bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preliminary evaluation of selected inflammatory cytokine gene expression in lymphocytes isolated from whole human blood infected with trans-anethole-treated Staphylococcus aureus Newman strain
Authors: Kwiatkowski P. , Kurzawski M. , Łopusiewicz Ł. , Pruss A. , Sienkiewicz M. , Wojciechowska-Koszko I. , Dołęgowska B. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
In our previous study based on a whole-blood model of sepsis infected with trans-anethole (TA)-treated Staphylococcus aureus, we have found that innate immune response was more effective in comparison to non-treated cells. Due to the previous observation, in the current preliminary study, a primary adaptive immune response was analysed. This study was conducted to evaluate the expression of selected cytokine (IL1B, IL2, IL6, IL10, TNF, TGFB1, IFNG) and Toll-like receptor (TLR2) genes in lymphocytes isolated from whole human blood infected with S. aureus Newman strain treated with TA. The lymphocytes were isolated by density gradient centrifugation from blood samples infected with S. aureus, as well as from non-infected samples. Gene expression was measured using quantitative real-time PCR. The lymphocytes isolated from the blood infected with TA-treated staphylococcal cells demonstrated significantly greater IL10, IL1B, IL6, TNF and TLR2 expression. Hence, it is possible that the previously observed changes in the surface structure of TA-treated S. aureus Newman strain may significantly increase the relative expression of IL10, IL1B, IL6, TNF and TLR2 genes in lymphocytes; however, further studies are needed.
Iran's Africa‐Pivot Policy
Authors: Keynoush Banafsheh 
Published: December 2021

AbstractAfrica is a pivotal continent for Iran, as the Islamic Republic aims to expand its influence in wider global vistas. Iran experiences frequent setbacks in developing its Africa policy, but the continent continues to offer ample opportunities to support Tehran. This is partly because revolutionary Iran's Africa policy evolves through a wide array of piecemeal political, security, maritime, economic, and cultural activities. A host of Iranian organizations implement Iran's Africa policy, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, the Quds Force, the naval forces, inter‐parliamentary groups, friendship associations, and local chambers of commerce, as well as charities, religious seminaries, and universities. This article explores Iran's policies and their impact across the African continent. It also shows how Iran's activities evolve as the country seizes opportunities to expand bilateral and regional ties with African countries while retracting its involvement when it is unable to ensure strong bonds. The ebb and flow in Iranian Africa policy challenges but continually offers Tehran a chance to explore its foreign relations across the continent; as a result, Africa will play a vital role in sustaining Iran's international contacts, ability to circumvent sanctions, and capacity to withstand pressures from rival powers. The undeniable spread of Islam across Africa means that Iran will make efforts to win followers and propagate its brand of religion and revolutionary worldview as part of measures to build strategic depth across the continent.
Comparison of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion with Cervical Laminectomy and Fusion in the Treatment of 4‐Level Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy
Authors: Wang Xian‐zheng , Liu Huanan , Li Jia‐qi , Sun Yapeng , Zhang Fei , Guo Lei , Zhang Peng , Dou Chen‐hao , Zhang Wei 
Published: December 2021

ObjectiveTo assess and compare the therapeutic effects of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) and Cervical Laminectomy and Fusion (CLF) in the treatment of 4‐level cervical.MethodsWe performed a retrospective review on 39 patients with 4‐level CSM who underwent ACDF or CLF in the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2010 to December 2018. The patients were divided into ACDF group and CLF group according to the treatment. The operative index was evaluated based on intraoperative blood loss and operation time. The functional outcomes including Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score and visual analogue scale (VAS) of axial pain were compared. The Cobb angle, Cobb angle improvement rate, range of motion (ROM) and ROM loss ratio were measured for radiographic evaluation.ResultsNo major complications or deaths occurred. The average age at baseline was 55 years. There was no significant difference between the ACDF and CLF group in follow‐up time (26.29 months, 25.39 months, P > 0.05). The intraoperative blood loss was higher in the CLF group than in the ACDF group (692.67 ± 38.68 vs 392.14 ± 128.06, P < 0.05). The operation time was longer in the CLF group than in the ACDF group (206.60 ± 49.37 vs 172.64 ± 31.96, P < 0.05). Significant improvements in the VAS and JOA scores were observed in both groups (P < 0.05). No significant difference in VAS was found between the ACDF and CLF groups (P < 0.05). There was a significantly larger improvement rate of JOA score in the ACDF group than in the CLF group (60.9% ± 9.57% vs 31.5% ± 15.70%, P < 0.05). There were two (9.6%) cases with complications In the ACDF group, including one (4.8%) case of dysphagia and one (4.8%) case of pharyngodynia. In the CLF group, two patients (11.1%) developed C5 palsy. No significant difference in the incidence of complications, ROM loss ratio and Cobb angle improvement rate was found between group ACDF and group CLF (all P < 0.05).ConclusionBoth ACDF and CLF were effective in the treatment of multi‐level cervical spondylosis and ACDF is more suitable for patients with 4‐level CSM.
Introspection of Emotions
Authors: De Vlieger Bertille , Giustina Anna 
Published: December 2021

AbstractWe argue that knowledge of emotions essentially depends on introspecting the phenomenology of emotional experiences and that introspection of emotional experiences is a process by stages, where the most fundamental stage is a non‐classificatory introspective state. We call such a non‐classificatory kind of introspectionprimitive introspection. We aim to show that, although not sufficient, primitive introspection is a necessary ground to acquire knowledge of emotions. Our main argument is phenomenological: by examining a variety of examples, we suggest that an accurate analysis of the introspective process through which one comes to know, or refines one's knowledge of, one's current emotion requires that one primitively introspects it.
Asymptotic theory for the inference of the latent trawl model for extreme values
Authors: Courgeau Valentin , Veraart Almut E.D. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThis article develops statistical inference methods and their asymptotic theory for the latent trawl model for extremes, which captures serial dependence in the time series of exceedances above a threshold. We review two methods based on pairwise likelihood and show that they underestimate the serial dependence in the extremes. We propose two generalized method of moments procedures based on auto‐covariance matching to overcome this shortcoming. Out of those four inference approaches, two are single‐stage strategies while the others have two stages, and we provide central limit theorems in the sense of weakly approaching sequences of distributions for all of them. This additional flexibility ensures good behavior between the estimators and estimates of the limiting distribution. In an empirical illustration using London air pollution data, we find that the two‐stage auto‐covariance matching scheme yields a high‐quality inference. It comprises two interpretable steps and correctly captures the serial dependence structure of extremes while performing on par with other methods in terms of marginal fit.
Iron content of drinking water is associated with anaemia status among children in high groundwater iron areas in Bangladesh
Authors: Choudhury Nuzhat , Siddiqua Towfida Jahan , Ahmed S. M. Tanvir , Haque Md. Ahshanul , Ali Mohammad , Dil Farzana Fahmida , Naz Farina , Rahman Sheikh Shahed , Faruque A. S. G. , Rahman Sabuktagin , Ahmed Tahmeed 
Published: December 2021

AbstractObjectiveIron in groundwater provides a good source of absorbable iron for humans and can contribute to optimal iron and haemoglobin (Hb) status among populations. We aimed to examine the relationship between the iron content of groundwater and anaemia status among 12‐ to 23‐month‐old children in a rural area of Bangladesh.MethodA cross‐sectional study was conducted in 80 randomly selected unions (the lowest administrative unit) in Sylhet and Moulvibazar districts of Bangladesh. A total of 800 children aged 12–23 months were selected via a systematic random sampling method. The child's age, sex, stunting status, consumption of iron‐rich or iron‐fortified food, maternal age and maternal body mass index (BMI) and the type of terrain were subjected to multiple logistic regression analysis to observe the independent relationships between groundwater iron content and anaemia in children.ResultsIn total, 50.4% of children were anaemic. The odds of children being anaemic were 1.51‐fold higher [OR: 1.51 (95% CI: 1.09, 2.09)] among households consuming water with an iron content <2 mg/L than in households consuming water with an iron content ≥2 mg/L. Childhood stunting, child's sex, child's age and the type of terrain were also significantly associated with anaemia among children.ConclusionGroundwater with a high iron concentration was significantly associated with a decreased risk of childhood anaemia. This study provides evidence of the importance of groundwater iron to protect impoverished young children from anaemia.
Epidemiological burden of Chikungunya fever in Brazil, 2016 and 2017
Authors: Vidal Emily Raquel Nunes , Frutuoso Livia Carla Vinhal , Duarte Elisabeth Carmen , Peixoto Henry Maia 
Published: December 2021

AbstractObjectivesTo describe Chikungunya fever (CHIKF) cases and estimate the burden of the disease in Brazil between 2016 and 2017.MethodsThe first stage of this study consisted of a descriptive epidemiological study with estimations of incidence, mortality and case‐fatality rates for each Brazilian state. The second stage provided estimates of the disease burden using DALY, an indicator that aggregates measures of morbidity (years lived with disability – YLD) and mortality (years of life lost – YLL) into a single value.ResultsIn Brazil, the incidence rate in 2016 was 114.70 per 100,000 inhabitants, while the mortality rate was 0.15 per 100,000, for a case‐fatality rate of 0.13%. In 2017, these figures were 87.59 and 0.12 per 100,000 inhabitants and 0.14%, respectively. The estimated CHIKF burden for Brazil in 2016 was 77,422.61 DALY or 0.3757 per 1000 inhabitants. In 2016, the YLL share of DALY was 10.04%, with YLD accounting for the remaining 89.96%. In 2017, the estimated burden was 59,307.59 DALY or 0.2856 per 1000 inhabitants, with YLL accounting for 9.65% of the total and YLD for 90.35%.ConclusionCHIKF causes a significant disease burden in Brazil. The chronic phase of CHIKF is responsible for the largest portion of DALY. Deaths from CHIKF are a significant component of the disease burden, with YLL accounting for approximately 10% of the total DALY value.
Stratifying and predicting patterns of neighbourhood change and gentrification: An urban analytics approach
Authors: Yee Joshua , Dennett Adam 
Published: December 2021

AbstractWhile recent debates have widely acknowledged gentrification's varied manifestations, success in enumerating and disentangling the process and its defining features from other forms of neighbourhood change at‐scale and across entire cities, has remained largely elusive. This paper addresses this gap and employs a novel, open and reproducible urban analytics approach to systematically examine the past and future trajectories of neighbourhood change using London, England, as a case‐study example. Using suites of datasets relating to population, house prices, and built environment development, the nature of gentrification's mutations and its spatial patterns are extracted through a multi‐stage data dimensionality reduction and classification methodology. Machine learning is subsequently adopted to model gentrification's observed trends and predict its future frontiers with interactive visualisation methods offering new insights into gentrification's projected dynamics and geographies.
Effect of topical florfenicol, terbinafine and mometasone furoate ear drops on adrenocortical function in healthy small breed dogs with bilateral otitis externa
Authors: Hoppers Sarrah , Drake Elizabeth , Frank Linda A. , Sun Xiaocun 
Published: December 2021

BackgroundTesting for hyperadrenocorticism is commonly pursued in adult dogs with dermatological disease, and adrenocortical suppression has been well‐documented following the use of topical corticosteroids in otic preparations. An otic suspension that contains florfenicol, terbinafine and mometasone furoate, and lasts for 30 days after a single application, frequently is used to treat canine otitis externa (OE). This medication was shown to cause adrenocortical suppression on Day (D)2 postadministration and two weeks after two applications two weeks apart.Hypothesis/objectivesThe objective of this study was to determine if topical florfenicol/terbinafine/mometasone furoate causes adrenocortical suppression in healthy, small‐breed dogs with bilateral OE at D28 postapplication.AnimalSeven client‐owned dogs weighing <10 kg diagnosed with non‐Pseudomonasbilateral OE.Materials and methodsCortisol was measured pre‐ and post‐adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) stimulation on D0. Topical florfenicol/terbinafine/mometasone furoate was applied in both ears. Dogs were reassessed on D28, and cortisol was measured pre‐ and post‐ACTH stimulation.ResultsThe median pre‐ and post‐ACTH cortisol concentrations on D28 were 2.5 µg/dL (range 2.0–5.0 µg/dL) and 14.3 µg/dL (range 11.5–23.1 µg/dL), respectively. There was no significant difference (P = 0.85) between post‐ACTH cortisol concentrations from D0 to D28.Conclusions and clinical relevanceResults demonstrated no evidence of adrenocortical suppression, suggesting that there is no need to delay adrenocortical function testing in dogs treated with topical florfenicol/terbinafine/mometasone furoate when applied as per the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Kinematic Uncertainty Analysis of a Cable-Driven Parallel Robot Based on an Error Transfer Model
Authors: Gao Jun , Zhou Bin , Zi Bin , Qian Sen , Zhao Ping 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Cable-driven parallel robots (CDPRs) are a kind of mechanism with large workspace, fast response, and low inertia. However, due to the existence of various sources of error, it is unavoidable to bring uncertain cable lengths and lead to pose errors of the end-effector. The inverse kinematic model of a CDPR for picking up medicines is established by considering radii of fixed pulleys. The influence of radii of fixed pulleys on errors of cable lengths is explored. Error transfer model of the CDPR is constructed, and uncertain sources of cable lengths are analyzed. Based on evidence theory and error transfer model, an evidence theory-based uncertainty analysis method (ETUAM) is presented. The structural performance function for kinematic response is derived based on the error transfer model. Belief and plausibility measures of joint focal elements under the given threshold are obtained. Kinematic error simulations show that errors of cable lengths become larger with the increase of radii of fixed pulleys. Compared with the vertex method and Monte Carlo method, numerical examples demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the ETUAM when it comes to the kinematic uncertainty analysis of the CDPR.
Surface Heater Fabrication Using Micro-Lithography for Transpiration Cooling Heat Transfer Coefficient Measurements
Authors: Min Zheng , Parbat Sarwesh , Wang Qing-Ming , Chyu Minking K. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Transpiration cooling is able to provide more uniform coolant coverage than film cooling to effectively protect the component surface from contacting the hot gas. Due to numerous coolant ejection outlets within a small area at the target surface, the experimental thermo-fluid investigation on transpiration cooling becomes a significant challenge. Two classic methods to investigate film cooling, the steady-state foil heater method and the transient thermography technique, fail for transpiration cooling because the foil heater would block numerous coolant outlets, and the semi-infinite solid conduction model no longer holds for porous plates. In this study, a micro-lithography method to fabricate a silver coil pattern on top of the additively manufactured polymer porous media as the surface heater was proposed. The circuit was deliberately designed to cover the solid surface in a combination of series connection, and parallel connection to ensure the power in each unit cell area at the target surface was identical. With uniform heat flux generation, the steady-state tests were conducted to obtain distributions of a pair of parameters, adiabatic cooling effectiveness, and heat transfer coefficient (HTC). The results showed that the adiabatic cooling effectiveness could reach 0.65 with a blowing ratio lower than 0.5. Meanwhile, the heat transfer coefficient ratio (hf/h0) of transpiration cooling was close to 1 with a small blowing ratio at 0.125. A higher HTC ratio was observed for smaller pitch-to-diameter cases due to more turbulence intensity generated at the target surface.
Application of Various Machine Learning Techniques in Predicting Water Saturation in Tight Gas Sandstone Formation
Authors: Ibrahim Ahmed Farid , Elkatatny Salaheldin , Abdelraouf Yasmin , Al Ramadan Mustafa 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Water saturation (Sw) is a vital factor for the hydrocarbon in-place calculations. Sw is usually calculated using different equations; however, its values have been inconsistent with the experimental results due to often incorrectness of their underlying assumptions. Moreover, the main hindrance remains in these approaches due to their strong reliance on experimental analysis which are expensive and time-consuming. This study introduces the application of different machine learning (ML) methods to predict Sw from the conventional well logs. Function networks (FNs), support vector machine (SVM), and random forests (RFs) were implemented to calculate the Sw using gamma-ray log, neutron porosity log, and resistivity (Rt) log. A dataset of 782 points from two wells (well-1 and well-2) in tight gas sandstone formation was used to build and then validate the different ML models. The dataset from well-1 was applied for the ML models training and testing, then the unseen data from well-2 were used to validate the developed models. The results from FN, SVM, and RF models showed their capability of accurately predicting the Sw from the conventional well logging data. The correlation coefficient (R) values between actual and estimated Sw from the FN model were found to be 0.85 and 0.83 compared to 0.98 and 0.95 from the RF model in the case of training and testing sets, respectively. SVM model shows an R-value of 0.95 and 0.85 in the different datasets. The average absolute percentage error (AAPE) was less than 8% in the three ML models. The ML models outperform the empirical correlations that have AAPE greater than 19%. This study provides ML applications to accurately forecast the water saturation using the readily available conventional well logs without additional core analysis or well site interventions.
Intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor in diabetic macular oedema: scoping review of clinical practice guidelines recommendations
Authors: Vargas-Peirano Manuel , Verdejo Catalina , Vergara-Merino Laura , Loézar Cristóbal , Hoehmann Martin , Pérez-Bracchiglione Javier 
Published: December 2021

BackgroundDiabetic macular oedema (DME) is a worldwide major cause of low vision and blindness. Intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) constitutes an effective treatment. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are synthesis documents that seek to improve patient care.ObjectivesTo identify CPGs that make anti-VEGF recommendations for DME and to assess their reporting quality and their considerations when making recommendations.Eligibility criteriaCPGs published between December 2009 and December 2019 that make explicit anti-VEGF recommendations in DME.Sources of evidenceSensitive search strategy in Embase, Google Scholar and hand-searching on 165 websites.MethodsWe extracted information from each CPG with a previously piloted sheet. Two independent authors applied theAppraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation tool (AGREE-II) assessment for each CPG.ResultsThe 21 included CPGs recommend anti-VEGF for DME, but there is a wide variation among the clinical aspects included, such as location of DME, visual acuity required, therapeutical alternatives or discontinuation. Most have a poor quality of reporting based on the AGREE-II tool assessment, especially those developed by ophthalmological societies, those that have an exclusive content about DME, and those where most of their authors disclose conflict of interest (COI) with pharmaceutical industry or where their authors did not report COIs. Pharmaceutical-sponsored CPGs did not use systematic reviews (SRs) to support their recommendations. Very few recommendations consider patient values and preferences, equity, acceptability and feasibility of the intervention.ConclusionsMost of the CPGs that made recommendations of anti-VEGF for DME have poor quality of reporting, do not use SRs and do not consider patients’ values and preferences.
Comparative efficacy and safety of transurethral laser surgery with holmium laser, KTP laser, 2-micron laser or thulium laser for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder carcinoma: a protocol of network meta-analysis
Authors: Yu Jinfeng , Zheng Junbiao 
Published: December 2021

IntroductionThe potential of transurethral laser surgery in treating non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) has been confirmed, however which types of lasers may be preferentially prescribed remains a debate. The aim of this network meta-analysis is to investigate the comparative efficacy and safety of transurethral laser surgery with four common types of laser including holmium laser, potassium titanylphosphate (KTP) laser, 2-micron laser or thulium laser for the treatment of NMIBC.Methods and analysisA systematic search will be conducted to search all potentially eligible randomised controlled trials comparing different transurethral laser surgeries with each other or with standard transurethral resection among patients with NMIBC in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database and Chongqing VIP from their inception until 31 May 2021. Two reviewers will be asked to independently select eligible studies, and assess the risk of bias of individual study with Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. A random-effects network meta-analysis based on Markov chain Monte Carlo method will be carried out. Ranking probabilities will be considered to rank all laser types. Quantitative analysis will be carried out by using WinBUGS V.1.4.3.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required because this is a network meta-analysis of published data. We will submit all findings to some conferences for preliminary communication and to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.Trial registration number10.17605/OSF.IO/TD9MW.