bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Single‐cell RNA‐sequencing technology demonstrates the heterogeneity between aged prostate peripheral and transitional zone
Authors: Yan Qiuxia , Wang Miao , Xia Haoran , Dai Cao , Diao Tongxiang , Wang Yingfei , Hou Huimin , Zhang Hong , Liu Ming , Long Xingbo 
Published: October 2022

AbstractBackgroundIdentifying cellular and functional heterogeneity within aged prostate is critical for understanding the spatial distribution of prostate diseases.MethodsAged human prostate peripheral zone (PZ) and transitional zone (TZ) tissues were used for single‐cell RNA‐sequencing. Results were validated by immunofluorescence staining.ResultsWe found that club/hillock epithelial cells, compared with other epithelial cells, had significantly higher NOTCH signaling activity and expressed higher levels of neuro‐stems but lower androgen‐related genes. These cells were primarily found in the TZ and provided a stem‐like niche around the proximal prostate ducts. Significant heterogeneity was observed in the aged luminal population. A novel TFF3+ luminal subtype with elevated MYC and E2F pathway activities was observed, primarily in the PZ. Further analysis revealed that epithelial cells in the TZ had higher levels of stem‐ and inflammation‐related pathway activities but lower androgen/lineage‐related pathway activities than those in the PZ. Notably, the activation of MYC, E2F and DNA repair pathways significantly increased in PZ luminal cells. In the immune landscape, we found that the immune microenvironment in the TZ is more complex and disordered with more infiltration of NK and Treg cells. CD8 T cell and macrophage in the TZ exhibit both inflammation activation and suppression phenotypes. In the stroma, the TZ had a higher fibroblast density, and fibroblasts in the TZ exhibited stronger transcriptome activity in immunity and proliferation. Ligand–receptor interaction analysis revealed that fibroblasts could contribute to a NOTCH signaling niche for club/hillock cells in the TZ and balance the prostate immune microenvironment. The activation of stem properties, inflammatory infiltration and loss of androgen/lineage activity are prominent features distinguishing the TZ from PZ.ConclusionsOur study explains the heterogeneity between the TZ and PZ of aged prostate, which may help understand the spatial distribution of prostate diseases and establish a foundation for novel target discovery.
Colonoscopy‐assisted percutaneous sigmoidopexy for a complete rectal prolapse: A case report
Authors: Takahashi Junji , Yoshida Masashi , Kamada Teppei , Nakaseko Yuichi , Nakashima Keigo , Suzuki Norihiko , Ohdaira Hironori , Suzuki Yutaka 
Published: October 2022

AbstractColonoscopy‐assisted percutaneous sigmoidopexy is a simple and swift procedure that does not require general anesthesia. While we first developed this procedure for treating sigmoid volvulus, we herein present the first case in which we used it to correct a complete rectal prolapse in an older patient. Existing treatment modalities for rectal prolapses are limited by high recurrence rates, greater invasiveness, and greater complications; thus, there is a need for minimally invasive techniques that are associated with lower recurrence rates and fewer complications. In this case, a woman in her 90s complained of persistent fecal incontinence, dysuria, anal pain, and difficulty in walking. She was diagnosed with a complete rectal prolapse of 15 cm and was treated with colonoscopy‐assisted percutaneous sigmoidopexy. The sigmoid colon was tractioned colonoscopically and fixed to the abdominal wall to immobilize the prolapsed rectum. The patient developed no complications intraoperatively and postoperatively and experienced no recurrence during a 5‐year postoperative period. This report documents the first case wherein colonoscopy‐assisted percutaneous sigmoidopexy was used successfully to correct a complete rectal prolapse.
The effects of local filtering processes on the structure and functioning of native plant communities in experimental urban habitats
Authors: Borowy Dorothy , Swan Christopher M. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractDespite a growing literature‐base devoted to document biodiversity patterns in cities, little is known about the processes that influence these patterns, and whether they are consistent over time. In particular, numerous studies have identified the capacity of cities to host a rich diversity of plant species. This trend, however, is driven primarily by introduced species, which comprise a large proportion of the urban species pool relative to natives. Using an experimental common garden study, we assessed the relative influence of local assembly processes (i.e., soil environmental filtering and competition from spontaneous urban species) on the taxonomic and functional diversity of native plant communities sampled over four seasons in 2016–2018. Taxonomic and functional diversity exhibited different responses to local processes, supporting the general conclusion that species‐ and trait‐based measures of biodiversity offer distinct insights into community assembly dynamics. Additionally, we found that neither soil nor competition from spontaneous urban species influenced taxonomic or functional composition of native species. Functional composition, however, did shift strongly over time and was driven by community‐weighted mean differences in both measured traits (maximum height, Hmax; specific leaf area, SLA; leaf chlorophyll a fluorescence, Chl a) and the relative proportions of different functional groups (legumes, annual and biennial‐perennial species, C4 grasses, and forbs). By contrast, taxonomic composition only diverged between early and late seasons. Overall, our results indicate that native species are not only capable of establishing and persisting in vacant urban habitats, they can functionally respond to local filtering pressures over time. This suggests that regional dispersal limitation may be a primary factor limiting native species in urban environments. Thus, future regreening and management plans should focus on enhancing the dispersal potential of native plant species in urban environments, in order to achieve set goals for increasing native species diversity and associated ecosystem services in cities.
Influence of land use changes on landscape connectivity for North China leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis)
Authors: Liang Guofu , Liu Jingzhen , Niu Hanbo , Ding Shengyan 
Published: October 2022

AbstractNorth China leopard (Panthera pardus japonensis) is the most widespread subspecies of leopard and one of the rare and endangered species in China. It is currently confined to several isolated natural reserves, and little is known about its habitat network connectivity with land use changes. This study was conducted to assess the impacts of land use changes on landscape connectivity for North China leopard in the Great Taihang Region. Circuit theory‐based connectivity models and least‐cost path analyses were used to delineate pathways suitable for species movement, and evaluate the impacts of land use changes on landscape connectivity. The results revealed that there were 37 least‐cost paths in 1990 and 38 in 2020. The area of forest land increased from 57,142.74 km2 to 74,836.64 km2, with the percentage increasing from 26.61% to 34.85%. In general, the increase in forest land area promoted the landscape connectivity for North China leopard at broad spatial scales. The improvement of landscape connectivity was not always consistent with the land use changes, and there was a slightly decreasing trend on connectivity in some key movement barrier areas with high intensity of human activities. Improving landscape connectivity at broad spatial scales is as important as protecting the habitats (natural reserves) where the species lives. Our study can serve as an example of exploring the relationships between land use changes and landscape connectivity for species conservation at broad spatial scales with limited movement pattern data. This information is proved to be critical for enhancing landscape connectivity for the conservation concern of North China leopard and planning of natural reserves network.
Interactions between shrub encroachment and water infiltration on the hillslope of a typical steppe
Authors: Zhang Si‐Yi , Zhang Zhi‐Hua , He Bin , Jiang Zhi‐Yun , Li Xiao‐Yan 
Published: October 2022

AbstractShrub encroachment has been a worldwide phenomenon, but the interactions between the surface hydrological cycle and the shrub‐encroached landscape at different hillslope positions remain poorly investigated. The present study was undertaken to explore the interactions between the water infiltration patterns affected by shrub encroachment. At four slope positions of a hillslope encroached by Caragana microphylla Lam, soil water content and temperature were continuously measured at 10‐min intervals at four or five depths in both the presence (shrub patches) and absence (grass matrix) of shrubs. Then, the infiltration of rainfall and meltwater was estimated based on analyses of the above data. The rainfall infiltration ratios (IRs) of grass matrix were as high as 0.78 ± 0.08, except at the lower site, which had a value of only 0.47. The IRs of shrub patches increased from 0.38 at the top site to 0.77 at the lower site. In snowy years, snow and ice were blown upward by wind and accumulated in the shrub patches and their leeward areas, which resulted in higher water input for the shrub patches than for the grass matrix. Shrub encroachment changed the microtopography and soil properties of the hillslope and further affected the surface hydrological processes. The feedbacks between shrub encroachment and water infiltration varied among sites of the hillslope, which may in turn have affected the development of shrub patches.
Potential for significant precipitation cycling by forest‐floor litter and deadwood
Authors: Floriancic Marius G. , Allen Scott T. , Meier Raphael , Truniger Lucas , Kirchner James W. , Molnar Peter 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThe forest‐floor litter layer can retain substantial volumes of water, thus affecting evaporation and soil‐moisture dynamics. However, litter layer wetting/drying dynamics are often overlooked when estimating forest water budgets. Here, we present field and laboratory experiments characterizing water cycling in the forest‐floor litter layer and outline its implications for subcanopy microclimatic conditions and for estimates of transpiration and recharge. Storage capacities of spruce needle litter and beech broadleaf litter averaged 3.1 and 1.9 mm, respectively, with drainage/evaporation timescales exceeding 2 days. Litter‐removal experiments showed that litter reduced soil water recharge, reduced soil evaporation rates, and insulated against ground heat fluxes that impacted snowmelt. Deadwood stored ~0.7 mm of water, increasing with more advanced states of decomposition, and retained water for >7 days. Observed daily cycles in deadwood weight revealed decreasing water storage during daytime as evaporation progressed and increasing storage at night from condensation or absorption. Water evaporating from the forest‐floor litter layer modulates the subcanopy microclimate by increasing humidity, decreasing temperature, and reducing VPD. Despite the relatively small litter storage capacity (<3.1 mm in comparison to ~102 mm for typical forest soil rooting zones), the litter layer alone retained and cycled 18% of annual precipitation, or 1/3 of annual evapotranspiration. These results suggest that overlooking litter interception may lead to substantial overestimates of recharge and transpiration in many forest ecosystems.
U‐shaped association between body mass index and ejection fraction in intensive care unit patients with heart failure
Authors: Liu Hualong , Huang Ying , Zhuo Wen , Wan Rong , Hong Kui 
Published: October 2022

AbstractAimsThere are limited data about the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) in patients with heart failure (HF). The study aims to assess the correlation between BMI and left ventricular EF under HF conditions.Methods and resultsWe derived the data from the Dryad Digital Repository for analysis, and the information of the original patients was obtained from the MIMIC‐III database by the data uploader. We performed smooth curve and two piecewise linear regression analyses to evaluate the association between BMI and EF in HF patients. A total of 962 participants were included in this study, with age of 73.7 ± 13.5 years, and 475 participants were male (49.4%). The results of the smooth curve supported a U‐shaped relationship between BMI and EF, and the inflection point was found to be a BMI of 23.3 kg/m2 in these HF patients. After adjusting for potential confounders, we found that EF decreased with increasing BMI up to the inflection point (β = −0.7, 95% CI −1.3 to −0.1, P = 0.028), whereas beyond the turning point, the relationship between EF and BMI showed a positive correlation (β = 0.2, 95% CI 0.1–0.3 P < 0.001). Importantly, ischaemic heart disease (interaction P = 0.0499) and hyperlipidaemia (interaction P = 0.0162) affected the association between BMI and EF in the lower BMI group (BMI < 23.3 kg/m2), although only diabetes mellitus (interaction P = 0.0255) altered the association between BMI and EF in the higher BMI group (BMI ≥ 23.3 kg/m2).ConclusionsIn addition to higher BMI, we also found that lower BMI is related to higher EF in intensive care unit patients with HF, supporting a U‐shaped association between BMI and EF.
GSDMD‐mediated NETosis promotes the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome
Authors: Xie Jian , Zhu Cheng‐long , Wan Xiao‐jian , Zhao Zhen‐zhen , Meng Yan , Li Peng , Guo Yu , Liu Qiang , Bian Jin‐jun , Deng Xiao‐ming , Wang Jia‐feng 
Published: October 2022

AbstractGasdermin D (GSDMD) is a classical molecule involved in pyroptosis. It has been reported to be cleaved into N‐terminal fragments to form pores in the neutrophil membrane and promote the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). However, it remains unclear if GSDMD is involved in neutrophil regulation and NET release during ARDS. The role of neutrophil GSDMD in the development of ARDS was investigated in a murine model of ARDS induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) using the neutrophil specific GSDMD‐deficient mice. The neutrophil GSDMD cleavage and its relationship with NETosis were also explored in ARDS patients. The cleavage of GSDMD in neutrophils from ARDS patients and mice was upregulated. Inhibition of GSDMD by genetic knockout or inhibitors resulted in reduced production of NET both in vivo and in vitro, and attenuation of LPS‐induced lung injury. Moreover, in vitro experiments showed that the inhibition of GSDMD attenuated endothelial injury co‐cultured with neutrophils from ARDS patients, while extrinsic NETs reversed the protective effect of GSDMD inhibition. Collectively, our data suggest that the neutrophil GSDMD cleavage is crucial in NET release during ARDS. The NET release maintained by cleaved GSDMD in neutrophils may be a key event in the development of ARDS.
Synthesis of Anthracene and Pyrene End‐Capped Triarylamines for p‐Channel High‐Performance OFETs
Authors: Devibala Panneerselvam , Balambiga Balu , Imran Predhanekar Mohamed , Bhuvanesh Nattamai S. P. , Nagarajan Samuthira 
Published: October 2022

AbstractA series of new anthracene/pyrene functionalized triarylamine‐based D‐π‐D’ semiconductors are demonstrated as p‐channel material for high‐performance OFETs. The introduction of electron‐donating end‐caps and ethynyl styrylene bridged spacers at D‐π‐D’ architecture modulated the self‐ordering, electron distribution, and field‐effect mobility. These molecules exhibited high‐lying HOMO of ∼4.8 eV, enabling the hole‐transporting property and reducing the energy barrier for charge injection. Organic field‐effect transistors fabricated on bottom‐gated top‐contact architecture containing pyrene end‐capped triarylamines with tert‐butylphenyl sidearm as active layer displayed high hole mobility of 2.5 cm2/Vs and on/off current ratio of 107, and the threshold voltage of −7 V. The highest performance was supported by the molecular order of the film, planarity, high HOMO, and electron‐donating nature of the end‐capping units, as illustrated by the SEM, XRD, and DFT studies.
Decisions, decisions, decisions in an uncertain environment
Authors: Cressie Noel 
Published: October 2022

AbstractDecision‐makers abhor uncertainty, and it is certainly true that the less there is of it the better. However, recognizing that uncertainty is part of the equation, particularly for deciding on environmental policy, is a prerequisite for making wise decisions. Even making no decision is a decision that has consequences, and using the presence of uncertainty as the reason for failing to act is a poor excuse. Statistical science is the science of uncertainty, and it should play a critical role in the decision‐making process. This opinion piece focuses on the summit of the knowledge pyramid that starts from data and rises in steps from data to information, from information to knowledge, and finally from knowledge to decisions. Enormous advances have been made in the last 100 years ascending the pyramid, with deviations that have followed different routes. There has generally been a healthy supply of uncertainty quantification along the way but, in a rush to the top, where the decisions are made, uncertainty is often left behind. In my opinion, statistical science needs to be much more pro‐active in evolving classical decision theory into a relevant and practical area of decision applications. This article follows several threads, building on the decision‐theoretic foundations of loss functions and Bayesian uncertainty.
Determination of vitamin K encapsulated into lipid nanocarriers by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction combined with liquid chromatography–atmospheric pressure chemical ionization–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Yoo Guijae , Kim Tae‐Eun , Lee Min Hyeock , Kim Bum‐Keun , Jang Hae Won 
Published: October 2022

AbstractDispersive liquid–liquid microextraction was used in conjunction with liquid chromatography–atmospheric pressure chemical ionization–tandem mass spectrometry to quantitate vitamins K1 and K2 in vitamin‐fortified emulsions, and vital microextraction parameters were optimized using response surface methodology coupled with Box–Behnken design. Under optimal microextraction conditions, highly linear (R2 > .999) calibration curves were obtained for both vitamins in a broad concentration range (1–1000 μg/L), and vitamin recoveries exceeded 90%. The detection and quantitation limits equaled 1.89 and 5.72 μg/L for vitamin K1, respectively, and 5.00 and 15.15 μg/L for vitamin K2, respectively. When applied to vitamin‐K‐loaded nanoemulsions and solid lipid nanoparticles, the developed method achieved excellent results, outperforming the currently employed Korean Food Code method, and therefore holding great promise for the quantitation of vitamin K in vitamin‐fortified food products.
Motor progression marker for newly diagnosed drug‐naïve patients with Parkinson's disease: A resting‐state functional MRI study
Authors: Hou Yanbing , Zhang Lingyu , Ou Ruwei , Wei Qianqian , Gu Xiaojing , Liu Kuncheng , Lin Junyu , Yang Tianmi , Xiao Yi , Gong Qiyong , Shang Huifang 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThe effective early prediction of clinical outcomes of Parkinson's disease (PD) is of great significance in the implementation of appropriate interventions. We aimed to propose a method based on the use of baseline resting‐state functional characteristics (i.e., fractional amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuations, fALFF) to predict motor progression in PD patients. Resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 48 newly‐diagnosed drug‐naïve PD patients and 27 age‐ and sex‐ matched healthy controls (HCs). Two PD subgroups were defined with different annual increase of Unified PD Rating Scale Part III motor scores. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis was performed to explore the baseline region‐functional indicators for PD discrimination as well as the predictors for future motor deficits. Two significant models composed of baseline fALFF values from cerebral subregions were proposed. The classification model that distinguished PD patients from HCs (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.897) showed the most significant imaging characteristics in the putamen and precentral gyrus. The other prediction model that evaluated the degree of future deterioration of motor symptoms in PD patients (AUC = 0.916) showed the most significant imaging characteristics in the superior occipital gyrus and caudate nucleus. Furthermore, the increased regional function in bilateral caudate nuclei was correlated with the lower annual increase in motor deficits in all PD patients. The caudate nucleus might be the core region responsible for future motor deficits in newly‐diagnosed PD patients, which may aid the development of disease progression preventive strategies in clinical practice.
Reliable brain morphometry from contrast‐enhanced T1w‐MRI in patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Rebsamen Michael , McKinley Richard , Radojewski Piotr , Pistor Maximilian , Friedli Christoph , Hoepner Robert , Salmen Anke , Chan Andrew , Reyes Mauricio , Wagner Franca , Wiest Roland , Rummel Christian 
Published: October 2022

AbstractBrain morphometry is usually based on non‐enhanced (pre‐contrast) T1‐weighted MRI. However, such dedicated protocols are sometimes missing in clinical examinations. Instead, an image with a contrast agent is often available. Existing tools such as FreeSurfer yield unreliable results when applied to contrast‐enhanced (CE) images. Consequently, these acquisitions are excluded from retrospective morphometry studies, which reduces the sample size. We hypothesize that deep learning (DL)‐based morphometry methods can extract morphometric measures also from contrast‐enhanced MRI. We have extended DL+DiReCT to cope with contrast‐enhanced MRI. Training data for our DL‐based model were enriched with non‐enhanced and CE image pairs from the same session. The segmentations were derived with FreeSurfer from the non‐enhanced image and used as ground truth for the coregistered CE image. A longitudinal dataset of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), comprising relapsing remitting (RRMS) and primary progressive (PPMS) subgroups, was used for the evaluation. Global and regional cortical thickness derived from non‐enhanced and CE images were contrasted to results from FreeSurfer. Correlation coefficients of global mean cortical thickness between non‐enhanced and CE images were significantly larger with DL+DiReCT (r = 0.92) than with FreeSurfer (r = 0.75). When comparing the longitudinal atrophy rates between the two MS subgroups, the effect sizes between PPMS and RRMS were higher with DL+DiReCT both for non‐enhanced (d = −0.304) and CE images (d = −0.169) than for FreeSurfer (non‐enhanced d = −0.111, CE d = 0.085). In conclusion, brain morphometry can be derived reliably from contrast‐enhanced MRI using DL‐based morphometry tools, making additional cases available for analysis and potential future diagnostic morphometry tools.