bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Central role of left atrial dynamics in limiting exercise cardiac output increase and oxygen uptake in heart failure: insights by cardiopulmonary imaging
Authors: Sugimoto Tadafumi , Barletta Marta , Bandera Francesco , Generati Greta , Alfonzetti Eleonora , Rovida Marina , Gnecchi Ruscone Tomaso , Rossi Andrea , Cicoira Mariantonietta , Guazzi Marco 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAimsIn heart failure (HF), the haemodynamic response to exercise in relation to left atrial (LA) dynamics is unexplored. We sought to define whether abnormal LA dynamics during exercise may play a role in cardiac output (CO) limitation and tested its ability to predict outcome.Methods and resultsA total of 195 HF patients with reduced (n = 105), mid‐range (n = 48), and preserved (n = 42) left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and 46 non‐cardiac dyspnoea (NCD) subjects underwent cardiopulmonary imaging with assessment of LA strain and strain rate (sra). HF patients, irrespective of LVEF, exhibited a significantly impaired LA strain and LA sra at rest, during exercise and recovery compared to NCD subjects with a blunted response in CO and right ventricular to pulmonary circulation coupling. LA strain and LA sra during exertion were significantly correlated with peak stroke volume index, peak CO and peak cardiac power output (R = 0.33, 0.48, 0.50 and R = 0.36, 0.51, 0.52 for LA strain and LA sra, respectively; all P < 0.001). In HF, after adjustment for age, gender, left atrial volume index, peak mitral regurgitation > 2, peak LVEF and peak heart rate, a higher LA strain (1% increase) during exercise was associated with a higher peak stroke volume index (mL/m2), CO (L/min) and cardiac power output (mmHg L/min) at multivariable analyses (β‐coefficients ± standard error = 0.23 ± 0.07, 0.046 ± 0.014 and 0.012 ± 0.004, respectively; P < 0.05). The same associations were found also for LA sra (absolute value) (1/s increase, β‐coefficients ± standard error = 1.91 ± 0.68, 0.43 ± 0.14 and 0.12 ± 0.04, respectively; P < 0.05). Exercise LA strain (adjusted hazard ratio 0.94, 95% confidence interval 0.92–0.97, P < 0.001) and LA sra (adjusted hazard ratio 0.60, 95% confidence interval 0.43–0.84, P = 0.003) were associated with a worse outcome after adjusting for age and gender.ConclusionsIn HF, LA dynamics may play a key role in exercise CO increase due to an impaired forward (left ventricular filling) and backward (right ventricular to pulmonary circulation uncoupling) combination of mechanisms, irrespective of LVEF. The blunted LA strain and LA sra reserve during exercise are associated with a worse cardiopulmonary performance and outcome.
The prevalence and importance of frailty in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction – an analysis of PARADIGM‐HF and ATMOSPHERE
Authors: Dewan Pooja , Jackson Alice , Jhund Pardeep S. , Shen Li , Ferreira João Pedro , Petrie Mark C. , Abraham William T. , Desai Akshay S. , Dickstein Kenneth , Køber Lars , Packer Milton , Rouleau Jean L. , Solomon Scott D. , Swedberg Karl , Zile Michael R. , McMurray John J.V. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAimsFrailty, characterized by loss of homeostatic reserves and increased vulnerability to physiological decompensation, results from an aggregation of insults across multiple organ systems. Frailty can be quantified by counting the number of ‘health deficits’ across a range of domains. We assessed the frequency of, and outcomes related to, frailty in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).Methods and resultsUsing a cumulative deficits approach, we constructed a 42‐item frailty index (FI) and applied it to identify frail patients enrolled in two HFrEF trials (PARADIGM‐HF and ATMOSPHERE). In keeping with previous studies, patients with FI ≤0.210 were classified as non‐frail and those with higher scores were divided into two categories using score increments of 0.100. Clinical outcomes were examined, adjusting for prognostic variables. Among 13 625 participants, mean (± standard deviation) FI was 0.250 (0.10) and 8383 patients (63%) were frail (FI >0.210). The frailest patients were older and had more symptoms and signs of heart failure. Women were frailer than men. All outcomes were worse in the frailest, with high rates of all‐cause death or all‐cause hospitalization: 40.7 (39.1–42.4) vs. 22.1 (21.2–23.0) per 100 person‐years in the non‐frail; adjusted hazard ratio 1.63 (1.53–1.75) (P < 0.001). The rate of all‐cause hospitalizations, taking account of recurrences, was 61.5 (59.8–63.1) vs. 31.2 (30.3–32.2) per 100 person‐years (incidence rate ratio 1.76; 1.62–1.90; P < 0.001).ConclusionFrailty is highly prevalent in HFrEF and associated with greater deterioration in quality of life and higher risk of hospitalization and death. Strategies to prevent and treat frailty are needed in HFrEF.
Oxidation‐etching induced morphology regulation of Cu catalysts for high‐performance electrochemical N2 reduction
Authors: Ji Xuqiang , Wang Ting , Liu Qian , Luo Yongsong , Lu Siyu , Chen Guang , Gao Shuyan , Asiri Abdullah M. , Sun Xuping 
Published: April 2020

AbstractRenewable‐electricity‐driven N2 reduction is an attractive approach for ambient NH3 synthesis, but active electrocatalysts are needed to enable the N2 reduction reaction. Monolithic electrodes with active components anchored on conductive supports provide many advantages like structural stability, large surface area, and low electrical resistance. Here, a novel “oxidation‐etching” strategy is proposed to carve the surface of Cu foam into structures of particles, cubes, and sheets for N2 reduction electrocatalysis. The optimal catalyst achieves a Faradic efficiency as high as 18% at −0.35 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and a large NH3 yield of 2.45 × 10−10 mol s−1 cm−1 at −0.40 V vs RHE in 0.1 M HCl. Notably, it also shows superior long‐term electrochemical durability, with the preservation of electro‐activity for at least 20 hours.image
Cost‐effective analysis technique for the design of bridges against strike‐slip faulting
Authors: Agalianos Athanasios , Sieber Max , Anastasopoulos Ioannis 
Published: April 2020

SummaryThe paper studies the performance of a typical overpass bridge, with continuous deck and monolithic pier‐deck connections, subjected to strike‐slip faulting. A three‐dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) model of the entire bridge–foundation–abutment–soil system is developed, accounting for soil, structure and geometric nonlinearities. Soil behaviour is simulated with a thoroughly validated strain softening constitutive model. The concrete damaged plasticity (CDP) model is implemented for piers, accounting for the interaction between axial force N, bending moment M, shear force Q and torsion T (NMQT); the model is validated against experimental results from the literature. The location of the fault rupture is parametrically investigated, confirming the vulnerability of indeterminate structural systems to large tectonic deformation. The deck is shown to sustain both in‐plane and out‐of‐plane bending moments, as well as torsion; the piers are subjected to biaxial bending, shear and torsion. The response is highly dependent on the location of the fault rupture, emphasizing the need to develop cost‐effective modelling techniques. Four such techniques are developed (with and without decoupling) and comparatively assessed using the detailed 3D FE model as benchmark. The best prediction is achieved by a coupled model, which includes the bridge superstructure, detailed 3D modelling of the soil‐foundation system only for the pier directly affected by the fault, and nonlinear springs representing the foundations of all other piers. The proposed technique offers a computationally efficient means to parametrically analyse long multispan bridges subjected to faulting, for which full 3D FE modelling is impractical.
Studying smoldering to flaming transition in polyurethane furnituresubassemblies: Effects of fabrics, flame retardants, and material type
Authors: Morgan Alexander B. , Knapp Graham , Stoliarov Stanislav I. , Levchik Sergei V. 
Published: April 2020

SummaryThe transition from smoldering to flaming was studied on fabric, batting, and foam assemblies via an electric spot ignition source of similar intensity to a cigarette. The materials studied included four different fabrics (cotton, polyester, cotton/polyester blend, flame retardant cotton/polyester blend), two types of batting (cotton, polyester), and three types of polyurethane foam (nonflame retardant, flame retardant by FMVSS 302 testing, flame retardant by BS5852 testing). The results from testing found that materials highly prone to smoldering could propagate smoldering into foams and lead to ignition, whereas materials that tended to melt back from the ignition source did not. Flame retardant fabrics or foam can and do prevent the transition from smoldering to flaming provided sufficient levels of flame retardants are incorporated in the upholstery fabric or foam. The transition from smoldering to flaming of cotton fabric/nonflame retardant foam assembly was also studied using temperature measurements and evolved gas analysis. It was determined that the transition takes place when the oxygen consumption by accelerating smoldering front exceeds the oxygen supply. At this point, the solid fuel gasification becomes driven by thermal decomposition rather than by surface oxidation which leads to high enough concentrations of fuel for flaming combustion to occur.
Novel CTNND2‐TERT fusion in a spindle cell liposarcoma
Authors: Occidental Michael , Shen Guomiao , Feng Xiaojun , Zhu Kelsey , Kelly Kevin , Nie Qian , Reddi Honey V. , Lakiotaki Eleftheria , Viniou Nora Athina , Korkolopoulou Penelope , Linos Konstantinos , Jour George 
Published: April 2020

AbstractSoft tissue tumors can be categorized molecularly into two categories: tumors which are known to have recurrent molecular alterations and tumors which do not have consistent recurrent molecular alterations or translocations. These “nontranslocation” associated sarcomas are clinically more aggressive than their more stable counterparts. However, recent advances in RNA sequencing have discovered recurrent novel fusions within the latter group, namely TERT‐TRIO fusions. Furthermore, a recent report discovered this fusion in a spindle cell liposarcoma. Our case describes a novel fusion of CTNND2, a neighbor gene of TRIO, and TERT in a spindle cell liposarcoma, and provides further evidence that spindle cell liposarcoma should be a distinct entity from dedifferentiated liposarcoma.
Old recipes, new strategies: Paleoenvironment, georesources, building materials, and trade networks in Roman Tuscany (Italy)
Authors: Gliozzo Elisabetta , Fantozzi Pier Lorenzo , Ionescu Corina 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe Grosseto plain has undergone extensive morphological changes. The shoreline progression has been taking place during the last millennium and has deeply affected settlement, infrastructural, and socioeconomic dynamics. Consequently, this study aims to (a) localize the raw materials exploited during the Roman period for building materials production, (b) reconstruct the production technology, and (c) provide a meaningful reconstruction of the commercial dynamics between local “municipal” productions and “urban” imports. The chemical, mineralogical, and petrographic investigations performed on 34 stamped bricks from the Roman territories of Vetulonia, Rusellae, Heba (Aia Nova), and Saturnia supported the following major achievements: (a) Most of the Rusellan producers used the continental deposits outcropping along the Ombrone River while a few of them exploited the coastal or marine deposits. Aia Nova and Saturnia producers used the Zanclean marine deposits. (b) Brick‐making technology involved very little or no preparation of the paste and firing temperatures ranging between ~650°C and 900°C. Calcite temper was found in Rusellan bricks while decantation was hypothesized for Saturnia bricks only. (c) Commercial dynamics changed abruptly after the the mid 1st century AD when local productions, run by local aristocracies, started declining in favor of urban imports, until being completely supplanted during the Trajan age.
Problems with inattention, reading comprehension, and autonomic regulation on the Stroop task
Authors: Becker Derek R. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractDirect and moderated connections among symptoms of inattention, High‐Frequency Heart Rate Variability (HF‐HRV), and reading comprehension scores were examined. Children age 7 to 12 were rated by both parents and teachers on symptoms of inattention with the Behavior Assessment System for Children. Reading was assessed with the Peabody Individualized Achievement Test, and HF‐HRV was examined during a Stroop task. Controlling for reading recognition scores, results were consistent with previous work, showing HF‐HRV was significantly negatively associated with reading comprehension, with lower HF‐HRV predicting higher reading scores. HF‐HRV also significantly moderated the relationship between symptoms of inattention and reading comprehension, suggesting that as symptoms of inattention increase, children with low HF‐HRV had higher reading comprehension scores. Variations in parasympathetic reactivity may help explain reading comprehension heterogeneity for children with symptoms of inattention.
Overall and abdominal obesity and prostate cancer risk in a West African population: An analysis of the Ghana Prostate Study
Authors: Hurwitz Lauren M. , Yeboah Edward D. , Biritwum Richard B. , Tettey Yao , Adjei Andrew A. , Mensah James E. , Tay Evelyn , Okyne Vicky , Truelove Ann , Kelly Scott P. , Zhou Cindy Ke , Butler Eboneé N. , Hoover Robert N. , Hsing Ann W. , Cook Michael B. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractObesity has been associated with an increased risk of advanced prostate cancer. However, most studies have been conducted among North American and European populations. Prostate cancer mortality appears elevated in West Africa, yet risk factors for prostate cancer in this region are unknown. We thus examined the relationship between obesity and prostate cancer using a case‐control study conducted in Accra, Ghana in 2004 to 2012. Cases and controls were drawn from a population‐based sample of 1037 men screened for prostate cancer, yielding 73 cases and 964 controls. An additional 493 incident cases were recruited from the Korle‐Bu Teaching Hospital. Anthropometric measurements were taken at enrollment. We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist‐hip ratio (WHR) and prostate cancer, adjusting for potential confounders. The mean BMI was 25.1 kg/m2 for cases and 24.3 kg/m2 for controls. After adjustment, men with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 had an increased risk of prostate cancer relative to men with BMI < 25 kg/m2 (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.11‐3.13). Elevated WC (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.24‐2.51) and WHR (OR 1.46, 95% CI 0.99‐2.16) were also associated with prostate cancer. Associations were not modified by smoking status and were evident for low‐ and high‐grade disease. These findings indicate that overall and abdominal obesity are positively associated with prostate cancer among men in Ghana, implicating obesity as a potentially modifiable risk factor for prostate cancer in this region.
Captive house sparrows (Passer domesticus) show little evidence of seasonality of neophobia responses
Authors: Fischer Clare P. , Gormally Brenna M. G. , Romero L. Michael 
Published: April 2020

AbstractNeophobia is a behavior characterized by a reluctance to approach novel objects. We measured neophobia in captive wild house sparrows (Passer domesticus) by comparing the time it took for hungry birds to approach their normal food dish compared to one that had been modified with a novel object. We tested the behavior of animals captured at different times of year to test for seasonal variation in neophobia. One group of birds tested in July approached their food dishes much more quickly than all other birds (a matter of seconds rather than minutes whether or not there was a novel object), a response that was not repeated in a subsequent July. When this possible outlier group was removed from the analysis, approach times to novel objects were not affected by season. However, animals captured and tested in October had a stronger motivation to feed (i.e., they approached unmodified food dishes faster) than birds captured at other times of the year. If we define “neophobia” as an increase in latency to approach a novel versus an unmodified food dish, then there is little evidence for underlying seasonal variation in risk assessment, although a general motivation to feed does show a seasonal pattern.
Calibration of Raman wavenumber in large Raman images using a mercury‐argon lamp
Authors: Jakubek Ryan S. , Fries Marc D. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractRaman imaging is an emerging tool for the analysis of meteorites, as it is capable of describing mineralogy, carbon composition/speciation, and crystal orientation all within a petrographic context. Adequately examining the heterogeneous composition of a meteorite often requires long image collection times on the timescale of days. However, the wavenumber calibration of the Raman spectrometer drifts over long timescales resulting in low wavenumber precision for the Raman spectra comprising a large Raman image. This decrease in wavenumber precision can compromise the analysis of geological markers that can provide important information on a meteorite sample. We examine, in detail, the change in bandwidth and wavenumber of the Raman bands and Hg–Ar emission lines in our Raman images as a function of time and laboratory temperature. To overcome the drift in calibration, we utilize a commercial WITec Raman instrument with a built‐in Hg–Ar calibration lamp to individually calibrate each spectrum in the Raman image. We show that using the Hg–Ar calibration, we can improve the wavenumber precision for the spectra in our Raman images from ~±0.15 to ~±0.05 cm−1 for Raman spectra collected over multiple days. This is important as it improves measurements of mineral chemistry, latent strain, and other features that are dependent upon accurate peak position determination. We also examine the spectral signal‐to‐noise ratio needed to minimize the wavenumber error when fitting bands to Gaussian/Lorentzian profiles. We then use our results to suggest a general method for calibrating the wavenumber of Raman spectra in large Raman images.
Advanced methods for safe visualization on automotive displays
Authors: Axmann Benjamin , Langner Frank , Blankenbach Karlheinz , Vogelmann Matthaeus , von Gaisberg Adrian , Strobel Lukas , Bauer Jan 
Published: April 2020

AbstractCamera Monitor Systems (CMSs), for example, for backup cameras or mirror replacements, become increasingly important and already cover safety aspects such as guaranteed latency and no frame freeze. Today's approaches deal only with supervision of the digital interface, LCD backlight, and power supply. This paper introduces methods for advanced safety monitoring of panel electronics and optical display output that aim to enable future CMS based automotive use cases. Our methods are based on correlation of physical measurements with predicted values derived from a corresponding display model. This model was made via calibration measurements and many test patterns. Correlation of the monitoring results with predicted values corresponds to the probability that the RGB data are shown as intended. This implies that an overlying system, an Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL) Prepared Video Safety System (APVSS), ensures that only safety verified RGB data are provided to the panel electronics. In case of failures, our methods enable a safe system state, for example, by deactivating the panel. An additional challenge is to allow graceful degradations, a safe but slightly degraded image may provide a better customer experience compared with no information. We successfully verified our approach by a fully functional prototype and extensive evaluation towards “light‐to‐light” (camera to display output) supervision.
Enhancement of soil carbon and nitrogen stocks by abiotic and microbial pathways in three rubber‐based agroforestry systems in Southwest China
Authors: Li Xin‐Ai , Ge Ti‐Da , Chen Zhe , Wang Si‐Min , Ou Xiao‐Kun , Wu Ying , Chen Hui , Wu Jian‐Ping 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAgroforestry systems are considered promising alternatives to rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) monocultures, but information is limited on the effects of rubber‐based agroforestry systems on soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) storage. The current study, which was conducted in Xishuangbanna, China, compared four intercropping treatments, including rubber monoculture and the follow three agroforestry treatments: intercropping withCamellia sinensis,Coffea liberica, orTheobroma cacao. Soil physicochemical properties and copy numbers ofcbbLandnosZgenes (which indicate the abundance of bacteria that function in C and N cycling) were analyzed. The results showed thatCoffea libericaintercropping facilitated SOC and TN contents and enhanced SOC and TN stocks by 36.5 and 33.2% relative to rubber monoculture at 0–10 cm soil layer, respectively. Structural equation modeling showed that the effects of intercropping oncbbLandnosZcopy numbers were mainly explained by soil pH and bulk density (r2= .37 and .35, respectively), that the abundance ofcbbLand SOC content directly affected SOC storage (r2= .46), and that the abundance ofnosZand TN content directly affected TN storage (r2= .22). Our results indicate that the use ofC.libericaas intercrops should contribute to retard soil degradation and to implement sustainable land management in rubber monocultures. Combining the abiotic and microbial pathways, we suggest that the enhancement of C and N sequestration withC.libericaunder rubber monoculture can be probably attributed to the increased input of litter and roots and to the stimulation of the microorganisms that regulate C and N cycles.