bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Recombination frequencies of human leukocyte antigen loci in hematological malignancies among Turkish population
Authors: Kekik Cigdem , Temurhan Sonay , Ogret Yeliz , Akgul Sebahat Usta , Hayriye Senturk Ciftci , Besisik Sevgi Kalayoglu , Oguz Fatma Savran 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIntroductionAllogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a treatment option with growing performance for leukaemia, aplastic anaemia and genetic disorders. The frequency of MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) gene locus recombination is increased at loci close to the telomeres and in the female gender. The aim of the present study is to document the recombination events by pedigree diagrams with the primary goal to determine the frequency of recombination in a different ethnic population from mostly reported studies.MethodsAltogether 9545 allogeneic HSCT recipients and their family‐based potential donors (n:36231) were included in this retrospective study.ResultsRecombinations were determined in 118 (F/M:50/68) out of 9545 families enrolled on the study. These were present in 40 of the patients and 78 of healthy donors. The frequency of recombinations was 0.42% and 0.22%, in patients and donors, respectively. Of the 118 recombinations, 60 were detected in A locus (13 inpatients), 14 in B locus (3 inpatients) and 42 in DR locus (22 inpatients). In our study, due to recombinations in HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen)‐A,‐B,–DR loci, we found that some patient‐donor pairs became 6/5 matched instead of 6/6 (n:45), eliminating the allogeneic HSCT possibility for the patients from the full‐matched siblings.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the recombination frequencies in HLA loci among Turkish population and thus, providing informative data to the clinicians regarding the cross‐over possibilities in Turkish patients with haematological malignancies.
Optimal pricing strategy for a service provider in the presence of repetitive usage
Authors: Cao Ping , Zhou Wenli , Wu Jie 
Published: June 2021

AbstractPay‐per‐use (PPU) pricing and long‐term contract (LTC) pricing are widely adopted in access service industries. PPU pricing charges a fee for each service requirement, while LTC pricing allows consumers to subscribe to an unlimited use of the services in a given period. This study aims to reveal the link between consumers' choice and these two types of pricing schemes to determine the optimal pricing strategy for a service provider (SP). We propose a model with consumer usage that follows a compound Poisson process to analyze consumers' choice and calculate the expected revenue of the SP. Our analysis shows that covering the entire market is always optimal for the SP. Moreover, the SP should set the PPU fee high, and adopt the LTC scheme in the presence of the PPU scheme. If the SP is patient enough, then adopting both schemes will bring more revenue than only adopting the LTC scheme.
Clinical outcomes of modifying hypertension treatment intensity in older adults treated to low blood pressure
Authors: Aubert Carole E. , Ha Jin‐Kyung , Kim Hyungjin Myra , Rodondi Nicolas , Kerr Eve A. , Hofer Timothy P. , Min Lillian 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackground/objectivesHypertension treatment reduces cardiovascular events. However, uncertainty remains about benefits and harms of deintensification or further intensification of antihypertensive medication when systolic blood pressure (SBP) is tightly controlled in older multimorbid patients, because of their frequent exclusion in trials. We assessed the association of hypertension treatment deintensification or intensification with clinical outcomes in older adults with tightly controlled SBP.DesignLongitudinal cohort study (2011–2013) with 9‐month follow‐up.SettingU.S.‐nationwide primary care Veterans Health Administration healthcare system.ParticipantsVeterans aged 65 and older with baseline SBP <130 mmHg and ≥1 antihypertensive medication during ≥2 consecutive visits (N = 228,753).ExposureDeintensification or intensification, compared with stable treatment.Main outcomes and measuresCardiovascular events, syncope, or fall injury, as composite and distinct outcomes, within 9 months after exposure. Adjusted logistic regression and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW, sensitivity analysis).ResultsAmong 228,753 patients (mean age 75 [SD 7.5] years), the composite outcome occurred in 11,982/93,793 (12.8%) patients with stable treatment, 14,768/72,672 (20.3%) with deintensification, and 11,821/62,288 (19.0%) with intensification. Adjusted absolute outcome risk (95% confidence interval) was higher for deintensification (18.3% [18.1%–18.6%]) and intensification (18.7% [18.4%–19.0%]), compared with stable treatment (14.8% [14.6%–15.0%]), p < 0.001 for both effects in the multivariable model). Deintensification was associated with fewer cardiovascular events than intensification. At baseline SBP <95 mmHg, cardiovascular event risk was similar for deintensification and stable treatment, and fall risk lower for deintensification than intensification. IPTW yielded similar results. Mean follow‐up SBP was 124.1 mmHg for stable treatment, 125.1 mmHg after deintensification (p < 0.001), and 124.0 mmHg after intensification (p < 0.001).ConclusionAntihypertensive treatment deintensification in older patients with tightly controlled SBP was associated with worse outcomes than continuing same treatment intensity. Given higher mortality among patients with treatment modification, confounding by indication may not have been fully corrected by advanced statistical methods for observational data analysis.
Phase equilibria and microstructural constraints on the high‐T building of the Kohistan island arc: The Jijal garnet granulites, northern Pakistan
Authors: George Freya R. , Waters Dave J. , Gough Simon J. , Searle Michael P. , Forshaw Jacob B. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe Kohistan island arc represents a >50 km thick and completely exposed Late Cretaceous–Eocene Neo‐Tethyan island arc sequence between the Indian and Eurasian plates in the western Himalaya. At the base of the Kohistan Arc, the Jijal Complex exposes a continuous sequence from ultramafic upper mantle rocks to mafic rocks of the lower crust across the Moho transition zone. In the shallower mafic section of the Jijal Complex, widespread garnet–clinopyroxene gabbros are uniform in assemblage but show a spectrum of microstructural variation involving two distinguishable styles of garnet growth. Uncertainty surrounds the genetic origin of these equilibria across the sequence which have been variably proposed to derive either from (a) dehydration melting of amphibole‐bearing precursor rocks, (b) subsolidus recrystallization of gabbronorite, or (c) primary magmatic crystallization. Owing to extensive high‐T re‐equilibration, compositional records of magmatic precursors and the pre‐peak evolution across the complex have been erased. However, quantitative textural analysis evidences a progressively increasing departure from microstructural randomness from deep to shallow levels of the upper Jijal Complex. This is interpreted to reflect the increased propensity for shallow garnet–clinopyroxene gabbros to have been derived from solid‐state recrystallization of a cumulate gabbronorite precursor, resulting in the development of coronitic garnet microstructures. In the deepest portions of the mafic sequence, both cumulate textures and thermodynamic modelling attest to the basal levels of the Kohistan arc crust at ~10–14 kbar crystallizing primary magmatic garnet and clinopyroxene from low H2O (<6 wt%) basaltic–andesitic melts. Granulite facies metamorphism and re‐equilibration across the whole upper Jijal Complex—shown via phase equilibrium modelling to be associated with over‐accretion in the mid‐arc crust and a pressure increase of 2–3 kbar to 850–1,050℃ and 11–14 kbar—was followed by a period of approximately isobaric cooling across ~200℃ and amphibolitization. Compositions of low‐volume leucosome‐hosted garnet indicate melting occurred prior to, or during, this re‐equilibration period and melt reintegration simulations suggest that dehydration melting of amphibole‐bearing precursors played only a minor role in the genesis of the Jijal garnet–clinopyroxene gabbros. By combining field relationships, petrological and textural analysis, interpretations of mineral compositions, and phase equilibrium modelling, we therefore provide detailed constraints on crustal thickening and the thermal evolution of the lowermost arc crust.
Assessment of tomato‐based thick fluid diet for patients with dysphagia using a simple and cheap test
Authors: Maieves Helayne Aparecida , Teixeira Gerson Lopes 
Published: June 2021

AbstractSwallowing difficulty, also known as dysphagia, is a health condition that can be managed by different approaches, such as changing the viscosity of fluid foods with thickener agents. Tomato‐based beverages such as “gazpacho” and “salmorejo” are common foods much appreciated by the populations that adopt a Mediterranean diet, mainly in Spain. These beverages usually present a low viscosity, challenging to include in diets for dysphagia patients. Thus, this work aimed at evaluating the flow properties of tomato‐based beverages with or without the addition of thickener agents (based on maltodextrin or gum) using a simple and cheap method proposed by the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) to verify the suitability of using those products in a diet of patients with dysphagia. The study also evaluated the differences in using BD‐type syringes on the test. Results indicated that the type of thickener significantly (p < .05) affects the samples' flow properties, enhancing their rheological behavior. The type of syringe can also affect the results, as they present different Luer slip tips. The results revealed that tomato‐based beverages may have their properties improved simply by using low amounts of thickener agents (1.2–3.0 g 200 ml−1) and that the IDDSI test can be an alternative, cheap and straightforward method for evaluating these types of foods in hospital environments. Including tomato‐based beverages in the diet of patients with dysphagia may present many benefits as these products have a rich nutritional composition (fiber) in addition to biocompounds such as lycopene and phenolic compounds.
CaADIP1‐dependent CaADIK1‐kinase activation is required for abscisic acid signalling and drought stress response in Capsicum annuum
Authors: Jeong Soongon , Lim Chae Woo , Lee Sung Chul 
Published: June 2021

Summary

Induction of the abscisic acid (ABA) signalling network is associated with various stress conditions, including cold, high salinity and drought. As core ABA signalling components, group A type 2C protein phosphatases (PP2Cs) interact with and inhibit snf1‐related protein kinase2s.

Here, we isolated and characterised the pepper mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase kinase CaADIK1, which interacts with the group A PP2C CaADIP1. CaADIK1 transcripts were induced by abiotic stresses, and CaADIK1 localised in the nucleus and cytoplasm. We verified that CaADIP1 inhibits the autokinase activity of CaADIK1; moreover, the kinase activity of CaADIK1 is enhanced by drought stress.

We performed genetic analysis using CaADIK1‐silenced pepper and CaADIK1‐overexpressing (OX) Arabidopsis plants. CaADIK1‐silenced pepper plants showed drought‐sensitive phenotypes, whereas CaADIK1‐OX Arabidopsis plants showed ABA‐sensitive and drought‐tolerant phenotypes. In CaADIK1K32N‐OX Arabidopsis plants mutated at the ATP‐binding site, the ABA‐insensitive and drought‐sensitive phenotypes were restored.

Taken together, our findings show that CaADIK1 positively regulates the ABA‐dependent drought stress response and is inhibited by CaADIP1.
THE RE‐DISCOVERY OF CONTEMPLATION THROUGH SCIENCE
Authors: McLeish Tom 
Published: June 2021

AbstractSome of the early‐modern changes in the social framing of science, while often believed to be essential, are shown to be contingent. They contribute to the flawed public narrative around science today, and especially to the misconceptions around science and religion. Four are examined in detail, each of which contributes to the demise of the contemplative stance that science both requires and offers. They are: (1) a turn from an immersed subject to the pretense of a pure objectivity, (2) a turn from imagination as a legitimate pathway to knowledge, (3) a turn from shared and participative science to a restricted professionalism, and (4) an overprosaic reading of the metaphor of the “Book of Nature.” All four, but especially the imperative to consider reading nature as poetry, and a deeper examination of the entanglements between poetry and theoretical science, draw unavoidably on theological ideas, and contribute to a developing “theology of science.”
Devices measuring transepidermal water loss of the skin: a systematic review protocol of measurement properties
Authors: Klotz Tanja , Maddern Guy , Caplash Yugesh , Wagstaff Marcus 
Published: June 2021

ABSTRACT

Objective:
The objective of this review is to examine the reliability and measurement error of devices that measure transepidermal water loss.

Introduction:
Transepidermal water loss is a physiological property of skin that increases when the epidermis is damaged. It is, therefore, a commonly utilized measure of skin barrier integrity. Devices measuring transepidermal water loss are available as open, semi-open, or closed chamber. Studies that examine the similarities and differences between transepidermal water loss measurement devices are available. However, there has not been a systematic review to comprehensively collate and critique these studies. The aim of this review will be to synthesize the data from these studies to aid in selection and use of transepidermal water loss measurement devices in clinical practice or research.

Inclusion criteria:
Studies examining the reliability and/or measurement error of transepidermal water loss measurement devices will be included. Studies that examine a single device to demonstrate how different handling affects measurements will also be included. Studies that only report on measurement of transepidermal water loss outcomes without examination of reliability and/or measurement error will be excluded.

Methods:
The search strategy will aim to locate published and unpublished studies. Databases to be searched will include PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science, utilizing identified keywords and limited to studies in English. Gray literature sources will be searched to identify any unpublished documents. Study selection will adhere to the inclusion criteria and then be assessed by two reviewers for methodological quality utilizing COSMIN (COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments) guidelines and risk of bias tools. Extracted data will be presented in a narrative synthesis and as tables and figures to aid data presentation.
Advanced Enterprise Asset Management Systems: Improve Predictive Maintenance and Asset Performance by Leveraging Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT)
Authors: Bhanji Sandeep , Shotz Howard , Tadanki Sravani , Miloudi Youssef , Warren Patrick 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Advanced Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) is an approach through which an organization’s assets are systematically and proactively managed throughout their lifecycle — from installation through disposition. The objective of EAM is to prolong the service life and maximize utilization of the assets via adoption of leading-edge standards, practices, and technology. Organizations that implement advanced EAM benefit from reduced operating expenses (OPEX), reduced capital replacement expenses (CAPEX), increased uptime, and overall higher quality asset capability within their portfolio.
Successful EAM leverages ISO55000 & IAM 2.0 standards to implement predictive, proactive and reliability centered maintenance best practices.
Implementing an EAM provides leading edge technology to the rail industry to track and audit maintenance work using mobility tools, heads-up virtual reality displays, augmented reality expertise and the Internet of Things (IoT); combined with artificial intelligence and machine learning to bolster predictive maintenance and simulate asset performance based on different scenarios.
EAM will evolve rapidly following the world’s rapid transformation into the IoT over the next decade. As rail and transit assets become outfitted with interconnected intelligent sensors whose outputs are collected via active and passive devices, real-time data is available for EAM to track, plan and upgrade assets.
As systems are modernized, EAM will leverage the IoT revolution to provide critical information to operations in planning railway management scenarios, including predictive maintenance functionality and edge analytics.
Battery Electric Locomotives & Battery Tenders: Operational & Infrastructure Challenges to Widespread Adoption
Authors: Iden Michael E. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The potential use of large storage batteries to provide onboard propulsion energy for freight railroads is gaining significant attention. Even though at least 126 Battery Electric Locomotives have been tested, built and operated in the U.S. since 1920, diesel-electric locomotives remain dominant. Several new Battery Electric Locomotives (BELs) are entering operation in the U.S., Brazil and Germany, including a 2.4 MWh experimental BEL for over-the-road service and a 2.4 MWh BEL for switching service. An alternative approach is the use of Battery Tenders (BTs) to provide supplemental power to modified AC diesel-electric locomotives (the Tender supplements or temporarily replaces the carbon-emitting diesel engine power plant). Any significant shift from diesel-electric to battery propulsion by freight railroads will be as complex and disruptive as their conversion from steam to diesel-electric locomotives between 1940 and 1960. Commercial adoption of battery propulsion is not readily guaranteed, and several barriers to use must be overcome. This paper identifies and investigates some of those barriers.
A Statistical Approach to Evaluating Wheel-Rail Contact Dynamics
Authors: Hosseini Sayedmohammad , Hosseinian Ahangarnejad Arash , Radmehr Ahmad , Tajaddini Ali , Ahmadian Mehdi 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
This paper provides a statistical analysis of the effects of wheel load, angle of attack (AoA), and creepage on longitudinal traction force at the wheel-rail contact using experimental data collected on the Virginia Tech-Federal Railroad Administration (VT-FRA) Roller Rig. The VT-FRA Roller Rig is a unique piece of equipment designed and built with the specific goal of evaluating the wheel-rail contact mechanics and dynamics with a high degree of precision.
Longitudinal traction forces are of great importance to the railroad industry since they provide the motive power needed to move a train. Various experiments are conducted in different settings to study the relationship between the aforementioned variables and the longitudinal traction force. The test data is split into “training” and “testing” sets, and the training sets (a total of four) are used to entertain statistical models in a standard parametric regression framework. The study carefully assesses whether the assumptions of the classical linear regression model hold by studying the empirical histogram and the normal Q-Q plot of the residuals.
In the case of non-linearities, different transformations are applied to the explanatory variable to find the closest functional form that captures the relationship between the response and the explanatory variables. The developed models are then compared with their non-parametric counterparts such as natural cubic splines in terms of goodness of fit, and prediction error on the testing set. The study develops regression models that are able to accurately explain the relationship between longitudinal traction and creepage and AoA. The models are intended to be used for predicting traction under various operating conditions.
A Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) System for Electromechanical Braking (EMB) Systems in Trains
Authors: Weng Jingjing , Tian Chun , Wu Mengling , Ma Tianhe 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Electromechanical brake (EMB) is a novel braking mode for railway trains. The reliability of the braking system is important for railway system safety. According to the RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety) requirements for railway applications, the key issues of prognostics and health management (PHM) for EMB systems are discussed at first. Consequently, the dominant tasks of the PHM system are confirmed, containing the battery State-of-Charge (SOC) and State-of-Health (SOH) estimation, electric components condition monitor, and mechanical crack prediction. Then the critical failure modes of the EMB system and their failure mechanisms are analyzed. Based on the above analysis, a PHM system developed for EMB systems and its working flow are introduced. The vehicle operation parameters, the brake control commands, and the sensor signals are inputs of the PHM system. These inputs are processed and gathered as health indicators. Then the PHM system adopts the physical model or the hybrid algorithms to track the failure mode and components. Finally, the PHM system locates the health stage of the EMB system. The primary health indicators for EMB systems are the braking distance and emergency battery capacity. And the health indicators for components are mapped with the corresponding failure modes. The estimation for the battery SOC and SOH is established based on the test results of battery properties. The model-based and data-driven hybrid method is utilized to detect the crack growth of mechanical components and the degradation in electric properties. The PHM system is useful for condition-based maintenance. And it is meaningful for the reliability and safety improvement of the EMB systems.
Aluminum Stainless Steel Conductor Technology: Current Adoption by North American Transit Authorities
Authors: Forman Keith 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Since the early years of railway electrification, 3rd rail conductors have evolved from steel to aluminum/steel composite to aluminum/stainless steel composition. Aluminum stainless steel (ALSS) conductors are currently in use in approximately 75% of the nearly 20,000 km of 3rd rail systems worldwide and continue to gain acceptance by North American transit authorities.
Electrical efficiency improvement with ALSS ranges from 1.6 to 2.5 times that of steel aluminum and steel rails. At 33% of the weight of steel rail and 60% of aluminum-steel composite rail, ALSS offers considerable costs-savings in freight, handling, and installation. Though electrical efficiency and light weight are among the more widely known benefits of ALSS 3rd rail, durability has significantly improved since the introduction of ALSS technology in the late 20th Century.
The implementation of signaling technologies such as CBTC has enabled increased train throughput; however the lack of necessary available power (voltage) to support these headways can be a limiting factor to capacity improvements. Upgrading legacy 3rd rail to ALSS is a cost-effective means of increasing available power with minimal disruption. Drop-in replacement profiles of ALSS 3rd rail have been developed for several common legacy profiles to include 150lb steel and 85C, facilitating replacement of existing 3rd rail.
This paper examines the technical and economic aspects of aluminum/stainless steel 3rd rail and its adoption by several North American transit authorities. The author explains the characteristics, benefits and limitations of aluminum stainless steel 3rd rail with comparisons to legacy steel and steel-aluminum power rails.