bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prognostic Value of Leucocyte to High-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol Ratios in COVID-19 Patients and the Diabetes Subgroup
Authors: Wang Yuxiu , Zhang Jiaoyue , Li Huiqing , Kong Wen , Zheng Juan , Li Yan , Wei Qi , Li Qin , Yang Li , Xu Ying , Li Li , Wang Hanyu , Sun Hui , Xia Wenfang , Liu Geng , Zhong Xueyu , Qiu Kangli , Wang Han , Liu Hua , Song Xiaoli , Xiong Si , Liu Yumei , Cui Zhenhai , Chen Lulu , Zeng Tianshu 
Published: September 2021

BackgroundBlood parameters, such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, have been identified as reliable inflammatory markers with diagnostic and predictive value for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, novel hematological parameters derived from high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) have rarely been studied as indicators for the risk of poor outcomes in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Here, we aimed to assess the prognostic value of these novel biomarkers in COVID-19 patients and the diabetes subgroup.MethodsWe conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study involving all hospitalized patients with COVID-19 from January to March 2020 in five hospitals in Wuhan, China. Demographics, clinical and laboratory findings, and outcomes were recorded. Neutrophil to HDL-C ratio (NHR), monocyte to HDL-C ratio (MHR), lymphocyte to HDL-C ratio (LHR), and platelet to HDL-C ratio (PHR) were investigated and compared in both the overall population and the subgroup with diabetes. The associations between blood parameters at admission with primary composite end-point events (including mechanical ventilation, admission to the intensive care unit, or death) were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to compare the utility of different blood parameters.ResultsOf 440 patients with COVID-19, 67 (15.2%) were critically ill. On admission, HDL-C concentration was decreased while NHR was high in patients with critical compared with non-critical COVID-19, and were independently associated with poor outcome as continuous variables in the overall population (HR: 0.213, 95% CI 0.090–0.507; HR: 1.066, 95% CI 1.030–1.103, respectively) after adjusting for confounding factors. Additionally, when HDL-C and NHR were examined as categorical variables, the HRs and 95% CIs for tertile 3 vs. tertile 1 were 0.280 (0.128–0.612) and 4.458 (1.817–10.938), respectively. Similar results were observed in the diabetes subgroup. ROC curves showed that the NHR had good performance in predicting worse outcomes. The cutoff point of the NHR was 5.50. However, the data in our present study could not confirm the possible predictive effect of LHR, MHR, and PHR on COVID-19 severity.ConclusionLower HDL-C concentrations and higher NHR at admission were observed in patients with critical COVID-19 than in those with noncritical COVID-19, and were significantly associated with a poor prognosis in COVID-19 patients as well as in the diabetes subgroup.
Ultrafast Broadband Nonlinear Optical Response in Co-Doped Sb2Se3 Nanofilms at Near-Infrared
Authors: Sun Di , Fang Yu , Yan Xiaoyan , Shan Wen , Sun Wenjun , Meng Qingyu 
Published: September 2021

Transition metal-doped Sb2Se3 has become a heated topic caused by the strong nonlinear optical response and the ultrafast response time at high laser excitation. In this paper, the Co-doped Sb2Se3 with different doping amount (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 W) nanofilms were prepared by magnetron sputtering technology, and the nonlinear behavior of Co-doped Sb2Se3 nanofilms at near infrared were systematically studied. The results of the femtosecond Z-Scan experiment indicate that the Co-doped Sb2Se3 nanofilms exhibit broadband nonlinear response properties owing to the free carrier absorption, the Kerr refraction, the two-photon absorption, and the free carrier refraction. The nonlinear absorption coefficients of Co-doped Sb2Se3 nanofilms are from 3.0 × 10−9 to 2.03 × 10−8 m/ W under excitation at 800, 980, and 1,030 nm, and the nonlinear refractive index of the Co-doped Sb2Se3 nanofilms is from 4.0 × 10−16 to -3.89 × 10−15 m2/ W at 800, 980, and 1,030 nm. More importantly, Co-doped Sb2Se3 (1.5 W) nanofilm exhibits ultrafast carrier absorption (&lt;1 ps) and a stronger transient absorption intensity of ΔOD &gt; 6.3. The Co-doping content can controllably tune the crystalline degree, the ultrafast carrier absorption, the intensity of the reverse saturation absorption, the broadband nonlinear optical response, and the carrier relaxation time of Co-doped Sb2Se3 nanofilms. These results are sufficient to support their applications in broadband nonlinear photonic devices.
Broadband Nonlinear Optical Response of Nitrogen-Doped Diamond
Authors: Xiao Zhengguo , Fang Yu , Song Yinglin , She Yanchao , Tian Changhai , Zhang Jie , Cui Liqin , Li Yong 
Published: September 2021

A nitrogen-doped diamond crystal with (111) orientation was synthesized with an NaN3 additive in the FeNi-C system at a pressure of 6.5 GPa and a temperature of 1,310°C, using the temperature gradient growth (TGG) method. Spectroscopic properties such as the absorption spectrum and the Raman spectrum as well as the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum were studied. FTIR spectroscopy of the C-N vibrational modes at 1,344 and 1,130 cm−1 suggested a nitrogen content of 310 ppm. Its nonlinear optical (NLO) response was investigated using the Z-scan technique under the femtosecond regime. Due to the presence of nitrogen defects, the synthesized crystal performed large nonlinear absorption under both 800- and 532-nm wavelength excitations. However, intrinsic diamond only experiences nonlinear refraction under these two wavelength excitations. Its broadband NLO properties indicated that nitrogen-doped diamond crystals were suitable for the application of ultrafast optical devices.
Development of a Home-Based Light Therapy for Fatigue Following Traumatic Brain Injury: Two Case Studies
Authors: Connolly Laura J. , Ponsford Jennie L. , Rajaratnam Shantha M. W. , Lockley Steven W. 
Published: September 2021

Background and Objectives: Fatigue and sleep disturbance negatively impact quality of life following brain injury and there are no established treatments. Building on research showing efficacy of blue light therapy delivered via a lightbox in reducing fatigue and daytime sleepiness after traumatic brain injury (TBI), this paper describes the development and implementation of a novel in-home light therapy to alleviate fatigue and sleep disturbance in two case studies.Methods: During the 8-week lighting intervention, participants' home lighting was adjusted to provide high intensity, blue-enriched (high melanopic) light all day as a stimulant and dimmer, blue-depleted (low melanopic) light for 3 h before sleep as a soporific. The sham 8-week control condition resembled participants' usual (baseline) lighting conditions (3,000–4,000 K all day). Lighting conditions were crossed-over. Outcomes were measures of fatigue, subjective daytime sleepiness, sleep quality, insomnia symptoms, psychomotor vigilance and mood. Case study participants were a 35-year old male (5 years post-TBI), and a 46-year-old female (22 years post-TBI).Results: The relative proportion of melanopic lux was greater in Treatment lighting than Control during daytime, and lower during evenings. Participants found treatment to be feasible to implement, and was well-tolerated with no serious side effects noted. Self-reported compliance was &gt;70%. Both cases demonstrated reduced fatigue, sleep disturbance and insomnia symptoms during the treatment lighting intervention. Case 2 additionally showed reductions in daytime sleepiness and depressive symptoms. As expected, symptoms trended toward baseline levels during the control condition.Discussion: Treatment was positively received and compliance rates were high, with no problematic side-effects. Participants expressed interest in continuing the ambient light therapy in their daily lives.Conclusions: These cases studies demonstrate the acceptability and feasibility of implementing a personalized in-home dynamic light treatment for TBI patients, with evidence for efficacy in reducing fatigue and sleep disturbance.Clinical Trial Registration:www.anzctr.org.au, identifier: ACTRN12617000866303.
Experiences With Intravenous Thrombolysis in Acute Ischemic Stroke by Elderly Patients–A “Real World Scenario”
Authors: Héja Máté , Fekete István , Horváth László , Márton Sándor , Fekete Klára Edit 
Published: September 2021

Objectives: This retrospective single-center study aimed to investigate the risk factors, outcomes and complication rates in patients older vs. younger than 80 years treated with intravenous alteplase.Methods: Data of 1,253 thrombolysed patients were analyzed between January 1, 2004 and August 31, 2016. Vascular risk factors, stroke severity based on the NIHSS score, functional outcome using modified Rankin Scale (mRS), mortality and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) were compared between two subgroups (&lt;80 and ≥80 years).Results: 1,125 patients were included, 199 (17.6%) among them were aged over 80 years, majority (63.3%) were female (p &lt; 0.00001). Mean age was 68.2 ± 12.4 years, i.e., 64.7 ± 10.8 years and 84.3 ± 3.4 years in the younger and the older groups, respectively (p &lt; 0.001). Atrial fibrillation and pre-stroke anticoagulation among patients over 80 years was more likely (p &lt; 0.0005 and p = 0.02, respectively). NIHSS scores on admission and at 24 h were higher in elderly patients (p &lt; 0.0001). ASPECT score at 24 h was less favorable in elderly patients (p = 0.007) and was associated with worse outcome. At 3 months, 59.8% of the patients from the older group had an unfavorable outcome (p &lt; 0.0001), however 34.7% had independent outcome. The one-year- survival was significantly worse in the older group (p &lt; 0.0001). The incidence of SICH was lower among older patients. In a logistic regression model, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, diabetes mellitus and smoking were proven as a significant independent risk factors for worse outcome.Conclusion: Although, the outcomes were less favorable in patients over 80 years of age, our results support the feasibility of using intravenous thrombolysis among patients over 80 years of age.
Plasma-Derived Exosome MiR-19b Acts as a Diagnostic Marker for Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Wang Lei , Wu Jinxiang , Ye Naikuan , Li Feng , Zhan Hanxiang , Chen Shihong , Xu Jianwei 
Published: September 2021

BackgroundDiagnosis of pancreatic cancer (Pca) is challenging. This study investigated the value of plasma-derived exosome miR-19b (Exo-miR-19b) in diagnosing patients with Pca.MethodsPlasma was collected from 62 patients with Pca, 30 patients with other pancreatic tumor (OPT), 23 patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP), and 53 healthy volunteers. MiR-19b levels in plasma-derived exosomes were detected.ResultsPlasma-derived Exo-miR-19b levels normalized using miR-1228 were significantly lower in Pca patients than in patients with OPT, CP patients, and healthy volunteers. The diagnostic values of Exo-miR-19b normalized using miR-1228 were superior to those of serum cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) in differentiating Pca patients from healthy volunteers (area under the curve (AUC): 0.942 vs. 0.813, p = 0.0054), potentially better than those of CA19-9 in differentiating Pca patients from CP patients (AUC: 0.898 vs. 0.792, p = 0.0720), and equivalent to those of CA19-9 in differentiating Pca patients from patients with OPT (AUC: 0.810 vs. 0.793, p = 0.8206). When normalized using Caenorhabditis elegans miR-39 (cel-miR-39), Exo-miR-19b levels in Pca patients were significantly higher than those in patients with OPT, CP patients, and healthy volunteers. The diagnostic values of Exo-miR-19b normalized using cel-miR-39 were equivalent to those of CA19-9 in differentiating Pca patients from healthy volunteers (AUC: 0.781 vs. 0.813, p = 0.6118) and CP patients (AUC: 0.672 vs. 0.792, p = 0.1235), while they were inferior to those of CA19-9 in differentiating Pca patients from patients with OPT (AUC: 0.631 vs. 0.793, p = 0.0353).ConclusionPlasma-derived Exo-miR-19b is a promising diagnostic marker for Pca. The diagnostic value of plasma-derived Exo-miR-19b normalized using miR-1228 is superior to that of serum CA19-9 in differentiating patients with Pca from healthy volunteers.
N-Acetyl Cysteine Ameliorates High-Fat Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Intracellular Triglyceride Accumulation by Preserving Mitochondrial Function
Authors: Hang Weijian , Shu Hongyang , Wen Zheng , Liu Jinyan , Jin Zhiyuan , Shi Zeqi , Chen Chen , Wang Dao Wen 
Published: September 2021

Rationale: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a kind of metabolic disease characterized by liver steatosis. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) originating from dysfunctional mitochondria is the major pathophysiological contributor in the development of NAFLD and is thought to be a promising therapeutic target. A few reports demonstrate the antioxidative treatments for NAFLD.Methods: Male C57 mice were fed on a normal chow diet (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks. PBS or N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) was gavaged to mice. LO2 human liver cell line treated with palmitic acid (PA) was applied as a cellular model. Western blot, immunofluorescence, biochemistry assay, and pathological staining were used to investigate the mechanism of suppressing lipid accumulation of NAC.Results: NAC treatment was able to prevent HFD-induced NAFLD, as evidenced by less hepatic triglyceride accumulation and lipid droplet formation compared with that of mice in the HFD group. NAC could preserve mitochondrial function by inhibiting excessive mitophagy and promoting mitochondria biogenesis to prevent ROS production. NAC also activated Sirt1 and preserved its protein level and subsequently promoted mitochondria biogenesis via deacetylating PGC1a.Conclusion: We demonstrated that NAC may be an effective drug to treat NAFLD, which was related to its antioxidative and mitochondrial protective effect.
Role of Fluid and Sodium Retention in Experimental Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury
Authors: Gattarello Simone , Pasticci Iacopo , Busana Mattia , Lazzari Stefano , Palermo Paola , Palumbo Maria Michela , Romitti Federica , Steinberg Irene , Collino Francesca , Vassalli Francesco , Langer Thomas , Moerer Onnen , Saager Leif , Herrmann Peter , Cadringher Paolo , Meissner Konrad , Quintel Michael , Gattinoni Luciano 
Published: September 2021

Background: Ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) via respiratory mechanics is deeply interwoven with hemodynamic, kidney and fluid/electrolyte changes. We aimed to assess the role of positive fluid balance in the framework of ventilation-induced lung injury.Methods:Post-hoc analysis of seventy-eight pigs invasively ventilated for 48 h with mechanical power ranging from 18 to 137 J/min and divided into two groups: high vs. low pleural pressure (10.0 ± 2.8 vs. 4.4 ± 1.5 cmH2O; p &lt; 0.01). Respiratory mechanics, hemodynamics, fluid, sodium and osmotic balances, were assessed at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 h. Sodium distribution between intracellular, extracellular and non-osmotic sodium storage compartments was estimated assuming osmotic equilibrium. Lung weight, wet-to-dry ratios of lung, kidney, liver, bowel and muscle were measured at the end of the experiment.Results: High pleural pressure group had significant higher cardiac output (2.96 ± 0.92 vs. 3.41 ± 1.68 L/min; p &lt; 0.01), use of norepinephrine/epinephrine (1.76 ± 3.31 vs. 5.79 ± 9.69 mcg/kg; p &lt; 0.01) and total fluid infusions (3.06 ± 2.32 vs. 4.04 ± 3.04 L; p &lt; 0.01). This hemodynamic status was associated with significantly increased sodium and fluid retention (at 48 h, respectively, 601.3 ± 334.7 vs. 1073.2 ± 525.9 mmol, p &lt; 0.01; and 2.99 ± 2.54 vs. 6.66 ± 3.87 L, p &lt; 0.01). Ten percent of the infused sodium was stored in an osmotically inactive compartment. Increasing fluid and sodium retention was positively associated with lung-weight (R2 = 0.43, p &lt; 0.01; R2 = 0.48, p &lt; 0.01) and with wet-to-dry ratio of the lungs (R2 = 0.14, p &lt; 0.01; R2 = 0.18, p &lt; 0.01) and kidneys (R2 = 0.11, p = 0.02; R2 = 0.12, p = 0.01).Conclusion: Increased mechanical power and pleural pressures dictated an increase in hemodynamic support resulting in proportionally increased sodium and fluid retention and pulmonary edema.
Youth Attitudes and Participation in Climate Protest: An International Cities Comparison Frontiers in Political Science Special Issue: Youth Activism in Environmental Politics
Authors: Prendergast Kate , Hayward Bronwyn , Aoyagi Midori , Burningham Kate , Hasan M Mehedi , Jackson Tim , Jha Vimlendu , Kuroki Larissa , Loukianov Anastasia , Mattar Helio , Schudel Ingrid , Venn Sue , Yoshida Aya 
Published: September 2021

This article examines youth participation the school climate strikes of 2018 and 2019 (also known as #Fridays4Future), through an exploratory study conducted in seven diverse cities. Despite the international nature of the climate strikes, we know little about the factors that influenced youth participation in these protests beyond the global North. This matters because youth of the global South are disproportionately impacted by climate change and there is growing concern that the climate movement is dominated by narratives that marginalize the voices and priorities of Indigenous communities and people of color. In this context, the exploratory research reported here aimed to compare the attitudes of climate protesters (n= 314) and their non-protester peers (n= 1,217), in diverse city samples drawn from a wider study of children and youth aged 12–24 years, living in Christchurch (New Zealand); Dhaka (Bangladesh); Lambeth, London (United Kingdom); Makhanda (South Africa); New Delhi (India); São Paulo (Brazil); and Yokohama (Japan). Using cross-sectional data (N= 1,531) and binary logistic regression models, researchers examined three common explanations for youth participation in protest: availability (biographical and structural), political engagement (reported individual and collective efficacy of strikers and non-strikers), and self-reported biospheric values amongst participants. Results indicate that even in diverse city samples, structural availability (civic skills and organizational membership) predicted strike participation across city samples, but not political engagement (self-efficacy and collective efficacy). Youth who reported that ‘living in harmony with nature and animals’ was important for their wellbeing, were also more likely to strike than their peers. Descriptive statistics indicated that the majority (85 percent) of all protestors in this study agreed climate change was a serious issue and a startling 65 percent said that they think about climate change “all the time”. Reported rates of youth climate protest participation varied across city samples as did the extent to which participants reported having friends take part or expecting climate change to have a personal impact. While the study is exploratory, it points to the need for more extensive research to understand the diversity of youth participation in ‘global climate strikes’.
The Effect of Experimental Recuperative and Appetitive Post-lunch Nap Opportunities, With or Without Caffeine, on Mood and Reaction Time in Highly Trained Athletes
Authors: Romdhani Mohamed , Souissi Nizar , Dergaa Ismael , Moussa-Chamari Imen , Abene Olfa , Chtourou Hamdi , Sahnoun Zouheir , Driss Tarak , Chamari Karim , Hammouda Omar 
Published: September 2021

Purpose: To investigate the effects of placebo (PLA), 20 min nap opportunity (N20), 5mg·kg−1 of caffeine (CAF), and their combination (CAF+N20) on sleepiness, mood and reaction-time after partial sleep deprivation (PSD; 04h30 of time in bed; study 1) or after normal sleep night (NSN; 08h30 of time in bed; study 2).Methods: Twenty-three highly trained athletes (study 1; 9 and study 2; 14) performed four test sessions (PLA, CAF, N20 and CAF+N20) in double-blind, counterbalanced and randomized order. Simple (SRT) and two-choice (2CRT) reaction time, subjective sleepiness (ESS) and mood state (POMS) were assessed twice, pre- and post-intervention.Results: SRT was lower (i.e., better performance) during CAF condition after PSD (pre: 336 ± 15 ms vs. post: 312 ± 9 ms; p &lt; 0.001; d = 2.07; Δ% = 7.26) and NSN (pre: 350 ± 39 ms vs. post: 323 ± 32 ms; p &lt; 0.001; d = 0.72; Δ% = 7.71) compared to pre-intervention. N20 decreased 2CRT after PSD (pre: 411 ± 13 ms vs. post: 366 ± 20 ms; p &lt; 0.001; d = 2.89; Δ% = 10.81) and NSN (pre: 418 ± 29 ms vs. post: 375 ± 40 ms; p &lt; 0.001; d = 1.23; Δ% = 10.23). Similarly, 2CRT was shorter during CAF+N20 sessions after PSD (pre: 406 ± 26 ms vs. post: 357 ± 17 ms; p &lt; 0.001; d = 2.17; Δ% = 12.02) and after NSN (pre: 386 ± 33 ms vs. post: 352 ± 30 ms; p &lt; 0.001; d = 1.09; Δ% = 8.68). After PSD, POMS score decreased after CAF (p &lt; 0.001; d = 2.38; Δ% = 66.97) and CAF+N20 (p &lt; 0.001; d = 1.68; Δ% = 46.68). However, after NSN, only N20 reduced POMS (p &lt; 0.001; d = 1.05; Δ% = 78.65) and ESS (p &lt; 0.01; d = 0.71; Δ% = 19.11).Conclusion: After PSD, all interventions reduced sleepiness and only CAF enhanced mood with or without napping. However, only N20 enhanced mood and reduced sleepiness after NSN. Caffeine ingestion enhanced SRT performance regardless of sleep deprivation. N20, with or without caffeine ingestion, enhanced 2CRT independently of sleep deprivation. This suggests a different mode of action of napping and caffeine on sleepiness, mood and reaction time.
Gut Microbiome: A Potential Indicator for Differential Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder and General Anxiety Disorder
Authors: Dong Zaiquan , Shen Xiaoling , Hao Yanni , Li Jin , Li Haoran , Xu Haizheng , Yin Li , Kuang Weihong 
Published: September 2021

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) and general anxiety disorder (GAD) share many common features, leading to numerous challenges in their differential diagnosis. Given the importance of the microbiota–gut–brain axis, we investigated the differences in gut microbiota between representative cases of these two diseases and sought to develop a microbiome-based approach for their differential diagnosis.Methods: We enrolled 23 patients with MDD, 21 with GAD, and 10 healthy subjects (healthy crowd, HC) in the present study. We used 16S rRNA gene-sequencing analysis to determine the microbial compositions of the gut microbiome based on Illumina Miseq and according to the standard protocol.Results: GAD showed a significant difference in microbiota richness and diversity as compared with HC. Additionally, Otu24167, Otu19140, and Otu19751 were significantly decreased in MDD relative to HC, and Otu2581 and Otu10585 were significantly increased in GAD relative to MDD. At the genus level, the abundances of Sutterella and Fusicatenibacter were significantly lower in MDD relative to HC, and the abundances of Fusicatenibacter and Christensenellaceae_R7_group were significantly lower in GAD than in HC. The abundance of Sutterella was significantly higher whereas that of Faecalibacterium was significantly lower in GAD relative to MDD. Moreover, we observed that Christensenellaceae_R7_group negatively correlated with the factor score (Limited to Hopelessness) and total score of HAMD-24 (p &lt; 0.05), whereas Fusicatenibacter negatively correlated with FT4 (p &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, the GAD group showed significant differences at the genus level for Faecalibacterium, which negatively correlated with PTC (p &lt; 0.05).Conclusions: This study elucidated a unique gut-microbiome signature associated with MDD and GAD that could facilitate differential diagnosis and targeted therapy.