bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Either transepidermal water loss rates or stratum corneum hydration levels can predict quality of life in children with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Wang Shan , Shen Chunping , Zhao Mutong , Jiao Lei , Tian Jing , Wang Yang , Ma Lin , Man Mao‐Qiang 
Published: June 2021

ABSTRACTImportancePatients with atopic dermatitis (AD) display compromised epidermal barrier and suffer from poor quality of life. We hypothesized that quality of life could reflect in the changes in the epidermal barrier function.ObjectiveTo determine whether the epidermal barrier function correlates with the severity of pruritus and/or life quality in children with AD.MethodsA total of 120 children, aged 0–12 years, with moderate AD were enrolled. Children were topically treated with topical corticosteroids (TCS) and an emollient for 2 weeks. The Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), visual analogue scale (VAS) for pruritus severity, the Infant’s Dermatitis Quality of Life Index (IDQOL) and the Children’s Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) were evaluated. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) rates, stratum corneum (SC) hydration, and skin surface pH were measured. Correlations of epidermal barrier function with pruritus, life quality, and EASI were determined.ResultsFollowing 2‐week treatments, significant improvements were observed in EASI, TEWL, SC hydration, the VAS of pruritus, as well as DQOL (P < 0.001 for all). TEWL positively, while SC hydration negatively correlated with VAS pruritus, DQOL, and EASI (P < 0.001).InterpretationBoth TEWL and SC hydration levels can serve as indicators of the severity of pruritus and quality of life in children with AD.
Assessing the activation/inhibition of tyrosine kinase‐related pathways with a newly developed platform
Authors: Kagiwada Harumi , Kiboku Takayuki , Matsuo Hitomi , Kitazawa Masashi , Fukui Kazuhiko , Horimoto Katsuhisa 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe phosphorylation of cellular proteins plays a crucial role in the transduction of various signals from outside the cell into the nucleus. The signals are transduced by phosphorylation chain reactions within multiple pathways; however, determining which pathways are responsible for each defined signal has proven challenging. To estimate the activity of each pathway, we developed a phosphorylation array platform comprising a protein array with 1200 proteins belonging to 376 signalling pathways and an analytical method to estimate pathway activity based on the phosphorylation levels of proteins. The performance of our system was assessed by reconstructing kinase–substrate relationships, as well as by estimating pathway activity upon epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation and the pharmacological inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). As a result, kinase–substrate relationships were reliably reconstructed based on the precise measurement of phosphorylation levels of constituent proteins on the array. Furthermore, the pathway activities associated with EGF stimulation and EGFR inhibition were successfully traced through the related pathways from the outer membrane to the nucleus along a time course. Thus, our phosphorylation array system can effectively assess the activity of specific signalling pathways that are perturbed by extracellular stimuli, such as various drugs.
Fluorene‐based donor‐acceptor‐type multifunctional polymer with bicarbazole pendant moiety for optoelectronic applications
Authors: Pıravadılı Selin , Doyranlı Ceylan , Altınısık Sinem , Bilgili Hakan , Canımkurbey Betül , Koyuncu Sermet 
Published: June 2021

AbstractSince limited examples are in the literature in which both organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) and electrochromic (EC) applications were performed using the same conjugated polymer, we presented comprehensive EC and electroluminescence (EL) studies of fluorene‐based electroactive polymer (e.g., CFP6) consisting of a bicarbazole pendant moiety with quinoxaline as an acceptor bridge. CFP6 was synthesized by a Suzuki cross‐coupling polymerization reaction and utilized as an active and emissive layers of the electrochromic device (ECD) and OLED, respectively, due to its high photoluminescence quantum yield intensity and fine thin film forming capability. The optical, electrochemical, cyclic voltammetry measurements, and density functional theory calculations were realized. Electrochemical cross‐linking process was applied over the electroactive carbazole subunit of the CFP6 polymer. After the crosslinking process, EC performance was greatly improved. On the other hand, light emission and EL characteristics of OLEDs based on CFP6 emissive layer were realized in detail with six different device architectures to understand light output profile behavior. As a result, CFP6 emitted bright greenish yellow emission with a maximum brightness of 1777 cd/m2 at 215 mA/cm2 in the indium tin oxide (ITO)/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)/CFP6:%10 4,4′‐bis(N‐carbazolyl)‐1,1′‐biphenyl (CBP)/Alq3/LiF/Al device architecture.
Observer‐based consensus control for heterogeneous multi‐agent systems with intermittent communications
Authors: Zhang Yuhang , Jiang Yulian , Wang Shenquan , Ai Xiaolin 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIn this article, the output consensus tracking problem for a class of heterogeneous multiagent systems (HMASs) with intermittent communications is studied. We first design a local observer for each agent to estimate unmeasurable state information of followers', and an adaptive distributed estimator is constructed for each follower to estimate the leader's state. Then a type of switched and distributed tracking controllers for HMASs are established under the intermittent communications, and relative parameters of the novel controllers are designed via the constructed regulation equation. Furthermore, by using the switching system theory and LMI technology, both the sufficient conditions for HMASs to achieve output consensus tracking and the threshold of communication rate are obtained, and simultaneously the controller gain and observer gain matrices are constructed. Finally, a simulation example is provided for general HMASs to verify the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed method.
An international, randomized, placebo‐controlled, phase 2b clinical trial of intepirdine for dementia with Lewy bodies (HEADWAY‐DLB)
Authors: Lang Frederick M. , Kwon Daniel Y. , Aarsland Dag , Boeve Brad , Tousi Babak , Harnett Mark , Mo Yi , Noel Sabbagh Marwan 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIntroductionA phase 2b clinical trial, HEADWAY‐DLB, was performed to assess treatment with intepirdine, a serotonin receptor antagonist, in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).MethodsHEADWAY‐DLB was a multinational, double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled study. Two hundred sixty‐nine DLB patients were randomized to receive placebo, 70 mg/day intepirdine, or 35 mg/day intepirdine over 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was change from baseline to week 24 on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale–Part III (UPDRS‐III).ResultsBoth intepirdine groups did not demonstrate significant benefits over placebo at 24 weeks on the UPDRS‐III (35 mg/day: P = .1580, 70 mg/day: P = .6069). All other endpoints were not significant. Intepirdine was well tolerated, with a slightly higher incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events observed in the intepirdine groups versus placebo.DiscussionIntepirdine treatment did not lead to improvements over placebo in patients with DLB. As one of the largest DLB studies to date, HEADWAY‐DLB demonstrates that international trials for DLB are feasible within a reasonable timeframe.
Anaesthetic management of 10 horses undergoing cervical intervertebral body fusion ‘wobbler surgery’
Authors: Loomes Kate , Jopling Patrick 
Published: June 2021

AbstractSurgical techniques for cervical intervertebral body fusion ‘wobbler surgery’ are frequently reported in the literature, but the anaesthetic management is rarely described. Considering the invasive and complex nature of the surgical procedure, prolonged anaesthetic duration and potential for pre‐existing and post‐operative neurological deficits, the anaesthetic and analgesic approach poses specific challenges. This article aims to discuss the anaesthetic management, intra‐operative complications and recovery experience in 10 horses undergoing surgical treatment of cervical spinal cord compression. The four types of intra‐operative complication encountered generally responded well to first‐line treatment. All horses recovered successfully, and recovery quality, in most cases, was good despite the presence of several factors known to adversely affect recovery quality. However, the need for additional intra‐operative ketamine and relatively high isoflurane concentrations to obtain an adequate anaesthetic depth despite provision of partial intravenous anaesthesia and multi‐modal analgesia indicates that further analgesic techniques may be warranted.
Prediction intervals for Poisson‐based regression models
Authors: Kim Taeho , Lieberman Benjamin , Luta George , Peña Edsel A. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThis paper provides a review of the literature regarding methods for constructing prediction intervals for counting variables, with particular focus on those whose distributions are Poisson or derived from Poisson and with an over‐dispersion property. Independent and identically distributed models and regression models are both considered. The motivating problem for this review is that of predicting the number of daily and cumulative cases or deaths attributable to COVID‐19 at a future date.This article is categorized under:
Applications of Computational Statistics > Clinical Trials
Statistical Learning and Exploratory Methods of the Data Sciences > Modeling Methods
Statistical Models > Generalized Linear Models
New data on the metabolism of chloromethylisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone in human volunteers after oral dosage: excretion kinetics of a urinary mercapturic acid metabolite (“M-12”)
Authors: Schettgen Thomas , Bertram J. , Kraus T. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractMethylisothiazolinone (MI) as well as the mixture of chloromethylisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone [MCI/MI (3:1)] are biocides that are used in a variety of products of every-day life. Due to the skin sensitizing properties of these biocides, their use has come under scrutiny. We have previously examined the human metabolism of MI and MCI after oral dosage of isotope-labelled analogues in human volunteers and confirmed N-methylmalonamic acid to be a major, but presumably unspecific human urinary metabolite. In the present study, we have investigated the urinary kinetics of a mercapturic acid metabolite of MI and MCI using the same set of samples. Four human volunteers received 2 mg of isotopically labelled MI and MCI separately and at least 2 weeks apart. Consecutive urine samples were collected over 48 h and were examined for the content of the (labelled) 3-mercapturic acid conjugate of 3-thiomethyl-N-methyl-propionamide (“M-12”), a known metabolite in rats. On a molar basis, M-12 represented 7.1% (3.0–10.1%) of the dose excreted in urine after dosage of MI. Excretion of this mercapturate was fast with a mean half-life of 3.6 h. Surprisingly, for MCI the mercapturate M-12 represented only 0.13% of the dose excreted in urine. Thus, this biomarker is highly specific for exposures to MI and might be used to distinguish between different exposure patterns of these biocides [use of MI or MCI/MI (3:1)] in the general population.
Holocene vegetation, fire and land use dynamics at Lake Svityaz, an agriculturally marginal site in northwestern Ukraine
Authors: Schwörer Christoph , Gobet Erika , van Leeuwen Jacqueline F. N. , Bögli Sarah , Imboden Rachel , van der Knaap W. O. , Kotova Nadezhda , Makhortykh Sergej , Tinner Willy 
Published: June 2021

AbstractObserving natural vegetation dynamics over the entire Holocene is difficult in Central Europe, due to pervasive and increasing human disturbance since the Neolithic. One strategy to minimize this limitation is to select a study site in an area that is marginal for agricultural activity. Here, we present a new sediment record from Lake Svityaz in northwestern Ukraine. We have reconstructed regional and local vegetation and fire dynamics since the Late Glacial using pollen, spores, macrofossils and charcoal. Boreal forest composed of Pinus sylvestris and Betula with continental Larix decidua and Pinus cembra established in the region around 13,450 cal bp, replacing an open, steppic landscape. The first temperate tree to expand was Ulmus at 11,800 cal bp, followed by Quercus, Fraxinus excelsior, Tilia and Corylus ca. 1,000 years later. Fire activity was highest during the Early Holocene, when summer solar insolation reached its maximum. Carpinus betulus and Fagus sylvatica established at ca. 6,000 cal bp, coinciding with the first indicators of agricultural activity in the region and a transient climatic shift to cooler and moister conditions. Human impact on the vegetation remained initially very low, only increasing during the Bronze Age, at ca. 3,400 cal bp. Large-scale forest openings and the establishment of the present-day cultural landscape occurred only during the past 500 years. The persistence of highly diverse mixed forest under absent or low anthropogenic disturbance until the Early Middle Ages corroborates the role of human impact in the impoverishment of temperate forests elsewhere in Central Europe. The preservation or reestablishment of such diverse forests may mitigate future climate change impacts, specifically by lowering fire risk under warmer and drier conditions.
Hypoglossal nerve stimulation for obstructive sleep apnea: updated position paper of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
Authors: Steffen Armin , Heiser Clemens , Galetke Wolfgang , Herkenrath Simon-Dominik , Maurer Joachim T. , Günther Eck , Stuck Boris A. , Woehrle Holger , Löhler Jan , Randerath Winfried 
Published: June 2021

AbstractSince the first statement of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) is meanwhile an established treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). There are three HNS systems available in Germany which differ in their technical details of the underlying comparable basic principle. For the unilateral HNS with respiratory sensing, several comparative studies, high-volume register analysis and long-term reports exist. The continuous HNS without respiratory sensing does not require a sleep endoscopy for indication. For the bilateral continuous HNS as the single partially implantable device, a feasibility study exists. For indication, the assessment of positive airway pressure failure by sleep medicine is crucial, and the decision for HNS should be made in discussion of other treatment options for at least moderate OSA. The implantation center holds primarily responsibility among the interdisciplinary sleep team and is primary contact for the patient in problems. This depicts why structural processes are required to secure outcome quality and minimize the complications. The aftercare of HNS patients can be provided interdisciplinary and by different medical institutions, whereat, minimal reporting standards to document outcome and usage are recommended.
Nuclear expression of VDR and AHR is mutually exclusive in glandular cells in endometriosis
Authors: De Pascali Francesco , Casarini Livio , Kuhn Christina , Simoni Manuela , Mahner Sven , Jeschke Udo , von Schönfeldt Viktoria 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe vitamin D receptor (VDR) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) are two nuclear receptors that exert their effects by binding with ligands and forming a molecular complex. These complexes translocate to the nucleus and activate the expression of a series of genes which have a response element to VDR or AHR. Both receptors have been identified in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, a common disease characterized by the formation of endometrium-like tissue in ectopic zones. Despite numerous therapies, there is no definitive cure for endometriosis at the pharmacological level. Our study aims to describe the location and the expression of VDR and AHR at the protein level. For this purpose, an evaluation was performed using tissue from the three normal phases of the endometrium (proliferative, early, and late secretory) and in endometriosis by immunohistochemistry, using anti-VDR and anti-AHR antibodies. We demonstrate that in the nuclei of glandular cells in endometriosis, the expression of VDR and AHR is mutually exclusive—when the expression of one receptor is high, the other one is low—suggesting a possible target in the treatment of endometriosis. We also identify a significant change in the expression of glandular cytoplasmic AHR between the proliferative and late secretory endometrium.
Optimum insurance contract of flood damage index insurance for rice farmers in Myanmar
Authors: Furuya Jun , Mar Swe Swe , Hirano Akira , Sakurai Takeshi 
Published: June 2021

AbstractClimate change is an underlying cause of many extreme events such as enormous cyclones and erratic torrential rains. These phenomena threaten farmers in coastal regions of Myanmar. Self-insurance through means such as crop diversification is insufficient for sustainable farm management. Weather index insurance (WII) is receiving much attention because of its low management costs. An optimum WII contract for flood damage using rainfall as the index has been proposed for rice farmers in coastal regions. According to the model, an insurance payment demand function is derived by solving the expected utility maximization problem. The utility function of the contract is specified as constant relative risk aversion type. The production function is specified as Cobb–Douglas type. By substituting real average data of rice production of farmers into this function, the optimum insurance payment and premium are obtained. Changes in insurance compensation by payments according to an increase in the price of rice, rainfall, and degree of risk aversion are investigated. Results suggest that if an average farmer pays around 41.5 US dollars per year, then farm management will be optimally stabilized under the flood risk.
Application of the subsecond calorimetry technique with both contact and radiance temperature measurements: case study on solid phase tungsten at very high temperatures
Authors: Milošević Nenad D. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThis work presents an application of the subsecond calorimetry technique at very high temperatures, which uses both contact and radiance temperature measurements. This technique is normally applied for thermophysical characterization of high temperature solid phase materials in the temperature range from ambient up to about 2600 K, which is the limit of the standard tungsten-rhenium thermocouple use. Simultaneously with contact temperature measurements, noncontact or radiance temperature detection may be performed in the approximate range from 1000 to 2600 K in order to acquire information on spectral normal emissivity of specimen under test. In this study, however, the specimen is heated above 2600 K and, then, the temperature is measured only by the noncontact mean. In the extended temperature range, the obtained values of the spectral normal emissivity are extrapolated for each experimental run, which makes possible a conversion from radiance to absolute specimen temperature. In order to test this application, a pure polycrystalline specimen of tungsten in the form of rod, 3 mm in diameter and 200 mm in length, has been used. The specimen has been heated in vacuum environment of about 10–4 mbar by short pulses of high DC current with a gradual increase of the total heating time from about 0.5–2.5 s. During the specimen heating and the beginning of the cooling period, four sets of experimental data have been recorded and reduced by using the corresponding data reduction procedure. Obtained results of specific heat and specific electrical resistivity from ambient to 3700 K, total hemispherical emissivity from 1000 to 3700 K and spectral normal emissivity from 1000 to 2600 K (extrapolated to 3700 K) are presented, discussed and compared with related literature data.
Gel Strength of Hydrophilic Matrix Tablets in Terms of In Vitro Robustness
Authors: Goldoozian Seyedreza , Mohylyuk Valentyn , Dashevskiy Andriy , Bodmeier Roland 
Published: June 2021

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study was to correlate the gel strength of swollen matrix tablets with theirin vitrorobustness against agitation intensity and applied mechanical forces. Five commercial products, i.e. Glucophage®, Alfuzosin®, Tromphyllin®, Preductal® MR and Quetiapin® formulated as water-soluble/erodible matrix tablets were investigated.MethodsEffect of agitation speed (50–150 rpm) on drug release, hydration/erosion and gel strength was investigated using USP paddle apparatus II. The gel strength of matrix tablets during dissolution at different conditions was characterized by a texture analyzer.ResultsCommercial tablets formulated with HPMC of higher viscosity, such as K15M or K100M, demonstrated the gel strength in swollen state >0.02 MPa. In this case, the release mechanism was predominantly diffusional and, therefore, not affected by stirring speed and mechanical stress. In contrast, the Quetiapin® matrix tablet, formulated with HPMC K 4 M in amount of approx. 25%, demonstrated the gel strength dropped below 0.02 MPa after 6 h of release. In this case, the drug was predominantly released via erosional mechanism and very susceptible to stirring speed.ConclusionSufficient gel strength of swollen tablets is an important prerequisite for unchangedin vitroperformance in consideration of mechanical stress.
Measuring local competitiveness: comparing and integrating two methods PCA and AHP
Authors: Kurek Katarzyna A. , Heijman Wim , van Ophem Johan , Gędek Stanisław , Strojny Jacek 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThis article discusses two methods to measure the concept of local competitiveness: Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The goal of this analysis is to determine whether these two methods used in social sciences research lead to comparable model results. By non-parametric tests we show that there is a significant correlation between the PCA and AHP local competitiveness indexes. Thereafter, a developed mixed method examination of whether the methods can be used interchangeably is presented and illustrated with detailed examples of two mixed approaches. The mixed method confirms the correlation between the PCA and AHP models. However, the mixed modelling results indicate the utility of the PCA in the situation of a multicriteria local competitiveness data examination.
Online Percentile Estimation (OPE)
Authors: Kilpi Jorma , Kyntäjä Timo , Räty Tomi 
Published: June 2021

AbstractWe describe a control loop over a sequential online algorithm. The control loop either computes or uses the sequential algorithm to estimate the temporal percentiles of any univariate input data sequence. It transforms an input sequence of numbers into output sequence of histograms. This is performed without storing or sorting all of the observations. The algorithm continuously tests whether the input data is stationary, and reacts to events that do not appear to be stationary. It also indicates how to interpret the histograms since their information content varies according to whether a histogram was computed or estimated. It works with parameter-defined, fixed-size small memory and limited CPU power. It can be used for a statistical reduction of a numerical data stream and, therefore, applied to various Internet of Things applications, edge analytics or fog computing. The algorithm has a built-in feasibility metric called applicability. The applicability metric indicates whether the use of the algorithm is justified for a data source: it works for an arbitrary univariate numerical input, but it is statistically feasible only under some requirements, which are explicitly stated here. We also show the results of a performance study, which was executed on the algorithm with synthetic data.