bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inflammatory factors are crucial for the pathogenesis of post-traumatic osteoarthritis confirmed by a novel porcine model: “Idealized” anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction” and gait analysis
Authors: Zhao Ruipeng , Dong Zhengquan , Wei Xiaochun , Gu Xiaodong , Han Pengfei , Lv Zhi , Wu Hongru , Yan Yanxia , Huang Lingan , Li Haoqian , Li Fei , Li Pengcui 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: The study was performed to determine whether idealized anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (IACL-R) restores normal gait features, and whether inflammatory factors are involved in the pathogenesis of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA).Methods: Fourteen mature female minipigs were allocated to a sham group (n = 7) or an IACL-R group (n = 7). Load asymmetry during gait was recorded using a pressure-sensing walkway measurement system to evaluate the gait features of the right knee joint before and after surgery. Inflammatory factors (including interleukin [IL]-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-18, tumor necrosis factor-α, and granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor) in synovial fluid were measured using Luminex assays before and after surgery. Cartilage integrity and the subchondral bone plate of the right knee were evaluated using histology and imaging at 3 months postoperatively.Results: Swing time and stance time returned to their preoperative values on day 31, while maximum force, contact area, peak force ,and impulse returned to their preoperative values on day 45 after the surgery in the IACL-R group (P = 0.073, 0.053, 0.107, 0.052, 0.152, and 0.059, respectively).Thus, IACL-R restored normal gait. Compared with their preoperative concentrations, all tested inflammatory factors showed significantly increased concentrations in the synovial fluid in the IACL-R group, especially at 3, 7, and 15 days postoperatively. X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and histological data showed severe cartilage damage in the IACL-R model.Conclusion: IACL-R restored normal gait features but caused significant cartilage damage, indicating that significantly elevated inflammatory factors maybe crucial for the pathogenesis of PTOA.
EMILIN2 Correlated With Its Methylation and Immune Infiltration Could Be an Independent Prognostic Biomarker in LGG
Authors: Wang Li-chong , Zhang Zhe , Tan Zi-long , Lv Qiao-li , Chen Shu-hui , Shen Xiao-Li 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Low-grade gliomas (LGGs) are slow-growing brain cancer in central nervous system neoplasms. EMILIN2 is an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein which could influence the progress of some tumour which is unclear in LGG. In our study, the methylation, expression, prognosis and immune value of EMILIN2 were analysed in LGG through bioinformatics analysis. we first analysed the LGG data from TCGA and discovered that the EMILIN2 expression, negatively correlated to the EMILIN2 methylation could predict a poor prognosis and associated with different clinical parameters. Moreover, univariate and multivariate Cox regression were performed in CGGA showed that the EMILIN2 could be an independent prognostic biomarker in LGG. Finally, EMILIN2 expression showed a correlation with gene makers in some immune cells which identified the significance of EMILIN2 in immune infiltration. In conclusion, EMILIN2 could act as an independent prognostic biomarker which might be associated with the malignancy and development of gliomas and play a crucial role in glioma in immune infiltration.
Deriving the Fluctuation Theorem for Information-Transmission Systems Using a Cyclic Chain-Reaction Sequence
Authors: Tsuruyama Tatsuaki 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Chemical chain-reactions are pathways that can transmit information, as demonstrated by signal-transduction reactions in cell biology. In this study, we defined entropy as the logarithm of the concentration ratio of chemical species and considered the channel capacity for information transmission by maximizing the entropy. We hypothesized that the reaction chain has an orientation in which the reaction time for the reverse reaction is sufficiently long. According to this model, the logarithm of the forward and reverse transitional probability ratio was found to indicate the entropy-time average per unit reaction time, corresponding to the fluctuation theorem for thermodynamics regarding entropy production rate. This conclusion illuminates the process of signal transduction in cells and other biochemical systems and may provide insights into the relation between thermodynamic and information entropy.
Hidden Markov Model based Stride Segmentation on Unsupervised Free-living Gait Data in Parkinson’s Disease Patients
Authors: Roth Nils , Küderle Arne , Ullrich Martin , Gladow Till , Marxreiter Franz , Klucken Jochen , Eskofier Bjoern , Kluge Felix 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: To objectively assess a patient's gait, a robust identification of stride borders is one of the first steps in inertial sensor-based mobile gait analysis pipelines. While many different methods for stride segmentation have been presented in the literature, an out-of-lab evaluation of respective algorithms on free-living gait is still missing.

Method : To address this issue, we present a comprehensive free-living evaluation dataset, including 146.574 semi-automatic labeled strides of 28 Parkinson's Disease patients. This dataset was used to evaluate the segmentation performance of a new Hidden Markov Model (HMM) based stride segmentation approach compared to an available dynamic time warping (DTW) based method.

Results: The proposed HMM achieved a mean F1-score of 92.1% and outperformed the DTW approach significantly. Further analysis revealed a dependency of segmentation performance to the number of strides within respective walking bouts. Shorter bouts (<30 strides) resulted in worse performance, which could be related to more heterogeneous gait and an increased diversity of different stride types in short free-living walking bouts. In contrast, the HMM reached F1-scores of more than 96.2% for longer bouts (>50 strides). Furthermore, we showed that an HMM, which was trained on at-lab data only, could be transferred to a free-living context with a negligible decrease in performance.

Conclusion: The generalizability of the proposed HMM is a promising feature, as fully labeled free-living training data might not be available for many applications. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first evaluation of stride segmentation performance on a large scale free-living dataset. Our proposed HMM-based approach was able to address the increased complexity of free-living gait data, and thus will help to enable a robust assessment of stride parameters in future free-living gait analysis applications
Development characteristic and formation mechanism analysis of collapse sinkholes in Wugaishan town, Chenzhou city, Hunan province, China
Authors: Pan Zongyuan , Chen Xuejun , Yang Xin , Song Yu , Ban Rulong , Zhang Mingzhi 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
The cover collapse sinkholes occurred and concentrated in Wugaishan town, Chen zhou city since 1996. The results are combined with results of site investigation, geophysical prospecting and in situ groundwater monitoring data, allowing the development characteristics and formation mechanism of surficial collapse incidents to be summarized. Collapse sinkholes are significantly active in recent years and mostly develop in the rainy season ranging from April to June and generally show a zonal distribution along the topography of study area from SW to NE. 92.31 % of total collapse events occurred in the thickness of overburden material ranged from 0 to 15 m, which indicated that overlying material less than 15 m was easier to collapse. The results show that collapse sinkholes have strong relationship with characteristic of overburden material, which sharply decrease in internal physical and mechanical property of bottom layer. Furthermore, substantial cavities formed within bedrock are the best transport channels and storage spaces for the unconsolidated material, especially under the condition of dynamic undulation of groundwater level. The formation mechanism of collapse sinkhole is divided into three types: infiltration erosion, coupling air implosion with vacuum cavitation and saturation erosion. Each formation mechanism is related to changes of groundwater level. When groundwater level rose above the soil-bedrock interface, saturated subsoil were easier to disintegrate into small particles and migrate downward as the vertical seepage of groundwater. The hydraulic gradient increased and became the predominant factor for the development of soil cavity as groundwater level dropped below the soil-bedrock interface. Moreover, when groundwater level sharply surged up at the relative sealed environment, the upward erosion roof of cavity would be more likely to collapse by the entrapped air blasting.
UV-green dichromacy in the basal hymenopteran Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae).
Authors: Guignard Quentin , Spaethe Johannes , Slippers Bernard , Strube-Bloss Martin , Allison Jeremy D. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
A precondition for colour vision is the presence of at least two spectral types of photoreceptors in the eye. The order Hymenoptera is traditionally divided into the Apocrita (ants, bees, wasps) and the Symphyta (sawflies, woodwasps, horntails). Most apocritan species possess three different photoreceptor types. In contrast, physiological studies in the Symphyta have reported one to four photoreceptor types. To better understand the evolution of photoreceptor diversity in the Hymenoptera, we studied Sirex noctilio, which belongs to the superfamily Siricoidea, a sister group of the Apocrita. Our aim was to i) identify the photoreceptor types of the compound eye by electroretinography (ERG), ii) characterise the visual opsins genes of S. noctilio by genomic comparisons and phylogenetic analyses and iii) analyse opsin mRNA expression. ERG measurements revealed two photoreceptor types in the compound eye, maximally sensitive to 527 and 364 nm. In addition, we identified three opsins in the genome, homologous to the hymenopteran LW1, LW2 and UV opsin genes. The LW1 and UV opsins were found to be expressed in the compound eyes, and LW2 and UV opsins in the ocelli. The lack of a SW-homologous opsin gene and a corresponding receptor suggests that S. noctilio is a UV-green dichromate.
Intracortical Screw Insertion Plus Limited Open Reduction in Treating Type 31A3 Irreducible Intertrochanteric Fractures in the Elderly
Authors: Huang Xiao-wen , Hong Gu-qi , Zuo Qiang , Qun Chen 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Objective: To discuss the clinical efficacy of intracortical screw insertion plus limited open reduction in treating type 31A3 irreducible intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for 23 elderly patients with type 31A3 irreducible intertrochanteric fractures (12 males and 11 females, aged 65-89 years old, with an average of 75.6±5.1 years old) who received treatment at the orthopedics department of our hospital from September 2017 to August 2019. After type 31A3 irreducible intertrochanteric fractures were confirmed by intraoperative C-arm, all of these cases received intracortical screw insertion plus limited open reduction in the broken end with intramedullary screw internal fixation. The basic information of surgery, reduction effects, and FRS scores of the hip joint were assessed. Results: All patients were followed up for an average of 13.8 months. The operation time was 53.8±13.6min (40-95min). The intraoperative blood loss was 218.5±28.6ml (170-320ml). The average number of intraoperative X-rays was 22.8±4.6 (18-33). The average time to fracture union was 4.8±0.7 months. The reduction effect was assessed using Kim's fracture reduction evaluation. 20 cases achieved grade I fracture reduction and 3 cases grade II fracture reduction. All of them achieved excellent or good fracture reduction. Upon the last follow-up, the FRS score was 83.6±9.8, which was not significantly different from the FRS score (84.8±10.7) before the fracture (t= 0.397, P= 0.694). Conclusion: With careful preoperative preparation, intracortical screw insertion plus limited open reduction could achieve high-quality fracture reduction and fixation in elderly patients with type 31A3 irreducible intertrochanteric fractures. Good clinical outcomes were achieved without increasing operation time and intraoperative blood loss.
Effects of low-frequency noise from wind turbines on heart rate variability in healthy individuals
Authors: Chiu Chun-Hsiang , Lung Shih-Chun Candice , Chen Nathan , Hwang Jing-Shiang 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Wind power has been applied around the world as a source of clean energy. However, wind turbines generate low-frequency noise (LFN, 20-200 Hz), which poses health risks to nearby residents. This study aimed to assess heart rate variability (HRV) response to LFN exposure and to evaluate the LFN exposure (dB, LAeq) inside households located near wind turbines. Methods: Thirty subjects living within a 500 m radius of wind turbines were recruited. The field campaigns for LFN (LAeq) and HRV monitoring were carried out in July and December 2018. A generalized additive mixed model was employed to evaluate the relationship between HRV changes and LFN. Results: The results suggested that the standard deviations of all normal to normal R-R intervals reduced significantly by 3.39% with a 95% CI = (0.15%, 6.52%) per 7.86 dB (LAeq) of LFN in the exposure range of 38.2-57.1 dB (LAeq)—i.e., a 0.43% reduction per 1 dB (LAeq). The results of household monitoring showed that the indoor LFN exposure (LAeq) ranged between 30.7 and 43.4 dB (LAeq) at a distance of 124-330 m from wind turbines. The worst case had 99.6%, 89.1%, and 96.8% at daytime, evening, and nighttime, respectively, exceeding the LFN standards of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration. Moreover, households built with concrete and equipped with airtight windows showed the highest LFN difference of 13.7 dB between indoors and outdoors. Conclusion: This work is the first study assessing the HRV impacts from turbine LFN in Asia, where wind turbines installed within short distances from residential areas. In view of the adverse health impacts of LFN exposure, there should be regulations on the requisite distances of wind turbines from residential communities for health protection.
Flexural Band Gaps and Vibration Control of a Periodic Railway Track
Authors: Iqbal Mohd , Kumar Anil , Jaya Mahesh Murugan , Bursi Oreste Salvatore 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Periodic structures exhibit unique band gap characteristics by virtue of which they behave as vibro-acoustic filters thereby allowing only waves within a certain frequency range to pass through. In this paper, both lateral and vertical flexural wave propagation and vibration control of a periodic railway track are studied in depth. More precisely, a rail fastened on rigid sleeper blocks is modeled with an Euler-Bernoulli beam. The dispersion relations in both lateral and vertical directions are obtained using the Floquet-Bloch theorem and the resulting dispersion curves are verified using finite element (FE) models. Afterwards, tuned mass dampers (TMDs) with different mass ratios are designed to control vibrations of the examined rail along both lateral and vertical directions. Moreover, the influence of damping of rail and resonators on band structures is investigated. As a replacement to the conventional TMD, a novel possibility to control vibrations relies on using another rail as a lateral distributed resonator (LDR). Although the effectiveness of LDR is lower than that of localized resonators, the former represents a simple and promising way to control vibrations. Efficacy of the proposed control methods is finally verified using the results of transient simulation based on a random Gaussian white noise input.
Associations between the ICAM1 gene polymorphisms and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk, including hypercholesterolemia, in rural Thais
Authors: Wechjakwen Naruemon , Aroonnual Amornrat , Prangthip Pattaneeya , Soonthornworasiri Ngamphol , Phienluphon Pornpimol Panprathip , Lainampetch Jirayu , Kwanbunjan Karunee 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
We determine the relationships between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including rs5498 and rs287432 on Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 gene (ICAM1) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) susceptibility in patients with hypercholesterolemia (HCL). The clinical characteristics of 278 participants were assessed, classified to group having HCL and without HCL. ICAM1 SNPs Genotyping was performed by DNA sequencing and ICAM1 expression was measured using real-time PCR. Positive dominant model rs5498 subjects had twice the risk of HCL (P = 0.005). Participants with the rs5498 AG or GG variants and high ICAM1 mRNA expression (≥ 3.12) had 2.68 times the risk (P = 0.000), and those with a high LDL-C concentration (≥ 3.36 mmol/L) had 1.99 times the risk (P = 0.014) of developing ASCVD compared with those with low ICAM1 mRNA and LDL-C levels. Interestingly, participants carrying the rs5498 AG or GG variants who had tachycardia (resting heart rates (RHRs) > 100 beats/min) had a 5.40-times higher risk than those with a lower RHR (P = 0.010). It may consider the G allele in ICAM1 rs5498 is associated with a higher risk of ASCVD in Thai people with HCL, and is also positively associated with ICAM1 mRNA expression, LDL-C concentration, and RHR.
A model established using marital status and other factors from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database for early-stage gastric cancer
Authors: Zhang Lixiang , Zhou Baichuan , Luo Panquan , Xu Aman , Han Wenxiu , Wei Zhijian 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background

Currently, the postoperative prognosis of early-stage gastric cancer (GC) is difficult to accurately predict. Therefore, this study aimed to combine the basic data, clinical indicators, and treatment information of patients to establish a predictive model for early-stage GC based on a new scoring system.
Methods

A total of 3647 patients with early stage GC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were included in this study. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to compare differences in prognosis between different marital status, as an innovative prognostic indicator. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to screen available prediction factors and then build a nomogram using the Cox proportional hazard regression model. Calibration curves and C-index were used to verify the prediction model.
Results

The univariate analysis showed that age at diagnosis, sex, histology, stage_T and N GCs, surgery in the primary site, lymph node dissection, chemotherapy, radiation, tumor size, and marital status were significant prognostic factors of GC. The multivariate analysis revealed that age at diagnosis, sex, histology, stage_T, surgery, tumor size, and marital status were independent prognostic factors of overall survival. Both the C-index and calibration curves confirmed that the nomogram had a great predictive effect on patient prognosis in training and testing sets.
Conclusion

We established an accurate prediction model for the postoperative prognosis of patients with early-stage GC based on various clinical indicators and treatment information. This nomogram can effectively help patients with early-stage GC in the future.
Use of Digital Media by Adolescents for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Communication in Sub-saharan Africa: a Protocol for Systematic Review
Authors: Ackah Josephine Akua , Esia-Donkoh Kobina , Amponsah Antoinette P. , Agbemavi Wonder , Bediako Vincent B. , Tettey Gloria N. A. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
BackgroundWithin the sub-Saharan African region, there is a growing concern for sexual and reproductive health and rights communication, and more particularly, for adolescents. Given the existing barriers associated with face-to-face access, the need to use digital media to access information and services has become desirable and imperative, especially so due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, a synthesis of evidence that informs adolescents’ digital media engagements for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) communication is limited. This systematic review therefore aims to examine and synthesize evidence on use of digital media for sexual and reproductive health and rights communication by adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. MethodsA search for peer reviewed articles will be conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, PsychINFO and Google Scholar with emphasis on those published between 2000 and 2020. Only observational and qualitative studies will be included. Quality assessment of included articles will be done using standardized checklists from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Both descriptive and narrative summaries will be used to appraise evidence from included studies.DiscussionThis review will be essential in providing information on the types of digital media adolescents use; the various SRHR issues they use this platform to address; their reasons for using it and associated challenges. It will also contribute to the advocacy for the inclusion of these technologies in the teaching and learning, provision of and access to SRHR information and services by teachers, public health providers and peer educators in the sub-region.Registration and Reporting This systematic has been registered in PROSPERO, an international prospective register of systematic reviews, with registration number, CRD42020211491. This protocol follows the PRISMA-P guidelines for reporting systematic reviews (see Additional file 1).
Clinical evaluation of a multiplex RT-PCR assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in individual and pooled upper respiratory tract samples
Authors: Laverack Melissa , Tallmadge Rebecca L. , Venugopalan Roopa , Cronk Brittany , Zhang XiuLin , Rauh Rolf , Saunders Amy , Nelson William M. , Plocharczyk Elizabeth , Diel Diego G. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify and validate a sensitive, high-throughput and cost-effective SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay to be used as a surveillance and diagnostic tool for SARS-CoV-2 in a University surveillance program. We conducted a side-by-side clinical evaluation of a newly developed SARS-CoV-2 multiplex assay (EZ-SARS-CoV-2 Real-Time RT-PCR) with the commercial TaqPath COVID-19 Combo kit, which has an Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA. The EZ-SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR incorporates two assays targeting the SARS-CoV-2 N gene, an internal control targeting the human RNase P gene, and a PCR inhibition control in a single reaction. Nasopharyngeal (NP) and anterior nares (AN) swabs were tested as individuals and pools with both assays and in the ABI 7500 Fast and the QuantStudio 5 detection platforms. The EZ-SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay analytical sensitivity was 250 copies/ml or approximately 1.75 genome copy equivalents per reaction. Clinical performance of the EZ-SARS-CoV-2 assay was determined using NP and AN samples tested in other laboratories. The diagnostic sensitivity of the assay ranged between 94 and 96% across the detection platforms, and the diagnostic specificity was 94.06%. The positive predictive value was 94% and the negative predictive value ranged from 94 to 96%. Pooling five NP or AN specimens yielded 93% diagnostic sensitivity. The overall agreement between these SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assays was high, supported by Cohen’s kappa value of 0.93. The EZ-SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay performance attributes of high sensitivity, excellent performance in AN sample matrix and in pooled upper respiratory samples support its use in a high-throughput surveillance testing program.