bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of a hybrid soil pressure sensor and its application to soil compaction
Authors: Talesnick M. , Ringel M. , Rollins K. 
Published: August 2020

A new soil pressure sensor based on a combination of the deflecting membrane and fluid-filled approaches has been developed. The advantages of this combined approach are that issues of sensor compliance are eliminated without reducing the effectiveness of the sensor to be used for dynamic measurements. Calibration and verification testing performed under controlled laboratory conditions illustrate these benefits. The new system was implemented in a full-scale field trial that involved the construction of a compacted engineered fill 1.8 m in height. As each layer of fill was placed and compacted, vertical in-soil pressure and vertical in-soil strain were continuously measured. During the vibratory compaction process both vertical soil pressure and vertical soil strain histories were captured in each layer. The data collected allowed for the determination of fill stiffness for both static and dynamic conditions. The results illustrate the effect of both confining pressure and strain level on fill stiffness. The relationship between compaction pressure and depth is clearly defined.
High-Performance Anode Materials with Superior Structure of Fe3O4/FeS/rGO Composite for Lithium Ion Batteries
Authors: Gao Ruirui , Wang Suqin , Xu Zhaoxiu , Li Hongbo , Chen Shuiliang , Hou Haoqing 
Published: August 2020

In this work, we developed a simple one-step hydrothermal method to successfully prepare Fe3O4/FeS-reduced graphene oxide (Fe3O4/FeS/rGO) composite directly, which is a novel Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) anode material. The characterization of Fe3O4/FeS/rGO composite demonstrates that octahedral Fe3O4/FeS particles are uniformly deposited on the rGO, leading to a strong synergy between them. The excellent structural design can make Fe3O4/FeS/rGO composite to have higher reversible capacity (744.7[Formula: see text]mAh/g at 0.1[Formula: see text]C after 50 cycles), excellent cycling performance and superior rate capability. This outstanding electrochemical behavior can be attributed to the conductivity network of rGO, which improves the composite electrode conductivity, facilitates the diffusion and transfer of ions and prevents the aggregation and pulverization of Fe3O4/FeS particles during the charging and discharging processes. Moreover, the Fe3O4/FeS/rGO electrode surface is covered with a thin solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) film and the octahedral structure of Fe3O4/FeS particles is still clearly visible, which indicates that composite electrode has excellent interface stability. We believe that the design of this composite structure will provide a new perspective for the further study of other transition metal oxides for LIBs.
Decoding Nonconscious Thought Representations during Successful Thought Suppression
Authors: Koenig-Robert Roger , Pearson Joel 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Controlling our thoughts is central to mental well-being, and its failure is at the crux of a number of mental disorders. Paradoxically, behavioral evidence shows that thought suppression often fails. Despite the broad importance of understanding the mechanisms of thought control, little is known about the fate of neural representations of suppressed thoughts. Using fMRI, we investigated the brain areas involved in controlling visual thoughts and tracked suppressed thought representations using multivoxel pattern analysis. Participants were asked to either visualize a vegetable/fruit or suppress any visual thoughts about those objects. Surprisingly, the content (object identity) of successfully suppressed thoughts was still decodable in visual areas with algorithms trained on imagery. This suggests that visual representations of suppressed thoughts are still present despite reports that they are not. Thought generation was associated with the left hemisphere, and thought suppression was associated with right hemisphere engagement. Furthermore, general linear model analyses showed that subjective success in thought suppression was correlated with engagement of executive areas, whereas thought-suppression failure was associated with engagement of visual and memory-related areas. These results suggest that the content of suppressed thoughts exists hidden from awareness, seemingly without an individual's knowledge, providing a compelling reason why thought suppression is so ineffective. These data inform models of unconscious thought production and could be used to develop new treatment approaches to disorders involving maladaptive thoughts.
Leafhopper tribe Stegelytrini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) of the Indian subcontinent, with a note on Aeternus hieroglyphicus Distant (Cicadellidae: Athysanini)
Authors: VIRAKTAMATH C. A. , YESHWANTH H. M. , WEBB M. D. 
Published: August 2020

A checklist of leafhoppers of the tribe Stegelytrini from the Indian subcontinent and a key to genera are given. Two new species, Pachymetopius anamikus sp. nov. (India: Meghalaya) and Yaontogonia unipuncta sp. nov. (India: Arunachal Pradesh) are described and illustrated. Genus Aeternus Distant with its type species A. hieroglyphicus Distant is redescribed based on the male genitalia and its tribal placement is discussed. Habitus images of types of species except Aculescutellaris hirtellus Zhang, Wei & Webb are given.
Cost Utilization and the Use of Pulmonary Function Tests in Preoperative Liver Transplant Patients
Authors: Buggs Jacentha , LaGoy Madeleine , Ermekbaeva Aizara , Rogers Ebonie , Nyce Samantha , Patiño Diego , Kumar Ambuj , Kemmer Nyingi 
Published: August 2020

Background Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are currently recommended for liver transplant candidates. We hypothesized that PFTs may not provide added clinical value to the evaluation of liver transplant patients. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult cadaveric liver transplants from 2012 to 2018. Abnormal PFTs were defined as restrictive disease of diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) <80% or obstructive disease of ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first 1 second to the first vital capacity of the lungs (FEV1/FVC) <70%. Results We analyzed data on 415 liver transplant patients (358 abnormal PFT results and 57 normal results). The liver transplant patients with abnormal PFTs had no difference in number of intensive care unit (ICU) days ( P = .68), length of stay ( P = .24), or intubation days ( P = .33). There were no differences in pulmonary complications including pleural effusion ( P = .30), hemo/pneumothorax ( P = .74), pneumonia ( P = .66), acute respiratory distress syndrome ( P = .57), or pulmonary edema ( P = .73). The significant finding between groups was a higher rate of reintubation in liver transplant patients with normal PFTs ( P = .02). There was no difference in graft survival ( P = .53) or patient survival ( P = .42). Discussion Abnormal PFTs, found in 86% of liver transplant patients, did not correlate with complications, graft failure, or mortality. PFTs contribute to the high cost of liver transplants but do not help predict which patients are at risk of postoperative complications.
Pre-Liver Transplant Coronary Artery Disease Workup for Low-Risk Patients
Authors: Buggs Jacentha , Aslam Sadaf , Walker Chelsea , Hook Madison , M. Matyja Tiffany , Rogers Ebonie , Nyce Samantha , Patiño Diego , Kumar Ambuj , Kemmer Nyingi 
Published: August 2020

Background Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of mortality following orthotopic liver transplant, yet there is no standardized protocol for pre-liver-transplant coronary artery disease assessment. The main objective of this study was to determine the agreement between 2 methods of cardiac risk assessment: dobutamine stress echocardiogram (DSE) and coronary calcium score (CCS) and to determine which test was best able to predict coronary calcification in low-risk patients. Methods A retrospective study was performed using the medical records of 436 patients who received cardiac clearance for a liver transplant. A total of 152 patients’ medical records were included based on the inclusion of patients who had received both DSE and CCS. A kappa coefficient was calculated to determine the agreement between the DSE and CCS results. In addition, the positive predictive values (PPVs) of both the CCS and DSE along with cardiac catheterization indicating abdominal occlusion were analyzed to compare the accuracy of the 2 tests. Results It was determined that there was a 12% agreement between DSE results and CCS. It was found that the DSE had a PPV of 56% and the CCS had a PPV of 80%. Conclusion From this data, it was concluded that there was no agreement between the results of the CCS and the DSE. While neither the CCS nor the DSE presents an optimal method of risk assessment, the CCS had a much higher PPV and was therefore determined to be the more accurate test.
Self-Esteem and Symptoms of Eating-Disordered Behavior Among Female Adolescents
Authors: Zamani Sani Seyed Hojjat , Fathirezaie Zahra , Gerber Markus , Pühse Uwe , Bahmani Dena Sadeghi , Bashiri Mahdi , Pourali Mohammad , Brand Serge 
Published: August 2020

Background Compared to males, female adolescents show greater concerns about their appearance, concerns related to their self-esteem. We explored the associations between self-esteem, body image and BMI as proxies for appearance, and eating-disordered behavior among adolescent females. Methods A total of 263 females (mean age:15.78 years) took part in this study. They completed questionnaires covering anthropometric characteristics, self-esteem, eating-disordered behavior, subjective physical activity levels, and body image. Results Higher scores for self-esteem were associated with higher scores for eating-disordered behavior, indices of physical activity, and slimmer body image. Body image was not associated with eating-disordered behavior. Multiple regression analyses showed that self-esteem, but not physical activity, or body image predicted eating-disordered behavior. Conclusions Among a non-clinical sample of female adolescents, self-esteem and eating-disordered behavior were positively associated. Body image was associated in a complex and contradictory fashion. It is possible that cognitive-emotional mastering of the vital impulse to eat may enhance self-esteem.
Toward a New Phase of Guerrilla Warfare in Colombia? The Reconstitution of the FARC-EP in Perspective
Authors: Gutiérrez D. José Antonio 
Published: August 2020

The August 2019 announcement by some top former commanders of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia–Ejército del Pueblo guerrillas in Colombia that they were resuming armed struggle was a major shock after the peace agreement between the rebels and the Colombian government in 2016. It was the clearest symptom of the current crisis of the peace process. It was not, however, an unforeseeable development. The government had brazenly attacked the content and the spirit of the peace agreement, and the systematic murders of ex-combatants and social leaders remained unpunished. As a result, increasing numbers of ex-combatants had decided to resume armed struggle. To regard these groups as mere criminals underestimates the political content of their statements and overlooks the reasons for this growing phenomenon. An exploration of the causes of the growing FARC-EP dissidences sets the stage for a discussion of the likely scenarios for conflict and peace building in the middle term. El anuncio de algunos ex comandantes de la guerrilla de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo en agosto de 2019 sobre su reanudación de la lucha armada causó gran conmoción después del acuerdo de paz de 2016 entre los rebeldes y el gobierno. Este fue el síntoma más claro de la actual crisis del proceso de paz, pero no se trató de un acontecimiento imprevisible. El gobierno ya había atacado descaradamente el contenido y espíritu los acuerdos, y los asesinatos sistemáticos de excombatientes y líderes sociales seguían impunes. Como resultado, un número cada vez mayor de excombatientes se decidían por reanudar la lucha armada. Considerar a estos grupos como meros delincuentes subestima el contenido político de sus declaraciones y pasa por alto las razones de este fenómeno creciente. Una exploración de las causas de las progresivas disidencias de las FARC-EP sienta las bases para una discusión sobre escenarios probables en torno la construcción tanto de conflictos como de la paz a mediano plazo.
Assessment of cardiac and liver iron overload by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with thalassemia major: short-term follow-up
Authors: Bayav Murat , Isiksalan Ozbulbul Nilgun , Bor Ozcan 
Published: August 2020

Objective This study was performed to assess cardiac and hepatic iron overload in young patients with thalassemia. Methods We reviewed the medical records of patients with thalassemia at a pediatric hematology clinic who had recently undergone cardiac and hepatic magnetic resonance imaging. Results Eleven patients underwent cardiac and hepatic T2* imaging at a mean age of 13.9 ± 4.48 (range, 9–21) years. Three patients had cardiac iron overload and all patients had hepatic iron overload according to the magnetic resonance imaging scan. Ten patients underwent control imaging approximately 1 year later. The mean serum ferritin level at the initial imaging examination was 1820.87 ± 1275.22 (range, 634.04–4221.03) ng/mL. There was a strong negative correlation between the ferritin level and cardiac T2* time and between the blood hemoglobin level and hepatic T2* time. Among the 10 patients who underwent control imaging, the average hemoglobin and ferritin levels significantly decreased from the initial to control imaging examinations, but there was no significant increase in the cardiac and hepatic T2*times. Conclusions Cardiac and hepatic T2* imaging is a feasible method of assessing cardiac and hepatic iron overload even before complications and clinical signs of iron overload appear.
Hydrogen-rich saline mitigates pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and atrial fibrillation in rats via the JAK-STAT signalling pathway
Authors: Wang Chufeng , Pan Zezheng 
Published: August 2020

Objective To investigate if hydrogen-rich saline (HRS), which has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, could mitigate cardiac remodelling and reduce the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the rat model of cardiac hypertrophy. Methods Pressure overload was induced in rats by abdominal aortic constriction (AAC). The animals were separated into four groups: sham; AAC group; AAC plus low dose HRS (LHRS); AAC plus high dose HRS (HHRS). The sham and AAC groups received normal saline intraperitoneally and the LHRS and HHRS groups received 3 or 6 ml/kg HRS daily for six weeks, respectively. In vitro research was also performed using cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1)-induced hypertrophy of cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Results Cardiac hypertrophy was successfully induced by AAC and low and high dose HRS mitigated the pressure overload as shown by lower heart and atrial weights in these treatment groups. AF incidence and duration of the HRS groups were also significantly lower in the HRS groups compared with the AAC group. Atrial fibrosis was also reduced in the HRS groups and the JAK-STAT signalling pathway was down-regulated. In vitro experiments showed that hydrogen-rich medium mitigated the CT-1-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy with a similar effect as the JAK specific antagonists AG490. Conclusions HRS was found to mitigate cardiac hypertrophy induced by pressure overload in rats and reduce atrial fibrosis and AF which was possibly achieved via inhibition of the JAK-STAT signalling pathway.
Bioavailable testosterone is associated with symptoms of depression in adult men
Authors: Chen Zhongbao , Shen Xubo , Tian Kunming , Liu Yijun , Xiong Shimin , Yu Qin , Dai Lulu , Shi Yongjun , Zhang Renjuan , Zeng Rong , Wan Qiyou , Xiong Chengliang , Zhou Yuanzhong 
Published: August 2020

Objective This study aimed to determine the relationship between serum testosterone levels and depressive symptoms in an adult male population. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1166 male participants from Zunyi, Guizhou, China. Each participant completed a questionnaire, a brief clinical exam, and had a fasting blood sample taken. We measured serum testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, and luteinizing hormone levels. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the effect of demographic factors on the relationship between the depressive symptom score and serum sex hormone levels. Results Mean testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, and luteinizing hormone levels were significantly higher in the depressive symptom group than in the non-depressed group. The mean calculated free serum testosterone level and free testosterone index (FTI) were significantly lower in the depressive symptom group than in the non-depressed group. Additionally, the mean FTI was significantly negatively correlated with the Beck Depression Inventory scale score in the multiple linear regression model (95% confidence interval: −3.274 to −0.406). Conclusions Decreased bioactive testosterone levels might be a contributing factor of depression in adult men. The FTI could be the most sensitive biomarker reflecting the level of bioavailable testosterone in patients with depression.
Is nab-paclitaxel better than conventional taxanes as neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer? A meta-analysis
Authors: Li Yong , Lu Xiaoju , Lin Qimou , Li Weiwen 
Published: August 2020

Objective This study compared the efficacy and safety of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) with conventional taxanes as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Methods We searched the literature using PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from their inception to December 15, 2019 based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The relevant studies compared pathologic complete response (pCR) and adverse event rates. Results The meta-analysis included five studies and 2335 patients. Compared with conventional taxanes, neoadjuvant chemotherapy with nab-paclitaxel was associated with a higher pCR rate (odds ratio [OR] = 1.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.16–1.67), especially among patients with triple-negative breast cancer or Ki67 indices of >20%. Pooled outcomes also revealed better event-free survival in the nab-paclitaxel group (hazard ratio = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.57–0.85). However, all-grade (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.38–3.40) and grade ≥3 peripheral sensory neuropathy (OR = 3.92, 95% CI = 2.44–6.28) were more frequent in the nab-paclitaxel group. Conclusions This meta-analysis implied that nab-paclitaxel more effectively improved pCR than conventional taxanes. Nab-paclitaxel may have greater benefits in patients with triple-negative breast cancer. However, additional attention is required for the early diagnosis and management of peripheral sensory neuropathy.
3D-Printed Extracellular Matrix/Polyethylene Glycol Diacrylate Hydrogel Incorporating the Anti-inflammatory Phytomolecule Honokiol for Regeneration of Osteochondral Defects
Authors: Zhu Shouan , Chen Pengfei , Chen Yang , Li Muzhi , Chen Can , Lu Hongbin 
Published: August 2020

Background: Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of disability worldwide; cartilage degeneration and defects are the central features. Significant progress in tissue engineering holds promise to regenerate damaged cartilage tissue. However, a formidable challenge is to develop a 3-dimensional (3D) tissue construct that can regulate local immune environment to facilitate the intrinsic osteochondral regeneration. Purpose: To evaluate efficacy of a 3D-printed decellularized cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) integrated novel scaffold (PEGDA/ECM) together with the natural compound honokiol (Hon) for regenerating osteochondral defect. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: We used a stereolithography-based 3D printer for PEGDA/ECM bioprinting. A total of 36 Sprague-Dawley rats with cylindrical osteochondral defect in the trochlear groove of the femur were randomly assigned into 3 different treatments: no scaffold implantation (Defect group), 3D printed PEGDA/ECM scaffold alone (PEGDA/ECM group), or Hon suspended in a 3D-printed PEGDA/ECM scaffold (PEGDA/ECM/Hon group). 12 rats that underwent only medial parapatellar incision surgery were used as normal controls. The femur specimens were postoperatively harvested at 4 and 8 weeks for gross, micro-CT, and histological evaluations. The efficacy of PEGDA/ECM/Hon scaffold on the release of proinflammatory cytokines from the macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was evaluated in-vitro. Results: In vitro results determined that PEGDA/ECM/Hon scaffold could suppress the release of proinflammatory cytokines from macrophages that were stimulated by LPS. Macroscopic images showed that the PEGDA/ECM/Hon group had significantly higher ICRS scoring than that of defect and PEGDA/ECM groups. Micro-CT evaluation demonstrated that much more bony tissue was formed in the defect sites implanted with the PEGDA/ECM scaffold or PEGDA/ECM/Hon scaffold compared with the untreated defects. Histological analysis showed that the PEGDA/ECM/Hon group had a significant enhancement in osteochondral regeneration at 4 and 8 weeks after surgery in comparison with the ECM/PEGDA or defect group. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that 3D printing of PEGDA/ECM hydrogel incorporating the anti-inflammatory phytomolecule honokiol could provide a promising scaffold for osteochondral defect repair.