bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Residual Corticosteroid Production in Autoimmune Addison Disease
Authors: Sævik Åse Bjorvatn , Åkerman Anna-Karin , Methlie Paal , Quinkler Marcus , Jørgensen Anders Palmstrøm , Höybye Charlotte , Debowska Aleksandra J , Nedrebø Bjørn Gunnar , Dahle Anne Lise , Carlsen Siri , Tomkowicz Aneta , Sollid Stina Therese , Nermoen Ingrid , Grønning Kaja , Dahlqvist Per , Grimnes Guri , Skov Jakob , Finnes Trine , Valland Susanna F , Wahlberg Jeanette , Holte Synnøve Emblem , Simunkova Katerina , Kämpe Olle , Husebye Eystein Sverre , Bensing Sophie , øksnes Marianne 
Published: May 2020

Abstract

Context
Contrary to current dogma, growing evidence suggests that some patients with autoimmune Addison disease (AAD) produce corticosteroids even years after diagnosis.

Objective
To determine frequencies and clinical features of residual corticosteroid production in patients with AAD.

Design
Two-staged, cross-sectional clinical study in 17 centers (Norway, Sweden, and Germany). Residual glucocorticoid (GC) production was defined as quantifiable serum cortisol and 11-deoxycortisol and residual mineralocorticoid (MC) production as quantifiable serum aldosterone and corticosterone after &gt; 18 hours of medication fasting. Corticosteroids were analyzed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Clinical variables included frequency of adrenal crises and quality of life. Peak cortisol response was evaluated by a standard 250 µg cosyntropin test.

Results
Fifty-eight (30.2%) of 192 patients had residual GC production, more common in men (n = 33; P &lt; 0.002) and in shorter disease duration (median 6 [0-44] vs 13 [0-53] years; P &lt; 0.001). Residual MC production was found in 26 (13.5%) patients and associated with shorter disease duration (median 5.5 [0.5-26.0] vs 13 [0-53] years; P &lt; 0.004), lower fludrocortisone replacement dosage (median 0.075 [0.050-0.120] vs 0.100 [0.028-0.300] mg; P &lt; 0.005), and higher plasma renin concentration (median 179 [22-915] vs 47.5 [0.6-658.0] mU/L; P &lt; 0.001). There was no significant association between residual production and frequency of adrenal crises or quality of life. None had a normal cosyntropin response, but peak cortisol strongly correlated with unstimulated cortisol (r = 0.989; P &lt; 0.001) and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH; r = –0.487; P &lt; 0.001).

Conclusion
In established AAD, one-third of the patients still produce GCs even decades after diagnosis. Residual production is more common in men and in patients with shorter disease duration but is not associated with adrenal crises or quality of life.
Transcriptional Control of Circadian Rhythms and Metabolism: A Matter of Time and Space
Authors: Kim Yong Hoon , Lazar Mitchell A 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
All biological processes, living organisms, and ecosystems have evolved with the Sun that confers a 24-hour periodicity to life on Earth. Circadian rhythms arose from evolutionary needs to maximize daily organismal fitness by enabling organisms to mount anticipatory and adaptive responses to recurrent light-dark cycles and associated environmental changes. The clock is a conserved feature in nearly all forms of life, ranging from prokaryotes to virtually every cell of multicellular eukaryotes. The mammalian clock comprises transcription factors interlocked in negative feedback loops, which generate circadian expression of genes that coordinate rhythmic physiology. In this review, we highlight previous and recent studies that have advanced our understanding of the transcriptional architecture of the mammalian clock, with a specific focus on epigenetic mechanisms, transcriptomics, and 3-dimensional chromatin architecture. In addition, we discuss reciprocal ways in which the clock and metabolism regulate each other to generate metabolic rhythms. We also highlight implications of circadian biology in human health, ranging from genetic and environment disruptions of the clock to novel therapeutic opportunities for circadian medicine. Finally, we explore remaining fundamental questions and future challenges to advancing the field forward.
High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen in Patients Having Anesthesia for Advanced Esophagogastroduodenoscopy: HIFLOW-ENDO, a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Mazzeffi Michael A. , Petrick Kendra M. , Magder Laurence , Greenwald Bruce D. , Darwin Peter , Goldberg Eric M. , Bigeleisen Paul , Chow Jonathan H. , Anders Megan , Boyd Cynthia M. , Kaplowitz Jeremy S. , Sun Kai , Terrin Michael , Rock Peter 
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUND:
Over 6 million esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) procedures are performed in the United States each year. Patients having anesthesia for advanced EGD procedures, such as interventional procedures, are at high risk for hypoxemia.

METHODS:
Our primary study aim was to evaluate whether high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen reduces the incidence of hypoxemia during anesthesia for advanced EGD. Secondarily, we studied whether HFNC oxygen reduces hypercarbia or hypotension. After obtaining written informed consent, adults having anesthesia for advanced EGD, expected to last longer than 15 minutes, were randomly assigned to receive HFNC oxygen or standard nasal cannula (SNC) oxygen. The primary outcome was occurrence of one or more hypoxemia events during anesthesia, defined by arterial oxygen saturation <92% for at least 15 consecutive seconds. Secondary outcomes were occurrence of one or more hypercarbia or hypotension events. A hypercarbia event was defined by a transcutaneous CO2 measurement 20 mm Hg or more above baseline, and a hypotension event was defined by a mean arterial blood pressure measurement 25% or more below baseline.

RESULTS:
Two hundred seventy-one adult patients were enrolled and randomized, and 262 patients completed study procedures. Eight randomized patients did not complete study procedures due to changes in their anesthesia or endoscopy plan. One patient was excluded from analysis because their procedure was aborted after 1 minute. Patients who received HFNC oxygen (N = 132) had a significantly lower incidence of hypoxemia than those who received SNC oxygen (N = 130; 21.2% vs 33.1%; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.59 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.36–0.95]; P = .03). There was no difference in the incidence of hypercarbia or hypotension between the groups. The HR for hypercarbia with HFNC oxygen was 1.29 (95% CI, 0.89–1.88; P = .17), and the HR for hypotension was 1.25 (95% CI, 0.86–1.82; P = .25).

CONCLUSIONS:
HFNC oxygen reduces the incidence of hypoxemia during anesthesia for advanced EGD and may offer an opportunity to enhance patient safety during these procedures.
Transient and lineage-restricted requirement of Ebf3 for sternum ossification
Authors: Kuriki Mao , Sato Fuminori , Arai Hiroyuki N. , Sogabe Maina , Kaneko Mari , Kiyonari Hiroshi , Kawakami Koichi , Yoshimoto Yuki , Shukunami Chisa , Sehara-Fujisawa Atsuko 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACT
Osteoblasts arise from bone-surrounding connective tissue containing tenocytes and fibroblasts. Lineages of these cell populations and mechanisms of their differentiation are not well understood. Screening enhancer-trap lines of zebrafish allowed us to identify Ebf3 as a transcription factor marking tenocytes and connective tissue cells in skeletal muscle of embryos. Knockout of Ebf3 in mice had no effect on chondrogenesis but led to sternum ossification defects as a result of defective generation of Runx2+ pre-osteoblasts. Conditional and temporal Ebf3 knockout mice revealed requirements of Ebf3 in the lateral plate mesenchyme cells (LPMs), especially in tendon/muscle connective tissue cells, and a stage-specific Ebf3 requirement at embryonic day 9.5-10.5. Upregulated expression of connective tissue markers, such as Egr1/2 and Osr1, increased number of Islet1+ mesenchyme cells, and downregulation of gene expression of the Runx2 regulator Shox2 in Ebf3-deleted thoracic LPMs suggest crucial roles of Ebf3 in the onset of lateral plate mesoderm differentiation towards osteoblasts forming sternum tissues.
Detecting level of wetland encroachment for urban agriculture in Uganda using hyper-temporal remote sensing
Authors: Kabiri Stella , Allen Molly , Okuonzia Juduth Toma , Akello Beatrice , Ssabaganzi Rebecca , Mubiru Drake 
Published: May 2020

Background: Urbanization is an important indicator of economic growth and social change but is associated with environmental degradation. In Uganda, wetlands cover an area of 11% of the country’s land area, of which half have been converted to industry and residential areas, and urban agriculture. Here, we investigate the extent of wetlands lost in two Ugandan cities, Wakiso and Kampala, in a period of 30 years. Secondly, we demonstrate a simple methodology to monitor agriculture on encroached wetlands. Methods: Using a field survey and free remote sensing data from Landsat TM 1986 and Landsat ETM 2016 we classified the rate of wetland loss and encroachment from 1986 to 2016. Using MODIS NDVI 16-day composites at 500-meter spatial resolution, we generated distinctive crops and crop mixtures in the encroached wetlands for urban agriculture using the ISODATA clustering algorithm. Results: Over 30 years, 72,828 ha (73%) of the Wakiso-Kampala wetlands have been lost. Agriculture areas have doubled, of which 16,488 ha (23%) were reclaimed from wetlands. All cultivated agriculture in Kampala was in the wetlands while in Wakiso, 73% of crop agriculture was in the wetlands. Major crops grown in these urban wetlands were banana (20%), sugarcane (22%), maize (17%), Eucalyptus trees (12%), sweet potatoes (10%). Conclusions: The Kampala-Wakiso wetlands have been disappearing at a rate of 2500 ha annually for the last 30 years. At this rate, there will be no wetlands left by 2029. Policy recommendations should promote wetland reclamation programs so as to restore and reconstruct lost and fragmented wetlands; should mandate food security and poverty eradication to convene with ministries regulating wetlands to merge conflicting policies; and should develop polices that are inclusive of challenges faced by the urban poor while at the same time minimize the pressures on urban environments.
Prior-Independent Optimal Auctions
Authors: Allouah Amine , Besbes Omar 
Published: May 2020

Auctions are widely used in practice. Although auctions are also extensively studied in the literature, most of the developments rely on the significant common prior assumption. We study the design of optimal prior-independent selling mechanisms: buyers do not have any information about their competitors, and the seller does not know the distribution of values but only knows a general class to which it belongs. Anchored on the canonical model of buyers with independent and identically distributed values, we analyze a competitive ratio objective in which the seller attempts to optimize the worst-case fraction of revenues garnered compared with those of an oracle with knowledge of the distribution. We characterize properties of optimal mechanisms and in turn establish fundamental impossibility results through upper bounds on the maximin ratio. By also deriving lower bounds on the maximin ratio, we are able to crisply characterize the optimal performance for a spectrum of families of distributions. In particular, our results imply that a second price auction is an optimal mechanism when the seller only knows that the distribution of buyers has a monotone nondecreasing hazard rate, and it guarantees at least 71.53% of oracle revenues against any distribution within this class. Furthermore, a second price auction is near optimal when the class of admissible distributions is that of those with nondecreasing virtual value function (a.k.a. regular). Under this class, it guarantees a fraction of 50% of oracle revenues, and no mechanism can guarantee more than 55.6%. This paper was accepted by Kalyan Talluri, revenue management and market analytics.
Review: Application of Infrared Thermography in Livestock Monitoring
Authors: Zhang Changzhen , Xiao Deqin , Yang Qiumei , Wen Zhifen , Lv Lishan 
Published: May 2020

HighlightsAs a non-invasive temperature detection technology, IRT can provide dynamic information on skin temperature changes caused by physiological processes of livestock.IRT will become a more valuable detection tool for evaluating various signs and behavior changes of livestock.With the continuous development of information technology, it is necessary to use IRT to explore more expected and innovative information.Abstract. Infrared thermography (IRT) is a non-invasive temperature detection technology characterized by non-destructive, long-distance measurement and high sensitivity. IRT measures mid-wave to long-wave infrared radiation emanating from objects and converts this radiation into visual images or videos of the temperature distribution and temperature changes. Because temperature is an important environmental parameter that affects livestock physiology and metabolic heat production, measurement of animal temperature and energy exchange in field environments is a useful tool for understanding physiological changes in animals. Traditional measurement methods of animal temperature are extremely time-consuming and labor-intensive. As a non-contact method, IRT provides a new method for physiological data acquisition. However, IRT is also subject to a number of uncertainties, thus requiring optimal modeling using built-in software. Therefore, this study reviews applications of IRT in livestock production, including reproduction, growth, and diseases, and discusses some of the better-known approaches and the latest research findings for IRT in livestock production. Keywords: Diseases, Growth, Infrared thermography, Reproduction.
Application of WeChat Mini-Program and Wi-Fi SoC in Agricultural IoT: A Low-Cost Greenhouse Monitoring System
Authors: Zhou Lei , Qiu Zhengjun , He Yong 
Published: May 2020

HighlightsA quick solution for developing and deploying custom agricultural IoT systems is proposed.Low-cost and high-performance devices are used for the design of sensor nodes.A mobile application based on WeChat Mini-Program is developed for device and data management.The proposed system brings convenience to both users and developers.Abstract. Increasing demand for automatic management of agricultural production and real-time remote monitoring has increased the need for smart devices, wireless technologies, and sensors. The internet of things (IoT) has emerged as a common technology for the management of multiple devices by multiple users. Some professional solutions are relatively difficult to implement for researchers who are interested in agricultural IoT but do not have requisite skills in computers and electronics. The unfriendliness of the user software limits the practical application of agricultural IoT in China. This article presents a simple solution based on an SoC (system-on-chip) and WeChat mini-program that focuses on low-cost hardware, rapid development, user-friendly application design, and helping developers get a quick start in building a DIY monitoring system. The ESP8266, a high-performance SoC, is used as the microcontroller and Wi-Fi module to transfer the sensor data to a remote server. A WeChat mini-program provides the graphical user interface, enabling users to manage devices and access data by clicking. Users can log into the system using their WeChat accounts and bind devices by scanning QR codes on the devices. Thus, the complex management and device binding in conventional systems can be overcome. The system is easy to be expand and has great potential for greenhouse environmental monitoring in China. Keywords: Greenhouse ambient monitoring, Internet of things, WeChat mini-program, Wi-Fi SoC.
Comparative Evaluation of Poultry-Human and Poultry-Robot Avoidance Distances
Authors: Parajuli Pratik , Huang Yanbo , Tabler Tom , Purswell Joseph L. , DuBien Janice L. , Zhao Yang 
Published: May 2020

HighlightsCompared to a human, a robot operated properly would not induce more fear in broilers.Bird age, robot operating speed, and operation frequency may affect poultry-robot avoidance distances.Broiler and hen avoidance distances decrease as the birds become older.Higher robot operating speeds increase poultry-robot ADs for broilers and white hens, but not for brown hensAbstract. Advances in robotics promote interest in applications in the poultry industry to reduce human labor; however, skeptics express concerns regarding potential animal stress stemming from poultry-robot interactions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the avoidance distance (AD), a parameter reflecting stress in an animal due to an approaching object, of broilers and laying hens to a human assessor and a robotic ground vehicle. ADs were determined for birds at different ages (2, 4, 6, and 8 week old broilers; 28, 47, and 66 week old brown hens; and 27, 46, and 70 week old white hens) in a commercial broiler house and two commercial cage-free hen houses. The poultry-robot ADs were determined at three robot operating speeds (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 m s-1) and two operation frequencies (bi-weekly and daily, for broilers only). The results show that the overall poultry-human and poultry-robot ADs were, respectively, 48 to 82 cm and 83 to 110 cm for broilers, 54 to 87 cm and 114 to 131 cm for brown hens, and 71 to 76 cm and 92 to 99 cm for white hens when the birds experienced the robot on test days only. Broiler-robot ADs significantly decreased to 30 to 63 cm when the birds were exposed to the robot daily, reflecting less stress induced by the robot than by the human. Poultry ADs to the human and robot tended to decrease for older birds. Slower robot operating speeds led to shorter ADs for broilers at 6 and 8 weeks of age and for white hens at all ages but did not affect ADs for broilers at 2 and 4 weeks of age and brown hens at all ages. Slower robot operating speeds also reduced the bird fleeing speed (FS). It is concluded that the robot did not induce more stress than the human in the broilers. The baseline poultry-robot ADs obtained in this study provide valuable information for understanding poultry interactions with robots and may help optimize robot operations for application in the poultry industry. Keywords: Animal welfare, Avoidance distance (AD), Broiler, Laying hens, Robotics.
Dust Content and Adhesion Characteristics of Five Corn Samples
Authors: Plumier Benjamin M. , Zhao Yumeng , Casada Mark E. , Maghirang Ronaldo G. , Ambrose R. P. Kingsly 
Published: May 2020

HighlightsThe corn sample and centrifuge speed interactions were statistically significant predictors of dust generation.Attachment strengths of dust particles were calculated, with forces ranging from less than 4.6 × 10-10 N to 2.1 × 10-8 N.A sequential centrifuge experiment indicated a bimodal distribution of adhesion forces.Abstract. Grain dust explosions are a constant threat to the grain handling industry. Explosions occur when dust accumulates beyond the minimum explosion concentration in a confined area and is exposed to an ignition source. Handling and grain unloading conditions that generate dust, the minimum explosive dust concentration, overpressure from an explosion, and other factors that lead to grain dust explosion are well documented in the literature. The adhesion force that holds grain dust particles to the grain itself is an important factor in better understanding and mitigating dust separation from grain kernels and the resulting dust cloud generation. However, that adhesion force, how it is affected by grain quality, and how it is influenced by particle factors such as size and shape has not been adequately researched. A centrifuge separation technique was used to study the adhesion forces of grain dust. Results showed large variability in dust concentration between the five corn samples tested in this study. The dust particle attachment strength ranged from less than 4.6 × 10-10 N to 2.1 × 10-8 N. Only the sample and centrifuge speed interaction had a statistically significant effect on dust concentrations recovered at a 5% confidence limit. Under repeated centrifugations, the dust removed showed a bimodal distribution of attachment strengths, with three of four samples tested showing a local minimum at 2000 rpm, and the other at 3000 rpm. This study improves the understanding of the fundamental attachment strength behind dust separation from grain kernels. Investigating the size, shape, and surface characteristics of dust particles with varying attachment strengths is important to further understand their adhesion and separation mechanisms. Keywords: Adhesion strength, Dust explosion, Dust mitigation, Grain dust, Grain handling.
Application of Modified SME-CN Method for Predicting Event Runoff and Peak Discharge from a Drained Forest Watershed on the North Carolina Atlantic Coastal Plain
Authors: Walega Andrzej , Amatya Devendra M. 
Published: May 2020

HighlightsProposed new method to assess subsurface and surface runoff from drained forested watershed.Factor Fp in the graphical peak discharge method is less in forested wetland watershed than recommended by USDA.Modified graphical peak discharge method correctly approximated observed peak discharges.Abstract. The NRCS curve number (CN) method is a widely used event-based model for estimating runoff using readily available watershed parameters and rainfall data from upland agricultural catchments. However, there is limited literature on application of the CN method in drained forest systems. This study proposes an application of the modified Sahu-Mishra-Eldho (SME) CN method developed and tested in earlier studies. In this study, the SME method was further modified by redefining the maximum potential retention to assess subsurface drainage and surface runoff, which are parts of total outflow, separately for a pine forest watershed with a high water table soil drained by ditches spaced 100 m apart in coastal North Carolina. Assuming that the measured outflow from the drained watershed was dominated by subsurface drainage, computed event outflow using the modified SME-CN (MSME-CN) model showed good agreement with the observed outflow data (without extreme rainfall events) for the study watershed, yielding a Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient of 0.97, R2 = 0.97, and RMSE = 3.46 mm. Linking the direct runoff from the MSME model into the SCS graphical peak discharge method (GPDM) also improved event peak flow estimates compared to those from the GPDM using SCS-CN based outflow, with calculated RMSE of 11.93 and 31.35 L s-1 and modeling efficiency (EF) of 0.79 and -0.45, respectively. In addition, based on analysis, the wetland factor (Fp) of 0.72 recommended in the GPDM was found to be very large and unsuitable for the study watershed with its high retention capacity. The authors suggest multi-site-year validation of the MSME-CN model, which is sensitive to input parameters such as PET5, P, CN, and a, to gain more confidence in it and the associated GPDM. Keywords: Peak discharge, Pine forest, Poorly drained soil, Potential retention, Subsurface runoff, Surface runoff.
640-nm Pr:YLF regenerative amplifier seeded by gain-switched laser
diode pulses
Authors: Hara Yusaku , Fujita Shogo , Shioya Yuta , Kannari Fumihiko 
Published: May 2020

We demonstrated the regenerative amplification of picosecond laser pulses generated by a gain-switched laser diode at 640 nm with a Pr:YLF crystal that was continuously pumped by a multimode blue laser diode. A 0.7-pJ seed pulse energy sufficiently suppressed the self-oscillation in the amplifier. The amplified pulse energy reached 33 µJ at a repetition rate of 10 kHz. The spatial beam quality was nearly

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. We also demonstrated second- and third-harmonic generation and obtained 320- and 213-nm pulse energies of 18 and 0.83 µJ at 10 kHz.