bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Usefulness of 18F-FDG PET-CT for assessing large-vessel involvement in patients with suspected giant cell arteritis and negative temporal artery biopsy
Authors: Narváez Javier , Estrada Paula , Vidal-Montal Paola , Sánchez-Rodríguez Iván , Sabaté-Llobera Aida , Nolla Joan Miquel , Cortés-Romera Montserrat 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Objective
To investigate the usefulness of 18F-FDG PET-CT for assessing large-vessel (LV) involvement in patients with suspected giant cell arteritis (GCA) and a negative temporal artery biopsy (TAB).

Methods
A retrospective review of our hospital databases was conducted to identify patients with suspected GCA and negative TAB who underwent an 18F-FDG PET-CT in an attempt to confirm the diagnosis. The gold standard for GCA diagnosis was clinical confirmation after a follow-up period of at least 12 months.

Results
Out of the 127 patients included in the study, 73 were diagnosed with GCA after a detailed review of their medical records.
Of the 73 patients finally diagnosed with GCA, 18F-FDG PET-CT was considered positive in 61 cases (83.5%). Among the 54 patients without GCA, 18F-FDG PET-CT was considered positive in only eight cases (14.8%), which included 1 case of Erdheim-Chester disease, 3 cases of IgG4-related disease, 1 case of sarcoidosis, and 3 cases of isolated aortitis.
Overall, the diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET-CT for assessing LV involvement in patients finally diagnosed with GCA and negative TAB yielded a sensitivity of 83.5%, specificity of 85.1%, and a diagnostic accuracy of 84% with an area under the ROC curve of 0.844 (95% CI: 0.752 to 0.936). The sensitivity was 89% in occult systemic GCA and 100% in extracranial LV-GCA.

Conclusion
Our study confirms the utility of 18F-FDG PET-CT in patients presenting with suspected GCA and a negative TAB by demonstrating the presence of LV involvement across different subsets of the disease.
A retrospective analysis of the safety of tacrolimus use and its optimal cut-off concentration during pregnancy in women with systemic lupus erythematosus: study from two Japanese tertiary referral centers
Authors: Nakai Takehiro , Honda Nanase , Soga Eri , Fukui Sho , Kitada Ayako , Yokogawa Naoto , Okada Masato 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
Tacrolimus is one of the major treatment options for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and is considered to be a pregnancy-compatible medication. Since little is known about tacrolimus safety during pregnancy complicated by SLE, this study was designed.

Methods
We included SLE pregnant patients who were followed up at two Japanese tertiary referral centers. We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis to assess each adverse pregnancy outcome (APO) risk. Moreover, we assessed the influence of tacrolimus on the APO ratio in pregnant patients with lupus nephritis, and the impact of combined tacrolimus-aspirin therapy on the APO ratio relative to patients exclusively administered tacrolimus.

Results
Of the 124 pregnancies, 29 were exposed to tacrolimus. Multivariate analysis showed no statistical difference in APO ratio. (overall APO: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.23–2.03; p = 0.50; maternal APO: aOR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.36–3.83; p = 0.80; neonatal APO: aOR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.38–3.21; p = 0.86; PROMISSE APO: aOR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.14–1.74; p = 0.27).
Blood pressure and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) during pregnancy and after delivery did not differ between the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that tacrolimus concentration > 2.6 ng/ml was related to reduced preterm birth rate. (AUC = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.61–1.00, sensitivity: 93% and specificity: 75%).
Regarding effect of tacrolimus on lupus nephritis during pregnancy, tacrolimus showed no increased risk of APO, blood pressure or eGFR during pregnancy and after delivery. (overall APO: OR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.25–4.08; p = 0.98; maternal APO: OR 1.60, 95% CI, 0.39–6.64; p = 0.51; neonatal APO: OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.17–3.03; p = 0.65, PROMISSE APO: OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.08–3.22; p = 0.47).
Tacrolimus-aspirin combination therapy showed a protective tendency against hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, preeclampsia and low birth weight.

Conclusions
Tacrolimus use during pregnancy with SLE and lupus nephritis showed no significant influence on APO, blood pressure, or renal function; therefore tacrolimus may be suitable for controlling lupus activity during pregnancy. In addition, when using tacrolimus during pregnancy, we should aim its trough concentration ≥ 2.6 ng/ml while paying careful attention to possible maternal side effects of tacrolimus.

Trial registration
Retrospectively registered.
Acute exposure of microwave impairs attention process by activating microglial inflammation
Authors: Jiang Shaofei , Ma Yingping , Shi Yuan , Zou Yong , Yang Zhenqi , Zhi Weijia , Zhao Zhe , Shen Wei , Chen Liping , Wu Yan , Wang Lifeng , Hu Xiangjun , Wu Haitao 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
Attention provides the foundation for cognitions, which was shown to be affected by microwave (MW) radiation. With the ubiquitous of microwaves, public concerns regarding the impact of MW radiation on attention has hence been increased. Our study aims to investigate the potential effect and mechanism of acute microwave exposure on attention.

Results
We identified obvious impairment of attention in mice by the five-choice serial reaction time (5-CSRT) task. Proteomic analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) revealed neuroinflammation and microglial activation potentially due to acute MW exposure. Moreover, biochemical analysis further confirmed microglial activation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of mice subjected to acute MW exposure. Finally, minocycline, a commercially available anti-inflammatory compound, attenuated neuroinflammation, inhibited the upregulation of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR) including NR2A and NR2B, and also accelerated the attentional recovery after MW exposure.

Conclusions
We believe that microglial activation and NMDAR upregulation likely contribute to inattention induced by acute MW exposure, and we found that minocycline may be effective in preventing such process.
Threshold effects of technology import on industrial employment: a panel smooth transition regression approach
Authors: Bouattour Afef , Kalai Maha , Helali Kamel 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe relationship between imported technology and employment is a controversial issue. This study aims to test the hypothesis that the relationship between imported technology and employment is non-linear and evolves with the level of technology imports. The study covers two groups of developed and developing countries over the period 2000–2019. The Panel Smooth Transition Regression (PSTR) model is used to estimate the technology import threshold and its impact on industrial employment. The study finds a positive relationship between imported technology and industrial employment for technology import rates above the 13.667% threshold, above which imported technology begins to improve industrial employment in developed countries. In contrast, for developing countries, the results showed a negative relationship between imported technology and industrial employment for technology import rates above the 3.44% threshold above which imported technology begins to reduce industrial employment. These results suggest that the threshold level of technology imports can be considered as an indicator for promoting innovation policies in both developed and developing countries to minimize the negative effect of process innovation resulting from imported technology.
Fructose-induced FGF21 secretion does not activate brown adipose tissue in Japanese young men: randomized cross-over and randomized controlled trials
Authors: Kataoka Haruki , Nirengi Shinsuke , Matsui Yuka , Taniguchi Hirokazu 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
Human brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity is associated with lower body fatness and favorable glucose metabolism. Previous studies reported that oral fructose loading induces postprandial fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) secretion. FGF21 is a known inducer of adipose tissue thermogenesis; however, the effects of diet-induced FGF21 secretion on BAT thermogenesis remain to be elucidated.

Methods
The effects of both single load and daily consumption of fructose on BAT activity were examined using a randomized cross-over trial and a 2-week randomized controlled trial (RCT), respectively. In the cross-over trial, 15 young men consumed a single dose of fructose solution or water and then consumed the other on a subsequent day. The RCT enrolled 22 young men, and the participants were allocated to a group that consumed fructose and a group that consumed water daily for 2 weeks. BAT activity was analyzed using thermography with cold exposure. Plasma FGF21 level was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results
In the cross-over single-load trial, plasma FGF21 levels were significantly increased at 2 h after oral fructose load (p < 0.01); however, there was no significant difference in BAT activity between the fructose load and drinking water. The 2-week RCT revealed that both plasma FGF21 levels and BAT activity were not significantly increased by daily fructose consumption compared to water. Correlation analyses revealed that BAT activity at the baseline and the final measurements were strongly and positively associated with the RCT (r = 0.869, p < 0.001). Changes in BAT activity were significantly and negatively correlated with changes in plasma glucose levels during the 2-week intervention (r = − 0.497, p = 0.022).

Conclusions
Oral fructose load induces a temporary increase in circulating FGF21 levels; however, this does not activate BAT thermogenesis in healthy young men. Further studies are needed to elucidate the effect of endogenous FGF21 on physiological function.

Trial registration
This study is registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network in Japan (number 000051761, registered 1 August 2023, retrospectively registered, https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000052680).
Histogram analysis based on unenhanced CT for identifying thymoma and lymphoma among prevascular mediastinal incidentalomas
Authors: Liu Ming , Zhang Yang , Liu Li-Heng 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Objective
To determine whether histogram analysis based on unenhanced CT can play a role in the differential diagnosis of thymoma and lymphoma from thymic hyperplasia and cyst (mean CT attenuation > 10 HU).

Materials and methods
This retrospective study included consecutive asymptomatic participants who have prevascular mediastinal lesions incidentally detected by unenhanced CT between December 2013 and August 2020, and with definitive diagnosis by pathology or additional radiologic work-ups. A total of thirteen histogram parameters on enhanced CT were calculated for each lesion, then were compared between tumor (thymoma + lymphoma) and non-tumor (hyperplasia + cyst). Receiver operating characteristic analysis was conducted to investigate the performance of histogram parameter for identifying tumor.

Results
The study population included 192 patients (106 men and 86 women) with a mean age of 50.5 years at the time of CT examination. Of them, 94 patients have tumor (87 thymomas and 7 lymphoma) and 98 have non-tumor (48 thymic hyperplasia and 50 cysts). Nine of the thirteen histogram parameters revealed significant difference between the two groups, including median, minimum, range, 10th percentile, 90th percentile, kurtosis, skewness, uniformity and entropy. No significant difference was observed in the mean CT attenuation between groups. Higher median was found to be independent predictors for distinguishing tumor from non-tumor, and can achieve an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.785 (95% confidence interval [95% IC], 0.720–0.841).

Conclusions
Histogram analysis based on unenhanced CT may be able to provide some help in the differential diagnosis of incidental lesions in prevascular mediastinal.

Grand support
This study was sponsored by Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (No. 21ZR1459700).
Relationships among return and liquidity of cryptocurrencies
Authors: Zhang Mianmian , Zhu Bing , Li Ziyuan , Jin Siyuan , Xia Yong 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe cryptocurrency market is a complex and rapidly evolving financial landscape in which understanding the inter- and intra-asset dependencies among key financial variables, such as return and liquidity, is crucial. In this study, we analyze daily return and liquidity data for six major cryptocurrencies, namely Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Binance Coin, Litecoin, and Dogecoin, spanning the period from June 3, 2020, to November 30, 2022. Liquidity is estimated using three low-frequency proxies: the Amihud ratio and the Abdi and Ranaldo (AR) and Corwin and Schultz (CS) estimators. To account for autoregressive and persistent effects, we apply the autoregressive integrated moving average-generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (ARIMA-GARCH) model and subsequently utilize the copula method to examine the interdependent relationships between the return on and liquidity of the six cryptocurrencies. Our analysis reveals strong cross-asset lower-tail dependence in return and significant cross-asset upper-tail dependence in illiquidity measures, with more pronounced dependence observed in specific cryptocurrency pairs, primarily involving Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. We also observe that returns tend to be higher when liquidity is lower in the cryptocurrency market. Our findings have significant implications for portfolio diversification, asset allocation, risk management, and trading strategy development for investors and traders, as well as regulatory policy-making for regulators. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the cryptocurrency marketplace and can help inform investment decision making and regulatory policies in this emerging financial domain.
Flipped classroom with gamified technology and paper-based method for teaching vocabulary
Authors: Pratiwi Damar Isti , Fitriati Sri Wuli , Yuliasri Issy , Waluyo Budi 
Published: January 2024

AbstractWhile gamified technology integration in vocabulary instruction within a flipped classroom has yielded beneficial teaching outcomes, specific studies have raised concerns about potential adverse effects linked to this approach. As a result, conducting a comparative analysis between gamified technology and conventional paper-based methods within the flipped classroom framework has become essential. This analysis aims to foster the development of a targeted teaching approach that adeptly addresses the unique needs of students. This study employed a sequential explanatory research design to examine the effectiveness of flipped classroom with gamified technology and paper-based method in teaching vocabulary to students with different proficiency levels. Quantitative data was gathered from a pretest and a posttest, whilst qualitative data was collected through teachers’ guided reflection. Using Academic Word List (300 target words), control groups employed a paper-based, while experimental groups applied gamified technology (Quizlet, Kahoot!, Quizizz, Socrative, and Google Form), which lasted 10 weeks. The participants were 144 non-English major students who took a general English course in the 2nd semester of 2023. Quantitative data analysis ran in SPSS 25 using Paired Sample t-Test and One-way ANOVA. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic progression. The results showed that gamified technology did not affect students’ learning outcomes, while the paper-based method resulted conversely. It revealed that the paper-based method is more effective than gamified technology for students in general, with low proficiency and high-proficiency level. Further, teachers’ beliefs admitted distinctive issues that gamified technology was more effective for high-proficiency learners, whereas paper-based was more effective for low-proficiency learners. The difference analysis of quantitative and qualitative data sheds light on discussing threats while implementing gamified technology and possible solutions.
Clinical Outcomes, Blood Utilization, and Ethical Considerations for Pediatric Patients in a Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Program
Authors: Lo Brian D. , Pippa Andrew , Sherd Ish’shah , Scott Andrew V. , Thomas Ananda J. , Hendricks Elizabeth A. , Ness Paul M. , Chaturvedi Shruti , Resar Linda M. S. , Frank Steven M. 
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:
Pediatric patients requesting bloodless care represent a challenging clinical situation, as parents cannot legally refuse lifesaving or optimal interventions for their children. Here, we report clinical outcomes for the largest series of pediatric inpatients requesting bloodless care and also discuss the ethical considerations.

METHODS:
We performed a single-institution retrospective cohort study assessing 196 pediatric inpatients (<18 years of age) who requested bloodless care between June 2012 and June 2016. Patient characteristics, transfusion rates, and clinical outcomes were compared between pediatric patients receiving bloodless care and those receiving standard care (including transfusions if considered necessary by the clinical team) (n = 37,271). Families were informed that all available measures would be undertaken to avoid blood transfusions, although we were legally obligated to transfuse blood if the child’s life was threatened. The primary outcome was composite morbidity or mortality. Secondary outcomes included percentage of patients transfused, individual morbid events, length of stay, total hospital charges, and total costs. Subgroup analyses were performed after stratification into medical and surgical patients.

RESULTS:
Of the 196 pediatric patients that requested bloodless care, 6.1% (n = 12) received an allogeneic blood component, compared to 9.1% (n = 3392) for standard care patients (P = .14). The most common indications for transfusion were perioperative bleeding and anemia of prematurity. None of the transfusions were administered under a court order. Overall, pediatric patients receiving bloodless care exhibited lower rates of composite morbidity compared to patients receiving standard care (2.6% vs 6.2%; P = .035). There were no deaths in the bloodless cohort. Individual morbid events, length of stay, and total hospital charges/costs were not significantly different between the 2 groups. After multivariable analysis, bloodless care was not associated with a significant difference in composite morbidity or mortality (odds ratio [OR], 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.12–1.11; P = .077).

CONCLUSIONS:
Pediatric patients receiving bloodless care exhibited similar clinical outcomes compared to patients receiving standard care, although larger studies with adequate power are needed to confirm this finding. There were no mortalities among the pediatric bloodless cohort. Although a subset of our pediatric bloodless patients received an allogeneic transfusion, no patients required a court order. When delivered in a collaborative and patient-centered manner, blood transfusions can be safely limited among pediatric patients.
Nectar cardenolides and floral volatiles mediate a specialized wasp pollination system
Authors: Burger Hannah , Buttala Samantha , Koch Hauke , Ayasse Manfred , Johnson Steven D. , Stevenson Philip C. 
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT
Specialization in plant pollination systems can arise from traits that function as filters of flower visitors. This may involve chemical traits such as floral volatiles that selectively attract favoured visitors and non-volatile nectar constituents that selectively deter disfavoured visitors through taste or longer-term toxic effects or both. We explored the functions of floral chemical traits in the African milkweed Gomphocarpus physocarpus, which is pollinated almost exclusively by vespid wasps, despite having nectar that is highly accessible to other insects such as honeybees. We demonstrated that the nectar of wasp-pollinated G. physocarpus contains cardenolides that had greater toxic effects on Apis mellifera honeybees than on Vespula germanica wasps, and also reduced feeding rates by honeybees. Behavioural experiments using natural compositions of nectar compounds showed that these interactions are mediated by non-volatile nectar chemistry. We also identified volatile compounds with acetic acid as a main component in the floral scent of G. physocarpus that elicited electrophysiological responses in wasp antennae. Mixtures of these compounds were behaviourally effective for attraction of V. germanica wasps. The results show the importance of both volatile and non-volatile chemical traits as filters that lead to specialization in plant pollination systems.
The processing of proprioceptive signals in distributed networks: insights from insect motor control
Authors: Gebehart Corinna , Büschges Ansgar 
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT
The integration of sensory information is required to maintain body posture and to generate robust yet flexible locomotion through unpredictable environments. To anticipate required adaptations in limb posture and enable compensation of sudden perturbations, an animal's nervous system assembles external (exteroception) and internal (proprioception) cues. Coherent neuronal representations of the proprioceptive context of the body and the appendages arise from the concerted action of multiple sense organs monitoring body kinetics and kinematics. This multimodal proprioceptive information, together with exteroceptive signals and brain-derived descending motor commands, converges onto premotor networks – i.e. the local neuronal circuitry controlling motor output and movements – within the ventral nerve cord (VNC), the insect equivalent of the vertebrate spinal cord. This Review summarizes existing knowledge and recent advances in understanding how local premotor networks in the VNC use convergent information to generate contextually appropriate activity, focusing on the example of posture control. We compare the role and advantages of distributed sensory processing over dedicated neuronal pathways, and the challenges of multimodal integration in distributed networks. We discuss how the gain of distributed networks may be tuned to enable the behavioral repertoire of these systems, and argue that insect premotor networks might compensate for their limited neuronal population size by, in comparison to vertebrate networks, relying more heavily on the specificity of their connections. At a time in which connectomics and physiological recording techniques enable anatomical and functional circuit dissection at an unprecedented resolution, insect motor systems offer unique opportunities to identify the mechanisms underlying multimodal integration for flexible motor control.