bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alterations in vaginal microbiota among pregnant women with COVID‐19
Authors: Celik Ebru , Ozcan Gulin , Vatansever Cansel , Paerhati Erxiati , Kuşkucu Mert A. , Dogan Ozlem , Cekic Sebile Guler , Ergonul Onder , Gürsoy Attila , Keskin Özlem , Can Fusun 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe maintenance of vaginal microbiota is an important factor to achieve optimum pregnancy outcomes. The study aims to describe the alterations in the composition of vaginal microbiota in pregnant women with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). This was a prospective case‐control study. Vaginal swabs were collected from uninfected pregnant women (n = 28) and pregnant women with COVID‐19 (n = 19) during the active phase of infection and within a month after recovering from infection. The vaginal microbiota on the swabs was examined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Shannon index indicates that alpha diversity is significantly higher in women with COVID‐19 (p = 0.012). There was a significant decrease in Firmicutes (p = 0.014) with an increase in Bacteroidota (p = 0.018) phyla and a decrease in Lactobacillus (p = 0.007) genus in women with COVID‐19 than those of uninfected pregnant women. The relative abundance of L. crispatus, L. iners, L. gasseri, and L. jensenii were lower in the COVID‐19 group than in uninfected pregnant women. In subgroup analysis, the amount of Ureaplasma spp. was higher in women with moderate/severe than those of asymptomatic/mild disease (p = 0.036). The study revealed that vaginal dysbiosis with low abundance of Lactobacillus species occurred in pregnant women infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2. These findings may lead to new studies to elucidate the risk of pregnancy adverse outcomes related to COVID‐19.
A review of smart agriculture and production practices in Japanese large‐scale rice farming
Authors: Li Dongpo , Nanseki Teruaki , Chomei Yosuke , Kuang Jinsong 
Published: September 2022

AbstractJapanese farms currently occur on a small but expanding average physical scale and annual sales, in a decreasing and aging labor force, increasingly abandoned farmland and massive access of corporations powerful in capital and management. The government has proposed to accelerate agricultural growth through adopting high‐level smart technologies in large‐scale farms, with a series of favorite policies and measures. This paper reviews the connotations, characteristics and technologies of smart agriculture in the views of Japanese scholars, the practice of smart agriculture in Japan, followed by a case study on the smart rice production model ‘NoshoNavi1000’. The results show that Japanese scholars have conducted in‐depth and massive studies in smart agriculture, with regional characteristics in the orientations on labor‐saving, precise management, disaster reduction and inheriting traditional farming skills. The government's ambitious objective is supported by its all‐round policy package, including project demonstration, supporting services, environmental improvement, education and training, and overseas outreaching. Closely combined with the planting structure of Japanese agriculture, rice production is an important sector for the R&D and application of smart farming in the form of either individual technologies or models. The policies and technologies have achieved benefits in saving labor and production costs, and improving the profit margin. Through years of on‐farm application, ‘NoshoNavi1000’ has been developed to involve the major technological components of smart agriculture. It has contributed to improving rice yield, production efficiency and profitability of large‐scale farms, through real‐time data collection, comprehensive and professional data mining, and specific and practical feedbacks. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Prophylactic mastectomy and occult malignancy: Surgical and imaging considerations
Authors: Thompson Jessica L. , Sinco Brandy R. , McCaffrey Rachel L. , Chang Alfred E. , Sabel Michael S. , Dossett Lesly A. , Hughes Tasha M. , Jeruss Jacqueline S. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBackgroundSentinel node biopsy (SLNB) is not routinely recommended for patients undergoing prophylactic mastectomy (PM), yet omission remains a subject of debate among surgeons. A modern patient cohort was examined to determine occult malignancy (OM) incidence within PM specimens to reinforce current recommendations.MethodsAll PM performed over a 5‐year period were retrospectively identified, including women with unilateral breast cancer who underwent synchronous or delayed contralateral PM or women with elevated cancer risk who underwent bilateral PM.ResultsThe study population included 772 patients (598 CPM, 174 BPM) with a total of 39 OM identified: 17 invasive cancers (14 CPM, 3 BPM) and 22 DCIS (19 CPM, 3 BPM). Of the 86 patients for whom SLNB was selectively performed, 1 micrometastasis was identified. In the CPM cohort, risk of OM increased with age, presence of LCIS of either breast, or presence of a non‐BRCA high‐penetrance gene mutation, while preoperative magnetic resonance imaging was associated with lower likelihood of OM.ConclusionsGiven the low incidence of invasive OM in this updated series, routine SLNB is of low value for patients undergoing PM. For patients with indeterminate radiographic findings, discordant preoperative biopsies, LCIS, or non‐BRCA high‐penetrance gene mutations, selective SLNB implementation could be considered.
Survival of Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse chicks and juveniles in northwestern Colorado
Authors: Barker Rachel E. , Apa Anthony D. , Lutz R. Scott 
Published: September 2022

AbstractChick and juvenile survival are important vital rates for population monitoring and making sound management decisions. These demographics are poorly understood in Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) and survival estimation in the first 2 weeks is particularly challenging to assess. In 2015–2017, we captured 1,219 chicks (1–7 days old) from 156 broods. We marked 625 chicks with radio‐transmitters to monitor their survival and recaptured them to replace the radio‐transmitter from 18–30 days old. Overall survival of chicks and juveniles for the brood‐rearing season (initial capture–31 Aug) was 0.30 ± 0.02 (SE; 95% CI = 0.26, 0.35, n = 746) using the Kaplan‐Meier product‐limit estimator. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to model survival and for chicks entering the study at 2–4 days old, survival to 21 days old was 0.59 ± 0.03 (95% CI = 0.53, 0.65, n = 529) and increasing chick mass had a positive effect on chick survival probability, with a 6.0% decrease in mortality risk for each additional gram of mass at initial capture. Juvenile survival was 0.51 ± 0.04 (95% CI = 0.43, 0.60, n = 294) and differed by study site. Of our 4 study sites, the 2 western sites (West Axial, Iles Dome) had 65–80% greater hazard compared to the 2 more eastern sites (Routt, Trapper). Juvenile survival was also influenced by hatch date, with a 3.0% greater hazard for each day later in the nesting season that a nest hatched. Because chick survival is positively influenced by greater mass at capture and juvenile survival was positively affected by earlier hatching dates of broods, management actions should focus on improving the habitat surrounding lek sites to increase the success of initial nests and to provide high quality (increased levels of calcium, phosphorus, and protein) and quantity forage to nesting females and chicks to increase survival and population stability. Additionally, given that lower mass increases the hazard for chick survival, researchers planning to mark chicks should not mark individuals <11 g when using a 0.55‐g radio‐transmitter. Radio‐transmitters for chicks should not exceed 5.0% of the chicks' body mass at the time of marking.
Knockdown of Cadherin 26 Prevents the Inflammatory Responses of Allergic Rhinitis
Authors: Liu Tiancong , Sun Yang , Guo Zhaohui , Bai Weiliang 
Published: September 2022

ObjectivesAllergic rhinitis (AR) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease with disorder of the nasal mucosa. Cadherin 26 (CDH26), an alpha integrin‐binding epithelial receptor, is regulated during allergic inflammation. This study aimed to investigate whether CDH26 contributes to the severity of AR.Study designIn vivo and in vitro.MethodsWe investigated the effects of CDH26 knockdown by lentivirus (LV)‐mediated shRNA on ovalbumin (OVA)‐induced AR mice and IL‐13‐stimulated human nasal epithelial cells (NECs).ResultsCDH26 mRNA and protein expression was significantly increased in the nasal mucosa of AR patients and mice. Intranasal instillation of LV‐shCDH26 alleviated allergic symptoms and decreased the histological changes of nasal mucosa in AR mice. Furthermore, the serum levels of OVA‐specific IgE, IgG, pro‐inflammatory factors IL‐25, IL‐33, and TSLP were decreased in AR mice with CDH26 knockdown. With regard to AR‐induced Th2 inflammation, LV‐shCDH26 intervention effectively decreased the distribution of CD4+/GATA3+ Th2 cells, and the mRNA expression of IL‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐13 in the nasal mucosa. CDH26 knockdown down‐regulated the expression of β‐catenin but not for E‐cadherin and ZO‐1 in nasal mucosa induced by AR. In vitro, CDH26 knockdown inhibited the protein expression of TSLP, GM‐CSF and eotaxin in NECs, and CDH26 overexpression remarkably promoted the production of these inflammatory factors in IL‐13‐induced NECs.ConclusionsCDH26 knockdown attenuates the AR‐induced inflammatory response both in vivo and in vitro.Level of EvidenceNA Laryngoscope, 133:1558–1567, 2023
Performance of automatic exposure control on dose and image quality: comparison between slot‐scanning and flat‐panel digital radiography systems
Authors: Boissonnat Guillaume , Morichau‐Beauchant Pierre , Reshef Aymeric , Villa Coralie , Désauté Pascal , Simon Anne‐Catherine 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBackgroundEOSedge™* (EOS Imaging, Paris, France) is an X‐ray imaging system using automatic exposure control (AEC) with tube current modulation, in order to optimize dose deposition in patients.PurposeThis study aims at characterizing EOSedge organ dose deposition in comparison to a digital radiography (DR) system and the previous EOS system (EOS‐1st generation), in relation to their respective image quality levels.MethodOrgan doses were measured in an anthropomorphic female adult phantom and a 5‐year‐old pediatric phantom using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dosimeters, which were carefully calibrated within the studied energy range. Organ doses were recorded on the EOSedge and the Fuji Visionary DRF (Fujifilm Medical Systems U.S.A., Inc, Lexington, MA). The resulting effective doses were compared to the EOS‐1st‐generation values present in the literature. Image quality assessment was carried out on end‐user images. Quantitative image quality metrics were computed for all tested modalities on a quality assurance phantom. Qualitative assessment of EOSedge image quality was based on anthropomorphic phantom acquisitions against the EOS‐1st‐generation system, and on clinical images against the tested DR system.ResultsFor a full‐spine exam, and on the female adult phantom (respectively, the pediatric phantom), an effective dose of 92 μSv (respectively, 32 μSv) was obtained on EOSedge, and 572 μSv (respectively, 179 μSv) on the DR system; these values were compared to effective dose values of 290 μSv (respectively, 200 μSv) from the literature on EOS‐1st generation, leading to an effective dose reduction factor of 6 with respect to the DR system, and of 3–6 with respect to EOS‐1st generation. EOSedge provides the best compromise between contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) and dose, with more consistent CNR values than the other tested modalities, in a range of attenuation from 10 to 40 cm of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Within this range, EOSedge is also comparable to DR for 10 and 20 cm of PMMA, and better than DR for 30 and 40 cm of PMMA, both in terms of spatial resolution and low‐contrast detection. The anatomical landmarks of interest in the follow‐up of spinal deformities can be detected in all tested modalities.ConclusionResults showed that EOSedge provides significant dose reduction factors for full spine imaging in both adults and children compared to the other tested modalities, without compromising image quality. We believe that this work could help raise awareness on the capabilities of modern X‐ray systems, when equipped with appropriate AEC strategies, to perform ultra‐low‐dose, long‐axis images.
Patient‐specific dose correction for prostate postimplant evaluation with flexible timing of postimplant imaging
Authors: Luo Wei , Cheek Dennis , St Clair William , Washington Brien 
Published: September 2022

AbstractPurposeThe dosimetric effect of edema on prostate implants have long been realized, but large uncertainties still exist in the estimation of dose actually received by the prostate. This study attempted to develop a new method to accurately estimate dose delivered to the prostate accounting for the variation of prostate volume and seed distribution, edema half‐lives, and times for postimplant evaluation.Methods and materialsA series of prostate seed implants for Cs‐131, Pd‐103, and I‐125 with various prostate volumes were simulated in a water phantom using the TG‐43 algorithm on the Varian Eclipse treatment planning system. Dose analysis was performed to derive a quantitative relationship between the prostate peripheral dose and the prostate radius with the variation of prostate volume and seed distribution. Using this relationship to calculate dynamically, the total dose accumulated in the prostate (DT) accounting for the variation of prostate volume and seed distribution and edema half‐lives. Moreover, the total dose can be estimated statically based on the prostate volume that can be determined in a computerized tomography (CT) image taken at a time after implantation. The statically estimated total dose (DCT) was compared with DT to determine optimal imaging times as well as dose correction factors for other imaging times.ResultsAn inverse power law was established between the prostate peripheral dose and prostate radius. The value of the power was 1.3 for Cs‐131 and I‐125, and 1.5 for Pd‐103, respectively. DT was derived dynamically using the inverse power law. Given the edema half‐lives, TE, of 4, 9.3, and 25 days and the volume expansion of 1.1 and 2.0 times of the prostate without edema, the optimal times for postimplant imaging were: 7, 9, and 16 days for TE = 4 days; 10, 14, and 28 days for TE = 9.3 days; and 12, 19, 45 days TE = 25 days, for Cs‐131, Pd‐103, and I‐125, respectively. DCT calculated using the prostate volume determined on the optimal days agreed with DT to 0.0%–1.8% and within 0.3% for most cases. For various prostate volumes, edema half‐lives, and nonoptimal times, DCT was able to achieve a 1% accuracy.ConclusionThe postimplant dose calculation based on the proposed inverse power law for prostate seed implants with edema has improved the accuracy of postimplant dosimetry with accurate and patient‐specific dose corrections accounting for prostate size, edema half‐life, and postimplant imaging times. Optimal times for postimplant imaging have been accurately determined, and the high accuracy of postimplant dose calculation can be achieved for both optimal imaging times and nonoptimal imaging times.
The role of IL‐23 and the use of IL‐23 inhibitors in psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Fragoulis George E. , Siebert Stefan 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBackgroundPsoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis characterised by musculoskeletal and extra‐articular manifestations, most notably psoriasis. While the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms are not yet fully understood, a central role has been identified for the IL‐23/IL‐17 pathway.ObjectivesWe briefly describe the role of IL‐23 in the pathogenesis of PsA and go on to describe the available anti‐IL‐23 agents and their place in the management of PsA.MethodsThis is a narrative review of the current literature, focussing on the results of the phase 3 studies in PsA for the IL‐12/23 p40 inhibitor ustekinumab and the more recent IL‐23 p19 inhibitors guselkumab, risankizumab and tildrakizumab.ResultsIL‐23 triggers expression of IL‐17 and other effector cytokines in a variety of cells, leading to tissue inflammation and injury. Targeting IL‐23, particularly with p19 inhibitors, appears to be an effective and safe strategy for multiple clinical domains in PsA, most notably the skin, with some differences in efficacy emerging between these agents.ConclusionThe development of IL‐23 inhibitors represents a significant advance in the management of psoriatic disease. In the absence of head‐to‐head studies, future data emerging from real‐world experiences of individual IL‐23 p19 inhibitors will help inform the use of these agents in relation to other biologics in PsA.
Redesigning care for back pain in an Australian hospital setting: A service evaluation to identify need for change
Authors: Gorgon Edward , Maka Katherine , Sullivan Justin , Nisbet Gillian , Hancock Michelle , Regan Gerard , Leaver Andrew 
Published: September 2022

AbstractObjectiveThis needs assessment study examined current processes of physiotherapy care for adults with back pain in a large teaching hospital serving a multicultural community in Sydney, Australia. Evaluation of current practices is a necessary first step in the design of a patient‐centred, multidisciplinary service that promotes best practice in back pain management.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective service evaluation in the physiotherapy outpatient department by reviewing clinical data on episode of care and processes of care for adults managed for back pain over a 6‐month period using a defined protocol (n = 252).ResultsPatients (median age = 56 years; 72.2% born outside of Australia) were referred from various internal and external sources, with 79.8% having chronic back pain. The median length of episode of care was 8 weeks. Active interventions were almost universally used (98.4% of records). Key aspects of assessment were frequently recorded (84.5%–98% of records), but psychosocial risk assessment was not routinely recorded. Aspects of longitudinal management planning, including goal setting, outcome measurement, and routine follow‐up, were also not routinely recorded.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that physiotherapy processes of care in this setting followed key messages of best practice particularly with regard to interventions, in contrast to other settings and jurisdictions. However, the brief episodes of care and less evident focus on psychosocial aspects might not align with the needs of the majority with chronic back pain. These findings suggest the need to reframe processes of care with a biopsychosocial approach and structure episodes of care towards long‐term management solutions.
The multi‐depot family traveling salesman problem and clustered variants: Mathematical formulations and branch‐&‐cut based methods
Authors: Bernardino Raquel , Gouveia Luís , Paias Ana , Santos Daniel 
Published: September 2022

AbstractIn this article, we study the multi‐depot family traveling salesman problem (MDFTSP) and two clustered variants, the soft‐clustered MDFTSP (SC‐MDFTSP) and the hard‐clustered MDFTSP. We emphasize the relevance of this study by relating the problems with warehouse activities supported by scattered storage systems and by pointing out that clustered variants of routing problems have been scarcely addressed in the literature. For these three problems, we present several mixed integer linear programming formulations and develop appropriate branch‐&‐cut based algorithms which are tested with a newly generated data set including instances with up to 200 nodes and 40 depots. The results from the computational experiments allow us to identify the main differences between the three problems concerning modeling approaches as well as solution methods and put in evidence that these problems are challenging problems, in particular the SC‐MDFTSP.
Computing f‐divergences and distances of high‐dimensional probability density functions
Authors: Litvinenko Alexander , Marzouk Youssef , Matthies Hermann G. , Scavino Marco , Spantini Alessio 
Published: September 2022

AbstractVery often, in the course of uncertainty quantification tasks or data analysis, one has to deal with high‐dimensional random variables. Here the interest is mainly to compute characterizations like the entropy, the Kullback–Leibler divergence, more general ‐divergences, or other such characteristics based on the probability density. The density is often not available directly, and it is a computational challenge to just represent it in a numerically feasible fashion in case the dimension is even moderately large. It is an even stronger numerical challenge to then actually compute said characteristics in the high‐dimensional case. In this regard it is proposed to approximate the discretized density in a compressed form, in particular by a low‐rank tensor. This can alternatively be obtained from the corresponding probability characteristic function, or more general representations of the underlying random variable. The mentioned characterizations need point‐wise functions like the logarithm. This normally rather trivial task becomes computationally difficult when the density is approximated in a compressed resp. low‐rank tensor format, as the point values are not directly accessible. The computations become possible by considering the compressed data as an element of an associative, commutative algebra with an inner product, and using matrix algorithms to accomplish the mentioned tasks. The representation as a low‐rank element of a high order tensor space allows to reduce the computational complexity and storage cost from exponential in the dimension to almost linear.
T cells dominate peripheral inflammation in a cross‐sectional analysis of obesity‐associated diabetes
Authors: Pugh Gabriella H. , Fouladvand Sajjad , SantaCruz‐Calvo Sara , Agrawal Madhur , Zhang Xiaohua Douglas , Chen Jin , Kern Philip A. , Nikolajczyk Barbara S. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractObjectiveMyeloid cells dominate metabolic disease‐associated inflammation (metaflammation) in mouse obesity, but the contributions of myeloid cells to the peripheral inflammation that fuels sequelae of human obesity are untested. This study used unbiased approaches to rank contributions of myeloid and T cells to peripheral inflammation in people with obesity across the spectrum of metabolic health.MethodsPeripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from people with obesity with or without prediabetes or type 2 diabetes were stimulated with T cell‐targeting CD3/CD28 or myeloid‐targeting lipopolysaccharide for 20 to 72 hours to assess cytokine production using Bio‐Plex. Bioinformatic modeling ranked cytokines with respect to their predictive power for metabolic health. Intracellular tumor necrosis factor α was quantitated as a classical indicator of metaflammation.ResultsCytokines increased over 72 hours following T cell‐, but not myeloid‐, targeted stimulation to indicate that acute myeloid inflammation may shift to T cell inflammation over time. T cells contributed more tumor necrosis factor α to peripheral inflammation regardless of metabolic status. Bioinformatic combination of cytokines from all cohorts, stimuli, and time points indicated that T cell‐targeted stimulation was most important for differentiating inflammation in diabetes, consistent with previous identification of a mixed T helper type 1/T helper type 17 cytokine profile in diabetes.ConclusionsT cells dominate peripheral inflammation in obesity; therefore, targeting T cells may be an effective approach for prevention/management of metaflammation.