bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The five times sit to stand test: Responsiveness to change and concurrent validity in adults undergoing vestibular rehabilitation
Authors: Meretta Bridget M. , Whitney Susan L. , Marchetti Gregory F. , Sparto Patrick J. , Muirhead Robb J. 
Published: September 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if patients with balance and vestibular disorders would demonstrate clinically meaningful improvement in the Five Times Sit to Stand Test (FTSST) score as a result of vestibular rehabilitation and to determine the concurrent validity of the FTSST. Design: Retrospective chart review of 351 people who underwent individualized outpatient vestibular rehabilitation programs. Setting: Outpatient tertiary balance and vestibular clinic. Subjects: One hundred and seventeen patients (45 men, 72 women), mean age 62.7 years, with peripheral, central or mixed vestibular dysfunction. Main outcome measures: FTSST, gait speed, Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), and Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC). Results: The mean change in FTSST score was 2.7 seconds. Subjects demonstrated statistically significant improvements in the FTSST, gait speed, ABC, DHI, DGI and TUG after vestibular rehabilitation (p < 0.01). The responsiveness-treatment coefficient (RT) was calculated as 0.58 for the FTSST indicating moderate responsiveness. Logistic regression showed that an improvement in the FTSST of greater than 2.3 seconds resulted in an odds ratio of 4.67 for demonstrating clinical improvement in DHI, compared with a change less than 2.3 seconds. The univariate linear regression model for baseline FTSST predicting FTSST change was significant (p < 0.01) and predicted 49% of the change variance. The FTSST scores demonstrated a moderate correlation with gait speed and the TUG (p< 0.01). FTSST improvement subsequent to vestibular rehabilitation was moderately correlated with improvements in the DGI and the TUG scores (p< 0.01). Conclusions: The FTSST was moderately responsive to change over time and was moderately related to measures of gait and dynamic balance.
BACTERIAL DIVERSITY WITH PLANT GROWTH-PROMOTING POTENTIAL ISOLATED FROM Agave americana RHIZOSPHERE
Authors: RINCON-MOLINA CLARA IVETTE , RINCON-MOLINA FRANCISCO ALEXANDER , ZENTENO-ROJAS ADALBERTO , RUIZ-VALDIVIEZO VICTOR MANUEL , CULEBRO-RICALDI JOSE MIGUEL , RINCON ROSALES REINER 
Published: September 2021

ABSTRACT
Objective: Study the diversity of cultivable rhizospheric bacteria associated to Agave americana, and select native strains with potential as plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB).
Design/methodology/approach: The isolated bacteria were phenotypically characterized. The genetic diversity and identity of the strains were revealed by genomic fingerprints and by sequencing of 16S rRNA gene. Plant growth promoting ability and plant inoculation assays were evaluated to know the potential as PGPB.
Results: A total of 235 strains were isolated from A. americana rhizosphere and were classified within of 10 different bacterial genera. Rhizobium, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter had high potential as PGPB.
Study limitations/implications Cultivable approach was used to study rhizobacteria. A metagenomic study could expand the knowledge about the structure and diversity of bacterial community associated to A. americana.
Findings/conclusions Rhizosphere bacteria have potential use as biofertilizer for the cultivation and propagation of A. americana and other agave species.
Comparison of Surface Roughness When Turning and Milling
Authors: Mgherony Abdulwahab , Mikó Balázs , Farkas Gabriella 
Published: September 2021

The quality of a machined surface can be described by macro and micro parameters, like the size error, the form and position error or the surface roughness. The task of machining process planning is to find the best machining method and parameters, which ensure the required quality. In this article, the surface roughness in the case of turning and milling technologies is analysed. The effect of the cutting parameters (feed at turning and depth of cut at milling) and the tool parameter (corner radius) are investigated. The results are compared with the theoretical geometric model of surface roughness. In longitudinal turning as well as in constant Z-level milling, the geometric model of surface roughness is similar. The article presents whether the real surface roughness is similar too.
Koszty i korzyści rozwiązań telemedycznych
Authors: Ruzik-Sierdzińska Anna , Sierdziński Janusz 
Published: September 2021

Celem artykułu jest omówienie ekonomicznych kosztów i korzyści z telemedycyny na podstawie przeglądu dotychczasowych badań.W krajach rozwiniętych usługi telemedyczne stanowią ważną część usług ochrony zdrowia, w określonych wypadkach mogą zastępować tradycyjne metody diagnozowania i leczenia. Dostępność technologii nie jest już barierą, ograniczeniem pozostały natomiast różne regulacje prawne (lub ich brak) oraz finansowanie. W szczególności przy rosnących kosztach systemów ochrony zdrowia (z powodów postępu technologicznego w medycynie, zmian demograficznych i innych czynników społeczno-ekonomicznych) ważne są porównania kosztów i korzyści z usług telemedycznych. Niewiele jest metodologicznie poprawnych opracowań badających ekonomiczną efektywność wprowadzanych rozwiązań, m.in. z następujących powodów:

brak zaakceptowanej jednolitej metodologii do prowadzenia porównań,
koncentrowanie się na kosztach, a nie na szeroko pojętych korzyściach ekonomicznych,
ograniczone możliwości uogólniania wyników z powodu dużej heterogeniczności rozwiązań telemedycznych,
małe próby pacjentów i brak danych dla długiego okresu.

Podsumowując: obszar analiz kosztów i korzyści rozwiązań telemedycznych jest mało zbadany, jednak istniejące wyniki sugerują, że telemedycyna może być efektywna medycznie i opłacalna kosztowo.
Uncommon Bis-Amide Matrine-type Alkaloids From Sophora alopecuroides With Anti-inflammatory Effects
Authors: Luo Ding , Tu Zhenchao , Yin Wenjing , Fan Chunlin , Chen Nenghua , Wu Zhongnan , Ding Weilong , Li Yaolan , Wang Guocai , Zhang Yubo 
Published: September 2021

Four new alkaloids (1–4) belonging to rare examples of bis-amide matrine-type were isolated from the seeds of sophora alopecuroides. Their structures including absolute configuration were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) interpretation, and X-ray diffraction crystallography. Chemically, bis-amide matrine-type alkaloids can provide new molecular template for structural modification. Compounds 3–4 displayed obvious anti-inflammatory effects based on the inhibition of two key pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values from 35.6 to 45.8 μm.
Molecular Epidemiology, Antifungal Susceptibility, and Virulence Evaluation of Candida Isolates Causing Invasive Infection in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital
Authors: Chen Junzhu , Hu Niya , Xu Hongzhi , Liu Qiong , Yu Xiaomin , Zhang Yuping , Huang Yongcheng , Tan Junjun , Huang Xiaotian , Zeng Lingbing 
Published: September 2021

BackgroundThe incidence of invasive candidiasis is increasing worldwide. However, the epidemiology, antifungal susceptibility, and virulence of Candida spp. in most hospitals remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate invasive candidiasis in a tertiary care hospital in Nanchang City, China.MethodsMALDI-TOF MS and 18S rDNA ITS sequencing were used to identify Candida strains. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis was used for molecular typing; biofilm production, caseinase, and hemolysin activities were used to evaluate virulence. The Sensititre™ YeastOne YO10 panel was used to examine antifungal susceptibility. Mutations in ERG11 and the hotspot regions of FKS1 of drug-resistant strains were sequenced to evaluate the possible mechanisms of antifungal resistance.ResultsWe obtained 110 Candida strains, which included 40 Candida albicans (36.36%), 37 C. parapsilosis (33.64%), 21 C. tropicalis (19.09%), 9 C. glabrata (8.18%), 2 C. rugose (1.82%), and 1 C. haemulonii (0.91%) isolates. At a limiting point of 0.80, C. albicans isolates could be grouped into five clusters, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis isolates into seven clusters, and C. glabrata isolates into only one cluster comprising six strains by RAPD typing. Antifungal susceptibility testing revealed that the isolates showed the greatest overall resistance against fluconazole (6.36%), followed by voriconazole (4.55%). All C. albicans and C. parapsilosis isolates exhibited 100% susceptibility to echinocandins (i.e., anidulafungin, caspofungin, and micafungin), whereas one C. glabrata strain was resistant to echinocandins. The most common amino acid substitutions noted in our study was 132aa (Y132H, Y132F) in the azole-resistant strains. No missense mutation was identified in the hotpot regions of FKS1. Comparison of the selected virulence factors detectable in a laboratory environment, such as biofilm, caseinase, and hemolysin production, revealed that most Candida isolates were caseinase and hemolysin producers with a strong activity (Pz &lt; 0.69). Furthermore, C. parapsilosis had greater total biofilm biomass (average Abs620 = 0.712) than C. albicans (average Abs620 = 0.214, p &lt; 0.01) or C. tropicalis (average Abs620 = 0.450, p &lt; 0.05), although all C. glabrata strains were either low- or no-biofilm producers. The virulence level of the isolates from different specimen sources or clusters showed no obvious correlation. Interesting, 75% of the C. albicans from cluster F demonstrated azole resistance, whereas two azole-resistant C. tropicalis strains belonged to the cluster Y.ConclusionThis study provides vital information regarding the epidemiology, pathogenicity, and antifungal susceptibility of Candida spp. in patients admitted to Nanchang City Hospital.
Coseismic Deformation and Speculative Seismogenic Fault of the 2017 MS 6.6 Jinghe Earthquake, China, Derived From Sentinel-1 Data
Authors: Feng Wei , Bai Zechao , Ren Jinwei , Huang Shuaitang , Zhu Lin 
Published: September 2021

A MS 6.6 earthquake struck Jinghe County in Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on August 9, 2017. The earthquake occurred near the eastern part of the Kusongmuxieke Piedmont Fault (KPF) in the southwest of Junggar Basin. Using two pairs of coseismic SAR image data from the ascending and descending tracks from Sentinel-1 (European Space Agency), we processed the interferograms to obtain the coseismic deformation field. We calculate the fault slip distribution of the earthquake based on the elastic half-space rectangular dislocation model with the available location, geometry from seismic data and the coseismic deformation data. The results show that the earthquake deformation field has the typical characteristics of thrust faulting. The uplift deformation field is about 28 km long and 20 km wide. The maximum displacements of InSAR line-of-sight to the ascending and descending tracks are 49 and 68 mm, respectively. The main slip is concentrated at the depth of 10–20 km. The inverted seismic moment is equivalent to a moment magnitude MW 6.3. This result is very similar to the slip distribution from the seismological inversion. The maximum deformation area and the distribution of aftershocks are both on the west side of the mainshock. They mutually confirm the characteristics of a unilateral rupture. According to stress triggering theory, the aftershocks within 1 month after the mainshock in the layer 10–14 km deep may have been triggered by the mainshock, and the transferred stress increases the seismic risk of the eastern section of the KPF fault. After more than 1 year, a MS 5.4 earthquake occurred to the southwest of the MS 6.6 Jinghe earthquake. Beacause the stress drop change (&lt;0.01 MPa) is too small for the MS 5.4 earthquake to have been directly triggered. Based on the analysis of multisource data and the detailed geological investigation, the thrust Jinghenan fault which north of Kusongmuxieke Piedmont fault is inferred to be the seismogenic fault of the MS 6.6 Jinghe earthquake.
Effects of Water and Nitrogen Addition on the Seed Yield and Germination Characteristics of the Perennial Grass Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel
Authors: Zhao Dan-Dan , Ma Hong-Yuan , Wang Lei , Li Shao-Yang , Qi Wen-Wen , Ma Meng-Yao , Xia Jiang-Bao 
Published: September 2021

The reproductive characteristics of plants are likely affected by climate change e.g., changes in precipitation patterns and nitrogen deposition, but few studies have examined the effects of these ecological agents of selection on the seed yield and germination characteristics of perennial grasses. Here, we conducted a multiple-year pot experiment with Leymus chinensis, a common perennial grass in the eastern region of the Eurasian steppe zone, which was grown under three water treatments with and without nitrogen addition. The seed yield of L. chinensis increased with precipitation and was highest (7.0 g/pot) under 747 mm of precipitation with nitrogen addition (10.5 g/m2). Seed yield was positively correlated with heading number, tiller number, and grain number per spike, and the heading number was a critical factor affecting seed yield. Seed germination percentage and the time to obtain 50% germination were affected by environmental cues experienced by the mother plants.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Crop Yields From Winter Oilseed Rape Cropping Systems are Unaffected by Management Practices
Authors: O’Neill M. , Lanigan G. J. , Forristal P. D. , Osborne B. A. 
Published: September 2021

Winter oilseed rape is traditionally established via plough-based soil cultivation and conventional sowing methods. Whilst there is potential to adopt lower cost, and less intensive establishment systems, the impact of these on greenhouse gas emissions have not been evaluated. To address this, field experiments were conducted in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 to investigate the effects of 1) crop establishment method and 2) sowing method on soil greenhouse gas emissions from a winter oilseed rape crop grown in Ireland. Soil carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane emission measurements were carried out using the static chamber method. Yield (t seed ha−1) and the yield-scaled global warming potential (kg CO2-eq. kg−1 seed) were also determined for each management practice. During crop establishment, conventional tillage induced an initially rapid loss of carbon dioxide (2.34 g C m−2 hr−1) compared to strip tillage (0.94 g C m−2 hr−1) or minimum tillage (0.16 g C m−2 hr−1) (p &lt; 0.05), although this decreased to background values within a few hours. In the crop establishment trial, the cumulative greenhouse gas emissions were, apart from methane, unaffected by tillage management when sown at a conventional (125 mm) or wide (600 mm) row spacing. In the sowing method trial, cumulative carbon dioxide emissions were also 21% higher when plants were sown at 10 seeds m−2 compared to 60 seeds m−2 (p &lt; 0.05). Row spacing width (125 and 750 mm) and variety (conventional and semi-dwarf) were found to have little effect on greenhouse gas emissions and differences in seed yield between the sowing treatments were small. Overall, management practices had no consistent effect on soil greenhouse gas emissions and modifications in seed yield per plant countered differences in planting density.
More Precise Control of the In Vitro Enzymatic Degradation via Ternary Self-Blending of High/Medium/Low Molecular Weight Poly(trimethylene carbonate)
Authors: Cai Guiyang , Hou Zhipeng , Li Peng , Sun Wei , Guo Jing , Yang Liqun , Yang Qing 
Published: September 2021

To more precisely control the degradation rate of poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC), self-blending films were prepared via the ternary self-blending of pure PTMC with a molecular weight of 334, 152, and 57 kg/mol. The in vitro enzymolysis degradation of the ternary self-blending films was performed in lipase solutions. The results showed that ternary self-blending could control the degradation of PTMC by adjusting the mass ratio of high/medium/low molecular weight PTMC in the composition, and the PTMC334/PTMC152/PTMC57 films with a mass ratio of 1/4/16 showed mass loss of 85.96% after seven weeks of degradation, while that of PTMC334/PTMC152/PTMC57 films with a mass ratio of 1/1/1 was 96.39%. The former and latter’s degradation rate constant was 13.263 and 23.981%/w, respectively, and the former presented better morphology stability than the latter. The strategy of ternary self-blending could simultaneously bestow PTMC with a lower degradation rate and good morphology stability, indicating that ternary self-blending is an efficient way to control the degradation performance of PTMC more precisely.
Endovascular Device Choice and Tools for Recanalization of Medium Vessel Occlusions: Insights From the MeVO FRONTIERS International Survey
Authors: Kashani Nima , Cimflova Petra , Ospel Johanna M. , Singh Nishita , Almekhlafi Mohammed A. , Rempel Jeremy , Fiehler Jens , Chen Michael , Sakai Nobuyuki , Agid Ronit , Heran Manraj , Kappelhof Manon , Goyal Mayank 
Published: September 2021

Background: Endovascular treatment (EVT) for stroke due to medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) can be technically challenging. Devices and tools are rapidly evolving. We aimed to gain insight into preferences and global perspectives on the usage of endovascular tools in treating MeVOs.Methods: We conducted an international survey with seven scenarios of patients presenting A3, M2/3, M3, M3/4, or P2/3 occlusions. Respondents were asked for their preferred first-line endovascular approach, and whether they felt that the appropriate endovascular tools were available to them. Answers were analyzed by occlusion location and geographical region of practice, using multinomial/binary logistic regression.Results: A total of 263 neurointerventionists provided 1836 responses. The first-line preferences of physicians were evenly distributed among stent-retrievers, combined approaches, and aspiration only (33.2, 29.8, and 26.8%, respectively). A3 occlusions were more often treated with stent-retrievers (RR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.07–1.36), while intra-arterial thrombolysis was more often preferred in M3 (RR 2.47, 95% CI: 1.53–3.98) and M3/4 occlusions (RR 7.71, 95% CI: 4.16–14.28) compared to M2/3 occlusions. Respondents who thought appropriate tools are currently not available more often chose stent retrievers alone (RR 2.07; 95% CI: 1.01–4.24) or intra-arterial thrombolysis (RR 3.35, 95% CI: 1.26–8.42). Physicians who stated that they do not have access to optimal tools opted more often not to treat at all (RR 3.41, 95% CI: 1.11–10.49). Stent-retrievers alone were chosen more often and contact aspiration alone less often as a first-line approach in Europe (RR 2.12, 95% CI: 1.38–3.24; and RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.34–0.70, respectively) compared to the United States and Canada.Conclusions: In EVT for MeVO strokes, neurointerventionalists choose a targeted vessel specific first-line approach depending on the occlusion location, region of practice, and availability of the appropriate tools.
CircPTK2 Suppresses the Progression of Gastric Cancer by Targeting the MiR-196a-3p/AATK Axis
Authors: Gao Ling , Xia Tingting , Qin Mingde , Xue Xiaofeng , Jiang Linhua , Zhu Xinguo 
Published: September 2021

BackgroundGastric cancer is a type of malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality. It has been shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) exert critical roles in gastric cancer progression via working as microRNA (miRNA) sponges to regulate gene expression. However, the role and potential molecular mechanism of circRNAs in gastric cancer remain largely unknown.MethodsCircPTK2 (hsa_circ_0005273) was identified by bioinformatics analysis and validated by RT-qPCR assay. Bioinformatics prediction, dual-luciferase reporter, and RNA pull-down assays were used to determine the interaction between circPTK2, miR-196a-3p, and apoptosis-associated tyrosine kinase 1 (AATK).ResultsThe level of circPTK2 was markedly downregulated in gastric cancer tissues and gastric cancer cells. Upregulation of circPTK2 significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells, while circPTK2 knockdown exhibited opposite effects. Mechanically, circPTK2 could competitively bind to miR-196a-3p and prevent miR-196a-3p to reduce the expression of AATK. In addition, overexpression of circPTK2 inhibited tumorigenesis in a xenograft mouse model of gastric cancer.ConclusionCollectively, circPTK2 functions as a tumor suppressor to suppress gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through regulating the miR-196a-3p/AATK axis, suggesting that circPTK2 may serve as a novel therapeutic target for gastric cancer.
Immune-Related Adverse Events Associated With Outcomes in Patients With NSCLC Treated With Anti-PD-1 Inhibitors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhao Zhe , Wang Xinfeng , Qu Jinghan , Zuo Wei , Tang Yan , Zhu Huijuan , Chen Xiaoguang 
Published: September 2021

Background and ObjectiveAlthough anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibodies have exerted remarkable anticancer activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), it remains a challenge to identify patients who can benefit from these treatments. Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) may be associated with improved clinical outcomes after immune checkpoint inhibition. However, no conclusive evidence of this correlation has been summarized in patients with NSCLC receiving PD-1 inhibitors. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between irAEs induced by anti-PD-1 antibodies and clinical outcomes in patients with NSCLC.MethodsVarious databases were searched from their inception to January 9, 2021, followed by screening of eligible studies. Hazard ratios were used for the pooled analysis of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), while odds ratios (ORs) were utilized to pool objective response rates (ORRs) and disease control rates (DCRs). A random-effects model was applied to all analyses.ResultsA total of 26 cohorts, including 8,452 patients with NSCLC receiving anti-PD-1 antibodies, were enrolled in the study. Significantly improved OS (HR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.44-0.60; P &lt; 0.01) and PFS (HR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.43-0.58; P &lt; 0.01) were found to be correlated with irAEs. In addition, patients with NSCLC who developed irAEs after PD-1 inhibition demonstrated better responses to therapies, confirmed by pooled ORs of ORRs (OR: 3.41; 95% CI: 2.66-4.35; P &lt; 0.01) and DCRs (OR: 4.08; 95% CI: 2.30-7.24; P &lt; 0.01). Furthermore, subgroup analysis suggested that both skin and endocrine irAEs are closely correlated with a reduced risk of death, whereas pulmonary irAEs showed no association with longer OS.ConclusionsIn patients with NSCLC treated with anti-PD-1 therapies, the presence of irAEs was strongly correlated with better survival and response, suggesting its potential role as a predictive biomarker for outcomes after PD-1 inhibition.