bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Position of the Pancreas Division Line and Postoperative Outcomes After Distal Pancreatectomy
Authors: Matsui Satoshi , Ogura Toshiro , Ban Daisuke , Ogawa Kosuke , Ono Hiroaki , Mitsunori Yusuke , Kudo Atsushi , Tanaka Shinji , Tanabe Minoru 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundIn distal pancreatectomy (DP), the position of the pancreas division line (PDL) changes depending on the location or nature of the tumor. Here, we investigated the relationship between PDL and postoperative complications after DP.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed data of 140 patients who underwent DP at Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital between January 2011 and September 2018. PDL was defined as the distance from the left margin of the portal vein to the edge of the pancreatic stump on the coronal plane of computed tomography.ResultsThe mean PDL was 15.1 (range 0–74.3) mm. PDL was significantly longer in patients with portal venous system thrombosis (PVST) than in those without PVST (47.6 vs. 0 mm, p < 0.001). The PDLlong (≥ 20 mm) group underwent surgery with a significantly shorter duration (253 vs. 294 min, p < 0.001) and experienced a lower volume of blood loss (20 vs. 256.5 mL, p < 0.001) than the PDLshort (< 20 mm) group. Six months after surgery, the increase in HbA1c level was significantly higher in the PDLshort group than in the PDLlong group (0.5 vs. 0.35%, p = 0.041). Except for PVST, there was no significant difference in postoperative complications between the two groups.ConclusionsIn DP, pancreas resection with a longer PDL resulted in a significantly shorter duration of surgery, lower estimated blood loss, and superior glucose tolerance than that with a shorter PDL.
A high serum-free fatty acid level is associated with cancer
Authors: Zhang Lili , Han Lei , He Juan , Lv Jing , Pan Rongfang , Lv Teng 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Purpose
The objectives of this work were to investigate whether the serum-free fatty acid (FFA) level is meaningful in cancer patients and its role in cancer diagnosis.

Methods
A total of 2206 patients were divided into a cancer group (n = 1019) and a noncancer group (n = 1187). Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and serum FFA and serum albumin levels were collected. Cancer patients were divided into subgroups according to the location of the cancer. We then compared serum FFA levels among the tumor subgroups. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to further evaluate the diagnostic ability of the FFA level. SPSS 22.0 software was used to analyze the results.

Results
The FFA level was higher in the cancer group than in the noncancer group. According to the multivariate analysis, there was also an increased risk of cancer associated with a high FFA level after adjusting for old age, female sex, and a low BMI. In the subgroup analysis, the FFA level in patients with lung cancer, gastric cancer, thyroid cancer, rectal cancer, colon cancer, and ovarian cancer was significantly higher than that in noncancer patients. The area under the effect–time curve (AUC) of FFAs in the whole cancer group was 0.58, while the thyroid cancer, rectal cancer, and ovarian cancer subgroups had AUCs > 0.6.

Conclusion
Our study provides clinical evidence to support that fatty acid metabolism is associated with cancers and demonstrates that a high FFA level in the serum may be an indicator of cancer.
Can data from native mosquitoes support determining invasive species habitats? Modelling the climatic niche of Aedes japonicus japonicus (Diptera, Culicidae) in Germany
Authors: Kerkow Antje , Wieland Ralf , Früh Linus , Hölker Franz , Jeschke Jonathan M. , Werner Doreen , Kampen Helge 
Published: November 2019

AbstractInvasive mosquito species and the pathogens they transmit represent a serious health risk to both humans and animals. Thus, predictions on their potential geographic distribution are urgently needed. In the case of a recently invaded region, only a small number of occurrence data is typically available for analysis, and absence data are not reliable. To overcome this problem, we have tested whether it is possible to determine the climatic ecological niche of an invasive mosquito species by using both the occurrence data of other, native species and machine learning. The approach is based on a support vector machine and in this scenario applied to the Asian bush mosquito (Aedes japonicus japonicus) in Germany. Presence data for this species (recorded in the Germany since 2008) as well as for three native mosquito species were used to model the potential distribution of the invasive species. We trained the model with data collected from 2011 to 2014 and compared our predicted occurrence probabilities for 2015 with observations found in the field throughout 2015 to evaluate our approach. The prediction map showed a high degree of concordance with the field data. We applied the model to medium climate conditions at an early stage of the invasion (2011–2015), and developed an explanation for declining population densities in an area in northern Germany. In addition to the already known distribution areas, our model also indicates a possible spread to Saarland, southwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and in 2015 to southern Bavaria, where the species is now being increasingly detected. However, there is also evidence that the possible distribution area under the mean climate conditions was underestimated.
Identification of a molecular signature of prognostic subtypes in diffuse-type gastric cancer
Authors: Kim Seon-Kyu , Kim Hee-Jin , Park Jong-Lyul , Heo Haejeong , Kim Seon-Young , Lee Sang-Il , Song Kyu-Sang , Kim Woo-Ho , Kim Yong Sung 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background
Although recent advances in high-throughput technology have provided many insights into gastric cancer (GC), few reliable biomarkers for diffuse-type GC have been identified. Here, we aim to identify a prognostic and predictive signature of diffuse-type GC heterogeneity.

Methods
We analyzed RNA-seq-based transcriptome data to identify a molecular signature in 150 gastric tissue samples including 107 diffuse-type GCs. The predictive value of the signature was verified using other diffuse-type GC samples in three independent cohorts (n = 466). Log-rank and Cox regression analyses were used to estimate the association between the signature and prognosis. The signature was also characterized by somatic variant analyses and tissue microarray analysis between diffuse-type GC subtypes.

Results
Transcriptomic profiling of RNA-seq data identified a signature which revealed distinct subtypes of diffuse-type GC: the intestinal-like (INT) and core diffuse-type (COD) subtypes. The signature showed high predictability and independent clinical utility in diffuse-type GC prognosis in other patient cohorts (HR 2.058, 95% CI 1.53–2.77, P = 1.76 × 10–6). Integrative mutational and gene expression analyses demonstrated that the COD subtype was responsive to chemotherapy, whereas the INT subtype was responsive to immunotherapy with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI). Tissue microarray analysis showed the practical utility of IGF1 and NXPE2 for predicting diffuse-type GC heterogeneity.

Conclusions
We present a molecular signature that can identify diffuse-type GC patients who display different clinical behaviors as well as responses to chemotherapy or ICI treatment.
Circulating total bilirubin and risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the PREVEND study: observational findings and a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Kunutsor Setor K. , Frysz Monika , Verweij Niek , Kieneker Lyanne M. , Bakker Stephan J. L. , Dullaart Robin P. F. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe relationship between circulating total bilirubin and incident non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is uncertain. We aimed to assess the association of total bilirubin with the risk of new-onset NAFLD and investigate any causal relevance to the association using a Mendelian randomization (MR) study. Plasma total bilirubin levels were measured at baseline in the PREVEND prospective study of 3824 participants (aged 28–75 years) without pre-existing cardiovascular disease or NAFLD. Incident NAFLD was estimated using the biomarker-based algorithms, fatty liver index (FLI) and hepatic steatosis index (HSI). Odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were assessed. The genetic variant rs6742078 located in the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A1) locus was used as an instrumental variable. Participants were followed up for a mean duration of 4.2 years. The multivariable adjusted OR (95% CIs) for NAFLD as estimated by FLI (434 cases) was 0.82 (0.73–0.92; p = 0.001) per 1 standard deviation (SD) change in loge total bilirubin. The corresponding adjusted OR (95% CIs) for NAFLD as estimated by HSI (452 cases) was 0.87 (0.78–0.97; p = 0.012). The rs6742078 variant explained 20% of bilirubin variation. The ORs (95% CIs) for a 1 SD genetically elevated total bilirubin level was 0.98 (0.69–1.38; p = 0.900) for FLI and 1.14 (0.81–1.59; p = 0.451) for HSI. Elevated levels of total bilirubin were not causally associated with decreased risk of NAFLD based on MR analysis. The observational association may be driven by biases such as unmeasured confounding and/or reverse causation. However, due to low statistical power, larger-scale investigations are necessary to draw definitive conclusions.
Multi-indicator analysis of the influence of old municipal landfill sites on the aquatic environment: case study
Authors: Przydatek Grzegorz 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe study aim was to analyse the influence of a municipal solid waste landfill site in operation for over 10 years on the aquatic environment using multiple indicators. The water around the landfill area must be controlled due to the possibility of leachate interaction with harmful substances in the environment. The tests were carried out on the basis of 24 indicators, of which four were the most significant: depth of groundwater retention, ammoniacal nitrogen (NH4-N), dissolved oxygen (DO), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The assessment of the quality of the surface water and groundwater and the analysis of the leachate pollution indices enabled the interpretation of the influence of a specific municipal waste landfill on the nearby water environment condition, despite not exceeding the permissible content at the highest average concentration of NH4-N at 1.34 mg L−1. The differences were significant at the level ofp < 0.05 in the content of DO in the water below the landfill. The concentration of NH4-N in the groundwater below the landfill was statistically significantly correlated with the depth of the groundwater deposits (r = 0.609). Similarly, the surface water below the landfill site showed a statistically significant relation in the piezometer, which was also below the landfill, to ammoniacal nitrogen (r = 0.749). This result confirmed the statistically significant differences in the aquatic environment and the correlations with NH4-N and that, below the landfill, the penetration water seepage is moderate with a low waste accumulation not exceeding 10 Mg per day.
Temporal variability of a protected multispecific tropical seagrass meadow in response to environmental change
Authors: Alonso Aller E. , Eklöf J. S. , Gullström M. , Kloiber U. , Linderholm H. W. , Nordlund L. M. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIn a changing environment, there is an increasing interest to monitor ecosystems to understand their responses to environmental change. Seagrass meadows are highly important ecosystems that are under constant pressure from human activities and climate impacts, with marked declines observed worldwide. Despite increasing efforts, monitoring of multispecific tropical seagrass meadows is scarce, particularly in low-income regions. Based on data from a monitoring programme in a marine protected area in Zanzibar (Tanzania), we assessed temporal changes in seagrass cover and species composition during a 10-year period in relation to local variability in environmental variables. We observed a strong, gradual decline in seagrass cover and changes in species composition, followed by a period of recovery. However, the timing and length of these temporal patterns varied in space (between transects). Multiple environmental variables—cloud cover, temperature, storm occurrence, sunspot activity, and tidal amplitude and height—influenced seagrass cover, although only to a minor extent, suggesting that the monitored seagrass meadow may be influenced by other unmeasured factors (e.g. water currents and sediment movement). Our results show that seagrass meadows can be highly dynamic at small (10–50 m) spatial scales, even in the absence of major local anthropogenic impacts. Our findings suggest that high-resolution monitoring programmes can be highly valuable for the detection of temporal changes in multispecific seagrass meadows; however, to understand the causes of change, there is a need of long-term (> 10 years) data series that include direct measurements of environmental variables and extreme events.
Terahertz Quality Inspection for Automotive and Aviation Industries
Authors: Ellrich F. , Bauer M. , Schreiner N. , Keil A. , Pfeiffer T. , Klier J. , Weber S. , Jonuscheit J. , Friederich F. , Molter D. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractNondestructive quality inspection with terahertz waves has become an emerging technology, especially in the automotive and aviation industries. Depending on the specific application, different terahertz systems—either fully electronic or based on optical laser pulses—cover the terahertz frequency region from 0.1 THz up to nearly 10 THz and provide high-speed volume inspections on the one hand and high-resolution thickness determination on the other hand. In this paper, we present different industrial applications, which we have addressed with our terahertz systems within the last couple of years. First, we show three-dimensional imaging of glass fiber–reinforced composites and foam structures, and demonstrate thickness determination of multilayer plastic tube walls. Then, we present the characterization of known and unknown multilayer systems down to some microns and the possibility of measuring the thickness of wet paints. The challenges of system reliability in industrial environments, e.g., under the impact of vibrations, and effective solutions are discussed. This paper gives an overview of state-of-the-art terahertz technology for industrial quality inspection. The presented principles are not limited to the automotive and aviation industries but can also be adapted to many other industrial fields.
Wie gut sind angehende und fortgeschrittene Studierende auf das Leben und Arbeiten in der digitalen Welt vorbereitet? Ergebnisse eines Standard Setting-Verfahrens zur Beschreibung von ICT-bezogenen Kompetenzniveaus
Authors: Senkbeil Martin , Ihme Jan Marten , Schöber Christian 
Published: November 2019

ZusammenfassungBislang gibt es nur wenige empirische Hinweise, zu welchen Anteilen Studierende an deutschen Hochschulen über ausreichende Kompetenzen im Umgang mit digitalen Medien für ihr akademisches und berufliches Fortkommen verfügen. Dieser Frage gehen wir anhand von Sekundäranalysen des Nationalen Bildungspanels (NEPS) nach. Hierfür können die Daten vonN = 1911 angehenden Studierenden sowie vonN = 1991 fortgeschrittenen Studierenden im sechsten Fachsemester ausgewertet werden. Die in NEPS eingesetzten Tests erlauben die Definition von Leistungsbereichen, in denen normativ festgelegte Erwartungen (Mindeststandards) zu verschiedenen Studienzeitpunkten erfüllt werden. Die Analysen zeigen, dass substanzielle Anteile sowohl der angehenden Studierenden (20 %) als auch der fortgeschrittenen Studierenden (52 %) nicht die Mindeststandards erreichen. Weiterhin ergeben sich bei beiden Studierendengruppen zum Teil erhebliche fächergruppen- und geschlechtsbezogene Unterschiede in der Erreichung der Mindeststandards. Die Ergebnisse werden im Hinblick auf die Sicherstellung grundlegender Kompetenzen von Studierenden im Umgang mit digitalen Medien als Kernziel der Hochschulbildung diskutiert.
Statistical literacy for classification under risk: an educational perspective
Authors: Martignon Laura , Laskey Kathryn 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAfter a brief description of the four components of risk literacy and the tools for analyzing risky situations, decision strategies are introduced, These rules, which satisfy tenets of Bounded Rationality, are called fast and frugal trees. Fast and frugal trees serve as efficient heuristics for decision under risk. We describe the construction of fast and frugal trees and compare their robustness for prediction under risk with that of Bayesian networks. In particular, we analyze situations of risky decisions in the medical domain. We show that the performance of fast and frugal trees does not fall too far behind that of the more complex Bayesian networks.
Nematode parasite eggs in pasture soils and pigs on organic farms in Sweden
Authors: Lindgren Kristina , Gunnarsson Stefan , Höglund Johan , Lindahl Cecilia , Roepstorff Allan 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe EU regulation for organic pig production requires outdoor access to promote the animal welfare. This may increase the risk of infection of the common pig parasites, Ascaris suum and Trichuris suis, because their eggs can survive for many years in the soil. The egg contamination of these parasites in outdoor areas with different managements and the faecal egg output from the pigs was investigated on 11 Swedish organic pig farms in 2008. We found eggs of A. suum and, to a minor extent, T. suis in the soil from outdoor areas, which had previously been used for pig rearing and/or for spreading of pig manure. Piglets and their dams were turned out on pastures included in a crop rotation, and these areas had a mean of 2500 A. suum and 40 T. suis eggs per kilogram soil. When the pigs were 12-week-old, the faecal egg counts (FECs) of A. suum were positively correlated with the egg concentration in pasture soils before pig turnout. The areas used by dry sows had a mean of 11,700 A. suum and 220 T. suis eggs per kilogram soil. The highest egg concentrations in the soil were found in areas, frequently used by pigs in the most recent years. To minimise pasture contamination with parasite eggs, it is advised to have a crop rotation system and to inactivate parasite eggs in pig manure before spreading it. Parasite control needs further development to protect suckling piglets from infections due to environmental parasite egg contamination.
An Update on Microinvasive Glaucoma Surgery Concurrent With Cataract Extraction
Authors: Van Tassel Sarah H. , Chen Darren 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Purpose of Review
In this article, we review the current options for microinvasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) combined with cataract extraction in the USA and the efficacy of the various approaches.

Recent Findings
MIGS is a rapidly growing area of research and clinical interest. Available surgeries aim to reduce intraocular pressure by improving aqueous outflow through the trabecular or subconjunctival pathways or by reducing aqueous production.

Summary
Multiple approaches to MIGS are utilized in clinical practice. On average, these surgeries are safe and modestly effective in reducing intraocular pressure. Future research will demonstrate which surgical approaches are most efficacious, whether and how to combine MIGS, and the role of MIGS in improving patient quality of life.
Automatic Crack Detection and Analysis for Biological Cellular Materials in X-Ray In Situ Tomography Measurements
Authors: Wu Ziling , Yang Ting , Deng Zhifei , Huang Baokun , Liu Han , Wang Yu , Chen Yuan , Stoddard Mary Caswell , Li Ling , Zhu Yunhui 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWe introduce a novel methodology, based on in situ X-ray tomography measurements, to quantify and analyze 3D crack morphologies in biological cellular materials during damage process. Damage characterization in cellular materials is challenging due to the difficulty of identifying and registering cracks from the complicated 3D network structure. In this paper, we develop a pipeline of computer vision algorithms to extract crack patterns from a large volumetric dataset of in situ X-ray tomography measurement obtained during a compression test. Based on a hybrid approach using both model-based feature filtering and data-driven machine learning, the proposed method shows high efficiency and accuracy in identifying the crack pattern from the complex cellular structures and tomography reconstruction artifacts. The identified cracks are registered as 3D tilted planes, where 3D morphology descriptors including crack location, crack opening width, and crack plane orientation are registered to provide quantitative data for future mechanical analysis. This method is applied to two different biological materials with different levels of porosity, i.e., sea urchin (Heterocentrotus mamillatus) spines and emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) eggshells. The results are verified by experienced human image readers. The methodology presented in this paper can be utilized for crack analysis in many other cellular solids, including both synthetic and natural materials.
Experimental study on evolution law for particle breakage during coal and gas outburst
Authors: Wu Xin , Peng Yawen , Xu Jiang , Yan Qiao , Nie Wen , Zhang Tingting 
Published: November 2019

AbstractCoal and gas outburst is a dynamic phenomenon in underground mining engineering that is often accompanied by the throwing and breakage of large amounts of coal. To study the crushing effect and its evolution during outbursts, coal samples with different initial particle sizes were evaluated using a coal and gas outburst testing device. Three basic particle sizes, 5–10 mesh, 10–40 mesh, and 40–80 mesh, as well as some mixed particle size coal samples were used in tests. The coal particles were pre-compacted at a pressure of 4 MPa before the tests. The vertical ground stress (4 MPa) and the horizontal ground stress (2.4 MPa) were initially simulated by the hydraulic system and maintained throughout. During the tests, the samples were first placed in a vacuum for 3 h, and the coal was filled with gas (CH4) for an adsorption time of approximately 5 h. Finally, the gas valve was shut off and the coal and gas outburst was induced by quickly opening the outburst hole. The coal particles that were thrown out by the outburst test device were collected and screened based on the particle size. The results show the following. (1) Smaller particle sizes have a worse crushing effect than larger sizes. Furthermore, the well-graded coal particles are weakly broken during the outburst process. (2) As the number of repeated tests increases, the relative breakage index grows; however, the increment of growth decreases after each test, showing that further fragmentation becomes increasingly difficult.