bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Frailty in patients with acute decompensated heart failure in a super‐aged regional Japanese cohort
Authors: Hamada Tomoyuki , Kubo Toru , Kawai Kazuya , Nakaoka Yoko , Yabe Toshikazu , Furuno Takashi , Yamada Eisuke , Kitaoka Hiroaki ,   the Kochi YOSACOI study
Published: June 2021

AbstractAimsThe aim of this study was to investigate clinical characteristics of frail patients based on a comprehensive frailty assessment in patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure (HF) (ADHF) in super‐aged regional Japanese cohort.Methods and resultsWe established the Kochi Registry of Subjects with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (Kochi YOSACOI) study, which was a prospective multicentre community‐based cohort study in six participating hospitals in Kochi Prefecture, Japan. We enrolled 1061 patients (median age, 81 years; 50.0% men) hospitalized for ADHF between June 2017 and December 2019 in this registry. Patients were classified into the three groups by the severity of frailty using the Kihon Checklist: we identified frailty in 510 patients (53.7%), prefrailty in 293 patients (30.9%), and non‐frailty in 146 patients (15.4%). Compared with prefrail and non‐frail patients, frail patients were older (84 years interquartile range [IQR, 77–88] vs. 79 years [IQR, 69–86] and 72 years [IQR 65–81], P < 0.001) and more often had prior HF hospitalization (29.6% vs. 21.8% and 16.4%, P < 0.05), chronic kidney disease (81.6% vs. 71.7% and 61.0%, P < 0.01), anaemia (75.3% vs. 61.4% and 50.0%, P < 0.001), cerebrovascular accident (19.0% vs. 9.9% and 4.1%, P < 0.01). The proportion of patients with three or more comorbidities was larger in the frailty group than in the other groups (78.0% vs. 67.2% and 63.0%, P < 0.01). The frequency of functional decline in all domains increased with frailty status. Approximately 70% of frail patients were identified as functional decline in physical function and socialization domains. Fifty to sixty per cent of frail patients had functional decline in instrumental activities of daily living, cognitive function, and depression domains. The percentage of worsening walking ability during hospitalization was increasing with the frailty status (frailty, 27.5%; prefrailty, 21.8%; non‐frailty, 8.9%). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, frailty was associated with age [odds ratio (OR) 1.031, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.011–1.052, P = 0.003], prior HF hospitalization (OR 1.789, 95% CI 1.165–2.764, P = 0.008), brain natriuretic peptide level at discharge (OR 1.001, 95% CI 1.000–1.001, P = 0.020) and prior cerebrovascular accident (OR 2.549, 95% CI 1.484–4.501, P < 0.001).ConclusionsMore than half of patients with ADHF were frail and had functional decline across multiple domains, not only physical function domain. The Kihon Checklist provided useful and valuable information for easily identifying frail patients and comprehensive management of HF.
Effectiveness of motivational interviewing on health‐service use and mortality: a secondary outcome analysis of the MOTIVATE‐HF trial
Authors: Iovino Paolo , Rebora Paola , Occhino Giuseppe , Zeffiro Valentina , Caggianelli Gabriele , Ausili Davide , Alvaro Rosaria , Riegel Barbara , Vellone Ercole 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAimsIntense health‐care service use and high mortality are common in heart failure (HF) patients. This secondary analysis of the MOTIVATE‐HF trial investigates the effectiveness of motivational interviewing (MI) in reducing health‐care service use (e.g. emergency service use and hospitalizations) and all‐cause mortality.Methods and resultsThis study used a randomized controlled trial. Patients and caregivers were randomized to Arm 1 (MI for patients), Arm 2 (MI for patients and caregivers), or Arm 3 (control group). Data were collected at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Face‐to‐face MI plus three telephone calls were performed in Arms 1 and 2. The sample consisted of 510 patient (median age 74 years, 58% male patients) and caregiver dyads (median age 55 years, 75% female patients). At 12 months, 16.1%, 17%, and 11.2% of patients used health‐care services at least once in Arms 1, 2, and 3, respectively, without significant difference. At 3 months, 1.9%, 0.6%, and 5.1% of patients died in Arms 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Mortality was lower in Arm 2 vs. Arm 3 at 3 months [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.112, 95% CI: 0.014–0.882, P = 0.04]; no difference was found at subsequent follow‐ups. Mortality was lower in Arm 1 vs. Arm 3 at 3 months but did not reach statistical significance (HR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.104–1.414, P = 0.15).ConclusionThis study suggests that MI reduces mortality in patients with HF if caregivers are included in the intervention. Further studies with a stronger intervention and longer follow‐up are needed to clarify the benefits of MI on health‐care service use and mortality.
Enzyme‐Inspired Design of CoII‐Based H2 Generation Catalysts: A Toolbox with Guiding Principles Revealed by a Systematic DFT Study
Authors: Rani Neha , Mazumder Shivnath 
Published: June 2021

AbstractInspired by the proton relay pathway, as found in the hydrogenase enzymes, herein we report a series of highly promising pentadentate CoII‐[N2Nring3]‐based H2 generation molecular catalysts using experimentally easily accessible, redox‐innocent oxamide and pyridine‐/N‐methyl imidazole‐rich motifs. These newly designed catalysts can display proton relay using the donor nitrogen atom of the pendant arm in the catalytically active CoI state. The ligand framework contains three tether chains connecting the oxamide to pyridine/N‐methyl imidazole rings. The length of the tethers and position of attachment of the third tether are found to have a significant impact on the stability of the CoII catalyst. The electronic property of the pendant ligand can be modulated by judicious choice of the functional group such that the proton relay mechanism can be triggered at acidic, basic, and neutral pH of the medium. Moreover, it has been found that electron donating functional groups can avoid formation of an unproductive ligand‐reduced intermediate which can contribute to catalyst deactivation. Detailed DFT analysis revealed a set of much‐needed guiding principles that can be used by an experimental chemist as a toolbox for synthesis of novel H2 generation catalysts that can successfully demonstrate the biomimetic proton relay pathway while minimizing the decomposition of the metal catalysts.
Analysis of the DANAERO wind turbine field database to assess the importance of different state‐of‐the‐art blade element momentum (BEM) correction models
Authors: Potentier Thomas , Braud Caroline , Guilmineau Emmanuel , Finez Arthur , Le Bourdat Colin 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAerodynamic loads of wind turbine blades are often predicted by manufacturers using the blade element momentum (BEM) theory, for which many corrections have been proposed in the literature. The physical impacts of such corrections on field measurements have seldom been assessed because of the relative unavailability of dedicated measurements. Based on the unique full‐scale database of the DANAERO project, available through the IEA (International Energy Agency) Task 29, this work incrementally applies on aerodynamic field measurement improvements of the BEM theory: atmospheric boundary layer vertical velocity gradient, neighboring wake, yaw misalignment, wind inflow location, tower shadow effect, cone angles modeling, blade aeroelastic deformation, and dynamic wake. This is performed using the iBEM method (inverse Blade Element Momentum), which back‐calculates the aerodynamic coefficients (lift—CL and drag—CD) using aerodynamic loads from field tests.
Interactions between calcium carbonate and ammonium polyphosphate in low‐borate concentration hydrocarbon intumescent coatings
Authors: Zeng Ying , Gricius Zygimantas , Weinell Claus Erik , Dam‐Johansen Kim , Ring Louise , Kiil Søren 
Published: June 2021

SummaryFor high performance of hydrocarbon intumescent coatings, interactions between the acid source ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and inorganic fillers can be critical. In the present work, low‐borate concentration (ie, 1 wt% zinc borate) intumescent coatings with different concentration ratios of CaCO3 to APP were studied in an attempt to map the reaction mechanisms. The analysis of the coating performance was conducted using thermal insulation assessment according to the UL1709 fire curve (disregarding substrate load, geometrical diversity, and other full‐scale implications of the complete standard), rheological measurements, thermogravimetric analyses, attenuated total reflection‐Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (ATR‐FTIR), and X‐ray diffraction. Results show that a coating with a CaCO3/APP mass ratio of 0.3 gives the best performance (ie, the longest critical time of steel substrates to reach both 400 and 550°C in the thermal insulation assessment). The dependency on the CaCO3/APP ratio of the dynamic viscosity minimum points to significant interactions between CaCO3 and APP during the softening state (ie, the intumescence process) of the coating. Due to an enhanced anti‐oxidation property, the degradation zone of the intumescent char and the residual weight of the coating after exposure were both improved when increasing the CaCO3/APP ratio. The compositional development of the intumescent char showed that CaCO3 and APP react to form a new polymeric phase, calcium catena‐polyphosphate (CaP2O6). This polyphosphate may contribute to the formation of a compact phase in the intumescent char and benefit the thermal insulation performance of low‐borate concentration hydrocarbon intumescent coatings.
Histamine triggers microglial responses indirectly via astrocytes and purinergic signaling
Authors: Xia Pengfei , Logiacco Francesca , Huang Yimin , Kettenmann Helmut , Semtner Marcus 
Published: June 2021

AbstractHistamine is a monoaminergic neurotransmitter which is released within the entire brain from ascending axons originating in the tuberomammillary nucleus in a sleep state‐dependent fashion. Besides the modulation of neuronal firing patterns, brain histamine levels are also thought to modulate functions of glial cells. Microglia are the innate immune cells and professional phagocytes of the central nervous system, and histamine was previously shown to have multiple effects on microglial functions in health and disease. Isolated microglia respond only to agonists of the Hrh2 subtype of histamine receptors (Hrh), and the expression of that isoform is confirmed by a metadata analysis of microglia transcriptomes. When we studied the effect of the histamine receptor isoforms in cortical and thalamic microglia by in situ live cell Ca2+ imaging using a novel, microglia‐specific indicator mouse line, microglial cells respond to external histamine application mainly in a Hrh1‐, and to a lower extent also in a Hrh2‐dependent manner. The Hrh1 response was sensitive to blockers of purinergic P2ry12 receptors, and since Hrh1 expression was predominantly found in astrocytes, we suggest that the Hrh1 response in microglia is mediated by astrocyte ATP release and activation of P2ry12 receptors in microglia. Histamine also stimulates microglial phagocytic activity via Hrh1‐ and P2ry12‐mediated signaling. Taken together, we provide evidence that histamine acts indirectly on microglial Ca2+ levels and phagocytic activity via astrocyte histamine receptor‐controlled purinergic signaling.
Motor and higher‐order functions topography of the human dentate nuclei identified with tractography and clustering methods
Authors: Palesi Fulvia , Ferrante Matteo , Gaviraghi Marta , Misiti Anastasia , Savini Giovanni , Lascialfari Alessandro , D'Angelo Egidio , Gandini Wheeler‐Kingshott Claudia A. M. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractDeep gray matter nuclei are the synaptic relays, responsible to route signals between specific brain areas. Dentate nuclei (DNs) represent the main output channel of the cerebellum and yet are often unexplored especially in humans. We developed a multimodal MRI approach to identify DNs topography on the basis of their connectivity as well as their microstructural features. Based on results, we defined DN parcellations deputed to motor and to higher‐order functions in humans in vivo. Whole‐brain probabilistic tractography was performed on 25 healthy subjects from the Human Connectome Project to infer DN parcellations based on their connectivity with either the cerebral or the cerebellar cortex, in turn. A third DN atlas was created inputting microstructural diffusion‐derived metrics in an unsupervised fuzzy c‐means classification algorithm. All analyses were performed in native space, with probability atlas maps generated in standard space. Cerebellar lobule‐specific connectivity identified one motor parcellation, accounting for about 30% of the DN volume, and two non‐motor parcellations, one cognitive and one sensory, which occupied the remaining volume. The other two approaches provided overlapping results in terms of geometrical distribution with those identified with cerebellar lobule‐specific connectivity, although with some differences in volumes. A gender effect was observed with respect to motor areas and higher‐order function representations. This is the first study that indicates that more than half of the DN volumes is involved in non‐motor functions and that connectivity‐based and microstructure‐based atlases provide complementary information. These results represent a step‐ahead for the interpretation of pathological conditions involving cerebro‐cerebellar circuits.
Constructal heat transfer and fluid flow enhancement optimization for cylindrical microcooling channels with variable cross‐section
Authors: Olakoyejo Olabode T. , Adelaja Adekunle O. , Adewumi Olayinka O. , Oluwo Adeyinka A. , Bello Solomon K. , Adio Saheed A. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThis study applies constructal theory to conduct a numerical optimization of three‐dimensional cylindrical microcooling channels with the solid structure subjected to internal heat generation. The cylindrical channels are designed as variable cross‐section configurations that experience conjugate heat transfer and fluid flow, where water is used as the coolant. The research aims to optimize the channel configurations subject to a fixed global solid material volume constraint. The key objectives are to minimize the global thermal resistance and friction factor. The coolant is pushed through the channels by pressure drop represented as Bejan number. The main design parameters are the inlet and outlet diameters at a given porosity. The channel configuration and the structure elemental volume are permitted to change to find the best design parameters that minimized thermal resistance and friction factor, so that the cooling effect is enhanced. An ANSYS FLUENT code is used to obtain the best optimal parameter of the configuration that enhances thermal performance. The influence of Bejan number on optimized inlet and outlet diameters led to minimization of thermal resistance and friction factor and maximization of Nusselt number. The results show distinctive optimal inlet and outlet diameters that enhance the overall performance of the system in the range of and , respectively.
New snow metrics for a warming world
Authors: Nolin Anne W. , Sproles Eric A. , Rupp David E. , Crumley Ryan L. , Webb Mariana J. , Palomaki Ross T. , Mar Eugene 
Published: June 2021

AbstractSnow is Earth's most climatically sensitive land cover type. Traditional snow metrics may not be able to adequately capture the changing nature of snow cover. For example, April 1 snow water equivalent (SWE) has been an effective index for streamflow forecasting, but it cannot express the effects of midwinter melt events, now expected in warming snow climates, nor can we assume that station‐based measurements will be representative of snow conditions in future decades. Remote sensing and climate model data provide capacity for a suite of multi‐use snow metrics from local to global scales. Such indicators need to be simple enough to “tell the story” of snowpack changes over space and time, but not overly simplistic or overly complicated in their interpretation. We describe a suite of spatially explicit, multi‐temporal snow metrics based on global satellite data from NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and downscaled climate model output for the U.S. We describe and provide examples for Snow Cover Frequency (SCF), Snow Disappearance Date (SDD), At‐Risk Snow (ARS), and Frequency of a Warm Winter (FWW). Using these retrospective and prospective snow metrics, we assess the current and future snow‐related conditions in three hydroclimatically different U.S. watersheds: the Truckee, Colorado Headwaters, and Upper Connecticut. In the two western U.S. watersheds, SCF and SDD show greater sensitivity to annual differences in snow cover compared with data from the ground‐based Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) network. The eastern U.S. watershed does not have a ground‐based network of data, so these MODIS‐derived metrics provide uniquely valuable snow information. The ARS and FWW metrics show that the Truckee Watershed is highly vulnerable to conversion from snowfall to rainfall (ARS) and midwinter melt events (FWW) throughout the seasonal snow zone. In comparison, the Colorado Headwaters and Upper Connecticut Watersheds are colder and much less vulnerable through mid‐ and late‐century.
Cyclin‐dependent kinase 1 shows to be a potential genetic target for chemical cystitis
Authors: Wang Kun , Du Huaping , Zhuang Qianfeng , Lu Hao , Xu Renfang , Xue Dong 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundIn the present study, we aimed to explore whether common genetic targets or signaling pathways existed in chemical cystitis.MethodsGene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used to search the related gene expression profiles. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by using GEO2R. The DAVID 6.8 Beta and R software were used to perform Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis and Gene Ontology function analysis of DEGs. The protein‐protein interaction network was constructed by STRING 11.0 to reveal the potential gene interactions. The expression of cyclin‐dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1) at the messnger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels was examined by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot analysis analysis, respectively.ResultsThe GEO database was searched, and the gene expression profiles of GSE55986 and GSE68539 were downloaded. A total of 262 DEGs and 356 DEGs were identified from GSE55986 and GSE68539, respectively. We found that the p53 signaling pathway might play a key role in the development of chemical cystitis, and Cdk1 acted as a crucial gene in the p53 signaling pathway. Moreover, the experimental results of real‐time PCR and Western blot analysis analysis demonstrated that the expression of Cdk1 at the mRNA and protein levels in cystitis tissues was significantly increased in different animal models of chemical cystitis compared with the control group.ConclusionCdk1 might be a potential pathogenic genetic target for chemical cystitis.
Cytotoxic T lymphocyte‐associated protein 4 antibody aggrandizes antitumor immune response of oncolytic virus M1 via targeting regulatory T cells
Authors: Liu Wenfeng , Liu Yang , Hu Cheng , Xu Cuiying , Chen Jiehong , Chen Yinting , Cai Jing , Yan Guangmei , Zhu Wenbo 
Published: June 2021

AbstractOncolytic virotherapies are perceived as remarkable immunotherapies coming into view and represent highly promising cancer treatments, yet to figure out its specific immune responses and underlying barriers remains critical. Albeit recent studies have demonstrated that oncolytic viruses (OVs) could fine tune tumor microenvironment (TME) to elicit tumor suppression mainly due to effective T‐cell responses, the interaction between suppressive T cells and OVs is barely undetermined. Herein, we found that regulatory T cells (Treg cells) were increased in the TME following systemic administration of oncolytic virus M1 along with the higher expression of relative cytokines and chemokines in both mouse RM‐1 prostatic carcinoma model and mouse B16F10 melanoma model. Besides, Treg cells expressed high levels of CD25 post‐M1 treatment, and its suppressive effect on CD8+ T cells was also elevated. Depletion of Treg cells in M1‐treated groups significantly reinforced antitumor effect of M1. Specific targeting of Treg cells using cytotoxic T lymphocyte‐associated protein 4 (CTLA‐4) antibody (Ab) in combination with M1 treatment elicited a more profound tumor suppression and longer overall survival time than M1 alone in both tumor models. Moreover, CTLA‐4 Ab further aggrandized antitumor immune response elicited by M1, including increased infiltration of CD45+ immune cells and CD8+ or CD4+ T lymphocytes, decreased ratio of Treg cells to CD4+ T lymphocytes, the intensified lymphocytotoxicity and elevated secretion of cytotoxic cytokines like interferon‐γ, granzyme B and perforin. Therefore, our findings constituted a suggestive evidence that targeting Treg cells in M1‐based oncolytic virotherapy may achieve a highly response in clinical cancer research.
Robot‐assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction due to aberrant blood vessel with ipsilateral retrocaval ureter
Authors: Inoue Yuta , Naitoh Yasuyuki , Ajiki Jun , Fukui Ayako , Yamada Takeshi , Fujihara Atsuko , Yamada Kaori , Hongo Fumiya , Ukimura Osamu 
Published: June 2021

IntroductionUreteropelvic junction obstruction is a common congenital anomaly that causes hydronephrosis but rarely accompanies ipsilateral retrocaval ureter.Case presentationA 39‐year‐old woman, who visited to our hospital complaining of worsened right low back pain and fever, was diagnosed with right hydronephrosis due to ureteropelvic junction obstruction by contrast‐enhanced computed tomography. Intraoperatively before the planned robot‐assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty, retrograde pyelography was performed to reveal concomitant ipsilateral retrocaval ureter. Laparoscopically, ureteropelvic junction obstruction due to aberrant blood vessel and coexisting retrocaval ureter was confirmed. Transposition of the ureter from posterior to anterior of the inferior vena cava and following dismembered pyeloplasty was performed. Two years after surgery, her right hydronephrosis improved and she had no complain of any symptom.ConclusionRetrocaval ureter is a rare abnormality; however, combination of preoperative retrograde pyelography and laparoscopic evaluation was important for management of this concomitant abnormality.
Retinal vessel segmentation based on an improved deep forest
Authors: Yang Xin , Li Zhiqiang , Guo Yingqing , Zhou Dake 
Published: June 2021

AbstractTo improve the diagnosis efficiency of diseases related to retinal blood vessels, this article proposes a novel retinal blood vessels segmentation algorithm by combining the advantages of convolutional neural network (CNN) and cascade forest (CF). Firstly, we use the contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE) algorithm to enhance the color fundus retinal image. Secondly, we randomly select some image patches to train the CNN feature extraction module and the CF classification module. Finally, the image patches from the test image are sent to the trained model to complete the retinal blood vessel segmentation. The algorithm is verified on the DRIVE, STARE, and CHASE_DB1 datasets. The sensitivity reaches 0.8206, 0.8762, and 0.7705, the accuracy reaches 0.9531, 0.9611, and 0.9559, and the area under the ROC curve reaches 0.9770, 0.9899, and 0.9767, respectively. The comprehensive performance of our method is better than that of some state‐of‐the‐art methods.