bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Non-Invasive Characterization of the Pancreas During Bariatric Surgery via Circulating Pancreatic Specific Cell-free Messenger RNA
Authors: Kiat Whye Kong , ShyongTai E , Shabbir Asim , Khoo Chin Meng , Koh Winston 
Published: October 2021

Bariatric surgery results in sustained weight loss and improvement in glucose homeostasis. However, the lack of accessible non-invasive tools to examine molecular alterations occurring in the pancreas limits our understanding of the causes and recovery of glucose homeostasis. Here, we describe the use of a circulating cell free mRNA (cfmRNA) based multiplex qPCR assay to selectively amplify and quantify circulating pancreatic specific transcripts levels within plasma. We applied this assay to a cohort of 58 plasma samples consisting of 10 patients that tracks multiple time points including pre and post-bariatric surgery. In our targeted multiplex screen of 14 selected pancreatic specific circulating transcripts, we identified 13 pancreatic specific transcripts that can be amplified from plasma. Furthermore, when quantifying the amplicons obtained in the short-term post-surgery (2 weeks–1 month) and long-term (3–12 months), we observed a consistent reduction of circulating GCG transcripts during short term post-surgery. Across the cohort, GCG cfmRNA levels correlated significantly with common metrics of improvement following bariatric surgery such as: haemoglobin A1c levels (R: −0.41, p-value: 0.0039) and percentage of excess weight loss (R: 0.29, p-value: 0.046).
Changes of Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer in Childhood Glaucoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wen Yuwen , Zhu Yingting , Zhuo Yehong 
Published: October 2021

Objectives: Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness has been detected by numerous studies about alterations and abnormalities in childhood glaucoma, but these studies have yielded inconsistent results about the RNFL thinning region. The investigation of characteristics of RNFL in pediatric patients would contribute to the deep understanding of the neuropathic mechanisms of childhood glaucoma. Thus, the degree of thinning in different quadrants deserves further discussion and exploration.Method: A systematic literature search was conducted using the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, Embase, and PubMed databases to identify clinical studies published from inception to April 1, 2021.Results: Ten studies were included in this review with a total of 311 children with glaucoma and 444 in nonglaucomatous controls. The results revealed that average peripapillary RNFL (pRNFL) thickness was attenuated in pediatric patients with glaucoma [weighted mean difference (WMD) = −20.75; 95% CI −27.49 to −14.01; p &lt; 0.00001]. Additionally, pRNFL thickness in eight quadrants (superior, inferior, temporal, nasal, superotemporal, inferotemporal, superonasal, and inferonasal) had different levels of reduction in the pediatric group of glaucoma.Conclusion: This study indicates that eight regions of RNFL thickness show various degrees of thinning in childhood glaucoma. However, caution is required in the interpretation of results due to marked heterogeneity. Future studies, especially larger samples and multicenter, need to confirm our results.
Atherogenic Index of Plasma Predicts Outcomes in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Liu Hongbing , Liu Kai , Pei Lulu , Li Shen , Zhao Jiawei , Zhang Ke , Zong Ce , Zhao Lu , Fang Hui , Wu Jun , Sun Shilei , Song Bo , Xu Yuming , Gao Yuan 
Published: October 2021

Aim: The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) was significantly related to adverse outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. Our aim was to investigate the association between AIP and adverse outcomes in acute ischemic stroke.Methods: Patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) admitted between 2015 and 2018 were prospectively enrolled in this study. Functional outcomes were evaluated by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Poor outcomes were defined as mRS 3–6. The relationship of AIP with the risk of outcomes was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression models.Results: A total of 1,463 patients with AIS within 24 h of symptom onset were enrolled. The poor outcome group had a significantly higher level of AIP [0.09 (−0.10 to 0.27) vs. 0.04 (−0.09 to 0.18), p &lt; 0.001] compared with the good outcome group. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that higher AIP was associated with poor outcomes in all the stroke patients (OR 1.84, 95% CI, 1.23–2.53, p = 0.007), which was more evident in patients with large-artery atherosclerosis subtype (OR 1.90, 95% CI, 1.53–2.62, p = 0.002), but not in the other subtypes. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis revealed that the best predictive cutoff value of AIP was 0.112, with a sensitivity of 70.8% and a specificity of 59.2%, and the area under the ROC curves for AIP was 0.685.Conclusion: AIP may be an important and independent predictor of the outcome of dysfunction in patients with AIS, especially the stroke subtype of large-artery atherosclerosis.
Identification and Characterization of Circulating MicroRNAs as Novel Biomarkers in Dogs With Heart Diseases
Authors: Ro Woong-Bin , Kang Min-Hee , Song Doo-Won , Kim Heyong-Seok , Lee Ga-Won , Park Hee-Myung 
Published: October 2021

Background: Previous studies in humans have confirmed dysregulations of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in patients with various cardiovascular diseases. However, studies on circulating miRNAs in dogs with various heart diseases are limited in number. This study aimed to identify significantly dysregulated circulating miRNAs and characterize them as novel biomarkers in dogs with heart diseases.Materials and Methods: Circulating levels of 11 miRNAs were investigated in serum samples of 82 dogs (72 with heart diseases and 10 healthy dogs) using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The results were correlated to clinical data including echocardiographic results and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels.Results: Upregulation of cfa-miR-130b was observed in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD) stage B, patent ductus arteriosus, and pulmonic stenosis. In dogs with MMVD stage B, cfa-miR-130b was upregulated and correlated with clinical indices. In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, cfa-miR-130b accurately distinguished dogs with diseases from healthy dogs. We also observed that cfa-miR-375 and cfa-let-7b were upregulated in dogs with concentric cardiac hypertrophy. The cfa-miR-375 was correlated with concentric hypertrophy indices and was an accurate indicator of concentric hypertrophy in ROC analysis.Conclusions: The miRNAs identified in this study may be used as novel biomarkers and possible candidates for therapeutic targets in various canine heart diseases.
Transcriptomic Biomarkers for Tuberculosis: Validation of NPC2 as a Single mRNA Biomarker to Diagnose TB, Predict Disease Progression, and Monitor Treatment Response
Authors: de Araujo Leonardo S. , Ribeiro-Alves Marcelo , Wipperman Matthew F. , Vorkas Charles Kyriakos , Pessler Frank , Saad Maria Helena Féres 
Published: October 2021

External validation in different cohorts is a key step in the translational development of new biomarkers. We previously described three host mRNA whose expression in peripheral blood is significantly higher (NPC2) or lower (DOCK9 and EPHA4) in individuals with TB compared to latent TB infection (LTBI) and controls. We have now conducted an independent validation of these genes by re-analyzing publicly available transcriptomic datasets from Brazil, China, Haiti, India, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Comparisons between TB and control/LTBI showed significant differential expression of all three genes (NPC2high p < 0.01, DOCK9low p < 0.01, and EPHA4low p < 0.05). NPC2high had the highest mean area under the ROC curve (AUROC) for the differentiation of TB vs. controls (0.95) and LTBI (0.94). In addition, NPC2 accurately distinguished TB from the clinically similar conditions pneumonia (AUROC, 0.88), non-active sarcoidosis (0.87), and lung cancer (0.86), but not from active sarcoidosis (0.66). Interestingly, individuals progressing from LTBI to TB showed a constant increase in NPC2 expression with time when compared to non-progressors (p < 0.05), with a significant change closer to manifestation of active disease (≤3 months, p = 0.003). Moreover, NPC2 expression normalized with completion of anti-TB treatment. Taken together, these results validate NPC2 mRNA as a diagnostic host biomarker for active TB independent of host genetic background. Moreover, they reveal its potential to predict progression from latent to active infection and to indicate a response to anti-TB treatment.
Radial Growth Response of Picea crassifolia to Climatic Conditions in a Dryland Forest Ecosystem in Northwest China
Authors: Liang Hanxue , Jiang Shaowei , Muhammad Ali , Kang Jian , Zhu Huoxing , Li Xuebin , Chen Lin , Zhu Liangjun , Huang Jian-Guo 
Published: October 2021

As an important barrier against desert invasion in Northwest China, Helan Mountains (HL), Luoshan Mountains (LS) and their natural forests have an extremely important ecological status. It is of great significance to study the relationship between forest growth and climate in this region under the background of global change. At present, relevant research mostly focuses on the Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.), and little is known about how Qinghai spruce (Picea crassifolia Kom.) responds to climate change. To investigate the potential relationships between radial growth of P. crassifolia and climatic conditions in Ningxia, China, we collected tree-ring samples from P. crassifolia growing in the HL and LS and then established the standard tree-ring width chronologies for the two sites. Correlation analysis together with multivariate linear regression and relative contribution analyses were used, and results showed that radial growth in the HL was determined by the precipitation in the previous September, by the standardized evapotranspiration index (SPEI) in the current March and June, and by the maximum air temperature in the current September. The maximum air temperature in the current September contributed the most (0.348) to the radial growth in the HL. In the LS, radial growth was determined by the precipitation in the previous September and in the current March and by the minimum air temperature in the current July. The factor that made the most contribution was the precipitation in the current March (0.489). Our results suggested that in the wetting and warming future, growth of P. crassifolia in the HL will increase while that in the LS needs further investigation. Our results also provide a basis for predicting how P. crassifolia in northwest China will grow under the background of future climate change and provide a reference for formulating relevant management measures to achieve ecological protection and sustainable development policies.
Numerical and Analytical Studies of Soret-Driven Convection Flow Inside an Annular Horizontal Porous Cavity
Authors: Mojtabi Abdelkader , Sioud Khairi , Bergeon Alain , Charrier-Mojtabi Marie Catherine 
Published: October 2021

This paper studies the species separation of a binary fluid in a porous cavity between two horizontal concentric cylinders, submitted to a temperature gradient. The thickness of the cavity is e=Ro−Ri, where Ri and Ro are the internal and external radius, respectively. The numerous previous experiments performed in thermogravitational vertical columns (TGCs) showed that in order to obtain a significant separation, the thickness of the cell must be very small, compared with its height. Therefore, in our configuration, we considered e≪Ri. The solution is assumed to be axisymmetric. Under the assumptions of parallel flow and forgotten effect, an analytical solution is obtained using Maple software, and the results are compared with those found numerically using Comsol Multiphysics. In natural convection, our results are in very good agreement with those evaluated with a regular perturbation method in powers of the dimensionless gap width ε=eRi of order 15, and with the Galerkin method. The species separation calculated for our configuration is very close to the one obtained in a TGC column of height: H=πRi. One of the main interests of the analytical solution presented here is that it can be used as a basic solution for a stability study analysis.
A Generalized Strain Energy-Based Homogenization Method for 2-D and 3-D Cellular Materials with and without Periodicity Constraints
Authors: Gad Ahmad I. , Gao Xin-Lin 
Published: October 2021

A generalized strain energy-based homogenization method for 2-D and 3-D cellular materials with and without periodicity constraints is proposed using Hill’s Lemma and the matrix method for spatial frames. In this new approach, the equilibrium equations are enforced at all boundary and interior nodes and each interior node is allowed to translate and rotate freely, which differ from existing methods where the equilibrium conditions are imposed only at the boundary nodes. The newly formulated homogenization method can be applied to cellular materials with or without symmetry. To illustrate the new method, four examples are studied: two for a 2-D cellular material and two for a 3-D pentamode metamaterial, with and without periodic constraints in each group. For the 2-D cellular material, an asymmetric microstructure with or without periodicity constraints is analyzed, and closed-form expressions of the effective stiffness components are obtained in both cases. For the 3-D pentamode metamaterial, a primitive diamond-shaped unit cell with or without periodicity constraints is considered. In each of these 3-D cases, two different representative cells in two orientations are examined. The homogenization analysis reveals that the pentamode metamaterial exhibits the cubic symmetry based on one representative cell, with the effective Poisson’s ratio v¯ being nearly 0.5. Moreover, it is revealed that the pentamode metamaterial with the cubic symmetry can be tailored to be a rubber-like material (with v¯ ≅0.5) or an auxetic material (with v¯ < 0).
Some Formability Aspects of High Strength Steel and of Consisting Tailor Welded Blanks
Authors: Béres Gábor J. , Végvári Ferenc , Danyi József 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
In recent years, the demand for a reduction in pollutant emission has become extremely important in the vehicle industry. It can be achieved through fuel consumption reduction, which is a direct function of the vehicle’s weight. nowadays weight is widely controlled by the use of advanced- and ultra-high strength steels (AHSS and UHSS) in vehicle body construction. With the application of such steel sheets as chassis elements, crashworthiness can be maintained next to reduced sheet thicknesses, too. In this paper, the deep-drawability and springback after V-die bending is monitored for three types of AHSS grades, namely DP600, DP800 and DP1000 materials. The investigations are extended to tailor welded blanks (TWBs), made by the aforementioned steels coupled with a cold rolled steel sheet (DC04). Our results show that deep-drawability reduces with both the increase in strength and the increase in strength difference between the components in the TWBs. Furthermore, the higher strength is shown to cause higher spring-back. The TWBs have unique spring-back behavior around the weld line.
Preparation of undecanoic acid-terminated Si particles from rice husks
Authors: Matsumoto Kimihisa , Kamiya Kazuhide , Ito So , Yasuda Hidehiro 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Luminescent fine Si powder was prepared by an Mg reduction process of SiO2 particles extracted from rice husks. The surface of the powder was terminated by the hydrophilic molecules of undecanoic acid via the hydrosilylation process. After the hydrosilylation of the fine Si powder obtained from rice husks, surface termination by undecanoic acid was confirmed to suppress natural surface oxidation. Transmission electron microscopy observations of the rice husk fine Si powder showed that the Si nanoparticles have a crystalline structure. Room temperature photoluminescence in the wavelength range of 500–1000 nm was observed in the samples taken at each step of the process, and the stability of the luminescence properties was improved via undecanoic acid surface termination. The observation of wavelength dependent microsecond-order photoluminescence indicates that the photoluminescence was due to quantum size effects. On the basis of time-transient light transmittance of rice husk Si colloid, the surface termination of undecanoic acid improved the dispersibility of Si particles in distilled water. The production of luminescent rice husk Si colloid is effective for the preparation of luminescent bio labels and will lead to high value-added recycling of rice husks.
HARGA, KUALITAS PRODUK DAN WORD OF MOUTH TERHADAP MINAT BELI PRODUK U-TECH
Authors: Lay Raymond Gunawan 
Published: October 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji pengaruh faktor harga, kualitas produk dan word of mouth terhadap minat beli produk U-TECH. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode simple random sampling. Populasi yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini ada konsumen yang belum pernah melakukan pembelian di U-TECH. Jumlah sampel yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini sebanyak 100 orang. Metode analisis data yang digunakan adalah regresi linier berganda dengan menggunakan aplikasi perangkat lunak IBM Static SPSS versi ke 23. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa variabel harga, kualitas produk, dan word of mouth berpengaruh signifikan terhadap minat beli.

Kata kunci : Harga, Kualitas Produk, Word of Mouth, Minat Beli.
ANALISIS KERJASAMA TIM DAN MOTIVASI TERHADAP KEPUASAN KERJA SERTA DAMPAKNYA PADA KINERJA KARYAWAN PT. SARIADI WAHANA JASA
Authors: Christianto David , Henky Alexander Wahyudi 
Published: October 2021

Ekspor dan Impor merupakan kegiatan perdagangan internasional yang sangat penting untuk menjaga kestabilan ekonomi serta memperkuat cadangan devisa suatu negara. Karena itu diperlukan peningkatan nilai ekspor-impor agar Indonesia dapat bersaing dalam perang dagang dunia dengan cara meningkatkan kualitas perusahaan ekspedisi di Indonesia. Hal tersebut dapat dicapai dengan meningkatkan kinerja karyawan perusahaan dengan memiliki kerjasama tim yang baik, karyawan yang memiliki motivasi, serta karyawan memiliki kepuasan dalam pekerjaan mereka. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisis pengaruh kerjasama tim dan motivasi terhadap kepuasan kerja serta dampaknya terhadap kinerja karyawan PT. Sariadi Wahana Jasa. PT Sariadi Wahana Jasa merupakan perusahaan ekspor-impor yang berada di Surabaya. Penelitian ini didasari oleh data yang dikumpulkan dengan metode kuantitatif dengan membagikan kuisioner pada responden. Teknik sampling yang digunakan adalah teknik sampling jenuh dengan jumlah sampel 40 karyawan PT. Sariadi Wahana Jasa. Variabel dalam penelitian ini adalah kerjasama tim (X1), motivasi (X2) , kepuasan kerja (Z) dan kinerja karyawan (Y). Data kemudian diolah menggunakan PLS 2.0. Hasil yang didapat adalah kerjasama tim dan motivasi memiliki pengaruh signifikan terhadap kepuasan kerja. Kepuasan kerja sendiri memiliki pengaruh signifikan terhadap kinerja karyawan PT. Sariadi Wahana Jasa.

Kata kunci: kepuasan kerja, kerjasama tim, kinerja karyawan, motivasi
THE ROLE OF SELECTED HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS (HEIS) AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS ON INTEGRATING FOOD HERITAGE RESEARCH INTO POLITICAL PRIORITIES: A PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS OF LUZON ISLAND, PHILIPPINES
Authors: Andalecio Avi Ben Pestanas 
Published: October 2021

The purpose of this study is to show how food heritage, specifically Filipino Pancit, define the culture oftheir citizens, investigate the efforts of Local Government Units (LGUs), and examine the role of a selectedHigher Educational Institution (HEI) as a partner of LGUs in safeguarding food heritage. The researcher
used frameworks from international and national cultural agencies and researchers. Observation and in-depth interviews were also used for the documentation process through case study technique, which
examined the aspects of statutory control and safeguarding mechanisms to determine the political prioritiesof involved LGUs and the selected HEI’s role in safeguarding food heritage in the islands of Luzon,Philippines. Findings suggest that LGUs’ sheer political will, knowledge, and awareness on issues onheritage conservation, openness, sustainable practices, and multi-stakeholder participation are essential inrobust protection vis-à-vis culture and heritage conservation. This comes with the active participation ofstakeholders, especially academic institutions, which provide expertise and extra leg work on researchbacked by their advocacy rooted on Filipino identity and sustainability to support policies of the government.Ultimately, research-based policymaking is key to open opportunities not just on intangible cultural heritagelike Filipino Pancit but on culture and heritage conservation in general.
ПАТОМОРФОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ ИЗМЕНЕНИЯ ПРИ АЛЬФОРТИОЗЕ ЛОШАДЕЙ
Authors: Амиргалиева С.С , Мауланов А.З , Сайдилдинова А.К. 
Published: October 2021

Коневодство в Республике Казахстан является одной из составляющих частей в сельскохозяйственном производстве в целом и в животноводстве в частности. В последние 10-15 лет с изменением системы ведения сельского хозяйства во многих хозяйствах республики начали разводить лошадей. В статье представлены результаты клинического, патологоморфологического исследований при альфортиозе лошадей в некоторых коне-водческих хозяйствах Алматинской области. Степень клинического проявления альфортиоза зависела от интенсивности инвазии, общего состояния животного и осложнений альфортиозных очагов гноеродной инфекцией. Исследовано 12 лошадей, заболевших альфортиозом на пастбище. Диагноз устанавливали комплексно: на оснований анализа анамнестических данных, результатов патоморфологического исследования. Установлено, что на диффузно покрасневшей и набухшей брюшине находились темно-красные пятнистые гематомы и абсцессы. Наибольшее количество гематом отмечали в вентральной и дорсальной частях брюшины. Через серозную оболочку вырисовывается красноватого и молочного цвета изогнутые или вытянутые личинки паразита. В толстом отделе кишечника мигрирующие личинки находились в подсерозной оболочке и в стенке кишечника. Пато-логоанатомические изменения в паренхиматозных органах характеризовались признаками нарушения кровообращения и дистрофическими изменениями. Гистологически в толстой кишке обнаружен отек слизистой оболочки, а в ее глубоких слоях выявлена выраженная диффузная лимфоцитарно - эозинофильная инфильтрация. Альфортиоз патологоанато-мически характеризовался паразитарным перитонитом с преимущественным поражением париетальной брюшины.