bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spatio-temporal Analysis of Cardiovascular Emergency Medical Requests: To Inform Policy and Practice
Authors: Azimi Ali , Bagheri Nasser , Mostafavi Mostafa , Furst MaryAnne , Hashtarkhani Soheil , Amin Fateme Hashemi , Eslami Saeid , Kiani Fatemeh , VafaeiNezhad Reza , Akbari Toktam , Golabpour Amin , Kiani Behzad 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background:Response time to cardiovascular emergency medical requests is an important indicator in reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) related mortality. This study aims to develop an index of response time and investigate potential clusters in the pattern of CVD-related calls over time and space.Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted in Mashhad, north-eastern Iran, between August 2017 and December 2019. An emergency medical service (EMS) response time matrix to CVD-related calls was computed using spatial and classical statistical analyses. The Anselin Local Moran's I was performed to identify potential clusters in the patterns of CVD-related calls, response time, call-to-hospital arrival time, and scene-to-hospital arrival time at small area level (neighborhood level) in Mashhad, Iran.Results:There were 84,239 CVD-related emergency request calls, of which 60.21 percent were transported to clinical centers by EMS, and 2.62 percent (a total of 2203 persons) died before EMS arrival. The number of CVD-related emergency calls increased by almost 15% in 2018 and 20% in 2019. The peak in the number of calls occurred between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m., and the lowest number of calls were recorded between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday was the busiest day of week in terms of call volume. There were statistically significant clusters in the pattern of CVD-related calls in the south-eastern region of Mashhad. Further, we found a large spatial variation in scene-to-hospital arrival time and call-to-hospital arrival time in the area under study.Conclusion:The use of geographical information systems and spatial analyses in modelling and quantifying EMS response time provides a new vein of knowledge for decision makers in emergency services management. This also enables policy makers to design tailored interventions to improve response time and reduce CVD-related mortality.
Accuracy for mortality prediction with additive biomarkers including interleukin-6 in critically ill patients: a multicenter prospective observational study
Authors: Yamamoto Ryo , Sasaki Junichi , Shibusawa Takayuki , Nakada Taka-aki , Mayumi Toshihiko , Takasu Osamu , Matsuda Kenichi , Shimazui Takashi , Otsubo Hiroki , Teshima Yuto , Nabeta Masakazu , Moriguchi Takeshi , Oda Shigeto 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background: Several inflammation markers have been reported to be associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. We aimed to elucidate whether serum IL-6 concentration considered with sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score can better predict mortality in critically ill patients.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at five university hospitals in 2016–2018. Critically ill adult patients who met ≥2 systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria on admission were included, and those who died or discharged within 48 hours were excluded. Inflammatory biomarkers including interleukin (IL) -6, -8, and -10, tumor necrosis factor-α, and procalcitonin were blindly measured daily for 3 days. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for SOFA score at Day 2 according to 28-day mortality was calculated as a baseline. Combination models of SOFA score and additional biomarkers were developed using logistic regression, and AUROC calculated in each model was compared with the baseline.Results: Among 161 patients included in the study, 18 (11.2%) did not survive at Day 28. Univariate analysis for each biomarker identified that the IL-6 (Days 1–3), IL-8 (Days 0–3), and IL-10 (Days 1–3) were higher in non-survivors versus survivors. Analyses of 28-day mortality prediction by a single biomarker showed IL-6, -8, and -10 at Days 1–3 had a significant discrimination power, and the IL-6 at Day 3 had the highest AUROC (0.766 [0.656–0.876]). Baseline AUROC for SOFA score predicting 28-day mortality was 0.776 (0.672–0.880). The combination model using additional IL-6 concentration at Day 3 had higher AUROC than baseline (AUROC = 0.844, AUROC improvement = 0.068 [0.002–0.133]), whereas other biomarkers did not improve accuracy in predicting 28-day mortality.Conclusions: Accuracy for 28-day mortality prediction was improved by adding serum IL-6 concentration to SOFA score.Trial registration: N/A (This study did not include any health-related interventions)
A subgroup of Ugandan elite and viremic controllers naturally control HIV-1 infection by blocking R5-tropic viral entry.
Authors: Kayongo Alex , Semugenze Derrick , Nantongo Mary , Semitala Fred , Niwaha Anxious Jackson , Kalyesubula Robert , Kirenga Bruce , Bagaya Bernard Sentalo , Joloba Moses Lutaakome 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background: World over, there are antiretroviral therapy naïve individuals infected with HIV who maintain their CD4+T cell count above 500 cells/µl over 7-10 years and viral loads well controlled below undetectable levels (termed elite controllers, ECs) or at least 2,000 copies/mL (termed viremic controllers, VCs) for at least 12 months. Mechanisms responsible for HIV control in these individuals have not been fully elucidated. We hypothesized that CD4+T cells from elite and viremic controllers are naturally resistant to HIV-1 infection by blocking R5-tropic viral entry. We conducted a case-controlled study in which archived peripheral blood from 31 ECs/VCs and 15 progressors were investigated using in vitro HIV-1 infectivity assays. Results: Briefly, we purified CD4+T cells from peripheral blood using EasySep CD4+ positive selection kit followed by CD4+T cell activation using IL-2, anti-CD28 and anti-CD3. Three days post-activation, CD4+T cells were spinoculated and co-cultured with vesicular stomatitis virus G (VSV-G)-pseudotyped HIV, R5 (ADA-enveloped)- and X4 (NL4.3-enveloped v)-tropic HIV-1. Three days post infection, we quantified and compared the percentage infection of CD4+T cells in cases and controls. We demonstrate that a subgroup of Ugandan elite and viremic controllers possess CD4+T cells that are specifically resistant to R5-tropic virus, remaining fully susceptible to X4-tropic virus. Conclusion: Our study suggests that a subgroup of Ugandan elite and viremic controllers naturally control HIV-1 infection by blocking R5-tropic viral entry. Further research is needed to explore mechanisms of HIV control in the African population.
The Epidemiology, Cause, and Prognosis of Painful Tic Convulsif Syndrome: An Individual Patient Data Analysis of 192 Cases
Authors: Yin Zixiao , Liu Yuye , Bai Yutong , Zhang Hua , Liu Huanguang , Yu Feng , Zhang Jianguo , Liu Ruen , Yang Anchao 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background Characterized by the coexistence of trigeminal neuralgia and ipsilateral hemifacial spasm (HFS), painful tic convulsif (PTC) is a rare entity not yet been systematically studied.Objective To systematically explore the epidemiology, cause, prognosis, and prognosis predictors of PTC.Method We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for relevant studies published between the library establishment time and July 1st, 2020. Information on demographics, causes, specific interventions, and intervention outcomes was extracted. We first made descriptive analyses for demographics, causes, and surgical outcomes of PTC. Univariate and multivariate regression methods were utilized to explore potential prognosis predictors. Further, a two-step meta-analysis method was employed to validate the identified factors.Results Overall, 57 reports including 192 cases with PTC were included in the analysis. The median age of PTC patient is 54 (44-62), with more patients being female (p < 0.001), initiated as HFS (p = 0.005), and affected left side (p = 0.045). Vertebrobasilar artery (VBA) contributes to over-65% of the causes of single vascular compression for PTC. Anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA)/posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) involvement (OR = 4.050, 95% CI = 1.091-15.031) and older age (p = 0.008) predicts symptom-free and recurrence after microvascular decompression (MVD), respectively.Conclusions PTC more occurs in middle-age women between 40 to 60, initiates as HFS, and affects left side. VBA compression is the most common single cause for PTC. MVD could effectively treat PTC with an over-80% cure rate. AICA/PICA involvement predicts successful surgery and older age predicts recurrence.Registration: the protocol of this study is registered in the Open Science Framework (DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/X9G3R) on July 10th, 2020.
High-Performance RNS Modular Exponentiation by Sum-Residue Reduction
Authors: Wu Tao 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Modular exponentiation is fundamental in computer arithmetic and is widely applied in cryptography such as ElGamal cryptography, Diffie-Hellman key exchange protocol, and RSA cryptography. Implementation of modular exponentiation in residue number system leads to high parallelism in computation, and has been applied in many hardware architectures. While most RNS based architectures utilizes RNS Montgomery algorithm with two residue number systems, the recent modular multiplication algorithm with sum-residues performs modular reduction in only one residue number system with about the same parallelism. In this work, it is shown that high-performance modular exponentiation and RSA cryptography can be implemented in RNS. Both the algorithm and architecture are improved to achieve high performance with extra area overheads, where a 1024-bit modular exponentiation can be completed in 0.567 ms in Xilinx XC6VLX195t-3 platform, costing 26,489 slices, 87,357 LUTs, 363 dedicated multipilers of $18\times 18$ bits, and 65 Block RAMs.
Effects of Solvents and Al Doping on Structure and Physical Properties of BiFeO3 Thin Films
Authors: Liang Xia-Li , Dai Jian-Qing , Zhang Chang-Chang , Cao Tian-Fu 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
In this study, structure, optical character, morphology, element-valence and characteristic ferroelectricity of BiFeO3 (BFO) and BiFe0.96Al0.04O3 (BFAO) thin films were investigated experimentally. BFO and BFAO thin films were prepared on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates via spin coating with two acid solvents. One solvent was aqueous solution of nitric acid (solvent Ⅰ), and the other one was mixture of 2-methoxyethanol and glacial acetic acid (solvent Ⅱ). X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that films maintained their rhombic perovskite structures, which were R3c. Raman spectra showed that Al doping causes structural distortion. Al doping solves the problem of porosity and improves the density of BFO film. Average grain size of BFAO-Ⅱ sample is about 110 nm, and, its thickness is the smallest (~714 nm). This indicates that BFAO-Ⅱ sample is highly compact. Energy spectrum shows that Al has doped in the film, uniformly. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) shows that the presence of Al inhibited the floating of Fe valence. BFAO-Ⅱ sample has excellent ferroelectricity (2Pr ~ 110 μC/cm2), and leakage current density (~ 10-2 A/cm2) is lower than that of undoped BFO film. Al doping can reduce the band gap width (Eg) of BFO films, specifically, values of Eg are 2.28 (BFO-Ⅰ), 2.26 (BFO-Ⅱ), 2.17 (BFAO-Ⅰ) and 2.21 (BFAO-Ⅱ) eV. This work provides new idea for the application of Al-doped BFO films in photocatalysis and photovoltaic devices.
Investigation of the association between eNOS gene promoter polymorphism (-786 T&gt;C) and idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss in Iranian women
Authors: Jalili Maryam , Asadollahi Samira , Seifati Seyed Morteza , Ashrafzadeh Hamid Reza , Ghasemi Nasrin 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background: Repeated Pregnancy Loss (RPL) is defined as 2 or more consecutive spontaneous losses of pregnancy before 20 weeks. Some genetic polymorphisms such as endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene, which lead to the synthesis of nitric oxide, could be the reasons for RPL. This case-control study was investigated the frequency of -786 T>C variant in eNOS gene promoter in Iranian women with RPL. Methods : Blood samples were obtained from 100 unrelated women affected by recurrent pregnancy loss and 100 unaffected women as controls. Genomic DNA was extracted and -786 T>C polymorphism in eNOS gene promoter investigated by PCR-RFLP method in all of the samples. Statistical analysis in the group patients and controls were performed by chi-square test and P-values of <0.05 were considered significant.Results: Frequency of homozygous TT was 40% in cases and 46% in control group and frequency of CC was 6% in cases and 5% in the control group and frequency heterozygote TC was 54% in cases and 46% in control group. Genotype frequencies between the two groups showed no significant differences (P>0/05).Conclusion: The result of this study showed that this polymorphism is not more frequent in recurrent pregnancy loss in this population.
Anatomical footprint reconstruction for the treatment of insertional Achilles tendinopathy with heterotopic ossification
Authors: Ma Li , Zhou Binghua , Wang Zhenyu , Zheng Guo , Tao Xu , Tang Kang-lai 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
BackgroundThe aims of this study were to investigate the clinical outcomes of anatomical footprint reconstruction for the treatment of insertional Achilles tendinopathy (IAT) with heterotopic ossification and to provide an effective surgical method for the treatment of this condition.MethodsFrom October 2016 to October 2019, 10 patients underwent anatomical footprint reconstruction for the treatment of IAT with heterotopic ossification at our institution. The operation time and intraoperative bleeding volume were recorded. X-ray and MRI examinations of the calcaneus were performed after the operation. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), visual analog scale (VAS) and Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment–Achilles (VISA-A) scores were used to evaluate the clinical effects on the patients; the time to normal walking and exercise recovery was recorded; and the recovery rate of exercise was recorded at 6 months after the operation.ResultsThe average operation time was 64.4 min (45-74 min), the average bleeding volume was 29.7 ml (5-100 ml), and the average follow-up time was 22.4 months (12-48 months). The patients' wounds healed without infection, splitting, necrosis of the skin margin or other complications. The mean AOFAS score (± SD) was 70.3 ± 11.39 preoperatively and 94.2 ± 5.00 at the last follow-up, showing a significant difference between timepoints (P = 0.00; t = 7.657). The VAS score was 5.4 ± 1.71 preoperatively and 0.4 ± 0.51 at the last follow-up; this decrease was statistically significant (P = 0.00; t = 11.859). The mean VISA-A scores at the preoperative baseline and the last follow-up were 37.6 ± 16.39 and 81.4 ± 8.83, presenting a significant difference between the two timepoints (P = 0.00; t = 9.906). The average time to recover normal walking ability was 9.1 weeks (4-15 weeks), and the average time to resume exercise was 10 weeks (8-12 weeks). At 6 months after the operation, the rate of exercise recovery was 80%.ConclusionIn IAT with heterotopic ossification, anatomical footprint reconstruction enables patients to return to normal life and exercise quickly. The rate of return to sports is high, and the procedure offers satisfactory clinical effects.
Clinical Outcomes of Transforaminal Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy with or without Platelet-rich Plasma Injection in the Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Jiang Yi , Zuo Rujun , Yuan Shuai , Li Jian , Liu Chang , Zhang Jiexun , Ma Ming , Li Dasheng , Hai Yong 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy with or without platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in lumbar disc herniation treatment. Additionally, we aimed to identify whether the PRP injection could improve annulus fibrosus defects based on magnetic resonance imaging data.Methods: Sixty patients with lumbar disc herniation were recruited and randomized to receive either transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy with (PRP group, n=30) or without (control group, n=30) PRP injection. The visual analog scale score of back/leg pain and Oswestry disability index were recorded at 3 days, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging data were examined to determine the effects of PRP injection.Results: No adverse events were reported in our study following the injection of PRP. Clinical improvement was noted in both groups. The visual analog scale score for leg pain at 3 days post-operation and back pain at 6 months post-operation were lower in the PRP group than those in the control group (P<0.05). The magnetic resonance imaging data indicated the disc height decreased by 12% in the PRP group and 17% in the control group, whereas the spinal cross-sectional area increased by 15% in the PRP group and 6% in the control group after a 1-year follow-up. However, no statistically significant differences were found.Conclusions: Transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy with PRP injection around the annulus fibrosus defect was safe and could improve the clinical outcomes at the early postoperative stage. Moreover, PRP injection exerted no negative effects.Trial Registration: ChiCTR 1800017228
Flexibility Analysis and Design of Heat Exchanger Network for Syngas-to-methanol Process
Authors: Liu Jinchang , Zhang Pingping , Xie Qiang , Liang Dingcheng , Bai Lei 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The heat exchanger network (HEN) of syngas-to-methanol process was designed and optimized based on pinch technology under the stable operation conditions to balance the energy consumption and economic gain. Inevitably, the fluctuations of production affect the stable operation of HEN in real industrial processes. The flexibility analysis of HEN was carried out in this study to minimize such disturbances by using the downstream paths method. The results show that 2/3 downstream paths cannot meet flexibility requirements, indicating that HEN doesn’t have enough flexibility to accommodate the disturbances in the actual production. The flexible HEN was then designed with the methods of dividing and subsequent merging, which led to 13.89% and 20.82% reduction in energy consumption and total cost, respectively. Thanks to enough area margin and additional alternative heat exchangers, the flexible HEN is found to be able to resist interferences and maintain the production stability and safety, only sacrificing the increase of total cost increase by 4.08%.
SLC39A1 Contribute to Malignant Progression and Have Clinical Prognostic Impact in Gliomas
Authors: Wang Peng , Zhang Jingjing , He Shuai , Xiao Boan , Peng Xiaobin 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background: Gliomas are one of the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system, and have an unfavorable prognosis. SLC39A1 is a zinc ion transport protein which inhibits the progression of prostate cancer. By studying the role and mechanism of SLC39A1 in the progression of gliomas, perhaps a new therapeutic target can be provided for their treatment. Method: The TCGA, CCGA, GSE16011, GSE44971 and GSE11260 data sets were employed to evaluate the expression level of SLC39A1 in paracancerous and glioma tissues. In addition, Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox analysis, and the ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms were used to analyze its prognostic value and immune infiltration correlation. A CCK-8 and flow cytometer were used to measure the effects of SLC39A1 on U87 cell proliferation or apoptosis; RT-qPCR and western blot were used to detect its effects on the expression of MMP2\MMP9. Results: SLC39A1 has up-regulated expression in glioma tissues. It is an independent prognostic factor for patients with glioma, and is significantly correlated with clinical pathological parameters such as Grade, IDH mutation status, and 1p19q codeletion status. In vitro experimental results show that SLC39A1 promotes proliferation of glioma cells, inhibits their apoptosis, and promotes expression of MMP2\MMP9. In addition, it may affect infiltration of immune cells into the glioma microenvironment.Conclusion: SLC39A1 is a new biomarker, an independent prognostic factor for gliomas, and can be used as a potential target for their treatment.
Development of A Vitamin-Related Gene Signature to Predict the Immune Characteristics and Prognosis of Glioma
Authors: Zhang Qing , Liang Qingyu , Guan Gefei , Cheng Wen , Yang Lianhe , Wu Anhua 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background: Vitamins not only play a pivotal role in maintaining homeostasis of the body, but also have complex impacts on the occurrence and progression of tumors. However, the effects of vitamins on glioma and the underlying mechanism have not been fully elucidated. Methods: Vitamin -related genes were extracted from the Molecular Signature Database v7.1 (MSigDB). The overlapping overall survival (OS)-related genes in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), and GSE16011 cohorts screened out by univariate COX regression analysis were utilized to construct a risk model based on the TCGA cohort via random survival forest analysis and multivariate COX regression analysis. The powerful prognostic predictive potential of the vitamin-related risk signature was verified by Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis in the three datasets. The ssGSEA method of the GSVA package was used for functional enrichment and immune cell component analyses. ESTIMATE score analysis was used for auxiliary analysis of glioma immune characteristics. A nomogram was constructed and assessed based on the TCGA dataset.Results: The vitamin-related six-gene (POSTN, IRX5, EEF2, RAB27A, MDM2, and ENO1) risk signature constructed based on the TCGA dataset accurately predicted the outcomes of glioma patients and credibly distinguished between different levels and molecular subtypes of glioma in the TCGA, CGGA, and GSE16011 cohorts. Gliomas with high risk scores exhibited high immune scores, low tumor purity, and immunosuppressive features. The nomogram constructed by combining the vitamin-related risk signature and clinicopathological factors precisely predicted the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS of glioma patients.Conclusions: Our study revealed that the vitamin-related six-gene risk signature, as an independent prognostic factor, could accurately distinguish the grade, molecular subtype, and immune characteristics of glioma.