bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anastrozole as add-on therapy for cabergoline-resistant prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas: real-life experience in male patients
Authors: Ceccato Filippo , Lizzul Laura , Voltan Giacomo , Barbot Mattia , Scaroni Carla 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Introduction
Prolactin-secreting adenoma (PRLoma) can present as large and invasive neoplasm, with increased markers of cellular proliferation. First-line approach is Dopamine Agonists (DAs) treatment; however, DA-resistance has been reported, especially in male patients. Estrogens induce lactotroph cell replication and PRL secretion: the use of anti-estrogen treatment in patients with PRLoma have been described in few cases. We reported our experience regarding treatment with the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole (ANA) as add-on therapy for male patients with DA resistant PRLoma.

Materials and methods
We describe four male patients (26, 38, 29 and 19 years old at diagnosis), with PRLoma (median diameter 26 mm, PRL 7730 μg/L). They were resistant to cabergoline (CAB, > 2 mg/week) in terms of PRL secretion and tumor size reduction. ANA 1 mg/day was added to the maximum tolerated dose of CAB for at least 1 year. Magnetic Resonance was performed at baseline, after 6 months of CAB + ANA combination and every 12 months afterward.

Results
PRL levels decreased in all patients after CAB + ANA (mean − 70%, range − 44/− 97%), achieving a normalization of PRL levels in one case. Tumor size decreased in all cases (mean − 47%, range − 24.5/− 68%). No severe adverse effects have been reported, a moderate weight gain has been observed in two cases.

Conclusions
Addition of an aromatase inhibitor (ANA) to the dopamine agonist therapy improved the control of prolactin levels and induced tumour regression.
Sea lice (Copepoda: Caligidae) from South Africa, with descriptions of two new species of Caligus
Authors: Hayes Polly M. , Christison Kevin W. , Vaughan David B. , Smit Nico J. , Boxshall Geoffrey A. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThirteen species of sea lice (family Caligidae) are reported from a range of elasmobranch and actinopterygian fishes caught off South Africa or obtained from public aquaria in South Africa. Two new species of Caligus Müller, 1785 are described: C. linearisn. sp. from Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus) and C. tumulusn. sp. from Chrysoblephus cristiceps (Valenciennes). A supplementary description is provided for both sexes of Caligus tetrodontis Barnard, 1948 taken from Amblyrhynchotes honckenii (Bloch) and previous records of this parasite from South African fishes are critically reviewed. It is concluded that Caligus material from Arothron hispidus Linnaeus was previously misidentified as C. tetrodontis and is in urgent need of re-examination. Morphological and molecular observations on Caligus furcisetifer Redkar, Rangnekar & Murti, 1949 indicate that this copepod is phenotypically and genetically identical to Lepeophtheirus natalensis Kensley & Grindley, 1973, and the latter becomes a junior subjective synonym of C. furcisetifer. We include new geographical distribution records for Caligus longipedis Bassett-Smith, 1898, C. rufimaculatus Wilson, 1905 and Lepeophtheirus spinifer Kirtisinghe, 1937, extending into South African waters, as well as both new distribution and host records for Alebion gracilis Wilson, 1905, Caligus dakari van Beneden, 1892 and Lepeophtheirus acutus Heegaard, 1943. The molecular analysis confirmed the monophyly of the genus Caligus. The South African species of Caligus did not cluster together, but the two included South African species of Lepeophtheirus were recovered as sister taxa.
Atmospheric deposition of chlorinated and brominated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in central Europe analyzed by GC-MS/MS
Authors: Jin Rong , Bandowe Benjamin A. Musa , Zheng Minghui , Liu Guorui , Nežiková Barbora , Prokeš Roman , Čupr Pavel , Klánová Jana , Lammel Gerhard 
Published: June 2021

AbstractChlorinated and brominated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (ClPAHs and BrPAHs) are persistent organic pollutants that are ubiquitous in the atmospheric environment. The sources, fate, and sinks in the atmosphere of these substances are largely unknown. One of the reasons is the lack of widely accessible analytical instrumentation. In this study, a new analytical method for ClPAHs and BrPAHs using gas-chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry is presented. The method was applied to determine ClPAHs and BrPAHs in total deposition samples collected at two sites in central Europe. Deposition fluxes of ClPAHs and BrPAHs ranged 580 (272–962) and 494 (161–936) pg m−2 day−1, respectively, at a regional background site, Košetice, and 547 (351–724) and 449 (202–758) pg m−2 day−1, respectively, at a semi-urban site, Praha-Libuš. These fluxes are similar to those of PCBs and more than 2 orders of magnitude lower than those of the parent PAHs in the region. Seasonal variations of the deposition fluxes of these halogenated PAHs were found with maxima in summer and autumn, and minima in winter at Košetice, but vice versa at Praha-Libuš. The distribution of ClPAHs and BrPAHs between the particulate and dissolved phases in deposition samples suggests higher degradability of particulate BrFlt/Pyr and BrBaA than of the corresponding ClPAHs. A number of congeners were detected for the first time in the atmospheric environment.
Lung cancer screening by single-shot dual-energy subtraction using flat-panel detector
Authors: Mogami Hiroshi , Onoike Yumiko , Miyano Hiroshi , Arakawa Kenji , Inoue Hiromi , Sakae Kouji , Kawakami Toshiaki 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of single-shot dual-energy subtraction (DES) method using a flat-panel detector for lung cancer screening

Materials and methods
The subjects were 13,315 residents (5801 males and 7514 females) aged 50 years or older (50–97 years, with an intermediate value of 68 years) who underwent lung cancer screening for a period of 1 year and 6 months from January 2019 to June 2020. We investigated whether the number of lung cancers detected, the detection rate, and the rate of required scrutiny changed, when DES images were added to the judgment based on conventional chest radiography.

Results
When DES images were added, the number and percentage of cancer detection increased from 16 (0.12%) to 23 (0.17%) (P < 0.05). Five of the newly detected 7 lung cancers were in the early stages of resectable cancer. The rate of participants requiring scrutiny increased slightly from 1.1 to 1.3%.

Conclusion
DES method improved the detection of lung cancer in screening. The increase in the percentage of participants requiring scrutiny was negligible.
Bioactive adrenomedullin a prognostic biomarker in patients with mild to moderate dyspnea at the emergency department: an observational study
Authors: Bronton Kevin , Wessman Torgny , Gränsbo Klas , Schulte Janin , Hartmann Oliver , Melander Olle 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAcute dyspnea with underlying congestion is a leading cause of emergency department (ED) visits with high rates of hospitalization. Adrenomedullin is a vasoactive neuropeptide hormone secreted by the endothelium that mediates vasodilation and maintains vascular integrity. Plasma levels of biologically active adrenomedullin (bio-ADM) predict septic shock and vasopressor need in critically ill patients and are associated with congestion in patients with acute heart failure (HF) but the prognostic value in unselected dyspneic patients at the ED is unknown. The purpose of this study is to test if bio-ADM predicts adverse outcomes when sampled in patients with acute dyspnea at presentation to the ED. In this single-center prospective observational study, we included 1402 patients from the ADYS (Acute DYSpnea at the Emergency Department) cohort in Malmö, Sweden. We fitted logistic regression models adjusted for sex, age, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), creatinine, and C-reactive protein (CRP) to associate bio-ADM plasma levels to mortality, hospitalization, intravenous (IV) diuretic treatment and HF diagnosis. Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis we evaluated bio-ADM discrimination for these outcomes compared to a reference model (sex, age, NT-proBNP, creatinine, and CRP). Model performance was compared by performing a likelihood ratio test on the deviances of the models. Bio-ADM (per interquartile range from median) predicts both 90-day mortality [odds ratio (OR): 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–2.0, p < 0.002] and hospitalization (OR: 1.5, 95% CI 1.2–1.8, p < 0.001) independently of sex, age, NT-proBNP, creatinine, and CRP. Bio-ADM statistically significantly improves the reference model in predicting mortality (added χ2 9.8, p = 0.002) and hospitalization (added χ2 14.1, p = 0.0002), and is associated with IV diuretic treatment and HF diagnosis at discharge. Plasma levels of bio-ADM sampled at ED presentation in acutely dyspneic patients are independently associated with 90-day mortality, hospitalization and indicate the need for decongestive therapy.
Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space Associated with a Unitary Representation of a Groupoid
Authors: Drewnik Monika , Miller Tomasz , Pasternak-Winiarski Zbigniew 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe aim of the paper is to create a link between the theory of reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces (RKHS) and the notion of a unitary representation of a group or of a groupoid. More specifically, it is demonstrated on one hand how to construct a positive definite kernel and an RKHS for a given unitary representation of a group(oid), and on the other hand how to retrieve the unitary representation of a group or a groupoid from a positive definite kernel defined on that group(oid) with the help of the Moore–Aronszajn theorem. The kernel constructed from the group(oid) representation is inspired by the kernel defined in terms of the convolution of functions on a locally compact group. Several illustrative examples of reproducing kernels related with unitary representations of groupoids are discussed in detail. The paper is concluded with the brief overview of the possible applications of the proposed constructions.
Geodesic Random Walks, Diffusion Processes and Brownian Motion on Finsler Manifolds
Authors: Ma Tianyu , Matveev Vladimir S. , Pavlyukevich Ilya 
Published: June 2021

AbstractWe show that geodesic random walks on a complete Finsler manifold of bounded geometry converge to a diffusion process which is, up to a drift, the Brownian motion corresponding to a Riemannian metric.
Neue Krankheiten mit Bluttranskriptomik entschlüsseln
Authors: Ulas Thomas , Aschenbrenner Anna C. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic is leading to increasing numbers of patients all over the world. Reports on a dysregulated immune system in the severe cases calls for a better characterization of the ongoing changes. To dissect COVID-19-driven immune host responses, we profiled whole blood transcriptomes enabling a data-driven stratification based on molecular phenotype. This analysis allowed prediction of patient subgroup-specific drug candidates targeting the dysregulated systemic immune response of the host.
Mikrobieller Plastikabbau im Meer: die Suche nach dem Unwahrscheinlichen
Authors: Oberbeckmann Sonja , Markert Stephanie , Labrenz Matthias 
Published: June 2021

AbstractMicroplastic particles have been found in all the world’s oceans. Since their surfaces are microbially colonised, research is currently determining whether microbes are able to degrade the synthetic polymers. We show that their contribution to the biodegradation of plastics seems to be extremely limited. Also, it is unlikely that microbes specialise in plastic degradation through evolutionary adaptation. This is not only due to the great diversity and simultaneous very low bioavailability of microplastics in the oceans, but also because it is energetically disadvantageous.
Integrating hydrogeological and second-order geo-electric indices in groundwater vulnerability mapping: A case study of alluvial environments
Authors: George Nyakno Jimmy 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAVI (Aquifer vulnerability index), GOD (groundwater occurrence, overlying lithology and depth to the aquifer), GLSI (geo-electric layer susceptibility indexing) and S (longitudinal unit conductance) models were used to assess economically exploitable groundwater resource in the coastal environment of Akwa Ibom State, southern Nigeria. The models were employed in order to delineate groundwater into its category of vulnerability to contamination sources using the first- and second-order geo-electric indices as well as hydrogeological inputs. Vertical electrical sounding technique employing Schlumberger electrode configuration was carried out in 16 locations, close to logged boreholes with known aquifer core samples. Primary or first-order geo-electric indices (resistivity, thickness and depth) measured were used to determine S. The estimated aquifer hydraulic conductivity, K, calculated from grain size diameter and water resistivity values were used to calculate hydraulic resistance (C) used to estimate AVI. With the indices assigned to geo-electric parameters on the basis of their influences, GOD and FSLI were calculated using appropriate equations. The geologic sequence in the study area consists of geo-electric layers ranging from motley topsoil, argillites (clayey to fine sands) and arenites (medium to gravelly sands). Geo-electric parametric indices of aquifer overlying layers across the survey area were utilized to weigh the vulnerability of the underlying water-bearing resource to the contaminations from surface and near-surface, using vulnerability maps created. Geo-electrically derived model maps reflecting AVI, BOD, FLSI and S were compared to assess their conformity to the degree of predictability of groundwater vulnerability. The AVI model map shows range of values of log C ( −3.46—0.07) generally less than unity and hence indicating high vulnerability. GOD model tomographic map displays a range of 0.1–0.3, indicating that the aquifer with depth range of 20.5 to 113.1 m or mean depth of 72. 3 m is lowly susceptible to surface and near-surface impurities. Again, the FLSI map displays a range of FLSI index of 1.25 to 2.75, alluding that the aquifer underlying the protective layer has a low to moderate vulnerability. The S model has values ranging from 0.013 to 0.991S. As the map indicates, a fractional portion of the aquifer at the western (Ikot Abasi) part of the study area has moderate to good protection (moderate vulnerability) while weak to poor aquifer protection (high vulnerability) has poor protection. The S model in this analysis seems to overstate the degree of susceptibility to contamination than the AVI, GOD and GLSI models. From the models, the categorization of severity of aquifer vulnerability to contaminations is relatively location-dependent and can be assessed through the model tomographic maps generated.
Classification of groundwater suitability for irrigation purposes using a comprehensive approach based on the AHP and GIS techniques in North Kurdufan Province, Sudan
Authors: Eldaw Elsiddig , Huang Tao , Mohamed Adam Khalifa , Mahama Yahaya 
Published: June 2021

AbstractDeterioration of groundwater quality due to drastic human interventions is rising at an alarming rate particularly in lower- and middle-income countries. Yet, limited research effort has been devoted to monitoring and ascertaining groundwater quality. The present study develops a comprehensive irrigation water quality index (IWQI) for rating water quality of shallow and deep aquifers in North Kurdufan province, Sudan. The new approach is developed to overcome the deficiencies of the existing irrigation indices and coming up with a unified decision for classifying water quality for irrigation purposes. Because of these indices like permeability index (PI), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), etc., depending on specific elements, entirely subjective, as well as the great variations in their results, particularly when classifying water quality. Thus, IWQI is created based on eight indices that are generally used to evaluate irrigation water quality, plus three physicochemical parameters have been proven an impact on water quality. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is applied to minimize the subjectivity at assign parameter weights under multiple criteria decision analysis tools (MCDA). The spatial distribution of IWQI agrees with the spatial distribution of the most parameters. The results of our approach reveal that the majority of samples are suitable for irrigation uses for both aquifers except few wells in the confined aquifer. Also, noted that there are very variations in the irrigation indices results for classifying water quality. The comparison result showed that the new index robust, fair calculations and has best classifying of water quality.
Dynamic Information Design: A Simple Problem on Optimal Sequential Information Disclosure
Authors: Farhadi Farzaneh , Teneketzis Demosthenis 
Published: June 2021

AbstractWe study a dynamic information design problem in a finite-horizon setting consisting of two strategic and long-term optimizing agents, namely a principal (he) and a detector (she). The principal observes the evolution of a Markov chain that has two states, one “good” and one “bad” absorbing state, and has to decide how to sequentially disclose information to the detector. The detector’s only information consists of the messages she receives from the principal. The detector’s objective is to detect as accurately as possible the time of the jump from the good to the bad state. The principal’s objective is to delay the detector as much as possible from detecting the jump to the bad state. For this setting, we determine the optimal strategies of the principal and the detector. The detector’s optimal strategy is described by time-varying thresholds on her posterior belief of the good state. We prove that it is optimal for the principal to give no information to the detector before a time threshold, run a mixed strategy to confuse the detector at the threshold time, and reveal the true state afterward. We present an algorithm that determines both the optimal time threshold and the optimal mixed strategy that could be employed by the principal. We show, through numerical experiments, that this optimal sequential mechanism outperforms any other information disclosure strategy presented in the literature. We also show that our results can be extended to the infinite-horizon problem, to the problem where the matrix of transition probabilities of the Markov chain is time-varying, and to the case where the Markov chain has more than two states and one of the states is absorbing.
A note on isoperimetric inequalities of Gromov hyperbolic manifolds and graphs
Authors: Martínez-Pérez Álvaro , Rodríguez José M. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractWe study in this paper the relationship of isoperimetric inequality and hyperbolicity for graphs and Riemannian manifolds. We obtain a characterization of graphs and Riemannian manifolds (with bounded local geometry) satisfying the (Cheeger) isoperimetric inequality, in terms of their Gromov boundary, improving similar results from a previous work. In particular, we prove that having a pole is a necessary condition to have isoperimetric inequality and, therefore, it can be removed as hypothesis.
Dynamic Analysis of Working Device of Excavator under Limit Digging Force
Authors: Wang Xiaojun , Sun Haoran , Feng Minghao , Ren Zhigui , Liu Jurong 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIn order to more accurately analyze the dynamic characteristics of the working device of the hydraulic excavator. The load changes on the two digging trajectories were calculated and analyzed by using the limit digging force model and the theoretical digging force model, respectively. The rigid-flexible coupling model of the working device was established in ADAMS. Taking the limit digging force (LDF) and the theoretical digging force (TDF) as the external load of the working device, the dynamic simulation of the hinge force of the working device in the two trajectories was carried out, and the structural strength analysis of the bucket was carried out by using ANSYS. The results show that the tangential force of the LDF is generally larger than that of the TDF, the hinge point force of the working device changes dynamically with the external load of the tooling, and the influence of the LDF on the hinge point force is greater than that of the TDF. When the LDF is taken as the external load, the structural strength of the bucket meets the operational requirements.
Composition and structure design of three-layered composite phosphors for high color rendering chip-on-board light-emitting diode devices
Authors: Liu Xin , Qian Xinglu , Zheng Peng , Chen Xiaopu , Feng Yagang , Shi Yun , Zou Jun , Xie Rongjun , Li Jiang 
Published: June 2021

AbstractA three-layered phosphor structure was designed and prepared by the spin coating of BaSi2N2O2:Eu (cyan-emitting) and (Sr,Ca)AlSiN3:Eu (red-emitting) phosphor films on the yellow-emitting Y3Al5O12:Ce (YAG:Ce) phosphor ceramic synthesized by the solid-state reaction under vacuum sintering. In order to achieve high color rendering lighting, the influence of the composition and structure of the three-layered phosphors on the optical, thermal, and electrical properties of the chip-on-board (COB) packaged white-light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) was studied systematically. The WLED with the structure of “red+cyan+yellow” (R+C+Y) three-layered phosphor generated neutral white light and had a luminous efficacy of 75 lm/W, the fidelity index (Rf) of 93, the gamut index (Rg) of 97, and the correlated color temperature (CCT) of 3852 K. Under the excitation of laser diode (LD), the layer-structured phosphor yielded the white light with a luminous efficacy of 120 lm/W, color rendering index (CRI) of 90, and CCT of 5988 K. The result indicates that the three-layered phosphor structure is a promising candidate to achieve high color rendering and high luminous efficacy lighting.
Recommendations for an Open Science approach to welding process research data
Authors: Fabry Cagtay , Pittner Andreas , Hirthammer Volker , Rethmeier Michael 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe increasing adoption of Open Science principles has been a prevalent topic in the welding science community over the last years. Providing access to welding knowledge in the form of complex and complete datasets in addition to peer-reviewed publications can be identified as an important step to promote knowledge exchange and cooperation. There exist previous efforts on building data models specifically for fusion welding applications; however, a common agreed upon implementation that is used by the community is still lacking. One proven approach in other domains has been the use of an openly accessible and agreed upon file and data format used for archiving and sharing domain knowledge in the form of experimental data. Going into a similar direction, the welding community faces particular practical, technical, and also ideological challenges that are discussed in this paper. Collaboratively building upon previous work with modern tools and platforms, the authors motivate, propose, and outline the use of a common file format specifically tailored to the needs of the welding research community as a complement to other already established Open Science practices. Successfully establishing a culture of openly accessible research data has the potential to significantly stimulate progress in welding research.