bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determination of climatic conditions related to precipitation anomalies in the Tropical Andes by means of the random forest algorithm and novel climate indices
Authors: Córdova Mario , Orellana‐Alvear Johanna , Rollenbeck Rütger , Célleri Rolando 
Published: December 2021

AbstractUnderstanding precipitation and its relation with atmospheric and oceanic conditions is vital in the face of climate change. This is crucial in the Tropical Andes (TA) because millions of people depend on water originated in the cordillera. Unfortunately, the paucity of meteorological monitoring that exists in mountainous regions is accentuated in the tropics. In this context, climate indices, remotely sensed, and gridded datasets, are useful tools to study climate and precipitation in the TA, and additional climate indices can be calculated from reanalysis datasets. The combination of this information with traditional indices has the potential to improve our understanding of precipitation. Our objective was to use the k‐means algorithm to regionalize precipitation in the TA (different regions have different climate), and then use the random forest algorithm to study the variables related to precipitation in each of these regions in seasonal timescales. Here, we show the suitability of the random forest algorithm to reveal climate processes and the high potential of the novel climate indices to improve the regressions. We found that convective available potential energy was the most important variable for precipitation in the northern TA, except for the Chocó, where v at 850 hPa was the most important one. Meanwhile, vertical integral of divergence of moisture flux was the most important one in the southern TA. Interestingly, in the DJF season when the South American low‐level jet (SALLJ) is more active, u and v at 850 hPa showed their lowest relative importance and the total column of water vapour showed its maximum, this could indicate that precipitation anomalies are controlled by atmospheric moisture availability rather than by the speed of the SALLJ during DJF. These results deepen our understanding of precipitation anomalies in the TA and the related oceanic and atmospheric conditions. The proposed methodology was proven to be suitable and it could be used in the future to test and formulate new hypotheses, and to forecast seasonal precipitation.
Comprehensive characterization and identification of chemical constituents in Yangwei decoction using ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Fan Shuaishuai , Li Baolin , Tian Yurou , Feng Wei , Niu Liying 
Published: December 2021

AbstractYangwei decoction, a classical traditional Chinese medicine prescription, has been widely used to treat exogenous cold and internal injury with damp stagnation for many centuries. However, its systematic chemical profiling remains ambiguous, which has hampered the interpretation of pharmacology and the mechanism of its formula. In the present study, ultra‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry method was successfully established for the first time to separate and identify the complicated components of Yangwei decoction. The accurate mass data of the protonated molecules, deprotonated molecules, and fragment ions were detected in positive and negative ion modes. A total of 226 compounds in Yangwei decoction were tentatively identified and unambiguously characterized by comparing their retention times and mass spectrometry data with those of reference standards and literature, including 24 lignans, 18 alkaloids, 9 phenylpropanoid glycosides, 76 flavonoids, 59 triterpenoids, 17 organic acids, 7 gingerols, 8 lactones, and 8 other compounds. The present study provides a novel method of constituents characterization for well‐known Chinese medicine prescriptions. The study aims to lay a robust foundation for future research, providing the holistic quality control and pharmacology of Yangwei decoction.
Evaluation of the Relationship Between Carotid Intima Media Thickness and Dietary Compliance in Pediatric Celiac Patients: A Single‐Center Pilot Study
Authors: Oktay Cemil , Yavuz Sibel 
Published: December 2021

ObjectivesThis study aimed to show the relationship between gluten‐free diet (GFD) compliance in Celiac Disease (CD) and early atherosclerotic findings in pediatric patients and to test the effectiveness of carotid‐intima‐media‐thickness (cIMT) to possibly predict long‐term compliance to the GFD.MethodsPatients from 6 to 18 years of age with a diagnosis of CD confirmed by endoscopic duodenal biopsy who were followed at our hospital's pediatric gastroenterology outpatient clinic between November 2020 and May 2021 were evaluated in this single‐center, prospective study. The study patients were divided into two groups according to GFD compliance. Serologic and biochemical tests were conducted routinely during the follow‐up period. cIMT was measured using ultrasound for both groups.ResultsA total of 80 patients (GFD‐non‐compliant: n = 35, GFD‐compliant: n = 45) were evaluated. No significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of demographic data and pathology results. The mean cIMT value was 0.44 ± 0.028 mm for the GFD‐compliant group and 0.54 ± 0.036 mm for the GFD‐non‐compliant group, with a statistically significant between‐group difference (P < .001). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.992 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.978–1, P < .001) for discrimination of the groups. In addition, a cutoff value of 0.486 mm for cIMT showed 96% (95% CI: 0.83–0.99) sensitivity and 94% (95% CI: 0.79–0.99) specificity for distinguishing GFD‐compliant patients from non‐GFD‐compliant patients.ConclusionIn this study, the relationship between long‐term GFD compliance and cIMT was demonstrated in CD. Currently used by some authors for the assessment of preclinical atherosclerosis, cIMT can also be used as a long‐term indicator of dietary compliance as well as cardiovascular risk.
Demographic response of brown treesnakes to extended population suppression
Authors: Nafus Melia G. , Siers Shane R. , Levine Brenna A. , Quiogue Zachary C. , Yackel Adams Amy A. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractFrom a management perspective, reptiles are relatively novel invasive taxa. Few methods for reptile control have been developed and very little is known about their effectiveness for reducing reptile populations, particularly when the goal is eradication. Many reptiles, and especially snakes, are cryptic, secretive, and undergo extended periods of inactivity, traits that decrease detection probabilities and create challenges in estimating population size or evaluating management effects. The brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) is a notorious invasive species that continues to cause major ecological and economic harm following their introduction to the island of Guam after World War II. They have been the subject of intensive research on the effectiveness of various techniques to control snakes, including the first ever aerial system for the distribution of toxic acetaminophen baits for reptile control. We provide a cohort‐based life table for a cryptic and invasive reptile undergoing extended population control using toxic baits from March 2017–2020. We also evaluated the effects of single (toxic bait) versus multi‐tool (toxic bait and live trapping) management efforts on population trajectories, and estimated which population vital rates are most important for influencing population growth or decline in a treated landscape. Treatment of the population with acetaminophen‐laced baits resulted in an immediate reduction followed by a gradual population decline that suggested that eradication was the probable outcome given sufficient treatment time but that the period of treatment was decades in magnitude. Inclusion of live trapping reduced the predicted time required to achieve eradication by more than half. Preventing the transition of 1,000‐mm snout‐vent length (SVL) females to larger sizes was predicted to have the greatest effect on population reduction based on integral projection modeling. Our results suggest that toxic baits are capable of eradicating brown treesnakes in an enclosure, although inclusion of trapping reduced overall treatment time required. Tools that effectively target females >1,000 mm SVL may have the greatest effect on reducing overall treatment timelines.
Linking woodland caribou abundance to forestry disturbance in southern British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Lochhead Kyle D. , Kleynhans Elizabeth J. , Muhly Tyler B. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe decline of many woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) populations is thought to be linked with habitat disturbances resulting from industrial development, including timber harvesting and its network of haul roads. Defining a disturbance‐abundance relationship offers a tool to assess and potentially manage for the influence of disturbance on caribou abundance. Defining this relationship is challenged by limited historical land use and abundance data, the choice of a disturbance measure, and variability in the relationship between subpopulations and across core versus matrix habitat. For 12 subpopulations of woodland caribou within the southern mountain population, we linked longitudinal caribou abundance data with historical forestry disturbances simulated from forest harvest data. We compared disturbance measures estimating the proportion of forested area commercially harvested with even‐aged, regeneration treatments (cutblocks) and converted to roads for transporting timber within subpopulation‐specific core and matrix habitats as predictors of caribou abundance. Non‐linear mixed models provided evidence that disturbances in matrix habitats negatively influenced caribou abundance, with the effects in core habitat being variable between subpopulations. Of the disturbance types evaluated, the best predictors included roads buffered by 50 m (R50), cutblocks ≤80 years old, and the cumulation of cutblocks ≤80 years old plus roads buffered by 50 m. The top‐ranked model was composed of R50 present in core and in matrix habitats. This model predicted a 42% (95% CI = 33–51%) reduction in caribou abundance for every 1% increase in matrix R50 (holding core R50 constant). Given the lack of pre‐forestry abundance data, we failed to directly derive critical disturbance thresholds; however, our models could be used to estimate subpopulation‐specific habitat‐disturbance thresholds necessary to achieve abundance targets. We recommend that in addition to existing protections of core habitat, few if any new roads should be built in core habitat, and that timber harvest in matrix habitat should be designed to minimize the establishment of associated roads.
Fractional laser‐assisted administration of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells to reduce hypertrophic scars in rabbit ears
Authors: Zhang Hongpeng , Wang Hao , Jiang Cuibao , Wang Hongwei , Xia Yong , Shen Danpeng , Xie Fan , Qi Nianmin , Lv Kaiyang 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe formation of hypertrophic scar is due to the abnormal accumulation and remodeling of the extracellular matrix, especially collagen tissue. Our research was designed to investigate the treatment effect of different administrations of human umbilical cord‐derived stem cells and to hypertrophic scars on rabbit ears.MethodsThirty New Zealand female white rabbits were treated as hypertrophic scar models. PBS was injected into the scars on the right ear of each group as control, while human umbilical cord‐derived stem cells or condition medium of human umbilical cord‐derived stem cells were administrated into the left ear through subcutaneous injection or fractional laser‐assisted administration. Gross examination, scar elevation index (SEI) calculation and sampling were executed 5 weeks after administration. Then H&E and Masson staining analysis and the expression levels detections of α‐SMA, Collagen I, TGF‐β1, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 were performed.ResultsOur results demonstrated that the severity of hyperplasia was lower than the model group after stem cells and conditioned medium treatment. H&E and Masson staining results showed that the inflammation in scars was greatly alleviated and the degree of fibrosis was reduced after treatment. There was no significant difference in the therapeutic effect between subcutaneous injection or fractional laser‐assisted administration. Both stem cells and conditioned medium can down‐regulate SEI and factors expression levels in all groups. However, compared with the stem cells, the therapeutic effects of the conditioned medium were lower.ConclusionsThe results confirmed that stem cells had an available treatment effect on hypertrophic scars of rabbit ears. In addition to the paracrine pathway, stem cells may have other ways to treat hypertrophic scars. Fractional laser‐assisted administration may become a potential administration of stem cell clinical application in the future.
Enhanced Bone Regeneration Using a ZIF‐8‐Loaded Fibrin Composite Scaffold
Authors: Shi Wentao , Bian Lu , Wu Yiqing , Wang Zhe , Dai Yao , Zhou Yanjun , Meng Pengfei , Wang Qing , Zhang Zhijian , Zhao Xijiang , Zhao Peng , Lu Xiaojie 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIn the present study, fibrin‐based biomaterials made of zeolite imidazole framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) and fibrin gel (Z‐FG) are fabricated with the aim of enhancing skull regeneration. X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultraviolet (UV)–vis spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and rheometry are used to characterize ZIF‐8 and Z‐FG. The influences of ZIF‐8 on the physical properties of fibrin gel (e.g., porosity, modulus, and in vitro biodegradation) are investigated, and the effect of ZIF‐8 concentration on fibrin gel properties in vitro is determined by seeding ectomesenchymal stem cells (EMSCs) over Z‐FG. EMSC osteogenic differentiation reveals higher expression of bone‐related proteins and higher calcium deposition and alkaline phosphatase activity, indicating that Z‐FG may be a good osteoinductive biomaterial. Furthermore, these results show that the piezochannel and yes‐associated protein (YAP) signaling pathway are involved in the differentiation process. In addition, the in vivo results demonstrate that Z‐FG increases bone formation in critical‐sized calvarial defects in rats. Thus, the developed composite scaffold may be a suitable biomaterial for skull tissue‐engineering applications.
Motivations of playing digital games: A review and research agenda
Authors: Cheah Isaac , Shimul Anwar Sadat , Phau Ian 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe global digital gaming industry has grown rapidly in recent years. Rapid technological advancements are changing the ways in which players can interact with video games as individuals and collectives. In addition to the increased penetration of games, the reasons for which people play and employ games need careful attention. In this paper, we have systematically reviewed the peer‐reviewed journal articles (n = 91) relevant to the gamers’ motivations of playing digital games. In addition to analysing the publication trends, we have identified and discussed a set of six key motivational themes (immersion and flow, gratification and affect, escapism, social interaction, identification, and goal orientation). Subsequently, we call for further research on theoretical and methodological advancement as well as individual/social wellbeing and dark sides of digital gaming in relation to players’ motivation.
Metabolic response to radiation therapy in cancer
Authors: Read Graham H. , Bailleul Justine , Vlashi Erina , Kesarwala Aparna H. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractTumor metabolism has emerged as a hallmark of cancer and is involved in carcinogenesis and tumor growth. Reprogramming of tumor metabolism is necessary for cancer cells to sustain high proliferation rates and enhanced demands for nutrients. Recent studies suggest that metabolic plasticity in cancer cells can decrease the efficacy of anticancer therapies by enhancing antioxidant defenses and DNA repair mechanisms. Studying radiation‐induced metabolic changes will lead to a better understanding of radiation response mechanisms as well as the identification of new therapeutic targets, but there are few robust studies characterizing the metabolic changes induced by radiation therapy in cancer. In this review, we will highlight studies that provide information on the metabolic changes induced by radiation and oxidative stress in cancer cells and the associated underlying mechanisms.
Cystectomy and ileal conduit for neurogenic bladder: Comparison of the open, laparoscopic and robotic approaches
Authors: Haudebert Camille , Hascoet Juliette , Freton Lucas , Khene Zine‐eddine , Dosin Gilles , Voiry Caroline , Samson Emmanuelle , Richard Claire , Neau Anne‐Cécile , Drouet Anais , Mathieu Romain , Bensalah Karim , Verhoest Grégory , Manunta Andréa , Peyronnet Benoit 
Published: December 2021

AbstractAimThe objective of the present study was to compare the outcomes of open versus laparoscopic versus robotic cystectomy and ileal conduit for neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD).MethodsThe charts of all patients who underwent cystectomy and ileal conduit for NLUTD between January 2004 and November 2020 in an academic center were retrospectively reviewed. The approach was either open, laparoscopic or robot‐assisted depending on the period (i.e., three consecutive era). For the robotic approach, the diversion was done either intracorporeally or extracorporeally. We compared the perioperative and late postoperative outcomes between the three groups.ResultsAfter exclusion of 10 patients with non‐neurogenic benign conditions, 126 patients were included over the study period. The most frequent neurological conditions were multiple sclerosis (36.5%) and spinal cord injury (25.4%). The approach was open, laparoscopic or robot‐assisted in 31 (24.6%), 26 (20.6%) and 69 (54.7%) cases respectively. Seventy‐two patients experienced a 90‐day postoperative complication (57.1%) of which 22 had a major complication (Clavien 3 or higher, 17.5%) including one death (0.8%). The rate of major postoperative complications was significantly lower in the robotic group (23% vs. 23% vs. 10%; p = 0.049) while the rate of overall complications was comparable across the three groups (58.1% vs. 53.9% vs. 60.6%; p = 0.84). After a median follow‐up of 23 months, 22 patients presented a late complication (17.6%), mainly incisional hernia (5; 4%) and uretero‐ileal stricture (9; 7.2%). The rate of late complications did not differ significantly between the three approaches.ConclusionCystectomy and ileal conduit for neurogenic bladder is associated with a relatively high perioperative morbidity. The robot‐assisted approach may decrease the risk of major postoperative complications.
Performance and safety assessment of an integrated transmit array for body imaging at 7 T under consideration of specific absorption rate, tissue temperature, and thermal dose
Authors: Fiedler Thomas M. , Orzada Stephan , Flöser Martina , Rietsch Stefan H. G. , Schmidt Simon , Stelter Jonathan K. , Wittrich Marco , Quick Harald H. , Bitz Andreas K. , Ladd Mark E. 
Published: December 2021

In this study, the performance of an integrated body‐imaging array for 7 T with 32 radiofrequency (RF) channels under consideration of local specific absorption rate (SAR), tissue temperature, and thermal dose limits was evaluated and the imaging performance was compared with a clinical 3 T body coil.Thirty‐two transmit elements were placed in three rings between the bore liner and RF shield of the gradient coil. Slice‐selective RF pulse optimizations for B1 shimming and spokes were performed for differently oriented slices in the body under consideration of realistic constraints for power and local SAR. To improve the B1+ homogeneity, safety assessments based on temperature and thermal dose were performed to possibly allow for higher input power for the pulse optimization than permissible with SAR limits.The results showed that using two spokes, the 7 T array outperformed the 3 T birdcage in all the considered regions of interest. However, a significantly higher SAR or lower duty cycle at 7 T is necessary in some cases to achieve similar B1+ homogeneity as at 3 T. The homogeneity in up to 50 cm‐long coronal slices can particularly benefit from the high RF shim performance provided by the 32 RF channels. The thermal dose approach increases the allowable input power and the corresponding local SAR, in one example up to 100 W/kg, without limiting the exposure time necessary for an MR examination.In conclusion, the integrated antenna array at 7 T enables a clinical workflow for body imaging and comparable imaging performance to a conventional 3 T clinical body coil.
Optimizing GPR time‐zero adjustment and two‐way travel time wavelet measurements using a realistic three‐dimensional numerical model
Authors: Zadhoush Hossain , Giannopoulos Antonios 
Published: December 2021

ABSTRACTTime‐zero adjustment or the true ground surface for ground penetrating radar (GPR) applications is a very important aspect and an essential factor in order to position subsurface targets, especially those located at shallow depths, at their true position in depth. As the transmitted and received signals from GPR antennas are affected by the presence of different materials with varying electromagnetic properties, adjusting the time zero appropriately is important, but often not straightforward to position accurately. This paper uses a realistic three‐dimensional numerical model of a GPR transducer in order to examine where is the best location for time zero on a GPR trace. It is shown that, in order to establish a robust and consistent time‐zero position, careful consideration is also needed around how the two‐way travel time of the reflected GPR wavelet is estimated. Starting with a simple homogeneous model with a set of different targets, a better process of time‐zero adjustment and time picking of the GPR wavelets is put forward, that is verified using further more complex and realistic heterogeneous models. Further verification is obtained by using experimental data.