed negative anomalies in southern and northeastern Xinjiang, Gansu, western and northern Shaanxi Provinces, and positive anomalies in northwestern and middle Xinjiang, Qinghai and Ningxia Provinces. The signs of WSWS in the leading mode is generally opposite to their trends during 1979–2020. Leading principal component (PC1) of observed WSWS in northwest China underwent an obvious decreasing regime shift in 2003/04, as well as the winter BKS SIC. There are significant correlations between PC1 and BKS SIC on both interdecadal and interannual timescales. Decadal decrease of BKS SIC is accompanied with a positive phase of Scandinavia pattern (SP) with positive anomalies of 500‐hPa geopotential height over subtropical North Atlantic, Arctic‐Ural region and southern Asia, and negative anomalies over northern North Atlantic‐West Europe and Siberia regions. BKS SIC and SP significantly influenced the Northern China Wind Index (NCWI) at 200 hPa on interdecadal timescale, which was related to the PC1 on both interdecadal and interannual timescales after removing the signal of Arctic Oscillation. Meridional configuration of Siberian cyclonic anomaly and southern Asian anticyclonic anomaly associated with the winter BKS SIC could enhance the intensity of NCWI, which favoured the increase of observed WSWS in northwest China and thereby may contribute to the regime shift in 2003/04 of the leading mode. However, there were still some stations showing decreasing regime shift, which mainly located at the region of steeping terrain. These decreasing changes of WSWS may be related to circumfluence effect of terrain, urbanization and local microclimate, and these reasons still need further detailed study.
Care partners and consumer health information technology: A framework to guide systems‐level initiatives in support of digital health equity
Authors: Wolff Jennifer L. , Wec Aleksandra , Peereboom Danielle , Gleason Kelly T. , Amjad Halima , Burgdorf Julia G. , Cassidy Jessica , DesRoches Catherine M. , Fabius Chanee D. , Green Ariel R. , Lin C. T. , Nothelle Stephanie K. , Powell Danielle S. , Riffin Catherine A. , Smith Jamie , Lum Hillary D. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIntroductionConsumer‐oriented health information technologies (CHIT) such as the patient portal have a growing role in care delivery redesign initiatives such as the Learning Health System. Care partners commonly navigate CHIT demands alongside persons with complex health and social needs, but their role is not well specified.MethodsWe assemble evidence and concepts from the literature describing interpersonal communication, relational coordination theory, and systems‐thinking to develop an integrative framework describing the care partner's role in applied CHIT innovations. Our framework describes pathways through which systematic engagement of the care partner affects longitudinal work processes and multi‐level outcomes relevant to Learning Health Systems.ResultsOur framework is grounded in relational coordination, an emerging theory for understanding the dynamics of coordinating work that emphasizes role‐based relationships and communication, and the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) model. Cross‐cutting work systems geared toward explicit and purposeful support of the care partner role through CHIT may advance work processes by promoting frequent, timely, accurate, problem‐solving communication, reinforced by shared goals, shared knowledge, and mutual respect between patients, care partners, and care team. We further contend that systematic engagement of the care partner in longitudinal work processes exerts beneficial effects on care delivery experiences and efficiencies at both individual and organizational levels. We discuss the utility of our framework through the lens of an illustrative case study involving patient portal‐mediated pre‐visit agenda setting.ConclusionsOur framework can be used to guide applied embedded CHIT interventions that support the care partner role and bring value to Learning Health Systems through advancing digital health equity, improving user experiences, and driving efficiencies through improved coordination within complex work systems.
Hard Coatings from Soft Latexes: A Review of Routes to Overcome the Film Formation Dilemma
Authors: Jiménez Nerea , Ballard Nicholas , Asua José M. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe use of polymer latexes for high‐performance coatings is challenging as the properties required to allow for film formation at reasonable temperatures tend to result in films with relatively poor mechanical properties. In this review, routes to overcome this so‐called film‐formation dilemma are discussed. First, the use of coalescing agents, focusing in particular on more recent approaches to minimize the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), is reviewed. Subsequently, approaches that utilize hybrid latexes are considered. This includes the use of high/low Tg latex blends, nanocomposites that include a second, non‐polymeric phase, and multiphase latexes. Finally, the use of crosslinking technologies is considered, with a focus on necessary developments to reduce environmental impact. The review concludes with a summary and a discussion of possible future directions for research.
Sciellin promotes the development and progression of thyroid cancer through the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway
Authors: Guo Haohao , Wang Ziyang , Yin Keyu , Ma Runsheng , Zhang Yifei , Yin Fanxiang , Li Hongqiang , Yin Detao 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThyroid cancer (TC) is one of the most common endocrine tumors worldwide. Sciellin (SCEL) is involved in various disease processes, including burn wound healing and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs); it is highly expressed in TC. However, its biological impact on TC and related mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of SCEL on the function of human TC cell lines B‐CPAP and OCUT‐2C (cancer cell lines with BRAF V600E mutations). Analyses of data sets and clinical samples revealed enhanced expression of SCEL in TC than in adjacent normal tissue. SCEL knockout suppresses proliferation and cell cycle progression in TC cells, and these results were reversed by the upregulated SCEL expression in TC. SCEL knockout inhibited tumor development in xenograft mouse models. Western blot (WB) demonstrated that the expression of p‐JAK2 and p‐STAT3 was reduced in SCEL‐knockdown TC. These results suggest that SCEL plays a key role in TC progression through the JAK2‐STAT3 pathway. Therefore, SCEL can be considered a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for TC.
Abdominal fat depots are related to lower cognitive functioning and brain volumes in middle‐aged males at high Alzheimer's risk
Authors: Golan Shekhtman Sapir , Boccara Ethel , Ravona‐Springer Ramit , Inbar Yael , Zelicha Hila , Livny Abigail , Bendlin Barbara B. , Lesman‐Segev Orit , Yore Iscka , Heymann Anthony , Sano Mary , Mardor Yael , Azuri Joseph , Schnaider Beeri Michal 
Published: February 2024

AbstractObjectiveHigh BMI, which poorly represents specific fat depots, is linked to poorer cognition and higher dementia risk, with different associations between sexes. This study examined associations of abdominal fat depots with cognition and brain volumes and whether sex modifies this association.MethodsA total of 204 healthy middle‐aged offspring of Alzheimer's dementia patients (mean age = 59.44, 60% females) underwent abdominal magnetic resonance imaging to quantify hepatic, pancreatic, visceral, and subcutaneous adipose tissue and to assess cognition and brain volumes.ResultsIn the whole sample, higher hepatic fat percentage was associated with lower total gray matter volume (β = −0.17, p < 0.01). Primarily in males, higher pancreatic fat percentage was associated with lower global cognition (males: β = −0.27, p = 0.03; females: β = 0.01, p = 0.93) executive function (males: β = −0.27, p = 0.03; females: β = 0.02, p = 0.87), episodic memory (males: β = −0.28, p = 0.03; females: β = 0.07, p = 0.48), and inferior frontal gyrus volume (males: β = −0.28, p = 0.02; females: β = 0.10, p = 0.33). Visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue was inversely associated with middle frontal and superior frontal gyrus volumes in males and females.ConclusionsIn middle‐aged males at high Alzheimer's dementia risk, but not in females, higher pancreatic fat was associated with lower cognition and brain volumes. These findings suggest a potential sex‐specific link between distinct abdominal fat with brain health.
Serine/threonine‐protein kinase D2‐mediated phosphorylation of DSG2 threonine 730 promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression
Authors: Liu Yin‐Qiao , Xu Yi‐Wei , Zheng Zheng‐Tan , Li Die , Hong Chao‐Qun , Dai Hao‐Qiang , Wang Jun‐Hao , Chu Ling‐Yu , Liao Lian‐Di , Zou Hai‐Ying , Li En‐Min , Xie Jian‐Jun , Fang Wang‐Kai 
Published: February 2024

AbstractDesmoglein‐2 (DSG2) is a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the desmosomal cadherin family, which mediates cell–cell junctions; regulates cell proliferation, migration, and invasion; and promotes tumor development and metastasis. We previously showed serum DSG2 to be a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), although the significance and underlying molecular mechanisms were not identified. Here, we found that DSG2 was increased in ESCC tissues compared with adjacent tissues. In addition, we demonstrated that DSG2 promoted ESCC cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, using interactome analysis, we identified serine/threonine‐protein kinase D2 (PRKD2) as a novel DSG2 kinase that mediates the phosphorylation of DSG2 at threonine 730 (T730). Functionally, DSG2 promoted ESCC cell migration and invasion dependent on DSG2‐T730 phosphorylation. Mechanistically, DSG2 T730 phosphorylation activated EGFR, Src, AKT, and ERK signaling pathways. In addition, DSG2 and PRKD2 were positively correlated with each other, and the overall survival time of ESCC patients with high DSG2 and PRKD2 was shorter than that of patients with low DSG2 and PRKD2 levels. In summary, PRKD2 is a novel DSG2 kinase, and PRKD2‐mediated DSG2 T730 phosphorylation promotes ESCC progression. These findings may facilitate the development of future therapeutic agents that target DSG2 and DSG2 phosphorylation. © 2024 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Noninvasive single‐cell‐based prenatal genetic testing: A proof of concept clinical study
Authors: Bellair Michelle , Amaral Elisabete , Ouren Mason , Roark Cameron , Kim Jaeweon , O'Connor April , Soriano Adrianna , Schindler Margaret L. , Wapner Ronald J. , Stone Joanne L. , Tavella Nicola , Merriam Audrey , Perley Lauren , Breman Amy M. , Beaudet Arthur L. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo clinically assess a cell‐based noninvasive prenatal genetic test using sequence‐based copy number analysis of single trophoblasts from maternal blood.MethodsBlood was obtained from 401 (243 + 158) individuals (8–22 weeks) and shipped overnight. Red cells were lysed, and nucleated cells stained for cytokeratin (CK) and CD45 and enriched for positive CK staining. Automated scanning was used to identify and pick single CK+/CD45‐ trophoblasts which were subjected to next‐generation sequencing.ResultsBlood was obtained from 243 pregnancies scheduled for CVS or amniocentesis. Luna results were normal for 160 singletons while 15 cases were abnormal (14 aneuploidy and one monozygotic twin with Williams syndrome deletion). The deletion was confirmed in both fetuses. Placental mosaicism occurred in 7 of 236 (3.0%) Luna cases and in 3 of 188 (1.6%) CVS cases (total 4.6%). No scorable trophoblasts were recovered in 32 of 236 usable samples. Additionally, 158 low‐risk pregnancies not undergoing CVS/amniocentesis showed normal results in 133 cases. Seven had aneuploidy results, and there were three likely pathogenic deletions/duplications, including one15q11‐q13 deletion.ConclusionAlthough the sample size is modest and statistically accurate measures of test performance are not possible, the Luna test detected aneuploidy and deletions/duplications based on concordance with CVS/amniocentesis.
Preparation and characterization of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐iron(5‐acrylamido‐1,10‐phenanthroline)) based electro‐responsive hydrogel
Authors: Zhang Changzheng , Ma Qiang , Mao Han , Li Yiran , Xu Guohe , Zhang Bin 
Published: February 2024

AbstractPoly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐iron(5‐acrylamido‐1,10‐phenanthroline)) based electro‐responsive hydrogel is prepared by the radical polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), iron (5‐acrylamido‐1,10‐phenanthroline) and bis (1,10‐phenanthroline) (ferroin monomer), using 2,2‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator and N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (BIS) as cross‐linker. The structure of the hydrogel is characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The impact of different contents of ferroin and cross‐linker on swelling properties, crosslinking degree, mechanical properties, and deformation properties of hydrogels are investigated, which indicates that the hydrogels containing ferroin are low voltage responsive. The hydrogel exhibits a deformation rate of 71.56% and a deformation speed of 2%/s at a voltage of 10 V when the ferroin content is 2.67%. The deformation rate and deformation speed of hydrogels increase with increasing voltage. Therefore, the deformation rate can reach 80.69%, and the deformation speed can reach 15.56%/s. The crosslinking degree increases with increasing BIS content in hydrogels, while leading to a reduction in swelling degree and swelling rate. Moreover, the elongation at break decreases first and then increases, the tensile strength and compressive strength increase. Furthermore, the minimum responsive voltage of hydrogels for deformation decreases, the deformation rate and deformation speed increase first and then decrease.