bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Trends of Surgery, Patient, and Surgeon Characteristics for Corneal Transplants in the Medicare Population From 2011 to 2020
Authors: Webb Khala , Dun Chen , Dai Xi , Chen Ariel , Srikumaran Divya , Makary Martin A. , Woreta Fasika A. 
Published: January 2024

Purpose:
The aim of this study was to describe recent trends in corneal transplants and patient and surgeon characteristics for corneal transplants that occurred in the Medicare population.

Methods:
This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study using Current Procedural Terminology codes. We identified Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) claims for different types of corneal transplant procedures performed on Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years or older from 2011 to 2020. Number and types of corneal transplants performed each year and patient and surgeon demographics and characteristics were analyzed.

Results:
We analyzed 148,981 corneal transplants performed by 2972 surgeons within the study period. Most corneal transplants performed were endothelial keratoplasties (70.1%). Most patients were women (60.3%) and White (85.8%). 18.2% of patients lived in a rural area, whereas only 3.5% of transplants occurred in a rural area and 5% of surgeons practiced in a rural area. Male surgeons represented 77.8% of all surgeons and performed 84.9% of all corneal transplants in the study period. The proportion of corneal transplants performed by female surgeons gradually increased over time, from 12.1% in 2011 to 19.0% in 2020. The proportion of female surgeons also increased from 16.2% in 2011 to 23.8% in 2020. Most surgeons (67%) performed <6 corneal transplants per year.

Conclusions:
Although the number of female corneal transplant surgeons has increased over time, women remain underrepresented in the surgical workforce. Further investigation should be conducted to identify the underlying reason and address the identified disparities within the landscape of corneal transplantation.
Comparing outcomes of balloon-expandable vs. self-expandable valves in transcatheter aortic valve replacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Khan Qaisar Ali , Farrukh Ameer Mustafa , Belay Naod F. , Li David , Afzal Muhammad , Nadella Adithya , Semakieh Bader , Baqi Abdul , Robles Rodríguez Alondra M. , Biougnach Meryem 
Published: January 2024

Background:
Aortic stenosis (AS) is a common heart condition categorized into congenital and acquired forms. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an innovative method for AS management, and two valve types, self-expanding valves (SEV) and balloon-expandable valves (BEV), are used in TAVR. The objective of this study is to compare the clinical outcomes associated with balloon-expandable and self-expandable valves in transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Methods:
The researchers conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines and AMSTAR-2 tool. The methodology involved a systematic literature search, strict eligibility criteria, unbiased study selection, meticulous data extraction, quality assessment, and rigorous statistical analysis.

Results:
Our analysis included twenty-six papers and 26 553 patients. BEV exhibited significant advantages over SEV in overall mortality across 21 studies, particularly in perioperative and 30-day assessments. However, no substantial disparities emerged between the two valve types in stroke incidence. BEV demonstrated notable benefits in reducing hospitalization rates across 6 studies and significantly fewer instances of permanent pacemaker implantations across 19 studies, particularly evident in the perioperative setting. Other secondary outcomes like bleeding, acute kidney injury, and myocardial infarction showcased non-significant differences between BEV and SEV.

Conclusion:
The analysis indicates that BEV may offer benefits in specific aspects of TAVR outcomes, but further research is needed to fully understand the factors influencing patient outcomes and mortality in TAVR procedures.
Comparison of 18F-FDG and 18F-FAPI PET/CT Findings of Signet-Ring Cell Carcinoma of the Stomach
Authors: Zhao Meixin , Zhang Annan , Zu Ming , Ma Yanpeng , Ding Shigang , Zhang Weifang 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
A 66-year-old man with gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma underwent both 18F-FDG and 18FAl-NOTA-FAPI PET/CT imaging. There was no abnormal FDG activity in the stomach, but there was diffuse intense 18FAl-NOTA-FAPI uptake in the known lesion and an adjacent metastasis.
Elevated 68Ga-FAPI Activity in Leiomyosarcoma
Authors: Wang Qixin , Zhou Yue , Chen XiaoLiang 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Leiomyosarcoma is an aggressive subtype of soft tissue sarcoma with frequent metastatic relapse after curative surgery. Herein, we report the 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT findings in a 45-year-old woman with leiomyosarcoma. 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT detected increased FAPI uptake in abdominal leiomyosarcoma and liver metastases. The positive findings of 68Ga-FAPI in this case highlighted that 68Ga-FAPI may have potential value in the evaluation of leiomyosarcoma.
Hemochromatosis Affects the Distribution of 68Ga-DOTATATE in the Liver and Spleen
Authors: Zhang Zeyu , Li Junhao , Zuo Changjing , Cheng Chao 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Hemosiderosis is a chronic condition characterized by abnormal iron accumulation in tissues. In a PET scan of a 37-year-old woman, we observed an irregular distribution of 68Ga-DOTATATE in the liver and spleen. Specifically, 68Ga-DOTATATE appeared to be concentrated primarily in the peripheral regions of these organs, creating a distinctive “shell-like” appearance. This peculiar pattern may be attributed to the substantial accumulation of hemosiderin in the liver and spleen.
The Potential Utility of 18F-FDG PET/CT in Monitoring Corticosteroid Therapy in Inflammatory Pseudotumor
Authors: Sicilia Pozo María de las Nieves , García Zoghby Laura , López de la Osa García Aquilino , Sotillo Sánchez Ricardo , Poblete García Víctor Manuel 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
A 69-year-old man with suspected gastrointestinal stromal tumor was referred to 18F-FDG PET/CT. Images showed increased metabolism in a jejunal wall thickening, 2 liver lesions, and hepatic lymph nodes. The patient underwent wedge biopsy of the liver, which revealed inflammatory pseudotumor. The patient was treated with 20 mg/d prednisone, with a gradual dose reduction. A partial metabolic response was achieved after 2 months of therapy, and a final PET/CT showed complete metabolic response after 9 months. This clinical case shows the potential role of PET/CT in the assessment of the response of the inflammatory pseudotumor to corticosteroid therapy.
Urinary Endometriosis Misdiagnosed as Ureteral Malignant Tumor by PET/CT
Authors: Zhu Hao-Yu , Cheng You , Wang Si-Yun , Shao Dan 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory estrogen-dependent benign disease. It is defined as the endometrium growing outside the uterine cavity and the myometrium. It usually has low FDG uptake but rarely occurs in the ureters. We reported a case of a 47-year-old woman’s left ureteral nodule originally misdiagnosed as a ureteral malignant tumor by PET/CT and finally pathologically confirmed as endometriosis.
Gallbladder’s Adenocarcinoma With Enteroblastic Differentiation Revealed by 18F-FDG PET/CT
Authors: Cui Yan , Liu Yi , Du Bulin , Li Yaming , Li Xuena 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Gallbladder’s adenocarcinoma with enteroblastic differentiation (GAED) is extremely rare. A 43-year-old woman complained of pain in the right upper abdomen, and enhanced CT showed a cystic and solid mixed mass in the hepatic hilar region. Adenocarcinoma with enteroblastic differentiation was pathologically identified. 18F-FDG PET/CT revealed a lesion in the gallbladder neck with increased FDG uptake, accompanied by a cystic and solid mixed mass in the hepatic hilar region with liver and lymph node metastases. Gallbladder biopsy was also carried out, and GAED was confirmed. 18F-FDG PET/CT may assist in the evaluation of GAED and guide biopsy.
A Generalized Higher-order Correlation Analysis Framework for Multi-Omics Network Inference
Authors: Liu Weixuan , Pratte Katherine A. , Castaldi Peter J. , Hersh Craig , Bowler Russell P. , Banaei-Kashani Farnoush , Kechris Katerina J. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractMultiple -omics (genomics, proteomics, etc.) profiles are commonly generated to gain insight into a disease or physiological system. Constructing multi-omics networks with respect to the trait(s) of interest provides an opportunity to understand relationships between molecular features but integration is challenging due to multiple data sets with high dimensionality. One approach is to use canonical correlation to integrate one or two omics types and a single trait of interest. However, these types of methods may be limited due to (1) not accounting for higher-order correlations existing among features, (2) computational inefficiency when extending to more than two omics data when using a penalty term-based sparsity method, and (3) lack of flexibility for focusing on specific correlations (e.g., omics-to-phenotype correlation versus omics-to-omics correlations). In this work, we have developed a novel multi-omics network analysis pipeline called Sparse Generalized Tensor Canonical Correlation Analysis Network Inference (SGTCCA-Net) that can effectively overcome these limitations. We also introduce an implementation to improve the summarization of networks for downstream analyses. Simulation and real-data experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our novel method for inferring omics networks and features of interest.Author summaryMulti-omics network inference is crucial for identifying disease-specific molecular interactions across various molecular profiles, which helps understand the biological processes related to disease etiology. Traditional multi-omics integration methods focus mainly on pairwise interactions by only considering two molecular profiles at a time. This approach overlooks the complex, higher-order correlations often present in multi-omics data, especially when analyzing more than two types of -omics data and phenotypes. Higher-order correlation, by definition, refers to the simultaneous relationships among more than two types of -omics data and phenotype, providing a more complex and complete understanding of the interactions in biological systems. Our research introduces Sparse Generalized Tensor Canonical Correlation Network Analysis (SGTCCA-Net), a novel framework that effectively utilizes both higher-order and lower-order correlations for multi-omics network inference. SGTCCA-Net is adaptable for exploring diverse correlation structures within multi-omics data and is able to construct complex multi-omics networks in a two-dimensional space. This method offers a comprehensive view of molecular feature interactions with respect to complex diseases. Our simulation studies and real data experiments validate SGTCCA-Net as a potent tool for biomarker identification and uncovering biological mechanisms associated with targeted diseases.
Phylogenetic and biogeographic history of the Snooks (Centropomidae: Carangiformes) spanning the closure of the Isthmus of Panama
Authors: Ossa-Hernández Natalia , Ballen Gustavo A. , Acero P. Arturo , Tavera Jose 
Published: January 2024

AbstractAmphiamerican New World fishes provide a unique opportunity to explore the impact of geological processes and the formation of geographic barriers on biological diversification across both spatial and temporal dimensions. We employed phylogenetic and biogeographic methods to assess the impact of the emergence of the isthmus of Panama on the evolutionary history of Snooks. Bayesian methods were used for phylogenetic inference and divergence time estimation, incorporating the fossil record of Carangidae, Centropomidae, Istiophoriformes, Latidae, and Sphyraenidae to establish a timeline using methods of stratigraphic intervals. Biogeographic models were explored to test the hypothesis that trans-Isthmian vicariant events are coeval with the Isthmus closure. Our results suggest a sister relationship between Centropomidae and Sphyraenidae with a common ancestor that originated in the Upper Cretaceous (∼78.18 Ma). The biogeographic model DEC+jindicated within-area speciation and dispersal (founder effect) as the primary modes of speciation in the generaCentropomus,Lates,andSphyraena. The dispersion in the family Centropomidae was estimated from the Tropical Eastern Pacific to the Tropical Western Atlantic during the emergence of the isthmus of Panama. The alignment of divergence times with ancestral species distributions suggests a possible synchrony between the current distribution inCentropomusspecies and the gradual processes involved in the formation of the Isthmus of Panama during the Miocene. Furthermore, recent speciation events within each basin imply an influence of post-closure environmental conditions on the evolution of this group of fishes.
Measuring CO2assimilation ofArabidopsis thalianawhole plants and seedlings
Authors: Brazel Ailbhe J. , Turck Franziska , Ó’Maoiléidigh Diarmuid S. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractPhotosynthesis is an essential process in plants that synthesizes sugars used for growth and development, highlighting the importance of establishing robust methods to monitor photosynthetic activity. Infrared gas analysis (IRGA) can be used to track photosynthetic rates by measuring the CO2assimilation/release from a plant. Although much progress has been made in the development of IRGA technologies, challenges remain when using this technique on small herbaceous plants such asArabidopsis thaliana. The use of whole plant chambers can overcome the difficulties associated with applying bulky leaf clamps to small delicate leaves, however this introduces the risk of soil-based microorganisms skewing gas exchange measurements. Here, we present a simple method to efficiently perform IRGA onA. thalianaplants using a whole plant chamber that removes soil-borne effects from the measurements. We show that this method can be used to detect subtle changes in photosynthetic rates measured at different times of day, under different growth conditions, and between wild-type and plants with deficiencies in the photosynthetic machinery. Furthermore, we show that this method can be used to detect changes in photosynthetic rates even at very young developmental stages such as 10 d-old seedlings. This method contributes to the array of techniques currently used to perform IRGA onA. thalianaand can allow for the monitoring of photosynthetic rates of whole plants from young ages.
The eyes have it: Inter-subject correlations of pupillary responses for audience response measurement in VR
Authors: Schmälzle Ralf , Wu Juncheng , Lim Sue , Bente Gary 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe eye is the vanguard of the reception process, constituting the point where visual information arrives and is transformed into neural signals. While we view dynamic media contents, a fine-tuned interplay of mechanisms causes our pupils to dilate and constrict over time - and putatively similarly across audience members exposed to the same messages. Research that once pioneered pupillometry did actually use dynamic media as stimuli, but this trend then stalled, and pupillometry remained underdeveloped in the study of naturalistic media stimuli. Here, we introduce a VR-based approach to capture audience members’ pupillary responses during media consumption and suggest an innovative analytic framework. Specifically, we expose audiences to a set of 30 different video messages and compute the cross-receiver similarity of pupillometric responses. Based on this data, we identify the specific video an individual is watching. Our results show that this ‘pupil-pulse-tracking’ enables highly accurate decoding of video identity. Moreover, we demonstrate that the decoding is relatively robust to manipulations of video size and distractor presence. Finally, we examine the relationship between pupillary responses and subsequent memory. Theoretical implications for objectively quantifying exposure and states of audience engagement are discussed. Practically, we anticipate that this pupillary audience response measurement approach could find application in media measurement across contexts, ranging from traditional screen-based media (commercials, movies) to social media (e.g., TikTok and YouTube), and to next-generation virtual media environments (e.g., Metaverse, gaming).
Computational approach for decoding Malaria Drug Targets from Single-Cell Transcriptomics and finding potential drug molecule
Authors: Choudhuri Soham , Ghosh Bhaswar 
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACTMalaria is a deadly disease caused byPlasmodiumparasites. While potent drugs are available in the market for malaria treatment, over the years,Plasmodiumparasites have successfully developed resistance against many, if not all, front-line drugs. This poses a serious threat to global malaria eradication efforts, and the continued discovery of new drugs is necessary to tackle this debilitating disease. With the advent of recent unprecedented progress in machine learning techniques, single-cell transcriptomic inPlasmodiumoffers a powerful tool for identifying crucial proteins as a drug target and subsequent computational prediction of potential drugs. In this study, We have implemented a mutual-information-based feature reduction algorithm with a classification algorithm to select important proteins from transcriptomic datasets (sexual and asexual stages) forPlasmodium falciparumand then constructed the protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of the proteins. The analysis of this PPI network revealed key proteins vital for the survival ofPlasmodium falciparum. Based on the function and identification of a few strong binding sites on a couple of these key proteins, we computationally predicted a set of potential drug molecules using a deep learning-based technique. Lead drug molecules that satisfy ADMET and drug-likeliness properties are finally reported out of the generated drugs. The study offers a general computational pipeline to identify crucial proteins using scRNA-seq data sets and further development of potential new drugs.
Does diet quality moderate the long-term effects of discrete but extreme PM2.5exposure on respiratory symptoms? A study of the Hazelwood coalmine fire
Authors: Govindaraju Thara , Man Martin , Owen Alice J , Carroll Matthew , Borg Brigitte M. , Smith Catherine L , Gao Caroline X , Brown David , Poland David , Allgood Shantelle , Ikin Jillian F , Abramson Michael J , McCaffrey Tracy A , Lane Tyler J 
Published: January 2024

AbstractIn 2014, a fire at an open cut coalmine in regional Victoria, Australia burned for 6 weeks. Residents of the nearby town of Morwell were exposed to smoke, which included high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5). We investigated whether the long-term effects of PM2.5on respiratory health were moderated by diet quality. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted of data collected 8.5 years after the mine fire from 282 residents of Morwell and 166 residents from the nearby unexposed town of Sale. Primary outcomes were respiratory symptoms. Exposure was coalmine fire-related PM2.5and diet quality was assessed with the Australian Eating Survey (AES). The moderating effect of diet quality on respiratory outcomes associated with PM2.5was assessed using logistic regression models, adjusting for potential confounders. Diet quality was poor in this sample, with 60% in the lowest category of overall diet quality. Overall diet quality and fruit and vegetable quality significantly attenuated the association between PM2.5and prevalence of chronic cough and phlegm. Sauce/condiment intake was associated with a greater effect of PM2.5on COPD prevalence. No other moderating effects were significant. The moderating effects of overall diet quality and vegetable and fruit intake aligned witha priorihypothesis, suggesting potential protective benefits. Considering the poor-quality diet in this community, we would encourage better eating habits including improving the fruit and vegetable intake.HighlightsFire-related PM2.5associated with higher prevalence of chronic cough and phlegmHowever, these effects were smaller with a higher-quality dietIn line witha priorihypotheses, effect only observed among antioxidant-rich foods
Smad4is essential for epiblast scaling and morphogenesis after implantation, but nonessential prior to implantation in the mouse
Authors: Kruger Robin E. , Frum Tristan , Brumm A. Sophie , Hickey Stephanie L. , Niakan Kathy K. , Aziz Farina , Shammami Marcelio A. , Roberts Jada G. , Ralston Amy 
Published: January 2024

AbstractBone Morphogenic Protein (BMP) signaling plays an essential and highly conserved role in axial patterning in embryos of many externally developing animal species. However, in mammalian embryos, which develop inside the mother, early development includes an additional stage known as preimplantation. During preimplantation, the epiblast lineage is segregated from the extraembryonic lineages that enable implantation and developmentin utero. Yet, the requirement for BMP signaling in mouse preimplantation is imprecisely defined. We show that, in contrast to prior reports, BMP signaling (as reported by SMAD1/5/9 phosphorylation) is not detectable until implantation, when it is detected in the primitive endoderm – an extraembryonic lineage. Moreover, preimplantation development appears normal following deletion of maternal and zygoticSmad4,an essential effector of BMP signaling. In fact, mice lacking maternalSmad4are viable. Finally, we uncover a new requirement for zygoticSmad4in epiblast scaling and cavitation immediately after implantation, via a mechanism involving FGFR/ERK attenuation. Altogether, our results demonstrate no role for BMP4/SMAD4 in the first lineage decisions during mouse development. Rather, multi-pathway signaling among embryonic and extraembryonic cell types drives epiblast morphogenesis post-implantation.Summary StatementGene expression, gene deletion, and pathway visualization evidence show thatSmad4-dependent signaling is first active after mouse embryo implantation, when it promotes epiblast morphogenesis non-cell autonomously.
VEGF counteracts shear stress-determined arterial fate specification during capillary remodeling
Authors: Chen Dongying , Rukhlenko Oleksii S. , Coon Brian G. , Joshi Divyesh , Chakraborty Raja , Martin Kathleen A. , Kholodenko Boris N. , Schwartz Martin A. , Simons Michael 
Published: January 2024

AbstractA key feature of arteriogenesis is capillary-to-arterial endothelial cell fate transition. Although a number of studies in the past two decades suggested this process is driven by VEGF activation of Notch signaling, how arteriogenesis is regulated remains poorly understood. Here we report that arterial specification is mediated by fluid shear stress (FSS) independent of VEGFR2 signaling and that a decline in VEGFR2 signaling is required for arteriogenesis to fully take place. VEGF does not induce arterial fate in capillary ECs and, instead, counteracts FSS-driven capillary-to-arterial cell fate transition. Mechanistically, FSS-driven arterial program involves both Notch-dependent and Notch-independent events. Sox17 is the key mediator of the FSS-induced arterial specification and a target of VEGF-FSS competition. These findings suggest a new paradigm of VEGF-FSS crosstalk coordinating angiogenesis, arteriogenesis and capillary maintenance.