bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of metal bioaccumulation in crop types and consumable parts between two growth periods
Authors: Awino Florence B. , Maher William , Lynch A. Jasmyn J. , Asanga Fai Patricia B. , Otim Ochan 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
A high proportion of populations in most developing countries live below the poverty line and those near refuse grounds resort to dumpsite farming to grow food. Consequently, high levels of waste-derived contaminants are found in crops consumed by these people. This study investigates the extent to which crops cultivated on the Mbale dumpsite (Uganda) were contaminated by 11 metals and 2 non-metals: iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), cadmium (Cd), selenium (Se), chromium (Cr), and arsenic (As). We investigated how element bioaccumulation in crops was influenced by the growth period (short- and long-term crop maturity). The short-term crops were Zea mays and Amaranthus cruentus, whereas the long-term crops were Manihot esculenta, Colocasia esculenta, Musa acuminata, Carica papaya, Coffea arabica, and Saccharum officinarum. Results showed that nine metals were present at concentrations above World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization (WHO/FAO) food safety recommendations and hence may pose health risks to consumers. In this study, leaves contained higher metal concentrations than other analyzed consumable parts. Pb and Co were found at higher concentrations in leaves of short-term crops than in long-term crops. Among short-term crops, only Z. mays seeds contained permissible metal concentrations by WHO/FAO standards. The growth period was also found to influence metal bioaccumulation in crop types. Pb, Co, Fe, Al, and Cu concentrations were significantly higher in the short-term crops than in long-term crops, while Mn, Ni, and Cr concentrations were higher in long-term crops than in short-term crops. Overall, public awareness about the health risks associated with consuming short-term leafy crops grown on dumpsites should be improved to reduce toxic metal exposure. While implementing such a campaign, the food supply of individuals whose survival depends on such crops should not be jeopardized. Therefore, farmers need alternative farming areas outside dumpsites. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:1056–1071. © 2021 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
KEY POINTS
Short-term crops that mature in ≤6-month period contained higher metal concentrations for most metals. Higher Pb, Co, Fe, Cu and Al concentrations were exhibited by short-term crops, while Mn, Ni and Cr concentrations were higher in long-term crops. Leaves from both short-term and long-term crops accumulated higher metal concentrations than other crop parts analyzed in this study. Crops from Mbale dumpsite contain Hg, Pb, Ni, Cr, Mn, Al, Zn, Fe and Cu concentrations above WHO and FAO food safety limits, which may pose health risks to Mbale consumers.
The impact of refinery and oil demand shocks on the motor fuel market in Sweden
Authors: Karimu Amin , Salia Samuel , Hussain Javed J. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThis paper examines the link between the oil market and the motor fuel market in Sweden by developing a joint oil and motor fuel market in a structural VAR model. We explore the dynamic relationship between the oil market and motor fuel market (both gasoline and diesel) by focusing on the effects of oil demand and refinery shocks on motor fuel price and consumption. The results reveal opposite responses of gasoline and diesel consumption to positive oil demand shocks. Moreover, motor fuel price response to both oil demand and refinery shocks is greater than that of motor fuel consumption. We also assess the immediate and long‐run contributions of each of the shocks to the total variation of motor fuel price and consumption in the Swedish motor fuel market.
Three local actions in 6‐valent arc‐transitive graphs
Authors: Hujdurović Ademir , Potočnik Primož , Verret Gabriel 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIt is known that there are precisely three transitive permutation groups of degree 6 that admit an invariant partition with three parts of size 2 such that the kernel of the action on the parts has order 4; these groups are called , and . For each , we construct an infinite family of finite connected 6‐valent graphs and arc‐transitive groups such that the permutation group induced by the action of the vertex‐stabiliser on the neighbourhood of a vertex is permutation isomorphic to , and such that is exponential in . These three groups were the only transitive permutation groups of degree at most 7 for which the existence of such a family was undecided. In the process, we construct an infinite family of cubic 2‐arc‐transitive graphs such that the dimension of the 1‐eigenspace over the field of order 2 of the adjacency matrix of the graph grows linearly with the order of the graph.
Role of platelet‐to‐lymphocyte count ratio (PLR), as a prognostic indicator in COVID‐19: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Sarkar Soumya , Kannan Sundara , Khanna Puneet , Singh Akhil Kant 
Published: August 2021

AbstractPrognostic predictors are of paramount interest for prompt intervention and optimal utilization of the healthcare system in the ongoing context of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The platelet‐to‐lymphocyte count ratio (PLR), has emerged as a potential tool for risk stratification of critically ill patients with sepsis. The current systematic review explores the utility of PLR as a prognostic predictor of COVID‐19 patients. We screened the electronic databases until May 15, 2021 after enrolling in PROSPERO (CRD42021220269). Studies evaluating the association between PLR on admission and outcomes in terms of mortality and severity among COVID‐19 patients were included. We retrieved 32 studies, with a total of 2768 and 3262 COVID‐19 patients for mortality and disease severity outcomes. Deceased and critically ill patients had higher PLR levels on admission in comparison to survivors and non‐severe patients (mean differences [MD] = 66.10; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 47.75–84.44; p < 0.00001 and MD = 86.74; 95% CI: 67.7–105.7; p < 0.00001, respectively). A higher level of PLR on admission in COVID‐19 patients is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. However, the evidence is of low quality and further studies regarding the cut‐off value of PLR are the need of the hour.
The complex relationship between diet, symptoms, and intestinal inflammation in persons with inflammatory bowel disease: The Manitoba Living With IBD Study
Authors: Dolovich Casandra , Shafer Leigh Anne , Vagianos Kathy , Witges Kelcie , Targownik Laura E. , Bernstein Charles N. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundWe aimed to examine whether an association exists between diet quality, based on the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Healthy Diet Score (HDS), and active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).MethodsParticipants were drawn from the Manitoba Living With IBD Study cohort. The Harvard Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to calculate the HDS at two time points: baseline and 1‐year follow‐up. Using generalized estimating equations (GEE) logistic regression, we assessed the association between the HDS and (1) the IBD Symptom Inventory (IBDSI); (2) intestinal inflammation, measured by fecal calprotectin (FCAL); and (3) self‐reported IBD flares.ResultsThere were 294 completed FFQs among 153 people. Of these, 100% had completed data about an IBD flare, 98% had FCAL measurements, and 96% had completed IBDSI scores. On a HDS scoring method of 0–8, the odds of FCAL >250 mcg/g were lower for participants with a HDS of 4 vs 0–3 (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.38; 95% CI, 0.19–0.77). When applying a second HDS scoring method (8–40), the odds of having an IBD flare were 3.6 times greater with a HDS between 21 and 24 compared with an HDS ≤20 (adjusted OR, 3.63; 95% CI, 1.03–12.78).ConclusionsWe found that active inflammation was less likely among those with a moderate HDS , whereas symptomatic IBD flares were more likely. People may choose to consume a moderate amount of healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, even knowing that those foods may cause a symptomatic flare.
Development of Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) Domains in Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps
Authors: Khan Asif H. , Reaney Matthew , Guillemin Isabelle , Nelson Lauren , Qin Shanshan , Kamat Siddhesh , Mannent Leda , Amin Nikhil , Whalley Diane , Hopkins Claire 
Published: August 2021

Objectives/HypothesisThe 22‐item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) is a validated chronic rhinosinusitis health‐related quality‐of‐life outcome (HRQoL) measure; however, SNOT‐22 domains have not been validated specifically for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP).Study DesignValidation of SNOT‐22 domain structure, using data from 3 randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blinded, multicenter clinical trials of dupilumab in adults with moderate‐to‐severe CRSwNP.MethodsPreliminary dimensional structure was derived by exploratory factor analyses of SNOT‐22 data from a phase 2 trial (NCT01920893) of dupilumab for the treatment of CRSwNP. Data from 2 phase 3 clinical trials (NCT02912468 and NCT02898454) were then used for confirmatory factor analysis, and evaluated for reliability, construct validity, and responsiveness. In all three trials, the SNOT‐22 was administered electronically on a tablet and trial participants were required to answer all items.ResultsFactor analysis supported five domains: Nasal, Ear/Facial, Sleep, Function, and Emotion. Correlations between domains were moderate to high, ranging from 0.53 (Nasal–Emotion) to 0.88 (Function–Sleep). Construct validity was mostly supported; relationships with other measures were almost always in the intended direction and magnitude. Internal consistency reliability also confirmed questionnaire structure with strong Cronbach's alpha values (all >0.80). Moderate‐to‐high correlations were observed between change in SNOT‐22 domain scores and other study patient‐reported outcome measures, along with large effect‐size estimates (≥0.7), demonstrating responsiveness of the Nasal, Sleep, and Function domains. Emotion and Ear/Facial domains had small‐to‐moderate effect sizes.ConclusionsPsychometric analyses support the validity, reliability, and responsiveness of five domains of SNOT‐22 (Nasal, Ear/Facial, Sleep, Function, and Emotion) for assessing symptoms and impact on HRQoL in patients with CRSwNP. Laryngoscope, 132:933–941, 2022
Hydrogel Composites with Different Dimensional Nanoparticles for Bone Regeneration
Authors: Li Xingchen , Yang Zhe , Fang Linan , Ma Chengyuan , Zhao Yue , Liu Hou , Che Songtian , Zvyagin Andrei V. , Yang Bai , Lin Quan 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe treatment of large segmental bone defects and complex types of fractures caused by trauma, inflammation, or tumor resection is still a challenge in the field of orthopedics. Various natural or synthetic biological materials used in clinical applications cannot fully replicate the structure and performance of raw bone. This highlights how to endow materials with multiple functions and biological properties, which is a problem that needs to be solved in practical applications. Hydrogels with outstanding biocompatibility, for their casting into any shape, size, or form, are suitable for different forms of bone defects. Therefore, they have been used in regenerative medicine more widely. In this review, versatile hydrogels are compounded with nanoparticles of different dimensions, and many desirable features of these materials in bone regeneration are introduced, including drug delivery, cell factor vehicle, cell scaffolds, which have potential in bone regeneration applications. The combination of hydrogels and nanoparticles of different dimensions encourages better filling of bone defect areas and has higher adaptability. This is due to the minimally invasive properties of the material and ability to match irregular defects. These biological characteristics make composite hydrogels with different dimensional nanoparticles become one of the most attractive options for bone regeneration materials.
Is bladder outlet obstruction responsible for a successful surgical outcome in women with complicated stress urinary incontinence? Urodynamic results before and after a Remeex® readjustable sling
Authors: Mateu Arrom Laura , Sabiote Rubio Laia , Palou Joan , Errando‐Smet Carlos 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAimsTo describe the changes in urodynamic parameters after Remeex® placement in women with recurrent stress urinary incontinence (rSUI) or intrinsic sphincteric deficiency (ISD) and to analyze a potential relationship between postoperative bladder outlet obstruction and a successful surgical outcome.MethodsRetrospective analysis of those women who had undergone Remeex® placement due to rSUI or ISD in our department between 2000 and 2017. All patients underwent urodynamic evaluation before and after the surgery. If tension readjustment was required, postoperative urodynamics was performed after the last regulation, once the final continence status had been achieved. The female Bladder Outlet Obstruction Index (BOOIf) was calculated for all patients postoperatively. Obstruction was considered present if BOOIf was >18. Pre‐ and postoperative urodynamic variables were compared. Postoperative urodynamic changes were also compared between cured and noncured patients.ResultsA total of 205 women were included. After a follow‐up of 89 ± 36 months, 165 women (80.5%) were continent. A significant impairment in the majority of the urodynamic parameters was observed. Mean postoperative BOOIf was −11.8 ± 21.5 in cured patients and −15.3 ± 23.1 in noncured patients (p = 0.365); 15 (9.1%) patients in the cured group had a postoperative BOOIf >18, whereas all (100%) patients in the noncured group had a postoperative BOOIf <18.ConclusionsMost urodynamic parameters may worsen after the Remeex® system placement. Postoperative urodynamic parameters may not differ substantially between cured and noncured patients, although a certain grade of bladder outlet obstruction could be related to postoperative continence status in some patients.
Design of an individualised questionnaire to measure the impact of cancer on quality of life: The cancer dependent quality of life (CancerDQoL) questionnaire
Authors: Garden Amy , Taylor Michelle D. , Davidson Jonathan , Gilbride Charlie J. , Bradley Clare 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAimTo design an individualised questionnaire to measure the impact of cancer and its treatments on quality of life (QoL).Materials & MethodsDesign of the Cancer‐Dependent Quality of Life (CancerDQoL) questionnaire was based on the Audit of Diabetes Dependent QoL (ADDQoL) questionnaire and related –DQoLs for other conditions. Item selection, face validity and content validity were established through clinician and patient ratings of the importance and relevance of 60 domains from the –DQoL Item Library, and semi‐structured interviews with 25 English‐speaking participants with a range of cancers attending a cancer centre in Zimbabwe (age range: 25‐78 years; 16 women, 9 men). Ten interviews were subsequently conducted with UK English‐speaking participants with a range of cancers attending Maggie’s Centres in London and Dundee (age range: 40‐76; 5 women, 5 men) to adapt the CancerDQoL for UK use.ResultsThe first draft of the CancerDQoL contained 25 domain‐specific items from the ‐DQoL Item Library plus four overview items. Zimbabwean participants indicated that cancer negatively impacted on all life domains included, except ‘having children’. Weighted impact (impact ratings multiplied by importance) was most negative for ‘sex life’, ‘depend on others’ and ‘physical capability’. The least negative weighted impact was found for ‘having children’, ‘spiritual/religious life’ and ‘past medical/self‐care’. UK interviews confirmed no new items were required.ConclusionsFace and content validity of the CancerDQoL is established for an adult sample of English‐speaking cancer patients in Zimbabwe and confirmed in an adaptation following UK interviews.
Comparison of intravenous and non‐intravenous antibiotic regimens in eradication of P. aeruginosa and MRSA in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Mursaloglu H. Hakan , Akın Can , Yılmaz Yeğit Cansu , Ergenekon Almala P. , Suzer Uzunoglu Burcu , Taştan Gamze , Gökdemir Yasemin , Erdem Eralp Ela , Karahasan Yağcı Ayşegül , Karakoç Fazilet , Karadağ Bulent 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundChronic pulmonary infection is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The most common pathogens isolated in CF are Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). Chronic infection of PA and methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) are associated with worse survival and antibiotic eradication treatment is recommended for both. This study compared the outcomes between intravenous (IV) and non‐IV antibiotics in eradication of PA and MRSA.MethodsThis was a single‐center retrospective study. All respiratory specimen cultures of 309 CF patients and eradication regimens between 2015 and 2019 were reviewed. Patients received eradication treatment in case of first ever isolation or new isolation after being infection‐free ≥1 year. The primary analysis was the comparison of the percentage of successful eradication after receiving IV and non‐IV eradication regimens. Demographic and clinical risk factors for eradication failure were also analyzed.ResultsOne hundred and two patients with PA isolations and 48 patients with MRSA were analyzed. At 1 year, 21.6% in PA group and 35.4% in MRSA group were successfully eradicated. There was not any statistically significant difference between IV versus non‐IV antibiotic regimens on eradication in either group. Additionally, none of the clinical risk factors was significantly associated with eradication failure in PA and MRSA groups.ConclusionIn the eradication of PA and MRSA, IV and non‐IV treatment regimens did not show any superiority to one another. Non‐parenteral eradication could be a better option considering the cost‐effectiveness and the treatment burden of IV treatments due to hospitalization and the need for IV access.
The heterogeneity of intraductal carcinoma of the prostate is associated with different efficacy of standard first‐line therapy for patients with metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Wang Zhipeng , Zhu Sha , Zhao Jinge , Nie Ling , Chen Xueqin , Zhang Mengni , Chen Ni , Sun Guangxi , Chen Junru , Ni Yuchao , Dai Jindong , Liu Zhenhua , Tao Ronggui , Zhang Xingming , Zhu Xudong , Zhang Haoran , Liang Jiayu , Wang Zilin , He Ben , Shen Pengfei , Zeng Hao 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundTo explore whether metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients with distinct intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC‐P) subtypes respond differently to abiraterone and docetaxel treatment.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed data of 170 mCRPC patients receiving abiraterone or docetaxel as first‐line therapy. PSA response, PSA progression‐free survival (PSA‐PFS), radiographic progression‐free survival (rPFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed based on the presence of IDC‐P and its subpatterns.ResultsIDC‐P was confirmed in 91/170 (53.5%) patients. Among them 36/91 (39.6%) and 55/91 (60.4%) harbored IDC‐P patterns 1 and 2, respectively. Patients with IDC‐P pattern 1 shared similar clinical outcomes to those without IDC‐P in both abiraterone and docetaxel treatment. However, against cases without IDC‐P or with IDC‐P pattern 1, patients with IDC‐P pattern 2 had markedly poorer prognosis in either abiraterone (mPSA‐PFS: 11.9 vs. 11.1 vs. 6.1 months, p < 0.001; mrPFS: 18.9 vs. 19.4 vs. 9.6 months, p < 0.001) or docetaxel (mPSA‐PFS: 6.2 vs. 6.6 vs. 3.0 months, p < 0.001; mrPFS: 15.1 vs. 12.6 vs. 5.5 months, p < 0.001) treatment. For patients without IDC‐P, docetaxel had comparable therapeutic efficacy with abiraterone. However, the efficacy of docetaxel was significantly inferior to abiraterone in patients with either IDC‐P pattern 1 (mPSA‐PFS: 6.6 vs. 11.1 months, p = 0.021; mrPFS: 12.6 vs. 19.4 months, p = 0.027) or pattern 2 (mPSA‐PFS: 3.0 vs. 6.1 months, p = 0.003; mrPFS: 5.5 vs. 9.6 months, p = 0.007).ConclusionCompared to docetaxel, abiraterone exhibited better efficacy in patients with IDC‐P of either pattern. However, IDC‐P pattern 2 responded unsatisfactorily to either abiraterone or docetaxel therapy. Novel therapeutic strategies for IDC‐P pattern 2 need further investigations.
Solutions of Hyperbolic Stochastic PDEs on Bounded and Unbounded Domains
Authors: Coriasco Sandro , Pilipović Stevan , Seleši Dora 
Published: August 2021

AbstractWe treat several classes of hyperbolic stochastic partial differential equations in the framework of white noise analysis, combined with Wiener–Itô chaos expansions and Fourier integral operator methods. The input data, boundary conditions and coefficients of the operators are assumed to be generalized stochastic processes that have both temporal and spatial dependence. We prove that the equations under consideration have unique solutions in the appropriate Sobolev–Kondratiev or weighted-Sobolev–Kondratiev spaces. Moreover, an explicit chaos form of the solutions is obtained, useful for calculating expectations, variances and higher order moments of the solution.
A novel p-harmonic descent approach applied to fluid dynamic shape optimization
Authors: Müller Peter Marvin , Kühl Niklas , Siebenborn Martin , Deckelnick Klaus , Hinze Michael , Rung Thomas 
Published: August 2021

AbstractWe introduce a novel method for the implementation of shape optimization for non-parameterized shapes in fluid dynamics applications, where we propose to use the shape derivative to determine deformation fields with the help of the $$p-$$

p
-

Laplacian for $$p > 2$$

p
>
2

. This approach is closely related to the computation of steepest descent directions of the shape functional in the $$W^{1,\infty }-$$

W

1
,
∞

-

topology and refers to the recent publication Deckelnick et al. (A novel $$W^{1,\infty}$$

W

1
,
∞

approach to shape optimisation with Lipschitz domains, 2021), where this idea is proposed. Our approach is demonstrated for shape optimization related to drag-minimal free floating bodies. The method is validated against existing approaches with respect to convergence of the optimization algorithm, the obtained shape, and regarding the quality of the computational grid after large deformations. Our numerical results strongly indicate that shape optimization related to the $$W^{1,\infty }$$

W

1
,
∞

-topology—though numerically more demanding—seems to be superior over the classical approaches invoking Hilbert space methods, concerning the convergence, the obtained shapes and the mesh quality after large deformations, in particular when the optimal shape features sharp corners.