bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Meteorological Analysis of the Relationship between Climatic Parameters: Understanding the Dynamics of the Troposphere
Authors: Agbo Emmanuel P , Edet Collins 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Understanding the relationship between the variations of meteorological parameters is vital in tackling the climatic problem. This paper presents methods for analyzing parameters that relate directly and indirectly to each other and accurate methods for interpreting their results. Using obtained data for 14 years and calculated data for other parameters, we adopt the Mann-Kendall (M-K) test for the trend analysis of the annual and seasonal variations, the correlation matrixes, and linear regression pair plots to discern the relationship between all parameters using the python programming software. To crystalize results, partial derivatives relating the equivalent potential temperature (EPT) for a pseudo-adiabatic process with parameters affecting its variation from equations are being obtained. The magnitude of these derivatives' gradients was used to bolster regression results, showing the mixing ratio (MR) of air as the parameter with the most effect on EPT variation. The MK test results show that the atmospheric pressure (AP) and average ambient temperature (AT) were all increasing significantly for all variations (annual, dry and wet seasons). In contrast, others varied between dry and wet seasons after adopting a benchmark significance level of 5% (0.05). The correlation matrixes and linear regression pair plots show a strong relationship between the variations of refractivity, EPT, the temperature at the lifting condensation level (TL), MR, vapor pressure (VP), specific humidity (SH), and the dew point temperature (DPT). The potential temperature (PT), saturated vapor pressure (SVP), saturated mixing ratio (SMR), and the AT relationships showed a robust positive correlation/regression. This correlation offers a connection between the AT and the PT. The processes, including the partial derivatives, pair plots, correlation matrixes, and tests for trends, provide a solution to the meteorological analysis problem. Results and methods can be applied in other regions.
Myeloid cell interferon responses correlate with clearance of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Singh Dhiraj , Aladyeva Ekaterina , Das Shibali , Singh Bindu , Esaulova Ekaterina , Swain Amanda , Ahmed Mushtaq , Cole Journey , Moodley chivonne , Mehra Smriti , Schlesinger Larry , Artyomov Maxim , Khader Shabaana , Kaushal Deepak 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
The emergence of mutant SARS-CoV-2 strains associated with an increased risk of COVID-19-related death necessitates better understanding of the early viral dynamics, host responses and immunopathology. While studies have reported immune profiling using single cell RNA sequencing in terminal human COVID-19 patients, performing longitudinal immune cell dynamics in humans is challenging. Macaques are a suitable model of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We performed longitudinal single-cell RNA sequencing of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell suspensions from adult rhesus macaques infected with SARS-CoV-2 (n=6) to delineate the early dynamics of immune cells changes. The bronchoalveolar compartment exhibited dynamic changes in transcriptional landscape 3 days post- SARS-CoV-2-infection (3dpi) (peak viremia), relative to 14-17dpi (recovery phase) and pre-infection (baseline). We observed the accumulation of distinct populations of both macrophages and T-lymphocytes expressing strong interferon-driven inflammatory gene signature at 3dpi. Type I IFN response was highly induced in the plasmacytoid dendritic cells. The presence of a distinct HLADR+CD68+CD163+SIGLEC1+ macrophage population exhibiting higher angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression was also observed. These macrophages were significantly recruited to the lungs of macaques at 3dpi and harbored SARS-CoV-2, while expressing a strong interferon-driven innate anti-viral gene signature. The accumulation of these responses correlated with decline in viremia and recovery. The recruitment of a myeloid cell-mediated Type I IFN response is associated with the rapid clearance of SARS-CoV-2 infection in macaques.
Predicting Harmful Algal Blooms and Impacts on Shellfish Mariculture using Novel Data-Driven Approaches
Authors: Stoner Oliver , Economou Theo , Torres Ricardo , Ashton Ian , Brown Andrew 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) intoxicate and asphyxiate marine life, causing devastating environmental and socio-economic impacts costing at least $8bn/yr globally. Accumulation of phycotoxins from HAB phytoplankton in filter-feeding shellfish can poison human consumers, prompting site harvesting closures if concentrations in shellfish exceed safe levels. To better quantify both long- and short-term HAB risks, we developed novel data-driven approaches to predict phycotoxin concentrations in bivalve shellfish associated with HAB forming Dinophysis species. Our spatiotemporal statistical modelling framework assesses long-term HAB risks for different shellfish species in both data-rich and data-poor locations. This can revolutionise mariculture management by more confidently informing optimal siting of new shellfish operations and safe harvesting periods for businesses. Meanwhile, our machine learning framework forecasts phycotoxin concentrations further into the future than previously possible. Across 6 coastal, estuarine and loch sites, we achieve 87% overall accuracy in predicting future harvesting shutdowns 0-8 weeks ahead.
Cremation Based Estimates Suggest Significant Under- and Delayed Reporting of COVID-19 Epidemic Data in Wuhan and China
Authors: He Mai , Li Li , Yan Weisi , Dehner Louis P. , Dunn Lucia F. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Objective:China’s COVID-19 statistics fall outside of recognized and accepted medical norms. Here we estimated the incidence, death and starting time of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan and China based on cremation related information. Methods: Data sources included literature on COVID-19 in China, official Chinese government figures, and media reports. A range of estimates is presented by an exponential growth rate model. Results:For the cumulative infections and total deaths, under different assumptions of case fatality rates (from 2.5% to 10%) and doubling time 6.4 days, the estimates projected on February 7, 2020 in Wuhan range from 305,000 to 1,272,000 for infections and from 6,811 to 7,223 for deaths - on the order of at least 10 times the official figures (13,603 and 545). The implied starting time of the outbreak is October 2019. The estimates of cumulative deaths, based on both funeral urns distribution and continuous full capacity operation of cremation services up to March 23, 2020, give results around 36,000, more than 10 times of the official death toll of 2,524. Conclusions:Our study indicates a potential significant under- and delayed reporting in Chinese official data on the COVID-19 epidemic in Wuhan in early February, 2020.
Multi-Objective Optimization of Properties of Sponge Gourd-Bagasse Hybrid Reinforced Polymer Composite Using Fuzzy Logic, PSO, Modified Desirability Function and NSGA II
Authors: Chibueze Ikechukwu , Obele Chizoba , NWOBI-OKOYE CHIDOZIE , Atuanya Clement 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Development of mathematical models for prediction of properties of materials is often complex and cumbersome. This led to the advent of simpler, and often more accurate, computational models based on artificial intelligence for predicting materials properties. The aim of this study is to predict the mechanical properties of a newly developed hybrid composite material made with sponge gourd, baggase and epoxy resin for golf club application using fuzzy logic (FL) and carry out a multi-objective optimization of the properties with modified desirability function (DF) and NSGA II algorithm. The inputs were %Wt of baggase, %Wt of Sponge gourd and Fiber size (µm) while the response variables were tensile strength, hardness, flexural strength, modulus, elongation and impact strength. The FL model was separately coupled, as fitness function, with the modified DF algorithm and the NSGA II algorithm respectively. The DF was optimized with particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. The results showed that the FL model predicted the mechanical properties accurately and the minimum correlation coefficient (R) between the experimental responses and FL predictions was 0.9529. The modified algorithms took care of certain peculiarities in the desirability properties such as elongation whose desirability is constant over a range. The optimized properties were found to be worse if the optimization algorithms were not modified.
Optimization of Multimode Fibers for Surface Plasmon Resonance based Sensors under Spectral and Single Wavelength Intensity Interrogation
Authors: Sital Shivani , Baliyan Anjli , Sharma Enakshi Khular , Gupta Mridula 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
In an optical fiber based SPR sensor, a segment of metal clad silica fiber is used as the sensing element and resonant coupling occurs to the surface plasmon mode excited at the interface of the metal and ambient which surrounds the sensing element. When polychromatic light is transmitted through the sensing element the spectrum of light detected at the other end shows minima at a resonance wavelength. In wavelength interrogation the shift in the resonance wavelength is a measure of change in the refractive index of the ambient. Alternatively, intensity interrogation can be used in which the change in transmitted power at a given wavelength is a measure of change in refractive index of the ambient. The sensitivity and detection accuracy of the sensor depend on the numerical aperture (NA) of the multimode optical fiber used to fabricate the sensor. We have carried out a study of the dependence of the sensitivity and detection accuracy on numerical aperture to obtain the optimal value for a multimode optical fiber which is used to fabricate the sensing element under both wavelength and intensity interrogation. Experimental results on a sensing element fabricated with gold coating on the core of a plastic clad silica fiber are also reported.
Comprehensive Analysis of DNA Damage Repair Genes and Identification of RAD54L as an Immunological and Prognostic Biomarker in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma and Other Cancers
Authors: Wang Song , Yang Zitong , Yi Jiahe , Liu Zixiang , Li Jiangfeng , Wang Xiao , Liu Ben , Xie Liping 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background: DNA damage repair (DDR) plays a pivotal role in the tumorigenesis and progression of multiple cancers, including clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), and immunotherapy is galvanizing research on ccRCC, while the interactions between DDR and tumor microenvironment (TME) in ccRCC still remain elusive. Methods: The expression, mutation and clinical data were downloaded from public datasets in TCGA, GTEx and human protein atlas (HPA) database. Consensus clustering analysis was used to cluster subtypes based upon the expression of DDR genes. Cox regression analysis was adopted to conduct survival analysis, and qRT-PCR method was used to verify the expression of RAD54L in ccRCC samples. GSEA was employed to explore potential enriched KEGG pathways. CIBERSORT, ssGSEA and xCell algorithms were used to evaluate the tumor microenvironment (TME).Results: Two subtypes were identified according to the expression of DDR genes in ccRCC. Subtype1 was correlated with increased proportion of higher-grade tumors, worse prognosis and lower PD-L1 expression compared to subtype2. Distinct TME was also noted between two subtypes. GSEA revealed that the TGF-β signaling pathway was significantly enriched in subtype1. RAD54L was subsequently determined as a potential immune-related DDR gene, which was positively associated with PD-L1 expression and its elevated expression predicted unfavorable prognosis in ccRCC. qRT-PCR also verified the overexpression of RAD54L in ccRCC samples. Additionally, a systematic analysis involving 33 cancer types demonstrated that RAD54L was remarkably upregulated and its overexpression tightly linked to worse prognosis in multiple cancers. Moreover, both xCell and ssGSEA algorithm showed the strong associations between RAD54L expression and immune infiltration in more than 30 cancers. Conclusions: DDR is implicated in regulating TME of ccRCC, and RAD54L is a potential immunological and prognostic biomarker in multiple types of cancer, including ccRCC.
Study On Plasma Exosome Biomarkers Of Pregnant Women With Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy
Authors: Feng Fan , Jiang Mei , Liu Wei , Xu Di , Huang Xiao-Mei , Shao Yong 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background：Elevated serum total bile acid level is currently the main index for clinical diagnosis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, but the use of TBA as a detection index has certain limitations. The early diagnosis of ICP and new treatment options still need to be further strengthened. Methods: Plasma samples were collected, and exosomes were isolated. Key differential proteins were screened by bioinformatics methods. ELISA method was used to detect the concentration of the key differential protein cluster in plasma samples, and the ROC curve was drawn to find out the best critical value. Results: There were 138 differentially expressed proteins between the ICP group and the normal group by quantitative analysis. Cluster protein was screened as a clinical validation index. The cluster protein concentration of plasma exosomes in the ICP group was significantly higher than that in the normal group (P<0.0001). ROC curve analysis showed that the best critical point for diagnosing ICP according to the plasma exosome cluster protein concentration of pregnant women was 255.28 ng/ml. In the ICP group, the best crucial point for predicting ICP with premature delivery is 286.72 ng/ml. Conclusion: the plasma exosome cluster protein concentration of ICP pregnant women is significantly higher than that of normal pregnant women. When the plasma cluster protein concentration of pregnant women is more remarkable than 255.28ng/ml, ICP can be diagnosed. When the plasma cluster protein concentration of pregnant women is higher than 286.72ng/ml, ICP pregnant women are more likely to have a premature birth.
Highly stretchable or extremely soft silicone elastomers? One reaction to make them all - from easily available materials!
Authors: Hu Pengpeng , Madsen Jeppe , Skov Anne Ladegaard 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
An easy curing reaction to prepare silicone elastomers is reported, in which a platinum catalyzed reaction of telechelic/multi-hydrosilane (Si-H) functional polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in the presence of oxygen and water leads to slow crosslinking. This curing chemistry allows versatile tailoring of elastomer properties, which exceed their intrinsic limitations. Both highly stretchable silicone elastomers and extremely soft silicone elastomers are prepared by creating highly entangled elastomers and bottle-brush elastomers from commercial precursor polymers, respectively. The highly stretchable elastomers can be uniaxially stretched to a maximum strain of 2800% and their areas can be biaxially extended 180-fold. The extremely soft silicone elastomers exhibit shear moduli of 1.2-7.4 kPa, depending on composition, values that are comparable to hydrogels and human soft tissues. The reported curing chemistry can be used to prepare a range of silicone elastomers with carefully tailored mechanical properties.
Chestnut Polysaccharides Rescue Impaired Spermatogenesis by Adjusting Gut Microbiota
Authors: Sun Zhong-Yi , Yu Shuai , Tian Yu , Han Bao-Quan , Zhao Yong , Li Ya-Qi , Wang Yan , Sun Yu-Jiang , Shen Wei 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background: Our previous study confirmed the beneficial effects of chestnut polysaccharides on the spermatogenesis process, but the exact mechanism is not clear. Several studies have demonstrated the importance of a balanced gut microbiota in maintaining normal reproductive function. In this study, we investigated the biological functions of chestnut polysaccharides from the perspective of gut microbiota function, expecting to elaborate the specific mechanism of chestnut polysaccharides beneficial to spermatogenesis.Results: Compared with the Vehicle group, germ cell quantity, intestinal structure and tight junction of intestinal tissue were altered in the Busulfan-treated mice, and the intestinal microbiota was also disturbed at several levels, including phylum and genus. The Firmicutes was predominant bacteria in all group followed by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Tenericutes, Cyanobacteria and unidentified-Bacteria, however, the composition of those gut microbiota changes caused by different treatment. Busulfan disturbed the homeostasis of the intestinal microenvironment. Chestnut polysaccharides could rescue this aberrance and improve spermatogenesis via steroid hormone synthesis process. Conclusions: Chestnut polysaccharides can change gut structure and tight junctions to rescue Busulfan-impaired spermatogenesis by altering the composition of different groups of gut microbes, a rescue process that is most likely related to hormone synthesis processes. It will provide a new insight for treating the male-related infertility.
Retrospective Data Analysis for Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) Protocol for Elderly Patients with Long-Level Lumbar Fusion
Authors: WANG PENG , KONG CHAO , TENG ZE , LI ZHONGEN , ZHANG SITAO , SUN WENZHI , Lu Shibao 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background: Currently, ERAS for spinal surgery field is still in its beginnings, the major protocol lessons learned from other surgical specialties and lack of ERAS program for elderly patients (>70 years old). Geriatric patients has its own special characteristics resulting in more harmed by surgical stress. The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) are designed to improving recovery after surgery and can result in substantial benefits in both clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) significantly improved satisfaction and outcomes in elderly patients (>70 years old) with long-level lumbar fusion. Methods: A total of 154 patients were included, 72 in the ERAS group and 82 case-matched patients in the non-ERAS group. Data including demographic, comorbidity and surgical information were collected from electronic medical records. ERAS interventions were categorised as preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative. We also evaluated primary outcome, surgical complication and length of stay (LOS).Results: There were no statistically significant intergroup differences in regards to demographics, comorbidities, American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grade, or the number of fusion levels. There were also no differences between mean surgery time of intraoperative blood loss between the ERAS and non-ERAS groups. In addition, the mean preoperative Visual Analogue Score (VAS) for the back and legs and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score were not significantly different between the two groups. Overall, ERAS pathway compliance was 91.5%. There were no significant differences in the readmission and mortality rates at 30-day follow-up between the ERAS and non-ERAS groups. However, we observed a statistically significant decrease in the complications in the ERAS group(8 in the ERAS group versus 23 in the non-ERAS group, p=0.009) and LOS in the ERAS group (17.74±5.56 of ERAS group versus 22.13±12.21 in non-ERAS group, p=0.041). Multivariable linear regression showed that comorbidities (p=0.028) and implementation of ERAS program (p=0.002) were correlated with prolonged LOS. Multivariable logistic regression showed that comorbidities (p=0.029)， implementation of ERAS program (p=0.043) and preoperative VAS Back (p=0.046), were correlated with complications. Conclusions: This report describes the first ERAS protocol used in elderly patients after long-level lumbar fusion surgery. Our ERAS program is safe and could help decreases LOS and complication in elderly patients with long-level lumbar fusion.
Title Determinants of the Quality of Childbirth Care Along the Continuum in Limited Resource Settings: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis of Cross-sectional Data from Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Millogo Tieba , Kourouma Raïssa Kadidiatou , Méda Bertrand Ivlabéhiré , Agbre-Yace Marie Laurette , Dosso Abdul , Yaméogo Maurice W E , Kouanda Seni 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Introduction: Despite important increase in in-facility births, perinatal mortality rates have remained high and slow to decrease in many developing countries. This situation is attributed to the poor quality of childbirth care. The reason why women delivering in health facilities do not always receive standards of care are unclear. We assessed the determinants of the quality of childbirth care along the continuum of care using different approaches.Methods: A health facility-based cross-sectional study with a direct observation of health care workers’ practices while caring for mother-newborn pairs was carried out in Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire. The performance of a set of Essential Best Practices (EBPs) was assessed in each birth event at admission, pre-pushing and immediate post-partum stages. A quality score, in the form of the additive sum of EBPs effectively delivered was computed for each stage. We used negative binomial regression models and a structural equation modeling analysis to respectively assess the determinants of the quality of care at each stage and the relationships between the quality delivered at the different stages.Results: a total of 532 and 627 mother-newborn pairs were included respectively in Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire. In both countries, the quality of delivery care varies significantly at all stages between health districts. The quality of predelivery care was consistently higher in referral hospitals as compared to primary health care facilities (IRR = 1.02; p < 0.05 and IRR = 1.10; p < 0.05 respectively for Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire). The quality at admission was poorer in nurses as compared to midwives in Burkina Faso (IRR = 0.81; p < 0.001). The quality at admission and pre-delivery stages were positively correlated with the immediate post-partum quality (β = 0.48;p < 0.001 and β = 0.29;p < 0.001 respectively).Conclusion: Quality improvement strategies must target both providers and health facilities and different inputs are needed depending on the stage in the continuum of care.