bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Older Adults and Smart Technology: Facilitators and Barriers to Use
Authors: Harris Maurita T. , Blocker Kenneth A. , Rogers Wendy A.
Published: May 2022

Smart technologies (e.g., smartphones, smart security technologies, digital home assistants) have advanced over the years and will continue to do so. There are various benefits to using these technologies in one's life, such as an increase in productivity through automation and self-monitoring one's health. Older adults particularly may benefit from smart technologies to support their everyday activities and compensate for age related changes. In this study, we explored the experiences and attitudes of eighty older adults including those who had prior experience and those who had never used (or perhaps never heard of) smart technologies through an online survey. We assessed their general opinions toward using smart technology and explored what facilitated or hindered their use. Older adults rated the facilitators to use for each smart technology differently, with few commonalities between the order of the most agreed upon facilitators. However, older adults' opinions were consistent across each technology about their ignorance of technological features and cost of the smart technology, which could be potential barriers to use. Among those who had never used one of the smart technologies, privacy was the most commonly endorsed concern. The results from this study support the understanding of key considerations when developing and deploying smart technologies for older adults.
Inflammatory Mediators in Atherosclerotic Vascular Remodeling
Authors: Evans Bryce R. , Yerly Anaïs , van der Vorst Emiel P. C. , Baumgartner Iris , Bernhard Sarah Maike , Schindewolf Marc , Döring Yvonne
Published: May 2022

Atherosclerotic vascular disease remains the most common cause of ischemia, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Vascular function is determined by structural and functional properties of the arterial vessel wall, which consists of three layers, namely the adventitia, media, and intima. Key cells in shaping the vascular wall architecture and warranting proper vessel function are vascular smooth muscle cells in the arterial media and endothelial cells lining the intima. Pathological alterations of this vessel wall architecture called vascular remodeling can lead to insufficient vascular function and subsequent ischemia and organ damage. One major pathomechanism driving this detrimental vascular remodeling is atherosclerosis, which is initiated by endothelial dysfunction allowing the accumulation of intimal lipids and leukocytes. Inflammatory mediators such as cytokines, chemokines, and modified lipids further drive vascular remodeling ultimately leading to thrombus formation and/or vessel occlusion which can cause major cardiovascular events. Although it is clear that vascular wall remodeling is an elementary mechanism of atherosclerotic vascular disease, the diverse underlying pathomechanisms and its consequences are still insufficiently understood.
Exercise Capacity in Children and Adolescents With Congenital Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Villaseca-Rojas Yenny , Varela-Melo Javiera , Torres-Castro Rodrigo , Vasconcello-Castillo Luis , Mazzucco Guillermo , Vilaró Jordi , Blanco Isabel
Published: May 2022

Background

Congenital heart disease (CHD) entails structural defects in the morphogenesis of the heart or its main vessels. Analyzing exercise capacity of children and adolescents with CHD is important to improve their functional condition and quality of life, since it can allow timely intervention on poor prognostic factors associated with higher risk of morbidity and mortality.

Objective

To describe exercise capacity in children and adolescents with CHD compared with healthy controls.

Methods

A systematic review was carried out. Randomized clinical trials and observational studies were included assessing exercise capacity through direct and indirect methods in children and adolescents between 5 and 17 years-old. A sensitive analysis was performed including studies with CHD repaired participants. Additionally, it was sub-analyzed by age range (< and ≥ 12 years old). Two independent reviewers analyzed the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the quality of the evidence.

Results

5619 articles were found and 21 were considered for the review. Eighteen articles used the direct exercise capacity measurement method by cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). The CHD group showed significant differences in peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) with a value of −7.9 ml/Kg/min (95% CI: −9.9, −5.9, p = 0.00001), maximum workload (Wmax) −41.5 (95% CI: −57.9, −25.1 watts, p = 0.00001), ventilatory equivalent (VE/VCO2) slope 2.6 (95% CI: 0.3, 4.8), oxygen pulse (O2 pulse)−2.4 ml/beat (95% CI: −3.7, −1.1, p = 0.0003), and maximum heart rate (HRmax) −15 bpm (95% CI: −18, −12 bpm, p = 0.00001), compared with healthy controls. Adolescents (≥ 12 yrs) with CHD had a greater reduction in VO2peak (−10.0 ml/Kg/min (95% CI: −12.0, −5.3), p < 0.00001), Wmax (−45.5 watts (95% CI: −54.4, −36.7), p < 0.00001) and HRmax (−21 bpm (95% CI: −28, −14), p<0.00001).

Conclusion

Suffering CHD in childhood and adolescence is associated with lower exercise capacity as shown by worse VO2peak, Wmax, VE/VCO2 slope, O2 pulse, and HRmax compared with matched healthy controls. The reduction in exercise capacity was greater in adolescents.

Systematic Review Registration

www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=208963, identifier: CRD42020208963.
Elevated Blood Urea Nitrogen to Serum Albumin Ratio Is an Adverse Prognostic Predictor for Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Ye Liu , Shi Haoming , Wang Xiaowen , Duan Qin , Ge Ping , Shao Yue
Published: May 2022

Background

Elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and reduced albumin have been prominently correlated with unfavorable outcomes in patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, whether combination BUN and albumin levels could predict the adverse outcomes of cardiac surgery patients remains to be confirmed. Here, we investigated the prognostic effect of the preoperative BUN to serum albumin ratio (BAR) in cardiac surgery patients.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC) III and eICU databases and classified into a training cohort and validation cohort. The BAR (mg/g) was calculated by initial BUN (mg/dl)/serum albumin (g/dl). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were 1-year mortality, prolonged length at intensive care unit, and duration of hospital stay. The associations of BAR with outcomes were explored by multivariate regression analysis and subgroup analyses. Then, C statistics were performed to assess the added prognostic impact of BAR beyond a baseline risk model.

Results

Patients with in-hospital death had significantly higher levels of BAR. Multivariate regression analysis identified BAR, as a categorical or continuous variable, as an independent factor for adverse outcomes of cardiac surgery (all p < 0.05). Subgroup analyses demonstrated a significant relationship between elevated BAR and in-hospital mortality in different subclasses. The addition of BAR to a baseline model provided additional prognostic information benefits for assessing primary outcome. Results were concordant in the external validation cohort.

Conclusions

Increased preoperative BAR is a potent predictor of unfavorable outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
The Application of Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibitor in Cardiovascular Diseases: A Bibliometric Review From 2000 to 2022
Authors: Xu Xia , Li Yumeng , Shi Shuqing , Lv Jiayu , Wang Yajiao , Zheng Haoran , Mao Xinxin , Wu Huaqin , Zhang Bingxuan , Song Qingqiao
Published: May 2022

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become a huge challenge for the global public health system due to its high morbidity, mortality and severe economic burden. In recent years, angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), a new class of drugs, has shown good therapeutic effects on CVD patients in several clinical studies, reducing the morbidity and mortality of CVD patients. In this study, we retrieved publications on ARNI research in the cardiovascular field from the Web of Science core collection and analyzed the annual output, spatial and temporal distribution, institutions and authors, core journals, keywords and co-cited literature based on CiteSpace. As a result, 604 publications were retrieved, and the number of annual publications generally increased year by year, with the largest number of articles. The analysis of the co-occurrence of output countries and authors showed that a few developed countries such as the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom are the most active in this field, forming academic groups represented by John Joseph Valentine McMurray and Scott D. Solomon, and New England Journal of Medicine, Cirulation, and Journal of the American College of Cardiology are the most popular journals in the field, with research hotspots focused on ARNI in the treatment of total ejection fraction heart failure, hypertension and its target organ damage, with the potential for future benefit throughout the cardiovascular event chain as research progresses. This study reveals the prospective application of ARNI in the cardiovascular field and the research hotspots, providing broader and deeper guidance for its use in the clinic, which is beneficial to improve the treatment and prognosis of CVD patients.
Topic Modeling for Interpretable Text Classification From EHRs
Authors: Rijcken Emil , Kaymak Uzay , Scheepers Floortje , Mosteiro Pablo , Zervanou Kalliopi , Spruit Marco
Published: May 2022

The clinical notes in electronic health records have many possibilities for predictive tasks in text classification. The interpretability of these classification models for the clinical domain is critical for decision making. Using topic models for text classification of electronic health records for a predictive task allows for the use of topics as features, thus making the text classification more interpretable. However, selecting the most effective topic model is not trivial. In this work, we propose considerations for selecting a suitable topic model based on the predictive performance and interpretability measure for text classification. We compare 17 different topic models in terms of both interpretability and predictive performance in an inpatient violence prediction task using clinical notes. We find no correlation between interpretability and predictive performance. In addition, our results show that although no model outperforms the other models on both variables, our proposed fuzzy topic modeling algorithm (FLSA-W) performs best in most settings for interpretability, whereas two state-of-the-art methods (ProdLDA and LSI) achieve the best predictive performance.
Examining Sentiment in Complex Texts. A Comparison of Different Computational Approaches
Authors: Munnes Stefan , Harsch Corinna , Knobloch Marcel , Vogel Johannes S. , Hipp Lena , Schilling Erik
Published: May 2022

Can we rely on computational methods to accurately analyze complex texts? To answer this question, we compared different dictionary and scaling methods used in predicting the sentiment of German literature reviews to the “gold standard” of human-coded sentiments. Literature reviews constitute a challenging text corpus for computational analysis as they not only contain different text levels—for example, a summary of the work and the reviewer's appraisal—but are also characterized by subtle and ambiguous language elements. To take the nuanced sentiments of literature reviews into account, we worked with a metric rather than a dichotomous scale for sentiment analysis. The results of our analyses show that the predicted sentiments of prefabricated dictionaries, which are computationally efficient and require minimal adaption, have a low to medium correlation with the human-coded sentiments (r between 0.32 and 0.39). The accuracy of self-created dictionaries using word embeddings (both pre-trained and self-trained) was considerably lower (r between 0.10 and 0.28). Given the high coding intensity and contingency on seed selection as well as the degree of data pre-processing of word embeddings that we found with our data, we would not recommend them for complex texts without further adaptation. While fully automated approaches appear not to work in accurately predicting text sentiments with complex texts such as ours, we found relatively high correlations with a semiautomated approach (r of around 0.6)—which, however, requires intensive human coding efforts for the training dataset. In addition to illustrating the benefits and limits of computational approaches in analyzing complex text corpora and the potential of metric rather than binary scales of text sentiment, we also provide a practical guide for researchers to select an appropriate method and degree of pre-processing when working with complex texts.
Experimental Determination of Polycrystalline Salt Rock Thermal Conductivity, Diffusivity and Specific Heat From 20 to 240°C
Authors: Ren Yiwei , Yuan Qiang , Kang Yanfei , Wei Like , Li Zongze , Jiang Deyi , He Huayong , Xu Hong
Published: May 2022

Salt rock is recognized as one of the most suitable parent rocks for geological disposal of high level radioactive waste due to its low permeability, good ductility, good thermal conductivity and damage self-healing properties. The thermal conductivity of salt rock directly affects the temperature of disposal storage and surrounding rock, high temperature will lead to a series of problems such as nuclear waste storage tank rupture, mechanical and permeability reduction of surrounding rock. In this paper, the thermal conductivity, specific heat and thermal diffusion coefficient of NaCl single crystal made by crystallization method in the laboratory and polycrystalline salt rock from Khewra salt mine were measured in the range of 22–240°C by the transient plane source method. The results showed that the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of salt rock decrease gradually with the increase of temperature, while the specific heat capacity increases with the increase of temperature. The thermal conductivity of salt rock is slightly lower than that of single-crystal NaCl. The reason for this phenomenon may be that there are a few pores in salt rock. Based on the experimental data, the models of thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and specific heat of salt rock with temperature were established. The results can provide a reference for the construction of underground salt rock high-level radioactive waste disposal repository. Based on the thermal conductivity model of polycrystalline salt rock established in this paper, the temperature field evolution during the operation of the underground salt rock high-level nuclear waste repository in 1,000 years was studied. It was found that the temperature of the glass solidified of high-level radioactive waste reached the highest (177.6°C) and then dropped rapidly. The decay heat radiation influence radius of the nuclear waste reaches its maximum in about 50 years of operation of the repository and then gradually decreases.
Sedimentology and Stratigraphy of a Large, Pre-Vegetation Deltaic Complex
Authors: Jones Robyn , Marcelissen Rachel , Fralick Philip
Published: May 2022

The operation of depositional processes in fluvial systems prior to the development of land-based, macrophyte vegetation has undergone considerable research. The differences in sedimentation in the channels and floodplains compared to post-vegetation systems should result in differences also existing in the deposits developed where the rivers debouch their loads into standing bodies of water. These deltaic deposits have been studied relatively less. The 1.4 Ga Kama Hill and Outan Island Formations of the Sibley Group, northwestern Ontario, provide a site to further investigate these potential differences. Four totally cored drill holes intersect this 340 m thick, prograding, deltaic to fluvial succession. It is divisible into eight lithofacies associations representing environments ranging from prodelta to the delta-top floodplain-channel assemblage. The sub-aqueous portion of the succession is composed of two thick progradational delta lobes probably caused by: deposition induced regression followed by a condensed sequence due to channel avulsion with distal repositioning, and finally channel avulsion with proximal repositioning driving another depositional induced regression. Large-scale sequence stratigraphic nomenclature does not properly describe this succession. At a smaller scale, members of progradational parasequence sets decrease in thickness from the prodelta to upper distributary-mouth bars. The deltaic deposits are compared to the modern, large Mississippi deltaic system. Sub-aqueous sub-environments are similar to this, except: 1) the lack of infauna bioturbation leads to better preservation of Sibley Delta sedimentary structures; 2) scarce organic sediment does not allow reducing diagenetic reactions, thus preserving the highly oxidized nature of the fluvial sediments; 3) the Sibley distributary-mouth bars have more medium- and coarse-grained sand than the Mississippi bars; 4) the Sibley distributary-mouth bars have abundant thick, massive, non-graded, normal graded and reverse graded sandstones, likely the result of high-discharge slurry-flows from the fluvial channels; 5) the lack of macrophytes (coastal marshes) complicates interpreting the transition from bar tops to sub-aerial environments; 6) the abandonment phase of bay-fill progradational parasequences is further condensed due to the lack of organic deposits. However, the considerable similarities between the Sibley Delta and the Mississippi Delta denote that not all pre-vegetation deltas conform to general braid and fan delta models.
Particle Size and Internal Structure of Deformed Coal: Microstructure and Adsorption/Desorption Characteristics of CO2 and CH4
Authors: Li Xiaoshi , Ju Yiwen , Song Yu , Yan Zhifeng , Li Qiangguang
Published: May 2022

Structural deformation has a very important effect on the particle size and adsorption/desorption properties of coal, which is widely distributed in China, but there are few studies in this area. The effects of particle size and internal structure on the pores and adsorption properties of deformed coal were studied, and the influence of structural deformation was analyzed. Eight undeformed and deformed coal samples were progressively crushed from 0.12 to 0.15 mm (100–120 mesh), 0.18–0.25 mm (60–80 mesh), and 0.42–0.84 mm (20–40 mesh), and subsequently, adsorption/desorption characteristics of CO2 and CH4 and pore structure analyses were performed on all the grain size fractions. The coal size fraction has a slightly smaller influence on CO2 adsorption than on CH4 adsorption. Deformation can promote gas desorption, which increases as the deformation increases. Moreover, deformation can reduce the effect of granularity and internal structure on gas adsorption capacities. The 60–80 mesh is suggested to be the optimal size for deformed coal to achieve the ideal adsorption/desorption effect without eliminating the influence of structural deformation. However, below 100–120 mesh is recommended to reduce the impact of structural deformation on data processing and analysis when the sample contains both deformed and undeformed coals.
Earthquake Productivity Law in a Wide Magnitude Range
Authors: Shebalin Peter , Baranov Sergey , Vorobieva Inessa
Published: May 2022

Earthquakes are usually followed by aftershocks. The number of aftershocks—the so-called productivity—depends on the magnitude of the earthquake. In seismic modeling it is usually assumed that the number of aftershocks is approximately the same for earthquakes with the same magnitude. This is one of the key assumptions on which the calculations are based. Although it is known that in reality this number can vary widely, only recently a pattern of such changes, called the earthquake productivity law, has been established. If we consider only direct aftershocks in a fixed magnitude range relative to the magnitude of the main shocks, then their number for a set of earthquakes in some spatiotemporal volume has an exponential distribution form. This means that fewer aftershocks are more likely. The most likely outcome is the complete absence of aftershocks. This pattern is quite counterintuitive, especially when considering aftershocks over a wide range of magnitudes. Here we managed to confirm the fulfillment of the earthquake productivity law for the wide range of magnitudes. For earthquakes of magnitude 6 and higher in the land part of Japan, it is confirmed that the frequency distribution of the number of their direct aftershocks with a minimum magnitude of 5 units less has an exponential shape. In seismicity modeling the validated earthquake productivity law makes it possible to replace the incorrect assumption of constant earthquake productivity with an exponential distribution. The single parameter of this regularity is easily determined from the actual data.
Microscopic Seepage Mechanism of Gas and Water in Ultra-Deep Fractured Sandstone Gas Reservoirs of Low Porosity: A Case Study of Keshen Gas Field in Kuqa Depression of Tarim Basin, China
Authors: Wang Rujun , Zhang Chengze , Chen Dong , Yang Fenglai , Li Haiming , Li Ming
Published: May 2022

To study the microscopic seepage mechanism of gas and water in fractured sandstone gas reservoirs of low porosity, this kind of reservoir in the Keshen gas field, Kuqa depression of Tarim basin in China, was taken as an example. Based on rock samples and microscopic visualization technology, nuclear magnetic resonance experiments of saturated water–gas drive and CT scanning experiments of saturated gas–water drive were conducted. The seepage mechanism of water invasion during the gas development were simulated. Subsequently, the distribution of irreducible water saturation and the influence factors on the efficiency of drive were analyzed. The results show that the distribution of gas and water is mainly related to structures of matrix pores, fracture development pattern, and density. The main factors resulting into good reservoirs include large matrix pores and high angle fractures, low irreducible water saturation, and high separation between gas and water. The efficiency of water drive is positively correlated with fracture porosity and dip angle. High angle fractures can effectively improve the seepage capability and then increase the efficiency of water drive. Besides, the great proportion of large pore size in matrix, high fracture dip, porosity, and density can also improve the efficiency of water drive. Therefore, for the development of fractured sandstone gas reservoirs of low porosity, the study of matrix pores and fractures is quite important since it can provide guidance for the efficient deployment of wells. The increase of fracture density is significant by large-scale sand fracturing in order to improve the efficiency of water drive. It is necessary to strictly control the gas production rate of the gas reservoir and delay the water invasion rate as far as possible. In case of serious waterlogging, shut-in all wells in gas reservoirs is a choice to strengthen the gas–water imbibition between fractures and matrix, which can improve the recovery of the gas reservoir.
Damage Evolution of Frozen-Thawed Granite Based on High-Resolution Computed Tomographic Scanning
Authors: Li Bo , Zhang Guanghua , Wang Gang , Qiao Jiaxing
Published: May 2022

Freeze-thaw damage of rocks is one of significant natural causes for geo-hazards such as collapse and rockfall in alpine areas. To explore damage evolution in granite in a freeze-thaw environment, specimens of granite in Nyingchi Prefecture, Tibet, China were collected as research objects. Saturated and dry rock specimens were subjected to cyclic freeze-thaw tests of 0, 36, 72, and 144 cycles and freeze-thaw damage of the rock was analyzed by combining computed tomography (CT) scanning and three-dimensional (3D) visualization. Results show that the peak stress of granite decreases to different extents with the increasing number of freeze-thaw cycles; compared with dry rock specimens, saturated granite deteriorates more significantly and shows obviously different stress–strain curves under loading. The moisture condition exerts significant influences on the degree of freeze-thaw damage to granite: after 144 freeze-thaw cycles, the mass loss rates of dry and saturated rock specimens are 0.06% and 0.44% and their loss rates of uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) reach 4.08% and 26.2%, respectively. Under freeze-thaw cycles, the frost heave of pore water causes initiation and development of micro-defects and new micro-cracks mainly develop along relatively weak areas such as inherent defects (pores and fractures) and boundaries between different mineral crystals, resulting in intergranular and transgranular cracking. For dry rock specimens, the non-uniform contraction and expansion of minerals therein are main causes for deterioration inside the rock. The freeze-thaw damage of rocks is calculated using the improved elastic modulus loss method. The damage development trend conforms to the strength deterioration trend and the pore development in the rock, reflecting the evolution of freeze-thaw damage to granite.
Assessing the Quality of Argumentative Texts: Examining the General Agreement Between Different Rating Procedures and Exploring Inferences of (Dis)agreement Cases
Authors: Landrieu Yana , De Smedt Fien , Van Keer Hilde , De Wever Bram
Published: May 2022

Assessing argumentative writing skills is not a straightforward task, as multiple elements need to be considered. In function of providing feedback to students and keeping track of their progress, evaluating argumentative texts in a suitable, valid and efficient way is important. In this state-of-the-art exploratory study, 130 argumentative texts written by eleventh graders were assessed by means of three different rating procedures (i.e., absolute holistic rating, comparative holistic rating, and absolute analytic rating). The main aim of this study is twofold. First, we aim to examine the correlations between the three rating procedures and to study the extent to which these procedures differ in assigning scores. In doing so, the more innovative approach of pairwise comparisons is compared to more established assessment methods of absolute holistic and analytic rating. Second, we aim to identify key characteristics that determine the quality of an argumentative text, independent of the rating procedure used. Furthermore, key elements of mid-range, weak and strong argumentative texts were studied in detail. The results reveal low to moderate agreement between the different procedures, indicating that all procedures are suitable to assess the quality of an argumentative text; each procedure, however, has its own qualities and applicability.
Examining the Relationship Between Adaptability, Social Support, and Psychological Wellbeing Among Chinese International Students at UK Universities
Authors: Holliman Andrew , Waldeck Daniel , Yang Tiange , Kwan Cheuk , Zeng Manting , Abbott Nicola
Published: May 2022

University entry represents a period of significant change for students. The extent to which students are able to effectively navigate this change (e.g., via their personal adaptability and social support) will likely impact upon their psychological wellbeing (a finding corroborated by recent studies). However, no study to date has examined these relations among overseas, international students, who represent an increasing proportion of university students in the UK and where the degree of change, novelty, and uncertainty is often exacerbated. In the present study, 325 Chinese international (overseas) students at UK universities, were surveyed for their adaptability and social support as well as their psychological wellbeing outcomes (e.g., life satisfaction, flourishing, and distress). A series of moderated regression analyses revealed that adaptability and social support operate largely as independent predictors of psychological wellbeing (all outcomes). Further, social support was found to moderate the association between adaptability and two of the psychological wellbeing outcomes: life satisfaction and psychological distress. These findings have important implications for educators and researchers, who are seeking to support the transition of international (overseas) students to university and optimize their experience.
Application of MR Imaging Features in Differentiation of Renal Changes in Patients With Stage III Type 2 Diabetic Nephropathy and Normal Subjects
Authors: Yu Baoting , Huang Chencui , Fan Xiaofei , Li Feng , Zhang Jianzhong , Song Zihan , Zhi Nan , Ding Jun
Published: May 2022

Objective

The objective of the study was to explore the value of MRI texture features based on T1WI, T2-FS and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in differentiation of renal changes in patients with stage III type 2 diabetic nephropathy (DN) and normal subjects.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed to analyze 44 healthy volunteers (group A) and 40 patients with stage III type 2 diabetic nephropathy (group B) with microalbuminuria. Urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) <30 mg/g, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in the range of 60–120 ml/(min 1.73 m2), and randomly divided into primary cohort and test cohort. Conventional MRI and DWI of kidney were performed using 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The outline of the renal parenchyma was manually labeled in fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging (FS-T2WI), and PyRadiomics was used to extract radiomics features. The radiomics features were then selected by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method.

Results

There was a significant difference in sex and body mass index (BMI) (P <0.05) in the primary cohort, with no significant difference in age. In the final results, the wavelet and Laplacian–Gaussian filtering are used to extract 1,892 image features from the original T1WI image, and the LASSO algorithm is used for selection. One first-order feature and six texture features are selected through 10 cross-validations. In the mass, 1,638 imaging extracts features from the original T2WI image.1 first-order feature and 5 texture features were selected. A total of 1,241 imaging features were extracted from the original ADC images, and 5 texture features were selected. Using LASSO-Logistic regression analysis, 10 features were selected for modeling, and a combined diagnosis model of diabetic nephropathy based on texture features was established. The average unit cost in the logistic regression model was 0.98, the 95% confidence interval for the predictive efficacy was 0.9486–1.0, specificity 0.97 and precision 0.93, particularly. ROC curves also revealed that the model could distinguish with high sensitivity of at least 92%.

Conclusion

In consequence, the texture features based on MR have broad application prospects in the early detection of DN as a relatively simple and noninvasive tool without contrast media administration.
Thyroid Cancer and COVID-19: Prospects for Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Development
Authors: Qu Na , Hui Zongguang , Shen Zhixin , Kan Chengxia , Hou Ningning , Sun Xiaodong , Han Fang
Published: May 2022

Thyroid cancer is the most prevalent endocrine malignancy and the reported incidence of thyroid cancer has continued to increase in recent years. Since 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been spreading worldwide in a global pandemic. COVID-19 aggravates primary illnesses and affects disease management; relevant changes include delayed diagnosis and treatment. The thyroid is an endocrine organ that is susceptible to autoimmune attack; thus, thyroid cancer after COVID-19 has gradually attracted attention. Whether COVID-19 affects the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer has also attracted the attention of many researchers. This review examines the literature regarding the influence of COVID-19 on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of thyroid cancer; it also focuses on drug therapies to promote research into strategies for improving therapy and management in thyroid cancer patients with COVID-19.
Correlation Between the Presence of Antinuclear Antibodies and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: A Mini Review
Authors: Liu Ting , Guo Xi , Liao Ying , Liu Yingyu , Zhu Yuanfang , Chen Xiaoyan
Published: May 2022

In the past decade, the incidence of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) has increased significantly, and immunological disorders have been considered as one of the possible causes contributing to RPL. The presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) is regarded as a typical antibody of autoimmunity. However, the relationship between the presence of ANAs and RPL, the underlying mechanism, and the possible role of immunotherapy is still controversial. The aim of this mini review is to assess the association between ANAs and RPL and the effects of immunotherapy on pregnancy outcomes in women with positive ANAs and a history of RPL from the available data and to provide a relevant reference basis for clinical application in this group of women.
Role of Adipose Tissue Derived Exosomes in Metabolic Disease
Authors: Mei RuiYan , Qin WeiWei , Zheng YanHua , Wan Zhuo , Liu Li
Published: May 2022

Adipose tissues perform physiological functions such as energy storage and endocrine, whose dysfunction will lead to severe metabolic disorders. Accumulating evidences show that exosomes can meditate communications between different tissues by transporting nucleic acids, proteins and other biological factors. More importantly, exosomes secreted by adipose tissue function as critical contributing factors that elucidate specific mechanisms in metabolic disturbance such as obesity, adipose inflammation and diabetes etc. Adipose tissue is the major source of circulating exosomal miRNAs. miRNA secreted from adipose tissues not only altered in patients with metabolic disease, but also result in an increase in metabolic organ talk. Here we have reviewed the latest progress on the role of adipose tissue derived exosomes roles in metabolic disorders. Moreover, the current obstacles hindering exosome-based therapeutic strategies have also been discussed.
Case Report: Abnormally Low Glycosylated Hemoglobin A1c Caused by Clinically Silent Rare β-Thalassemia in a Tujia Chinese Woman
Authors: Gao Wei , Jin Yanwen , Wang Minjin , Huang Yan , Tang Huairong
Published: May 2022

Background

Glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is an important means of monitoring blood glucose and diagnosing diabetes. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is the most widely used method to detect HbA1c in clinical practice. However, the results of HbA1c by HPLC are susceptible to hemoglobinopathy. Here, we report a case of discordantly low HbA1c with an abnormal chromatogram caused by rare β-thalassemia.

Case Description

A 36-year-old Tujia Chinese woman presented with an abnormally low HbA1c level of 3.4% by HPLC in a health check-up. The chromatogram of HbA1c showed an abnormal peak. Fasting blood glucose, routine blood tests and serum bilirubin were normal. Her body mass index was 27.86 kg/m2. Hemoglobin electrophoresis showed low hemoglobin A and abnormal hemoglobin β-chain variants. The thalassemia gene test suggested a rare type of β-thalassemia (gene sequencing HBB: c.170G>A, Hb J-Bangkok (GGC->GAC at codon 56) in a beta heterozygous mutation). Glycated albumin (GA) was slightly increased. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) and insulin release tests indicated impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. The hematologist advised follow-up visits. The endocrinologist recommended that the patient adopt lifestyle intervention. Three months later, GA returned to normal, and impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance improved.

Conclusions

Clinically silent β-thalassemia may lead to low HbA1c values and abnormal chromatograms by HPLC. In these circumstances, differential diagnosis is important. Checking the chromatogram may be helpful in interpreting HbA1c as well as identifying hemoglobinopathy. Further tests, such as GA, OGTT, hemoglobin electrophoresis and genetic tests, are needed for differential diagnosis.
Treatment Options for Lipodystrophy in Children
Authors: Mainieri Francesca , Tagi Veronica Maria , Chiarelli Francesco
Published: May 2022

Lipodystrophy includes a heterogeneous group of rare diseases characterized by different amounts of adipose tissue loss and several metabolic complications, including hypertriglyceridemia, steatohepatitis and particularly insulin resistance, that may lead to severe morbidity and, sometimes, mortality. Therefore, therapy for lipodystrophy primarily consists of a conventional approach that involves standard treatments of metabolic abnormalities. Given the evidence of leptin deficiency in lipodystrophy syndromes, leptin replacement therapy has been considered as a treatment option. Long-term studies on the use of therapy with a methionylated analog of human leptin, metreleptin, first on animals and subsequently on human patients, demonstrated enormous improvements of patients’ clinical features and metabolic conditions. Recently, metreleptin was approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of generalized lipodystrophy and by European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of both generalized and partial lipodystrophy. However, further research is being conducted for new and different therapeutic agents, especially helpful for the treatment of patients with partial lipodystrophy, as some of them do not have access to metreleptin therapy or show poor response.
Control and Optimization Algorithms for Lattice Power Grids With Multiple Grid-Forming Converters
Authors: Zhang Daniel Wei , Fang Jingyang , Goetz Stefan
Published: May 2022

The growth of renewable energies, together with their power converter interfaces, reshapes power systems into more-electronics power systems. Along with this paradigm shift is the requirement of grid formation by grid-tied power converters. However, existing grid architectures only allow parallel operation of grid-forming converters, which excludes high-voltage applications. This article proposes novel lattice power grids that combine the advantages of multilevel converters and power grids, thereby allowing both serial and parallel connectivity with modularity and scalability. Further, we propose control and optimization algorithms for lattice power grids by use of graph theory. In particular, we investigate H-bridge-based lattice power grids and achieve several objectives, including desired voltages and currents between any two selective nodes in lattice power grids as well as efficiency optimization by minimizing switching actions. To achieve these objectives, this article details control and optimization methodology for square lattice power grids. Finally, the proposed algorithms and lattice power grids are validated via simulation results.
A Framework to Identify the Uncertainty and Credibility of GCMs for Projected Future Precipitation: A Case Study in the Yellow River Basin, China
Authors: Guan Tiesheng , Liu Yanli , Sun Zhouliang , Zhang Jianyun , Chen Hua , Wang Guoqing , Jin Junliang , Bao Zhenxin , Qi Wei
Published: May 2022

General circulation models could simulate precipitation under climate change and have been recognized as a major tool to project future water resources, but huge inherent uncertainties mean that their credibility is widely questioned. The current analysis mainly focuses on some aspects of uncertainty and few on the whole chain process to yield a more reliable projection. This study proposes a framework to identify the uncertainty and credibility of GCMs, consisting of downscaling, uncertainty analysis (model spread and Taylor diagram), ensemble analysis (grid-based weighted Bayesian model averaging), credibility analysis (signal-to-noise ratio), and probability projection. Based on five selected climate models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5), the uncertainties and credibility of simulated precipitation in the Yellow River of China were analyzed. By comparing the models’ output with the observation in the historical period of 1986–2005, we can see that large uncertainty exists among models’ annual precipitation. For different-class precipitation, the uncertainties of the five models are small in relatively weak rain, but large in heavy rainfall, which indicates more risk in future projections and the necessity to explore their credibility. Moreover, in such a large-span basin, GCMs show vast spatial differences in space and even opposite trends in some regions, demonstrating the limits of Bayesian model averaging (BMA) on multi-model ensemble due to one weight group overall whole basin. Thus, a grid-based weighted Bayesian model averaging (GBMA) method is proposed to cope with the spatial inconsistencies of models. Given the multi-model ensemble results, the future precipitation changes of the periods of 2021–2050 and 2061–2090 are projected, and the probability and credibility of future precipitation changes in terms of spatial distribution are identified. Model credibility identification could allow for more reliable projections of precipitation change trends, especially for different spatial regions, which will be very valuable for decision-making related to water resource management and security.
A Probabilistic Multi-Source Remote Sensing Approach to Evaluate Extreme Precursory Drought Conditions of a Wildfire Event in Central Chile
Authors: Chávez Roberto O. , Castillo-Soto Miguel E. , Traipe Katherine , Olea Matías , Lastra José A. , Quiñones Tomás
Published: May 2022

Forest fires are a major issue worldwide, and especially in Mediterranean ecosystems where the frequency, extension and severity of wildfire events have increased related to longer and more intense droughts. Open access remote sensing and climate datasets make it possible to describe in detail the precursory environmental conditions triggering major fire events under drought conditions. In this study, a probabilistic methodological approach is proposed and tested to evaluate extreme drought conditions prior to the occurrence of a wildfire in Central Chile, an area suffering an unprecedented prolonged drought. Using 21 years of monthly records of gridded climate and remotely sensed vegetation water status data, we detected that vegetation at the ground level, by means of fine and dead fuel moisture (FDFM), and canopy level, by means of the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) were extremely dry for a period of about 8 months prior to the fire event, showing records that fall into the 2.5% of the lowest values recorded in 21 years. These extremely dry conditions of the vegetation, consequence of low air humidity and precipitation, favored the ignition and horizontal and vertical propagation of this major wildfire. Post fire, we found high severity values for the native vegetation affected by the fire, with dNBR values >0.44 3 days after the fire and significant damage to the Mediterranean sclerophyllous and deciduous forest present in the burned area. The proposed probabilistic model is presented as an innovation and an alternative to evaluate not only anomalies of the meteorological and vegetation indices that promote the generation of extreme events, but also how unusual or extreme these conditions are. This is achieved by placing the abnormal values in the context of the reference historical frequency distribution of all available records, in this case, more than 20 years of remote sensing and climate data. This methodology can be widely applied by fire researchers to identify critical precursory fire conditions in different ecosystems and define environmental indicators of fire risk.
Assessment of Open Access Global Elevation Model Errors Impact on Flood Extents in Southern Niger
Authors: Muench Rebekke , Cherrington Emil , Griffin Robert , Mamane Bako
Published: May 2022

Recent studies have estimated annual flood loss at over two billion USD dollars in damage per year globally. This figure is likely to increase as populations grow, people move to flood prone areas, and flooding dynamics change. Digital Elevation Models are a primary input into many flood models; therefore, the accuracy and resolution of these data sets have implications for model accuracy that are not completely understood. An increasing number of DEMs are becoming open and freely available, which presents analysts with the challenge of selecting the most appropriate inputs for their specific use case, especially in countries such as Niger where these global DEMs have not been formally evaluated. This study compares the absolute vertical accuracy of four global and freely available DEMs: Shuttle Radar Topography Mission, ASTER, Advanced Land Observing Satellite, and MERIT, with reference to a high-resolution LiDAR DEM, in southern Niger. Specifically, the Height Above Nearest Drainage (HAND) model is used to investigate the impact of resolution and error on simulated flood extent. There are currently no studies that assess the vertical accuracy of global DEMs in Niger nor that investigate the impact of the DEM geometric variability on flood extents. The ALOS DEM showed the lowest Root Mean Square Error of 1.19 m when compared to the LiDAR DEM, while ASTER had the highest RMSE of 4.2 m. The results of the Height Above Nearest Drainage model showed that at floods under 3 m in depth, the higher resolution DEMs simulated less flood extent; however, once the flood depth exceeded 3 m, the higher the resolution the DEM, the larger the flood extent. These findings suggest that both absolute error and relative error, as well as resolution, should be addressed when applying a DEM to a flood model.
Spatial Differences and Influencing Factors of Urban Water Utilization Efficiency in China
Authors: Liu Kai , Liu Wenrui , Wu Jialing , Chen Zhongfei , Zhang Wen , Liu Fang
Published: May 2022

The purpose of urban water management is to improve urban water utilization efficiency (UWUE), which in turn addresses water shortages in urban areas. The present study aimed to evaluate the UWUE of 284 cities at the prefecture level in China between 2003 and 2018 by the slacks-based measure of super-efficiency, explore its spatial differences through exploratory spatial data analysis, and analyze the influencing factors using the statistical tool Geodetector. The results showed that the average value of UWUE in China was generally low but tended to rise gradually. There were significant spatial differences in UWUE across China, with considerable global and local spatial autocorrelation, and local spatial autocorrelation was characterized primarily by high-high and low-low regions. Industrial structure and urban population were the main influencing factors for UWUE. Finally, based on these findings, we offered policy implications for improving UWUE and coordinated development between cities.
Application of Invasive Plants as Biochar Precursors in the Field of Environment and Energy Storage
Authors: Yang Lei , Deng Yuanyuan , Shu Zihan , Chen Qiang , Yang Hailan , Tan Xiaofei
Published: May 2022

Plant invasion caused due to various human activities has become a serious problem affecting ecosystem diversity and imposes a burden on the economy. In recent years, there have been increasing studies on the application of biochar (BC) in the field of environmental protection. Invasive plants, which are considered as a kind of hazardous waste biomass, can be used as feedstocks to prepare BC. Consumption of invasive plants for BC preparation can achieve a win-win situation in ecology and resources. This can solve a series of ecological problems caused by invasive plants to a certain extent while also realizing the resource utilization of wastes and bringing considerable economic benefits. Based on previous studies, this paper summarizes the progress of preparing and using invasive plant biochar (IPB). This includes the production, modification, merit and demerit of IPB, its application in improving soil quality, the adsorption of pollutants, application in energy storage, and climate change mitigation potential. It provides a basis for further study of IPB based on the currently existing problems and proposes a direction for future development.