bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pupillary light reflex in ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy
Authors: Yoo Yung-Ju , Hwang Jeong-Min , Yang Hee Kyung 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWe evaluated changes in the pupillary light reflex (PLR) of ethambutol (EMB)-induced optic neuropathy and analyzed the correlations between PLR parameters and other structural changes in EMB-induced optic neuropathy. This retrospective, observational, case–control study involved thirty-two eyes of 17 patients with EMB-induced optic neuropathy (EON group), sixty eyes of 60 patients without EMB-induced optic neuropathy (non-EON group) while taking ethambutol, and forty-five eyes of 45 normal controls. PLR was measured by digital pupillometry. The clinical characteristics, optical coherence tomography measurements and PLR parameters including pupil diameter, constriction latency, constriction ratio/velocity, and dilation velocity were noted. The differences in PLR measurements were compared among the three groups. Correlations between PLR parameters and other structural parameters in EMB-induced optic neuropathy were evaluated. The pupillary constriction ratio, constriction and dilation velocities were significantly reduced in the EON group compared to the non-EON group and controls (all P < 0.05). In EMB-induced optic neuropathy, average outer macular ganglion cell layer (mGCL) thickness showed a significant correlation with the pupillary constriction ratio (ß = 4.14, P = 0.003) and maximal constriction velocity (ß = 1.08, P < 0.001). This study confirmed that pupillary constriction and dilation velocities were significantly decreased in patients with EMB-induced optic neuropathy, compared to normal controls. Digital pupillometry may be a useful tool in the evaluation of EMB-induced optic neuropathy.
Effectiveness of selective area growth using van der Waals h-BN layer for crack-free transfer of large-size III-N devices onto arbitrary substrates
Authors: Karrakchou Soufiane , Sundaram Suresh , Ayari Taha , Mballo Adama , Vuong Phuong , Srivastava Ashutosh , Gujrati Rajat , Ahaitouf Ali , Patriarche Gilles , Leichlé Thierry , Gautier Simon , Moudakir Tarik , Voss Paul L. , Salvestrini Jean Paul , Ougazzaden Abdallah 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSelective Area van der Waals Epitaxy (SAVWE) of III-Nitride device has been proposed recently by our group as an enabling solution for h-BN-based device transfer. By using a patterned dielectric mask with openings slightly larger than device sizes, pick-and-place of discrete LEDs onto flexible substrates was achieved. A more detailed study is needed to understand the effect of this selective area growth on material quality, device performance and device transfer. Here we present a study performed on two types of LEDs (those grown on h-BN on patterned and unpatterned sapphire) from the epitaxial growth to device performance and thermal dissipation measurements before and after transfer. Millimeter-size LEDs were transferred to aluminum tape and to silicon substrates by van der Waals liquid capillary bonding. It is shown that patterned samples lead to a better material quality as well as improved electrical and optical device performances. In addition, patterned structures allowed for a much better transfer yield to silicon substrates than unpatterned structures. We demonstrate that SAVWE, combined with either transfer processes to soft or rigid substrates, offers an efficient, robust and low-cost heterogenous integration capability of large-size devices to silicon for photonic and electronic applications.
Uric acid level and kidney function: a cross-sectional study of the Korean national health and nutrition examination survey (2016–2017)
Authors: Joo Hye Jin , Kim Gyu Ri , Choi Dong-Woo , Joo Jae Hong , Park Eun-Cheol 
Published: December 2020

AbstractKidney disease is expected to become the fifth leading cause of premature death globally by 2040. Uric acid level is a risk factor for kidney disease. The current study aims to investigate the association between uric acid levels and kidney function in the Korean population. The data of 11,042 participants of the 2016–2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analysed. The estimated glomerular filtration rate was calculated using the modification of diet in renal disease formula for Koreans. For each sex, uric acid levels were divided into five subsequent categories of increasing levels (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, and hyperuricemia). The association between uric acid level and kidney function was investigated using multiple logistic regression. The results showed that the higher the uric acid levels, the greater the odds of reduced kidney function in both sexes. In men, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for reduced eGFR comparing the hyperuricemia group to the lowest serum uric acid quartile was 5.55 (3.27–9.44), and in women, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) was 7.52 (4.39–12.87). Normal weight or underweight in men and overweight in women, as well as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and physical inactivity were highly associated with reduced kidney function. Our study revealed a dose–response relationship between uric acid levels and kidney function. Therefore, high uric acid level should be considered as a factor that is potentially related to kidney dysfunction in the Korean population.
Skin wound closure delay in metabolic syndrome correlates with SCF deficiency in keratinocytes
Authors: Wang Zhenping , Wang Yanhan , Bradbury Nicholas , Gonzales Bravo Carolina , Schnabl Bernd , Di Nardo Anna 
Published: December 2020

AbstractPoor wound closure due to diabetes, aging, stress, obesity, alcoholism, and chronic disease affects millions of people worldwide. Reasons wounds will not close are still unclear, and current therapies are limited. Although stem cell factor (SCF), a cytokine, is known to be important for wound repair, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of SCF in wound closure remain poorly understood. Here, we found that SCF expression in the epidermis is decreased in mouse models of delayed wound closure intended to mimic old age, obesity, and alcoholism. By using SCF conditionally knocked out mice, we demonstrated that keratinocytes’ autocrine production of SCF activates a transient c-kit receptor in keratinocytes. Transient activation of the c-kit receptor induces the expression of growth factors and chemokines to promote wound re-epithelialization by increasing migration of skin cells (keratinocytes and fibroblasts) and immune cells (neutrophils) to the wound bed 24–48 h post-wounding. Our results demonstrate that keratinocyte-produced SCF is essential to wound closure due to the increased recruitment of a unique combination of skin cells and immune cells in the early phase after wounding. This discovery is imperative for developing clinical strategies that might improve the body’s natural repair mechanisms for treating patients with wound-closure pathologies.
A computational model of language functions in flexible goal-directed behaviour
Authors: Granato Giovanni , Borghi Anna M. , Baldassarre Gianluca 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe function of language in high-order goal-directed human cognition is an important topic at the centre of current debates. Experimental evidence shows that inner speech, representing a self-directed form of language, empowers cognitive processes such as working memory, perception, categorization, and executive functions. Here we study the relations between inner speech and processes like feedback processing and cognitive flexibility. To this aim we propose a computational model that controls an artificial agent who uses inner speech to internally manipulate its representations. The agent is able to reproduce human behavioural data collected during the solution of the Wisconsin Card Sorting test, a neuropsychological test measuring cognitive flexibility, both in the basic condition and when a verbal shadowing protocol is used. The components of the model were systematically lesioned to clarify the specific impact of inner speech on the agent’s behaviour. The results indicate that inner speech improves the efficiency of internal representation manipulation. Specifically, it makes the representations linked to specific visual features more disentangled, thus improving the agent’s capacity to engage/disengage attention on stimulus features after positive/negative action outcomes. Overall, the model shows how inner speech could improve goal-directed internal manipulation of representations and enhance behavioural flexibility.
Factors influencing therapy choice and clinical outcome in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis
Authors: Krajíčková Dagmar , Král Jiří , Herzig Roman , Klzo Ľudovít , Krajina Antonín , Havelka Jaroslav , Šimůnek Libor , Vyšata Oldřich , Van Quang Tran , Bar Michal , Vališ Martin 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWe aimed was to assess the factors influencing therapy choice and clinical outcome after 3–4 months in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). In a retrospective, bi-centric study, the set consisted of 82 consecutive CVST patients (61 females; mean age 33.5 ± 15.7 years). Following data were collected: baseline characteristics, presence of gender-specific risk factors (GSRF), location and extent of venous sinus impairment, clinical presentation, type of treatment, recanalization, presence of parenchymal lesions, and clinical outcome after 3–4 months (assessed using the modified Rankin Scale [mRS], with excellent outcome defined as mRS 0–1). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used for statistical evaluation. After 3–4 months, complete recovery was achieved in 41 (50%) and excellent clinical outcome in 67 (81.7%) patients. Female sex (OR 0.11; p = 0.0189) and presence of focal neurologic deficit (OR 0.16; p = 0.0165) were identified as significant independent negative predictors and, the presence of GSRF (OR 15.63; p = 0.0011) as significant independent positive predictor of excellent clinical outcome. In conclusion, in our CVST patients, the presence of GSRF was associated with excellent clinical outcome, while the female sex itself was associated with poorer clinical outcome.
Establishment of a novel hepatitis B virus culture system using immortalized human hepatocytes
Authors: Akahori Yuichi , Kato Hiroki , Fujita Takashi , Moriishi Kohji , Tanaka Yasuhito , Watashi Koichi , Imamura Michio , Chayama Kazuaki , Wakita Takaji , Hijikata Makoto 
Published: December 2020

AbstractRecent development of hepatitis B virus (HBV) culture systems has made it possible to analyze the almost all steps of the viral life cycle. However, the reproducibility of interaction between HBV and host cells seemed inaccurate in those systems because of utilization of cancer cell lines with a difference from hepatocytes in the majority of cases. In this study, in order to resolve this point, a novel HBV culture system using non-cancer-derived immortalized human hepatocytes derived cell lines, producing exogenous human sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide, was developed. One of the cell clones, E/NtG8 cells, was permissive to both blood-borne HBV (HBVbb) and culture-derived recombinant HBV when cultured in the three-dimensional condition. Furthermore, the production of infectious HBV particles, which showed the similar physicochemical properties to HBVbb, was observed for about a month after HBVbb infection in this system, suggesting that it may reproduce whole steps of the HBV lifecycle under the condition analogous to human liver cells infected with HBV. This system seemed to contribute not only to find novel interactions between HBV and host cells but also to understand mechanism of HBV pathogenesis.
Combined effect of heart rate responses and the anti-G straining manoeuvre effectiveness on G tolerance in a human centrifuge
Authors: Tu Min-Yu , Chu Hsin , Lin You-Jin , Chiang Kwo-Tsao , Chen Chuan-Mu , Chen Hsin-Hui , Yang Chen-Shu , Lai Chung-Yu 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIncreased heart rate (HR) is a reaction to head-to-toe gravito-inertial (G) force. The anti-G straining manoeuvre (AGSM) is the crucial technique for withstanding a high-G load. Previous studies reported the main effects of HR only or AGSM only on G tolerance. We assessed the combined effect of HR and AGSM on the outcome of 9G profile exposure. A total of 530 attempts for the 9G profile were extracted to clarify the association of interest. Subjects with an AGSM effectiveness of less than 2.5G had a 2.14-fold higher likelihood of failing in the 9G profile. Trainees with HR increases of less than 20% in the first five seconds also had higher odds of 9G profile intolerance (adjusted OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.09–3.07). The adjusted OR of 9G profile disqualification was 2.93 (95% CI 1.19–7.20) for participants with smaller HR increases and lower AGSM effectiveness. The negative effect of a smaller HR increase on the outcome was likely to be affected by improved AGSM effectiveness (adjusted OR 1.26, 95% CI 0.65–2.42). We speculate that low AGSM effectiveness and a small HR increase were separately associated with failure of high-G challenge. Nonetheless, good AGSM performance seemed to reduce the negative effect of weak HR responses on the dependent variable.
Geographic monitoring for early disease detection (GeoMEDD)
Authors: Curtis Andrew , Ajayakumar Jayakrishnan , Curtis Jacqueline , Mihalik Sarah , Purohit Maulik , Scott Zachary , Muisyo James , Labadorf James , Vijitakula Sorapat , Yax Justin , Goldberg Daniel W. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIdentifying emergent patterns of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at the local level presents a geographic challenge. The need is not only to integrate multiple data streams from different sources, scales, and cadences, but to also identify meaningful spatial patterns in these data, especially in vulnerable settings where even small numbers and low rates are important to pinpoint for early intervention. This paper identifies a gap in current analytical approaches and presents a near-real time assessment of emergent disease that can be used to guide a local intervention strategy: Geographic Monitoring for Early Disease Detection (GeoMEDD). Through integration of a spatial database and two types of clustering algorithms, GeoMEDD uses incoming test data to provide multiple spatial and temporal perspectives on an ever changing disease landscape by connecting cases using different spatial and temporal thresholds. GeoMEDD has proven effective in revealing these different types of clusters, as well as the influencers and accelerators that give insight as to why a cluster exists where it does, and why it evolves, leading to the saving of lives through more timely and geographically targeted intervention.
The critical role of pore size on depth-dependent microbial cell counts in sediments
Authors: Park Junghee , Santamarina J. Carlos 
Published: December 2020

AbstractCell counts decrease with sediment depth. Typical explanations consider limiting factors such as water availability and chemistry, carbon source, nutrients, energy and temperature, and overlook the role of pore size. Our analyses consider sediment self-compaction, the evolution of pore size with depth, and the probability of pores larger than the microbial size to compute the volume fraction of life-compatible pores. We evaluate cell counts vs. depth profiles gathered at 116 sites worldwide. Results confirm the critical role of pore size on cell counts in the subsurface and explain much of the data spread (from ~ 9 orders of magnitude range in cell counts to ~ 2 orders). Cells colonize pores often forming dense biofilms, thus, cell counts in pores are orders of magnitude higher than in the water column. Similar arguments apply to rocks.
A biomolecular anthropological investigation of William Adams, the first SAMURAI from England
Authors: Mizuno Fuzuki , Ishiya Koji , Matsushita Masami , Matsushita Takayuki , Hampson Katherine , Hayashi Michiko , Tokanai Fuyuki , Kurosaki Kunihiko , Ueda Shintaroh 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWilliam Adams (Miura Anjin) was an English navigator who sailed with a Dutch trading fleet to the far East and landed in Japan in 1600. He became a vassal under the Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, was bestowed with a title, lands and swords, and became the first SAMURAI from England. "Miura" comes from the name of the territory given to him and "Anjin" means "pilot". He lived out the rest of his life in Japan and died in Hirado, Nagasaki Prefecture, in 1620, where he was reportedly laid to rest. Shortly after his death, graveyards designated for foreigners were destroyed during a period of Christian repression, but Miura Anjin’s bones were supposedly taken, protected, and reburied. Archaeological investigations in 1931 uncovered human skeletal remains and it was proposed that they were those of Miura Anjin. However, this could not be confirmed from the evidence at the time and the remains were reburied. In 2017, excavations found skeletal remains matching the description of those reinterred in 1931. We analyzed these remains from various aspects, including genetic background, dietary habits, and burial style, utilizing modern scientific techniques to investigate whether they do indeed belong to the first English SAMURAI.
Multidisciplinary approach to COVID-19 risk communication: a framework and tool for individual and regional risk assessment
Authors: Parajuli Rishi Ram , Mishra Bhogendra , Banstola Amrit , Ghimire Bhoj Raj , Poudel Shobha , Sharma Kusum , Dixit Sameer Mani , Sah Sunil Kumar , Simkhada Padam , van Teijlingen Edwin 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has exceeded over sixty-five million cases globally. Different approaches are followed to mitigate its impact and reduce its spreading in different countries, but limiting mobility and exposure have been de-facto precautions to reduce transmission. However, a full lockdown cannot be sustained for a prolonged period. An evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach on risk zoning, personal and transmission risk assessment in near real-time, and risk communication would support the optimized decisions to minimize the impact of coronavirus on our lives. This paper presents a framework to assess the individual and regional risk of COVID-19 along with risk communication tools and mechanisms. Relative risk scores on a scale of 100 represent the integrated risk of influential factors. The personal risk model incorporates age, exposure history, symptoms, local risk and existing health condition, whereas regional risk is computed through the actual cases of COVID-19, public health risk factors, socioeconomic condition of the region, and immigration statistics. A web application tool (http://www.covira.info) has been developed, where anyone can assess their risk and find the guided information links primarily for Nepal. This study provides regional risk for Nepal, but the framework is scalable across the world. However, personal risk can be assessed immediately from anywhere.
Intravitreal ranibizumab reduced ocular blood flow and aqueous cytokine levels and improved retinal morphology in patients with diabetic macular edema
Authors: Mizui Toru , Noma Hidetaka , Yasuda Kanako , Kanemaki Tomoe , Goto Hiroshi , Shimura Masahiko 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWe investigated the relationship between aqueous cytokine levels, changes in ocular blood flow, and morphological and functional improvements after intravitreal ranibizumab injection (IRI) in treatment-naïve eyes with center-involving diabetic macular edema (DME). Thirty-three eligible patients with DME (33 eyes) were recruited. At the first IRI, we collected a sample of aqueous humor from each eye and measured levels of the cytokines/chemokines. Mean blur rate (MBR) was used to evaluate retinal and choroidal flow by laser speckle flowgraphy at the time of the first IRI and 1 month later. One month after IRI, both retinal and choroidal MBR had significantly decreased from baseline. The reduction ratio of the retinal MBR was significantly correlated with aqueous levels of monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 and interleukin-8, and with reduction of central macular thickness, but not with improvement of best corrected visual acuity. The reduction ratio of choroidal MBR showed no statistical correlation with any cytokine levels or changes in clinical parameters. We conclude that IRI reduces both retinal and choroidal blood flow in treatment-naïve DME. Reduction of retinal blood flow correlated with regression of morphological pathology, which is regulated by the initial aqueous levels of some cytokines.
Fontan-associated liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma in adults
Authors: Kogiso Tomomi , Tokushige Katsutoshi 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe Fontan operation creates a unique circulation, and is a palliative therapy for patients with single-ventricle congenital heart disease. Increased venous pressure and decreased cardiac output and hepatic venous drainage result in sinusoidal dilatation around the central veins. This causes congestion and hypoxia in the liver, leading to Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD). Non-invasive and invasive markers enable diagnosis and evaluation of the fibrosis status in chronic liver disease; however, these markers have not been validated in FALD. Additionally, regenerative nodules such as focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) are frequently found. The severity of fibrosis correlates with the duration of the Fontan procedure and the central venous pressure. Cirrhosis is a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the annual risk of which is 1.5–5.0%. HCC is frequently difficult to diagnose and treat because of cardiac complications, coagulopathy, and congenital abnormalities. The mortality rate of FALD with liver cirrhosis and/or FALD-HCC was increased to ~ 29.4% (5/17 cases) in a nationwide survey. Although there is no consensus on the surveillance of patients with FALD, serial monitoring of the alpha fetoprotein level and imaging at 6-month intervals is required in patients with cirrhosis.