bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The potential influence of follicle diameter on natural cycle in vitro fertilization among women with diminished ovarian reserve: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Tian Tian , Li Yu , Lv Jiaxin , Chen Lixue , Wang Yuanyuan , Yang Rui , Liu Ping , Li Rong , Qiao Jie 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
Natural cycle- in vitro fertilization (NC-IVF) is particularly recommended for women with decreased ovarian reserve (DOR) or poor response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. In these cases, it can be challenging to determine the optimal timing for a trigger, and follicles of varying sizes are typically obtained. The influence of follicular size on IVF outcomes in women with DOR remains uncertain. This study aims to investigate the association between different follicular sizes and NC-IVF outcomes in women with DOR.

Methods
A retrospective cohort study involving 477 NC-IVF cycles from 2015 to 2021 was conducted at one of the largest reproductive medical centers in China. Follicular growth was monitored using transvaginal ultrasonography, and the follicles were categorized into three groups based on their diameters:12–15 mm; 16–17 mm and ≥ 18 mm. Laboratory outcomes were evaluated, including the number of canceled cycles, number of oocytes retrieved, 2PN fertilization, embryo and good-quality embryo, fresh embryo transfers, and frozen embryo. Additionally, clinical outcomes, such as the rates of biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, and live birth, were investigated and compared among the different follicular size groups.

Results
A total of 68 cycles with follicles sizes of 12-15 mm, 171 cycles with follicles sizes of 16-17 mm, and 236 cycles with follicles sizes ≥ 18 mm were included in this study. The basic characteristics, including female age, male age, infertility duration, infertility type, and parity, were comparable among the groups. The rate of cycle cancellation in the 12–15 mm group (27.9%) was higher compared to the other two groups. The 2PN fertilization rate for follicles with a diameter of 16-17 mm (75.0%) was higher than that of follicles with a diameter of 12-15 mm (61.3%) and ≥ 18 mm (56.6%) (P = 0.031). Other clinical outcomes, such as the number of oocytes retrieved, good-quality embryos, fresh embryo transfers, and frozen embryos, did not show significant differences between groups. Further analysis revealed no significant difference in the rates of clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, and live birth rate among the three groups.

Conclusions
This study indicates that in women with DOR undergoing NC-IVF, if a premature LH surge occurs and small follicles are retrieved, these follicles can still be used in subsequent treatment and provide a comparable chance of clinical pregnancy to normal-sized follicles. These findings have important implications for guiding NC-IVF treatment in patients with severe DOR.

Trial registration number
N/A.
DISCERN: deep single-cell expression reconstruction for improved cell clustering and cell subtype and state detection
Authors: Hausmann Fabian , Ergen Can , Khatri Robin , Marouf Mohamed , Hänzelmann Sonja , Gagliani Nicola , Huber Samuel , Machart Pierre , Bonn Stefan 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
Single-cell sequencing provides detailed insights into biological processes including cell differentiation and identity. While providing deep cell-specific information, the method suffers from technical constraints, most notably a limited number of expressed genes per cell, which leads to suboptimal clustering and cell type identification.

Results
Here, we present DISCERN, a novel deep generative network that precisely reconstructs missing single-cell gene expression using a reference dataset. DISCERN outperforms competing algorithms in expression inference resulting in greatly improved cell clustering, cell type and activity detection, and insights into the cellular regulation of disease. We show that DISCERN is robust against differences between batches and is able to keep biological differences between batches, which is a common problem for imputation and batch correction algorithms. We use DISCERN to detect two unseen COVID-19-associated T cell types, cytotoxic CD4+ and CD8+ Tc2 T helper cells, with a potential role in adverse disease outcome. We utilize T cell fraction information of patient blood to classify mild or severe COVID-19 with an AUROC of 80% that can serve as a biomarker of disease stage. DISCERN can be easily integrated into existing single-cell sequencing workflow.

Conclusions
Thus, DISCERN is a flexible tool for reconstructing missing single-cell gene expression using a reference dataset and can easily be applied to a variety of data sets yielding novel insights, e.g., into disease mechanisms.
Neuron-derived extracellular vesicles in blood reveal effects of exercise in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Delgado-Peraza Francheska , Nogueras-Ortiz Carlos , Simonsen Anja Hviid , Knight De’Larrian DeAnté , Yao Pamela J. , Goetzl Edward J. , Jensen Camilla Steen , Høgh Peter , Gottrup Hanne , Vestergaard Karsten , Hasselbalch Steen Gregers , Kapogiannis Dimitrios 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
Neuron-derived extracellular vesicles (NDEVs) in blood may be used to derive biomarkers for the effects of exercise in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). For this purpose, we studied changes in neuroprotective proteins proBDNF, BDNF, and humanin in plasma NDEVs from patients with mild to moderate AD participating in the randomized controlled trial (RCT) of exercise ADEX.

Methods
proBDNF, BDNF, and humanin were quantified in NDEVs immunocaptured from the plasma of 95 ADEX participants, randomized into exercise and control groups, and collected at baseline and 16 weeks. Exploratorily, we also quantified NDEV levels of putative exerkines known to respond to exercise in peripheral tissues.

Results
NDEV levels of proBDNF, BDNF, and humanin increased in the exercise group, especially in APOE ε4 carriers, but remained unchanged in the control group. Inter-correlations between NDEV biomarkers observed at baseline were maintained after exercise. NDEV levels of putative exerkines remained unchanged.

Conclusions
Findings suggest that the cognitive benefits of exercise could be mediated by the upregulation of neuroprotective factors in NDEVs. Additionally, our results indicate that AD subjects carrying APOE ε4 are more responsive to the neuroprotective effects of physical activity. Unchanged NDEV levels of putative exerkines after physical activity imply that exercise engages different pathways in neurons and peripheral tissues. Future studies should aim to expand upon the effects of exercise duration, intensity, and type in NDEVs from patients with early AD and additional neurodegenerative disorders.

Trial registration
The Effect of Physical Exercise in Alzheimer Patients (ADEX) was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov on April 30, 2012 with the identifier NCT01681602.

Graphical abstract
The relationship between methodological quality and the use of retracted publications in evidence syntheses
Authors: Bakker Caitlin J. , Theis-Mahon Nicole , Brown Sarah Jane , Zeegers Maurice P. 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
Evidence syntheses cite retracted publications. However, citation is not necessarily endorsement, as authors may be criticizing or refuting its findings. We investigated the sentiment of these citations—whether they were critical or supportive—and associations with the methodological quality of the evidence synthesis, reason for the retraction, and time between publication and retraction.

Methods
Using a sample of 286 evidence syntheses containing 324 citations to retracted publications in the field of pharmacy, we used AMSTAR-2 to assess methodological quality. We used scite.ai and a human screener to determine citation sentiment. We conducted a Pearson’s chi-square test to assess associations between citation sentiment, methodological quality, and reason for retraction, and one-way ANOVAs to investigate association between time, methodological quality, and citation sentiment.

Results
Almost 70% of the evidence syntheses in our sample were of critically low quality. We found that these critically low-quality evidence syntheses were more associated with positive statements while high-quality evidence syntheses were more associated with negative citation of retracted publications. In our sample of 324 citations, 20.4% of citations to retracted publications noted that the publication had been retracted.

Conclusion
The association between high-quality evidence syntheses and recognition of a publication’s retracted status may indicate that best practices are sufficient. However, the volume of critically low-quality evidence syntheses ultimately perpetuates the citation of retracted publications with no indication of their retracted status. Strengthening journal requirements around the quality of evidence syntheses may lessen the inappropriate citation of retracted publications.
Expression of miR-138 in cryopreserved bovine sperm is related to their fertility potential
Authors: Salas-Huetos Albert , Ribas-Maynou Jordi , Mateo-Otero Yentel , Tamargo Carolina , Llavanera Marc , Yeste Marc 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules of 22–24 nucleotides that regulate gene expression. In the last decade, miRNAs have been described in sperm of several mammals, including cattle. It is known that miRNAs can act as key gene regulators of early embryogenesis in mice and humans; however, little is known about the content, expression, and function of sperm-borne miRNAs in early bovine embryo. In this study, total sperm RNA was isolated from 29 cryopreserved sperm samples (each coming from a separate bull) using a RNeasy kit and treatment with DNase I. RNA concentration and purity were determined through an Epoch spectrophotometer and an Agilent Bioanalyzer. The expression of 10 candidate miRNAs in bovine sperm (bta-miR-10a, bta-miR-10b, bta-miR-138, bta-miR-146b, bta-miR-19b, bta-miR-26a, bta-miR-34a, bta-miR-449a, bta-miR-495 and bta-miR-7), previously identified in testis and/or epididymis, was evaluated with RT-qPCR. The cel-miR-39-3p was used as a spike-in exogenous control. Nonparametric Mann–Whitney tests were run to evaluate which miRNAs were differentially expressed between bulls with high fertility [HF; non-return rates (NRR) ranging from 39.5 to 43.5] and those with subfertility (SF; NRR ranging from 33.3 to 39.3). Several sperm functionality parameters (e.g., viability, membrane stability or oxygen consumption, among others) were measured by multiplexing flow cytometry and oxygen sensing technologies.

Results
RNA concentration and purity (260/280 nm ratio) (mean ± SD) from the 29 samples were 99.3 ± 84.6 ng/µL and 1.97 ± 0.72, respectively. Bioanalyzer results confirmed the lack of RNA from somatic cells. In terms of the presence or absence of miRNAs, and after applying the Livak method, 8 out of 10 miRNAs (bta-miR-10b, -138, -146b, -19b, -26a, -449a, -495, -7) were consistently detected in bovine sperm, whereas the other two (bta-miR-10a, and -34a) were absent. Interestingly, the relative expression of one miRNA (bta-miR-138) in sperm was significantly lower in the SF than in the HF group (P = 0.038). In addition to being associated to fertility potential, the presence of this miRNA was found to be negatively correlated with sperm oxygen consumption. The expression of three other miRNAs (bta-miR-19b, bta-miR-26a and bta-miR-7) was also correlated with sperm function variables.

Conclusions
In conclusion, although functional validation studies are required to confirm these results, this study suggests that sperm bta-miR-138 is involved in fertilization events and beyond, and supports its use as a fertility biomarker in cattle.
Exploring the synergy between Karst World Heritage site's OUV conservation and buffer zone’s tourism industry development: a case study of the Libo-Huanjiang Karst
Authors: Zhang Juan , Xiong Kangning , Liu Zhaojun , He Lixiang , Zhang Ning , Gu Xinyan , Chen Dong 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Karst World Heritage Site (KWHS) combines high-grade landscape resources and a fragile ecological environment. As an essential tool for heritage conservation and maintaining local interests, its buffer zone is primarily located in remote villages, a crucial and challenging area for rural revitalization. The conflict between heritage conservation and development is particularly acute at the site. How to deal with the relationship between the heritage site’s OUV conservation and the buffer zone's tourism industry development and realize the synergy between the two subsystems? Few studies have focused on it. There is an urgent need to explore the synergistic mechanism of the KWHS's OUV conservation and the buffer zone's tourism industry development. Accordingly, this study takes the Libo-Huanjiang KWHS, one of the 'South China Karst' series of heritage sites, as a case study. The coupling coordination degree model, gray correlation analysis (GCA), and Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis are used. The results show that: (1) There is a synergistic effect between the Libo-Huanjiang KWHS's OUV conservation and its buffer zone's tourism industry development, showing a favorable trend. The mean value of the coupling coordination degree increased from 0.57 in 2015 to 0.63 in 2020, and the overall situation improved from barely coupling coordination state to primary coupling coordination. (2) Influenced by the main driving factors, such as NDVI, landscape dominance, government support for tourism development, tourists' satisfaction, and residents' support, the coupling coordination of the four tourist scenic areas in the study area differed slightly in 2015 and 2020. Yaoshan Ancient Village Scenic Area is the highest in both years, increasing from 0.69 to 0.81, followed by the Mengliu Buyi Scenic Area (0.59), Wanmu Meiyuan Scenic Area is relatively stable with a slight increase, and Lianshanwan Scenic Area (0.45) is the lowest. (3) The four dimensions of ecological resources, policy drivers, economy drivers, and social facilitators work together to create a synergistic mechanism between the KWHS's OUV conservation and the buffer zone's tourism industry development. Future research can promote synergy between the two by formulating a comprehensive plan, encouraging sustainable tourism, establishing a diversified tourism industry, strengthening heritage education and training, enhancing community participation, and reinforcing stakeholder cooperation.
The sequence of the 2017–2018 eruptions and seismo-acoustic activity at Kirishima volcano group
Authors: Ichihara Mie , Kobayashi Tsukasa , Maeno Fukashi , Ohminato Takao , Watanabe Atsushi , Nakada Setsuya , Kaneko Takayuki 
Published: September 2023

AbstractKirishima volcano consists of more than 20 eruptive centers. Among them, Shinmoe-dake had magmatic eruptions in October 2017 and March 2018. Subsequently, another active cone, Iwo-yama, had phreatic eruptions in April 2018. These events were unique in that the 2018 eruption was the first effusion-dominated eruption of Shinmoe-dake and the first simultaneous activity of two cones of the Kirishima volcanic group ever documented. We report the detailed sequence of the events by combining areal photos, satellite images, and seismo-acoustic data analyses with the other published information. The seismo-acoustic data clarify the eruption onset and the transitions of the behaviors in three stages for each of the 2017 and 2018 eruptions. For both eruptions, we present regularly repeated tremors or ’drumbeat’ earthquakes in the second stage, which interpret as gas separation from magma, leading to the ash-poor plume in the 2017 eruption or the effusive eruption in the 2018 event. We also propose that the 2017 and 2018 eruptions of Shinmoe-dake and the 2018 eruption of Iwo-yama are sequential events linked by the degassing of magma beneath Shinmoe-dake. An eruption like the 2017–2018 eruptions of Shinmoe-dake would leave few geological records and could be captured only by modern techniques. Although Shinmoe-dake has been believed to be an example of less-frequent eruptions, effusive eruptions like the 2018 case might have occurred more frequently in the past , but the following eruptions had obscured their records. The timelines summarized in this study will be useful in future studies of Kirishima volcanoes and world equivalences.
Graphical Abstract
Subsurface magma movement inferred from extensometer and tiltmeter records during the early stage of the 2018 Shinmoe-dake eruptions, Japan
Authors: Yoshinaga Koki , Matsushima Takeshi , Shimizu Hiroshi , Yamashita Yusuke , Yamazaki Ken’ichi , Komatsu Shintaro , Fujiwara Satoshi 
Published: September 2023

AbstractWe infer the temporal changes in the pressure sources that induced crustal deformation during the 2018 Shinmoe-dake eruption using strain and tilt observations and discern that the deep magmatic activity associated with the early stage of this eruption began approximately 19 h earlier than the previously defined onset of magmatic activity. Distinct tilt changes were observed from around 09:00 on 6 March to 12:00 on 8 March 2018 (JST), coincident with observed lava outflow into the crater and lava dome formation. Existing studies have attributed this tilt change to the onset of the deflation of a spherical pressure source located at ~ 7 km bsl (below sea level) to the northwest of Shinmoe-dake. Here we examine strain and tilt data that were acquired in the Kirishima volcanic group, and we find that the distinct changes in the measured strain at Isa-Yoshimatsu Observatory began at around 14:00 on 5 March. This change can be explained by the deflation of a spherical pressure source, thereby suggesting that the onset of magma ascent was earlier than previously thought. The time variation in the spherical pressure source is estimated using the time-dependent inversion of the Ensemble Kalman Filter; the deflation source ascended from ~ 11 to 7 km bsl during Phase 1 (14:00 on 5 March to 06:00 on 6 March) and descended from 7 to 8 km bsl during Phase 2 (06:00 on 6 March to 12:00 on 8 March). Interferometric synthetic aperture radar analysis suggests that a dike intrusion had occurred just below Shinmoe-dake crater until 5 March, and this inflatable crustal deformation is attributed to the emplacement of residual volcanic fluids from the 2011 eruption. It is also known that the surface eruptive activity increased during Phase 1, including an increase in ash venting from the night of 5 March. These strain and tilt observations, therefore, suggest that magma ascended from ~ 11 km bsl to the magma reservoir at 7 km bsl during Phase 1, followed by a deflation of the magma reservoir during Phase 2 due to the large magma supply to the surface.
Graphical Abstract
Giant adrenal metastasis of malignant melanoma: impact of 18F-FDG PET/CT in early assessment of dramatic response to immunotherapy: case report
Authors: Kalantari Forough , Schweighofer-Zwink Gregor , Rendl Gundula , Pirich Christian , Beheshti Mohsen 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
This case represents one of the largest adrenal metastases in the literature and highlights the importance of accurate imaging in clinical management of patients with advanced malignant melanoma.

Case presentation
A 67-year-old female with an ulcerated malignant melanoma presented with an asymptomatic 18-cm left adrenal mass on 18F-FDG PET/CT staging. After two cycles of combined systemic immunotherapy, an impressive shrinkage of the adrenal metastatic tumor was observed on 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging.

Conclusions
The case emphasizes the potential of 18F-FDG PET/CT as a functional imaging modality for accurate staging and precise early assessment of response to immunotherapy. Overall, this report highlights the importance of accurate imaging for the effective management of adrenal metastases in melanoma patients.
Implementation strategies in the Exploration and Preparation phases of a colorectal cancer screening intervention in community health centers
Authors: Ferrari Renée M. , Leeman Jennifer , Brenner Alison T. , Correa Sara Y. , Malo Teri L. , Moore Alexis A. , O’Leary Meghan C. , Randolph Connor M. , Ratner Shana , Frerichs Leah , Farr Deeonna , Crockett Seth D. , Wheeler Stephanie B. , Lich Kristen Hassmiller , Beasley Evan , Hogsed Michelle , Bland Ashley , Richardson Claudia , Newcomer Mike , Reuland Daniel S. 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
Adoption of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening has lagged in community health center (CHC) populations in the USA. To address this implementation gap, we developed a multilevel intervention to improve screening in CHCs in our region. We used the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework to guide this effort. Here, we describe the use of implementation strategies outlined in the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) compilation in both the Exploration and Preparation phases of this project. During these two EPIS phases, we aimed to answer three primary questions: (1) What factors in the inner and outer contexts may support or hinder colorectal cancer screening in North Carolina CHCs?; (2) What evidence-based practices (EBPs) best fit the needs of North Carolina CHCs?; and (3) How can we best integrate the selected EBPs into North Carolina CHC systems?

Methods
During the Exploration phase, we conducted local needs assessments, built a coalition, and conducted local consensus discussions. In the Preparation phase, we formed workgroups corresponding to the intervention’s core functional components. Workgroups used cyclical small tests of change and process mapping to identify implementation barriers and facilitators and to adapt intervention components to fit inner and outer contexts.

Results
Exploration activities yielded a coalition of stakeholders, including two rural CHCs, who identified barriers and facilitators and reached consensus on two EBPs: mailed FIT and navigation to colonoscopy. Stakeholders further agreed that the delivery of those two EBPs should be centralized to an outreach center. During Preparation, workgroups developed and refined protocols for the following centrally-delivered intervention components: a registry to identify and track eligible patients, a centralized system for mailing at-home stool tests, and a process to navigate patients to colonoscopy after an abnormal stool test.

Conclusions
This description may be useful both to implementation scientists, who can draw lessons from applied implementation studies such as this to refine their implementation strategy typologies and frameworks, as well as to implementation practitioners seeking exemplars for operationalizing strategies in early phases of implementation in healthcare.
Medieval Engagement with Authorial Intention
Authors: Pasnau Robert 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
The Middle Ages developed a rigorous semantic account of how thought mediates between words and things. Modern literary theory, in contrast, has been characteristically skeptical about whether anything is gained by attempting to discover the thoughts of the author that lie behind the words. For medieval readers, connecting with an author's thoughts mattered, above all, because they understood reading to be a form of interpersonal engagement. The text is not simply an impersonal artifact, good for stimulating certain sorts of responses, but it is an expression of the thoughts of another mind. Ultimately, it is the value of minds connecting with other minds that led medieval readers to care about authorial intention.