bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of scratching and friction on human skin in vivo
Authors: Fei Chengwen , Xu Yafei , Cao Ting , Jiang Wencai , Zou Ying , Maibach Howard 
Published: May 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate effect of scratching and friction on human skin function and functional differences between scratching and friction.MethodForty healthy volunteers were enrolled. Scratching and friction behavior was modeled by scalpel and sandpaper simulation to forearm for 80 times, respectively. Noninvasive bioengineering devices were used to measure basic skin physiological parameters and exfoliated stratum corneum collected and protein quantified. Parameters were recorded at baseline (BL) and after every 20 times interventions (20, 40, 60, and 80 times).ResultsCompared to BL, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) value increased significantly at both scratched and friction sites (P < .001) with a significant higher value for friction (P < .001). There was no significant difference in stratum corneum hydration (SCH) value postscratching (P > .05), while it decreased first and then increased significantly at friction site (P < .001). Roughness values (contract (CONT), variety (VAR), and scaliness (SEsc)) were raised significantly at both sites (P < .001). Net change in CONT and SEsc values of friction was higher than scratched sites (P > .05). There was no significant difference in blood flow after both scratching and friction (P > .05). Quantity of keratinocyte protein from friction sites was statistically higher than scratching after 80 times interventions (P < .05).ConclusionBoth noninvasive detections and protein quantification indicated more damage from friction, which may have significance for behavior guidance of patients with pruritus and implication for further investigation.
On the use of stereo‐digital image correlation for the alignment of a fatigue testing machine in accordance with international standards: A feasibility study
Authors: García Juan Manuel , Auclair Marie‐Thérèse , Morgeneyer Thilo F. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractStereo‐digital image correlation (SDIC) is used for the analysis and quantification of parasite bending stresses in a fatigue specimen due to its mounting in a misaligned load frame. The aim of this work is to provide an easy way to estimate the induced parasite bending stresses due to the load frame misalignment, using the out‐of‐plane displacement measurements obtained by SDIC and beam theory. Analytical solutions of parasite stresses as a function of out‐of‐plane misalignments are provided for flat fatigue specimens having (a) tangentially blending fillets between the uniform test section and the ends and (b) continuous radius between the ends. Simple procedures for aligning a commercial load frame in accordance with international standards are also provided. The bending stresses profile along the specimen main axis obtained by numerical simulations have shown a very good agreement with the results obtained by the analytical models. The proposed methodology could complement standard alignment techniques based on samples instrumented with strain gauges or, in their absence, even replace established procedures.
GIS.LSP: A soft computing logic method and tool for geospatial suitability analysis
Authors: Shen Shuoge , Dragićević Suzana , Dujmović Jozo 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis research study extends the Logic Scoring of Preference (LSP) as a general multicriteria evaluation (MCE) method by presenting and evaluating a new GIS.LSP method and software tool implemented within the geographic information systems (GIS) environment. For the evaluation and validation of the method and software tool, we describe a case study of urban densification suitability analysis using geospatial data for the Metro Vancouver Region, Canada. The criteria, LSP structures, and aggregators groups were developed from the perspective of urban developers who are key stakeholders in the densification process. We compare two group of aggregators and perform sensitivity and cost–suitability analysis of the LSP method by variation of input suitability scores, input attributes, and aggregators. The results indicate the GIS.LSP method is effective in providing a flexible and sensitive workflow to create realistic and justifiable outcomes from complex criteria that are bounded by stakeholders' goals and requirements.
Lower‐body dynamic exercise reduces wave reflection in healthy young adults
Authors: Stock Joseph M. , Chirinos Julio A. , Edwards David G. 
Published: May 2021

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?
There is a paradoxical reduction in augmentation index during lower‐body dynamic (LBD) exercise in the face of an increase in central pressure. To determine causality, the amplitudes of forward and backward pressure waves were assessed separately using wave separation analysis.

What is the main finding and its importance?
Reflection magnitude decreased during LBD exercise in healthy young adults and was attributable to an increased forward pressure wave amplitude and decreased backward pressure wave amplitude. This vasoactive response might limit the adverse effects of wave reflection during LBD exercise, optimizing ventricular–arterial interactions.

AbstractAcute lower‐body dynamic (LBD) exercise decreases surrogate measures of wave reflection, such as the augmentation index. However, the augmentation index is influenced by the combined effects of wave reflection timing, magnitude and other confounding factors external to wave reflection, which make it difficult to discern the origin of changes in surrogate measures. The relative contributions of forward (Pf) and backward (Pb) pressure wave amplitudes to central pressure can be determined by wave separation analysis. Reflection magnitude (RM = Pb/Pf) and the timing of apparent wave reflection return can also be determined. We tested the hypothesis that acute LBD exercise decreases RM and reflected wave transit time (RWTT). Applanation tonometry was used to record radial artery pressure waveforms in 25 adults (24 ± 4 years of age) at baseline and during light‐, moderate‐ and vigorous‐intensity exercise. Wave separation analysis was conducted offline using a personalized physiological flow wave to determine Pf, Pb, RM and RWTT. The RM decreased during all intensities of exercise compared with baseline (all P < 0.001; baseline, 43 ± 5%; light, 33 ± 6%; moderate, 23 ± 7%; vigorous, 17 ± 5%). The reduction in RM was attributable to the combined effect of increased Pf and decreased Pb during exercise. The RWTT decreased during all intensities of exercise compared with baseline (all P < 0.04; baseline, 156 ± 17 ms; light, 144 ± 15 ms; moderate, 129 ± 16 ms; vigorous, 121 ± 17 ms). Lastly, in a stepwise multilinear regression, Pf, but not Pb and RWTT, contributed to increased central pulse pressure during LBD exercise. These data show that wave reflection decreased and that central pulse pressure is most influenced by Pf during LBD exercise.
Microstructure based modeling of friction stir welded joint of dissimilar metals using crystal plasticity
Authors: Kulkarni Shank , Truster Timothy , Das Hrishikesh , Gupta Varun , Soulami Ayoub , Upadhyay Piyush , Herling Darrell 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The friction stir welding (FSW) process shows promising results in joining dissimilar metals which are otherwise almost impossible to join using traditional welding techniques. Being a new technique, the deformation and the failure mechanism of the joints made by the FSW process needs to be investigated. In this work, a joint between AZ31 Mg alloy and DP590 steel is modeled using phenomenological crystal plasticity formulation on the mesoscale in the form of a representative volume element (RVE). The interface of the two materials is modeled using a cohesive zone model. A parametric study has been performed to understand the effect of grain size and interface fracture toughness as well as strength on the mechanical performance of the joint. It was found that the grain size of AZ31 Mg alloy, as well as DP590 steel, has little effect on the overall joint performance. On the other hand, interface fracture toughness and strength have a significant impact on the mechanical properties of the joint.
Intensified lipid-lowering treatment with alirocumab in patients with coronary heart disease
Authors: Steffens Daniel , Bramlage Peter , Müller Julia , Dorn Cornelia , Paar W Dieter , Scheeff Celine , Kasner Mario , Rauch-Kröhnert U 
Published: May 2021

BackgroundAtherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability in the Western world.ObjectiveTo characterise adults with confirmed coronary heart disease (CHD) and primary heterozygous familial or non-familial hypercholesterolaemia or mixed dyslipidaemia who received alirocumab in a real-world setting.MethodsThis open, prospective, multicentre, non-interventional study, conducted in Germany, enroled patients with confirmed CHD who were treated with alirocumab according to its summary of product characteristics. Prescription was at the physician’s discretion and independent of study participation. Patients were followed for 12 weeks after alirocumab initiation.ResultsIn total, 245 patients (mean age 62.2 years; 34.0% female) were documented at 90 sites. Overall, 47.7% had familial hypercholesterolaemia, 48.9% non-familial hypercholesterolaemia and 43.8% mixed dyslipidaemia; 74.6% had hypertension and 29.2% diabetes mellitus. The most common lipid-lowering therapy in the 12 months preceding alirocumab was a statin, often in combination with ezetimibe (73.5%). Statin contraindications were documented for 46.2% patients and statin intolerance for 63.8%. The mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)-level prior to alirocumab was 150.5±51.6 mg/dL. Alirocumab prescription was in compliance with German national recommendations and/or European guidelines. The most common starting dose was 75 mg every other week. Overall, 57% patients reached target LDL-C levels (<70 mg/dL) after 12 weeks of treatment. Alirocumab was generally well tolerated.ConclusionIn a real-world setting in Germany, alirocumab was prescribed for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who had high baseline LDL-C levels with or without statin intolerance. Efficacy and safety were consistent with findings observed in the ODYSSEY Phase III programme.
Automatic Segmentation of Left Ventricle in Echocardiography Based on YOLOv3 Model to Achieve Constraint and Positioning
Authors: Zhuang Zhemin , Jin Pengcheng , Joseph Raj Alex Noel , Yuan Ye , Zhuang Shuxin 
Published: May 2021

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common type of disease and has a high fatality rate in humans. Early diagnosis is critical for the prognosis of CVD. Before using myocardial tissue strain, strain rate, and other indicators to evaluate and analyze cardiac function, accurate segmentation of the left ventricle (LV) endocardium is vital for ensuring the accuracy of subsequent diagnosis. For accurate segmentation of the LV endocardium, this paper proposes the extraction of the LV region features based on the YOLOv3 model to locate the positions of the apex and bottom of the LV, as well as that of the LV region; thereafter, the subimages of the LV can be obtained, and based on the Markov random field (MRF) model, preliminary identification and binarization of the myocardium of the LV subimages can be realized. Finally, under the constraints of the three aforementioned positions of the LV, precise segmentation and extraction of the LV endocardium can be achieved using nonlinear least-squares curve fitting and edge approximation. The experiments show that the proposed segmentation evaluation indices of the method, including computation speed (fps), Dice, mean absolute distance (MAD), and Hausdorff distance (HD), can reach 2.1–2.25 fps,

93.57
±
1.97
%

,

2.57
±
0.89

mm, and

6.68
±
1.78

mm, respectively. This indicates that the suggested method has better segmentation accuracy and robustness than existing techniques.
Integrating Electronic Health Record, Cancer Registry, and Geospatial Data to Study Lung Cancer in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Ethnic Groups
Authors: DeRouen Mindy C. , Thompson Caroline A. , Canchola Alison J. , Jin Anqi , Nie Sixiang , Wong Carmen , Jain Jennifer , Lichtensztajn Daphne Y. , Li Yuqing , Allen Laura , Patel Manali I. , Daida Yihe G. , Luft Harold S. , Shariff-Marco Salma , Reynolds Peggy , Wakelee Heather A. , Liang Su-Ying , Waitzfelder Beth E. , Cheng Iona , Gomez Scarlett L. 
Published: May 2021

Abstract

Background:
A relatively high proportion of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) females with lung cancer have never smoked. We used an integrative data approach to assemble a large-scale cohort to study lung cancer risk among AANHPIs by smoking status with attention to representation of specific AANHPI ethnic groups.

Methods:
We leveraged electronic health records (EHRs) from two healthcare systems—Sutter Health in northern California and Kaiser Permanente Hawai'i—that have high representation of AANHPI populations. We linked EHR data on lung cancer risk factors (i.e., smoking, lung diseases, infections, reproductive factors, and body size) to data on incident lung cancer diagnoses from statewide population-based cancer registries of California and Hawai'i for the period between 2000 and 2013. Geocoded address data were linked to data on neighborhood contextual factors and regional air pollutants.

Results:
The dataset comprises over 2.2 million adult females and males of any race/ethnicity. Over 250,000 are AANHPI females (19.6% of the female study population). Smoking status is available for over 95% of individuals. The dataset includes 7,274 lung cancer cases, including 613 cases among AANHPI females. Prevalence of never-smoking status varied greatly among AANHPI females with incident lung cancer, from 85.7% among Asian Indian to 14.4% among Native Hawaiian females.

Conclusion:
We have developed a large, multilevel dataset particularly well-suited to conduct prospective studies of lung cancer risk among AANHPI females who never smoked.

Impact:
The integrative data approach is an effective way to conduct cancer research assessing multilevel factors on cancer outcomes among small populations.
Text Message Medication Adherence Reminders Automated and Delivered at Scale Across Two Institutions: Testing the Nudge System: Pilot Study
Authors: Luong Phat , Glorioso Thomas J. , Grunwald Gary K. , Peterson Pamela , Allen Larry A. , Khanna Amber , Waughtal Joy , Sandy Lisa , Ho P. Michael , Bull Sheana 
Published: May 2021

Background:
Medication refill behavior in patients with cardiovascular diseases is suboptimal. Brief behavioral interventions called Nudges may impact medication refill behavior and can be delivered at scale to patients using text messaging.

Methods:
Patients who were prescribed and filled at least one medication for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and coronary artery disease were identified for the pilot study. Patients eligible for the pilot (N=400) were enrolled with an opportunity to opt out. In phase I of the pilot, we tested text message delivery to 60 patients. In phase II, we tested intervention feasibility by identifying those with refill gap of ≥7 days and randomized them to intervention or control arms. Patients were texted Nudges and assessed whether they refilled their medications.

Results:

Of 400 patients sent study invitations, 56 (14%) opted out. In phase I, we successfully delivered text messages to 58 of 60 patients and captured patient responses via text. In phase II, 207 of 286 (72.4%) patients had a medication gap ≥7 days for one or more cardiovascular medications and were randomized to intervention or control. Enrolled patients averaged 61.7 years old, were primarily male (69.1%) and White (72.5%) with hypertension being the most prevalent qualifying condition (78.7%). There was a trend towards intervention patients being more likely to refill at least 1 gapping medication (30.6% versus 18.0%;
P
=0.12) and all gapping medications (17.8% versus 10.0%;
P
=0.27).

Conclusions:
It is possible to set up automated processes within health care delivery systems to identify patients with gaps in medication adherence and send Nudges to facilitate medication refills. Text message Nudges could potentially be a feasible and effective method to facilitate medication refills. A large multi-site randomized trial to determine the impact of text-based Nudges on overall CVD morbidity and mortality is now underway to explore this further.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT03973931.
Does Lowering Low‐Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol With Statin Restore Low Risk in Middle‐Aged Adults? Analysis of the Observational MESA Study
Authors: Liu Kiang , Wilkins John T. , Colangelo Laura A. , Lloyd‐Jones Donald M. 
Published: May 2021

Background
It is unclear if statin therapy in midlife can restore low cardiovascular risk in hypercholesterolemic individuals.

Methods and Results
At baseline, we grouped 5687 MESA (Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) participants aged ≥50 years without clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) by Adult Treatment Panel III statin treatment recommendation and statin treatment status. We used Cox regression to compare the risks for coronary heart disease and CVD between the untreated group with low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) <100 mg/dL (reference) and other groups, adjusting for CVD risk factors. We also grouped participants by LDL‐C level (< or ≥100 mg/dL), coronary artery calcium score (0 or >0 Agatston units), and statin status (untreated or treated) with the untreated LDL‐C <100 mg/dL and coronary artery calcium=0 Agatston units as the reference. There were 567 coronary heart disease and 848 CVD events over 15 years of follow‐up. The hazard ratios (HRs) for coronary heart disease and CVD in the group with statin‐treated LDL‐C <100 mg/dL were 1.16 (95% CI, 0.85–1.58) and 1.02 (95% CI, 0.78–1.32), respectively. However, participants with coronary artery calcium >0 Agatston units, treated to LDL‐C <100 mg/dL had HRs of 2.6 (95% CI, 1.7–4.2) for coronary heart disease and 1.8 (95% CI, 1.2–2.6) for CVD.

Conclusions
Individuals treated with statins to LDL‐C <100 mg/dL had similar levels of risk for atherosclerotic CVD as individuals with untreated LDL‐C <100 mg/dL. However, individuals with coronary artery calcium >0 Agatston units have substantially higher risks despite lipid‐lowering therapy, suggesting that statin treatment in midlife may not restore a low‐risk state in primary prevention patients with established coronary atherosclerosis.
Factor V Leiden Does Not Modify the Phenotype of Acute Coronary Syndrome or the Extent of Myocardial Necrosis
Authors: Mahmoodi Bakhtawar K. , Eriksson Niclas , Vos Gerrit J. A. , Meijer Karina , Siegbahn Agneta , James Stefan , Wallentin Lars , ten Berg Jurriën M. 
Published: May 2021

Background
The prothrombotic defect factor V Leiden (FVL) may confer higher risk of ST‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), compared with non–ST‐segment–elevation acute coronary syndrome, and may be associated with more myocardial necrosis caused by higher thrombotic burden.

Methods and Results

Patients without history of cardiovascular disease were selected from 2 clinical trials conducted in patients with acute coronary syndrome. FVL was defined as G‐to‐A substitution at nucleotide 1691 in the factor V (factor V R506Q) gene. Odds ratios were calculated for the association of FVL with STEMI adjusted for age and sex in the overall population and in the subgroups including sex, age (≥70 versus <70 years), and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The peak biomarker levels (ie, creatine kinase‐myocardial band and high‐sensitivity troponin I or T) after STEMI were contrasted between FVL carriers and noncarriers. Because of differences in troponin assays, peak high‐sensitivity troponin levels were converted to a ratio scale. The prevalence of FVL mutation was comparable in patients with STEMI (6.0%) and non–ST‐segment–elevation acute coronary syndrome (5.8%). The corresponding sex‐ and age‐adjusted odds ratio was 1.06 (95% CI, 0.86–1.30;
P
=0.59) for the association of FVL with STEMI. Subgroup analysis did not show any differences. In patients with STEMI, neither the median peak creatine kinase‐myocardial band nor the peak high‐sensitivity troponin ratio showed any differences between wild‐type and FVL carriers (
P
for difference: creatine kinase‐myocardial band=0.33; high sensitivity troponin ratio=0.54).

Conclusions
In a general population with acute coronary syndrome, FVL did not discriminate between a STEMI or non–ST‐segment–elevation acute coronary syndrome presentation and was unrelated to peak cardiac necrosis markers in patients with STEMI.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifiers: NCT00391872 and NCT01761786.
Volcanic Aerosol Impacts on Hawai‘i Island Rainfall
Authors: Zuo Tianqi , Nugent Alison D. , Thompson Gregory 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIn recent decades, a significant rainfall decline over the island of Hawai‘i has been noted, with many hypothesizing that the drying is associated with the volcanic aerosols emitted from the Kīlauea volcano. While it is clear that volcanic emissions can create hazardous air quality for Hawaiian communities, the impacts on rainfall are less clear. Here we investigate the impact of volcanic aerosol emissions on Hawai‘i Island rainfall. Based on observed daily rainfall and SO2 emissions, it is found that days with high SO2 emissions have on average 8 mm day−1 less rainfall downstream of the Kīlauea volcano. Sensitivity studies with varying volcanic aerosol emission sources from the Kīlauea vent locations have also been conducted by the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model in order to examine the detailed physical processes. Consistent with SO2 air quality observations, it is found that the diurnal change in aerosol number concentration is strongly dependent on the diurnal variation of local circulations. The added aerosols are lofted into the orographic convection where they modify the microphysical properties of the warm clouds by increasing the cloud droplet number concentration, decreasing the cloud droplet size, increasing cloud water content, and enhancing cloud evaporation. The volcanic aerosols also delay precipitation production and modify the spatial distribution of rainfall on the downstream mountainside. The modification of precipitation on an island has far-reaching consequences. For this reason, we work to quantify the sensitivity of the orographic precipitation to volcanic aerosols and move beyond hypothesized relationships to work toward understanding the underlying problem.