bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cardiovascular risks of children with primary snoring: A 5‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Au Chun Ting , Chan Kate Ching‐Ching , Chook Ping , Wing Yun Kwok , Li Albert Martin 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackground and objectiveThis study aimed to investigate if childhood primary snoring (PS) was associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes at 5‐year follow‐up.MethodsThis was a prospective matched cohort study. Subjects were recruited from a hospital‐based cohort established from years 2006 to 2012 and they were aged 6–18 years at baseline. Each subject with PS was gender, age and BMI z‐score matched with a control who had normal sleep study (obstructive apnoea–hypopnoea index [OAHI] < 1/h) and without habitual snoring (<3 nights/week) at baseline. All subjects underwent measurements of flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid intima‐media thickness (cIMT) and sleep study at baseline and follow‐up visits. Twenty‐four hour ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) was also recorded at follow‐up.ResultsFifty‐five case–control pairs were recruited and the length of follow‐up was 5.1 ± 1.3 years. At follow‐up visit, subjects with PS at baseline had significantly lower FMD (−0.34% [−0.59 to −0.10]), greater cIMT (+0.01 mm [+0.001 to +0.013]), higher wake systolic blood pressure (SBP) (+2.6 mm Hg [+0.02 to +5.1]), sleep SBP (+3.0 mm Hg [+0.3 to +5.6]), sleep diastolic blood pressure (+2.2 mm Hg [+0.04 to +4.4]) and sleep mean arterial pressure (+2.2 mm Hg [+0.1 to +4.2]) compared to matched controls in the fully adjusted model for variables including change in OAHI and parental history of cardiovascular diseases.ConclusionChildhood PS is associated with poorer endothelial function, greater cIMT and higher ABP at 5‐year follow‐up irrespective of change in obstructive sleep apnoea severity.
A Two‐Stage Data‐Driven Spatiotemporal Analysis to Predict Failure Risk of Urban Sewer Systems Leveraging Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Fontecha John E. , Agarwal Puneet , Torres María N. , Mukherjee Sayanti , Walteros Jose L. , Rodríguez Juan P. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractRisk‐informed asset management is key to maintaining optimal performance and efficiency of urban sewer systems. Although sewer system failures are spatiotemporal in nature, previous studies analyzed failure risk from a unidimensional aspect (either spatial or temporal), not accounting for bidimensional spatiotemporal complexities. This is owing to the insufficiency of good‐quality data, which ultimately leads to under‐/overestimation of failure risk. Here, we propose a generalized methodology/framework to facilitate a robust spatiotemporal analysis of urban sewer system failure risk, overcoming the intrinsic challenges of data imperfections—e.g., missing data, outliers, and imbalanced information. The framework includes a two‐stage data‐driven modeling technique that efficiently models the highly right‐skewed sewer system failure data to predict the failure risk, leveraging a bidimensional space‐time approach. We implemented our analysis for Bogotá, the capital city of Colombia. We train, test, and validate a battery of machine learning algorithms—logistic regression, decision trees, random forests, and XGBoost—and select the best model in terms of goodness‐of‐fit and predictive accuracy. Finally, we illustrate the applicability of the framework in planning/scheduling sewer system maintenance operations using state‐of‐the‐art optimization techniques. Our proposed framework can help stakeholders to analyze the failure‐risk models' performance under different discrimination thresholds, and provide managerial insights on the model's adequate spatial resolution and appropriateness of decentralized management for sewer system maintenance.
The Role of Regulatory Agencies in Agenda‐Setting Processes: Insights from the Italian Response to the COVID‐19 Infodemic
Authors: Di Mascio Fabrizio , Natalini Alessandro , Barbieri Michele , Selva Donatella 
Published: May 2021

AbstractInternational organizations such as the WHO have worked to raise awareness of the massive infodemic that accompanied the COVID‐19 outbreak and made it hard for people to find trustworthy sources of information and reliable guidance for their decisions. Our contribution focuses on the Italian case, where the Communications Regulatory Authority (AGCOM) was able to act as first mover in its field so as to strategically frame the problem of disinformation in the absence of a pre‐existing policy intervention. An emerging body of research shows that the activity of formally independent regulators is not necessarily limited to the implementation of delegated regulatory competencies. We discuss the implications of the activity of independent regulators for the fight against disinformation during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We find that as a political actor in its own right, the Italian media regulator claimed control over sectoral expertise in order to shape the crucial first steps of the response to the infodemic.
Tacrolimus exposure windows responsible for Listeria monocytogenes infection susceptibility
Authors: Miller‐Handley Hilary , Erickson John J. , Gregory Emily J. , Prasanphanich Nina Salinger , Shao Tzu‐Yu , Way Sing Sing 
Published: May 2021

AbstractTacrolimus is widely used to prevent graft rejection after allogeneic transplantation by suppressing T cells in a non‐antigen‐specific fashion. Global T‐cell suppression makes transplant recipients more susceptible to infection, especially infection by opportunistic intracellular pathogens. Infection followed by secondary challenge with the opportunistic intracellular bacterial pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes, was used to probe when tacrolimus most significantly impacts antimicrobial host defense. Tacrolimus‐treated mice showed no difference in innate susceptibility following primary infection, whereas susceptibility to secondary challenge was significantly increased. Modifying the timing of tacrolimus initiation with respect to primary infection compared with secondary challenge showed significantly reduced susceptibility in tacrolimus‐treated mice where tacrolimus was discontinued prior to secondary challenge. Thus, tacrolimus overrides protection against secondary infection primed by primary infection (and presumably live attenuated vaccines), with the most critical window for tacrolimus‐induced infection susceptibility being exposure immediately prior to secondary challenge. These results have important implications for strategies designed to boost antimicrobial T‐cell‐mediated immunity in transplant recipients.
Bacterial protease activity as a biomarker to assess the risk of non‐healing in chronic wounds: Results from a multicentre prospective cohort clinical trial
Authors: Serena Thomas E. , Bayliff Simon W. , Brosnan Patrick J. , DiMarco Daniel T. , Doner Bryan A. , Guthrie David A. , Patel Keyur D. , Sabo Matthew J. , Samies John H. , Carter Marissa J. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMillions worldwide suffer from chronic wounds challenging clinicians and burdening healthcare systems. Bacteria impede wound healing; however, the diagnosis of excessive bacterial burden or infection is elusive. Clinical signs and symptoms of infection are inaccurate and unreliable. This trial evaluated a novel, point‐of‐care, lateral flow diagnostic designed to detect virulence factors released by the most common bacteria found in chronic wounds. A multicentre prospective cohort clinical trial examined the efficacy of a diagnostic test in detecting bacterial proteases taken from swab samples of chronic venous, arterial, pressure and mixed aetiology chronic wounds. Two hundred and sixty six wounds were included in the analysis of the study. The wounds were tested at the start of the study after which investigators were permitted to use whatever dressings they desired for the next 12 weeks. Healing status at 12 weeks was assessed. The presence of elevated bacterial protease activity decreased the probability of wound healing at 12 weeks. In contrast, a greater proportion of wounds were healed at 12 weeks if they had little or no bacterial protease activity at study start. In addition, the presence of elevated bacterial protease activity increased the time it takes for a wound to heal and increased the risk that a wound would not heal, when compared to the absence of bacterial protease activity. The results of this clinical trial indicate that bacterial protease activity, as detected by this novel diagnostic test, is a valid clinical marker for chronicity in wounds. The diagnostic test offers a tool for clinicians to detect clinically significant bacteria in real time and manage bacteria load before the clinical signs and symptoms of infection are evident.
Effectiveness of exercise interventions to prevent shoulder injuries in athletes: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Swart Johannes Jacobus Wessel , Olivier Benita 
Published: May 2021

ABSTRACT

Objective:
This review will evaluate the effectiveness of exercise intervention versus no intervention or alternate intervention to prevent shoulder injuries in athletes.

Introduction:
Injury-prevention research has proven the effectiveness of exercise in preventing sports injuries in general and in the lower limb specifically. However, the results have been extrapolated to sport-related shoulder injuries from limited evidence. Similar reviews have been faced with insufficient high-quality evidence and limited studies due to restrictive target populations, resulting in reduced generalizability.

Inclusion criteria:
Peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials, with adequate control arms, investigating shoulder-injury events after exercise intervention in athletes, both training or competing in sports, will be included. Studies with substitute end points for injury events and non-self-propelled athletes, or vehicle-assisted athletes, will be excluded.

Methods:
A comprehensive search of multiple databases will be used to find relevant studies. The databases will be searched from inception to April 2021, with no language restrictions imposed. Keywords and derivatives of “sport,” “exercise intervention,” “prevention,” “shoulder injury,” and “randomized controlled trials” will be used.
Sources will include Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), CINAHL Plus (EBSCO), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Wiley), MasterFILE Premier (EBSCO), MEDLINE (PubMed), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), ProQuest Health and Medical Complete and Nursing and Allied Health Source (ProQuest Complete), ScienceDirect (Elsevier), Scopus (Elsevier), SPORTDiscus (EBSCO), and Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics). Data appraisal, extraction, and synthesis will follow JBI guidance for systematic reviews of effectiveness.

Systematic review registration number:
PROSPERO CRD42020204141
Damping Characteristics of Fluidic Pressure-Fed Mechanism for Positioning Applications
Authors: Chun Heebum , Kim Jungsub , Kim Hyo-Young , Lee ChaBum 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
This paper represents a novel approach capable of in-process damping parameter control for nanopositioning systems by implementing a fluidic pressure-fed mechanism (FPFM). The designed internal fluidic channels inside the nanopositioning stage fabricated by a metal additive manufacturing process can be filled with various fluids such as air, water, and oil and pneumatically or hydraulically pressurized. The damping was experimentally characterized with respect to fluids and corresponding pressure level (80 psi, which was the maximum safe operating pressure in the current laboratory setting) through a free-vibration test, hammering test, and sine input sweeping test in open-loop and closed-loop positioning control conditions. As a result, the FPFM revealed the following characteristics: (1) damping increases when the internal fluidic channels filled with fluids and pressure level at 80 psi, (2) the dynamic system showed the highest damping when the water exists in internal channels, and (3) the existence of fluids and certain pressure in the fluidic channel does not have a negative influence on the motion quality and positioning control while the nanopositioning system is in operating. Additionally, the tracking error was reduced by FPFM. It is expected that the FPFM method will be utilized for vibration and noise control applications for high precision dynamic systems.
Mechanical Impact Effects of Fluid Hammer Effects on Drag Reduction of Coiled Tubing
Authors: Liu Yongsheng , Qin Xing , Sun Yuchen , Dou Zijun , Zhang Jiansong , Chen Guoqiang 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Aiming at the oscillation drag reduction tool that improves the extension limit of coiled tubing downhole operations, the fluid hammer equation of the oscillation drag reducer is established based on the fluid hammer effect. The fluid hammer equation is solved by the asymptotic method, and the distribution of fluid pressure and flow velocity in coiled tubing with oscillation drag reducers is obtained. At the same time, the axial force and radial force of the coiled tubing caused by the fluid hammer oscillator are calculated according to the momentum theorem. The radial force will change the normal contact force of the coiled tubing, which has a great influence on frictional drag. The results show that the fluid flowrate and pressure decrease stepwise from the oscillator position to the wellhead position, and the fluid flowrate and pressure will change abruptly during each valve opening and closing time. When the fluid passes through the oscillator, the unit mass fluid will generate an instantaneous axial tension due to the change in the fluid velocity, thereby converting the static friction into dynamic friction, which is conducive to the extend limit of coiled tubing.
Investigation of Tire Rotating Modeling Techniques Using Computational Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Fu Gen , Untaroiu Alexandrina 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Fuel efficiency becomes very important for new vehicles. Therefore, improving the aerodynamics of tires has started to receive increasing interest. While the experimental approaches are time consuming and costly, numerical methods have been employed to investigate the air flow around tires. Rotating boundary and contact patch are important challenges in the modeling of tire aerodynamics. Therefore, majority of the current modelling approaches are simplified by neglecting the tire deformation and contact patch. In this study, a baseline CFD model is created for a tire with contact patch. To generate mesh efficiently, a hybrid mesh, which combines hex elements and polyhedral elements, is used. Then, three modeling approaches (rotating wall, multiple reference frame and sliding mesh) are compared for the modeling of tire rotation. Additionally, three different tire designs are investigated, including smooth tire, grooved tire and grooved tire with open rim. The predicted results of the baseline model agree well with the measured data. Additionally, the hybrid mesh show to be efficient and to generate accurate results. The CFD model tends to over predict the drag of a rotating tire with contact patch. Sliding mesh approach generated more accurate predictions than the rotating wall and multiple reference frame approaches. For different tire designs, tire with open rim has the highest drag. It is believed that the methodology presented in this study will help in designing new tires with high aerodynamic performance.
Vortex Pump as Turbine for Energy Recovery in Viscous Fluid Flows With Reynolds Number Effect
Authors: Li Wenguang 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
A vortex pump with a specific speed of 76 was studied in its turbine mode by using fluent 6.3 based on the steady, three-dimensional, incompressible, Reynolds time-averaged Navier–Stokes equations, standard k-ε turbulence model, and nonequilibrium wall function in multiple reference frame system. The performance and flow structure of six liquids with different densities and viscosities were characterized, and the hydraulic, volumetric, and mechanical losses were discomposed. The correction factors of flow rate, head, shaft-power, efficiency, and disk friction power in turbine mode were correlated with impeller Reynolds number at three operational points. The conversion factors of flow rate, head, efficiency from the pump mode to the turbine mode were expressed with Reynolds number and compared with the counterparts of centrifugal pumps in the literature. It was indicated that the vortex pump can produce power as a turbine but becomes inefficient with increasing viscosity or decreasing impeller Reynolds number, especially as the number is smaller than 104 due to increased hydraulic, volumetric, and mechanical power losses. A vortex structure with radial, axial, and meridian vortices occurs in the impeller at different flow rates and viscosities. The incidence at blade leading edge and deviation angle at the blade trailing edge depend largely on flow rate and viscosity. The impeller should be modified to improve its hydraulic performance under highly viscous fluid flow conditions. The entropy generation rate method cannot demonstrate the change in hydraulic loss with viscosity when the Reynolds number is below 104.
Use of Perforation and Mathematical Modeling to Increase Solar-Based Steam Distillation System Efficiency
Authors: Afzal Arslan , Munir Anjum , Amjad Waseem , Alvarado Jorge L. , Umair Muhammad , Azam Muhammad , Anjum Muhammad Naveed 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Solar distillation system has recently been explored and used for the extraction of essential oil from different agricultural herbs. The efficiency of conventional distillation systems is low, and most are driven by hot gases. On the other hand, the solar-driven distillation system has higher efficiency and is based on renewable energy. The modified solar distillation system comprises a Scheffler reflector “concentrator,” newly design steam receiver, distillation still, steam condenser, florentine flask, and biomass-based boiler. A perforated circular pan added at the still bottom and pattern of steam flow and temperature distribution was examined using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique. The CFD simulation results showed that homogeneity in the steam distribution in the distillation still is required to get maximum essential oil extraction efficiency. The energy dissemination at different parts of the newly design solar distillation system was estimated using mathematical modeling. The results of different experiments showed that the yield of essential oils from fresh Rosemary and Cumin was 0.17% w/w and 1.11% w/w, respectively. The efficiency of the modified solar distillation system with a perforated pan and steam receiver was found to be 8% higher than the previous system.
Multifractality and Universality of Thermal Fluctuations in Terrestrial and Microgravity Pool Boiling
Authors: Saini Ankit , Srinivasan Vinod 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Nucleation site interaction in pool boiling is well known to cause intermittent bubble growth and departure. Such interactions can cause long-term temporal correlations in spatio-temporal fluctuations of temperature and heat flux and may affect the conditions leading to the onset of boiling crisis. In this study, we check for the presence of such long-term correlations. A multifractal analysis is carried out on heat flux fluctuations recorded in pool boiling experiments under terrestrial and microgravity conditions. The Hurst exponent is shown to progressively decrease as the wall temperature is increased, attaining a value close to 0.5 near the onset of boiling crisis. This trend persists for multiple pressures and levels of bulk subcooling and may serve as an indicator of proximity to the boiling crisis. Similar experiments performed with an identical setup under terrestrial gravity conditions are shown to exhibit similar trends.
Chronic tophaceous gout mimicking widespread metastasis
Authors: Thompson Joshua W , Srinivasan Sriram , Makkuni Damodar 
Published: May 2021

Gout is a common crystal-induced arthropathy affecting mainly the joints of the appendicular skeleton; however, rarely this condition affects the axial skeleton as well. Spinal gout can cause radiculopathy, cord compression, canal stenosis and discitis. We describe a case of a 71-year-old woman where the initial presentation of destructive arthropathy and spinal masses secondary to axial gout was mistaken for a metastatic malignancy. Despite chronic polyarthropathy and bilateral subcutaneous gouty tophi, spinal gout was not considered a differential diagnosis during initial assessment.The patient was managed conservatively with pharmacological treatment resulting in improvement of her upper limb radiculopathy and systemic joint pain, although little improvement in mobility. Such extensive involvement is rare and the masses can mimic an underlying metastatic disease. Careful history and clinical examination recognising polyarthropathy and subcutaneous tophi can aid the clinician to make the right diagnosis and institute correct treatment. Delay in recognising gout as a differential diagnosis can lead to marked morbidity as illustrated in our case.
Barriers in health and social care access and navigation for elder orphans: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Kervin Lucy , Teo Kelly , Churchill Ryan , Riadi Indira , Cosco Theodore D 
Published: May 2021

IntroductionFamily members have traditionally been relied on to provide informal care to older adults. However, social and demographic changes are resulting in rising numbers of kinless and isolated elderly who are unable to rely on familial caregiving and are without assistance in navigating complex systems of health and social services. Research examining this vulnerable subset of the elderly population, identified as elder orphans, is limited, particularly within the context of health and social care access. The aim of this scoping review is to map and report the evidence available in identifying barriers and facilitating factors in health and social care access and system navigation by elder orphans.Methods and analysisArksey and O’Malley’s six-staged methodology framework will guide the conduct of this scoping review. The primary author will conduct a systematic search and an initial screen of titles and abstracts from six electronic databases (CINAHL Complete, ASSIA, Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science and PsycINFO) from January 2005 to the date of commencement, to identify English language peer reviewed studies of various methodologies. Subsequently, two reviewers will independently screen a shorter list of studies for inclusion. We will also search the reference lists of eligible studies. Data from the selected studies will be extracted and charted by two independent reviewers. Findings will be summarised in a tabulated format and accompanied by a narrative synthesis.Ethics and disseminationAs the scoping review methodology aims to synthesise information from publicly available materials, this study does not require ethical approval. The finalised scoping review will be submitted for publication to a scientific journal.RegistrationThe present protocol has been registered with the Open Science Framework platform (registration ID:https://osf.io/7vjty/).