bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Outcome of Pituitary Hormone Deficits After Surgical Treatment of Non-functioning Pituitary Macroadenomas (NFPMA)
Authors: Alexopoulou Orsalia , Everard Valérie , Etoa Martine , Fomekong Edward , Gaillard Stéphane , Parker Fabrice , Raftopoulos Christian , Chanson Philippe , Maiter Dominique 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Objectives: Non-functionning pituitary macroadenomas (NFPMA) are benin tumors that cause symptoms of mass effects including hypopituitarism. Their primary treatment is trans-sphenoidal surgery. We aimed to determine the outcome of pituitary hormone deficits after surgical treatment of NFPMA and to identify factors predicting hormonal recovery.Design: We retrospectively included 246 patients with NFPMA diagnosed and operated in one of the two participating centers. All hormonal axes were evaluated except growth hormone (GH). Postoperative improvement of pituitary endocrine function was considered if at least one hormonal deficit had recovered and a lower total number of deficits was observed one year after surgery.Results: 80% (n=197) of patients had one or more pituitary deficits and 28% had complete anterior hypopituitarism. Besides GH, the gonadotropic and thyrotropic axes were the most commonly affected (68% and 62%, respectively). The number of hypopituitary patients dropped significantly to 61% at one year (p<0.001) and a significant improvement was observed for all hormonal axes, except central diabetes insipidus. Among patients with preoperative hypopituitarism, 88/175 (50%) showed improved pituitary function at one year. Both hyperprolactinemia at diagnosis and a lower tumor diameter independently predicted favourable endocrine outcome.Conclusions: Hypopituitarism is present in 80% of patients with NFPMA and nearly half of them will benefit from sustained improvement after surgery. Hyperprolactinae-mia at diagnosis and lower tumor dimensions are associated with favourable endocrine prognosis. This supports the option of early surgery in NFPMA patients with pituitary deficits independent of the presence of visual disturbances.
Ischemic Index and Distribution of Retinal Capillary Non-perfusion in Neovascular Glaucoma: a Retrospective Study
Authors: DeBoer Charles , Wong Brandon J. , Ameri Hossein 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the pattern of retinal ischemia in newly diagnosed neovascular glaucoma (NVG).Methods: This is a retrospective single-center cross-sectional study of patients seen at LAC+USC Medical Center from January 2015 to April 2020. Patients with newly diagnosed NVG and ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography (UWFA) without prior panretinal photocoagulation were included. A total of 11 eyes from 10 patients met inclusion criteria. Three zones centered on the fovea were defined: posterior pole (within 2 disc-fovea lengths), mid periphery (between 2 and 3 disc-fovea lengths), and far periphery (>3 disc-fovea lengths). Ischemic index was calculated in these zones using ImageJ software.Results: The etiology of NVG was from proliferative diabetic retinopathy (n=9) and central retinal vein occlusion (n=2). Patients were aged between 48-74 years old. Ischemic index was found to be 91% in the far periphery, 77% in the mid periphery, and 42% at the posterior pole. The total average ischemic index was 76%. There was a statistically significant difference between the far periphery and posterior pole and mid periphery and posterior pole.Conclusions: High levels of retinal ischemia were found with newly diagnosed NVG. The pattern of ischemia was more pronounced in the far periphery than posterior pole.
An Image Quality Comparison Study Between Homemade and Commercial Dental Cone-beam CT&nbsp;Systems
Authors: Tran Trang Thi Ngoc , Jin David Shih-Chun , Shih Kun-Long , Hsu Ming-Lun , Chen Jyh-Cheng 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Purpose: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been widely applied in dental and maxillofacial imaging. Several dental CBCT systems have been recently developed in order to improve the performance. This study aimed to evaluate the image quality of our prototype (YMU-DENT-P001) and compare with another commercial CBCT system made in Taipei, Taiwan (system A). Methods: The Micro-CT-Contrast Scale, Micro-CT Water and Micro-CT HA phantoms were utilized to evaluate the contrast to noise ratio (CNR), signal to noise ratio (SNR), uniformity, distortion, and the linear relation between image intensity and calcium hydroxyapatite concentrations. Another customized thin-wire phantom was used to evaluate the FWHM spatial resolution. These phantoms were scanned by the two CBCT systems using the same exposure protocol. Acquired data were evaluated using the image analysis platform designed by our lab, which followed ISO standard. Results: The SNR of our prototype YMU-DENT-P001 is nearly five times higher (prototype: 159.85 ± 3.88; A: 35.42 ± 0.61; p<0.05) while CNR is three times higher than system A (prototype: 329.39 ± 5.55; A: 100.29 ± 2.31; p < 0.05). The spatial resolutions recorded are 0.2446 mm in the prototype DENT and 0.5179 mm in the commercial system A. Image produced by the prototype is also better in terms of distortion level (0.03 mm in prototype, compared to 0.294 mm in A, p < 0.05). The linear relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and image intensity of both systems were similarly performed.Conclusion: Within the limitation of this study, our prototype DENT-P001 has potential to produce better image quality than system A in terms of spatial resolution, SNR, CNR, uniformity, and distortion.
Transparent water quality model induction in a reservoir affected by the rainfall-runoff process using a grammar-based genetic programming
Authors: Ham JongHwa , Hong Timothy Yoon-Seok 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Building a reliable water quality prediction model in the catchment is of importance both for understanding the process of these natural systems and providing a basis for water quality management decisions. Due to a rapid change of river flow during a Typhoon season in South Korea, water quality parameters in reservoirs are affected significantly within a short-time period by a rainfall-runoff process. Integrated conceptual hydrological and water quality models seem to be complicated to produce a good model calibration and prediction with reasonable generalizations under these dynamic condition of heavy rainfall events. As an alternative, this paper proposes an evolutionary model induction system based on grammar-based genetic programming (GBGP) to derive the transparent mathematical model for estimating the dynamic change of water quality parameters within a short-time period in an agricultural reservoir affected by the rainfall-runoff process during a typical Typhoon summer period. Results showed that the GBGP system performed to evolve accurate water quality models, expressed in the form of explicit mathematical formulae which could predict the concentration and load of COD, SS, T-N, and T-P during the heavy rainfall event as a function of easily measurable rainfall, cumulative rainfall, and flow rate. The performance of the water quality models evolved by the GBGP was superior to ANN and optimized pollutant rating curve (PRC) model, showing that it has the lowest RMSE value. The transparent nature of water quality models evolved by the GBGP may allow inferences about underlying processes to be made. This work demonstrates that complex dynamic water quality change affected by the rainfall-runoff process in natural catchments can be successfully modelled through the use of GBGP system without costly or time-consuming tasks required in the conceptual modeling approach.
The short and long-term implications of warming and increased sea water pCO2 on the physiological response of a temperate neogastropod species
Authors: Mardones Maria Loreto , Thatje Sven , Fenberg Phillip , Hauton Chris 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Global average temperatures and sea water pCO2 have rapidly increased due to the oceanic uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide producing severe consequences for a broad range of species. The impacts on marine ectotherms have been largely reported at short-term scales (i.e. from days to weeks); however, the prolonged effects on long-term processes such as reproduction have received little attention. The gastropod Ocenebra erinaceus is a key predator structuring communities on rocky shores of the French and UK coasts. Even though rocky shore species are regarded as being very tolerant to changes in temperature and pH, many of them are living near their upper tolerance limits, making them susceptible to rapid environmental changes. Here, we report that future mean sea water conditions (RCP8.5, + 3°C and ~ 900 µatm CO2) do not significantly affect the physiology and molecular response of O. erinaceus adults after 132 days. During the first fifty-days, there was a slight impact on oxygen consumption rates and body weight; however, after ninety-five days of exposure, gastropods relied on food resources to fully acclimate to the experimental condition. Despite this, it was after long-term exposure (~ 10 months) reproduction ceased in females exposed to these future sea water conditions. Therefore, in the short-term O. erinaceus appear to be capable of full compensation; however, in the long-term, they fail to invest in reproduction. Future research should take into account the combined results from both, short- and long-term effects to improve our projections of the ecological consequences of climate change.
Newton's Third Law in the Framework of Special Relativity for Charged Bodies
Authors: Yahalom Asher , Rajput Shailendra 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Newton's third law states that any action is countered by a reaction of equal magnitude but opposite direction. The total force in a system not affected by external forces is thus zero. However, according to the principles of relativity, a signal cannot propagate at speeds exceeding the speed of light. Hence the action and reaction cannot be generated at the same time due to the relativity of simultaneity. Thus, the total force cannot be null at a given time.
In a previous paper \cite{MTAY1}, we have shown that Newt\-on'n third law cannot strictly
hold in a distributed system, where the different parts are at a finite distance from each other. This is due to the finite speed of signal propagation, which cannot exceed the speed of light in the vacuum. A specific example of two current loops with time dependent currents demonstrated that the summing of the total force in the system does not add up to zero. This analysis led to the suggestion of a relativistic engine \cite{MTAY3,AY1}. As the system is affected by a total force for a finite period, the system acquires mechanical momentum and energy. Now the question then arises how can we accommodate the law of momentum and energy conservation. The subject of momentum conversation was discussed in \cite{MTAY4}, while preliminary results regarding energy conservation were discussed in \cite{AY2,RY,RY2}. Previous analysis relied on the fact that the bodies were macroscopically natural, which means that the number of electrons and ions is equal in every volume element. Here we relax this assumption and study charged bodies, thus analyzing the consequences on a possible electric relativistic engine.
Serine/threonine-protein kinase 24 is an inhibitor of gastric cancer metastasis
Authors: Chen Yi-Ling , Wang Chih-Yang , Fang Jung-Hua , Hsu Hui-Ping 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Gastric cancer patients often present with distant metastasis and advanced stages. Suppressing serine/threonine-protein kinase 24 (STK24, also known as MST3) is known to promote gastric tumorigenesis. Here, we investigated the association between STK24 and the metastasis of gastric cancer.Methods: CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 technology was used for genetic knockout of STK24 at the genomic DNA level in human MKN45 and mouse M12 gastric cancer cells. To assess the effects of STK24 knockdown, western blot, cell migration, and wound healing assays were conducted in vitro. An in vivo mouse model of liver metastasis was established and tested, and bioinformatics analyses were performed.Results: The knockdown of the STK24 gene enhanced cell migration and increased liver metastasis in the mouse model of gastric cancer. STK24-silenced tumors suppressed CD4+ T cells and induced the expansion of CD11b+Ly6C+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells and F4/80+ macrophages in the spleen of the mice. In MKN45 cells, STK24 silencing resulted in downregulation of E-cadherin (CDH1, Cadherin-1, or epithelial cadherin). In 38 matched specimens of gastric adenocarcinomas and normal tissues, we examined STK24 and CDH1 expression levels via western blot; a significant positive correlation was found between the expression levels of STK24 and CDH1 (R2 = 0.5507, P = 9.72 × 10−8). Furthermore, in Oncomine database and Kaplan-Meier plotter analysis, the loss of CDH1, increase in CCL2, and upregulation of CD44 were correlated with poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients.Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that knockdown of STK24 increases cell migration and metastasis. STK24 suppression is also positively correlated with CDH1 expression in gastric cancer metastasis. Having developed an experimental metastatic model of gastric cancer in syngeneic inbred mice, we have shown that STK24 is important for immune regulation and regulates CDH1 expression during gastric metastasis.
Effectiveness of Neural Mobilization on Pain, Range of motion, and Disability in Cervical Radiculopathy: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Rafiq Shazia , Zafar Hamayun , Gillani Prof. Dr. Syed Amir , Waqas Muhammad Sharif , Zia Amna , Liaqat Sidrah , Rafiq Yasir 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Cervical Radiculopathy (CR) is a disorder of the spinal nerve roots that is largely caused by space occupying lesion which can lead to nerve root inflammation and patient usually presents with radiating pain in his/her upper extremity known as cervical radiculopathy. The objective of the study was to compare the effectiveness of neural mobilization technique with conservative treatment on pain intensity, range of motion and disability.Methods: It was a double blinded randomized clinical trial; data was collected from Mayo Hospital, Lahore through convenience sampling technique. After taking consent from the patients, the patients fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected and randomized blindly and assigned through computer generated random number into two groups i.e. group 1 (neural mobilization), group 2 (conventional treatment). Pain intensity was measured on Numeric pain rating scale, range of motion measured with inclinometer and functional status with neck disability index (NDI). Data was analyzed using SPSS and difference in improvement before, after 02 and 04 weeks was noted and compared. Results: There was significant improvement in pain relief, neck disability and cervical ranges after the treatment in both groups compared to the pre-treatment status (p < 0.00) and when neural mobilization was compared , it was more effective technique than conventional treatment in reducing pain and neck disability (p < 0.00). But there was not statistical difference in mean score of cervical range of motion (p>0.05)Conclusions: The present study concluded that both neural mobilization and conservative treatment were effective as an exercise program for patient with cervical radiculopathy, however neural mobilization was more effective in reducing pain and neck disability in cervical radiculopathy.Trial registration: RCT20190325043109N1
Anaerobic codigestion of slaughter residues with agricultural waste of amaranth quinoa and wheat
Authors: Meneses-Quelal Orlando Washinton , Velázquez-Martí Borja , Gaibor-Chávez Juan , Niño-Ruiz Zulay , Gisbert Andrés Ferrer 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
The objective of this research is to experimentally evaluate the anaerobic co-digestion of slaughterhouse residues in the city of Guaranda with straw residues from agriculture, such as: amaranth, quinoa and wheat. The study was carried out on a laboratory scale using 311 ml biodigesters under mesophilic conditions of 37°C. Anaerobic co-digestion resulted in methane yields of 407 ml CH4/g VS, with a methane content in the biogas of 77% for the mixture of slaughterhouse waste and quinoa (RM-QU (25:75)). The increase in inoculum in the mixtures composed of slaughterhouse residues and quinoa increased the biodegradability between 17 and 22%. However, in the mixtures of slaughterhouse waste and amaranth (RM-AM (0:100)), a further increase in inoculum decreased biodegradability by 5%. To predict and simulate methane production, 5 kinetic models were used: modified Gompertz, logistic equation, transfer, cone and Richards. The cone model was the one that best adjusted the experimental values ​​with those predicted with an R2 of 0.982 to 0.999 and RMSE of 0.61 to 6.92 ml CH4/g VS. The calculation of the theoretical yield was carried out by stoichiometry and elemental analysis of the samples. Theoretical yields ranged between 480–564 ml CH4/g VS for all mixtures of RM with agricultural residues.
Multimodal of Ear and Face Biometric Recognition Using AARK Threshold segmentation and Classifier with Score level fusion
Authors: ALAGARSAMY SANTHAM BHARATHY , Murugan Kalpana 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
More than one biometric methodology of an individual is utilized by a multimodal biometric system to moderate a portion of the impediments of a unimodal biometric system and upgrade its precision, security, and so forth. In this paper, an incorporated multimodal biometric system has proposed for the identification of people utilizing ear and face as input and pre-preparing, ring projection, data standardization, AARK limit division, extraction of DWT highlights and classifiers are utilized. Afterward, singular matches gathered from the different modalities produce the individual scores. The proposed framework indicated got brings about the investigations than singular ear and face biometrics tried. To certify the individual as genuine or an impostor, the eventual outcomes are then utilized. On the IIT Delhi ear information base and ORL face data set, the proposed framework has checked and indicated an individual exactness of 96.24%
Engineering Disulphide-Free Autonomous Antibody VH Domains to modulate intracellular pathways
Authors: Frosi Yuri , Jiang Shimin , Jiang Shimin , Ramlan Siti Radhiah , Hew Kelly Hew , Engman Alf Henrik , Pillai Anil , Cheng Yue Xiang , Cornvik Tobias , Nordlund Pär , Goh Megan , Lama Dilraj , Verma Chandra S , Thean Dawn Thean , Lane David P , Asial Ignacio , Brown Christopher 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
An attractive approach to target intracellular macromolecular interfaces is to design small high affinity proteins. In this manuscript a stable, autonomous, human derived non-immunogenic, disulphide-free VH domain, has been engineered for intracellular expression studies. VH domains can be designed to possess a large dynamic repertoire of binders, as opposed to other scaffolds types that are highly rigid and possess fewer sites of random variation. Picomolar inhibitors were identified using phage display against the eIF4F complex, which is commonly hyper-activated in many cancers. These molecules were also shown to impair cellular proliferation and to reduce the expression of malignancy related proteins. Structural characterization elucidated that these VH domains bound eIF4E at the eIF4G interaction interface via a novel binding pose. Molecules able to mimic this pose and interfere with the eIF4F complex are potentially important for wide-ranging tumour therapy applications.
Impact of travel ban implementation on COVID-19 spread in Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea during the early phase of the pandemic: A comparative study.
Authors: Gwee Sylvia Xiao Wei , Yong Pearleen Chua Ee , Wang Min Xian , Pang Junxiong 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Introduction: Since January 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has elicited imposition of some form of travel restrictions by almost all countries in the world. Most of which persist to this day even as some restrictions have been gradually eased. It remains unclear if the trade-off from the unprecedented disruption to air travel was well worth in the course of pandemic containment.Methods: A comparative analysis was conducted on Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea’s COVID-19 response. Data on COVID-19 cases, travel-related and community interventions, socio-economic profile were consolidated. Trends on imported and local cases were analyzed using computations of moving averages, rate of change, particularly in response to distinct waves of travel-related interventions due to the outbreak in China, South Korea, Iran & Italy, and Europe.Findings: South Korea’s travel restrictions consistently lagged in terms of timeliness and magnitude. The first wave of travel restrictions against China was implemented 34 days after the outbreak in Wuhan, compared to 22-26 days taken by Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Restrictions against all countries came after 91 days, compared to 78-80 days for the other three countries. Taiwan and Hong Kong were the most efficient in adopting travel restrictions. Singapore’s belated measures and higher importation risk as compared to the other three Asian countries manifested in its deteriorating local transmission. The rate of change of imported cases fell by 1.08-1.43 across all four countries following the first wave of intervention against China, and by 0.22-0.52 in all countries except South Korea in the fifth wave against all international travellers. Conclusion: Travel restriction was effective in preventing COVID-19 case importation in early outbreak phase. However, evidence of its effect on local transmission was lacking. The impact of travel restrictions in containing epidemics cannot be disentangled from local non-pharmaceutical interventions concurrently implemented. Overall, measures should be complementary, with more emphasis on the latter to contain the outbreak effectively.
The Stigma of Digital Amputation: A Survey of Amputees with Analysis of Risk Factors
Authors: Bettlach Carrie Roth , Gibson Ella , Daines John M , payne Emma R , Vuong Linh N , Merrill Corinne M , Pet Mitchell Andrew 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Purpose: We aimed to quantify the stigma associated with digital amputation using the Neuro-QOL Stigma patient-reported outcomes instrument and examine the patient and injury factors associated with a more severe amputation stigma experience. Methods: This descriptive retrospective cohort study analyzed 164 patients who underwent digital amputation. Records were reviewed for age at amputation, sex, indication, laterality, level, number of amputated digits, and a diagnosis of depression that preceded amputation. Enrolled patients remotely completed the Neuro-QOL stigma computer adaptive test, a battery of PROMIS instruments, and a questionnaire clarifying personal/injury details. Multivariable analysis was used to identity factors associated with a more severe stigma experience.Results: Among 164 digital amputees enrolled, the observed mean Neuro-QOL Stigma score of 47.2 +/- 8 is slightly below the population mean of 50. Younger age, a worker’s compensation claim, and a diagnosis of depression at the time of amputation are each independently associated with a more severe stigma experience after digital amputation. Neither socioeconomic variables, anatomic details of the injury, nor mechanism were independently associated with Neuro-QOL Stigma. Conclusions: While we have previously targeted patients with more severe injuries for discussion of coping with physical stigma, our findings suggest that attention should perhaps instead be focused on digital amputees who are young, depressed, and/or involved with worker’s compensation. A surgeon may be of service to the at-risk patient by offering referral to a mental health provider who can offer depression treatment and/or support the patient’s process of coping and adjustment.