bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection of inflammation from finger temperature profile in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Pauk J. , Ihnatouski M. , Wasilewska A. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory tissue disease that leads to cartilage, bone, and periarticular tissue damage. This study aimed to investigate whether the use of infrared thermography and measurement of temperature profiles along the hand fingers could detect the inflammation and improve the diagnostic accuracy of the cold provocation test (0 °C for 5 s) and rewarming test (23 °C for180 s) in RA patients. Thirty RA patients (mean age = 49.5 years, standard deviation = 13.0 years) and 22 controls (mean age = 49.8 years, standard deviation = 7.5 years) were studied. Outcomes were the minimal and maximal: baseline temperature (T1), the temperature post-cooling (T2), the temperature post-rewarming (T3), and the Tmax-Tmin along the axis of each finger. The statistical significance was observed for the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and ring finger post-cooling and post-rewarming. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis to distinguish between the two groups revealed that for the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and ring finger, the area under the ROC curve was statistically significantly (p < 0.05) post-cooling. The cold provocation test used in this study discriminates between RA patients and controls and detects an inflammation in RA patients by the measurement of temperature profiles along the fingers using an infrared camera.
Effect of natural and anthropogenic acidification on aluminium distribution in forest soils of two regions in the Czech Republic
Authors: Pavlů Lenka , Borůvka Luboš , Drábek Ondřej , Nikodem Antonín 
Published: November 2019

AbstractTo elucidate the dynamics of aluminium (Al), an element potentially toxic and strongly affected by acidification processes, in soils, we selected two regions that were similar in relief, soil types, and vegetation cover but differed markedly in their history of acid precipitation: the Jizerské Mountains (anthropogenically acidified) and the Novohradské Mountains (naturally acidified) in the Czech Republic. The levels of Al forms (exchangeable and organically bound) associated with different environmental impacts were measured and univalent, divalent and trivalent Al species were quantified using HPLC/IC. Exchangeable and organically bound Al concentrations were higher in the anthropogenically acidified area. Only the concentrations of the least-dangerous species, the univalent, in organic soil horizons were similar for both mountains. The concentrations of exchangeable Al forms were correlated with Ca concentrations and with pH in the organic horizon. The known relationship of Al with soil pH was stronger in the mineral horizons. Relationships of exchangeable Al forms concentrations with sulphur concentrations or even more with the sulphur calcium molar ratio were found only in the Jizerské Mountains, not in the Novohradské. Generally, the obtained results support the hypothesis that mechanisms differed between natural and anthropogenic acidification.
The shift towards entrepreneurial universities and the relevance of third-party funding of business and economics units in Austria: a research note
Authors: Wiener Melanie , Maresch Daniela , Breitenecker Robert J. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
The importance of public and private third-party funding of universities has changed over the last decades. However, the knowledge about how universities finance their research are rather limited. We aim to fill this gap and investigate the funding structure of universities and how third-party funding has changed over time. In our explorative analysis, we use publicly available data of four Austrian universities. We analyze this data at university level as well as the level of the faculty of business and economics. We provide insight into the development and structure of third-party funding and conclude that universities’ funding structures differ and has developed over time.
Dexmedetomidine alleviates insulin resistance in hepatocytes by reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress
Authors: Liu Fanfan , Zhu Shaojun , Ni Lifeng , Huang Ling’er , Wang Kuirong , Zhou Yanfeng 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Purpose
Dexmedetomidine (DEX) stabilizes intraoperative blood glucose levels and reduces insulin resistance (IR), a common perioperative complication. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. Since endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is a mechanism of IR, this study sought to examine whether DEX can effectively alleviate IR by reducing ERS.

Methods
HepG2 and LO2 cells were treated with different concentrations of insulin. The glucose content assay and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) were then employed to determine the optimal insulin concentration capable of inducing IR without affecting cell viability. Insulin-resistant hepatocytes were cultured with different concentrations of DEX for 24 h, and the glucose concentration in the supernatant was measured. ERS was assessed by qPCR and western blotting. The latter was also used to quantify the expression of phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), and glucose 6 phosphatase (G6Pase), which are key proteins involved in the action of insulin.

Results
After 48-h of culturing with 10 μg/mL insulin, glucose consumption in hepatocytes was found to be reduced. IR hepatocytes cultured with 10, 100, or 1000 ng/ml DEX for 24 h showed a concentration-dependent increase in glucose consumption. Elevated mRNA and protein levels of ERS markers binding immunoglobulin protein (BIP) and ER protein 29 (ERp29), were reversed by DEX treatment. Moreover, reduced p-AKT and increased PEPCK and G6Pase protein levels in IR hepatocytes were also restored following DEX treatment.

Conclusion
DEX may alleviate IR in hepatocytes by reducing ERS serving to restore insulin action via the IRS-1/PI3K/AKT pathway.
Refugees, water balance, and water stress: Lessons learned from Lebanon
Authors: Jaafar Hadi , Ahmad Farah , Holtmeier Lauren , King-Okumu Caroline 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
The Syrian crisis caused a massive influx of displaced people into neighboring countries, with Lebanon hosting the highest per capita number of refugees (3:10). Water remains the most critical natural resource that influences the resilience of host and refugee communities. We provide a new GIS-based updated water balance and water scarcity analysis at the national and the watershed level in Lebanon by comparing current conditions to no-refugee levels. Results show a small (6%) increase in water stress in an average water year at the national level that masks hot spots of water scarcity at the local geography. While domestic water use increased by 20%, we find that refugees’ water use is only 10% of agricultural water use in summer. We also show that interventions to rehabilitate the water networks can reduce water stress to better than pre-conflict levels (3% less stress).
Structural assessment of remodelled shells of Heinz Isler
Authors: Baghdadi Abtin , Heristchian Mahmoud , Kloft Harald 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Heinz Isler as the most famous contemporary shell designer has widely employed physical pre-modelling techniques for construction of many concrete shell structures. Through the physical approach to optimal form finding, Isler accomplished shell structures with robust performance. It would be interesting and beneficial to re-assess Isler’s shells, hence, this article attempts to study the structural performance of eight notable shells of Isler. Through reverse engineering and by the assistance of Rhino, MATLAB and Grasshopper, the precise geometry of Isler’s selected shells were modelled for the finite element analysis under their self-weight. The structural analysis was performed, with the parallel use of finite element software SAP2000 and Abaqus. The identical results of the two packages, further confirmed the accuracy of the analysis. The essential properties of various forms of the shells and their differences in behaviour were pinpointed and discussed within the calculations and the results were compared with the data of the genuine published references on Isler’s works. The internal forces, the amount of von Mises stresses, support reactions and the buckling loads of the shells are explored. The analyses revealed that, despite of their major membrane action, all the shells had negligible amount of bending moments, especially near the supports. However, in general, all the shells exhibited an appropriate performance under the applied actions. But, at the same time, they exhibited different buckling behaviour as a probable source of instability in them.
Exploring relationships between mechanical properties of marl core samples by a coupling of mutual information and predictive ensemble model
Authors: Salehin S. , Hadavandi E. , Chelgani S. Chehreh 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Inappropriate evaluation of uniaxial compression indexes (E and UCS) of rocks in high seismic intensity areas such as dam regions can lead to underestimation of the load, and possible settlement of the structure. Indirect assessments of these rock mechanical indexes based on non-destructive experiments and by using intelligent models is a well-accepted method to overcome associated limitations with laboratory tests of E and UCS. This study introduces the mutual information (MI) method as a unique system for variable importance measurement (VIM) and feature selection. Conducting MI-VIM assessments between various analyses of marl core samples (depth, density, ultrasonic tests (νd, Vp and Vs), Brazilian test (σt), triaxial compression test (C and and ϕ) and point load test (Is(50)) indicated that Vs and σt had the highest importance for E and UCS prediction. adaptive boosting–neural network ensemble (Adaboost–NNE) was used for the prediction of E and UCS. Testing of the generated Adaboost–NNE indicated that this model could accurately predict UCS and E with correlations of determinations 0.98 and 0.92, respectively. These results showed that VIM of MI coupled with Adaboost–NNE could develop a robust model that can be used for the prediction and modeling of other indexes of rocks.
The SFU Opinion and Comments Corpus: A Corpus for the Analysis of Online News Comments
Authors: Kolhatkar Varada , Wu Hanhan , Cavasso Luca , Francis Emilie , Shukla Kavan , Taboada Maite 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWe present the SFU Opinion and Comments Corpus (SOCC ), a collection of opinion articles and the comments posted in response to the articles. The articles include all the opinion pieces published in the Canadian newspaperThe Globe and Mailin the 5-year period between 2012 and 2016, a total of 10,339 articles and 663,173 comments. SOCC is part of a project that investigates the linguistic characteristics of online comments. The corpus can be used to study a host of pragmatic phenomena. Among other aspects, researchers can explore: the connections between articles and comments; the connections of comments to each other; the types of topics discussed in comments; the nice (constructive) or mean (toxic) ways in which commenters respond to each other; how language is used to convey very specific types of evaluation; and how negation affects the interpretation of evaluative meaning in discourse. Our current focus is the study of constructiveness and evaluation in the comments. To that end, we have annotated a subset of the large corpus (1043 comments) with four layers of annotations: constructiveness, toxicity, negation and Appraisal (Martin and White, The language of evaluation, Palgrave, New York, 2005). This paper details our corpus, the data collection process, the characteristics of the corpus and describes the annotations. While our focus is comments posted in response to opinion news articles, the phenomena in this corpus are likely to be present in many commenting platforms: other news comments, comments and replies in fora such as Reddit, feedback on blogs, or YouTube comments.
Phytoestrogen coumestrol attenuates brain mitochondrial dysfunction and long‐term cognitive deficits following neonatal hypoxia–ischemia
Authors: Anastacio Janine Beatriz Ramos , Sanches Eduardo Farias , Nicola Fabrício , Odorcyk Felipe , Fabres Rafael Bandeira , Netto Carlos Alexandre 
Published: November 2019

IntroductionNeonatal Hypoxia‐Ischemia (HI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and is frequently associated with short and long‐term neurologic and cognitive impairments. The HI injury causes mitochondrial damage leading to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Phytoestrogens are non‐steroidal plant substances structurally and functionally similar to estrogen. Coumestrol is a potent isoflavonoid with a protective effect against ischemic brain damage in adult rats. Our aim was to determine if coumestrol treatment following neonatal HI attenuates the long‐term cognitive deficits induced by neonatal HI, as well as to investigate one possible mechanism underlying its potential effect.MethodsOn the 7th postnatal day, male Wistar rats were submitted to the Levine‐Rice HI model. Intraperitoneal injections of 20 mg/kg of coumestrol, or vehicle, were administered immediately pre‐hypoxia or 3 h post‐hypoxia. At 12 h after HI the mitochondrial status and ROS levels were determined. At 60th postnatal day the cognitive deficits were revealed in the Morris water maze reference and working spatial memories. Following behavioral analysis, histological assessment was performed and reactive astrogliosis was measured by GFAP expression.ResultsResults demonstrate that both pre‐ and post‐HI administration of coumestrol were able to counteract the long‐term cognitive and morphological impairments caused by HI, as well as to block the late reactive astrogliosis. The pre‐HI administration of coumestrol was able to prevent the early mitochondrial dysfunction in the hippocampus of injured rat pups.ConclusionPresent data suggest that coumestrol exerts protection against experimental neonatal brain hypoxia‐ischemia through, at least in part, early modulation of mitochondrial function.
Chagasic megacolon in Venezuela – case report
Authors: Dowling Enez Victoria , Izarra Henriquez Carla 
Published: November 2019

AbstractChagasic megacolon is the second most frequent cause of manifestation of the digestive forms of Chagas disease (trypanosoma cruzi parasitosis), characterized by progressive pseudo-occlusive symptoms or chronic constipation, caused by an alteration in the functioning of the colonic wall musculature. In Venezuela, cases of chagasic disease reported in the past are referred to chagasic heart disease, this being the first documented case of chagasic megacolon. We broach herein a case of chagasic megacolon in which early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment led to a successful outcome.
Trends in colorectal cancer incidence in western Kazakhstan through the first decade of the screening implementation, 2009‒2018
Authors: Balmagambetova Saule , Bhat Sajad Ahmad , Koyshybaev Arip , Gumarova Zhanna , Urazayev Olzhas , Tulyaeva Anar , Urazova Ainel , Taumova Arzhan 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Introduction The study is aimed to outline the vector of colorectal cancer incidence in the industrial Aktobe province of western Kazakhstan through the first decade of the screening implementation, 2009–2018.
Methods Rough incidence rates and annual percent changes were estimated for each age group at diagnosis, ethnicities, gender, residences, the disease stages and anatomic subsites (total N 1128) via regression analysis.
Results Within 2009–2018 colorectal cancer rates increased from 14.74 to 23.19, with annual percent changes of 4.69%. The most significant growth was traced in men compared to women, up to 28.39 by 2018, with annual percent changes 6.64% vs. 2.64% (p = 0.0009). Annual percent changes in Kazakhs reached 8.7%, whereas Slavic groups showed decline in the incidence, annual percent changes −4.3% (p = 0.002). Declining in rates was also observed in urban population compared to rural one, annual percent changes −3.3% vs. 17.6%, respectively. Patients aged 60–69 made 31% of all cases and showed the largest annual percent changes 9.37% (p = 0.002). Patients at Stage II made 61% of all observations, but general trend evidenced sharp growth in the group of Stage I (annual percent changes 28.91%, p < 0.0001).
Conclusion Overall, during the last decade colorectal cancer incidence increased 1.5 fold with expected further rise. However, the increment of Stage I portion by 2018 vs. advanced stages at diagnosis and the trend to decrease in rates among urban population inspire a definite assurance in potential efficiency of the screening program in long run. The next researches on colorectal cancer should include scenarios to reveal the role of disadvantaged environment in the region and consuming unhealthy ultra-processed food.
Laser pilonidotomy — a new approach in management of complex pilonidal sinus disease: an exploratory study
Authors: Porwal Ashwin , Gandhi Paresh , Kulkarni Deepak 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background The treatment of pilonidal sinus disease still remains challenging mainly because of multiple factors responsible for wound healing and its recurrence. With recent advances in surgical field, use of laser found to be an effective technique in the destruction of a pilonidal cyst. Laser Piolonidotomy is a new promising technique.
Methodology An exploratory study was planned with the Aim, to evaluate a new technique for the excision of pilonidal sinus. Objectives were to investigate its effectiveness in terms of operation time, healing time, and the duration of hospitalization, resumption of normal activity the degree of postoperative complications and rate of recurrence and patient’s satisfaction. All the patients with pilonidal sinus were categorized and laser pilonidotomy was planned for patients satisfying inclusion criteria. Data collected in pre-structured, pre-tested proforma and analyzed using SPSS.
Results Mean duration of Procedure was 33 min (SD = 11), mean duration of Hospital Stay was 12 h (SD = 3), resumption of normal activity within 4 days (SD = 2), mean duration for Complete Wound Healing by secondary intention 6 Weeks (SD = 1.25). Among complications, infection reported in 1.08%. The difference between the mean pre and post-operative VAS score was statistically highly significant (p < 0.0001). Recurrence rate was 3.24%. Success rate was 96.75% and Overall patient’s satisfaction was 97.84%.
Conclusion Laser Pilonidotomy is effective in destruction of a pilonidal cyst with good success rate, fewer complications and with high patient’s satisfaction.
Pacific Meridional Mode‐Western North Pacific Tropical Cyclone Linkage Explained by Tropical Pacific Quasi‐Decadal Variability
Authors: Liu Chao , Zhang Wenjun , Stuecker Malte F. , Jin Fei‐Fei 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPrevious studies argued that the Pacific Meridional Mode (PMM) impacts tropical cyclone (TC) genesis variability over the southeastern part of the western North Pacific (SE‐WNP). Here, we find that the statistical relationship between PMM and SE‐WNP TC genesis frequency is dominated by their co‐variability on decadal timescales. The decadal component of the PMM exhibits very similar temporal and spatial features to quasi‐decadal tropical Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) variability. The latter can affect SE‐WNP TC activity via changes in both zonal vertical wind shear and low‐level vorticity. In contrast, the interannual component of the PMM exhibits no statistically significant correlation with SE‐WNP TC genesis. Furthermore, observations show that both interannual and decadal variability of SE‐WNP TC activity are well correlated with the commonly used Niño3.4 El Niño‐Southern Oscillation index. Thus, equatorial Pacific SST variability is the dominant source of SE‐WNP TC activity predictability on different timescales.
Quantifying the Drivers of the Clear Sky Greenhouse Effect, 2000–2016
Authors: Raghuraman Shiv Priyam , Paynter David , Ramaswamy V. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe clear sky greenhouse effect (G) is defined as the trapping of infrared radiation by the atmosphere in the absence of clouds. The magnitude and variability of G is an important element in the understanding of Earth's energy balance; yet the quantification of the governing factors of G is poor. The global mean G averaged over 2000 to 2016 is 130–133 W m−2 across data sets. We use satellite observations from Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System Energy Balance and Filled (CERES EBAF) to calculate the monthly anomalies in the clear sky greenhouse effect (ΔG). We quantify the contributions to ΔG due to changes in surface temperature, atmospheric temperature, and water vapor by performing partial radiation perturbation experiments using ERA‐Interim and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory's Atmospheric Model 4.0 climatological data. Water vapor in the middle troposphere and upper troposphere is found to contribute equally to the global mean and tropical mean ΔG. Holding relative humidity (RH) fixed in the radiative transfer calculations captures the temporal variability of global mean ΔG while variations in RH control the regional ΔG signal. The variations in RH are found to help generate the clear sky super greenhouse effect (SGE). Thirty‐six percent of Earth's area exhibits SGE, and this disproportionately contributes to 70% of the globally averaged magnitude of ΔG. In the global mean, G's sensitivity to surface temperature is 3.1–4.0 W m−2 K−1, and the clear sky longwave feedback parameter is 1.5–2.0 W m−2 K−1. Observations from CERES EBAF lie at the more sensitive ends of these ranges and the spread arises from its cloud removal treatment, suggesting that it is difficult to constrain clear sky feedbacks.
Cystic Fibrosis Diagnosis in Newborns, Children, and Adults
Authors: Castellani Carlo , Linnane Barry , Pranke Iwona , Cresta Federico , Sermet-Gaudelus Isabelle , Peckham Daniel 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF) has traditionally relied on the presence of clinical features of the disease. Today, diagnosis through newborn screening (NBS) is becoming the standard of modern CF care. CF NBS programs can identify CF prior to clinical presentation, but for the advantages of an early diagnosis to accrue a scrupulous system must be in place to ensure all steps in the program are performing. As we move rapidly into the era of CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein modulators, the opportunity to start a presymptomatic infant, identified through CF NBS, on these agents offers the prospect of true disease-modifying interventions which could result in a paradigm shift in CF care.Conversely, the introduction of NBS has resulted in many children being asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. Some screened newborns are classified as “CF Screening Positive, Inconclusive Diagnosis”, or “CFTR-related metabolic syndrome” when the diagnosis can neither be confirmed nor excluded. Appropriate assessment and follow-up should be arranged at specialist centers as a proportion of these infants and adults will eventually be diagnosed with CF.Symptoms and signs are particularly pertinent when considering a diagnosis of CF outside the context of NBS. In older patients with a late diagnosis, the spectrum of clinical presentation can be very variable with vigilant clinicians from multiple specialties suspecting the diagnosis in conditions such as recurrent pulmonary infections, male infertility, pancreatitis, nasal polyposis, and malabsorption.In addition to clinical symptoms or positive NBS results, sweat test and genetic analysis are cornerstones in the diagnosis of CF, but in some cases the diagnosis cannot be confirmed on genetic or sweat testing. Difficult diagnosis may be supported by in vivo or ex vivo electrophysiology measurements on respiratory or intestinal epithelia. This can be done by either measuring transepithelial nasal potential difference or intestinal current measurements.