bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
NGAL and SMAD1 gene expression in the early detection of diabetic nephropathy by liquid biopsy
Authors: Veiga Glaucia , Alves Beatriz , Perez Matheus , Alcantara Luiz Vinicius , Raimundo Joyce , Zambrano Lysien , Encina Jessica , Pereira Edimar Cristiano , Bacci Marcelo , Murad Neif , Fonseca Fernando 
Published: March 2020

IntroductionDiabetic nephropathy (DN) is a disease that progresses with the slow and progressive decline of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR); the installation of this pathology is silent and one of the major causes of death in patients with diabetes.AimsTo identify new molecular biomarkers for early identification of the onset of DN in patients with type II diabetes mellitus (DM2). We studied the expression profile of the genes; suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic type 1 (SMAD1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and type IV collagen (COLIV1A) in peripheral blood and urine sediment samples.MethodsNinety volunteers, 51 with DM2 and 39 healthy, were recruited from the Faculdade de Medicina do ABC outpatient clinic. We conducted an interview and collected anthropometric data, as well as blood and urine samples for biochemical evaluation and real-time PCR amplification of the genes of interest.ResultsGene expression data: peripheral blood NGAL (DM2 0.09758±0.1914 vs CTL 0.02293±0.04578), SMAD1 (blood: DM2 0.01102±0.04059* vs CTL 0.0001317±0.0003609; urine: DM2 0.7195±2.344* vs CTL 0.09812±0.4755), there was no significant expression of COLIV1A. These genes demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity in the receiving operating characteristic curve evaluation.ConclusionOur data suggest the potential use of NGAL and SMAD1 gene expression in peripheral blood and urine samples as early biomarkers of DN.
Utility of the AVISE Connective Tissue Disease test in predicting lupus diagnosis and progression
Authors: Liang Emily , Taylor Mihaela , McMahon Maureen 
Published: March 2020

BackgroundThe AVISE Connective Tissue Disease (CTD) test uses autoantibody, erythrocyte-bound C4d (EC4d) and B-cell-bound C4d (BC4d) levels to aid in diagnoses of SLE, other CTDs and fibromyalgia. We evaluated the utility of the AVISE CTD test in predicting SLE disease development and damage progression.MethodsPatients who had undergone AVISE CTD testing were assessed for SLE diagnosis by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) and American College of Rheumatology criteria and for SLE damage by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index (SDI) at the time of AVISE testing (t=0) and 2 years later (t=2).ResultsAmong 117 patients without a previous diagnosis of SLE, 65% of patients who tested positive developed SLE at t=2, compared with 10.3% of patients who tested non-positive (p<0.0001). AVISE-positive patients fulfilled significantly more SLICC diagnostic criteria than AVISE-non-positive patients at both t=0 (3.8±2.1 vs 1.9±1.1, p=0.001) and t=2 (4.5±2.2 vs 2.1±1.2, p<0.0001). AVISE-positive patients also had had significantly higher SDI at t=2 (1.9±1.3 vs 1.03±1.3, p=0.01). BC4d levels correlated with the number of SLICC criteria at t=0 (r=0.33, p<0.0001) and t=2 (r=0.34, p<0.0001), as well as SDI at t=0 (r=0.25, p=0.003) and t=2 (r=0.26, p=0.002).ConclusionsThe AVISE CTD test can aid in SLE evaluation by predicting SLE disease development and future damage progression.
Relativistic compact stars with dark matter density profile
Authors: Sarkar Nayan , Sarkar Susmita , Singh Ksh. Newton , Rahaman Farook 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn this article, we are proposing a model of anisotropic compact star possessing density profile of pseudo-isothermal dark matter satisfying a linear equation of state (EoS). The stellar system supported by this density profile is physically possible and in equilibrium fulfilling all the energy conditions including the TOV-equation. The solution also satisfies the causality condition, static stability criterion, Abreu’s stability and Bondi’s criteria. The fulfillment of Rhoades–Ruffini criterion makes our solution more physically viable as well. The M–R curve is plotted for $$b=12.55$$b=12.55 km and $$B_g=60$$Bg=60 MeV/fm$$^3$$3.
Highly active electrocatalyst cobalt-carbide nanoparticles synthesized by wet-chemistry method for hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Lin Yi-Heng , Huang Po-Chia , Wang Sheng-Chang , Huang Jow-Lay 
Published: March 2020

Hydrogen is a promising alternative energy without greenhouse gas emissions. The transition metal carbides (TMCs) are considered a sustainable alternatives to noble metals in catalysis. Among the TMCs, Co[Formula: see text]C ([Formula: see text] = 2, 3) nanoparticles (NPs) act as an excellent electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by water splitting. In our report, Co[Formula: see text]C nanocomposites were synthesized by wet chemistry method using cobalt (II) acetate, sodium hydroxide as precursors and triethylene glycol as solvent. In addition, Co2C NPs were synthesized by similar wet chemistry method using cobalt (II) acetate as precursors and triethylene glycol, oleylamine as solvent. The cobalt carbide NPs exhibited high electrocatalytic activity. Co[Formula: see text]C nanocomposites performed a −0.33 V onset potential and 91 mV/dec Tafel slope, while the Co2C NPs exhibited a better performance of −0.27 V and 60 mV/dec, respectively.
Investigation on interlaminar properties of photopolymerizable resin repaired GFRPs during long-term acid ageing
Authors: Chen Zixuan , Yu Tianyu , Kim Yun-Hae 
Published: March 2020

Fiber reinforced plastics (FRPs) are extensively utilized in various applications due to their excellent comprehensive properties. However, the weak interlaminar property and durability of FRPs have been repeatedly mentioned as limitations in applications that include complex loading conditions. The remediation of FRPs has recently become a research focus for lifetime extension and strength reversion. Photopolymerizable resins, as a novel matrix material and an alternative for thermal polymerizable resins, have the advantages of short operation time, low price, and low equipment requirements. This study investigated the durability in long-term acid atmosphere exposure environment of photo and thermal polymerizable resin repaired GFRP. External glass fabric patches impregnated with the photo or thermal polymerizable resins were attached to pre-damaged fundamental specimens to conduct the remediation, followed by room temperature (RT) or UV irradiation for curing processing. The repaired specimens were positioned in the laboratory-fabricated hermetically-sealed condensation device. The 10 vol.% sulphuric acid (pH[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]0.76) was chosen as the source to generate the acidic atmosphere. The total ageing time was sustained for eight weeks (over 1300 h), and ILSS and DCB tests were performed every seven days, together with morphology observation. Better interlaminar properties retention and stability were revealed after eight weeks ageing for UV repaired specimens. The hardener is a factor that tends to increase the acid penetration rate, which is thought of as the mechanism of the better acid resistance of the UV repaired specimens.
A Neural Element Method
Authors: Liu G. R. 
Published: March 2020

Methods of artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been applied to solve various science and engineering problems. TrumpetNets and TubeNets were recently proposed by the author for creating two-way deepnets using the standard finite element method (FEM) and smoothed FEM (S-FEM) as trainers. The significance of these specially configured ANNs is that the solutions to inverse problems have been, for the first time, analytically derived in explicit formulae. This paper presents a novel neural element method (NEM) with a focus on mechanics problems. The key idea is to use artificial neurons to form elemental units called neural-pulse-units (NPUs), using which the shape functions can then be constructed, and used in the standard weak and weakened-weak (W2) formulations to establish discrete stiffness matrices, similar to the standard FEM and S-FEM. Theory, formulation and codes in Python are presented in detail. Numerical examples are then used to demonstrate this novel NEM. For the first time, we have made a clear connection in theory, formulations and coding, between ANN methods and physical-law-based computational methods. We believe that this novel NEM fundamentally changes the way of approaching mechanics problems, and opens a window of opportunity for a range of applications. It offers a new direction of research on unconventional computational methods. It may also have an impact on how the well-established weak and W2 formulations can be introduced to machine learning processes, for example, creating well-behaved loss functions with preferable convexity.
Timed synchronization of muscle contraction to heartbeat enhances muscle hyperemia
Authors: Giuriato Gaia , Ives Stephen J. , Tarperi Cantor , Bortolan Lorenzo , Ruzzante Federico , Pedrinolla Anna , Martignon Camilla , Laginestra Fabio Giuseppe , Cevese Antonio , Schena Federico , Venturelli Massimo 
Published: March 2020

Blood flow (BF) to exercising muscles is susceptible to variations of intensity, and duration of skeletal muscle contractions, cardiac cycle, blood velocity, and vessel dilation. During cyclic muscle activity, these elements may change proportionally with or without direct optimal temporal alignment, likely influencing BF to active muscle. Ideally, the pulsed delivery of blood to active muscle timed with the inactive phase of muscle duty-cycle would enhance the peak and average BF. To investigate the phenomenon of muscle contraction and pulse synchronicity, electrically evoked muscle contractions (trains of 20 Hz, 200-ms duration) were synchronized with each systolic phase of the anterograde blood velocity spectrum (aBVS). Specifically, unilateral quadriceps contractions matched in-phase (IP) with the aBVS were compared with contractions matched out-of-phase (OP) with the aBVS in 10 healthy participants (26 ± 3 yr). During each trial, femoral BF of the contracting limb and central hemodynamics were recorded for 5 min with an ultrasound Doppler, a plethysmograph, and a cardioimpedance device. At steady state (5th min) IP BF (454 ± 30 mL/min) and vascular conductance (4.3 ± 0.2 mL·min−1·mmHg−1), and OP MAP (108 ± 2 mmHg) were significantly lower ( P < 0.001) in comparison to OP BF (784 ± 25 mL/min) and vascular conductance (6.7 ± 0.2 mL·min−1·mmHg−1), and IP MAP (113 ± 3 mmHg). On the contrary, no significant difference (all, P > 0.05) was observed between IP and OP central hemodynamics (HR: 79 ± 10 vs. 76 ± 11 bpm, CO: 8.0 ± 1.6 vs. 7.3 ± 1.6 L/min), and ventilatory patterns (V̇e:14 ± 2 vs. 14 ± 1 L/min, V̇o2:421 ± 70 vs. 397 ± 34 mL/min). The results suggest that muscle contractions occurring during OP that do not interfere with aBVS elicit a maximization of muscle functional hyperemia. NEW & NOTEWORTHY When muscle contraction is synchronized with the pulsed delivery of blood flow to active muscle, muscle functional hyperemia can be either maximized or minimized. This suggests a possibility to couple different strategies to enhance the acute and chronic effects of exercise on the cardiovascular system.
Evaluation of Global Water Resources Reanalysis Products in the Upper Blue Nile River Basin
Authors: Koukoula Marika , Nikolopoulos Efthymios I. , Dokou Zoi , Anagnostou Emmanouil N. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWater resources reanalysis (WRR) can be used as a numerical tool to advance our understanding of hydrological processes where in situ observations are limited. However, WRR products are associated with uncertainty that needs to be quantified to improve usability of such products in water resources applications. In this study, we evaluate estimates of water cycle components from 18 state-of-the-art WRR datasets derived from different land surface/hydrological models, meteorological forcing, and precipitation datasets. The evaluation was conducted at three spatial scales in the upper Blue Nile basin in Ethiopia. Precipitation, streamflow, evapotranspiration (ET), and terrestrial water storage (TWS) were evaluated against in situ daily precipitation and streamflow measurements, remote sensing–derived ET, and the NASA Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) product, respectively. Our results highlight the current strengths and limitations of the available WRR datasets in analyzing the hydrological cycle and dynamics of the study basins, showing an overall underestimation of ET and TWS and overestimation of streamflow. While calibration improves streamflow simulation, it results in a relatively poorer performance in terms of ET. In addition, we show that the differences in the schemes used in the various land surface models resulted in significant differences in the estimation of the water cycle components from the respective WRR products, while we noted small differences among the products related to precipitation forcing. We did not identify a single product that consistently outperformed others; however, we found that there are specific WRR products that provided accurate representation of a single component of the water cycle (e.g., only runoff) in the area.
Assessment of Functional Recovery and Subjective Donor-Site Morbidity Following Radial Forearm Flap Reconstruction in Small- to Moderate-Sized Palatal Defects
Authors: Chandrappa Ashok B. , Batth Ritu S. , Vasudevan Srikanth , Yellambalase Anantheswar N. R. , Kumar Pradeep N. , Reddy Sudarshan , Seles J. Nidya 
Published: March 2020

Context: Palatal defects are encountered following tumor extirpation, trauma, or congenitally. Among the known alternatives, radial artery free forearm flap (RAFF) is a versatile flap that confers good results in head and neck reconstruction, but donor-site morbidity has been an issue of discontent among the plastic surgeons. This limitation needs to be studied further and addressed considering the unmatched quality of this tissue. Aims: This study aims to weigh the impact of the functional edge of this flap against the unpopular donor-site morbidity on a group of patients. Settings and Design: This is a retrospective analysis of recuperation of palatal function and patient concerns with the donor-site function and cosmesis on 7 consecutive patients with small-to-moderate palatal defects reconstructed with RAFF. Methods and Materials: Postoperative recovery of speech, palatal movement, and restoration of oromaxillary interface was assessed using objective tests, such as speech intelligibility testing and articulation studies. Simultaneously, subjective donor-site function and cosmesis were assessed using Patient Scar Assessment Scale (PSAS), Upper Extremity Functional Index (UEFI), and donor limb sensory testing. Results and Conclusion: Mean PSAS score was 8.28/60, and UEFI score reported was 77/80, which reflect high patient satisfaction with the donor site. Nasoendoscopy shows remarkable restoration of palate anatomy. Intelligibility testing depicts near-normal speech understandability, whereas articulation studies revealed distortions post-palatal reconstruction with RAFF. Radial artery free forearm flap should be considered as the forerunner of reconstruction in palatal defects involving less than 50%.
New perspective on the risk markers for left atrial thrombosis in patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Hu Mengjie , Wang Xiying , Zhang Chi , Chen Wanwan , Chen Songzan , Zhou Jintao , Chen Yuxiao , Lou Lian , Chen Guoping , Dong Fanghong , Hu Shenjiang , Zheng Liangrong , Yang Jian 
Published: March 2020

Abstract

Background
Anticoagulant therapy is one of the important aspects of atrial fibrillation (AF) management, which can effectively reduce the formation of left atrial thrombosis (LAT) and the occurrence of embolic events. The CHA2DS2-VASc score is a commonly used risk assessment tool for embolic events, and it has guiding significance for anticoagulant therapy. However, a large number of recent studies have clearly shown that some of the markers that are not included in the score affect the formation of LAT.

Objective
This single-center study probed for risk markers for LAT by analyzing the clinical features of patients who experienced AF.

Methods
We reviewed patients with AF who had undergone a transesophageal echocardiography exam over the past 6 years and used binary logistic regression analysis to identify risk markers other than CHA2DS2-VASc score. For the risk markers found, the propensity score matching (PSM) was used to further evaluate whether it was an independent risk marker for LAT. The newly discovered markers were added to the score, and receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to evaluate whether the ability of the model to predict LAT was improved.

Results
A total of 2246 patients were included in the study. In total, 838 of them were anticoagulated (314 with rivaroxaban, 57 with dabigatran, and 467 with warfarin) and 30 patients (1.33%) had LAT. Regression analysis revealed abnormal uric acid metabolism (abUA) and obesity were risk markers for LAT. Further PSM analysis found that abUA was an independent risk marker for LAT. After including abUA, the CHA2DS2-VASc score was more accurate for LAT prediction (area under the curve difference is 0.0651, 95% confidence interval: 0.0247, 0.1050, Z = 3.158, P = 0.0016).

Conclusions
AbUA is an independent risk marker for LAT. After considering abUA, the CHA2DS2-VASc score for LAT is more accurate.
Cost-efficiency of specialist inpatient rehabilitation for adults with multiple sclerosis: A multicentre prospective cohort analysis of the UK Rehabilitation Outcomes Collaborative national clinical dataset for rehabilitation centres in England
Authors: Turner-Stokes Lynne , Harding Richard , Yu Peihan , Dzingina Mendwas , Gao Wei 
Published: March 2020

Background Rehabilitation is effective for multiple sclerosis, but is it value for money? Objectives To evaluate functional outcomes, care needs and cost-efficiency of specialist inpatient rehabilitation for adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods A multicentre cohort study of prospectively collected clinical data from the UK Rehabilitation Outcomes Collaborative national clinical database. Data included all adults with MS ( n = 1007) admitted for specialist inpatient (Level 1 or 2) rehabilitation in England, 2010–2018. Outcome measures Dependency/care needs: Northwick Park Dependency Scale/Care Needs Assessment, Functional independence: UK Functional Assessment Measure (UK FIM+FAM). Cost-efficiency. Patients were analysed in three dependency groups (High/Medium/Low). Results All groups showed significant reduction in dependency between admission and discharge on all measures (paired t-tests: p < 0.001). Mean reduction in care costs/week was greatest in the most dependent patients: High: £519 (95% CI: 447–597), Medium: £148 (76–217), Low: £36 (12–83). Despite longer stays, time taken to offset the cost of rehabilitation was shortest in the most dependent patients: High: 12.9 (12.0–14.1) months; Medium: 29.3 (21.3–51.8); Low: 76.8 (0–36.1). Item-level changes corresponded with clinical experience. Conclusions Specialist rehabilitation provided good value for money in patients with MS, yielding improved outcomes and substantial savings in ongoing care costs, especially in high-dependency patients.
Clonal hematopoiesis in donors and long-term survivors of related allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Boettcher Steffen , Wilk C. Matthias , Singer Jochen , Beier Fabian , Burcklen Elodie , Beisel Christian , Ventura Ferreira Monica S. , Gourri Elise , Gassner Christoph , Frey Beat M. , Schanz Urs , Skoda Radek C. , Ebert Benjamin L. , Brummendorf Tim H. , Beerenwinkel Niko , Manz Markus G. 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is associated with age and an increased risk of myeloid malignancies, cardiovascular risk, and all-cause mortality. We tested for CH in a setting where hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) of the same individual are exposed to different degrees of proliferative stress and environments, ie, in long-term survivors of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and their respective related donors (n = 42 donor-recipient pairs). With a median follow-up time since allo-HSCT of 16 years (range, 10-32 years), we found a total of 35 mutations in 23 out of 84 (27.4%) study participants. Ten out of 42 donors (23.8%) and 13 out of 42 recipients (31%) had CH. CH was associated with older donor and recipient age. We identified 5 cases of donor-engrafted CH, with 1 case progressing into myelodysplastic syndrome in both donor and recipient. Four out of 5 cases showed increased clone size in recipients compared with donors. We further characterized the hematopoietic system in individuals with CH as follows: (1) CH was consistently present in myeloid cells but varied in penetrance in B and T cells; (2) colony-forming units (CFUs) revealed clonal evolution or multiple independent clones in individuals with multiple CH mutations; and (3) telomere shortening determined in granulocytes suggested ∼20 years of added proliferative history of HSCs in recipients compared with their donors, with telomere length in CH vs non-CH CFUs showing varying patterns. This study provides insight into the long-term behavior of the same human HSCs and respective CH development under different proliferative conditions.
The impact of driving homogeneity due to automation and cooperation of vehicles on uphill freeway sections
Authors: Makridis Michail , Leclercq Ludovic , Mattas Konstantinos , Ciuffo Biagio 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background
This work presents a microsimulation study on the topic on an uphill network, regarding the potential impact of AVs and Cooperative-AVs (Coop-AVs or CAVs), vehicles able to cooperate with the infrastructure. The novelty of the proposed approach is that the simulation of all vehicles is performed with a common hybrid car-following model that takes explicitly into account the variability in the vehicle dynamics and the driving behaviors.

Methods
Simulation of longitudinal movement of the individual vehicles is performed with a common hybrid car-following model that takes explicitly into account the variability in the vehicle dynamics and the driving behaviors. Different homogeneity levels in the vehicles and drivers are tested, while the cooperation is explicitly assessed by proposing a realistic Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) logic. Possible reduction in the response times of the vehicles is also studied.

Results
Results with more homogenous vehicle movements have more consistent performance in terms of traffic flow, that is independent of the order that the vehicles enter the network. Finally, the cooperation with the infrastructure can limit high variations in the vehicles’ accelerations and thus potential traffic jams.

Conclusions
Homogenized flows can mitigate or even solve traffic-related problems related to the variability in driving behaviors, such as bottlenecks and stop-and-go waves.