bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of benzbromarone versus febuxostat in gouty patients: a retrospective study
Authors: Liu Dongmei , Zhou Binbin , Li Zhen , Zhang Zhuojun , Dai Xiaojuan , Ji Zongfei , Chen Huiyong , Sun Ying , Jiang Lindi 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background Benzbromarone and febuxostat have different mechanisms in reducing serum urate. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of benzbromarone versus febuxostat in reducing serum urate in gouty patients classified with different types of hyperuricemia remain unclear.Methods In this retrospective study from January 1, 2018 to September 30, 2020, subjects were retrieved if they were newly treated with benzbromarone 25mg daily or febuxostat 20mg daily with 24-hour urinary uric acid and 24-hour urinary creatinine measured. Baseline data and follow-up information after 28 ± 3 days treatment were collected from medical records. Subjects were classified into four types according to their 24-hour urinary uric acid and fractional excretion of uric acid.Results A total of 73 subjects with gout were finally enrolled. Among them, 50 were treated with benzbromarone. The percent changes in serum urate from the baseline were -33.71 ± 13.59% in benzbromarone group and -29.45 ± 10.62% in febuxostat group without significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.188). In subgroup analysis, no differences were found between the two groups among subjects classified as renal underexcretion, the combined type, or “normal” type. In patients with eGFR ≥ 70 mL/min/1.73m2, the rate of serum urate lowering was higher in those treated with benzbromarone than febuxostat. Renal function did not change significantly from the baseline for both drugs.Conclusion Benzbromarone 25mg daily and febuxostat 20mg daily had comparable effectiveness in lowering serum urate among different types of hyperuricemia. Benzbromarone was more effective than febuxostat in lowering serum urate in subjects with eGFR ≥ 70 mL/min/1.73m2.
Free Thoracodorsal Artery Polyfoliate Perforator Flaps for Repairing Multiple Soft Tissue Defects in the Hand
Authors: Ding Wenquan , Xue Jianbo , Zhou Yingling , He Lingfeng , Wang Xiaofeng 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background: Hand injury is commonly associated with multiple soft tissue defects. Polyfoliate flaps grafting is the optimal approach for multiple wounds.To confirm the feasibility of clinical using of free thoracodorsal artery polyfoliate perforator flaps for repairing multiple soft tissue defects in the hand. Methods: Fifteen patients with hand soft tissue defects that were repaired using free thoracodorsal artery polyfoliate perforator flaps from January 2015 to February 2018 was retrospectively analysed. The survival rate, the operative time, the appearance and sensory recovery of the flaps, and hand function were evaluated. Results: The flaps of all 15 patients survived. Vascular crisis occurred in one patient, and the flap was saved after exploratory operation. The 15 patients were followed up for 12-26 months. Sensation in the flaps was partially recovered in all 15 patients. The wound in the donor area was closed directly with sutures. Obvious scar hyperplasia was noted in three patients. A puffed appearance in the recipient area was noted in four patients.To obtain a more satisfactory appearance, revision of the flap was performed once in these four patients. The Total Active Movement (TAM) evaluation system was used to assess the results, which were considered excellent in seven patients, good in six patients, fair in two patients, and poor in none of the patients. Ten of the 15 patients returned to their primary jobs. Conclusion: Free thoracodorsal artery polyfoliate perforator flaps are appropriate for repairing multiple soft tissue defects in the hand, offer a satisfactory appearance, require a short operative time, and have little impact on the function and aesthetics of the donor site.
Rejuvenation triggers nuclear activity in nearby galaxies
Authors: Navarro Ignacio Martin , Shankar Francesco , Mezcua Mar 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Galaxies, forming and evolving within their host dark matter haloes, are the end-product of a balance between gas cooling, star formation and feedback. Energy/Momentum feedback, in particular from active galactic nuclei (AGN), is believed to play a crucial role in the evolution of galaxies by gradually quenching their star formation. In the local Universe many galaxies with an AGN are indeed observed to reside in the so-called green valley, usually interpreted as a transition phase from a blue star formation epoch to a red quenched state. We use data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to show that such an interpretation requires substantial revision. Optically-selected nearby AGN galaxies follow exponentially declining star formation histories, as normal galaxies of similar stellar and dark matter halo mass, reaching in the recent past (~0.1 Gyr ago) star formation rate levels consistent with a quiescent population. However, we find that local AGN galaxies have experienced a sudden increase in their star formation rate, unfolding on timescales similar to those typical of AGN activity, suggesting that both star formation and AGN activity were triggered simultaneously. We find that this quenching process followed by an enhancement in the star formation rate is common to AGN galaxies and more pronounced in early type galaxies. Our results demonstrate that local AGN galaxies are not a transition type between star-forming and quiescent galaxies as previously postulated, but simply galaxies experiencing a recent gas accretion episode.
Investigating Causal Relations Between Circulating Metabolites and Alzheimer’s Diseases: a Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Huang Shu-Yi , Yang Yu-Xiang , Zhang Ya-Ru , Kuo Kevin , Li Hong-Qi , Shen Xue-Ning , Chen Shi-Dong , Chen Ke-Liang , Dong Qiang , Tan Lan , Yu Jin-Tai 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
BackgroundMetabolomics is a promising approach that can be used to understand pathophysiological pathways of Alzheimer disease (AD). However, the relationships between metabolism and AD are poorly understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the causal association between circulating metabolites and risk of AD by combining metabolomics with genomics through two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. MethodGenetic associations with 123 circulating metabolic traits were utilized as exposures. A large summary statistics data from International Genomics of Alzheimer’s Project was used in primary analysis, including 21,982 AD cases and 41,944 controls. Validation was further performed using family history of AD data from UK Biobank (27,696 cases of maternal AD, 14,338 cases of paternal AD and 272,244 controls). We utilized the inverse-variance weighted method as primary analysis and four additional MR methods (MR-Egger, weighted median, weighted mode, and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier) for sensitivity analyses. ResultsWe found one-fold increased risk of developing AD per standard deviation increase in the levels of circulating ApoB (odd ratio (OR)=3.18; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.52–6.66, P=0.0022) and glycoprotein acetyls (OR=1.21; 95% CI: 1.05–1.39, P=0.0093), serum total cholesterol (OR=2.73; 95% CI: 1.41-5.30, P=0.0030), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (OR=2.34; 95% CI: 1.53-3.57, P=0.0001). Whereas glutamine (OR=0.81; 95% CI: 0.71-0.92, P=0.0011) were significantly associated with lower risk of AD. We also detected causal effects of several different composition of LDL fractions on increased AD risk, which has been verified in validation. However, we found no association between circulating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and AD. ConclusionsOur findings provided robust evidence supporting causal effects of circulating glycoprotein acetyls, ApoB, LDL cholesterol, and serum total cholesterol on higher risk of AD, whereas glutamine showed the protective effect. Further research is required to decipher the biological pathways underpinning associations.
Effect of Alteration on the Geochemistry and Mechanical Properties of Granite from Pingjiang, Hunan Province, China
Authors: Ren Minghao , Wang Wei , Huang Zhiquan , Li Shanggao , Wu Qi , Yu Huaichang , Yuan Guangxiang , Sargent Paul 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
The effect of alteration on the geochemistry and mechanical properties of granite from Pingjiang, Hunan Province, China was investigated. Six weathered and 14 hydrothermally altered samples in three footrills (PD2, PD3, and PD4) were collected for mechanical tests and major and trace element analysis. The results show that the relationship between mechanical strength and the degree of alteration, irrespective of whether this is due to weathering or hydrothermal alteration, can be described by an exponential equation. This implies that the mechanical strength decreases rapidly even at low degrees of alteration. Granite Na2O, CaO, K2O, and SiO2 contents were lowered due to weathering, whereas Fe2O3T contents increased significantly due to Fe2+ oxidation. Based on the hypothesis that Al and Zr are immobile during the hydrothermal alteration, the mobility indexes of various elements were calculated for the hydrothermally altered samples. In general, TiO2, K2O, Fe2O3T, Th, Hf, Co, Ni, and V contents were unaffected by hydrothermal alteration; Na2O, Sr, Nd, Sm, and Pb contents were lowered by hydrothermal alteration; and SiO2, Rb, Cr, U, Zn, Mn, and Cs contents were increased due to reactions with the hydrothermal fluids. Even immobile elements, such as Sm, Nd, V, and Cr, were mobilized by high-temperature hydrothermal fluids. To assess the degree of hydrothermal alteration, a new model is required that can account for the effects of the different mineral components.
Assessment of the spatio-temporal variability of the added value on precipitation of convection-permitting simulation over the Iberian Peninsula using the RegIPSL regional earth system model
Authors: Shahi Namendra Kumar , Polcher‬ Jan , Bastin Sophie , Pennel Romain , Fita Lluís 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
In this study, we have assessed the added value on the spatio-temporal distribution of the precipitation of convection-permitting simulation (3km) compared to the parent coarser-scale parameterized convection simulation (20km) with the high-resolution observational datasets i.e. SPREAD (5km) and IBERIA01 (10km) over the Iberian Peninsula in all four seasons during 2000-2009. Both simulations are evaluation runs based on ERA-Interim reanalysis and performed with the RegIPSL regional earth system model in the frame of the European Climate Prediction system (EUCP) H2020 project and COordinated Regional climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX). We have not found significant improvement in the convection-permitting simulation compared to the parent coarser-scale simulation for the seasonal mean precipitation of the Iberian Peninsula except the spatial variation over mountainous peaks. The kilometer-scale simulation significantly underestimates the observed seasonal mean precipitation over the western parts of the Iberian Peninsula compared to the coarser-scale simulation, which may be attributed to a change of local dynamics in the kilometer-scale simulation with a weakening and southward shifts of the westerly winds and also an enhancement of warm and dry southerly winds over the Iberian Peninsula. However, the added value of kilometer-scale simulation over the driving coarser-scale simulation is obtained for various indices; in the representation of the spatio-temporal distribution of the wet-day precipitation frequency and intensity, and the extreme/heavy precipitation events for each season at both resolutions i.e. downscaled and upscaled. It has also been noted that the spatio-temporal distribution of precipitation for all metrics used varies between the two observational datasets for all seasons.
Addiction-related behavioral problems increase during the first six months of the Covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Maraz Aniko , Katzinger Eva , Yi Sunghwan 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background and aims: In this study we aimed to assess multiple addiction-related behaviours simultaneously for an extended period of time during the Covid-19 pandemic and their relation to distress. Methods: Data were collected every three days from Amazon’s MTurk between 26.03.2020 and 02.10.2020 in cohorts of 25 participants resulting in a total sample of 1430 US adults (60% men, mean age 36.6 years, SD = 11). General distress and Covid-19 related fear were assessed as well as self-reported frequency of eight potentially addictive behaviours: shopping (compulsive buying), alcohol, smoking, legal substances, illegal substances, gambling, gaming and overeating. Results: We found a positive relationship between time and the frequency of each self-reported addiction-related behaviour (𝜏 = 0.15 - 0.23, all p<0.001), and their frequency is linearly related to the intensity of (Covid-19-related and general) distress (𝜏 = 0.12 - 0.28, all p<0.001). Most popular activities were gaming and compulsive buying, and the relative frequency of the behaviours remained about the same during the data collection period. Discussion: It is possible that people seek substitutes when other coping mechanisms (e.g. social recreation) are hindered depending on their level of distress. Conclusion: Given the evidence for the increasing frequency of addiction-related excessive behaviours and their relevance to distress, special attention needs to be paid to reduce potential harmful effects of maladaptive coping during and after this demanding period.
Food Supply, Starvation, and Food As a Weapon in the Camps and Ghettos of Romanian-Occupied Bessarabia and Transnistria, 1941-44
Authors: Shapiro Paul A. 
Published: April 2021

The Romanian regime of wartime leader Ion Antonescu concentrated the Jews of Bessarabia and Bukovyna in transit camps and ghettos, and then deported them to the Romanian-administered territory between the Dnister and Buh rivers, in southwestern Ukraine. Of approximately 160,000 Romanian Jews deported to “Transnistria,” only 50,000 survived the ordeal. The Romanians, with local Volksdeutsch and Ukrainian collaborators, also massacred and were otherwise responsible for the death of approximately 150,000 local Ukrainian Jews, including the large Jewish community of Odesa. While not comparable to the Jews in number, deported Romanian Roma and local Roma were also subjected to physical brutality, forced labour, and incarceration.
Famine and starvation did not cause all Jewish and Roma deaths in Bessarabia and Transnistria. Mass executions exacted a huge toll. So did exposure to the elements, exhaustion, and typhus. Still, while there was no famine in the region, starvation was a permanent presence. Romanian authorities controlled the food supply and denied it to their targeted victims. This article describes the steps taken by Romanian occupation authorities to isolate Jews and Roma; to limit the flow of food supplies to them; to prevent them from accessing food in local markets; and to prevent help that might have been offered by those local civilians who took pity on the starving victims. Official documentation and testimonies of both officials and survivors provide a vivid picture of the consequences. Specific cases reveal factors that made the situation in one locality better or worse than that in another, or that caused a situation to improve or deteriorate. Variations notwithstanding, however, all sources lead to the conclusion that Romania’s goal was to eliminate the Jews and reduce the Roma population. This made starvation, the use of “food as a weapon,” an acceptable element of state policy.
AN EXAMPLE OF CALCULATION OF A FAULT TREE WITH LOGIC LOOPS
Authors: Sorokoletov Y. P. 
Published: April 2021

Aim. In the course of fault tolerance analysis of complex technical systems using the method of fault tree-based methods, logic loops may occur when, from the point of view of fault tree structure, the system sustains itself. The recursion in the fault tree structure disrupts the logical equation and does not allow performing the calculation and associated analysis. A complex system is understood as one performing a multitude of functions, fault tolerant through a number of redundancy techniques, having intersystem communications and high level of integration of hardware and software components. This paper looks into a particular case of solving the problem of logical recurrence of a fault tree that occurred during an aircraft’s power supply system analysis for compliance with airworthiness requirements and aviation regulations.Method. The paper reviews known ways of solving the set task (both manual and automatic), describes the advantages and disadvantages, applicability and ultimately provides a comparative evaluation based on the results of calculation of occurrence probability of certain aircraft power supply system failures. The method of solving the problem of fault tree recurrence presented in this paper is based on identifying recursive elements in the tree’s structure with subsequent reduction of the cyclic connections to a converging spiral by modelling the initial state of the analyzed system.Results. The calculation of the fault tree under consideration is performed both by means of the method presented in this paper, and the most applicable in the particular case known methods of resolving recurrence. Additionally, comparative results of calculation of other special situations are shown. They are not considered in this paper but demonstrate the distinctive features of different methods. The calculations show that the methods yield the most diverging results in cases when the system is redundant and has feedbacks.Conclusions. The method presented in the paper has been tested as part of an aircraft’s power supply system fault tolerance analysis. The developed method in some cases enables manual resolution of the logic loop problem in the fault tree without a significant increase of computational resources while preserving the analytical solution (minimum fault tree cross sections). On the other hand, this solution may cause a fast growth of the fault tree size in cross-system analysis. In special cases, antithetical events like «operability» and «failure» may become mixed-up in the fault tree structure, which will entail the requirement to use complementary operator inversion and subsequently a manifold increase of the computation time. Another limitation of the method may stem from situations when it is impossible to identify the «initial» and «normal» states of the system under analysis. Given the above, the author classifies the presented method as an engineering method of limited applicability.
The Patient Motivation Pyramid and Patient-Centricity in Early Clinical
Development
Authors: Iersel Thijs van , Courville Jocelyn , Doorne Cathalijne van , Koster Remco A. , Fawcett Christina 
Published: April 2021

Background:
It has been recognized that patients should be involved in the design of
clinical trials. However, there is a lack of agreement on what patient-centricity means.

Methods:
In this article, a Patient Motivation Pyramid based on Maslow’s theory of human motivation
is introduced as a tool to identify patient needs. This pyramid is used to make a comprehensive
overview of options to implement a patient-centric trial design. The Pyramid with the described options
can help to identify patient-centric activities suitable for given drug development. The current
article further describes the potential benefits of patient-centric trial designs with an emphasis on
early clinical development. Especially in early clinical development, during which trials have many
assessments per patient, and the safety and clinical efficacy are uncertain, patient-centric trial design
can improve feasibility. Finally, we present three case examples on patient-centric trial design.
The first example is seeking patient input on the trial design for a First-in-Human trial which includes
patients with Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura. The second example is the use of a
video-link for home dosing. The final example is the use of digital medicine in a decentralized trial
in heart failure patients.

Results:
A comprehensive overview of patients’ needs can be accomplished by building a Patient
Motivation Pyramid as a tool. Patient input can lead to improved endpoints, improved feasibility,
better recruitment, less dropout, less protocol amendments, and higher patient satisfaction. The use
of digital medicine can lead to a trial design with much less visits to the clinical research center in
early clinical development and in a later development phase, even to a complete virtual trial.

Conclusion:
We recommend using the Patient Motivation Pyramid as a structural approach for
identifying elements of patient-centricity. Secondly, we recommend starting using patient-centric
approaches in an early phase of the medicine’s lifecycle.
INTEGRATION OF THE NUMERICAL SOLUTION MODULE OF THE KINETIC EQUATION INTO THE CFD PACKAGE FOR THE VOLUME CONDENSATION PROBLEM OF THE VAPOR-GAS MIXTURE FLOW THROUGH A NOZZLE
Authors: Sidorov A. A. , Yastrebov A. K. 
Published: April 2021

Objective. Integrating the numerical solution module of the kinetic equation for the droplet size distribution function in a CFD package. Application of the module to volumetric condensation at the supersonic flow of a vapor-gas mixture through a nozzle in a two-dimensional formulation, comparison of the results with experimental data of third-party authors.Methods. In this paper, the problem of volume condensation in the supersonic flow of a vapor-gas mixture through a nozzle is solved by finite element methods in a two-dimensional formulation using user-defined functions.Results. A module for the numerical solution of the kinetic equation for the droplet size distribution function is presented as a user-defined function integrated into the calculated CFD package.Conclusion. The module application to volumetric condensation for a vapor-gas mixture flow through the nozzle gave a qualitative agreement in all areas and a quantitative agreement in the area of intense condensation with measurement data. The distributions of temperatures, pressures, and the degree of supersaturation are presented both along the central axis and on the plane bounded by the contour of the computational domain. It is shown that the module does not depend on the solver type (stationary or non-stationary).
Calidad de la canal y la carne en pollos de ceba que consumen Roystonea regia
Authors: Martínez-Pérez Madeleidy , Vives-Hernández Yesenia , Rodríguez-Sánchez Bárbara , Pérez-Acosta Osney G. 
Published: April 2021

Objetivo. Estudiar la calidad de la canal y la carne en pollos de ceba que consumen harina de frutos de Roystonea regia (palmiche). Materiales y métodos. Se utilizaron 40 pollos de ceba distribuidos según diseño completamente aleatorizado en cuatro tratamientos: control (maíz-pasta de soya) y la inclusión de 5, 10 y 15% de harina de palmiche. Se estudió el rendimiento de la canal, grasa abdominal y la calidad de la carne (tecnológicos y composición de ácidos grasos (AG)). Para los parámetros de apariencia se realizó análisis de varianza no paramétrico de clasificación simple. Resultados. No se encontraron diferencias entre tratamientos para el peso de la canal y pH a los 45 minutos y 24 horas postmortem. Hubo una reducción de la grasa abdominal en el 5 y 15% con respecto al control (13.00 y 11.96 vs 17.02 g/kg), en tanto que el 10% no difirió del resto (15.10 g/kg) (P<0,01). No se observaron diferencias en el color, excepto para la luminosidad en el muslo que fue superior con la inclusión de 10 y 15% (48.62 y 49.22) respecto al 5% (45.32) y el control no difirió entre tratamientos (47.53) (P<0,05). La composición de AG en las diferentes porciones comestibles mostró que las aves depositaron los ácidos oleico, linoleico y palmítico en mayor proporción. Conclusiones. La inclusión de harina de palmiche a las dietas de pollos de ceba no modifica el rendimiento de la canal, reduce la grasa abdominal e incide positivamente en los indicadores de calidad de la carne.