bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparative effectiveness of two methods for inducing osteoarthritis in a novel animal model, the Diannan small-ear pig
Authors: Jia Di , He Yinghong , Cai Guofeng , Zheng Jiali , Yang Yuye , Li Yanlin 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background: Varieties of animals were used to study osteoarthritis pathogenesis. The Diannan small-ear pig, which is native to Yunnan, China, is thought to have an articular anatomy similar to that of humans and is more likely to be a source of pathological tissues than other animals. The aim of this study was determine whether this animal can serve as a more effective osteoarthritis model.Methods: Twenty-seven adult pigs were randomly divided into three groups and underwent the Hulth procedure, papain articular injection, and conventional breeding. After 4, 8, and 12 weeks, cartilage tissues from knee joint were extracted for general and histological observation, immunofluorescence, and biochemical analysis. Synovium was taken out for stromal cell-derived factor-1 analysis. Results: Histopathological observation showed obvious cartilage loss in two experimental groups, this cartilage loss was more severe in the chemical groups. Synovial stromal cell-derived factor1 levels increased over time in all groups. mRNA and protein levels of matrix metalloproteinase-3 were much higher in the chemical groups than in the other groups, whereas levels of collagen type II and aggrecan were significantly lower in the chemical groups than in the other groups. Immunofluorescence assays of collagen type II revealed an apparent reduction in this marker in the chemical groups compared with the other groups. Conclusions: These results indicated that the Diannan small-ear pig can be used as an effective osteoarthritis model. In addition, it is much more convenient and much faster to induce osteoarthritis by intra-articular injection of papain, which is a method worthy of being promoted.
Biventricular surgical repair of “Swiss Cheese” ventricular septal defects with two-patch and right ventricle apex excluding technique: preliminary experience and clinical results
Authors: Wu Qin , Shi Lei , Chen Rui , Xing Quansheng 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background “Swiss Cheese” ventricular septal defects (VSDs) is a kind of rare and complex congenital heart defects and the surgical management remains controversial and a challenge. We reviewed our preliminary clinical experience on biventricular surgical repair of “Swiss Cheese” VSDs with two-patch and right ventricle apex excluding technique in 10 cases. Methods From May 2014 to December 2019, a series of 10 patients (M/F=3/7) were admitted in our center. 9 cases underwent one-stage surgical repair with two-patch and right ventricle apex excluding technique and 1 case received a second-stage surgical repair with the same technique. Surgical repair was done with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in all cases. 2 fresh autologous pericardium patches were used to close defects of the outflow tract area and the apex trabecular area respectively and as a result, the right ventricular apex was excluded from the right ventricular inflow tract. Results All the operations were successful. Median CPB time and aortic clamping time were 96 min and 68 min respectively. Delayed chest closure were done in 2 cases within 48-72 hours postoperatively. The Median time of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay were 131.3 hours and 8 days respectively. Median length of stay after operation was 11 （9-42）days. There was no mortality and major complication except for 2 cases of ventilator associated pneumonia. There was no death and major complication during the median follow-up time of 3.2 years.. The latest echocardiography results showed the left and right heart function was normal in all the cases. Conclusions Biventricular surgical repair of “Swiss Cheese” VSDs with two-patch of fresh autologous pericardium and right ventricle apex excluding technique in infants is safe and feasible with favorable early and mid-term results. Long term results need to be evaluated with more cases.
Associations of Serum Lipids and Lipoproteins with the Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate in the Adult Chinese Population: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Kong Xiaomu , Yang Zhaojun , Zhang Bo , Yu Liping , Zhu Haiqing , Xing Xiaoyan , Yang Wenying , Chen Xiaoping 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background: Dyslipidemia has a critical impact on renal dysfunction, but the exact types of lipids and lipoproteins that influence the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) are under investigation. Observations from an adult Chinese population ≥20 years old are lacking. The present study is to investigate the associations of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) with eGFR, and the risks for a mildly and a moderately/severely reduced eGFR. Methods: A total of 16,206 participants from a national representative adult population (20 years of age or older) in China were included. All calculations were weighted based on the Chinese population data and the sampling scheme. Results: Upon stratifying the population based on lipids or lipoprotein categories, we observed a significantly lower mean eGFR as well as a higher estimated prevalence of impaired eGFR among Chinese adults with TG levels in the ranges of 1.7 mmol/L≤ TG <2.3 mmol/L [mean eGFR: 110.99 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 , P =0.0000; prevalence of mildly eGFR impairment: 30.92%, P =0.0000; prevalence of moderately/severely eGFR impairment: 2.01%, P =0.1842] and ≥2.3 mmol/L [111.62 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 , P =0.0000; 27.92%, P =0.0000; 2.81%, P =0.0174], compared to those among individuals with normal TG [122.03 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 ; 19.96%; 1.20%]. Also, a higher prevalence of mildly impaired eGFR was observed with 3.4 mmol/L≤ LDL-C <4.1 mmol/L (27.93%) compared with LDL-C <3.4 mmol/L (22.61%, P =0.0092). An elevated TG was proven to be an independent risk factor for decreased eGFR [β(SE) -0.0238(0.0039), P =0.0000], and each per mmol/L increase in TG was associated with the 1.19-fold and 1.31-fold increased risks for mildly impaired eGFR and moderately/severely impaired eGFR, respectively ( P =0.0000, 0.0001). A decreased HDL-C also showed a negative contribution to eGFR [-0.0883(0.0176), P =0.0000]. In contrast, increased TC was associated with increased eGFR [0.0314(0.0060), P =0.0000] and a reduction in the risk for mildly impaired eGFR by 0.91-fold ( P =0.0302). Increased LDL-C also contributed to an elevated eGFR [0.0251(0.0070), P =0.0004]. Conclusion: A decreased eGFR could be attributed independently to an elevated TG or reduced HDL-C. It emphasizes the importance of effective control of TG and HDL-C for preserving eGFR.
A seven-year surveillance study of the epidemiology, antifungal susceptibility, risk factors and mortality of candidaemia among paediatric and adult inpatients in a tertiary teaching hospital in China
Authors: Zeng Zhangrui , Ding Yinhuan , Tian Gang , Yang Kui , Deng Jian , Li Guangrong , Liu Jinbo 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background There are no current national estimates of the candidaemia burden in China, and epidemiological candidaemia data from the underdeveloped region of China are lacking. Methods A 7-year retrospective study was carried out to analyse the prevalence, species distribution, antifungal susceptibility, risk factors and inpatient mortality of candidaemia among paediatric and adult paitents in a regional tertiary teaching hospital in China. Results During the seven-year study period, a total of 201 inpatients with candidaemia were identified. The median age of the patients was 65 years (range, 1 day to 92 years), and 114 of the patients (56.7%) were male; the mean annual incidence was 0.26 cases per 1,000 admissions (0.42 cases per 1,000 paediatric vs 0.24 cases per 1,000 adult admissions, P<0.05). Candida albicans was the most common fungal species (81/201, 40.3%) in all patients, Candida glabrata was the most common fungal species (18/35, 51.4%) in paediatric patients. Most isolates were susceptible to flucytosine (99.0%) and amphotericin B (99.0%), and the activity of antifungal agents against Candida species was no significant difference in satisfaction between paediatric and adult patients(P>0.05). The all-cause mortality rate was 20.4% (paediatric patients: 11.4% vs adult patients:22.3%, P>0.05). The univariate predictors of poor outcomes in paediatric patients were less than that in adult patients (4 vs 11 predictors). Respiratory dysfunction and septic shock were independent predictors of 30-day mortality in all patients. Conclusions The epidemiological data of candidaemia in paediatric and adult patients are only different in the distribution of Candida species and the mean annual incidence of candidaemia. Flucytosine and amphotericin B could be used as the first-choice agent when there is no the result of antifungal susceptibility tests.
Phylogenetic analysis of HA and NA genes and clinical characteristics of the co-occurring mutations in HA and NA of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses during 2015-2017 in Beijing, China
Authors: Liu Yafen , Wang Yue , Liu Baiyi , Cong Xu , Ji Ying , Guo Xiaolin , Gao Yan 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background
Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses have undergone rapid evolution, and in recent years the complementary and antagonistic effects of HA and NA have gathered more attentions; however, the effects of co-occurring mutations in HA and NA on the patients’ clinical characteristics are still poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed molecular epidemiology and evolution of A(H1N1) pdm09, explored co-occurring mutations of HA and NA, and investigated effect of co-occurring mutations on patients’ clinical features.
Methods
A(H1N1)pdm09 was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. HA and NA genes were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed. Clinical characteristics of the co-occurring mutations were analyzed statistically.
Results
By analyzing the HA and NA gene sequences of 33 A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses during the 2015–2017 influenza season, we found that all the viruses shared high similarities to each other and the HA genes of these viruses exclusively belonged to subclade 6B.1A. Several new substitutions of HA and NA exhibited in the new sites, furthermore, co-occurring mutations of HA-V169T, A278S, E508G, D518E and NA-V67I were detected in 30.3% (10/33) A(H1N1)pdm09 virus strains when comparing with vaccine strains A/California/07/2009 and A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1). Sore throat was significantly associated with co-occurring mutations in HA and NA of A(H1N1)pdm09 (χ2, P < 0.05).
Conclusions
Co-occurring mutations in HA and NA were detected in A(H1N1)pdm09 isolated during 2015–2017 in Beijing. Symptomatically, sore throat was associated with co-occurring mutations in HA and NA of A(H1N1)pdm09. Therefore, studying the effect and mechanism of co-occurring mutations in HA and NA on patients’ clinical features is of note needed.
Modelling the Effects of Financial Liberalization and Economic Growth in Liberia: Evidence from Combined Cointegration Test
Authors: Sowah James Karmoh , Kirikkaleli Dervis 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
The research aimed was to determine the long-run relationship between financial liberalization, savings mobilization, and investment with a resultant effect on economic growth in the context of the Liberian economy as articulated by McKinnon and Shaw's hypothesis. The study employed time series data spanning from 1980 to 2016 and extracted from World Development Indicators (WDI). The data were analysed using econometric techniques of Combined Cointegration test, Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS), Fully Modified Ordinary Squares (FMOLS), and Canonical Cointegration Regression (CCR). To our knowledge, no studies have investigated the effects of financial liberalization and economic growth in Liberia, expressly, employing Combined Cointegration Test. Our findings reveal (i) coefficient of the financial liberalization variable is positive and significant for Liberia, thus support the McKinnon and Shaw hypotheses. (ii) We found combined cointegration among the estimated models. We recommended that policymakers should refrain from any policy that will adversely affect the deposit interest rates considering its immense impact on savings mobilization, gross investment, and the overall economic growth. Furthermore, improving the level of competition will compel deposit-taking financial institutions to raise deposit interest rates in a bid to attract more depositors with a consequential reduction in the interest rates spread.
Clinical characteristics of pneumonia patients of long courses infected with SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Wang Chunli , Huang Liya , Lu Weiwei , Chen Guoxi , Cai Yuyang , Li Xiaopan , Lan Xing , Wang Yaling , Deng Xiaoqin , Zeng Guangwang , Wang Lin , Huang Hai , Ji Chen , Yang Ling 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background: Since December, 2019, Wuhan, China, has experienced an outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19). Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 have been reported. A few studies reported clinical course of illness of median 22 days, including viral shedding of median 20 days, but there are several cases with a longer time of viral shedding.Methods: In this retrospective, single-centre cohort study, we included four cases with a longer course of illness of more than 40 days with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital (Wuhan, China) who had been discharged or still in hospital by March 15, 2020. Demographic, clinical, treatment, and laboratory data, including serial samples for viral RNA detection, were extracted from electronic medical records. We describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics and the course of viral shedding.Results: Of the four patients, one was discharged and the other three were still in hospital. Two patients had comorbidity, one with hypertension and one with diabetes. We found smoking is not an independent risk factor . And D-Dimer maybe relates to severity of illness but not course of illness. Decreased lymphocyte count had a slow recovery process in three patients. elevated eosinophils count in all patients suggest maybe elevated eosinophils count was a reason of long course. Nucleic acid detection suggests maybe more sampling sites represent more virus replication sites and longer course illness.Conclusion: In this study we find some non-critical severe relatively young patients with sustained non-negative with nucleic acid detection whose character is different from former studies described. Of course, it needs much more cases to further study. It’s hoped to provide strategy of isolation of infected patients and optimal antiviral interventions in the future.
Comparison of strain and ferroelectric properties of La,Nb and Li,Nb co-modified BNKT–ST ceramics
Authors: Malik Rizwan Ahmed , Maqbool Adnan , Khan Salman Ali , Saleem Mohsin , Butt Muhammad Shoaib , Alarifi Ibrahim M , Hussain Ali , Lee Soonil , Kim Myong-Ho 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
A comparison between the influence of concurrent A and B-site acceptor-donor (Li,Nb) and donor-donor (La,Nb) doping in Pb-free Bi 0.5 (Na 0.84 K 0.16 ) 0.5 TiO 3 –SrTiO 3 piezoelectrics on structure, ferroelectric and high voltage induced strain were made. In this work, Lithium was chosen as acceptor and Lanthanum was chosen as donor dopant on A-site and Nb 5+ as a B-site donor. Both modifier impurities promoted a phase evolution from the coexistent of two phase structures (rhombohedral-tetragonal) into a more symmetric single pseudocubic structure. Nonetheless, (La,Nb) donor-donor doping induced the phase transition at 1 mol%, while (Li,Nb) acceptor-donor doping at 2 mol%. Interestingly, acceptor-donor (Li,Nb) co-substitution results in the broadening of ergodic relaxor and ferroelectric (ER-FE) mixed phase boundary which is favourable for multidevice applications. This comparative study show that the A-site vacancies play a substantial role to induce the phase transformation from nonergodic-ergodic relaxor (NR-ER) and the improvement in their high voltage induced strain.
Efficacy and Safety of Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine for Treating COVID-19: A Rapid Review
Authors: Muhamad Nor Asiah , Jeevananthan Chandrika , Dali Nor Soleha Mohd , Bakhtiar Mohammed Faizal , Aris Tahir , Lai Nai Ming 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Background: Since its emergence, COVID-19 has affected more than one million people with over 100,000 deaths globally as of early April 2020. In this review, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine on patients with COVID-19. Methods: PubMed, CENTRAL, Google Scholar, Chinese Clinical Trial Registry and Trial Registers: ISRCTN; UMIN-CTR (Japan's Trial Register); and the WHO portal up were searched for the in vitro and in vivo studies of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.Results: Moderate-certainty evidence from a single published RCT to-date showed that after a five-days treatment, patients on hydroxychloroquine may have shorter symptom duration compared to the control group, including fever (MD-1.0 day (95% CI -1.48, -0.52), cough (MD -1.1 day (95% CI -1.63, -0.57) and higher likelihood of having improved chest CT appearance (RR 1.47 (95% CI 1.02, 2.11), no clear differences was observed in the risk of progressing to severe illness and risk of adverse effects. A single non-randomized study showed marked decreased in the number with positive viral load at day 6, but due to several flaws in the study, the certainty of evidence for the outcome was very low.Conclusion: Despite the evidence on possible effects of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, given the paucity of available evidence especially in relation to the number on-going RCTs, conclusion on the effectiveness and safety of hydroxychloroquine cannot yet be made.
The features of SARS-CoV-2 and other human coronavirus genomes could affect interferon production and immune response
Authors: Franzo Giovanni 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
A new pandemic caused by the betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2 originated in China in late 2019. Although often asymptomatic, a relevant percentage of affected people can develop severe pneumonia. Initial evidence suggests that dysregulation of the immune response could contribute to the pathogenesis, as previously demonstrated for SARS-CoV. The presence of genome composition features involved in delaying viral recognition is herein investigated for human coronaviruses (HCoVs), with a special emphasis on SARS-CoV-2. A broad collection of HCoVs polyprotein, envelope, matrix, nucleocapsid and spike coding sequences was downloaded and several statistics representative of genome composition and codon bias were investigated. A model able to evaluate and test the presence of a significant under- or over-representation of dinucleotide pairs while accounting for the underlying codon bias and protein sequence was also implemented.The study revealed the significant under-representation of CpG dinucleotide pair in all HcoV, but especially in SARS-CoV and even more in SARS-CoV-2. The presence of forces acting to minimize CpG content was confirmed by relative synonymous codon usage pattern. Codons containing the CpG pair were severely under-represented, primarily in the polyprotein and spike coding sequences of SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, a significant under-representation of the TpA pair was observed in the N and S region of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2.Increasing experimental evidence has proven that CpG and TpA are targeted by innate antiviral host defences, contributing both to RNA degradation and RIG-1 mediated interferon production. The low content of these dinucleotides could contribute to a delayed interferon production, dysregulated immune response, higher viral replication and poor outcome. Significantly, the RIG-1 signalling pathway was proven to be defective in elderlies, suggesting a likely interaction between limited viral recognition and lower responsiveness in interferon production that could justify the higher disease severity and mortality in older patients.
Predicting mortality for Covid-19 in the US. Delayed Elasticity Method
Authors: Hierro Luis Ángel , Garzón Antonio José , Atienza-Montero Pedro , Márquez José Luis 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
The evolution of the pandemic caused by COVID-19, its high reproductive number and the associated clinical needs, is overwhelming national health systems. We propose a method for predicting the number of deaths, and which will enable the health authorities of the countries involved to plan the resources needed to face the pandemic as many days in advance as possible. We employ OLS to perform the econometric estimation, and through RMSE, MSE, MAPE, and SMAPE forecast performance measures we select the best lagged predictor of both dependent variables. Our objective is rather to estimate a leading indicator of clinical needs. Having a forecast model available several days in advance can enable governments to more effectively face the gap between needs and resources triggered by the outbreak and thus reduce the deaths caused by COVID-19.
AS ÁREAS DE PRESERVAÇÃO PERMAMENTE E A LIMITAÇÃO AO USO DA PROPRIEDADE
Authors: SOARES Bruno De Abreu 
Published: April 2020

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo apresentar a relação entre direito de propriedade e função socioambiental, que fundamenta a imposição pelo Poder Público de limitações administrativas à propriedade privada para a preservação, conservação e recomposição nas áreas de preservação permanente, onde por imposição legal não é admitida a exploração do solo ou a supressão da cobertura vegetal, tanto em espaços rurais como urbanos. Apesar do direito à propriedade estar sob a proteção constitucional como um dos pressupostos da economia, sobrepõe-se a este os princípios da função social da propriedade e a proteção ao meio ambiente ecologicamente equilibrado, em benefício de toda a coletividade, que permite ao Estado intervir na regulação do direito de propriedade, da exploração econômica em face da função social ambiental conforme o Código Florestal regulamenta. Este estudo verificou que mesmo com os benefícios que o proprietário pode gozar, como o pagamento a serviços ambientais de conservação, ou obter facilitação de crédito agrícola e, ainda dedução das áreas do cálculo do Imposto sobre a Propriedade Territorial Rural, os ônus e transtornos ao proprietário rural devido a restrições que estas áreas impostas pelo Poder Público prejudicam a rentabilidade econômica dos mesmos, em especial o pequeno produtor rural. A presente pesquisa utiliza o método dedutivo, a partir do qual desenvolve um raciocínio lógico, partindo de uma premissa geral, uma verdade estabelecida, finalizando em uma situação particularizada. Os procedimentos metodológicos usados foram o bibliográfico e o procedimento exegético, a fim de se compreender o verdadeiro sentido e alcance da norma jurídica, buscando atingir a real intenção do legislador, assim como o procedimento sistemático, analisando a norma a partir do sistema que está inserida. Palavras-chave: Áreas de Preservação Permanente. Limitações. Função socioambiental. Propriedade.
Removal of E. coli from stormwater by bioretention system: parameter optimization and mechanism
Authors: Liu Jianwei , Yue Peng , He Yan , Zhao Mengfei 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Four bioretention simulation columns were used to study the removal effects and influencing factors of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in stormwater. The mechanism of E. coli removal in the bioretention system was also analyzed. The results show that the removal effects of the four new composite filters are better than that of the conventional filter. The specific surface area and porosity of the filter may be the key factors affecting the removal effect; the increase of the filter depth is beneficial to the removal of E. coli; the area is conducive to the removal of E. coli. Excessive depth of the submerged zone will reduce the E. coli removal effect; drying will reduce the E. coli removal effect, but it can be restored by rewetting.