bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic accuracy of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for suspected primary and postoperative pyogenic spondylitis
Authors: Zhang Qingyu , Feng Haotian , Li Jianmin , Feng Rongjie 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Objective
Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) and PET/CT have been suggested for confirming or excluding musculoskeletal infection but the diagnostic value of this tool for pyogenic spondylitis remains to be confirmed. This meta-analysis was performed to verify the accuracy of 18F-FDG PET and PET/CT in diagnosing suspected pyogenic spondylitis by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods
We conducted a comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library to retrieve diagnostic accuracy studies in which suspected pyogenic spondylitis was assessed with 18F-FDG PET or PET/CT. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), summarized receiver operating characteristic curve (sROC) and the area under the sROC (AUC) were calculated by using Stata software.

Results
A total of 18 eligible studies (660 patients) with suspected pyogenic spondylitis were included in the quantitative analysis. 18F-FDG PET and PET/CT illustrated relatively high sensitivity (0.91, 95% CI: 0.84–0.95) and specificity (0.90, 95% CI: 0.79–0.95) for the diagnosis of pyogenic spondylitis. The pooled DOR and AUC were 86.00 (95% CI, 31.00–240.00) and 0.96 (95% CI, 0.94–0.97), respectively. For diagnosing pyogenic spondylitis without previous spine surgery, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, DOR and AUC were 0.93 (95% CI, 0.85–0.97), 0.91 (95% CI, 0.77–0.97), 136 (95% CI, 35–530) and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.95–0.98), respectively. For diagnosing postoperative pyogenic spondylitis, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, DOR and AUC were 0.85 (95% CI, 0.71 to 0.93), 0.87 (95% CI, 0.66 to 0.96), 38 (95% CI, 9 to 167) and 0.92 (95% CI, 0.89 to 0.94), respectively.

Conclusion
18F-FDG PET and PET/CT presented satisfactory accuracy for diagnosing pyogenic spondylitis. The diagnostic effect of this nuclear imaging method for pyogenic spondylitis without previous spine surgery seems to be better than that for the postoperative ones. However, whether 18F-FDG PET and PET/CT could become a routine in patients with suspected pyogenic spondylitis remains to be confirmed.

Level of evidence
Level I evidence, a summary of meta-analysis.
High risk of elevated metal concentrations with 9/10-mm stem trunnions and highly cross-linked polyethylene grafted with poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) in total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Kobayashi Kyosuke , Kidera Kenichi , Shiraishi Kazuteru , Okazaki Narihiro , Chiba Ko , Yonekura Akihiko , Osaki Makoto 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background
The risks of metal release due to fretting and corrosion at the head–neck junction and consequent adverse local tissue reaction (ALTR) have concerns in metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) total hip arthroplasty (THA). Although trunnions have become thinner in diameter to increase the range of motion, it has remained unclear whether this change affects metal release and ALTR in vivo. This study aimed to investigate serum metal concentrations and the prevalence of ALTR in MoP THA with a 9/10-mm stem trunnion.

Patients and methods
A consecutive series of 37 hips that underwent THA using MoP grafted with poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) with a 9/10-mm trunnion stem were retrospectively reviewed. Serum metal levels were assessed and compared with those in MoP THA with a 10/12-mm trunnion stem. ALTR was diagnosed with serum metal levels and cross-sectional images. The factors associated with serum metal levels were also assessed.

Results
The median serum cobalt and chromium levels were 1.5 μg/L and 1.0 μg/L in the 9/10-mm group and 0.2 μg/L and 0.4 μg/L in the 10/12-mm group, respectively. ALTR was found in 5 hips of 3 patients. Revision surgery was performed in 4 hips, and all stem trunnions and femoral heads showed severe corrosion. Postoperative walking ability was associated with serum metal levels.

Conclusion
It was found that a 9/10-mm stem trunnion with MoP grafted with PMPC had high risks of metal release in primary THA. Careful follow-up and cross-sectional imaging are needed to detect ALTR for early revision.
The effect of polyglycolic acid sheet in preventing postoperative recurrent pneumothorax: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Kabuto Takafumi , Omasa Mitsugu , Nagata Shunichi , Tokushige Kosuke , Adachi Taishi , Nakanishi Takao , Motoyama Hideki 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background
Primary spontaneous pneumothorax occasionally relapses, even after bullectomy; therefore, coverage of the bullectomy staple line for pleural reinforcement is common in Japan. However, the appropriate covering materials have not yet been determined.

Methods
This was a longitudinal prospective cohort study. Data were available for patients aged < 40 years with primary spontaneous pneumothorax who underwent their first thoracoscopic bullectomy between July 2015 and June 2021. We used oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) sheets from July 2015 to June 2018, and polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheets from July 2018 to June 2021. The postoperative recurrence-free survival rate was evaluated. The characteristics of the recurrent cases (radiographic, intraoperative, and pathological findings) were also evaluated. The extent of pleural adhesions was classified into the following three groups: none, medium, or extensive.

Results
A total of 187 patients were included in the study. There were 92 and 95 participants in the ORC and PGA sheet groups, respectively. The postoperative recurrence-free survival rates were significantly higher in the PGA sheet group than in the ORC sheet group (ORC group vs. PGA group, 82.9% vs. 95.4%, p = 0.031). In recurrent cases, there was a significant difference in terms of pleural adhesion (0.0% [12 of 12, none] vs. 100.0% [four of four, extensive], p < 0.001).

Conclusions
Compared with ORC sheets, PGA sheets are an effective material for preventing early recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Strong local pleural adhesions potentially contribute to decreasing recurrence.
Investigation of two metabolic engineering approaches for (R,R)-2,3-butanediol production from glycerol in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Vikromvarasiri Nunthaphan , Noda Shuhei , Shirai Tomokazu , Kondo Akihiko 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background
Flux Balance Analysis (FBA) is a well-known bioinformatics tool for metabolic engineering design. Previously, we have successfully used single-level FBA to design metabolic fluxes in Bacillus subtilis to enhance (R,R)-2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD) production from glycerol. OptKnock is another powerful technique for devising gene deletion strategies to maximize microbial growth coupling with improved biochemical production. It has never been used in B. subtilis. In this study, we aimed to compare the use of single-level FBA and OptKnock for designing enhanced 2,3-BD production from glycerol in B. subtilis.

Results
Single-level FBA and OptKnock were used to design metabolic engineering approaches for B. subtilis to enhance 2,3-BD production from glycerol. Single-level FBA indicated that deletion of ackA, pta, lctE, and mmgA would improve the production of 2,3-BD from glycerol, while OptKnock simulation suggested the deletion of ackA, pta, mmgA, and zwf. Consequently, strains LM01 (single-level FBA-based) and MZ02 (OptKnock-based) were constructed, and their capacity to produce 2,3-BD from glycerol was investigated. The deletion of multiple genes did not negatively affect strain growth and glycerol utilization. The highest 2,3-BD production was detected in strain LM01. Strain MZ02 produced 2,3-BD at a similar level as the wild type, indicating that the OptKnock prediction was erroneous. Two-step FBA was performed to examine the reason for the erroneous OptKnock prediction. Interestingly, we newly found that zwf gene deletion in strain MZ02 improved lactate production, which has never been reported to date. The predictions of single-level FBA for strain MZ02 were in line with experimental findings.

Conclusions
We showed that single-level FBA is an effective approach for metabolic design and manipulation to enhance 2,3-BD production from glycerol in B. subtilis. Further, while this approach predicted the phenotypes of generated strains with high precision, OptKnock prediction was not accurate. We suggest that OptKnock modelling predictions be evaluated by using single-level FBA to ensure the accuracy of metabolic pathway design. Furthermore, the zwf gene knockout resulted in the change of metabolic fluxes to enhance the lactate productivity.
Downregulation of Linc00173 increases BCL2 mRNA stability via the miR-1275/PROCA1/ZFP36L2 axis and induces acquired cisplatin resistance of lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Tao Xingyu , Li Yang , Fan Songqing , Wu Liyang , Xin Jianyang , Su Yun , Xian Xiaoyang , Huang Yingying , Huang Rongquan , Fang Weiyi , Liu Zhen 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background
LINC00173 had been reported as a cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, DDP) chemotherapy-resistant inducer in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). This study aimed to display reverse data for LINC00173 as a DDP chemosensitivity-inducing factor in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Methods
LINC00173 was screened from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE43493). The expression level of LINC00173 in LUAD tissues and cell lines was detected using in situ hybridization and quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. Colony formation, cell viability, half-maximal inhibitory concentration, flow cytometry, and xenograft mouse model were used to evaluate the role of LINC00173 in the chemosensitivity of LUAD to DDP. The mechanism of LINC00173 in DDP resistance by mediating miR-1275/PROCA1/ZFP36L2 axis to impair BCL2 mRNA stability was applied, and co-immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, RNA antisense purification, RNA immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter assays were performed.

Results
LINC00173 downregulation in patients with DDP-resistant LUAD was correlated with poor prognosis. Further, LINC00173 expression was significantly reduced in DDP-resistant LUAD cells and DDP-treated human LUAD tissues. Suppressed LINC00173 expression in LUAD cells enhanced DDP chemoresistance in vivo and in vitro, while restored LINC00173 expression in DDP-resistant LUAD cells markedly regained chemosensitivity to DDP. Mechanistically, DDP-resistant LUAD cells activated PI3K/AKT signal and further elevated the c-Myc expression. The c-Myc, as an oncogenic transcriptional factor, bound to the promoter of LINC00173 and suppressed its expression. The reduced LINC00173 expression attenuated the adsorption of oncogenic miR-1275, downregulating the expression of miR-1275 target gene PROCA1. PROCA1 played a potential tumor-suppressive role inducing cell apoptosis and DDP chemosensitivity via recruiting ZFP36L2 to bind to the 3′ untranslated region of BCL2, reducing the stability of BCL2 mRNA and thus activating the apoptotic signal.

Conclusions
This study demonstrated a novel and critical role of LINC00173. It was transcriptionally repressed by DDP-activated PI3K/AKT/c-Myc signal in LUAD, promoting DDP-acquired chemotherapeutic resistance by regulating miR-1275 to suppress PROCA1/ZFP36L2-induced BCL2 degradation, which led to apoptotic signal reduction. These data were not consistent with the previously described role of LINC00173 in SCLC or LUSC, which suggested that LINC00173 could play fine-tuned DDP resistance roles in different pathological subtypes of lung cancer. This study demonstrated that the diminished expression of LINC00173 might serve as an indicator of DDP-acquired resistance in LUAD.
Co-occurrence probabilities between mosquito vectors of West Nile and Eastern equine encephalitis viruses using Markov Random Fields (MRFcov)
Authors: Sallam Mohamed F. , Whitehead Shelley , Barve Narayani , Bauer Amely , Guralnick Robert , Allen Julie , Tavares Yasmin , Gibson Seth , Linthicum Kenneth J. , Giordano Bryan V. , Campbell Lindsay P. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractMosquito vectors of eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) and West Nile virus (WNV) in the USA reside within broad multi-species assemblages that vary in spatial and temporal composition, relative abundances and vector competence. These variations impact the risk of pathogen transmission and the operational management of these species by local public health vector control districts. However, most models of mosquito vector dynamics focus on single species and do not account for co-occurrence probabilities between mosquito species pairs across environmental gradients. In this investigation, we use for the first time conditional Markov Random Fields (CRF) to evaluate spatial co-occurrence patterns between host-seeking mosquito vectors of EEEV and WNV around sampling sites in Manatee County, Florida. Specifically, we aimed to: (i) quantify correlations between mosquito vector species and other mosquito species; (ii) quantify correlations between mosquito vectors and landscape and climate variables; and (iii) investigate whether the strength of correlations between species pairs are conditional on landscape or climate variables. We hypothesized that either mosquito species pairs co-occur in patterns driven by the landscape and/or climate variables, or these vector species pairs are unconditionally dependent on each other regardless of the environmental variables. Our results indicated that landscape and bioclimatic covariates did not substantially improve the overall model performance and that the log abundances of the majority of WNV and EEEV vector species were positively dependent on other vector and non-vector mosquito species, unconditionally. Only five individual mosquito vectors were weakly dependent on environmental variables with one exception, Culiseta melanura, the primary vector for EEEV, which showed a strong correlation with woody wetland, precipitation seasonality and average temperature of driest quarter. Our analyses showed that majority of the studied mosquito species’ abundance and distribution are insignificantly better predicted by the biotic correlations than by environmental variables. Additionally, these mosquito vector species may be habitat generalists, as indicated by the unconditional correlation matrices between species pairs, which could have confounded our analysis, but also indicated that the approach could be operationalized to leverage species co-occurrences as indicators of vector abundances in unsampled areas, or under scenarios where environmental variables are not informative.
Graphical Abstract
Single-cell transcriptomics reveals a mechanosensitive injury signaling pathway in early diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Liu Shuya , Zhao Yu , Lu Shun , Zhang Tianran , Lindenmeyer Maja T. , Nair Viji , Gies Sydney E. , Wu Guochao , Nelson Robert G. , Czogalla Jan , Aypek Hande , Zielinski Stephanie , Liao Zhouning , Schaper Melanie , Fermin Damian , Cohen Clemens D. , Delic Denis , Krebs Christian F. , Grahammer Florian , Wiech Thorsten , Kretzler Matthias , Meyer-Schwesinger Catherine , Bonn Stefan , Huber Tobias B. 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease, and histopathologic glomerular lesions are among the earliest structural alterations of DN. However, the signaling pathways that initiate these glomerular alterations are incompletely understood.

Methods
To delineate the cellular and molecular basis for DN initiation, we performed single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing of renal cells from type 2 diabetes mice (BTBR ob/ob) at the early stage of DN.

Results
Analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed glucose-independent responses in glomerular cell types. The gene regulatory network upstream of glomerular cell programs suggested the activation of mechanosensitive transcriptional pathway MRTF-SRF predominantly taking place in mesangial cells. Importantly, activation of MRTF-SRF transcriptional pathway was also identified in DN glomeruli in independent patient cohort datasets. Furthermore, ex vivo kidney perfusion suggested that the regulation of MRTF-SRF is a common mechanism in response to glomerular hyperfiltration.

Conclusions
Overall, our study presents a comprehensive single-cell transcriptomic landscape of early DN, highlighting mechanosensitive signaling pathways as novel targets of diabetic glomerulopathy.
Fasciola hepatica primoinfections and reinfections in sheep drive distinct Th1/Th2/Treg immune responses in liver and hepatic lymph node at early and late stages
Authors: Ruiz-Campillo María Teresa , Barrero-Torres Diana María , Abril Nieves , Pérez José , Zafra Rafael , Buffoni Leandro , Martínez-Moreno Álvaro , Martínez-Moreno Francisco Javier , Molina-Hernández Verónica 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe expression of proinflammatory (IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α) and regulatory (IL-10, TGF-β, IL-4) cytokines, as well as the transcription factor FoxP3, was quantified in the liver and hepatic lymph node (HLN) of sheep primoinfected and reinfected with Fasciola hepatica at early (4, 8 and 16 days post-infection [dpi]) and late (100 dpi) stages. The liver exerted a Th2 immune response at very early stages after the primoinfection with F. hepatica that induced the downregulation of IFN-γ, followed by a Th1/Th2/Treg response although the late stages were characterised by the expression of Th1/Th2 immune mediators. Contrarily, in reinfected sheep a robust mixed Th1/Th2/Treg immune response was found at very early stages meanwhile at late stages we observed a Th2/Treg immune response overcoming the expression of Th1 immune mediators. However, the HLN displayed a completely different Th1/Th2/Treg expression profile compared to the liver. Primoinfections with F. hepatica in HLN induced a mixed Th1/Th2/Treg environment from early stages, establishing a Th2 immune response at a late stage. However, the reinfected sheep exerted a Th2 immune response at early stages led by the IL-4 expression in opposition to the Th1/Th2/Treg found in the liver, meanwhile at late stages the HLN of reinfected sheep exerted a mixed Th1/Th2/Treg immune response. This is the first work publishing the expression of immune mediators in the liver and HLN from reinfected sheep with F. hepatica. The study of the immune responses exerted by the natural host in the target organs directly implied in the development of F. hepatica are crucial to better understand the immunopathogenesis of the fasciolosis being a key factor to develop effective vaccines.
Nonlinear dynamics in Divisia monetary aggregates: an application of recurrence quantification analysis
Authors: Andreadis Ioannis , Fragkou Athanasios D. , Karakasidis Theodoros E. , Serletis Apostolos 
Published: January 2023

AbstractWe construct recurrence plots (RPs) and conduct recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) to investigate the dynamic properties of the new Center for Financial Stability (CFS) Divisia monetary aggregates for the United States. In this study, we use the latest vintage of Divisia aggregates, maintained within CFS. We use monthly data, from January 1967 to December 2020, which is a sample period that includes the extreme economic events of the 2007–2009 global financial crisis. We then make comparisons between narrow and broad Divisia money measures and find evidence of a nonlinear but reserved possible chaotic explanation of their origin. The application of RPs to broad Divisia monetary aggregates encompasses an additional drift structure around the global financial crisis in 2008. Applying the moving window RQA to the growth rates of narrow and broad Divisia monetary aggregates, we identify periods of changes in data-generating processes and associate such changes to monetary policy regimes and financial innovations that occurred during those times.
An early warning system to identify and intervene online dropout learners
Authors: Bañeres David , Rodríguez-González M. Elena , Guerrero-Roldán Ana-Elena , Cortadas Pau 
Published: January 2023

AbstractDropout is one of the major problems online higher education faces. Early identification of the dropout risk level and an intervention mechanism to revert the potential risk have been proved as the key answers to solving the challenge. Predictive modeling has been extensively studied on course dropout. However, intervention practices are scarce, sometimes mixed with mechanisms focused on course failure, and commonly focused on limited interventions driven mainly by teachers' experience. This work contributes with a novel approach for identifying course dropout based on a dynamic time interval and intervening, focusing on avoiding dropout at the assessable activity level. Moreover, the system can recommend the best interval for a course and assessable activity based on artificial intelligence techniques to help teachers in this challenging task. The system has been tested on a fully online first-year course with 581 participants from 957 enrolled learners of different degrees from the Faculty of Economics and Business at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya. Results confirm that interventions aimed at goal setting on the ongoing assessable activity significantly reduce dropout issues and increase engagement within the course. Additionally, the work explores the differences between identification mechanisms for course dropout and failure aiming to distinguish them as different problems that learners may face.
Age influences the temporal dynamics of microbiome and antimicrobial resistance genes among fecal bacteria in a cohort of production pigs
Authors: Gaire Tara N. , Scott H. Morgan , Noyes Noelle R. , Ericsson Aaron C. , Tokach Michael D. , Menegat Mariana B. , Vinasco Javier , Roenne Boyd , Ray Tui , Nagaraja T. G. , Volkova Victoriya V. 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background
The pig gastrointestinal tract hosts a diverse microbiome, which can serve to select and maintain a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG). Studies suggest that the types and quantities of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in fecal bacteria change as the animal host ages, yet the temporal dynamics of AMR within communities of bacteria in pigs during a full production cycle remains largely unstudied.

Results
A longitudinal study was performed to evaluate the dynamics of fecal microbiome and AMR in a cohort of pigs during a production cycle; from birth to market age. Our data showed that piglet fecal microbial communities assemble rapidly after birth and become more diverse with age. Individual piglet fecal microbiomes progressed along similar trajectories with age-specific community types/enterotypes and showed a clear shift from E. coli/Shigella-, Fusobacteria-, Bacteroides-dominant enterotypes to Prevotella-, Megaspheara-, and Lactobacillus-dominated enterotypes with aging. Even when the fecal microbiome was the least diverse, the richness of ARGs, quantities of AMR gene copies, and counts of AMR fecal bacteria were highest in piglets at 2 days of age; subsequently, these declined over time, likely due to age-related competitive changes in the underlying microbiome. ARGs conferring resistance to metals and multi-compound/biocides were detected predominately at the earliest sampled ages.

Conclusions
The fecal microbiome and resistome—along with evaluated descriptors of phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility of fecal bacteria—among a cohort of pigs, demonstrated opposing trajectories in diversity primarily driven by the aging of pigs.