bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Re‐defining the interpretation of 24‐h urine studies for stone formers
Authors: Sui Wilson , Yang Heiko , Velasquez Maria C. , Stoller Marshall L. , Chi Thomas 
Published: January 2025

ObjectivesTo identify associations between 24‐h urine abnormalities and clinical risk factors for recurrent stone formers.Patients and methodsThe Registry for Stones of the Kidney and Ureter was queried for all patients who underwent 24‐h urine studies. Patients were categorised by the number of clinical risk factors for recurrent stone disease. Stone recurrence was calculated by stone events per person‐year. We utilised a novel method to calculate an overall severity score for 24‐h urine parameters. The stone recurrence and 24‐h urinary analyte values were then compared using Student's t‐tests, chi‐square analysis and negative binomial regression.ResultsA total of 614 stone patients met our inclusion criteria and were categorised by the number of clinical stone risk factors. On adjusted and unadjusted analysis, an escalating number of clinical risk factors predicted increased stone recurrence risk. However, there were no differences in mean 24‐h urine analyte values amongst these groups aside from higher urinary calcium. However, after calculation of a 24‐h urine severity score there was a significantly higher mean severity as the number of clinical risk factors increased. This severity score also independently predicted stone recurrence on adjusted negative binomial regression.ConclusionsUtilising a novel 24‐h urine scoring system, we showed that higher‐risk stone patients have more severe 24‐h urine characteristics, which was not apparent using conventional analysis. Both the severity score and clinical characteristics independently identified those at risk of stone recurrence.
Immunotherapy‐based neoadjuvant treatment and complication rates after radical cystectomy
Authors: Ben‐David Reuben , Pellegrino Francesco , Mehrazin Reza , Thomas Joel , Geduldig Jack , Lidagoster Sarah , Garden Evan B. , Attalla Kyrollis , Eraky Ahmed , Zaurito Paolo , Moschini Marco , Briganti Alberto , Montorsi Francesco , Sfakianos John P. , Wiklund Peter 
Published: January 2025

ObjectiveTo assess 30‐ and 90‐day postoperative complication rates in patients who underwent robot‐assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) after receiving novel immunotherapy‐based neoadjuvant treatment.MethodsA bi‐centre analysis was conducted in patients who underwent RARC with intracorporeal urinary diversion and who received an immunotherapy‐based neoadjuvant regimen between 2017 and 2023. Complications were classified using the Clavien–Dindo system.ResultsThe cohort included 136 patients, with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of 66 (61–73) years, of whom 22 were female (16.2%). The overall 30‐day and 31–90‐day Clavien–Dindo grade ≥3a complication rates were 15.4%, and 14.7%, respectively. The most common cumulative 90‐day complications by category were infectious (59.6%), genitourinary (33.1%), and gastrointestinal (22.7%). The median (IQR) hospital stay was 11 (7–16) days, and 36 patients (26.5%) required readmission. Eighty‐four patients received monotherapy with an immune checkpoint inhibitor and 52 received combination immunochemotherapy. A higher rate of 30‐day infectious complications was seen in the immuno‐monotherapy group (46.4% vs 26.9%; P = 0.03), while pulmonary complications were more commonly reported in the combination immunochemotherapy group (9.6% vs 1.2%; P = 0.03). No statistically significant differences were found in the other complication categories between the groups. Eleven patients (8.1%) experienced 13 (9.6%) immune‐related adverse events (irAEs). The most common irAEs were hypothyroidism and dermatitis.ConclusionsThe cumulative 90‐day complication rate after novel immunotherapy‐based neoadjuvant treatment appears higher than those previously reported for RARC alone or for chemotherapy‐based neoadjuvant regimens. We observed irAEs in 8.1% of patients after RARC, highlighting the need for urologists to recognise such events.
Activating transcription factor‐3 orchestrates the modulation of vascular anti‐contractile activity and relaxation by governing the secretion of HDL‐bound sphingosine‐1‐phosphate in perivascular adipose tissue
Authors: Li Hsiao‐Fen , Lin Heng , Liu Hsin‐Tzu , Lin Tsung‐Jen , Tseng Tzu‐Ling 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackground and PurposePerivascular adipose tissues (PVATs) play a critical role in modulating vascular homeostasis and protecting against cardiovascular dysfunction‐mediated blood pressure dysregulation. We demonstrated that the activating transcription factor‐3 (Atf3) gene in the PVAT is crucial for improving vascular wall tension abnormalities; however, its protective mechanism remains unclear. Herein, we aim to determine whether ATF3 regulates PVAT‐derived relaxing factor (PVDRF) biosynthesis and if its secretion contributes to vasorelaxation.Experimental ApproachThis study employed an in vivo animal model using global Atf3‐deficient mice, in vitro blood vessel myography, and biochemical analyses to evaluate ATF3‐mediated PVDRF release and reactivity in the vasculature.Key ResultsWild‐type (WT) mouse thoracic aortic PVAT extracts significantly induced resting tone dilation and attenuated vasoconstrictor‐induced contractile responses compared to Atf3−/− mice. Heat‐stable PVAT extracts from WT mice caused sustained and reproducible vasodilation without tachyphylaxis in control aortic rings. Biochemical evaluation of PVDRF release revealed that Atf3−/− mice had lower sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P) and HDL cholesterol (HDL‐C) levels than WT mice. Furthermore, PVAT extracts from WT mice induced long‐lasting vasorelaxation, which was significantly inhibited by the S1P3 receptor antagonist TY52156 and scavenger receptor class B type 1 receptor antagonist glyburide.Conclusion and ImplicationsATF3 within the PVAT can modulate vascular function by strengthening sphingosine kinase 1 (sphk1)–S1P–S1P3 receptor lipid signalling and stimulating S1P binding to HDL to form the vasodilator HDL‐S1P. ATF3 is an essential modulator for maintaining the physiological function of PVAT, providing a novel target for treatment of obesity‐related cardiovascular diseases.
Tetrahedral Framework Nucleic Acid Relieves Sepsis‐Induced Intestinal Injury by Regulating M2 Macrophages
Authors: Tan Tingting , Li Jiajie , Fan Wensi , Shang Kangni , Yang Chujun , Liu Xiaohao , Zhu Shihui , Liu Tong , Wang Junjie , Li Yingchuan , Lin Yunfeng 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to clarify the role and mechanism of tetrahedral framework nucleic acids (tFNAs) in regulating M2 macrophages to reduce intestinal injury. An intestinal injury model was established by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in mice to explore the alleviating effects of tFNAs on intestinal injury. Inflammatory factors were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The intestinal barrier and permeability were assessed using western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Macrophages in the gut were localised and quantified using immunofluorescence. Western blotting was used to investigate the role and mechanism of tFNAs in regulating macrophages and alleviating inflammation in the injured intestines. These results show that tFNAs attenuated sepsis‐induced intestinal injury. tFNAs can also promote the intestinal barrier reconstruction and reduce intestinal permeability. In vivo, tFNAs accelerated the aggregation of M2 macrophages at an early stage of injury and reduced the number of M1 macrophages in the intestine. In addition, tFNAs enhanced the clearance ability of intestinal macrophages. They activated the signalling and transcription activating factor 1(STAT1) and cytokine signalling inhibitory factor 1/3 (SOCS1/3) pathways by increasing the expression of the phagocytic receptor Mertk. These findings indicated that tFNAs can alleviate sepsis‐induced intestinal injury by regulating M2 macrophages, providing a new option for treating intestinal injury.
Treaty changes for the better protection of EU values in the Member States
Authors: Bárd Petra , Kochenov Dimitry V. , Pech Laurent , Wouters Jan 
Published: January 2025

AbstractSafeguarding the rule of law, human rights and democratic legitimacy should indeed be non‐negotiable. This being said, the entire discussion over the core Europe and a wider circle of Member States would be redundant if there existed a shared respect for the rule of law and other values delineated in Article 2 TEU. Consequently, we place an emphasis on the need to prioritise rule of law enforcement over a multi‐speed Europe. We view the proposals we present from the EU's standpoint as instruments of robust rule of law enforcement and entrenchment, or tools of militant rule of law designed to safeguard the current functioning and long‐term existence of the European project – notwithstanding the fact that the procedures and legal principles we advocate for can also function as an external check on national governments, thus contributing to the reinforcement of values at both levels of governance.
Effectiveness of Conditioning Strategies in Improving Fish Fitness‐Related Traits
Authors: Zhang Zonghang , Ning Guihui , Tong Fei , Lin Wuhan , Shang Yangke , Peng Daomin , Liu Wenhua 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTAlthough conditioning strategies are widely used to increase fish post‐release adaptability in stock enhancement projects, their effectiveness has not been systematically evaluated. Using a global‐scale meta‐analysis, we demonstrate that three major conditioning strategies, including environmental enrichment, life skills training and release tactic, can significantly improve fish fitness‐related traits, with the fitness indicator and developmental stage being the most important moderators for interpreting the high heterogeneity among cases. The effect size of approximate fitness indicators was marginally lower than that of post‐release behavioural traits. Our findings indicate the necessity of conditioning procedures and highlight the need to enact context‐dependent strategies in practical conservation projects.
Distinct Effects of Olanzapine Depot Treatment on Behavior and Muscarinic M1 Receptor Expression in the Triple‐Hit Wisket Rat Model of Schizophrenia
Authors: Horvath Gyongyi , Ducza Eszter , Adlan Leatitia Gabriella , Büki Alexandra , Kekesi Gabriella 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to characterize the triple‐hit schizophrenia‐like model rats (Wisket) by the assessment of (1) behavioral parameters in different test conditions (reward‐based Ambitus test and HomeManner system) for a prolonged period, (2) cerebral muscarinic M1 receptor (M1R) expression, and (3) the effects of olanzapine treatment on these parameters. Wistar (control) and Wisket rats were injected for three consecutive weeks with olanzapine depot (100 mg/kg) and spent 4 weeks in large cages with environmental enrichment (HomeManner). The vehicle‐treated Wisket rats spent longer time awake with decreased grooming activity compared to controls, without changes in their active social behavior (sniffing, playing, fighting) obtained in HomeManner. Olanzapine treatment decreased most of these parameters, only the passive social interaction (huddling during sleeping) enhanced mostly in the Wisket rats on the injection day, which recovered within 4 days. In the Ambitus test, vehicle‐treated Wisket rats showed lower locomotor and exploratory activities and impaired cognition compared to control rats, deteriorating by olanzapine in both groups. In Wisket brain samples, the M1R mRNA expression was significantly lower in the cerebral cortex and elevated in the hippocampus, with no difference in the prefrontal cortex versus control. Olanzapine normalized the hippocampal M1R expression, but enhanced it in the prefrontal cortex. The triple‐hit Wisket model rats had impaired behavioral characteristics in both acute reward‐based test and undisturbed circumstances investigated for prolonged periods, and altered cerebral M1R expression. Chronic olanzapine treatment resulted deterioration of some parameters in control group, and could restore only few negative signs in model rats.
Do Women in Leadership Positions Affect Corporate Social Disclosures?
Authors: Arora Akshita , Aliani Khaoula , Alateeq Fatma 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTThe corporate social disclosures made by companies are gaining popularity on a global scale. Companies are either doing it out of disclosure obligations or to reduce information asymmetries and gain investors' confidence. The objective of our study is to examine whether women directors affect the disclosures of social information for a representative sample of Indian listed companies. Our sample includes top listed NSE‐100 non‐banking Indian companies. We measure women participation at the leadership level using the ratio of women at the board level and the Blau index. The social scores include indicators on human rights, community, workforce, and product responsibility and we test the impact of gender diversity on these indicators. Further, three categories of women directors have been created: (a) one woman director, (b) two women directors, and (c) three or more women directors to test their impact on social disclosures. We use the social disclosure scores for measuring the corporate social disclosures of the company. The research is quantitative and has been carried out by using dynamic panel models. The empirical results reveal that gender diversity has a positive impact on social disclosure of firms. Also, the contribution of women directors to social disclosure scores becomes effective only after reaching a critical mass. This study has significant implications for management and practitioners as it helps to determine the significance of women participation at leadership positions in order to improve policies for disseminating information of social nature.
Unveiling hidden leprosy in underserved populations of the Amazonas state through active case‐finding—the Amazon Skin Health Program (2023)
Authors: Grana Aline , Chirano Carlos Alberto , Talhari Sinesio , de Sousa Débora Raysa Teixeira , de Souza Lucia Tatiana Filgueiras , Leturiondo André Luiz , de Oliveira Ferreira Cynthia , da Silva Cruz Rossilene Conceição , Pedrosa Valderiza Lourenço , Miot Helio Amante , Talhari Carolina 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackgroundActive case‐finding is an effective strategy for combating leprosy, especially in early multibacillary cases in endemic regions. This early approach includes systematic actions such as epidemiological investigations, community surveys, and awareness campaigns to identify leprosy cases. This study reports new leprosy cases diagnosed through an active case‐finding initiative conducted in 12 underserved populations from Amazonas in 2023.MethodsThis is a cross‐sectional descriptive study focused on patients diagnosed with leprosy and other dermatological diseases during the multi‐professional Amazon Skin Health Program. Data collected for all suspected cases of leprosy encompassed epidemiological information, clinical details, slit skin smear test, histopathological examination, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.ResultsAmong 13,023 individuals examined, 69 (0.53%) new cases of leprosy were detected: 46.38% were characterized as paucibacillary and 53.62% as multibacillary. Regarding their age and neurologic involvement, 10.1% were detected in children under 15 years, and 20.9% had grade II disability. This effort accounted for an increase of 21.8% in the year‐based diagnoses of leprosy in the state of Amazonas.ConclusionsActive case‐finding can unveil hidden cases of leprosy in endemic areas, contributing to early detection to prevent neurological impairment and limit disease transmission. Additionally, the results advocate for targeted public health interventions, including the involvement of dermatologists in the diagnostic process and enhanced training for health professionals in differentiating leprosy from other cutaneous diseases.
Know Your ABCs: Discovery, Differentiation, and Targeting of T‐Bet+ B Cells
Authors: Winslow Gary M. , Levack Russell 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTSince their first description in 2008, T‐bet+ B cells have emerged as a clinically important B cell subset. Now commonly known as ABCs (Age‐associated B Cells), they are uniquely characterized by their expression of the transcription factor T‐bet. Indeed, this singular factor defines this B cell subset. This review will describe the discovery of T‐bet+ B cells, their role in bacterial infection as T cell‐independent (TI) plasmablasts, as well as long‐term follicular helper T cell‐dependent (TD) IgM+ and switched memory cells (i.e., T‐bet+ ABCs), and later discoveries of their role(s) in diverse immunological responses. These studies highlight a critical, although limited, role of T‐bet in IgG2a class switching, a function central to the cells' role in immunity and autoimmunity. Given their association with autoimmunity, pharmacological targeting is an attractive strategy for reducing or eliminating the B cells. T‐bet+ ABCs express a number of characteristic cell surface markers, including CD11c, CD11b, CD73, and the adenosine 2a receptor (A2aR). Accordingly, A2aR agonist administration effectively targeted T‐bet+ ABCs in vivo. Moreover, agonist treatment of lupus‐prone mice reduced autoantibodies and disease symptoms. This latter work highlights the potential therapeutic use of adenosine agonists for treating autoimmune diseases involving T‐bet+ ABCs.
Effect of Low‐Level Laser Acupuncture and Microcurrent Electrical Stimulation on Gag Reflex in Children During Dental Impression: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Salah Sara , Hafez Saswan , Baraka Marwa 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTBackgroundDental impressions are crucial in pediatric dentistry, but exaggerated gagging can obstruct this process. Various methods have been proposed to manage the gag reflex (GR).AimThis study aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of laser acupuncture and electroacupuncture in controlling children's GR.DesignA three‐armed randomized controlled trial was conducted with 63 patients aged 6–9, with excessive GR, scheduled for dental impressions. Participants were assigned to one of three groups: low‐level laser (n = 21), microcurrent stimulation with a Meridian pen (n = 21), and a control group with a deactivated pen (n = 21). Gag preventive index (GPI) was taken, and dental anxiety was assessed using the Facial Image Scale (FIS), pulse rate (PR), and blood oxygen saturation (SaO2). Significance was set at p < 0.05.ResultsAll interventions influenced GPI scores. The Meridian pen and laser groups achieved better GPI scores (p < 0.001) than the control group. FIS scores between the Meridian pen and laser groups were comparable, differing significantly from the control group (p < 0.001). The Meridian pen and laser groups showed greater reductions in PR (p < 0.001) and higher SaO2 post‐intervention (p < 0.001).ConclusionThe Meridian pen and laser outperformed the control group, demonstrating effectiveness in enhancing physiological and subjective measures.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06422286
Automatic visual detection of activated sludge microorganisms based on microscopic phase contrast image optimisation and deep learning
Authors: Liang Dan , Yao Yuming , Ye Minjie , Luo Qinze , Chu Jiale 
Published: January 2025

AbstractThe types and quantities of microorganisms in activated sludge are directly related to the stability and efficiency of sewage treatment systems. This paper proposes a sludge microorganism detection method based on microscopic phase contrast image optimisation and deep learning. Firstly, a dataset containing eight types of microorganisms is constructed, and an augmentation strategy based on single and multisamples processing is designed to address the issues of sample deficiency and uneven distribution. Secondly, a phase contrast image quality optimisation algorithm based on fused variance is proposed, which can effectively improve the standard deviation, entropy, and detection performance. Thirdly, a lightweight YOLOv8n‐SimAM model is designed, which introduces a SimAM attention module to suppress the complex background interference and enhance attentions to the target objects. The lightweight of the network is realised using a detection head based on multiscale information fusion convolutional module. In addition, a new loss function IW‐IoU is proposed to improve the generalisation ability and overall performance. Comparative and ablative experiments are conducted, demonstrating the great application potential for rapid and accurate detection of microbial targets. Compared to the baseline model, the proposed method improves the detection accuracy by 12.35% and hastens the running speed by 37.9 frames per second while evidently reducing the model size.
Periodontitis Exacerbates Colorectal Cancer by Altering Gut Microbiota–Derived Metabolomics in Mice
Authors: Wang Xiaoxue , Li Zhichao , Zhou Haiquan , Liu Qianyi , Zhang Xueyang , Hu Fei 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTAimThe correlation between periodontitis and colorectal cancer (CRC) has drawn widespread attention. However, how periodontitis affects CRC progression remains unclear.MethodsC57BL/6 mice were used to establish experimental periodontitis and CRC model. Histological alterations of periodontium and colon were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) was applied to evaluate alveolar bone loss (ABL). Tumor growth was detected by immunofluorescence. Gut bacteria were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was performed to observe the alterations of gut microbial metabolites. The detection of associated pathways was carried out using quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR).ResultsExperimental periodontitis significantly induced increases in tumor number in mice with CRC. Double immunofluorescence for Ki67 and β‐catenin, as well as Cyclin D1 and β‐catenin, indicated that experimental periodontitis observably promoted tumor growth. 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics analysis displayed that experimental periodontitis altered gut microbial community and metabolite profiles in CRC mice. Notably, we found that experimental periodontitis dramatically increased the level of three oncometabolites (serotonin, adenosine, and spermine) in mice with CRC.ConclusionAlterations of gut microbial community and metabolites might be relevant in experimental periodontitis deteriorating CRC.