bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
SDMA attenuates renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis through inhibition of STAT4
Authors: Wang Yanzhe , Wu Ming , Chen Dongping , Tan Bo , Lin Pinglan , Huang Di , Ye Chaoyang 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
Renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis is the hallmark of various chronic kidney diseases. Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is an independent cardiovascular risk factor in patients with chronic kidney diseases, which is mostly excreted through renal tubules. However, the effect of SDMA on kidneys in a pathological condition is currently unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of SDMA in renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis and explored its underlying mechanisms.

Methods
Mouse unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and unilateral ischemia–reperfusion injury (UIRI) models were established to study renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. SDMA was injected into kidneys through ureter retrogradely. TGF-β stimulated human renal epithelial (HK2) cells were used as an in vitro model and treated with SDMA. Signal transducer and activator of transcription-4 (STAT4) was inhibited by berbamine dihydrochloride or siRNA or overexpressed by plasmids in vitro. Masson staining and Western blotting were performed to evaluate renal fibrosis. Quantitative PCR was performed to validate findings derived from RNA sequencing analysis.

Results
We observed that SDMA (from 0.01 to 10 µM) dose-dependently inhibited the expression of pro-fibrotic markers in TGF-β stimulated HK2 cells. Intrarenal administration of SDMA (2.5 µmol/kg or 25 µmol/kg) dose-dependently attenuated renal fibrosis in UUO kidneys. A significant increase in SDMA concentration (from 19.5 to 117.7 nmol/g, p < 0.001) in mouse kidneys was observed after renal injection which was assessed by LC–MS/MS. We further showed that intrarenal administration of SDMA attenuated renal fibrosis in UIRI induced mouse fibrotic kidneys. Through RNA sequencing analysis, we found that the expression of STAT4 was reduced by SDMA in UUO kidneys, which was further confirmed by quantitative PCR and Western blotting analysis in mouse fibrotic kidneys and renal cells. Inhibition of STAT4 by berbamine dihydrochloride (0.3 mg/ml or 3.3 mg/ml) or siRNA reduced the expression of pro-fibrotic markers in TGF-β stimulated HK2 cells. Furthermore, blockage of STAT4 attenuated the anti-fibrotic effect of SDMA in TGF-β stimulated HK2 cells. Conversely, overexpression of STAT4 reversed the anti-fibrotic effect of SDMA in TGF-β stimulated HK2 cells.

Conclusion
Taken together, our study indicates that renal SDMA ameliorates renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis through inhibition of STAT4.
An early microvascular training program of dental intern students and junior residents: a comparative prospective study
Authors: Elayah Sadam Ahmed , Liang Xiang , Sakran Karim Ahmed , Telha Wael , Al-Aroomi Maged Ali , Younis Hamza , Alqurmoti Sarah A. , Ghaleb Omar , Cui Hao , Wang Weiqi , Na Sijia 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
Clinical instructional strategies and the climate in which teaching and learning take place have a significant impact on the quality of dental education. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of early microsurgery training on the skills of dental intern students who are planning to join an oral and maxillofacial surgical field (DIS) as compared with junior residents within an oral and maxillofacial surgery department who had no microsurgery experience (JR).

Methods
A total of 100 trainees, 70 were DIS, while the other 30 were JR. The average age was 23.87 ± 2.05 years for DIS group and 31.05 ± 3.06 for JR group. All trainees attended a microsurgical course (theoretical and practical parts) for seven days within a Microvascular Laboratory for Research and Education of a university-affiliated tertiary hospital. Two blinded examiners had assessed the performance of trainees independently using a specific scoring system. The independent sample t-test was used to compare the effect of microsurgery training between DIS and JR groups. The significance level was set at 0.05.

Results
The DIS group had showed higher attendance rate than JR group (p < 0.01), with a lower absence score in DIS than JR groups (0.33 ± 0.58 vs. 2.47 ± 1.36). The total score of the theoretical test was significantly different between both groups (p < 0.01). In this context, the DIS group had revealed higher total score than JR group (15.06 ± 1.92 vs. 12.73 ± 2.49). In term of tissue preservation, there was a significant difference between both groups, with the DIS had better performance score than JR (1.49 ± 0.51 vs. 0.93 ± 0.59). Further, the practical exam score was significantly higher in DIS group than JR group (p < 0.01).

Conclusion
Overall, the performance of dental intern students was favourably compared with junior residents in most aspects. Therefore, it is promising and essential for dental colleges to add a microsurgery course to the curriculum of dental intern students who plan to specialize in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Comparison of short-term clinical outcomes between robot-assisted and freehand pedicle screw placement in spine surgery: a meta-analysis and systematic review
Authors: Li Yiyang , Wang Yan , Ma Xinlong , Ma Jianxiong , Dong Benchao , Yang Peichuan , Sun Yadi , Zhou Liyun , Shen Jiahui 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Study design
Meta-analysis and systematic review.

Background
Robot-assisted pedicle screw placement technique offers greater accuracy than the traditional freehand screw placement technique. However, it is controversial whether there is a difference between the two procedures in terms of improved clinical outcomes.

Materials and methods
We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Web of Science to identify potentially eligible articles. Indispensable data such as the year of publication, study type, age, number of patients, sex distribution, and outcomes were extracted. The outcome indicators of interest included Oswestry disability index (ODI), visual analog scale (VAS) score, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and post-operative length of stay. RevMan 5.4.1 was used for the meta-analysis.

Results
A total of eight studies with 508 participants were included. Eight were related to ΔVAS, six were related to ΔODI, seven were related to operative time, five were related to intraoperative blood loss, and seven were related to the length of hospitalization. The results showed that, in terms of ΔVAS (95% CI, −1.20 to −0.36, P = 0.0003) and ΔODI (95% CI, −2.50 to −0.48, P = 0.004), robot-assisted pedicle screw placement technique scored higher than traditional freehand technique. Additionally, the intraoperative blood loss (95% CI, −140.34 to −10.94, P = 0.02) and the length of hospitalization (95% CI, −2.59 to −0.31, P = 0.01) for patients who underwent robotic-assisted pedicle screw placement were less than that of those who underwent the conventional freehand screw placement. No significant difference was found between robot-assisted techniques and conventional freehand techniques in pedicle screw placement in surgical time (95% CI, −2.24 to 26.32, P = 0.10).

Conclusions
Robot-assisted technique helps improve short-term clinical outcomes, reduce intraoperative blood loss and patient suffering, and shorten recovery time compared to the freehand technique.
The effect of integrity of lesser tuberosity-medial calcar on postoperative outcome in the proximal humeral fracture
Authors: Ren Hanru , Wu Lianghao , Zhang Xu , Jian Zhen , Yi Chengqing 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
In proximal humeral fractures, the medial calcar is often considered an important stabilizing structure. When the medial calcar is disrupted, some patients may have accompanying humeral lesser tuberosity comminution that has not been noticed. To investigate the impacts of comminuted fragments of lesser tuberosity and calcar on postoperative stability, CT results, number of fragments, cortical integrity, and the variation of neck-shaft angle were compared in patients with proximal humeral fractures.

Materials and methods
From April 2016 to April 2021, this study included patients with senile proximal humeral fractures diagnosed by CT three-dimensional reconstruction with lesser tuberosity fractures and medial column injuries. The number of fragments in the lesser tuberosity and the continuity of medial calcar were evaluated. Postoperative stability and shoulder function were evaluated by comparing changes in neck-shaft angle and the DASH upper extremity function score from 1 week to 1 year after the operation.

Results
A total of 131 patients were included in the study, and the results showed that the number of fragments of the lesser tuberosity was related to the integrity of the medial cortex of the humerus. That is, when there were more than two lesser tuberosity fragments, the integrity of humeral medial calcar was poor. The positive rate of the lift-off test was higher in patients with lesser tuberosity comminutions 1 year after surgery. In addition, patients with more than two lesser tuberosity fragments and continuous destruction of the medial calcar had large variations in the neck-shaft angle, high DASH scores, poor postoperative stability, and poor recovery of shoulder joint function 1 year postoperatively.

Conclusion
The number of humeral lesser tuberosity fragments and the integrity of the medial calcar were associated with the collapse of the humeral head and the decrease in shoulder joint stability after the proximal humeral fracture surgery. When the number of lesser tuberosity fragments was greater than two and the medial calcar was damaged, the proximal humeral fracture had poor postoperative stability and poor functional recovery of the shoulder joint, which required auxiliary internal fixation treatment.
Clinician attitudes towards cancer treatment guidelines in Australia
Authors: Bierbaum Mia , Arnolda Gaston , Braithwaite Jeffrey , Rapport Frances 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Objectives
Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) are designed to guide treatment decisions, yet adherence rates vary widely. To characterise perceived barriers and facilitators to cancer treatment CPG adherence in Australia, and estimate the frequency of previous qualitative research findings, a survey was distributed to Australian oncologists.

Results
The sample is described and validated guideline attitude scores reported for different groups. Differences in mean CPG attitude scores across clinician subgroups and associations between frequency of CPG use and clinician characteristics were calculated; with 48 respondents there was limited statistical power to find differences. Younger oncologists (< 50 years) and clinicians participating in three or more Multidisciplinary Team Meetings were more likely to routinely or occasionally use CPGs. Perceived barriers and facilitators were identified. Thematic analysis was conducted on open-text responses. Results were integrated with previous interview findings and presented in a thematic, conceptual matrix. Most barriers and facilitators identified earlier were corroborated by survey results, with minor discordance. Identified barriers and facilitators require further exploration within a larger sample to assess their perceived impact on cancer treatment CPG adherence in Australia, as well as to inform future CPG implementation strategies. This research was Human Research Ethics Committee approved (2019/ETH11722 and 52019568810127, ID:5688).
Radio map construction based on BERT for fingerprint-based indoor positioning system
Authors: Wang Zhuang , Kong Qun , Wei Bingcai , Zhang Liye , Tian Aikui 
Published: May 2023

AbstractDue to the heavy workload of RSS collection, the instability of WLAN signal strength and the disappearance of signals caused by complex indoor environments, the construction of radio map for wireless local area network (WLAN) fingerprint-based indoor positioning system is time-consuming and laborious. In order to rapidly deploy indoor WLAN positioning system, the bidirectional encoder representation from transformers (BERT) model is used to fill the missing signal in radio map and quickly build radio map. The radio map is imported into the BERT model in the form of natural language text, and the missing signal is filled by the BERT model. Since the number of input data in BERT model cannot exceed 512 words, the structure of BERT model is not suitable for WLAN signals with large data volume. Therefore, we redefine the model structure based on the original BERT model and fill in the missing signals in the radio map in parallel. In addition, the loss function is redefined. Except that each segment has a loss function, the weighted average value of all segment loss functions is defined as the total loss function. The experimental results show that the BERT model is better than the traditional linear interpolation method, compressed sensing algorithm and matrix completion algorithm in filling the missing signals in the fingerprint database, and the probability of error within 2 m reaches about 94%.
A modified subgradient extragradient algorithm-type for solving quasimonotone variational inequality problems with applications
Authors: Ofem Austine Efut , Mebawondu Akindele Adebayo , Ugwunnadi Godwin Chidi , Işık Hüseyin , Narain Ojen Kumar 
Published: May 2023

AbstractIn this article, we introduce an inertial-type algorithm that combines the extragradient subgradient method, the projection contraction method, and the viscosity method. The proposed method is used for solving quasimonotone variational inequality problems in infinite dimensional real Hilbert spaces such that it does not depend on the Lipschitz constant of the cost operator. Further, we prove the strong convergence results of the new algorithm. Our strong convergence results are achieved without imposing strict conditions on the control parameters and inertial factor of our algorithm. We utilize our algorithm to solve some problems in applied sciences and engineering such as image restoration and optimal control. Some numerical experiments are carried out to support our theoretical results. Our numerical illustrations show that our new method is more efficient than many existing methods.
N/S element transformation modulating lithospheric microbial communities by single-species manipulation
Authors: Yao Shun , Jin Tianzhi , Zhang Lu , Zhang Yong , Chen Rui , Wang Qian , Lv Mingjie , Hu Chuxiao , Ma Ting , Xia Wenjie 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe lithospheric microbiome plays a vital role in global biogeochemical cycling, yet their mutual modulation mechanisms remain largely uncharted. Petroleum reservoirs are important lithosphere ecosystems that provide desirable resources for understanding microbial roles in element cycling. However, the strategy and mechanism of modulating indigenous microbial communities for the optimization of community structures and functions are underexplored, despite its significance in energy recovery and environmental remediation.ResultsHere we proposed a novel selective stimulation of indigenous functional microbes by driving nitrogen and sulfur cycling in petroleum reservoirs using injections of an exogenous heterocycle-degrading strain ofPseudomonas. We defined such bacteria capable of removing and releasing organically bound sulfur and nitrogen from heterocycles as “bioredox triggers”. High-throughput 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, metagenomic, and gene transcription-level analyses of extensive production water and sandstone core samples spanning the whole oil production process clarified the microbiome dynamics following the intervention. These efforts demonstrated the feasibility ofin situN/S element release and electron acceptor generation during heterocycle degradation, shifting microbiome structures and functions and increasing phylogenetic diversity and genera engaged in sulfur and nitrogen cycling, such asDesulfovibrio,Shewanella, andSulfurospirillum. The metabolic potentials of sulfur- and nitrogen-cycling processes, particularly dissimilatory sulfate reduction and dissimilatory nitrate reduction, were elevated in reservoir microbiomes. The relative expression of genes involved in sulfate reduction (dsrA,dsrB) and nitrate reduction (napA) was upregulated by 85, 28, and 22 folds, respectively. Field trials showed significant improvements in oil properties, with a decline in asphaltenes and aromatics, hetero-element contents, and viscosity, hence facilitating the effective exploitation of heavy oil.ConclusionsThe interactions between microbiomes and element cycling elucidated in this study will contribute to a better understanding of microbial metabolic involvement in, and response to, biogeochemical processes in the lithosphere. The presented findings demonstrated the immense potential of our microbial modulation strategy for green and enhanced heavy oil recovery.Graphical Abstract
Disruption of fish gut microbiota composition and holobiont’s metabolome during a simulated Microcystis aeruginosa (Cyanobacteria) bloom
Authors: Gallet Alison , Halary Sébastien , Duval Charlotte , Huet Hélène , Duperron Sébastien , Marie Benjamin 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
Cyanobacterial blooms are one of the most common stressors encountered by metazoans living in freshwater lentic systems such as lakes and ponds. Blooms reportedly impair fish health, notably through oxygen depletion and production of bioactive compounds including cyanotoxins. However, in the times of the “microbiome revolution”, it is surprising that so little is still known regarding the influence of blooms on fish microbiota. In this study, an experimental approach is used to demonstrate that blooms affect fish microbiome composition and functions, as well as the metabolome of holobionts. To this end, the model teleost Oryzias latipes is exposed to simulated Microcystis aeruginosa blooms of various intensities in a microcosm setting, and the response of bacterial gut communities is evaluated in terms of composition and metabolome profiling. Metagenome-encoded functions are compared after 28 days between control individuals and those exposed to highest bloom level.

Results
The gut bacterial community of O. latipes exhibits marked responses to the presence of M. aeruginosa blooms in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, abundant gut-associated Firmicutes almost disappear, while potential opportunists increase. The holobiont’s gut metabolome displays major changes, while functions encoded in the metagenome of bacterial partners are more marginally affected. Bacterial communities tend to return to original composition after the end of the bloom and remain sensitive in case of a second bloom, reflecting a highly reactive gut community.

Conclusion
Gut-associated bacterial communities and holobiont functioning are affected by both short and long exposure to M. aeruginosa, and show evidence of post-bloom resilience. These findings point to the significance of bloom events to fish health and fitness, including survival and reproduction, through microbiome-related effects. In the context of increasingly frequent and intense blooms worldwide, potential outcomes relevant to conservation biology as well as aquaculture warrant further investigation.
Predicting movement speed of beetles from body size and temperature
Authors: Terlau Jördis F. , Brose Ulrich , Boy Thomas , Pawar Samraat , Pinsky Malin , Hirt Myriam R. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractMovement facilitates and alters species interactions, the resulting food web structures, species distribution patterns, community structures and survival of populations and communities. In the light of global change, it is crucial to gain a general understanding of how movement depends on traits and environmental conditions. Although insects and notably Coleoptera represent the largest and a functionally important taxonomic group, we still know little about their general movement capacities and how they respond to warming. Here, we measured the exploratory speed of 125 individuals of eight carabid beetle species across different temperatures and body masses using automated image-based tracking. The resulting data revealed a power-law scaling relationship of average movement speed with body mass. By additionally fitting a thermal performance curve to the data, we accounted for the unimodal temperature response of movement speed. Thereby, we yielded a general allometric and thermodynamic equation to predict exploratory speed from temperature and body mass. This equation predicting temperature-dependent movement speed can be incorporated into modeling approaches to predict trophic interactions or spatial movement patterns. Overall, these findings will help improve our understanding of how temperature effects on movement cascade from small to large spatial scales as well as from individual to population fitness and survival across communities.
Artificial intelligence-driven radiomics study in cancer: the role of feature engineering and modeling
Authors: Zhang Yuan-Peng , Zhang Xin-Yun , Cheng Yu-Ting , Li Bing , Teng Xin-Zhi , Zhang Jiang , Lam Saikit , Zhou Ta , Ma Zong-Rui , Sheng Jia-Bao , Tam Victor C. W. , Lee Shara W. Y. , Ge Hong , Cai Jing 
Published: May 2023

AbstractModern medicine is reliant on various medical imaging technologies for non-invasively observing patients’ anatomy. However, the interpretation of medical images can be highly subjective and dependent on the expertise of clinicians. Moreover, some potentially useful quantitative information in medical images, especially that which is not visible to the naked eye, is often ignored during clinical practice. In contrast, radiomics performs high-throughput feature extraction from medical images, which enables quantitative analysis of medical images and prediction of various clinical endpoints. Studies have reported that radiomics exhibits promising performance in diagnosis and predicting treatment responses and prognosis, demonstrating its potential to be a non-invasive auxiliary tool for personalized medicine. However, radiomics remains in a developmental phase as numerous technical challenges have yet to be solved, especially in feature engineering and statistical modeling. In this review, we introduce the current utility of radiomics by summarizing research on its application in the diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of treatment responses in patients with cancer. We focus on machine learning approaches, for feature extraction and selection during feature engineering and for imbalanced datasets and multi-modality fusion during statistical modeling. Furthermore, we introduce the stability, reproducibility, and interpretability of features, and the generalizability and interpretability of models. Finally, we offer possible solutions to current challenges in radiomics research.
Convergence and persistent contrasts in the determinants of working-age women in Sweden and Japan living alone since the 1990s
Authors: Sandström Glenn , Padyab Mojgan , Noguchi Haruko , Fu Rong 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe increase in one-person households (OPHs) in the developed world is often seen as the result of a trend in which individualistic values and behaviors are replacing family solidarity. Nordic countries have been identified as frontrunners in this development. In Asia, equally developed countries like Japan retain elements of a strong-family system and an asymmetrical gender regime, simultaneously as they are experiencing rapid increases in OPHs. This article aims to uncover how the demographic and socioeconomic composition of OPHs have developed since the 1990s among working-age women in Sweden and Japan. Our results show that, in particular, civil status and income play different roles for OPH-living in Sweden and Japan. In contrast to Japan, the level of OPHs remained stable over time in Sweden, and even declined among women with high incomes. This suggests that the negative association between family formation and women’s economic activity is temporary and only prevails as long as society has not adapted to the convergence of men’s and women’s socioeconomic roles. The findings are discussed in light of the “second demographic transition” and “dual equilibrium theory”.