bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New Insight Into the Evaluation of Abnormal Left Ventricular Wall Motion
Authors: Nakamura Yoichi 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
BackgroundEvaluation of mechanical dyssynchrony using echocardiography has failed to improve refractory heart failure in patients treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy. Previous predictors may not accurately reflect cardiac dyssynchrony. It was hypothesized that the spatially and temporary continuous information of the whole endocardium is required when the mechanical dyssynchrony is assessed using echocardiography. This study aimed to examine differences in the locus of the centroid of the left ventricle between abnormal and normal wall motion. MethodsTwenty-seven patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF]: 43±7%) and 45 old myocardial infarction patients with aneurysm (LVEF: 38±11%) were compared with 188 individuals with normal wall motions (LVEF: 61±5%). In an off-line system, the border of the endocardium was defined for each coordinate via the two-dimensional speckle tracking method. The centroid of the three-dimensional left ventricle was defined as the central point between both centroids calculated from four- and two-chamber images using an original application. ResultsThe locus of the centroid of the left ventricle in the normal wall motion group showed a horizontally inverted β shape, whereas this shape was absent in the other groups. When corrected by left ventricular end-systolic volume, the total and each directional length of the locus of the centroid of the left ventricle in the abnormal wall motion groups were clearly reduced compared with those recorded in the normal wall motion group. The acceleration of the centroid was also reduced in the abnormal wall motion groups. Multiple regression analysis with a stepwise method revealed a corrected antero-posterior shift of the centroid of left ventricle by left ventricular end-systolic volume and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, which strongly correlated with the LVEF (adjusted R2: 0.6818, p≤2.2e-16).ConclusionUse of the locus of the centroid of the left ventricle provides novel insight into the evaluation of abnormal left ventricular contractions. Trial registrationretrospectively registered
Evaluation of Short-Term Efficacy and Long-Term Oncologi-Cal Outcomes of Different Paclitaxels Plus Platinum Regi-Mens in the Treatment of Serous Ovarian Cancer—A Real World Study
Authors: liu yuanyuan , Zhao Ren-feng , Liu Chao , Zhou Jie , Yang Liu , Li Li 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Objective:To investigate the short-term efficacy and long-term oncological outcomes of different paclitaxelplus platinum regimens in patients with serous ovarian cancer.Method :This is an observational study.A total of 2835 patients with serous ovarian cancer were collected from January 2009 to June 2015 in Guangxi Province,China.Under the condition of real world research,Objective Remission Rate(ORR) and Adverse Reaction Rate(ARR) of 13 p-aclitaxel plus platinum regimens were compared retrospectively.According to the results of ORRand ARR,three schemes with better short-term curative effect were selected,and the PFS and OS of the three regimens were compared.Result: (1)ARR:Cisplatin-based regimen had the highest incidence of liver and kidney damage,gastrointe-stinal reaction and alopecia;Carboplatin-based regimen had the highest incidence of myelosuppr-ession;Paclitaxel-based regimen had the highest incidence of allergic reaction;Docetaxel+Oxalipl-atin group and Paclitaxel+Cisplatin group had the highest incidence of neurotoxicity,other chem-otherapy regimens was similar.(2)ORR:The ORR of Liposomal-Paclitaxel+Carboplatin group wa-s 88.3%,Docetaxel+Carboplatin group、Paclitaxel+Carboplatin/Cisplatin group and Docetaxel+Lo-baplatin group were similar,higher than 80%;Paclitaxel+Nedaplatin group was the lowest,only 69.7%.According to the results of ORR and ARR,Liposome-Paclitaxel+Carboplatin(Li-Pa/Ca),Docetaxel+Carboplatin(Do/Ca),Paclitaxel+Carboplatin(Pa/Ca) can obtain satisfactory short-term chemotherapy efficacy with low adverse reactions.we included these three egimens into the long-term pr-ognosis study.(3)PFS+OS:The median PFS and OS of Li-Pa/Ca were better than those of Do/Ca,while the 5-year PFS rate and OS rate were on the contrary(PFS:35m vs 28m,18.8% vs 22.0%;OS:55m vs 44m,25.04% vs 31.83%),but the results were not statistically significant.PFS and OS of Pa/Ca were significantly lower than those of Li-Pa/Ca and Do/Ca(PFS:25m,13.67%;OS: 40m,22.82%,P<0.05). Conclusion: Li-Pa/Ca,Do/Ca and Pa/Ca regimens can achieve satisfactory short-term efficacy with low adver-se reactions.In particular,Li-Pa/Ca and Do/Ca have more obvious advantages than Pa/Ca in improving the long-term prognosis of patients.This study provides an important basis and referenc-e for patients with serous ovarian cancer in underdeveloped areas to choose traditional chemot-herapy.Doctors should fully follow the principle of "high efficiency and low toxicity",and give individualized treatment according to the individual differences of patients.
Does bacterial weathering play a significant role in rock weathering?
Authors: Binal Adil , Sel Aylin 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Bacterial weathering plays a significant role in rock weathering, yet only a limited number of studies was conducted on this topic. The recent rapid developments in geomicrobiology are expected to increase the pace of research in this area. The extent and duration of the biological weathering processes on mineral and rock samples and minerals preferred by bacteria are still not fully understood due to the wide variety of both bacterial species and rock types. Biological weathering of rock types found in Turkey has also not been studied before. Here, we investigated the effects of two species of bacteria actively contributing to rock weathering on three rock types commonly used as building stone materials in Turkey. Granite, andesite, and limestone samples could interact with Bacillus species (B. subtilis and B. pumilus) in closed system reactors. Samples obtained from these reactors were analysed via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) monitoring to identify morphological features and chemical composition changes. Chemical elements consumed most by bacteria were identified. Changes in the colour index were determined via RGB measurements. The effects of experimental conditions on bacterial growth were monitored via daily optical density measurements. The effects of bacteria on the physical properties of rock samples were also evaluated. B. subtilis and B. pumilus were found to be more aggressive on limestone/andesite and granite, respectively.
Educational Needs Assessment Among Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: NeJhaddadgar Nazila , Ziapour Arash , Mehedi Nafiul , Toghroli Razie , Yari Asiyeh , Mardi Afrouz 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a global disease. Educational needs assessment (knowledge, attitudes, and practices) plays a significant role in managing the COVID-19 situations. The objective of the present study was to assess the educational needs among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-correlational study was performed among 384 adults through stratified-cluster sampling in Ardabil city in November 2020. The data gathering tool was a self-reported questionnaire designed by the researchers consisting of 23 questions. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, correlation coefficient, and regression analysis were performed to analyze the quantitative data.Results: Form the 384 respondents of 5 regions of Ardabil in Iran, the accurate response rate for this study revealed that 73.17% of participants (n=281) had sufficient knowledge, 61.19% (n=235) had positive attitudes, and 69.53% (n=267) had adequate Practicing behavior. However, knowledge was associated with gender (p<0.001), occupation (p<0.001), and place of residence (p<0.001). Attitude was associated with age (p<0.001), marital status (p<0.001) and level of education (p<0.001) and place of residence (t=4.242, p<0.001). The practice was associated with age (p<0.001), gender (p<0.001) marital status (p<0.001). The results of linear regression analysis showed that knowledge and attitude affect behavior (p<0.001).Conclusions: The Chinese public exhibited a good level of knowledge of COVID-19, a positive attitude, and high adherence to good practices. COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices were affected by age, marital status, education level, occupation, and place of residence to varying degrees. In addition, practices were affected by knowledge and attitudes.
Content-Based Image Retrieval with Combined Features: Color and Gradient
Authors: Kılıçaslan Mahmut , Demirci Recep 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Feature extraction is fundamental stage of effective content based image retrieval (CBIR). However, it remains challenging issue to extract low-level features for retrieval systems. This paper puts forward an effective solution proposal for the aforementioned problem. Initially, images and their gradients are clustered with multi-level thresholding. A codebook is generated with threshold values. The size of the codebook generated depends on the number of thresholds. Consequently, every pixel in color image is included in a cluster by means of the codebook. Color reduction is performed by assigning the average values of pixels in the same cluster. A cluster-based one-dimensional histogram (CBH) is created with the numbers of pixels in every cluster represented with a single color. Then the cluster-based feature vectors with histogram are extracted from original image and gradient image. Accordingly, relevant features are combined. The developed feature vector is called as combined feature vector (CFV). The most important advantages of CFV are that it performs an effective color reduction technique and feature presentation by processing texture information with gradient operator. Therefore, the main contribution of the combined feature vector suggested is its high accuracy and stability for image retrieval. The proposed method has been tested with Corel-1K, Corel-5K Corel-10K and GHIM-10K datasets. In addition, performances of different image histogram similarity techniques such as cosine, histogram intersection and Euclidean distance have been verified with the developed algorithm. Experimental results have been analyzed in two categories. Initially, CBIR results produced with combined feature vectors which are generated by Otsu, Kapur and center of gravity of histogram (CGH) procedures have been evaluated. Then, the CBIR strategy based on CGH method has been compared with CBIR systems with local binary pattern (LBP) and gradient-structures histogram (GSH). It was observed that CBIR approach based on CGH technique has significantly outperformed.
Lipid Production from Crude Glycerol by Newly Isolated Oleaginous Yeasts: Strain Selection, Molecular Identification and fatty acid analysis
Authors: Berikten Derya , Hosgun Emir Zafer , Otuzbiroğlu Ayşe Gökdal , Bozan Berrin , Kıvanç Merih 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Biodiesel is a renewable alternative fuel and glycerol as a main byproduct of the manufacturing process. Lipids could be produced from crude glycerol by using yeasts. The ability of 107 yeast strains to utilize glycerol was screened and 92 of these were selected. 60 strains were determined as a potential for lipid production by Sudan Black B staining. After secondary screening 25 of them showed specific growth rates (OD 600), high biomass production and lipid content. These strains were identified as Pichia cactophila, P. fermentans, P. anomala, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, R. dairenensis, Clavispora lusitaniae, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Wickerhamomyces anomalus, Candida glabrata, C. inconspicua, C. albicans, Yarrowia lipolytica with molecular identifications based on ITS and D1/D2 26S rDNA sequences. The results showed that P. cactophila accumulated lipid up to 64.94%, the highest lipid content. C16:0, C18:0, C18:1 and C18:2 essential fatty acids for biodiesel production were detected by GC-MS in the lipids accumulated by all strains. P. cactophila and C. lusitaniae were reported for the first time as lipid-producing yeasts. The results suggest that selected 25 isolates have the ability to grow on crude glycerol and especially P. cactophila produce lipid that has potential use as a feedstock for second generation biodiesel production.
The role of the gut microbiota in the dietary niche expansion of fishing bats
Authors: Aizpurua Ostaizka , Nyholm Lasse , Morris Evie , Chaverri Gloriana , Montalvo Luis Gerardo Herrera , Flores-Martinez José Juan , Lin Aiqing , Razgour Orly , Gilbert M Thomas P , Alberdi Antton 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
BackgroundDue to its central role in animal nutrition, the gut microbiota is likely a relevant factor shaping dietary niche shifts. We analysed both the impact and contribution of the gut microbiota to the dietary niche expansion of the only four bat species that have incorporated fish into their primarily arthropodophage diet.ResultsWe first compared the taxonomic and functional features of the gut microbiota of the four piscivorous bats to that of 11 strictly arthropodophagous species using 16S rRNA targeted amplicon sequencing. Second, we increased the resolution of our analyses for one of the piscivorous bat species, namely Myotis capaccinii , and analysed multiple populations combining targeted approaches with shotgun sequencing. To better understand the origin of gut microorganisms, we also analysed the gut microbiota of their fish prey ( Gambusia holbrooki ). Our analyses showed that piscivorous bats carry a characteristic gut microbiota that differs from that of their strict arthropodophagous counterparts, in which the most relevant bacteria have been directly acquired from their fish prey. This characteristic microbiota exhibits enrichment of genes involved in vitamin biosynthesis, as well as complex carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, likely providing their hosts with an enhanced capacity to metabolise the glycosphingolipids and long-chain fatty acids that are particularly abundant in fish.ConclusionsOur results depict the gut microbiota as a relevant element in facilitating the dietary transition from arthropodophagy to piscivory.
Global insights into homoeolog gene expression in upland cotton under intraspecific hybridization
Authors: Shahzad Kashif , Zhang Xuexian , Zhang Meng , Guo Liping , Qi Tingxiang , Tang Huini , Wang Hailin , Zhang Bingbing , Qiao Xiuqin , Wu Jianyong , Xing Chaozhu 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Hybridization is useful to enhance yield potential of agronomic crops in the world. Cotton has genome doubling due to alloteraploidy process and hybridization process in coordinate with duplicated genome can produce more yield and adaptability. Therefore, expression of homoeolog gene pairs between hybrids and inbred parents are vital to characterize genetic source of heterosis in cotton.Results: Investigation results of homoeolog gene pairs between two contrasting hybrids and their respective inbred parents identified 36853 homoeolog genes in hybrids. It was observed both high and low hybrids had similar trends in homoeolog gene expression patterns in each tissue under study. An average of 96% of homoeolog genes had no biased expression and their expressions were derived from the equal contribution of both parents. Besides, very few homoeolog genes (An average of 1%) showed no biased or novel expression in both hybrids. The functional analysis described secondary metabolic pathways had a majority of novel biased homoeolog genes in hybrids. Conclusions: These results contribute preliminary knowledge about how hybridization affects expression patterns of homoeolog gene pairs in upland cotton hybrids. Our study also highlights the functional genomics of metabolic genes to explore the genetic mechanism of heterosis in cotton.
Safeguarding women’s and girls’ wellbeing: Exploring the role of gender-based violence on HIV transmission in Zimbabwe
Authors: Mapingure Munyaradzi , Mukandavire Zindoga , Chingombe Innocent , Eghtessadi Rouzeh , Cuadros Diego F. , Dzinamarira Tafadzwa , Mutenherwa Farirai , Musuka Godfrey 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a growing epidemic, whose role in HIV transmissions remains minimally addressed by the majority of national HIV response interventions.
Methods

Statistical and geo-spatial analysis was used to explore the relationship between GBV variables and HIV status using data from Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey, 2015-16.
Results

Women who were ever humiliated by their husbands or partners were 1.45 times more likely to be HIV positive than those who were never humiliated, p = 0.002. The same was true for women whose husbands or partners ever threatened to harm them or someone they love, OR (95%CI) 1.33 (1.04–1.68), p = 0.022. There was a positive association between HIV status and women who reported that their husband or partner, either pushed, shook, or threw something at them or punched them with his fist or with something that could hurt them or kicked, dragged or beat them, or tried to choke or burn them on purpose or threatened or attacked them with a knife or gun, or any other weapon. Women who experienced forced sexual violence with threats were more likely (odds 1.61, p = 0.019), to be HIV positive than those women who did not experience the same. Using geospatial mapping techniques our study has shown a substantial countrywide epidemic of GBV against women in Zimbabwe requiring urgent attention. Emotional GBV had a similar geographical distribution with HIV in the northern part of the country, where all three types of violence tend to aggregate.
Conclusion

There is a significant association between forms of GBV (emotional, physical, and sexual) and HIV status. The results suggest the need to strengthen interventions that empower women and girls with skills to withstand violence in order to curb HIV transmission. The engagement of men as proponents of gender equality, bringing other men to account for perpetuating GBV and actively countering violence against women and girls, is critical to the design of such interventions.
Application of plasma D-dimer detection in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
Authors: Chen Liang , Zhu Minbo , Chen Liping , Hu Min , Shi Zheng 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: This study investigated the changes of plasma D-dimer level and the role of its test in the pathogenesis of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Overall, 140 patients were divided into four groups based on OHSS status: normal, mild, moderate, and severe. All patients were hospitalized because of embryo transfer or OHSS. We retrospectively analyzed their clinical data, hormone levels, ovulation induction agents, and plasma D-dimer levels during the occurrence of OHSS and improved stages.Results: Plasma D-dimer levels were significantly higher in the four groups with early onset of symptoms (P<0.05; reference value, 0–0.5 µg/mL) than in the normal group. With increasing symptoms of OHSS, D-dimer levels gradually increased in all four groups. There was a significant positive correlation between symptoms and D-dimer levels (γ=0.575; P<0.05), and the 95% confidence intervals of the three OHSS groups were 0.71–1.41 µg/mL (mild group), 1.65–2.26 µg/mL (moderate group), and 2.24–3.62 µg/mL (severe group). The cross-interval between the different groups of OHSS symptoms was minimal. When OHSS symptoms improved or healed based on the patient’s clinical manifestations and laboratory parameters, the D-dimer levels of patients with moderate and severe symptoms remained significantly higher than the normal range (P<0.05). The D-dimer levels in the improved stage in moderate and severe groups were significantly higher than those in the early stage (P<0.05).Conclusions: According to elevated D-dimer levels, we can more accurately predict the severity of OHSS in the early stage. Additionally, with further increases in D-dimer levels along with symptoms, we can more precisely determine the prognosis of patients.
Millennial Variations and a Mid-Holocene Step Change in Northern Mid-latitude Moisture Gradients&nbsp;
Authors: Shuman Bryan N 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Holocene records reveal a constantly varying hydroclimate characterized by responses to precession punctuated by decadal-to-centennial ‘megadroughts’ and rapid state shifts. How such changes relate across space and time can reveal the underlying dynamics and how external forcing, intrinsic variability, and various feedbacks interact to alter societally critical water supplies. Here, Holocene water-level changes were examined in two groups of North American lakes to systematically characterize millennial-scale hydroclimate variability and potential large-scale state changes. The records constrain changes at the ends of the large hydroclimate gradient between the semi-arid Rocky Mountains and the humid Atlantic coast. Geophysical surveys and 40 radiocarbon-dated sediment cores provide direct measures of past shoreline positions from the 12 lakes. None exhibited stable Holocene water levels. Together they show a steep east-west gradient from 9-5.5 ka and again from 4.5-2.1 ka. The gradient was unusually weak from 11-9, 5.5-4.5, and after 2.1 ka when Rocky Mountain lakes reached their maxima. Consistent with interconnected atmospheric circulation and land surface energy budget changes, the gradient steepness correlates with mid-continental summer temperature changes (r = 0.73) with a cool, wet mid-continent associated with a weak hydroclimatic gradient, such as during the anomalous mid-Holocene fluctuation from 5.5-4.5 ka. The millennial-scale variability interacted with long-term trends to rapidly increase effective moisture in the west at 5.5 ka, potentially as part of state shifts extending to the Sahel. The interconnected changes underscore the possibility that poorly diagnosed centennial-to-millennial variability could accelerate some Holocene trends to produce abrupt shifts without requiring strong threshold effects.
An Effective Prediction of Biomagnification Factors for Organochlorine Pollutants
Authors: Zhang Ming Cai , Zhai Hong Lin , Bi Ke Xin , Zhao Bin Qiang , Shao Hai Ping 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Biomagnification factor (BMF) is an important index of pollutants in food chains but its experimental determination is quite tedious. In this contribution, as the feature descriptors of molecular information, Tchebichef moments (TMs) were calculated from their structural images. Then stepwise regression was employed to establish the prediction model for the logBMF of organochlorine pollutants. The correlation coefficient with leave-one-out cross-validation (Rcv) was 0.9570 and the correlation coefficient of prediction (Rp) for external independent test set was 0.9594. Compared with traditional two-dimensional (2D) quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) and the reported augmented multivariate image analysis applied to QSPR (aug-MIA-QSPR), the proposed approach is more simple, accurate and reliable. This study not only obtained the model with better stability and predictive ability for the BMF of organochlorine pollutants, but also provided another effective approach to QSPR research.