bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen‐doped graphene prepared by low‐temperature thermal treatment as an electrocatalyst support for methanol oxidation
Authors: Khodaverdi Mohammadmahdi , Pourfayaz Fathollah , Mehrpooya Mehdi 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn this study, functionalized graphene is used as a carbon‐based material to support platinum–ruthenium bimetallic nanoparticles and to improve methanol oxidation reaction activity due to the enhanced physical and electrical properties of graphene. First, surface oxidation is used for creating oxygen functional groups, and then nitrogen doping by thermal treatment with ammonia as the nitrogen precursor. Platinum–ruthenium alloy nanoparticles are dispersed by the impregnation reduction method on the support materials. The final nanocomposite samples contain 8% of oxygen and 3% of nitrogen. Compared to PtRu/GNS and PtRu/CB, the PtRu/NO‐GNS catalyst indicates 1.25 and 1.3 times higher surface area, and 2.3 and 4 times higher electrochemical surface area, respectively. The highest methanol oxidation current density of 305 mA/mg and 262 mA/mg is obtained for platinum–ruthenium supported on nitrogen‐doped graphene and nitrogen‐doped oxidized graphene, which is 2.9 and 2.5 times higher than that for PtRu/GNS, respectively. It is revealed that the nitrogen‐doped samples have shown greater activity and long‐term stability than other electrocatalysts, including the widely used carbon black supported catalyst. Hence, this work reports the performance of an efficient alternative electrocatalyst with practical application in direct methanol fuel cells.
Targeting brain regions of interest in functional near‐infrared spectroscopy—Scalp‐cortex correlation using subject‐specific light propagation models
Authors: Cai Lin , Nitta Tomonori , Yokota Sho , Obata Takayuki , Okada Eiji , Kawaguchi Hiroshi 
Published: February 2021

AbstractTargeting specific brain regions of interest by the accurate positioning of optodes (emission and detection probes) on the scalp remains a challenge for functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Since fNIRS data does not provide any anatomical information on the brain cortex, establishing the scalp‐cortex correlation (SCC) between emission‐detection probe pairs on the scalp and the underlying brain regions in fNIRS measurements is extremely important. A conventional SCC is obtained by a geometrical point‐to‐point manner and ignores the effect of light scattering in the head tissue that occurs in actual fNIRS measurements. Here, we developed a sensitivity‐based matching (SBM) method that incorporated the broad spatial sensitivity of the probe pair due to light scattering into the SCC for fNIRS. The SCC was analyzed between head surface fiducial points determined by the international 10–10 system and automated anatomical labeling brain regions for 45 subject‐specific head models. The performance of the SBM method was compared with that of three conventional geometrical matching (GM) methods. We reveal that the light scattering and individual anatomical differences in the head affect the SCC, which indicates that the SBM method is compulsory to obtain the precise SCC. The SBM method enables us to evaluate the activity of cortical regions that are overlooked in the SCC obtained by conventional GM methods. Together, the SBM method could be a promising approach to guide fNIRS users in designing their probe arrangements and in explaining their measurement data.
The prognostic significance of race in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by histological subtype
Authors: Stepan Katelyn O. , Mazul Angela L. , Skillington S. Andrew , Paniello Randal C. , Rich Jason T. , Zevallos Jose P. , Jackson Ryan S. , Pipkorn Patrik , Massa Sean , Puram Sidharth V. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundRace has been shown to have variable prognostic importance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, previous studies are limited by a lack of comprehensive treatment, epidemiologic, and comorbidity data.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study utilizing the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2016. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for overall survival.ResultsA cohort of 9995 patients met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Race, insurance, comorbidity, treatment, stage, age, and histology were independent prognosticators. Among patients with keratinizing NPC, Asians and Hispanics had superior survival (aHR 0.58 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48–0.69], aHR 0.76 [95% CI 0.61–0.96]) compared to white patients. Among patients with non‐keratinizing differentiated NPC, Asians and black patients had improved survival (aHR 0.71 [95% CI 0.56–0.91], aHR 0.72 [95% CI 0.54–0.95]) compared to white patients. Race was not prognostic in non‐keratinizing undifferentiated NPC.ConclusionThe prognostic significance of race varies across histological subtypes of NPC.
Gene Deconvolution Reveals Aberrant Liver Regeneration and Immune Cell Infiltration in Alcohol‐Associated Hepatitis
Authors: Kim Adam , Wu Xiaoqin , Allende Daniela S. , Nagy Laura E. 
Published: February 2021

Background and Aims
Acute liver damage causes hepatocyte stress and death, but in chronic liver disease impaired hepatocyte regeneration and immune cell infiltration prevents recovery. While the roles of both impaired liver regeneration and immune infiltration have been studied extensively in chronic liver diseases, the differential contribution of these factors is difficult to assess.

Approach and Results
We combined single‐cell RNA‐sequencing (RNA‐seq) data from healthy livers and peripheral immune cells to measure cell proportions in chronic liver diseases. Using bulk RNA‐seq data from patients with early alcohol‐associated hepatitis, severe AH (sAH), HCV, HCV with cirrhosis, and NAFLD, we performed gene deconvolution to predict the contribution of different cell types in each disease. Patients with sAH had the greatest change in cell composition, with increases in both periportal hepatocytes and cholangiocyte populations. Interestingly, while central vein hepatocytes were decreased, central vein endothelial cells were expanded. Endothelial cells are thought to regulate liver regeneration through WNT signaling. WNT2, important in central vein hepatocyte development, was down in sAH, while multiple other WNTs and WNT receptors were up‐regulated. Immunohistochemistry revealed up‐regulation of FZD6, a noncanonical WNT receptor, in hepatocytes in sAH. Immune cell populations also differed in disease. In sAH, a specific group of inflammatory macrophages was increased and distinct from the macrophage population in patients with HCV. Network and correlation analyses revealed that changes in the cell types in the liver were highly correlated with clinical liver function tests.

Conclusions
These results identify distinct changes in the liver cell populations in chronic liver disease and illustrate the power of using single‐cell RNA‐seq data from a limited number of samples in understanding multiple different diseases.
Adaptive and Constitutive Activations of Malic Enzymes Confer Liver Cancer Multilayered Protection Against Reactive Oxygen Species
Authors: Lee Derek , Zhang Misty Shuo , Tsang Felice Ho‐Ching , Bao Macus Hao‐Ran , Xu Iris Ming‐Jing , Lai Robin Kit‐Ho , Chiu David Kung‐Chun , Tse Aki Pui‐Wah , Law Cheuk‐Ting , Chan Cerise Yuen‐Ki , Yuen Vincent Wai‐Hin , Chui Noreen Nog‐Qin , Ng Irene Oi‐Lin , Wong Chun‐Ming , Wong Carmen Chak‐Lui 
Published: February 2021

Background and aims
HCC undergoes active metabolic reprogramming. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are excessively generated in cancer cells and are neutralized by NADPH. Malic enzymes (MEs) are the less studied NADPH producers in cancer.

Approach and Results
We found that ME1, but not ME3, was regulated by the typical oxidative stress response pathway mediated by kelch‐like ECH associated protein 1/nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor (NRF2). Surprisingly, ME3 was constitutively induced by superenhancers. Disruption of any ME regulatory pathways decelerated HCC progression and sensitized HCC to sorafenib. Therapeutically, simultaneous blockade of NRF2 and a superenhancer complex completely impeded HCC growth. We show that superenhancers allow cancer cells to counteract the intrinsically high level of ROS through constitutively activating ME3 expression. When HCC cells encounter further episodes of ROS insult, NRF2 allows cancer cells to adapt by transcriptionally activating ME1.

Conclusions
Our study reveals the complementary regulatory mechanisms which control MEs and provide cancer cells multiple layers of defense against oxidative stress. Targeting both regulatory mechanisms represents a potential therapeutic approach for HCC treatment.
Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Autoimmune Hepatitis, and Prediction of Disease Activity
Authors: Arndtz Katherine , Shumbayawonda Elizabeth , Hodson James , Eddowes Peter J. , Dennis Andrea , Thomaides‐Brears Helena , Mouchti Sofia , Kelly Matt D. , Banerjee Rajarshi , Neubauer Stefan , Hirschfield Gideon M. 
Published: February 2021

Noninvasive monitoring of disease activity in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) has potential advantages for patients for whom liver biopsy is invasive and with risk. We sought to understand the association of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) with clinical course of patients with AIH. We prospectively recruited 62 patients (median age, 55 years; 82% women) with clinically confirmed AIH. At recruitment, patients underwent mpMRI with LiverMultiScan alongside clinical investigations, which were repeated after 12‐18 months. Associations between iron‐corrected T1 (cT1) and other markers of disease were investigated at baseline and at follow‐up. Discriminative performance of cT1, liver stiffness, and enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) to identify those who failed to maintain remission over follow‐up was investigated using the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs). Baseline cT1 correlated with alanine aminotransferase (Spearman’s correlation coefficient [r
S] = 0.28, P = 0.028), aspartate aminotransferase (r
S = 0.26, P = 0.038), international normalized ratio (r
S = 0.35 P = 0.005), Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (r
S = 0.32, P = 0.020), ELF (r
S = 0.29, P = 0.022), and liver stiffness r
S = 0.51, P < 0.001). After excluding those not in remission at baseline (n = 12), 32% of the remainder failed to maintain remission during follow‐up. Failure to maintain remission was associated with significant increases in cT1 over follow‐up (AUC, 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52‐0.90; P = 0.035) but not with changes in liver stiffness (AUC, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.49‐0.87; P = 0.067) or ELF (AUC, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.37‐0.78; P = 0.502). cT1 measured at baseline was a significant predictor of future loss of biochemical remission (AUC, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.53‐0.83; P = 0.042); neither liver stiffness (AUC, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.34‐0.71; P = 0.749) nor ELF (AUC, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.33‐0.70; P = 0.843) were significant predictors of loss of biochemical remission. Conclusion: Noninvasive mpMRI has potential to contribute to risk stratification in patients with AIH.
Potential benefits of eye tracking within process control monitoring tasks
Authors: Shi Chao , Noah Benjamin , Rothrock Ling , Kim Jung‐Hyup 
Published: February 2021

AbstractStatistically, about 70% of the process industry accidents in the refinery control room are caused by human error. It is necessary to develop a deeper understanding of the interaction between humans and the automated systems. This experiment investigated the effectiveness of Overview Displays in a refinery control room by using eye‐tracking measures. Specifically, control room operators were presented with three Overview Displays that have been adopted by the oil and gas industry under two levels of difficulty for each display. The dependent variables include five eye‐movement metrics that previous studies have related to cognitive processing. The results indicated that Overview Display type significantly affected eye‐movement behavior. The consistency between eye tracking results and the performance results suggesting the possibility that eye‐tracking measures could be used to indicate the performance results. The findings could be used to increase operator assessment effectiveness.
Oral birch pollen immunotherapy with apples: Results of a phase II clinical pilot study
Authors: Nothegger Bettina , Reider Norbert , Covaciu Claudia E. , Cova Valentina , Ahammer Linda , Eidelpes Reiner , Unterhauser Jana , Platzgummer Stefan , Raffeiner Elisabeth , Tollinger Martin , Letschka Thomas , Eisendle Klaus 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundSeventy percent of patients suffering from birch pollen allergy (BPA) develop a pollen‐related food allergy (prFA), especially to apples, due to a clinically relevant cross‐reactivity between the major allergen in birch Bet v 1 and Mal d 1 in apples. Therefore allergen‐specific immunotherapy with fresh apples (AITA) could be a promising natural treatment of both BPA and prFA.ObjectiveTo assess the clinical efficacy of immunotherapy by daily apple consumption for patients with BPA and prFA.MethodsA daily defined increasing amount of selected cultivars (Red Moon®, Pink Lady®, Topaz, Golden Delicious) was continuously consumed by 16 patients (12 female; median age; 50; range, 23–68 years), leading to increased intake of allergen over a period of at least 8 months. Specific IgE and IgG4 to Bet v 1 and Mal d 1, conjunctival and oral provocation tests, skin reactivity, and the average daily rhinoconjunctivitis combined symptom and medication score (CSMS) were measured during the peak birch pollen season.ResultsAfter 8 months of therapy, patients showed increased tolerance to apples (p < .001) and a decreased skin reactivity to apples. Oral allergy syndrome to other birch prFA than apple also decreased (p < .05). Moreover, daily rhinoconjunctivitis CSMS declined by 34% (p < .001), as did conjunctival reactivity to birch pollen extract by 27% (p < .01), while specific IgG4 to Mal d 1 and Bet v 1 increased (p < .01).
The cost‐effectiveness of tranexamic acid for treatment of postpartum hemorrhage: A systematic review
Authors: Aziz Samia , Rossiter Shania , Homer Caroline S. E. , Wilson Alyce N. , Comrie‐Thomson Liz , Scott Nick , Vogel Joshua P. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundPostpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is responsible for nearly one quarter of maternal deaths. A 2017 multicountry trial found that incorporating tranexamic acid (TXA) into the PPH management package was effective in reducing maternal death due to bleeding.ObjectiveTo systematically review studies assessing the cost‐effectiveness of tranexamic acid for PPH treatment.Search strategyNine databases were searched using variations of keywords ‘tranexamic acid’, ‘postpartum hemorrhage’ and ‘cost effectiveness’.Selection criteriaEligible studies were any type of economic or effectiveness evaluation studies on tranexamic acid for treating women with PPH.Data collection and analysisTwo reviewers independently screened citations and extracted data on cost effectiveness measures. Quality was assessed using the Consensus on Health Economic Criteria list.Main resultsFour studies were included, of which two were abstracts. Three studies concluded that early administration of TXA was cost‐saving or cost‐effective. One abstract reported TXA was not cost‐effective in the USA unless the probability of death due to hemorrhage is higher.ConclusionAvailable evidence (four studies in three countries) suggests that this life‐saving intervention may be below willingness to pay thresholds (cost‐effective) or cost saving. Further studies conducted in different populations and settings are needed to inform health policy decision‐making to reduce PPH‐associated morbidity and mortality.
RETRACTED: Optimal brain tumor diagnosis based on deep learning and balanced sparrow search algorithm
Authors: Liu Tingting , Yuan Zhi , Wu Li , Badami Benjamin 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn recent years, the diagnosis of brain tumors with the help of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods has received significant attention. MRI techniques with substantial capabilities of displaying the internal structures of the human body have become one of the most widely used methods in this field. In the present study, a tumor is segmented after effectively preprocessing MRI images. Then, the main features are mined using a combination of the gray‐level cooccurrence matrix and discrete wavelet transform. Finally, the mined features are fed into an optimized convolutional neural network (CNN)‐based classification using a new improved metaheuristic technique, called balanced sparrow search algorithm (BSSA) for the final diagnosis to improve the efficiency of the CNN concerning consistency and accuracy. To verify the efficacy of the recommended algorithm, it is implemented on the whole brain atlas (WBA) database, and the results are compared with certain new and well‐known methods. A comparative result also has been performed to the study, and the results show that the highest accuracy achieved by the recommended BSSA‐CNN system is 93.65%. In addition, it is demonstrated that the specificity of 65.07% in the presented method yields results that are significantly better than those of the competing methods.
Incidence of cardiovascular disease and mortality in underweight individuals
Authors: Kwon Hyuktae , Yun Jae Moon , Park Jin Ho , Cho Be Long , Han Kyungdo , Joh Hee‐Kyung , Son Ki Young , Cho Su Hwan 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundFew studies have evaluated the association between being underweight and having cardiovascular disease in the general population. We investigated the incidence of stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), and all‐cause mortality according to detailed underweight categories in a large population cohort.MethodsWe included 4 164 364 individuals who underwent a health examination that was conducted as part of the Korean National Health Insurance Service between January 2009 and December 2012 and followed them up to determine the incidence of stroke, MI, and all‐cause mortality until 31 December 2016. Based on the body mass index, the study population was categorized into normal (18.50–22.99), mild (17.00–18.49), moderate (16.00–16.99), and severe underweight (<16.00) groups. Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed to calculate the hazard ratio for stroke, MI, and mortality according to the severity of underweight in reference to the normal weight. We adjusted for age, sex, lifestyle, economic status, co‐morbidity, blood pressure, glucose, lipid level, and waist circumference.ResultsThe mean age of the 4 164 364 eligible subjects in this study cohort was 44.4 ± 14.3 years, and 46.1% of the participants were male; 46 728 strokes, 30 074 MIs, and 121 080 deaths occurred during 27 449 902 person‐years. The incidence of stroke, MI, and all‐cause mortality increased proportionally with the severity of underweight in the multivariate model. This proportional association became more evident when the waist circumference was additionally adjusted. The respective hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for mild, moderate, and severe underweight were 1.10 (1.06–1.15), 1.11 (1.02–1.20), and 1.38 (1.24–1.53) for stroke; 1.19 (1.14–1.25), 1.40 (1.27–1.53), and 1.86 (1.64–2.11) for MI; and 1.63 (1.60–1.67), 2.10 (2.02–2.17), and 2.98 (2.85–3.11) for all‐cause mortality. In stratified analyses based on waist circumference, the severity of underweight was consistently associated with a higher risk of stroke, MI, and death.ConclusionsThe severity of underweight was associated with a higher risk of stroke, MI, and all‐cause mortality.
Comparison of MRI and CT for the Prediction of Microvascular Invasion in Solitary Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on a Non‐Radiomics and Radiomics Method: Which Imaging Modality Is Better?
Authors: Meng Xiang‐Pan , Wang Yuan‐Cheng , Zhou Jia‐Ying , Yu Qian , Lu Chun‐Qiang , Xia Cong , Tang Tian‐Yu , Xu Jiajia , Sun Ke , Xiao Wenbo , Ju Shenghong 
Published: February 2021

BackgroundComputed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are both capable of predicting microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, which modality is better is unknown.PurposeTo intraindividually compare CT and MRI for predicting MVI in solitary HCC and investigate the added value of radiomics analyses.Study TypeRetrospective.SubjectsIncluded were 402 consecutive patients with HCC (training set:validation set = 300:102).Field Strength/SequenceT2‐weighted, diffusion‐weighted, and contrast‐enhanced T1‐weighted imaging MRI at 3.0T and contrast‐enhanced CT.AssessmentCT‐ and MR‐based radiomics signatures (RS) were constructed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression. CT‐ and MR‐based radiologic (R) and radiologic‐radiomics (RR) models were developed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The performance of the RS/models was compared between two modalities. To investigate the added value of RS, the performance of the R models was compared with the RR models in HCC of all sizes and 2–5 cm in size.Statistical TestsModel performance was quantified by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and compared using the Delong test.ResultsHistopathologic MVI was identified in 161 patients (training set:validation set = 130:31). MRI‐based RS/models tended to have a marginally higher AUC than CT‐based RS/models (AUCs of CT vs. MRI, P: RS, 0.801 vs. 0.804, 0.96; R model, 0.809 vs. 0.832, 0.09; RR model, 0.835 vs. 0.872, 0.54). The improvement of RR models over R models in all sizes was not significant (P = 0.21 at CT and 0.09 at MRI), whereas the improvement in 2–5 cm was significant at MRI (P < 0.05) but not at CT (P = 0.16).Data ConclusionCT and MRI had a comparable predictive performance for MVI in solitary HCC. The RS of MRI only had significant added value for predicting MVI in HCC of 2–5 cm.Level of Evidence3Technical EfficacyStage 2
Antibody response patterns in COVID‐19 patients with different levels of disease severity in Japan
Authors: Imai Kazuo , Kitagawa Yutaro , Tabata Sakiko , Kubota Katsumi , Nagura‐Ikeda Mayu , Matsuoka Masaru , Miyoshi Kazuyasu , Sakai Jun , Ishibashi Noriomi , Tarumoto Norihito , Takeuchi Shinichi , Ito Toshimitsu , Maesaki Shigefumi , Tamura Kaku , Maeda Takuya 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe analyzed antibody response patterns according to the level of disease severity in patients with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) in Japan. We analyzed 611 serum specimens from 231 patients with COVID‐19 (mild, 170; severe, 31; critical, 30). Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies against nucleocapsid protein (N) and spike 1 protein (S1) were detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. The peaks of fitting curves for the optical density (OD) values of IgM and IgG antibodies against N appeared simultaneously, while those against S1 were delayed compared with N. The OD values of IgM against N and IgG against both N and S1 were significantly higher in the severe and critical cases than in the mild cases at 11 days after symptom onset. The seroconversion rates of IgG were higher than those of IgM against both N and S1 during the clinical course based on the optimal cut‐off values defined in this study. The seroconversion rates of IgG and IgM against N and S1 were higher in the severe and critical cases than in the mild cases. Our findings show that a stronger antibody response occurred in COVID‐19 patients with greater disease severity and there were low seroconversion rates of antibodies against N and S1 in the mild cases.