bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic value of preoperative fine needle aspiration cytology in parotid gland tumors
Authors: Hanege Fatih Mehmet , Tuysuz Ozan , Sakallioglu Oner , Arslan Solmaz Ozgen 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundSalivary gland masses constitute a broad spectrum of lesions ranging from non‐neoplastic to benign and malignant lesions. Parotid is the largest salivary gland and constitutes 75% to 80% of all salivary gland areas. 80% of parotid lesions are benign and 20% are malignant.MethodsTwo‐hundred and eight‐six patients who underwent aspiration cytology in the pathology laboratory between January 1995 and January 2019, evaluated with a sufficient sample and diagnosed, and subsequently underwent surgical treatment were included in the study.Results47.9% (137) of the patients were female and 52.1% (149) were male. The mean age was 58 years (range: 38‐84 years). 13 (4.54%) of the cases were evaluated as non‐diagnostic, 12 (4.1%) as atypia of undetermined significance, 196 (68.5%) as benign neoplasm, 43 (15%) as suspicious for malignancy, and 22 (7.86%) were evaluated as malignant. In the histopathological examination of the samples prepared from surgical specimens of 13 non‐diagnostic cases, seven (53.8%) cases were reported as Warthin tumors, four (30.7%) as pleomorphic adenomas, and two (15.5%) were reported as lymph nodes with intraparotid localization.ConclusionThe diagnosis of Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the parotid gland is difficult due to the rarity of malignant salivary gland neoplasms, the diversity of carcinoma types, and the similarity of cytologic findings of benign tumors and low‐grade carcinomas. The diagnostic accuracy of preoperative FNAC is high for benign tumors and low for malignant tumors.
High TG to HDL ratio plays a significant role on atherosclerosis extension in prediabetes and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes subjects
Authors: Scicali Roberto , Giral Philippe , D'Erasmo Laura , Cluzel Philippe , Redheuil Alban , Di Pino Antonino , Rabuazzo Agata Maria , Piro Salvatore , Arca Marcello , Béliard Sophie , Purrello Francesco , Bruckert Eric , Gallo Antonio 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAimsWe investigated the role of TG to HDL ratio (TG/HDL) on atherosclerosis extension, defined as presence of coronary artery calcium (CAC), carotid and femoral plaque, in prediabetes or newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D).MethodsWe performed a retrospective, cross‐sectional, single centre study involving 440 prediabetes or newly diagnosed controlled T2D subjects. Participants underwent CAC analysis by computed tomography and carotid and femoral plaque evaluation by ultrasonography and were stratified in high TG/HDL (H‐TG/HDL) or low TG/HDL (L‐TG/HDL) group according to TG/HDL median value. We estimated atherosclerosis extension according to the number of involved vascular districts.ResultsCAC was higher in the H‐TG/HDL group than L‐TG/HDL group (29.15 [0.0‐95.68] vs 0.0 [0.0‐53.97] AU, P < .01) and CAC > 0 was more prevalent in the H‐TG/HDL group than L‐TG/HDL group (64.5% vs 45%, P < .001). Femoral atherosclerosis was higher in the H‐TG/HDL group than L‐TG/HDL group (57.3% vs 43.6%, P < .01). H‐TG/HDL group exhibited a lower prevalence of subjects with 0‐TWP compared to L‐TG/HDL group (21.8% vs 38.6%, P < .01) and higher percentages of subjects with 2‐TWP or 3‐TWP than L‐TG/HDL group (for 2‐TWP 29.5% vs 21.5%, P < .05; for 3‐TWP 32.7% vs 20.9%, P < .01). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that a H‐TG/HDL was inversely associated to 0‐TWP (P < .05) and positively associated with 2‐TWP (P < .05) and 3‐TWP (P < .01).ConclusionsOur data suggest that TG/HDL is a marker of increased atherosclerotic extension in prediabetes and newly diagnosed T2D and may be useful to identify subjects with a higher cardiovascular risk profile.
Co‐microencapsulation of human umbilical cord‐derived mesenchymal stem and pancreatic islet‐derived insulin producing cells in experimental type 1 diabetes
Authors: Montanucci Pia , Pescara Teresa , Greco Alessia , Leonardi Giulia , Marini Luigi , Basta Giuseppe , Calafiore Riccardo 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIntroductionPost‐partum umbilical cord Wharton Jelly‐derived adult mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMS) hold anti‐inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. Human pancreatic islet‐derived progenitor cells (hIDC) may de‐differentiate, and subsequently re‐differentiate into insulin producing cells. The two cell types share common molecules that facilitate their synergistic interaction and possibly crosstalk, likely useful for the cell therapy of type 1 diabetes (T1D).Materials and methodsUpon microencapsulation in sodium alginate (AG), hUCMS and hIDC were able to form cell co‐aggregates that looked well integrated and viable. We then grafted microencapsulated hUCMS/hIDC co‐aggregates into non‐obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice, and observed an acquired ability of cells to produce and store hormones. Finally, we transplanted these biohybrid constructs into NOD mice with recent onset, spontaneous overt diabetes, observing a decline of blood glucose levels.ResultsIn vitro, we have shown that hUCMS inhibited proliferation of allogeneic polymorphonuclear blood cells from patients with T1D, while promoting expansion of FoxP3+ Tregs.Reversal of hyperglycemia in diabetic NODs seems to suggest that hUCMS and hIDC, upon co‐microencapsulation, anatomically and functionally synergized to accomplish two goals: maintain tracer insulin output by hIDC, while exploting the immunoregulatory properties of hUCMS.ConclusionWe have gathered preliminary evidence that the two adult stem cell types within AG microcapsules, may synergistically promote tracer insulin production, while “freezing” the autoimmune disease process, and help reversal of the recent onset hyperglycemia in a spontaneous, autoimmune rodent model of diabetes, the NOD mouse, with no need for pharmacologic immunosuppression.
Wildlife roadkill patterns in a fragmented landscape of the Western Amazon
Authors: Filius Jonathan , van der Hoek Yntze , Jarrín‐V Pablo , van Hooft Pim 
Published: June 2020

AbstractOne of the most evident and direct effects of roads on wildlife is the death of animals by vehicle collision. Understanding the spatial patterns behind roadkill helps to plan mitigation measures to reduce the impacts of roads on animal populations. However, although roadkill patterns have been extensively studied in temperate zones, the potential impacts of roads on wildlife in the Neotropics have received less attention and are particularly poorly understood in the Western Amazon. Here, we present the results of a study on roadkill in the Amazon region of Ecuador; a region that is affected by a rapidly increasing development of road infrastructure. Over the course of 50 days, in the wet season between September and November 2017, we searched for road‐killed vertebrates on 15.9 km of roads near the city of Tena, Napo province, for a total of 1,590 surveyed kilometers. We recorded 593 dead specimens, predominantly reptiles (237 specimens, 40%) and amphibians (190, 32%), with birds (102, 17%) and mammals (64, 11%) being less common. Recorded species were assigned to three functional groups, based on their movement behavior and habitat use (“slow,” “intermediate,” and “fast”). Using Ripley's K statistical analyses and 2D HotSpot Identification Analysis, we found multiple distinct spatial clusters or hotspots, where roadkill was particularly frequent. Factors that potentially determined these clusters, and the prevalence of roadkill along road segments in general, differed between functional groups, but often included land cover variables such as native forest and waterbodies, and road characteristics such as speed limit (i.e., positive effect on roadkill frequency). Our study, which provides a first summary of species that are commonly found as roadkill in this part of the Amazon region, contributes to a better understanding of the negative impacts of roads on wildlife and is an important first step toward conservation efforts to mitigate these impacts.
The Effect of Bio‐inspired Co‐electrolytes for Enhancement of Electrochemical Properties of Supercapacitors
Authors: Wadekar Pravin. H. , Khose Rahul. V. , Pethsangave Dattatray. A. , Some Surajit. 
Published: June 2020

In the current work, we are introducing the concept of co‐electrolyte in the aqueous medium. Herein, we have prepared the bio‐inspired co‐electrolyte of choline chloride and potassium hydroxide, which in situ produces choline hydroxide and potassium chloride by the ion‐exchange mechanism. The resultant co‐electrolyte (RCE) solution exhibits decent electrochemical property than its parental salts, that is, potassium hydroxide, choline chloride. The RCE further used to enhance the energy storage ability of reduced graphene oxide (RGO). The material exhibits maximum specific capacitance 394 F g−1 and higher energy density 44.3 Wh kg−1 at the current density of 1 A g−1 in the presence of co‐electrolyte, which is higher as compared to its preceding salts as an electrolyte. Also, the material exhibits lower equivalent series resistance, that is, 0.3 Ω in RCE. This concept can be considered as future development in the field of energy storage materials.
Is optimum always optimal? A revisit of the mean‐variance method under nonlinear measures of dependence and non‐normal liquidity constraints
Authors: Al Janabi Mazin A.M. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWe develop a model for optimizing multiple‐asset portfolios with semi‐parametric liquidity‐adjusted value‐at‐risk (LVaR), whereby linear correlations are substituted by the multivariate nonlinear Kendall's tau dependence measure, under multiple credible operational and budget constraints. When considering a diversified large portfolio of international stock markets of both developed and emerging economies and commodities, under both regular and stressed market perspectives, the obtained results consistently confirm the dominance of our modeling algorithms relative to other competing portfolio strategies, including the traditional mean‐variance VaR approach and global minimum‐variance portfolios. The obtained results are robust to different trading scenarios and promising for practical optimization techniques in large multiple‐asset portfolios and operation research models in financial institution management.
Forecasting bitcoin volatility: Evidence from the options market
Authors: Hoang Lai T. , Baur Dirk G. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThis paper studies a large number of bitcoin (BTC) options traded on the options exchange Deribit. We use the trades to calculate implied volatility (IV) and analyze if volatility forecasts can be improved using such information. IV is less accurate than AutoRegressive–Moving‐Average or Heterogeneous Auto‐Regressive model forecasts in predicting short‐term BTC volatility (1 day ahead), but superior in predicting long‐term volatility (7, 10, 15 days ahead). Furthermore, a combination of IV and model‐based forecasts provides the highest accuracy for all forecasting horizons revealing that the BTC options market contains unique information.
Cinnabar provenance of Chalcolithic red pigments in the Iberian Peninsula: A lead isotope study
Authors: Rodríguez Javier , Montero‐Ruiz Ignacio , Hunt‐Ortiz Mark , García‐Pavón Evangelina 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWe report lead isotope data for cinnabar from three Chalcolithic settlements and several ore deposits in the Iberian Peninsula. Lead isotope ratios of cinnabar (vermilion) employed in one Bell Beaker grave at Humanejos (Madrid) plot in the field of the Almaden mining district. Cinnabar from the La Velilla dolmen (Palencia) also plots in the isotopic field of Almaden ores but is also comparable to the closer Miñera de Luna deposit in the Cantabrian Ranges. Cinnabar used in the dolmen of Montelirio (Seville) has an unknown origin, as its new lead isotope ratios obtained do not match with any of the studied ore deposits. We conclude that cinnabar was a well‐known raw material and several ore deposits were mined in the Iberian Peninsula during the Chalcolithic. The societies established at the northern and central parts of the peninsula employed locally sourced cinnabar (<200 km away) in their funerary rituals. The Chalcolithic society settled at the estuary of the Guadalquivir river (south of Spain) employed cinnabar of unknown origin, leaving open the possibility of long‐distance cinnabar trade.
Simulating precipitation in the Northeast United States using a climate‐informed K‐nearest neighbour algorithm
Authors: Armal Saman , Devineni Naresh , Krakauer Nir Y. , Khanbilvardi Reza 
Published: June 2020

AbstractDecadal prediction using climate models faces long‐standing challenges. While global climate models may reproduce long‐term shifts in climate due to external forcing, in the near term, they often fail to accurately simulate interannual climate variability, as well as seasonal variability, wet and dry spells, and persistence, which are essential for water resources management. We developed a new climate‐informed K‐nearest neighbour (K‐NN)‐based stochastic modelling approach to capture the long‐term trend and variability while replicating intra‐annual statistics. The climate‐informed K‐NN stochastic model utilizes historical data along with climate state information to provide improved simulations of weather for near‐term regional projections. Daily precipitation and temperature simulations are based on analogue weather days that belong to years similar to the current year's climate state. The climate‐informed K‐NN stochastic model is tested using 53 weather stations in the Northeast United States with an evident monotonic trend in annual precipitation. The model is also compared to the original K‐NN weather generator and ISIMIP‐2b GFDL general circulation model bias‐corrected output in a cross‐validation mode. Results indicate that the climate‐informed K‐NN model provides improved simulations for dry and wet regimes, and better uncertainty bounds for annual average precipitation. The model also replicates the within‐year rainfall statistics. For the 1961–1970 dry regime, the model captures annual average precipitation and the intra‐annual coefficient of variation. For the 2005–2014 wet regime, the model replicates the monotonic trend and daily persistence in precipitation. These improved modelled precipitation time series can be used for accurately simulating near‐term streamflow, which in turn can be used for short‐term water resources planning and management.
An experimental study of dispersion of an interactive tracer in chemically heterogeneous medium at a column scale
Authors: Benmahdi Fatiha , Semra Safia , Kolli Mounira , Bouhelassa Mohammed 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThis paper aims at examining the increase of phenol adsorption breakthrough curves spreading caused by the chemical heterogeneity of granular activated carbon fixed beds. The local and the thermodynamic equilibrium assumption, as well as the nonlinear adsorption obeying to Langmuir isotherm, are considered. This study particularly tempts to link the reduced variance of phenol breakthrough curves to a measurable quantifying parameter of the chemical heterogeneity. The investigated artificial heterogeneous media are prepared by alternating layers of two types of granular activated carbon, active and non‐active ones, that have similar physical properties. On the one hand, the chemical heterogeneity is quantified by the active layer relative thickness of the column length, l1/L. On the other hand, it is quantified by the mean value of the probability distribution γ. The latter also represents the mean active grains mass ratio of the total medium mass, hence the medium mean capacity. The obtained results show an increase in the reduced variance and thus the effective global dispersion with the heterogeneity; the increase is as important as the medium capacity decreases. However, the dispersion increase achieves a limit value, even when the heterogeneity increases. The results are statistically modelled using a regression equation function of the capacity variation in terms of γ and the chemical heterogeneity in terms of l1/L. The relationship combining the medium capacity and the chemical heterogeneity is obtained. The relationship implicitly takes into account the effect of the column length.
Analysis of the expression profile of long non‐coding RNAs MALAT1 and THRIL in children with immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Ayoub Shymaa E. , Hefzy Enas M. , Abd El‐Hmid Rehab G. , Ahmed Naglaa A. , Khalefa Abeer A. , Ali Doaa Y. , Ali Marwa A. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackground/AimsPediatric immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease; whose etiology is not exactly understood and seems to be highly multifactorial. Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key regulators of different actions, which contribute to the development of many autoimmune diseases. To gain a further understanding, we estimated the relative expression of lncRNAs Metastasis‐associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (hnRNPL) immune‐regulatory lncRNA (THRIL) in pediatric ITP.MethodsIn this case‐control study, analysis of the expression profiles of these lncRNAs in blood samples from children with ITP and healthy controls (HCs) using quantitative real‐time PCR was done. The association of MALAT1 and THRIL with ITP clinical features and their potential usage as non‐invasive circulating biomarkers for ITP diagnosis was also evaluated. The receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed, and an area under the curve was analyzed.ResultsBoth lncRNAs MALAT1 and THRIL were significantly upregulated in ITP patients in comparison to HCs ( p < .0001 and = .001 respectively). In addition, there was a positive significant correlation between the expression level of both biomarkers among patients (r = 0.745, p < .0001). At cutoff points of 1.17 and 1.27 for lncRNAs MALAT1and THRIL, respectively, both biomarkers had an excellent specificity (100% for both) and fair sensitivity (63.6 and 73.3% for lncRNAs MALAT1and THRIL, respectively). Improvement of biomarkers specificity was obtained by evaluation of the combined expression of both biomarkers. Serum lncRNAs MALAT1 and THRIL could be used as potential biomarkers in differentiating childhood ITP patients and HCs.
Estimation and inference for spatial models with heterogeneous coefficients: An application to US house prices
Authors: Aquaro Michele , Bailey Natalia , Pesaran M. Hashem 
Published: June 2020

SummaryThis paper considers the estimation and inference of spatial panel data models with heterogeneous spatial lag coefficients, with and without weakly exogenous regressors, and subject to heteroskedastic errors. A quasi maximum likelihood (QML) estimation procedure is developed and the conditions for identification of the spatial coefficients are derived. The QML estimators of individual spatial coefficients, as well as their mean group estimators, are shown to be consistent and asymptotically normal. Small‐sample properties of the proposed estimators are investigated by Monte Carlo simulations and results are shown to be in line with the paper's key theoretical findings, even for panels with moderate time dimensions and irrespective of the number of cross‐section units. A detailed empirical application to US house price changes during the 1975–2014 period shows a significant degree of heterogeneity in spatiotemporal dynamics over the 338 Metropolitan Statistical Areas considered.
Transcriptional factor engineering in microbes for industrial biotechnology
Authors: Wang Tianwen , Liang Chen , Xing Wenxiu , Wu Wanyu , Hou Yajing , Zhang Linfang , Xiao Sa , Xu Hongju , An Yafei , Zheng Mengyuan , Liu Lu , Nie Lei 
Published: June 2020

AbstractTranscription can be regulated by controlling the provision of transcriptional factors (TFs), because TFs determine the transcription process by specifying the binding of RNA polymerase holoenzyme on promoters. Manipulations, such as replacing endogenous TFs with mutants obtained through directed evolution (or rational design), and introducing compatible heterogeneous TFs, are effective ways to regulate transcription. Designing artificial TFs with desired properties by following the principles of protein design and reconstructing ancestral TFs with the information gained from a perspective of evolution by multiple sequence alignments of the related TFs, are feasible alternative options. The engineered TFs can be used to create inducible protein expression systems that respond to a specific stimulus. Moreover, the engineered TFs could lead to a transcriptional profile different from that of the wild‐type strains. Accordingly, these engineered TFs could be utilized to construct strains resistant to adverse conditions, since the emergence of resistance generally requires global transcriptional changes at the transcriptomic scale. Meanwhile, these engineered TFs can also be employed in the construction of sophisticatedly designed genetic circuits for diverse purposes. In this paper, we reviewed the advances in the above‐mentioned aspects. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Intrathoracic shunt displacement with massive pleural effusion after successful shunt placement in a hydropic fetus with multilocular macrocystic congenital pulmonary airway malformation
Authors: Hara Asako , Hidaka Nobuhiro , Nitahara Kenta , Sakai Atsuhiko , Kido Saki , Kato Kiyoko 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWe successfully performed shunting for a fetus with a multilocular macrocystic lung mass with hydrops at 22 weeks' gestation. Complete resolution of hydrops was achieved; however, at 35 weeks' gestation, the fetus developed acute massive pleural effusion. Fetal ultrasound examination revealed that one end of the shunting tube had migrated downward in the thoracic cavity, which led to fluid draining from the lung cyst. The baby was delivered at term and was discharged following neonatal intensive care management. Intrathoracic displacement of the shunt can occur, followed by massive pleural effusion due to drainage of cystic fluid.
Genetic counselors’ perspectives on population‐based screening for BRCA‐related hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and Lynch syndrome
Authors: De Simone Lenika M. , Arjunan Aishwarya , Vogel Postula Kristen J. , Maga Tara , Bucheit Leslie A. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractEarly identification of those with BRCA‐related Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (HBOC) and Lynch syndrome has the potential for early cancer detection and/or prevention; as such, these conditions are considered Tier 1 genetic conditions by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Given the decreasing cost of genetic testing, population‐based screening (PBS) for such conditions may be the next step toward cancer prevention. This study aimed to understand genetic counselors’ perspectives toward offering PBS for the Tier 1 conditions BRCA‐related HBOC and Lynch syndrome. An online survey was distributed to 3,609 members of the National Society of Genetic Counselors. A total of 367 individuals participated in the study. Fifty percent of respondents felt that PBS for inherited cancer should not be offered; 93.3% felt that the current healthcare system is unprepared for implementation of PBS. However, most respondents agreed that PBS should be implemented within the next 10 years. Attitudes toward offering PBS were associated with respondents’ work setting, cancer specialization, and perceived preparedness (p's < 0.05). The most commonly reported barriers to the implementation of PBS were shortage of genetic professionals and lack of infrastructure. Data in this study provide evidence that infrastructural barriers and educational gaps of non‐genetic professionals would need to be addressed before successful integration of PBS into the healthcare system.