bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The accuracy improvement of sap flow prediction in Picea crassifolia Kom. based on the back‐propagation neural network model
Authors: Li Yuanhang , Chen Qi , He Kangning , Wang Zuoxiao 
Published: January 2022

AbstractTree transpiration is an important water movement process in forest ecosystems, and it plays a decisive role in the coupling feedback of hydrological and ecological processes. Therefore, identifying the impact of different factors on sap flow can promote efficient water management and improve assessment of the climate change impacts. However, the interaction between sap flow and control factors is not clear, and there is no accurate model to predict sap flow change of Picea crassifolia Kom. This study explored the correlation between sap flow and environmental factors and compared the performances of the back‐propagation neural network (BPANN) and multiple regression (MLR) models, and the importance of the time‐lag effect and different soil moisture conditions in the response mechanism of sap flow was also explained. A higher fitting performance was found in the BPANN model (R2 > 0.90) based on the relationships between air temperature (Ta), air relative humidity (RH), solar radiation (Rn) and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and sap flux density (Q) than that MLR (R2 = 0.8915). The correlation was improved due to the consideration of time‐lag effect. Other variables, such as maximum temperature (Tmax), wind speed (WS) and precipitation (P), explained smaller portions of the variance in sap flow, while minimum temperature (Tmin) and leaf area index (LAI) had almost no effect. Moreover, the R2 of the water stress condition (REW <0.38) was lower than that of the non‐water stress condition (REW ≥0.38), and even lower than the R2 of the whole experimental period. Therefore, the sap flow prediction model based on BPANN could more reasonably explain the nonlinear relationship between transpiration and control factors, which provided a basis for the estimation of plant water‐use and the construction and management of ecological vegetation in alpine arid and semi‐arid areas, especially in response to the continuous enhancement of aridification and climate warming.
A randomized trial of risk‐adapted screening for prostate cancer in young men—Results of the first screening round of the PROBASE trial
Authors: Arsov Christian , Albers Peter , Herkommer Kathleen , Gschwend Jürgen , Imkamp Florian , Peters Inga , Kuczyk Markus , Hadaschik Boris , Kristiansen Glen , Schimmöller Lars , Antoch Gerald , Rummeny Ernst , Wacker Frank , Schlemmer Heinz , Benner Axel , Siener Roswitha , Kaaks Rudolf , Becker Nikolaus 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThere is no generally accepted screening strategy for prostate cancer (PCa). From February 2014 to December 2019 a randomized trial (PROBASE) recruited 46 642 men at age 45 to determine the efficacy of risk‐adapted prostate‐specific antigen‐based (PSA) screening, starting at either 45 or 50 years. PSA tests are used to classify participants into a low (<1.5 ng/mL), intermediate (1.5‐2.99 ng/mL) or high (≥3 ng/mL) risk group. In cases of confirmed PSA values ≥3 ng/mL participants are recommended a prostate biopsy with multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI). Half of the participants (N = 23 341) were offered PSA screening immediately at age 45; the other half (N = 23 301) were offered digital rectal examination (DRE) with delayed PSA screening at age 50. Of 23 301 participants who accepted baseline PSA testing in the immediate screening arm, 89.2% fell into the low, 9.3% into intermediate, and 1.5% (N = 344) into the high risk group. Repeat PSA measurement confirmed high‐risk status for 186 men (0.8%), of whom 120 (64.5%) underwent a biopsy. A total of 48 PCas was detected (overall prevalence 0.2%), of which 15 had International Society of Uropathology (ISUP) grade 1, 29 had ISUP 2 and only 4 had ISUP ≥3 cancers. In the delayed screening arm, 23 194 participants were enrolled and 6537 underwent a DRE with 57 suspicious findings, two of which showed PCa (both ISUP 1; detection rate 0.03%). In conclusion, the prevalence of screen‐detected aggressive (ISUP ≥3) PCa in 45‐year‐old men is very low. DRE did not turn out effective for early detection of PCa.
A serum lipidomics study for the identification of specific biomarkers for endometrial polyps to distinguish them from endometrial cancer or hyperplasia
Authors: Yan Xingxu , Zhao Wen , Wei Jinxia , Yao Yaqi , Sun Guijiang , Wang Lei , Zhang Wenqing , Chen Siyu , Zhou Wenjie , Zhao Huan , Li Xiaomeng , Xiao Yu , Li Yubo 
Published: January 2022

AbstractEndometrial diseases, including endometrial polyps (EP), endometrial cancer (EC) and endometrial hyperplasia (EH), are common gynecological diseases that affect women of childbearing and perimenopausal age. Clinically, biopsy or imaging methods are usually used to screen and diagnose these diseases; however, due to the invasiveness and heterogeneity of these tests, a noninvasive, convenient, objective and accurate biomarker is needed for the differential diagnosis of EP, EC or EH. In the present study, serum samples from 326 patients with endometrial diseases and 225 healthy volunteers were analyzed using nontargeted lipidomics. A combination of multivariate and univariate analyses was used to identify and qualify six, eight and seven potential biomarkers in the sera from patients with EP, EC and EH, respectively. Using a logistic regression algorithm and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, a biomarker panel including four specific EP biomarkers, 6‐keto‐PGF1α, PA(37:4), LysoPC(20:1) and PS(36:0), showed good classification and diagnostic ability in distinguishing EP from EC or EH. The biomarker panel for distinguishing EP from EC yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.915, sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 72.41%, while that for distinguishing EP from EH yielded an AUC of 1.000, sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 100%. The two diagnostic models also showed good diagnostic abilities in the validation set. Therefore, this biomarker panel can be used as a rapid diagnostic method to assist in imaging examinations and provide a reference for clinicians in the identification and diagnosis of endometrial diseases.
Alcohol consumption, DNA methylation and colorectal cancer risk: Results from pooled cohort studies and Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Zhou Xuan , Wang Lijuan , Xiao Jiarui , Sun Jing , Yu Lili , Zhang Han , Meng Xiangrui , Yuan Shuai , Timofeeva Maria , Law Philip J. , Houlston Richard S. , Ding Kefeng , Dunlop Malcolm G. , Theodoratou Evropi , Li Xue 
Published: January 2022

AbstractAlcohol consumption is thought to be one of the modifiable risk factors for colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the causality and mechanisms by which alcohol exerts its carcinogenic effect are unclear. We evaluated the association between alcohol consumption and CRC risk by analyzing data from 32 cohort studies and conducted two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to examine for casual relationship. To explore the effect of alcohol related DNA methylation on CRC risk, we performed an epigenetic MR analysis with data from an epigenome‐wide association study (EWAS). We additionally performed gene‐alcohol interaction analysis nested in the UK Biobank to assess effect modification between alcohol consumption and susceptibility genes. We discovered distinct effects of alcohol on CRC incidence and mortality from the meta‐analyses, and genetic predisposition to alcohol drinking was causally associated with an increased CRC risk (OR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.23‐2.61) using two‐sample MR approaches. In epigenetic MR analysis, two alcohol‐related CpG sites (cg05593667 and cg10045354 mapped to COLCA1/COLCA2 gene) were identified causally associated with an increased CRC risk (P < 8.20 × 10−4). Gene‐alcohol interaction analysis revealed that carriage of the risk allele of the eQTL (rs3087967) and mQTL (rs11213823) polymorphism of COLCA1/COLCA2 would interact with alcohol consumption to increase CRC risk (PInteraction = .027 and PInteraction = .016). Our study provides comprehensive evidence to elucidate the role of alcohol in CRC and highlights that the pathogenic effect of alcohol on CRC could be partly attributed to DNA methylation by regulating the expression of COLCA1/COLCA2 gene.
Risk compounds, potential mechanisms and biomarkers of traditional Chinese medicine‐induced reproductive toxicity
Authors: Li Qiuju , Yan Xiaoyu , Zhang Ying , Zhou Jie , Yang Liang , Wu Shuangyue , Peng Cheng , Pan Xiaoqi 
Published: January 2022

AbstractWith the increasing application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), TCM‐induced reproductive toxicity has gradually aroused people's concern. Various TCM, such as Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f., Radix Aconiti lateralis Preparata and Rhizoma Pinelliae, are currently reported to cause reproductive toxicity in humans and animals. However, a summary of the material bases, mechanisms and biological markers of TCM‐induced reproductive toxicity is still lacking. This review filled the gap by searching and summarising relevant studies and articles published on PubMed, CNKI and Web of Science databases from January 2000 to November 2021. The risk ingredients involved in TCM‐induced reproductive toxicity were divided into glycosides, alkaloids, phenols, terpenoids, anthraquinones, lactones, plant toxin proteins, animal toxins and so forth. Potential mechanisms underlying TCM‐induced reproductive toxicity, including steroidogenic toxicity, lipids metabolism abnormity, energy insufficiency, oxidative stress and apoptosis, were illustrated. We also outlined possible biomarkers, especially biomarkers of effect involved in TCM‐induced reproductive toxicity, including anti‐oxidant enzymes, signalling pathways, genes and growth factors.
Three‐dimensional‐printed polycaprolactone/polypyrrole conducting scaffolds for differentiation of human olfactory ecto‐mesenchymal stem cells into Schwann cell‐like phenotypes and promotion of neurite outgrowth
Authors: Entezari Maedeh , Mozafari Masoud , Bakhtiyari Mehrdad , Moradi Fatemeh , Bagher Zohreh , Soleimani Mansoureh 
Published: January 2022

AbstractImplantation of a suitable nerve guide conduit (NGC) seeded with sufficient Schwann cells (SCs) is required to improve peripheral nerve regeneration efficiently. Given the limitations of isolating and culturing SCs, using various sources of stem cells, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) obtained from nasal olfactory mucosa, can be desirable. Olfactory ecto‐MSCs (OE‐MSCs) are a new population of neural crest‐derived stem cells that can proliferate and differentiate into SCs and can be considered a promising autologous alternative to produce SCs. Regardless, a biomimetic physicochemical microenvironment in NGC such as electroconductive substrate can affect the fate of transplanted stem cells, including differentiation toward SCs and nerve regeneration. Therefore, in this study, the effect of 3D printed polycaprolactone (PCL)/polypyrrole (PPy) conductive scaffolds on differentiation of human OE‐MSCS into functional SC‐like phenotypes was investigated. Biological evaluation of 3D printed scaffolds was examined by in vitro culturing the OE‐MSCs on samples surfaces, and conductivity showed no effect on increased cell attachment, proliferation rate, viability, and distribution. In contrast, immunocytochemical staining and real‐time polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that 3D structures coated with PPy could provide a favorable microenvironment for OE‐MSCs differentiation. In addition, it was found that differentiated OE‐MSCs within PCL/PPy could secrete the highest amounts of nerve growth factor and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor neurotrophic factors compared to pure PCL and 2D culture. After co‐culturing with PC12 cells, a significant increase in neurite outgrowth on PCL/PPy conductive scaffold seeded with differentiated OE‐MSCs. These findings indicated that 3D printed PCL/PPy conductive scaffold could support differentiation of OE‐MSCs into SC‐like phenotypes to promote neurite outgrowth, suggesting their potential for neural tissue engineering applications.
Asian Ethnicity and Femoral Geometry in Atypical Femur Fractures: Independent or Interdependent Risk Factors?
Authors: Dhanekula Nitesh D , Crouch Gareth , Byth Karen , Lau Sue Lynn , Kim Albert , Graham Edward , Ellis Andrew , Clifton‐Bligh Roderick J , Girgis Christian M 
Published: January 2022

ABSTRACTThe earliest reports of atypical femur fractures (AFF) emerged from Asia. In the West, epidemiologic studies report a greater incidence of AFFs among subjects of Asian background. Asian ethnicity is an established risk factor for AFF, but clear mechanisms to explain this risk and implications for the general development of AFF are open questions. Ethno‐specific differences in bisphosphonate action and femoral geometry have been proposed as hypotheses. In a retrospective cohort of 163 female patients presenting with AFFs or typical femur fractures (TFF), relative contributions of Asian ethnicity, proximal femoral geometry, and bisphosphonate use in AFF status were examined. There was a fourfold higher proportion of Asian subjects in the AFF compared with TFF groups (31.6%, 30/95 versus 7.4%, 5/68). Asian subjects had smaller femurs in femoral head, neck, and axial dimensions. A multiple logistic regression model for AFF status was fitted adding Asian ethnicity to three previously reported independent predictors of AFF including femoral geometry, which together comprise the Sydney AFF Score (age ≤80 years, femoral neck width <37 mm than non‐Asian, lateral cortical width at lesser trochanter ≥5 mm). Asian ethnicity was a robust independent predictor of AFF, imparting sevenfold increase in the odds of AFF after adjusting for all three variables (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2–23.2, p = 0.001) or for overall AFF score (95% CI 2.2–22.3 p = 0.001). Overall Asian subjects had higher rates of bisphosphonate use than non‐Asian subjects (67.6% versus 47.2%, p = 0.034). Among AFF bisphosphonate users, Asian subjects had lower AFF scores than non‐Asians (Sydney AFF Score ≤1, 45.5% Asian subjects versus 22.2% non‐Asian subjects, p = 0.05). Asian ethnicity is a strong independent risk factor for AFF, unaccounted for by ethno‐specific differences in proximal femoral geometry. Bisphosphonate use may be associated with a greater predisposition for AFF in Asian subjects compared with non‐Asian subjects. © 2022 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Prognostic factors for predicting severity and mortality in hospitalized COVID‐19 patients
Authors: Aljohani Fahad Dakilallah , Khattab Amin , Elbadawy Hossein M. , Alhaddad Aisha , Alahmadey Ziab , Alahmadi Yaser , Eltahir Heba M. , Matar Heba M. H. , Wanas Hanaa 
Published: January 2022

AbstractBackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019, COVID‐19, has reached all the corners of the world and was declared by the WHO as a global pandemic and public health emergency of international concern on the January 31, 2020. Allocating quick and specific biomarkers to predict the disease severity upon admission to hospital became a crucial need. This study, therefore, aimed at exploring the relationship between laboratory results in COVID‐19 patients admitted to hospital and the final outcome in these patients.MethodsRetrospective analysis was performed on the medical records of 310 COVID‐19‐positive patients admitted to Uhod Hospital, the referral hospital in the area of Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between the April 13 and the July 29, 2020. The association of laboratory results with the survival/mortality outcomes was studied.ResultsIt was demonstrated that lymphopenia, prolonged aPTT, high INR, high D. dimer and high CK are valuable prognostic predictors of the severity of the disease at early stages that can determine the outcome. Based on the results of the multiple logistic regression, the variables that are associated with death outcome are aPTT, HR, RR, ALT and CK levelConclusionIt is proposed to perform these tests on admission to hospital for moderate to severe COVID‐19 patients to improve the management of those cases and reduce mortality.
An agronomic‐economic approach to connect manure nutrients back to grain‐producing regions
Authors: Duke Joshua M. , McGrath Joshua M. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractStakeholders for nutrient‐impaired watersheds have long discussed the causes and consequences of nutrient surpluses associated with intensive livestock production. Nonetheless, nutrient surpluses relative to crop requirement, particularly with phosphorus (P), persist and continue to contribute to water quality impairment. Nutrient life‐cycle analysis shows that mineral P, from soil minerals or mined fertilizer P, flows to livestock regions from grain‐producing regions. Although creating a return flow of these nutrients to grain fields seems like an easy solution, significant economic obstacles exist to creating a connected manureshed over large geographic distances. To limit the impact of manure use on local surface water, state, federal, and nongovernmental actors have largely targeted their interventions in manure source areas. Even manure transport programs tend to focus on obstacles at the point of production in manure source areas. However, if we are to realize connected manuresheds that cost‐effectively distribute manure nutrients beyond the current publicly funded incentive programs, we must address obstacles to manure utilization in potential sink areas that supply grain to livestock regions. Further, we can harness the power of computer‐mediated market design and scientific research to build even more‐effective markets that generate manure nutrient transfers of an order of magnitude that will substantively improve water quality in source areas. This manuscript offers economic insights into potential improvements to current manure nutrient relocation programs. Under the right conditions, these improvements will relocate more manure, generate more environmental benefits, and improve the profitability of most participating farmers.
Attrition from HIV care among youth initiating ART in youth‐only clinics compared with general primary healthcare clinics in Khayelitsha, South Africa: a matched propensity score analysis
Authors: Cassidy Tali , Cornell Morna , Runeyi Pumeza , Dutyulwa Thembie , Kilani Charllen , Duran Laura Trivino , Zokufa Nompumelelo , de Azevedo Virginia , Boulle Andrew , Horsburgh C. Robert , Fox Matthew P. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractIntroductionYouth living with HIV (YLWH) are less likely to initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) and remain in care than older adults. It is important to identify effective strategies to address the needs of this growing population and prevent attrition from HIV care. Since 2008, two clinics have offered youth‐targeted services exclusively to youth aged 12–25 in Khayelitsha, a high HIV‐prevalence, low‐income area in South Africa. We compared ART attrition among youth in these two clinics to youth in regular clinics in the same area.MethodsWe conducted a propensity score matched cohort study of individuals aged 12–25 years initiating ART at eight primary care clinics in Khayelitsha between 1 January 2008 and 1 April 2018. We compared attrition, defined as death or loss to follow‐up, between those attending two youth clinics and those attending general primary healthcare clinics, using Cox proportional hazards regression. Follow‐up time began at ART initiation and ended at attrition, clinic transfer or dataset closure. We conducted sub‐analyses of patients attending adherence clubs.ResultsThe distribution of age, sex and CD4 count at ART initiation was similar across Youth Clinic A (N = 1383), Youth Clinic B (N = 1299) and general clinics (N = 3056). Youth at youth clinics were more likely than those at general clinics to have initiated ART before August 2011 (Youth Clinic A: 16%, Youth Clinic B: 23% and general clinics: 11%). Youth clinics were protective against attrition: HR 0.81 (95% CI: 0.71–0.92) for Youth Clinic A and 0.85 (0.74–0.98) for Youth Clinic B, compared to general clinics. Youth Clinic A club patients had lower attrition after joining an adherence club than general clinic patients in adherence clubs (crude HR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.32–0.96; adjusted HR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.28–0.85), while Youth Clinic B showed no effect (crude HR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.48–1.45; adjusted HR: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.60–1.90).ConclusionsYLWH were more likely to be retained in ART care in two different youth‐targeted clinics compared to general clinics in the same area. Our findings suggest that multiple approaches to making clinics more youth‐friendly can contribute to improving retention in this important group.
Salamander braincase morphology as revealed by micro‐computed tomography
Authors: Szostakiwskyj Matt , Anderson Jason S. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractMorphological data sets are misleading in salamander (Caudata) phylogeny due to the relative homoplasy of the dermal skull observed in paedomorphic forms, leading to the trend of excluding morphology when exploring questions of salamander phylogeny. Investigations in caecilians (Gymnophiona) have demonstrated that the inclusion of braincase morphology can rescue morphological phylogenetic analyses and produce topologies congruent with molecular data sets. We scanned 28 species (25 genera) of salamander, representing all 10 families, with high‐resolution micro‐computed tomography to investigate braincase variation. We describe the morphology of the braincase for all 10 families and distinguish between paedomorphic and metamorphic morphologies. Our results demonstrate a general uniformity amongst metamorphic species with variation largely restricted to the occipito‐otic region. A greater range of variation is observed within paedomorphic forms than would be expected when considering the homoplasy of the dermal skull. Obligate paedomorphic forms demonstrate considerably more variation in the anterior braincase than do facultative paedomorphs, which we suggest is evidence of a greater complexity in the evolution and development of these forms than neoteny alone would produce. This raises the question of character independence within morphological data sets and warrants further investigation into the correlation of other characters before morphological data are omitted.
Where does the heart lie? A multistage process model of entrepreneurial passion and role identity management
Authors: Kakarika Maria , Biniari Marina , Guillén Laura , Mayo Margarita 
Published: January 2022

SummaryWith research on entrepreneurial passion booming, there is an increasing need to understand how and why that passion influences entrepreneurs' performance over time. To address this need, we develop a multistage process model, proposing that entrepreneurial passion type—harmonious or obsessive—explains how entrepreneurs modify their identity and reprioritize their roles as inventors, founders, and developers in response to feedback as the venture develops, thus giving rise to different patterns of role identity transition or persistence. The proposed feedback system advances our understanding of entrepreneurial passion by providing a dynamic view of the impact of passion and role identity management on overall entrepreneurial performance. We conclude by outlining the theoretical and practical implications of our multistage process model and by presenting an agenda for future research on entrepreneurial passion and role identity management.